Following.

Early in the morning, Changzhi County rushed to Yidu County against the cold wind.

It is not only a sincerity, but also a word of sincerity.

What's more, the treatment after surrendering to Cheng still needs to be fought for.

Therefore, he had to go to Yidu in person.

Nowadays, from Linzi to Yidu, few people take the official road, they all take the waterway, go down the river, and it only takes two hours to arrive.

Han Zhen also ordered someone to expand the Zishui Wharf, and built a wide and flat road leading directly to the county seat.

Departing early in the morning, at noon, Changzhi County drove into the county seat in a horse-drawn carriage.

He hadn't been to the county for a while, and the last time he came was during the New Year's Festival, when he came to the government for an assessment.

Sitting in the warm carriage, Changzhi County lifted the curtain and looked at the changes in the county seat.

The cold weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of the people.

I saw that the streets were full of pedestrians, the doors of shops were open, and small stalls were erected on the roadside.

On the corner of the street, there was an occasional beggar or two huddled there, with a broken bowl in front of him.

After so many years of knowing the county, Changzhi County knows that if you want to understand the livelihood of the people, you don't need to look at the population and the geometry of the farmland, you just need to look at the spiritual outlook of the people.

After all, the illusion of prosperity can be faked, but the spiritual outlook from the heart cannot be faked.

Compared with last year, the people of the county town are several times better, and they are full of vigor and vigor between laughter and scolding.

The officials have been rectified, the excesses and miscellaneous taxes have been banned, the pimps and gangs that bully and dominate the market are gone, and even the bandits who have been entrenched outside the county for many years have disappeared without a trace overnight.

This series of changes made the people of the county feel relaxed from the inside out, and the burden on their shoulders suddenly disappeared, and even walking was a little brisker than before.

As for the beggars, there is no way.

No matter how prosperous and rich the area is, there will be beggars, because some people are naturally lazy, do not want to work, do not want to be restrained, just want to live a life of unearned gains, and the days of heaven and earth as beds.

In fact, Han Zhen had already cleaned up the beggars in the county town.

People who are old or born with disabilities arrange a job as sweeping the streets and looking at vacant houses.

As for those able-bodied beggars, they were given some rations and paper clothes to go to the countryside to open up wasteland and farm.

No seeds, no farming tools, no problem, the government will lend you.

Worried about not being able to afford it?

It doesn't matter, you can pay in installments and you don't charge a penny of interest.

Anyway, it's just a sentence, make the best use of things.

Even so, there are still some beggars who stay in the city and do not leave.

Han Zhen also has no way to deal with this kind of lazy person, and it is useless to be caught in prison except for wasting food.

You can't kill them all, so does he still have a reputation?

So I had to let it go and let it fend for itself.

"Zhixian, I've arrived at the government office."

Before I knew it, the carriage came to the front of the government office.

Hearing the coachman's reminder, Chang Zhixian came back to his senses, and after answering, he opened the curtain and got out of the car.

The oncoming cold wind made him shiver.

After tidying up his appearance, Changzhi County came to the front of the government with a steady official step.

The soap officer on the poor spot recognized him, and said with a smile on his face: "I've seen Changzhi County." ”

Chang Zhi County didn't hold a stand, and chuckled: "This official has come to discuss with the county magistrate on important matters this time, and I am tired of making a report." ”

"Changzhi County will wait for a while, and then I will report it."

The soap clerk said and turned around and walked into the palace to report.

After a while, he turned back again: "Changzhi County, the county magistrate is invited!" ”

"I'm tired."

Changzhi County bowed slightly, raised his feet and stepped into the gate of the government.

As soon as I entered the lobby, I saw Han Zhen take the initiative to greet him, and said with a smile: "Changzhi County, I've been waiting for a long time!" ”

Chang Zhixian heard the meaning of his words, his posture was very low, he bowed, and said apologetically: "The county magistrate forgives the sin, it is really too many trivial matters at home, and after dealing with it yesterday, he immediately set off and came non-stop." ”

What the reason is, both sides know in their hearts.

But there are some things that you just need to know in your heart, and you can't say them on the surface.

"It's good to come!"

Han Zhen smiled slightly, took his hands, and helped them up.

After beckoning Changzhi County to sit down, Han Zhen ordered: "Come on, serve tea!" ”

Soon, a small official brought a cup of hot tea: "Changzhi County, please use tea." ”

Taking the hot tea, Chang Zhixian took a sip and silently sorted out his thoughts in his heart.

Toucheng's attitude has arrived, and it's time to talk about treatment.

He Chang Yukun is just a mortal, and he also has seven emotions and six desires.

Take a step back and say, you Han Zhen don't give benefits, why does the big guy pin his head to the waistband and rebel with you?

Isn't that the reason?

