On the last day of the trip to Jingdezhen, Zhu Zhen hosted a banquet for the prefect of Raozhou, as well as Zhou Ji, Ji Ming, and Cheng Qian, and thanked them for their hospitality.

A few people were naturally flattered, but they also knew that His Highness invited them to this meal and had something serious to discuss. It was all foreshadowing.

After the five flavors of the dish, Zhu Zhen said to Ji Ming, the county magistrate of Fuliang: "It's really a shame to delay your county for so many days." ”

"Your Highness is serious, Your Highness can come to Jingdezhen to leave footprints, take a look at it, it is the supreme honor of our county." Ji Ming was busy and flattered.

"Yes, His Royal Highness King Jiahai King of Chu has come to the county of the county, and it will be the top priority to be written into the county history and the government records in the future." Governor Sun was also busy echoing.

"Hahaha, that's serious." His Royal Highness the King of Chu waved his hand and said:

"This king knows that the magistrates are now busy to death. It is necessary not only to clear the acres of land, compile the yellow book, and implement the lijia, but also to arrange various matters for immigration. It's really big for you to think about it. ”

"It's okay...... it's okay" Sun Jia and Ji Ming laughed, but secretly screamed in their hearts, aren't they all you, the ghost errand sent down?

"Oh yes, this is a mission that this king has given you." Zhu Zhen patted his head and pretended to say: "Oh, when you start playing, you forget all about business." ”

"Your Highness has worked hard day and night, it's too hard, and it should be relaxed for a few days." The two officials could only smile bitterly, which made it impossible to hide from what should have come. Now it's finally my turn.

"That's right, but since I think about it, I'll just ask you a few words." Zhu Zhen picked up a handkerchief and wiped his mouth.

"Your Highness, may I ask." The two hurriedly sat upright.

"Don't be nervous, this is not a formal question, just talk casually." Zhu Zhen smiled and asked, "Governor Sun, how is the progress on Raozhou?" ”

"Back to Your Highness, the task force has completed all the work in Poyang County; The Qingzhang of Yugan County has also been completed, and the compilation of the yellow book is being stepped up. On the side of Leping County, the lower officials also urged to start preparations. It is expected that the clearing will start next month, that is, in July. Then it will be the turn of Fuliang County. Sun Jia hurriedly reported.

"Ouch, half of this year has passed, and time flies so fast." Zhu Zhen couldn't help but sigh a little. Last month, his two elder brothers had already gone to the domain, and next month, Zhu Gaochi ...... Oh no, the eldest son of the fourth brother, it's time to be born.

"Hehe, it's not fast...... the two officials have different feelings, they both feel that this year is really like a year. I am trembling every day, and I can't tell if my head will move one day.

"You can't just sit back and wait, a lot of preliminary work can be done first." Lao Liu said to the county magistrate of that season: "For example, you can find out the bottom of the population field in advance, which can not only reduce the workload at that time, but also leave a good impression on the team." ”

"Yes, yes." Ji Ming hurriedly nodded to indicate that he was taught, and almost took a small notebook to write it down.

"In fact, the government has ordered the counties to start these tasks in advance." Governor Sun invited merit.

"Oh? That's good. But how about the execution below? Zhu Zhen asked Ji Zhixian: "This king is here to test you, just talk about this Jingdezhen, how many registered populations are there?" ”

"Back to Your Highness." Ji Zhixian hurriedly replied: "Jingdezhen has a total of 2,103 households and 16,206 registered residents. ”

"Yes, yes, yes. But this king has seen it in the past two days, but there are more than so many people. Zhu Zhen asked after boasting.

"Back to Your Highness, Jingdezhen is in a special situation. As His Highness can see, there are more than 500 potters, each of whom employs many workers. Small workshops employ hundreds, and large ones can even reach as many as one or two thousand. Ji Ming hurriedly explained:

"So there must be 1230,000 workers in the whole county. How can there be so many people in the town? Most of them are from other parts of the county. ”

"It's all from your Fuliang County?" Zhu Zhen asked lightly.

"It's not." Ji Ming's heart tightened, and he replied honestly: "Because of the high wages here, there are people from all the surrounding counties to work, and most of them belong to Duchang County. ”

"Do these people from other counties have road guides?" Zhu Zhen asked unkindly.

"This ......"

Although there are ice buckets in the four corners of the room, there are maids who keep playing fans, bringing in a gentle cool breeze, so that the banquet does not feel the heat at all. But the two magistrates, as well as Cheng Qian, who had a blue nose and swollen face, all sweated when they heard this.

"Don't be stunned, answer quickly." Governor Sun hurriedly urged Ji Zhixian to say: "Just answer truthfully, don't play tricks with Your Highness." ”

"Hey, Your Highness." Ji Ming wiped his sweat, so he had to bite the bullet and said: "Because they are all neighboring counties and not far away, they don't force anyone to work, they must have a road guide." ”

"Your Highness, so many people come out to work, it is impossible for the county to give so many directions." Cheng Qian was still righteous, knowing that he couldn't let the county master carry this matter alone, otherwise Ji Ming would definitely clean him up when he turned around.

"But our guild also has requirements, but if any worker wants to work, he must have a fellow villager as a guarantee, and he must leave the household post with us, and we are much stricter than the government."

"You're embarrassed to say it. Who gave you so much power that you still dare to detain people's household posts? Who made the post? Do you dare to deduct it? "But after eating His Highness, he split his head and covered his face.

"Yes, I was wrong...... Cheng Qian lowered his head and didn't dare to speak.

"It's a dereliction of duty, and I ask Your Highness to punish it." Ji Ming quickly got up and knelt down at the table.

"......" Cheng Qian originally wanted to kneel along, but after thinking about it, doesn't this confirm the collusion between officials and businessmen? More troublesome. I had to sit there like pins and needles, and I couldn't wait to find a crack in the ground to get into.

The atmosphere in the hall has dropped to freezing, which is much better than an ice bucket.

"Hahaha." Only then did the sixth put away his stinky face, and said with a smile: "Get up, Ji Zhixian, this king doesn't have words first, just chat casually, why are you so serious?" ”

"Yes, Yes, Your Highness." Ji Ming was like being fished out of the water, he had been completely spoiled.

"Jingdezhen is different from other places, this is a rare handicraft pearl in my Ming Dynasty." Zhu Zhen continued to slow down and said: "We have to love it, and we must protect it, so you don't have to worry that this king will burn the qin and cook the crane." But I won't, and I won't allow anyone to destroy Jingdezhen's hard-won prosperity! ”

"Oh, Your Highness, it's so much, it's so much, it's so much...... "Everyone's tears fell, half moved, half crying and laughing, why do you always have to do this kind of people?

After everyone didn't say anything to thank them, Zhu Zhen once again let them experience a roller coaster: "However, you can't be too self-cherishing and ignore its problems." After all, this Jingdezhen is just a town, and as a result, there are more people gathered than in the provincial capital, which is obviously inappropriate. That's too appealing! ”

"Yes, Yes, Your Highness said what to do......" Everyone was no longer able to chase his thoughts, so they could only be at his mercy.

"Let's divert it." Only then did Zhu Zhen see the poor dagger: "Divide some people out, isn't it no problem?" ”

(End of chapter)