Zi County.
Magistrate Niu had been in the basement for who knows how long.
Some time ago, he sensed something was wrong and promptly packed his small bag, along with the gold and silver he had accumulated over the years, intending to quietly escape through the window.
Who knew, they were still discovered by those sharp-eyed people outside and were chased and beaten by those refugees.
What a joke! The reason Zixian County is in such a mess is largely due to the inaction of this county magistrate.
If the county magistrate of Zi County had organized a resistance on the very first day that those bandits massacred the villages, how could so many people have died in the surrounding villages?
Therefore, enemies are especially hostile when they meet. The magistrate of Zi County was chased and beaten for an unknown period of time before finally escaping back to Niujia Village and hiding in the basement used as a refuge in Niujia Village.
He ate dry rations when he was hungry and drank water from large buckets when he was thirsty. He stayed inside for an unknown amount of time. After finishing all the food, he collapsed on the ground, ready to die.
He starved for three whole days, and the rats around him crawled out of their holes to laugh at him, when the locked basement door was opened.
Magistrate Niu was instantly moved to tears and looked towards the gate.
Niu San arrived with a group of people, followed by about ten others, each carrying an iron hoe and a rake.
"Everyone be careful, this basement hasn't been used in a long time, it stinks in there, and there might even be poisonous gas! We'll go in to mine iron ore after the gas dissipates!"
That's right, the people of the barren mountains discovered an iron mine in Zixian County. After some investigation by a few people skilled in calculation, they found that the most suitable place to mine was Niujia Village.
In the early years, most people in Niujia Village built basements in their homes to avoid disasters, so Niu San planned to lead people to start digging from the largest basement in the village.
But after an indescribable stench wafted out, Niu San looked up and saw his familiar godfather.
There's no way around it. A build like his godfather's is not common in a place like Zixian. If he didn't eat so much oily food all year round, how could he have grown so much fat?
Upon seeing Niu San, the magistrate of Zi County also had tears in his eyes, as if he were seeing his dearest relative.
"Mistress, your godfather has finally seen you again! Quickly, carry me out!"
The county magistrate stammered.
"Lift, out, out, away..."
The next second, he passed out.
The group of workers behind Niu San looked at each other in disbelief. Did their team leader actually have a godfather? And this godfather was indeed quite fat and obese!
A group of people turned their attention to their leader.
Niu San looked at them with a serious expression: "Why do you all look like that? Let me make it clear beforehand, I don't have any godfather. My only two older brothers are working in the county town. I don't have any other relatives."
"This guy has been hiding in the basement for so many days and refuses to come out. He's clearly a traitorous rebel. In the future, if you encounter someone like this who tries to claim kinship, don't hesitate to take action! Understand?"
The burly man solemnly lectured the workers behind him.
A group of workers nodded repeatedly.
Yes, yes, yes, the team leader is absolutely right! This guy eats so well, and he looks very fierce. He's obviously someone who often bullies the common people. He might even be connected to those bandits from before!
Seeing how sensible the group of people were, Niu San nodded.
This child is teachable!
"Take him away, the rest of you follow me and keep digging!"
"Yes, team leader!"
While mining is in full swing in Zixian County, Qingxian County is also starting factory plans.
General Fan was shocked when he saw one design drawing after another.
"Is all this land used to build oil pressing and sugar refining factories?"
“Yes, General.” Zhong Yan nodded.
"A factory has already been built in Huangxian County, and it can produce nearly a thousand cotton-padded coats every day."
More than a thousand items?
The elderly general stared wide-eyed. How could such a small county town produce so many cotton-padded coats in a single day?
Is this a scam?
But the woman in front of him was a follower of the Mountain Goddess, and not long ago she had solved a very difficult problem for Qing County by helping them take in a large number of refugees.
Recalling how the mountain goddess had instantly vanquished two evil spirits that day, the old general felt that this believer of the deity could not possibly have deceived him.
"So, as long as we can build the factories you mentioned and manufacture the corresponding machines, we can solve the problem of the increasing number of displaced people?"
The old general had lived for so long, so she naturally knew some ways to deal with disasters, but she had never seen a factory like this before.
"General, these factories were all proposed by the Mountain Goddess. The Mountain Goddess is compassionate and cannot bear to see the suffering of all living beings, so she came up with this method to allow the people who have suffered from disasters and those refugees to work in the factories. The factories will provide them with food and lodging and pay them ten coins a day."
The old general was shocked. These factories not only took in refugees, but also provided them with food and wages.
As expected of a god, to think of such a method!
"Miss Zhong, you can get to work. No matter what happens, I'll take care of it!"
General Fan slammed his hand on the table.
From then on, the construction of the Qingxian factory began. These factories were overseen by the brothers Zhong Yan and Zhong Heng, and guarded by Lin Anniang and several believers with special abilities from the desolate mountains.
They continuously welcomed new refugees from Zhang Jing and brought them to the courtyard vacated by General Fan for training.
Qing County has become more lively than ever before.
Even the local people, upon hearing that the factory to be built was recruiting workers and would provide them with meals and money every day, couldn't wait to participate in the recruitment.
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