The workshops in Ning An County could be roughly divided into two types.
The first type was purely government-owned and belonged to the Jingguo Royal Family and Ning An County.
The second type was privately owned, including the workshops built by the aristocratic families, wealthy families, and scholars.
Apart from the most important workshops that could not be sold, most of the workshops would either close down or be sold if they were unable to make profits.
Fang Yun's textile workshop was owned by the county. If they wanted to sell it, they would have to go through the county government and get approval from the government. If they wanted to sell the largest workshops, they would have to go through the Ministry of Works.
In the past few years, Jing Country's national strength had declined. Those workers who hoped to get more remuneration had gone to other countries, resulting in the continuous loss of talents in Jing Country. In order to get back the talents, Jing Country gave outstanding workshop owners high salaries and gave them a certain official status. If the workshop was not well managed, these workshop owners were allowed to buy the workshop.
"I will send the blueprint of the spinning machine tomorrow. You can continue with your work." Fang Yun left with Ao Huang.
When they walked out of the tearoom, they saw Fang Yun's private soldiers being blocked outside by the Beimang Army and Punishment Hall personnel who were protecting the workshop. The private soldiers stood there quietly. Behind them stood some bailiffs. Behind the bailiffs were the Demon Steel Cavalry that had dismounted. There were over two thousand of them.
Fang Yun nodded and said, "Let them in."
"Yes!"
The guards let them in, but they did not move. Fang Yun nodded again and said, "Let's begin!"
"Let's go!"
Under the lead of Fang Yun's aides, the two thousand soldiers were divided into two hundred teams and rushed toward the two hundred workshops like wolves and tigers.
There was at least one bailiff among the people who went to the county workshops. Each bailiff held a document with the crimson seal of the county magistrate on it.
There were no bailiffs among the people who went to the royal workshops. They were all Fang Yun's private soldiers. These private soldiers also held documents in their hands, but the seal of the Empress Dowager was on it instead of the county magistrate's seal.
After these people rushed into the workshops, they immediately took control of the workshop owners and accountants.
Many workshop owners struggled and cursed, but they were easily subdued. There were even seven workshop owners who tried to use force or incite the workers to resist. They were killed on the spot by Fang Yun's private soldiers.
Seven bloody corpses were dragged on the ground by the horses as they moved along the workshop street. Everyone was shocked.
No one knew what was going on. It was still fine in the morning, and Fang Yun was talking and laughing with the workshop owner and the workers. How could it have been less than four hours? Why did they suddenly start a large-scale search and even cause the deaths of seven people?
How could the weather change so quickly?
Not long after, more than six hundred people were escorted to the open space in front of the Bullet Flower Workshop, blocking the workshop street with more than two thousand people who had captured them.
More and more people gathered on the Workshop Street. Almost all the people who had nothing to do rushed over, forming a dark mass.
Fang Yingwu quickly arrived in front of Fang Yun and said, "Reporting to daren, a total of 632 people have been invited to the county yamen for a meeting. There are seven people who intend to use force to resist. According to your orders, we will kill them on the spot! "
"Invite them to the county yamen. This county wants to have a discussion, not a trial! "
As Fang Yun spoke, he stepped into his carriage and drove to the county yamen.
Ao Huang tilted his head and rubbed his dragon horn against the carriage wall to stop the itch. At the same time, he said worriedly, "Fang Yun, yesterday you said you wanted to arrest … no, invite them to the county yamen for a meeting. I didn't agree, and now it's blown up. If people die on the spot, I'm afraid something big will happen. "
"I'm just afraid it won't blow up."
Ao Huang said loudly, "Ever since you came to Ning An County and became the local emperor, I've noticed that you're becoming more and more unrestrained! Tell me, should I still learn from you? "Ao Huang's big eyes stared at Fang Yun and kept wandering.
"If this county can suppress me, how can I set foot on the Divine Path?" Fang Yun asked.
"But you're just a Jinshi substitute county magistrate. In the entire Mishou, there's no one else except you and Cai He who's hiding in the Green Crow County yamen! You can't use the power of the Cabinet Councilor, Duke-guarding Duke, or Xusheng. How are you going to deal with so many officials? "
Fang Yun smiled. "You've misunderstood one thing from the beginning."
"Misunderstood what? I think I've heard you mention it before, but I don't know what you've misunderstood. "
Fang Yun smiled and didn't answer. Instead, he said, "When we need rain for planting in spring, don't forget to help."
"That's not a problem, we're close friends!" Ao Huang replied in Ning An County's dialect.
Before they reached the county yamen, Cai He sent an urgent message.
"Are you crazy? Why did you arrest all the owners of the government-owned workshops? You even killed seven of them? Don't you know the identities of those workshop owners? Some are childhood playmates of important figures in the aristocratic families, some are of royal blood with the surname Zhao, and some are relatives of local tyrants. Do you think those who can snatch the fat meat of the workshop owners are really those low-level craftsmen? How could it be their turn! Early tomorrow morning, the aristocratic families, officials, and members of the royal family will definitely band together to complain about you at the entrance of the Imperial Palace! Once this matter is out, the ratings of the people's livelihood and governance will definitely drop! "
"They wouldn't dare." Fang Yun's response was understated.
"Impossible! They wouldn't dare to target you directly, but they can beat around the bush and have those people warn you! They aren't worried about the workshop owners, but that you will infringe on their interests when your status rises in the future! Do you understand what I'm saying? "Cai He's words were filled with anxiety and concern.
If it were anyone else, Fang Yun wouldn't have explained in detail. However, Cai He was an old acquaintance of his. Cai He and his teacher, Kang Ha-chuan, had been of great help, so he said, "Brother Cai, you're overthinking it. If it were in the past, I might have been worried that they would band together to complain to the Imperial Palace, but in recent days, they won't be able to go. "
"Oh? Could it be that you have something up your sleeve? Is it related to your actions in Ning An County? Will the School of Legalism or the School of Medicine help? I heard that the School of Craftsmen also helped you in the workshop recently? "
"If nothing goes wrong, the three families will restrain their disciples," Fang Yun said.
"Is that so? Then I'm overthinking it. However, even if the three families help you now, how are you going to settle this storm? If you can't settle it and the conflict intensifies, all the officials in Ning An County will abandon you. Your governance will definitely be downgraded to fourth grade and become a stain on your record! "
"Yes, I have a way to prevent them from leaving."
"Those officials and the workshop owners are bound together for good or ill. If you attack the workshop owners, your next step will be to attack the officials. How can they tolerate you!"
Fang Yun smiled and replied, "After I hit them with a stick, I'll give them a sweet date. When they've tasted the sweetness, I'll attack!"
"You … it seems like we've underestimated you. You probably have your own plans for the governance of Ning An County. Since you're so confident, I won't say anything. As long as I'm in Azure Crow Residence, all the political matters that I decide on will go smoothly! "
"Thank you, teacher!" Fang Yun replied half-jokingly. Teacher was a title used to address the head examiner. However, the head examiner in Saint Origin was Half-saint, so the title was rarely used.
"Don't tease me! That's right, the price of grain has been rising recently. Once there's a crisis, immediately open the warehouse and sell the grain at a fair price. If there's even the slightest problem, it'll definitely cause a riot! Especially in Ning An County, there are many outsiders. If someone spreads rumors, it'll get out of hand. "
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