Zhang Xiaobao listened attentively. Li Xun told Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan everything he knew. Only then did Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan know that there were not many redundant officials in a lower province like this. It was not that such a position was impossible, but that no one would come.
Lu Zhou did not even have a military clerk. Zhang Zhong could be said to be a master of both military and political affairs. As for how many soldiers he had, it was hard to say. If all the people were soldiers, there should be about seven thousand soldiers in four counties. If all the soldiers were recruited according to the original method … well, that was …
"Fortunately, we have trained 65 people ourselves. Otherwise, how much food would we have to feed them to make them fit enough to be useful?" Wang Juan said with a lingering fear.
Zhang Xiaobao continued to watch and found that there were only a few yamen runners who were not following them. Each of them had patches on their clothes. Even the clothes of a county magistrate were the same.
Beside his father stood a man wearing the same color as his father. The dark red color of his clothes told others that he was a fourth-grade official. However, the color of his official robe seemed to be between dark red and light red. Which dyer dyed it? Awesome!
With the presence of the officials, the onlookers finally knew that the newcomers were not bandits but new high-ranking officials. The common people were not interested in the newcomers. They were curious about the 18 ships. After the four county magistrates and the provincial governor who could go back, the common people learned that the new provincial governor's surname was Zhang. He was a very young man.
He was the one who brought the ships. Since he wanted them to help build a temporary dock, they had to start working. They could not refuse such a high-ranking official's order.
More than 1,000 strong men began to get busy. Some were looking for tools, some were chopping trees. This was just the common people of one county. They did not know about the people in other places.
The older people sat on the side and gave instructions. The younger children were curious. Some played on the beach, and some jumped into the water and swam towards the boat. They were called back by their families on the shore, and they didn't go back. They just stayed there and watched.
Zhang Xiaobao sat on the boat and watched the commoners work. He looked up at the sky and saw that it would be noon soon. According to the rules of the Zhang family, when others were working for them, they had to prepare food. The farmers had to prepare food for those who worked, not to mention that these commoners were working for free.
"Huzi, take your men and change into wetsuits. Jump down. The cook and some ingredients will be sent ashore later. You guys are in charge of protecting them."
Zhang Xiaobao instructed Huzi, who was standing behind him. Soldiers were trained for a thousand days to be used in a single moment. After such a long period of training, good food, drinks, and massages, it was time to take them out for a walk.
"Yes!" Huzi answered. He turned around and shouted to the other 55 people, "Everyone, get changed and become bodyguards in the water."
Everyone responded in unison. They turned around and raised their arms to their chests. Then, they stepped in orderly steps to change their clothes.
After a while, the fifty-six people ran back. They were wearing swimsuits made of fish skin, and there was a small bag made of the same kind of fish skin close to their waists. In their hands were two feet long, very thin, double-edged steel awls.
They stood on the side of the boat one after another. Huzi took a deep breath and shouted, "Jump!"
Fifty-six people jumped down from the nearly forty feet high ship at the same time. They flipped in the air, head down and feet up, and put their hands together to protect their heads. When they entered the water, there was a splash. Their bodies turned slightly in the water, and their chests were completely exposed.
Li Xun had never seen these people train. When he saw them, he saw them in formation. He looked at the 56 people in formation in the water. He stared at Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan in surprise and asked, "How did you train them? Don't tell me that we can get out of this by following the formation. "
"A reasonable diet, a scientific training program, the patience of the instructor, and their political awareness. That's how you train them." Wang Juan made up a story to Li Xun.
Li Xun was not surprised. He often heard all kinds of strange words. He said to the two of them, "Then help me train them in the future. Just follow what you said. There's no need to follow the formation. I'll train them myself."
The three of them chatted casually, but the people on the shore were not. Everyone, including Zhang Zhong, was surprised. Who were the people who jumped off the boat? Those with long vision saw that the people who jumped off the boat were covered in a light black substance from head to toe. Only their eyes and mouth were exposed.
"Governor Zhang, did you bring these people here too?" Huaqing county's county magistrate, Huo Qisheng, asked softly.
Zhang Zhong knew that these were the 65 people. He had seen them when they were training as diving swimmers. However, he did not expect that his son and daughter-in-law would be so good after they trained them as if they were just playing around.
When he heard the question, he nodded. "Yes, I brought them here. They are the guards at home to protect the young seedlings. I don't know why they jumped down. They're so high."
Zhang Zhong did not believe himself after he said that. Protecting the young seedlings with such people? But that was the truth. The strong Team Zero of the Seedlings.
Huo Qisheng naturally did not refute. He smiled and nodded. "I see. It seems that your family is good at farming. You can tell just by looking at the people protecting the seedlings."
