Spring in Beihai County is particularly bright, under the clear sky, a few yellow orioles are dressed in bright feathers to comb and build nests, the banks of the giant ocean and Jishui are happily growing tender pastures, the water surface is full of flocks of ducks and white geese, from time to time there will be a few fishing boats sailing by, the winter wheat in the fields has grown to a foot high, the air is slightly cold, but the heart is warm, just like the spring land is pregnant with new hope, this is an intoxicating season.

After a winter of evacuation, the population of Yidu County has dropped to 200,000, and people have returned to their hometowns to start a new life, building houses, weaving reeds, and cultivating land.

As the population decreases, the crowded Yidu County gradually becomes cleaner, the air is no longer muddy, the makeshift dilapidated houses are torn down, the land is leveled, large tracts of open space are opened, a straight road running through the north and south is paved with new bricks, and the shops on both sides are renovated, and the old scene of Yidu County is once again revealed.

In the northern section of Central Avenue, there is a middle house covering an area of about three acres that is being intensively renovated and has entered the final stage of completion.

This house was bought by Zhang Xuan two months ago with 30 taels of gold, it was originally a separate residence of an official eunuch's family, built very elegantly, there are more than 20 rooms, and a small garden, during the war was bought by a large family surnamed Liu in Gaomi County, a family of more than 20 people crowded here, after the Gaomi bandits subsided, the family returned to their hometown, and the house was sold by others, and finally bought by Zhang Xuan.

Zhang Xuan originally planned to live for Wei Chigong's wife, children and mother, but Wei Chigong also bought a house himself, and this house has been empty, just when Lu Qing came to Beihai County, this house has played a role, and Lu Qing is currently living in Yu Chigong's house. When this is done, she can move in.

Zhang Xuan walked to the back garden, several pear trees were blooming snow-white and colorful, a few florists in the corner were planting a peony, and the half-acre fish pond next to it had been cleaned up. A pool of clear water, some water hyacinths, and water lilies have been planted, and hundreds of colorful fish fry swim leisurely in the water.

"How many days will it take to complete the repair?" Jao Hyun turned around and asked a foreman.

The foreman hurriedly stepped forward and said, "General Qiyu, we will speed up the progress and strive to deliver the work in three days." ”

"Good work!"

Zhang Xuan smiled and asked again: "There have been many people building houses recently!"

The foreman smiled bitterly and said: "We are so busy that we don't even have time to eat, and the work is scheduled until summer, and Wei Changshi still wants us to repair the county office." I'll have to find another way to go to Qi County to recruit artisans. ”

"How's it going over there in Qinghe County?"

The foreman shook his head, "It's still the same over there, I just went there ten days ago, I wanted to get some work, but I didn't get a single business, or I just built thatched houses, that kind of work doesn't need us to do, and few big families go back." ”

"What is the reason?" Jang Xuan was puzzled. Zhang Jin said that he had been annihilated, why had no one gone back yet.

"General. Gao Shida and Dou Jiande are still there, and the war over there still has to be fought, and everyone understands in their hearts that going back at this time is to be a war fat sheep, and no one is stupid. ”

Zhang Xuan nodded, he knew a little bit of the people's true thoughts from the mouths of these people. However, this can only represent the thoughts of some large households, and does not represent ordinary people, especially farmers who are eager to return to their hometowns to farm, and I believe that Wei Yunqi's information will be more comprehensive and authoritative.

At this time, Zhang Xuan felt something. As soon as he turned around, he saw Wei Yunqi standing not far behind him, and Zhang Xuan walked up with a smile, "How did Mr. know that I was here?" ”

"It's very close to the county office, and I saw it when I walked over, and I have news to tell the general."

Zhang Xuan nodded, instructed the foreman a few words, and walked towards the gate with Wei Yunqi.

Walking to the door, Wei Yunqi said in a low voice: "Wang Shichong sent someone." ”

"Has Wang Shichong arrived in Qinghe County?"

"I also just got the news from Qinghe County, Wang Shichong arrived in Qinghe County with 20,000 troops the day before yesterday, but it was my expectation that he sent someone to find the general."

"Why?"

"For the sake of the population, Wang Shichong sent a letter to Pei Shuai before, asking him to repatriate all the people who fled to Qi County in Qinghe County, and there are many refugees in Qinghe County on our side, and it is estimated that Wang Shichong will also ask us to repatriate."

