Chapter 869: Ruohua (Part )
The twenty-first year of Zhaoping.
The imperial court sent a large amount of money, grain and supplies, and Minister Shen of the Ministry of Works personally brought hundreds of craftsmen to the border. The border army camp also dispatched 30,000 soldiers to do the work.
The governor of Cai County who returned to Liangcheng also sent a large amount of food.
Jiang Shaohua looked at the white-haired County Magistrate Cai and sighed with a smile: "I haven't seen you for a few years. County Magistrate Cai also has white hair now."
Magistrate Cai said with a smile: "Your Majesty is in his prime, but I am already old."
The diligent legal advisor was promoted by the princess to be the county magistrate. In the following ten years, he worked hard and made Li County a peaceful and prosperous place. Later, he became the governor of Guiliang City. It took only a dozen years for the county to go from devastated and desolate to prosperous and peaceful.
This is the truly capable minister in the heart of Her Majesty the Empress.
Jiang Shaohua was reluctant to let him go, and whispered, "Prefect Cai has already reached retirement age. I will ask the Ministry of Personnel to select a suitable official, and Prefect Cai can retire and enjoy his old age with peace of mind!"
The Magistrate of Cai County is already over 60 years old this year. According to Daliang law, officials can retire at the age of 60. The Magistrate of Cai County has long exceeded the age limit, but he is still working hard. The Empress finally found her conscience and could not bear it any longer.
Magistrate Cai said with a smile: "I can still hold on for a few more years. When the new Liang City is built and everything is settled, I will retire."
Xinliang City is located within the border, about a hundred miles away from Guiliang City.
Once Xinliang City is truly established, Guiliang City will inevitably be affected. Simply put, only when Xinliang City is stable can Guiliang City be stable. Otherwise, once Xinliang City is in chaos, it will affect Guiliang City.
This kind of interdependent relationship also puts a great test on the ability of the two county governors to govern. County Governor Cai does not trust anyone else to succeed him and is determined to serve another term.
Jiang Shaohua comforted and encouraged Magistrate Cai, and called Lu Ruohua over: "Major Lu, this is Magistrate Cai. If you have any questions in the future, please ask Magistrate Cai for advice."
When Magistrate Cai was the county magistrate, he would go to the Nanyang Palace for a banquet at the end of each year. Because Magistrate Cai was so famous, Lu Ruohua secretly visited him several times, and every time he would mutter, "Magistrate Cai is dark and thin, with an ugly face, like a black rat. Can such a person be a good official?"
When Lu Ruohua grew up and became sensible, he also started working as a county magistrate. Only then did he realize how capable and powerful this black rat-like County Magistrate Cai was.
Today, Guiliang City is known as the second county of Daliang. The first county of Daliang is of course Nanyang County.
Lu Ruohua bowed sincerely and said, "Ruohua greets Magistrate Cai. I hope Magistrate Cai will give me more guidance in the future."
Cai Jun Shou had naturally met Lu Ruohua. Lu Xuan died early, leaving behind a pair of children and Aunt Mei. Jiang Shaohua treated both of his brothers and sisters well, especially Lu Ruohua, who was a rising star in the officialdom. Now that he has come to the border to serve as the new Liangcheng Jun Shou, it can be seen that he is deeply trusted and favored by the emperor.
County Magistrate Cai smiled and bowed in return: "County Magistrate Lu, please stand up quickly. You and I are colleagues, and in the future we will be neighbors. We should get closer. I am old and stupid, and I can only make up for my shortcomings with hard work. In the future, I will learn a lot from the young and capable County Magistrate Lu."
In front of Her Majesty the Empress, Lu Ruohua humbly asked for advice: "Xinliang City is already under construction. The city wall needs to be seven feet high, and the construction period will be about a year. I was thinking that we can't just sit there and wait for the herdsmen from various tribes to come and seek refuge. We have to actively spread the news and attract them to come."
"It's not difficult." Magistrate Cai was obviously well prepared and immediately smiled and said, "The herdsmen are not born to run around. There are a lot of fields outside Xinliang City. We can organize people to reclaim the wasteland now. It's just right to take advantage of this year to open up tens of thousands of acres of good land. When the herdsmen come, we can directly distribute the land to them." "They don't have grain seeds, and they don't know how to farm. The government can stipulate that as long as the herdsmen who come to seek refuge are registered in the government register, they can get a year's worth of grain seeds. When it's time to farm, the government will send people to teach them how to farm and teach them how to use the plow and various tools. All the harvested grain will belong to them."
"Once word spreads about this kind of free benefits, herdsmen will rush to seek refuge. Who knows, then County Magistrate Lu will be worried because there will be too many people seeking refuge, and Xinliang City will not be able to accommodate them all."
Lu Ruohua smiled knowingly, took out a simple charcoal pencil and paper from her sleeve, and started to write down the notes quickly.
"However, doing so will also test the ability of government officials. They must be fair and just, and have patience, and tolerate the grassland herdsmen retaining most of their original living habits." Magistrate Cai continued.
"We don't have to indulge them blindly. We have to set rules from the beginning to strictly prohibit random fights and killings. There must be elite soldiers in the government office who can suppress the barbaric herdsmen."
