He hurriedly hugged his fists and said, "Then I don't know how many distinguished guests can bring the roster, and the little ones will go to the yamen to report." ”

Fang Ling smiled slightly: "That's it, I'll go to the yamen with you, they will take their time in the back, what do you think?"

The young soldier nodded and said, "Okay, Childe, please come with me." ”

So, he gave an order to the soldiers guarding the city next to him, and then led Fang Ling into the city.

Seeing that Fang Ling got out of the car and walked, Chen Mou and the others naturally sat in the car safely, got out of the car one by one, and followed behind.

Although there were not many people in Fang Ling's party, they were quite imposing, and as soon as they entered the city, they attracted the attention of many pedestrians, whispering quietly on the side.

The whole county does not look big from the appearance, and it is also a type of avenue that leads straight to the end, and various small roads extend from the avenue in a straight and intricate way, which is also considered to be decent in terms of pattern.

Fang Ling walked over and found that the clothes worn by the people were very simple, many of them still had patches on their clothes, and there was no place like a bazaar, there seemed to be many shops on both sides of the street, but now they have long been closed, only the flags of those wine shops are still hanging outside, which looks a little tattered.

Fang Ling and the others all frowned slightly, the poverty in this county town was indeed worse than imagined, so he asked the young soldier, "Why are these wine shops closed?"

The young soldier didn't feel embarrassed, and said calmly: "Childe doesn't know, the people in our county are not rich, so there is no market or liquor store in the city, not even an inn." ”

Fang Ling inquired about some more information, and the more he listened, the more solemn his expression became, and it didn't take long for him to come to the outside of the county office.

The county government is very small, the gate is open, the leather drum in front of the door looks very shabby, and there is a small crack on the edge, a middle-aged man wearing fast clothes is standing in the courtyard, "touching" his chin and looking at the eaves and pondering.

The young soldier strode in and asked with a smile, "Brother He, what are you thinking, so distracted?"

He Yu said with a hearty smile: "I saw a bird flying on the eaves, and I was thinking about how to get it down so that the adults could make up for it." ”

Speaking of this, he saw Fang Ling and his party, and said in surprise: "Who are these people?"

At this time, Dong Canghai had already raised the holy decree rolled into a scroll high, and said loudly: "Why don't you go and tell Cao County Order, His Royal Highness the King of Shicheng has arrived!"

As soon as he said this, the young soldier was so frightened that his legs trembled, and he knelt on the ground with a plop, and He Zhuai also knelt on the ground in a panic, not daring to raise his head.

Fang Ling hurriedly walked up, helped the two of them up, and said to He Zhukuai: "Go and inform Lord Cao, don't worry." ”

Having said that, He Yu ran faster than a rabbit, and suddenly ran into the backyard and disappeared.

The young soldier lowered his head and said, "The little one didn't know that His Highness had arrived, and he was rude to interrogate just now, and he really deserved death." ”

Fang Ling smiled and said, "You are loyal and dutiful, what is the crime?" Okay, you go to the city gate first. ”

"Yes!" the young soldier breathed a sigh of relief, and just as he was about to leave quickly, Fang Ling suddenly asked, "By the way, what's your name?"

"The little one's name is Hao Tieniu. The young soldier hurriedly replied, with a little excitement in his expression, what is the King of Shicheng, that is the emperor's eldest son, isn't it a great honor to be asked by the prince himself?

"Alright, there you go. Fang Ling smiled and waved his hand.

Not long after Hao Tieniu went out, a middle-aged man wearing a nine-grade official uniform hurriedly came from the backyard, this person was thin, with a long body, but his eyes were very powerful, although he was wearing an official uniform, but there were some patches.

Cao Jingyuan walked quickly in three steps and two steps, and when he came closer, he knelt down in front of Fang Ling and the Su family, and said respectfully: "The lower official Cao Jingyuan pays a visit to Su Niangniang and the king of Shicheng. ”

Although it was only the first time he saw him, Fang Ling couldn't help but nod his head in appreciation. This person is cold, but his eyes are firm, although he is a visit, but he speaks sonorously and powerfully, neither humble nor arrogant, and he can see that he is arrogant.

Although Chen Mou did not find out the exact situation of Shicheng in the six databases, he found the resumes of the officials of the three counties, and naturally Cao Jingyuan also had them.

Cao Jingyuan has been an official here for more than ten years, although this place is not rich enough, but it is also a comfortable place, and the prestige is very high, so he has also been valued by the county guard, and has repeatedly wanted to promote him to other regions as an official, but Cao Jingyuan insisted on staying, and once said that Feng County is not rich, so he will always be an official.

When he heard Chen Mou talk about this person, Fang Ling was quite touched, the Chu State was huge, but how many officials could be willing to be cold like this? Even Dong Canghai and the others couldn't help but sigh secretly when they looked at it.

