"My son, the person shouting in front is surnamed An." Qiang Hu had not seen the person, but he was certain just by hearing the voice.
"Let him come over. Let's take a look." Zhang Gang was already standing five steps away from his father. He ordered the people around him and moved two steps forward. He was probably afraid of being beaten again.
Not long after, a person quickly walked over. He was wearing a fourth-rank official's robe and an official's hat. There was a silver fish pouch on his waist. He walked with vigor and vigor.
When the little guys saw the person, they were stunned. He was very different from what they had imagined. They had thought that he would be fat, yellow, and overindulgent.
They did not expect that this person had a face full of righteousness and a well-proportioned body. The first impression he gave was that he was shrewd and capable. He did not seem to match what Qiang Hu had said earlier. It was very contradictory. What was going on?
The person stopped in front of them and glanced at the people in front of him. He solemnly clasped his hands and bowed. "This official greets the Bohai Provincial Governor and the Tang Patrol Inspector. I have been busy with trivial matters recently and am late to welcome you. I hope you can forgive me."
As his voice fell, he smiled warmly at Qiang Hu. "Brother Qiang, are you still in good health?"
Qiang Hu curled his lips and half-heartedly returned the greeting. "It's still the same. No one has come to torment our stronghold. We are doing well. You … have lost weight."
"Brother Qiang is right. I have disturbed you a few days ago. Please forgive me. Lost weight? Others have said so as well. Losing weight makes one stronger. Accompanying the people in the county in the spring plowing and working all day long, they have succeeded in losing weight. Pigs are slaughtered when they are fat. Officials who are fat also do not benefit. "Provincial Governor An was still smiling warmly.
Qiang Hu carefully looked at the other party and nodded. "Indeed, no wonder you dare to come. You are not fat, otherwise you will really be slaughtered. My children have returned today and you want to find a hundred people to drink in the stronghold?"
"I wouldn't dare. I've been muddle-headed during those days, and I've harmed many people. My heart is filled with guilt, and I don't have the face to bring up the matter of drinking again. I've decided to change and do things honestly in the future. Please believe me this time."
The Provincial Governor surnamed An said solemnly with an apologetic expression.
Not only were Xiaobei and the others confused, but Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were also confused. Qiang Hu was even more confused. He looked around at the people in the strongholds in Yizhou Mountain and saw that they were all at a loss. They all wondered what had happened to Governor Tong 'an. Had he been possessed by a ghost?
Scratching the back of his neck, Qiang Hu took a step forward and circled around Governor An. After a while, he stood in front of the other party and stared straight into the other party's eyes. He could only see the sincerity and clarity in the other party's eyes.
"Uh … Governor An, you just said that you are busy with the spring plowing in a county. Which county are you in?" Qiang Hu really didn't want to believe that the person in front of him was the same Governor An who couldn't accomplish anything but spoiled everything.
"In Wenshan County. This year, the chives in Wenshan County will be harvested one month later than in other places. We plan to use a new technology before the second harvest to prevent the chives from sprouting too early. We plan to take advantage of the time difference. At the same time, we will introduce a large number of special dishes to increase the local income. I am helping out in the local area and have a good chat with the deputy county magistrate, Gongsun Moyu.
Governor An still looked serious, which made people feel that he was an upright and kind official who was willing to work for the people wholeheartedly.
Qiang Hu felt helpless and tried to dissuade him. "Don't, An Yi. My Governor, you'd better stay in Wenshan County. Everything is fine in Yizhou. We will definitely give you the full rent and tribute. We are really scared and can't afford to suffer. Please, let us go."
"One chance, just one chance. Don't occupy too many vegetable fields. I will try this year. If it doesn't work, I will apply for a transfer next year." With a pleading look in his eyes, An Yi cupped his hands and bowed again, scaring Qiang Hu into retreating.
Nearby, Xiao Bei discussed with a few others and asked, "What are you going to plant in the vegetable fields? Speaking of which, I should give you a chance. It is easy to kill one, but difficult to save one. Killing one eliminates evil, but saving one adds good. In between, good is two. Give me a reason. "
Hearing Xiao Bei's words, An Yi was scared and excited. If it were someone else who condemned him, it would be difficult for them to kill him. However, it was easy for a group of children to kill him. The punishment of whipping was not a problem at all, but it was five times worse. They could even wipe out the whole family.