Is he Nie Dong idle and has nothing to do?

Don't you just think that following Han Zhen's rebellion has a future, and it's better than hiding in the mountains to open up wasteland and farm.

He Liu Qi didn't do it in Xiao Yanei, and he was a thief with you, is he stupid?

With a passion for blood, or the grace of knowing?

All living beings in this world will never be able to avoid two words, fame and fortune.

Learn to write and martial arts, and the goods are in the emperor's house.

This word can be said to be the essence of the word.

Han Zhen naturally knows these simple truths.

He was the first to speak, breaking the silence and saying, "Have you settled down in your family?" ”

Hearing this, Changzhi County put down the teacup and replied truthfully: "Xiaguan has repaired a letter yesterday and returned to his hometown, ordered him to sell his land and shops at a low price, and took his family to Yidu day and night. It is estimated that it will be able to arrive in half a month. ”

"At present, there is a shortage of official positions, so for the time being, Changzhi County will continue to serve in Linzi County, and then make other arrangements after the year."

Han Zhen paused and continued: "In addition, the dividends we agreed on before are still valid, and there may be more in the future." ”

Not only did Changzhi County's dividends not be canceled, but Zhao Ting and Liu Mi's dividends were also not, and Han Zhen had a plan in his heart, which was about official corruption.

Chang Zhixian was silent, chewing on the conditions offered by Han Zhen in his heart.

After a moment, he stroked his beard and chuckled: "Thank you county magistrate for your love!" ”

Han Zhen smiled slightly and added: "Zhu Ji is also a talent, it's a pity to be a businessman, I am ready to let him enter the Business Academy." ”

"Xiaguan Dai Yuanchen thanks the county magistrate."

Changzhi County thanked him, and then took out a fold from his sleeve pocket, got up and handed it over: "Xia Guan has accumulated some contacts over the years, and this letter is all Xia Guan's best friends, and the county magistrate may be able to use it in the future." ”

That's reciprocating.

After taking the fold, Han Zhen glanced at it a few times.

This excerpt from Changzhi County is written in great detail, and the other party's name, official position, clan power, and resume are all clear.

In addition, there is also the county seat of the county where he has served as the magistrate over the years, and so on.

Closing the fold, Han Zhen looked satisfied and said, "You have a heart!" ”

Chang Zhixian said modestly: "It's all what a lower official should do." ”

"Changzhi County has worked the boat, and I stayed in the county seat for two more days to get together with Zhu Yuanwai." Han Zhen commanded.

"The lower official will retire first!"

Chang Zhixian bowed again, and then turned around and walked out of the lobby.

Seeing his departing back, a smile flashed in Han Zhen's eyes.

Changzhi County won, and now there is still one Xie Ding missing.

However, it is a pity that Xie Ding is different from Changzhi County, he is not only himself, as the head of the Xie family, but also bears the reputation of Shilin that the Xie family has worked hard for several generations over the past hundred years, so he will not easily stand in line.

As for the Qufu Kong family......

Oh, at that time, what Bing Feng pointed out, the Kong family will repair the table from the world!

……

……

As the place under his rule gradually stabilized, Han Zhen was not as busy as he was at the beginning, and the whole person was much more leisurely.

In addition to stabilizing the people, Han Zhen spent all his remaining energy and resources on preparing for war.

The entire Qingzhou, like a huge war machine, is running at high speed with the support of a large amount of money.

Truckloads of grain and grass were transported from all roads in the south, either by water or by land, to the granaries of Linzi and Yidu.

The ordnance workshop built on the banks of the Zishui River is like a giant beast, constantly devouring the transported pig iron, coal, cowhide, horn and tendon and other materials.

Under the hammer hammer

The gunpowder workshops were also running at full capacity, and in addition to the daily training in the military camps of the two counties, more and more firearms were hoarded in the armory.

Today, the gunpowder workshop has added a lot of manpower, from the original one shift to three shifts.

The new manpower is a teenager and girl recruited by Han Zhen before.

These teenagers and girls are all hard-working people and are born with disabilities.

Either mute or deaf...... Some are orphans, while others have been cruelly abandoned by their parents.

If there is no recruitment by Han Zhen, I am afraid that their fate will be extremely miserable.

In today's world, people's hearts are sinister.

Once someone catches you, you break your hands and feet to beg, it's already settled.

What's worse will be made into all kinds of rare beasts and make money.

For example, the vase fairy is to cut off the limbs of young girls, especially slender and thin girls under the age of ten, and stuff them into a large vase, revealing only one head.

Others cut out men's tongues and sew them into freshly peeled bear skins.

The warm bear blood is very sticky, and once it sticks to the skin, it is difficult to take it off, so you can only wear the skin of an animal for the rest of your life, performing hard for people's fun.