"It's alright. During last year's autumn harvest, there were not many fields. They were all rice, only about three dan of rice. If you put it in the fields, you could get five dan of rice. I just don't know what will happen if you plant it here." Zhang Zhong spoke the truth this time.
Unfortunately, Huo Qisheng did not believe him at all. What rice? What kind of field could produce five dan of rice in one mu? He thought so in his heart, but he still agreed. "Your family is indeed extraordinary. The people of our province will have good days in the future."
The surrounding officials were also listening. They did not believe him either. They thought that the new provincial governor liked to boast. They did not think much of it and prepared to continue doing their own things like before.
The people also saw the people who jumped down. They were quite capable to jump down from such a high place with their heads facing down. They were wearing light black clothes. It was a little tiring to look at them in the water. If they waited until night time, no one would discover them.
There were people with children in the water. They quickly forgot to greet them, afraid that those people would harm their children.
Zhang Xiaobao stood on the deck and looked at the 65 people. He said to Wang Juan, "The color of this diving suit is a little dark. Later, we'll make a set of dark blue ones. Otherwise, it will be too conspicuous during the day."
Wang Juan also noticed and nodded. They also needed to make something for them to summon their Qi. A small air bag and a stone. Otherwise, they would not be able to sink.
Li Xun listened at the side. He felt that the two of them were not talking about a simple matter. "What is your family trying to do? Specifically training this group of people. Those on land are to protect your family. What about in the water? "
"Protect the seedlings." Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan said at the same time.
"Okay, then you guys protect them. I'll see what kind of seedlings will grow in the water." Li Xun did not believe in protecting the seedlings even if he was beaten to death. However, there were not many things to do here. What was the purpose of specially training the navy? To attack others? To rely on these 56 people?
The three of them casually found a topic to chat about. The cook on the ship had already started to move the items down one by one. There were more than 10 small boats below.
After a while, the cooking tools and cooks arrived on the small boat and estimated the number of people on the shore. There were about 1,500 to 600 people. He made a hand gesture to the people on the boat, and they continued to put down all kinds of ingredients. 1,500 to 600 people was not the same as putting down the same amount of ingredients. There were 600 more people, and 1,000 more people's worth of staple food.
In addition to these ingredients, there were also 10 large jars of salted vegetables. The head cook understood that the people here usually did not eat good food. Once they encountered something good, they would definitely eat with all their might. According to normal preparation, it would definitely not be enough. Even so, there might not be any leftovers. However, they could not make too much.
The ingredients were calculated according to the amount of food an adult would eat. Children eating an adult's amount was already a lot. If they ate more, it would be easy for them to get sick.
The tools were first moved over. The 56 people swam in the water to protect them. They continued to move the ingredients back and forth. The people at the place where the tools were placed retreated far away. They formed a large circle and watched. No one dared to approach. The weapons in the hands of the 56 people were a little scary.
Zhang Zhong wasn't in a hurry. He looked around slowly, and from time to time, he would ask the people around him about the harvest, and what the people usually did when they came to the yamen. He didn't expect these people to tell the truth, he just wanted to find something to talk about.
"Provincial Governor Zhang, why are the people on your boat moving these things down? Is there no place to cook on the boat? " The County Magistrate of Ulei County, Zhang Yi, looked at the busy people. He avoided asking Zhang Zhong about the law and order of the county and instead asked about the cooking.
Zhang Zhong was used to other people working and being in charge of the food at home. He only realized that the people here were not clear. He replied, "There is not enough space on the boat to cook for these people. There are still many people on the boat. Both sides will cook at the same time. In a while, everyone will eat together. Don't worry, they will definitely not feel uncomfortable. Cook according to the method here."
"My lord, are you saying that you're going to cook for everyone here? My lord, we should be the ones treating you to a better place to eat as a welcome dinner. How can we do that? The people will go home to eat after they finish their work, "a yamen runner mustered up the courage to join in the fun and said.
Zhang Zhong turned to look at the yamen runner. He smiled and said, "There's no need to trouble all of you. My family has always been like this. I can't let people do things for free. When we have time, I'll treat all of you to a better restaurant. You don't have to save. My family still has some savings."
As they were too far away, these people did not know about Zhang Zhong's family. The news had not reached them yet. However, when they saw the fleet, they believed him. However, they could not figure out why someone with such wealth would become an official in Lu Zhou. Did he offend someone?
As they spoke, all the ingredients were transported to the place. More than a dozen cooks were used to cooking in a big pot. They began to get busy. The curious people were still curious, and the people did not stop working. Zhang Zhong's first plan to pacify the people began to be carried out.
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