Now that he saw it with his own eyes, he couldn't help but appreciate it, he strode over, took his arm to help him up, and said kindly: "Lord Cao doesn't have to be polite, get up quickly." ”

"Your Highness. Cao Jingyuan didn't expect Fang Ling to come over to help him in person, so he quickly stood up, and then said a little embarrassedly, "Xiaguan received a document from the four counties around Shicheng to give His Highness the land seal half a month ago, but I didn't expect His Highness to come here first, so everything hasn't been prepared yet." ”

Fang Ling said with a smile: "It's okay, in fact, there is no need to prepare, my mother and I are used to living in the cold palace, as long as there is a place, a few simple pieces of furniture." ”

Su Shi had already removed the cloak and veil at this time, and said with a bow: "Ling'er is right, Master Cao, you don't have to worry too much, if there is a vacant space in the yamen, we can live here." ”

Seeing that the king of Shicheng and Niangniang had no shelf at all, and thought about themselves everywhere, Cao Jingyuan was also quite moved, and said movingly: "If His Royal Highness and Niangniang don't dislike it, there will be a house next to the yamen, the place is very large, and the furniture is also very sufficient, it is ......."

"What's wrong?" Fang Ling asked.

Although there were not many people in Fang Ling's party, they were quite imposing, and as soon as they entered the city, they attracted the attention of many pedestrians, whispering quietly on the side.

The whole county does not look big from the appearance, and it is also a type of avenue that leads straight to the end, and various small roads extend from the avenue in a straight and intricate way, which is also considered to be decent in terms of pattern.

Fang Ling walked over and found that the clothes worn by the people were very simple, many of them still had patches on their clothes, and there was no place like a bazaar, there seemed to be many shops on both sides of the street, but now they have long been closed, only the flags of those wine shops are still hanging outside, which looks a little tattered.

Cao Jingyuan said: "That house was originally a resident of this county, and his three sons were all conscripted to the border and died on the battlefield. ”

Only then did Fang Ling understand that there had been a death in the house, so he laughed: "Lord Cao is too worried, when it comes to dead people, there are many more cold palaces." ”

Saying this, Cao Jingyuan was slightly stunned, but Dong Canghai and the others laughed, Fang Ling's words were not false, after the establishment of the Chu State, there were indeed a lot of concubines who died in the cold palace, but the example of a successful exit from the palace like the Su family, and the son was also crowned king is even more unheard.

So, Cao Jingyuan led everyone to a house not far from the yamen, because no one lived in it all year round, and the house was already full of dust and many cobwebs.

Dong Cang immediately commanded his guards and began to clean the room, while Huang Jian and Meng Zhiyuan began to unload the boxes on the carriage.

After the inventory was cleaned up here, Fang Ling told his mother to rest first, and then sat down in the hall, Chen Mou stood aside with his hands tied, and Cao Jingyuan did not dare to slack off, and stood respectfully in the middle of the hall.

Fang Ling smiled and asked Cao Jingyuan to sit on the side seat, and said, "The first stop of this king will be to your Feng County, I'm afraid I will have to stay here for a little longer." ”

Cao Jingyuan hurriedly said: "Feng County is the fief of His Highness, and His Highness can live as long as he wants. It's just that the county is short of materials, so I don't know what His Highness wants?"

Fang Ling didn't answer directly, but asked rhetorically, "Lord Cao, do you know what it means for this place to become the fief of this king?"

Cao Jingyuan replied with a straight face: "Even His Highness is the lord of this place!"

Fang Ling nodded with satisfaction and said, "It's good that you understand this truth, that is to say, from now on, you don't have to be responsible for any county guarding the state capital or the like, you just need to listen to my orders." ”

"Yes, Your Highness. Cao Jingyuan replied.

Fang Ling said: "Then the dialogue between you and me does not have to be hidden, since I chose to come to Feng County, naturally I did not come here to eat, drink and have fun, but to come here to observe the people's feelings ♀ All the way, I saw that Feng County is indeed very poor, and it is also very heartbroken." ”

Cao Jingyuan arched his hand and said: "Your Highness has a benevolent heart, which is the blessing of the people of Feng County. ”

Fang Ling asked, "Tell me, how many people are in Feng County now, and how many soldiers are there in the Yamen guarding the city?"

Cao Jingyuan replied truthfully: "The total population of this county is more than 5,000 people, of which 2,000 are in the county seat, and about 3,000 people in the townships combined. ”

Speaking of this, Fang Ling and Chen Mou glanced at each other, and both frowned.

You must know that there are 10,000 people in an ordinary county in Chu State, and there are even tens of thousands, but this county is only more than 5,000.

Cao Jingyuan then said: "In addition to the lower officials, there is also a scribe in the yamen, a head catcher∝ there are a total of 10 soldiers in the city, two in the front and back doors, and the others patrol in the city or rest in shifts. ”

Fang Ling's heart sank again when he heard this, this county town didn't even have the basic configuration, and in the general yamen, there were more than ten or twenty people who caught the fast, and there were more than fifty soldiers guarding the city.

Fang Ling asked, "Then tell me, why is Feng County so poor?"

Cao Jingyuan sighed, arched his hand and said: "Your Highness, the land of Fengxian is already in the mountains, and the people rely on the mountains to eat the mountains, and the sea to eat the sea, except for a few cultivated farmland, most of the people make a living by hunting. However, since the bandits occupied the mountains and forests, hunting has become a luxury, so they can only cultivate more arable land outside the city, but the soil here is poor, and although the vegetables and fruits are ripe, they are bitter, and there is no way to sell them except for their own food. On the way out of the mountain, there are bandits on the mountain road, and the annual tax is serious, so the people have no livelihood and are naturally poor. ”