Although His Majesty gave the officials such a great power to not expect that they would not be killed if they deliberately made mistakes, and to tell them that they should think twice before making a mistake. There was also a group of people who could disregard the national law and take their lives at any time. However, the officials who were arrested felt wronged.
Forcing himself to calm down, An Yi lowered his head and answered, "I want to plant wild vegetables in the inferior vegetable fields in the province. There are many trees in the mountains. When the weather is cold, they can be burned to drive away the cold. When frost comes, they can be smoked to keep the wild vegetables growing. In the cold winter, the skiers will have a delicious meal. All the money will be used to compensate for my past crimes.
Is that okay? "After speaking, An Yi did not dare to look at Xiao Bei and the others. He was afraid that they would misunderstand his purpose or not believe what he said. The most important thing now was not to quibble, but to admit his guilt.
"Is this technique okay?" Xiao Bei asked after discussing with the others.
"Yes."
"Then why not plant other vegetables?" Xiao Bei asked again.
"Because other vegetables are not good. We have to find a vegetable to plant, so we can only plant chives. The prefectural city of Yizhou has the conditions to use greenhouses, but Yizhou has been corrupted by me and no longer has the ability to do so. Chives have already been planted in Wenshan County." An Yi finished and sighed.
"Okay, I agree. Let's try it. Uncle, what do you think?" Xiao Bei agreed and turned to ask Qiang Hu for his opinion.
Qiang Hu did not care what An Yi did as long as he did not cause trouble for the stockade. He nodded and agreed.
An Yi breathed a sigh of relief again. Even if he did not do well, he did not have to worry about being killed.
Everyone walked together. An Yi fell behind slightly and followed step by step. He did not dare to overtake the front, nor did he dare to run too far away. At the same time, he was worried that he would not be able to answer if asked about the situation in the prefecture.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan did not intend to ask An Yi about the situation in the prefecture. The local people would naturally give them detailed data. They would have to wait for Governor An to report to them.
After passing through the temporarily built road, the road ahead was connected to the main road. It was wide enough for two carriages to pass side by side. The road was flat and could be considered a main road in this place. It could not be compared to Chang 'an, nor could it be compared to Sanshui County. Shu Road was difficult to travel on.
The current era was better than the era they came from. At that time, the railway was well built, but there were always cars that overturned on the road. The main reason was that the people did not have the money to build it themselves. The merchants could not do such a good thing, and the government was not willing to increase the investment. It was not proportional to the output.
Unlike Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, several years ago, they began to coax and cheat the local merchants to support them. They spoke well, but in the end, the merchants lost money. If it had been someone else who cheated them like this, the merchants would have been angry. They held back for the sake of Zhang Xiaobao. Fortunately, they gave compensation later. The new technology was given priority and arranged to go to Japan to make money and torment the Japanese.
The two of them could make the investment proportional to the output. Because it was used to fight, and then plunder various resources and slaves, the slaves could contribute enough and give their descendants the identity of a citizen of the Great Tang. It was the same as some things in the development of North America.
The group walked all the way. After noon, there were more and more people. They found an open place in the village to set up a pot and cook. The villagers came out one after another to give them things. No matter what, they did not want money. Zhang Xiaobao had to use other things he had brought to exchange. Both sides were happy. They raised their cups and drank. They were happy and harmonious, laughing and talking without end.
No one paid attention to An Yi. Provincial Governor An looked on enviously from the side, imagining that he would govern the provincial capital well. When he left, he would take the Wanmin Umbrella with the people's handprints. When he came here again someday, the people would be willing to give him all the food in their homes. Only then would his life not be in vain.
After the meal, the villagers could not bear to see them off. They followed them for five li and still did not return. They persuaded them to stop and then sent them off with tears in their eyes. When they disappeared at the end of the road, they returned.
The group continued on and reached the fork in the road leading to the provincial capital of Wing Province. That year, when they came, Xiaobei and the others were in the house. Just as Bigou and the other old men said, they could see whether Zhang Xiaobao and the Wang family had new technology. They just had to keep an eye on the little guys' house.
"Brother, sister, we suddenly thought of something. We don't know if we should say it." Xiaobei suddenly said to his brother and sister when they reached the fork in the road.
"You shouldn't say it." Zhang Xiaobao answered very straightforwardly.