Since they were recruited, they have been provided with good food and drink every day, new clothes to wear, playmates to play, and a husband to teach them to read and write.

Therefore, these teenagers and girls regard Han Zhen as a god.

The children selected by Xiao Worm are all more clever and intelligent, and it only took more than two months for Han Zhen to teach them how to use pinyin to communicate daily.

A production line will definitely not be able to meet the needs of the war, and after these teenagers and girls are thoroughly familiar with and master the manufacture of gunpowder, Han Zhen will immediately start building a more professional, more formal, and larger gunpowder workshop.

It is for this reason that Han Zhen chose to teach them pinyin.

In the future, the communication between them was replaced by Hanyu Pinyin, so that the secrecy was raised to a big level.

After all, in this world, no one can understand pinyin anymore except for himself.

……

Time flashed to November 12, the winter solstice.

The winter solstice was second only to New Year's Day in the Song Dynasty, and it was attached great importance to the emperor and the people.

It is recorded in the "Guangji of the Year": "The winter solstice is called the sub-year, and the laity take the night before the winter solstice as the winter division, and most of them imitate the story of the year and the difference." ”

Even the poor people will be easier on this day to get new clothes, prepare food, and worship their ancestors.

If you are really poor and have no money to spare, then you will also find a way to eat a wonton.

Winter wontons, New Year's dumplings, this is the custom of the Song Dynasty.

And all the officials of the government will rest for seven days.

In the mansion, after worshipping the ancestors, Han Zhen and his family gathered together to eat wontons.

Ma Shuyao also came, and specially brought hand-wrapped wontons.

"Husband, how about the slave's craftsmanship."

After handing over a bowl of wontons, Ma Shuyao's big eyes full of aura looked at Han Zhen expectantly.

Looking at the colorful wontons in the bowl, Han Zhen couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.

Seeing his expression, An Niang on the side pursed her lips and smiled: "Erlang doesn't know the goods, but what you pack is a hundred flavor wontons, and ordinary people can't eat them!" ”

After An Niang's explanation, Han Zhen understood.

These wontons come in different colors and fillings, each with a different meaning, and the more colors, the more joyful it is.

In ancient times, there were no food colorings, so if you want to make wontons of different colors, you need to use a lot of ingredients, and ordinary people really can't afford it.

"Yoyo has a heart."

Han Zhen smiled slightly, held the spoon and ate a wonton, and immediately praised: "It's delicious, and your craftsmanship is up!" ”

"It's good if you like it."

After receiving Han Zhen's praise, a smile suddenly appeared on Ma Shuyao's face.

An Niang quipped: "Don't worry, there is still more than a month before the New Year's Festival, and after the end of the year, you will be able to pass the door." ”

"Hmm!"

Ma Shuyao blushed shyly, but the joy in his eyes couldn't be hidden.

At this time, Han Zhen said: "By the way, what about Runniang, let her eat some too." ”

An Niang replied: "After the sacrifice to the ancestors, Yan Niang is a little tired, and she should be asleep at this time." ”

Since beating Han Zhang's family through the first three months of pregnancy, morning sickness has been alleviated a lot, but recently there is another problem, drowsiness.

Now that I have to sleep several times a day, I invited Dr. Zhang to see that she was in good health, which was the natural reaction of a pregnant woman, and Han Zhen was relieved.

Han Zhen nodded and said, "Since you have fallen asleep, then you won't disturb her." ”

"County magistrate, urgent report in the army!"

Suddenly, there was a shout from the front yard.

Han Zhen's expression changed slightly, put down the wonton in his hand, and said loudly: "Come in!" ”

Ma Shuyao and An Niang glanced at each other, got up one after another, and went to the backyard with interest.

As soon as the two women left the hall, they saw a soldier in black lacquered mountain armor, crossing the weeping flower gate and striding into the courtyard.

All the way to the hall, the soldier took out a thin bamboo tube from his bosom.

Taking the bamboo tube, Han Zhen first checked the fire paint, and then opened the bamboo tube and took out the paper in the bamboo tube.

After reading it, he immediately got up and ordered: "Come on, get armor and prepare horses!" ”

In a short time, two servants came to the hall with great difficulty, carrying a set of black lacquer heavy armor.

This set of heavy armor is the black light armor tailored for him by the Academy of Engineering.

The whole suit of armor has three layers, the innermost layer is a set of chain mail, and there is a thin layer of cotton armor in addition to the chain mail.

The function of this layer of cotton armor is to absorb shock, and if it is hit by a blunt instrument such as a heavy axe or copper hammer, it can remove some force.

The outermost layer is the black light armor.

The whole set of armor weighs eighty-two pounds, although it is not as heavy as when the foot armor is all hung, but the defense power is almost the same.

(End of chapter)