Zhang Xuan can understand Wang Shichong's eagerness to have a population, carrying grain, building fortifications, repairing city walls, etc., all need a large number of people, and now the north of the Qinghe River has almost become a no-man's land, only the two counties of Linqing and Qingquan in the south have a little population, at most there are only more than 10,000 people, and even fewer are young and strong.

Therefore, the first big problem facing Wang Shichong is not to suppress bandits, but to restore people's livelihood and resume production.

Zhang Xuan sneered, "The legs are on someone else's body, how can they be repatriated?" I wonder what Pei Renji replied to him? ”

Wei Yunqi smiled and said: "The news I got is that Pei Renji threw Wang Shichong's letter directly into the brazier, and he didn't pay attention to Wang Shichong's request at all, I don't know if the general reached any consensus with Wang Shichong in Luoyang?" ”

"I met Wang Shichong in the capital, and we chatted politely with each other, but there is a consensus! I'm afraid he's thinking too much. ”

After pondering for a while, Zhang Xuan asked again: "How many refugees from Qinghe County do we have in Beihai County?" ”

"There are about 50,000 people, mainly concentrated in Linzi County, but most of the refugees in Qinghe County are still in Qi County, and there are more than 200,000 people in Qi County.

"Why, are you worried about war?"

Wei Yun nodded, "War is the main reason, and another reason is that in Beihai County, they have already reclaimed the land, planted food, and built earthen houses, so they can survive here, but they have to start over when they go back to Qinghe County, so most people are reluctant to go back." ”

Zhang Xuan laughed, "Since they are worried about the war, we will use the war to make a fuss, and Mr. can send someone to Qinghe County to spread the news, just say that a big war is going to break out in Qinghe County, and Wang Shichong needs a large number of people to assist in the battle, I believe that everyone knows it in their hearts." ”

Wei Yunqi understood what Zhang Xuan meant, "The subordinates will arrange people." ”

Wei Yunqi turned around to leave, but Zhang Xuan stopped him and said with a smile: "Actually, it's not impossible to send some people back, can we ask for a little high price?" ”

"The general opens his mouth in spite of the lion." Wei Yunqi laughed and walked quickly.

Zhang Xuan came to the county office, he walked into the guest hall, only to see Sima Liu Ling was accompanying a middle-aged man to speak, seeing Zhang Xuan come in, Liu Ling hurriedly got up and introduced: "General, this is Wang Tongshou's messenger and Wang Tongshou's brother." ”

The middle-aged man looked a little like Wang Shichong, but he was much fatter than Wang Shichong, his face was full of fat, and his small eyes were almost squeezed out of sight by the meat, he stood up with great effort and bowed to Zhang Xuan, "Under Wang Shiyun, see General Zhang!" ”

Zhang Xuan smiled politely and said, "It turned out to be Mr. Wang, no need to be polite, please take a seat!" ”

He couldn't think of a suitable title for a while, and the title of Mr. Practical was inappropriate, but Zhang Xuan couldn't think of any better title besides that.

Wang Shiyun doesn't care about Zhang Xuan's entanglement in his title, he is the housekeeper of his brother Wang Shichong, and he will also be in charge of the people's livelihood in Qinghe County, as long as Zhang Xuan is willing to send the people of Qinghe County back, he can do anything.

Wang Shiyun bowed and said with a smile: "The general also knows that General Wang was named the Qinghe Tongshou this time, facing the army of Gao Shida and Dou Jiande, it is really a long way to go, it is impossible to achieve the goal in the short term, and long-term planning must be made, but Qinghe County has become a red land, and there is not a single family for hundreds of miles, which is very unfavorable for long-term operations, General Wang hopes that the general's side can send back the people of Qinghe County, and we will be grateful." ”

It is simply wishful thinking to want to get valuable population resources if you are grateful, Zhang Xuan sneered in his heart, but said with a sincere smile on his face: "I hit it off with General Wang, General Wang's request is my motivation, I will definitely fully support General Wang to suppress bandits and repatriate the people of Qinghe County as soon as possible, please go back and tell General Wang, I will take action immediately." ”

Wang Shiyun was overjoyed, he didn't expect Zhang Xuan to agree so happily, he was going to spend a lot of time, but now it seems that all his previous worries are too much, he stood up again with difficulty, "General Gaoyi, we are grateful!" (To be continued......)