Xiaobei was stunned. He chuckled and said, "We want to go to Wenshan County first to see that deputy county magistrate with the surname two. If he is really capable, it would be a pity to be a deputy county magistrate. Anyway, we are going to rest in Wing Province. We can come back from Wenshan County later. You, who is it? Right, Provincial Governor An, please come with us."
"I am willing to go with you, but in the province …?" An Yi meant that he wanted to go back to the provincial capital of Wing Province. He wanted to take this opportunity to ask Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan to help him put in a good word with the local people. He had really harmed the local people. If he did not change his image, he was afraid that no one would cooperate with him to grow mountain vegetables.
Xiaobei stared at him and said, "The government does not need you. Your most important task now is to come with us. Otherwise … humph!"
"Yes, yes, I will go with you." An Yi did not dare to say anything else.
Thus, they separated. Xiao Bei and the rest led their guards and servants towards Wen Mountain. An Yi was secretly thankful that he had helped out in Wen Shan County for a period of time, otherwise he probably wouldn't have been able to make it here alive. From here to Wen Mountain, it was a distance of several dozen li.
The group continued to climb over the mountains. After midnight, they finally arrived at the place at the middle of the moon.
Xiaobei and the group of children had long been carried on poles and covered with blankets to sleep. They did not eat dinner. They were woken up when they arrived at the place, intending to eat until the night.
The others in the group were also tired. They did not want to disturb others in the county. They stopped at the outskirts and set up their tents.
When the big pot of food was ready, a portion of them hurriedly ate and then lay down to sleep. A portion of them were half-full and closed their eyes. The other portion only drank hot soup and then continued their duties.
When Xiaobei and the other nine people were woken up, a large bowl of stew was placed in front of each of them. There were also a few small salted vegetables and two cold steamed buns.
"We're here? It's really uncomfortable to sleep on the road. It looks like it's going to be a sunny day tomorrow. There's too much dew. It's humid. Let's eat. It smells so good. You left us so much lean meat. Thank you. "
Xiaobei said happily as he broke off a steamed bun and soaked it in the stew.
The other children also worked hard to eat.
"The steamed bun is cold." An Yi had eaten as well. He was afraid that he did not have the qualifications to eat with Xiaobei and the others. However, he found that Xiaobei and the others were eating the same as everyone else, so he reminded them.
"I know. I don't see us soaking it in the soup."
"We should make a portion especially for the Patrol Inspectors."
"You should be the one to do it. Who isn't tired at this time? Even Uncle Emperor has to eat the big pot of food in front of us. What? Provincial Governor is used to eating delicacies. Is it hard to swallow cold steamed buns and stew? Should I have someone cook a few delicious dishes for you? That way, you can evaluate the culinary skills of my chef Between the Clouds and the Water. "Xiaobei asked with a concerned expression.
The Provincial Governor shook his head repeatedly. "I don't dare, I don't dare. Lend me a hundred guts. It's delicious. I have never eaten such delicious stew in my life."
He was frightened. Didn't he hear that Uncle Emperor also wanted to eat? Besides, the stew was really good. Although it looked simple, the taste was definitely not bad.
Xiaobei ate a steamed bun. When he stopped to rest, he asked An Yi, who was waiting there and did not dare to rest. "Tell me about that Deputy County Magistrate Gongsun or something. While we are at it, we can talk about the more powerful county magistrate."
"Good, good. Speaking of Deputy County Magistrate Gongsun, he is really extraordinary. As a Deputy County Magistrate, he suppressed the county magistrate and the registrar. He has a lot of power in Wenshan County. He can decide everything in Wenshan County with just one word. The bailiffs and the people all listen to him. When he is on the road, he must walk at the front. When he is in the hall, he must be in the middle.
He has been in office for a year and a half. Under the circumstances of tax reduction and tax exemption, the county's revenue has increased by more than ten times. The people have benefited even more. There are local nursery rhymes as proof.
It says, 'How much do you know about Wenshan County? It is difficult for a young man to marry outside. The produce of the land cannot be sent. The salt and cloth cannot be bought. Since Gongsun came here, the blue sky is three feet high and the wind is beautiful. Selling to buy to gather money, he is not Mo Yu, but Da Yu. '"
An Yi said with a face full of worship.
"So crazy?" Xiaobei was surprised. "If he is a little more powerful, he will be able to catch up with my brother and sister."
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