"How to implement the policy depends on the specific situation. This matter cannot be explained in a few words, and it must be corrected at any time in the future policy implementation process."
"Changing customs and habits is never a matter of one day or one night. It has to be done slowly. Three to five years is not enough. After ten years or so, when the new batch of children born in Xinliang City grow up, they will truly become citizens of Daliang."
Magistrate Cai spoke freely and heartfeltly.
Lu Ruohua nodded repeatedly, and soon a page of paper was filled up.
Jiang Shaohua also listened attentively, and asked from time to time: "The herders are used to grazing, I wonder if they can adapt to farming?"
Magistrate Cai smiled and said, "They will certainly not be used to it at first. We can't expect them to pay any land tax. In my opinion, Xinliang City will have to rely on the court for some food aid in the next three to five years."
"However, the significance of Xinliang City is not these. The emperor established Xinliang City to make all the people of the grassland tribes return to Daliang. The herdsmen became Daliang citizens, put down their scimitars and bows, and picked up hoes to farm. The wolves on the grassland gradually became domesticated loyal dogs."
"The court sends large quantities of grain every year, so it's worth it."
The governor of Cai County looked ugly, but his heart was as bright as a mirror. These words touched Jiang Shaohua's heart.
Jiang Shaohua smiled and nodded: "I think so too." Then, he smiled at Lu Ruohua and said: "Don't worry, just go ahead and do it. I support you."
"After Xinliang City is built, the land tax will be exempted for five years. Every year, the court will allocate grain according to the numbers on the household registration."
"In addition, the border trade twice a year has become a routine. Ma Yaozong is going back to the capital to serve as the Minister of Personnel. I will also hand over the trade responsibilities to you."
"Ruohua, do your job well and don't let me down."
Lu Ruohua was excited and solemnly bowed: "I will do my best to serve you and live up to your high expectations."
The twenty-first year of Zhaoping.
The imperial court sent a large amount of money, grain and supplies, and Minister Shen of the Ministry of Works personally brought hundreds of craftsmen to the border. The border army camp also dispatched 30,000 soldiers to do the work.
The governor of Cai County who returned to Liangcheng also sent a large amount of food.
Jiang Shaohua looked at the white-haired County Magistrate Cai and sighed with a smile: "I haven't seen you for a few years. County Magistrate Cai also has white hair now."
Magistrate Cai said with a smile: "Your Majesty is in his prime, but I am already old."
The diligent legal advisor was promoted by the princess to be the county magistrate. In the following ten years, he worked hard and made Li County a peaceful and prosperous place. Later, he became the governor of Guiliang City. It took only a dozen years for the county to go from devastated and desolate to prosperous and peaceful.
This is the truly capable minister in the heart of Her Majesty the Empress.
Jiang Shaohua was reluctant to let him go, and whispered, "Prefect Cai has already reached retirement age. I will ask the Ministry of Personnel to select a suitable official, and Prefect Cai can retire and enjoy his old age with peace of mind!"
The Magistrate of Cai County is already over 60 years old this year. According to Daliang law, officials can retire at the age of 60. The Magistrate of Cai County has long exceeded the age limit, but he is still working hard. The Empress finally found her conscience and could not bear it any longer.
Magistrate Cai said with a smile: "I can still hold on for a few more years. When the new Liang City is built and everything is settled, I will retire."
Xinliang City is located within the border, about a hundred miles away from Guiliang City.
Once Xinliang City is truly established, Guiliang City will inevitably be affected. Simply put, only when Xinliang City is stable can Guiliang City be stable. Otherwise, once Xinliang City is in chaos, it will affect Guiliang City.
This kind of interdependent relationship also puts a great test on the ability of the two county governors to govern. County Governor Cai does not trust anyone else to succeed him and is determined to serve another term.
Jiang Shaohua comforted and encouraged Magistrate Cai, and called Lu Ruohua over: "Major Lu, this is Magistrate Cai. If you have any questions in the future, please ask Magistrate Cai for advice."
When Magistrate Cai was the county magistrate, he would go to the Nanyang Palace for a banquet at the end of each year. Because Magistrate Cai was so famous, Lu Ruohua secretly visited him several times, and every time he would mutter, "Magistrate Cai is dark and thin, with an ugly face, like a black rat. Can such a person be a good official?"
When Lu Ruohua grew up and became sensible, he also started working as a county magistrate. Only then did he realize how capable and powerful this black rat-like County Magistrate Cai was.
Today, Guiliang City is known as the second county of Daliang. The first county of Daliang is of course Nanyang County.
Lu Ruohua bowed sincerely and said, "Ruohua greets Magistrate Cai. I hope Magistrate Cai will give me more guidance in the future."
Cai Jun Shou had naturally met Lu Ruohua. Lu Xuan died early, leaving behind a pair of children and Aunt Mei. Jiang Shaohua treated both of his brothers and sisters well, especially Lu Ruohua, who was a rising star in the officialdom. Now that he has come to the border to serve as the new Liangcheng Jun Shou, it can be seen that he is deeply trusted and favored by the emperor.
County Magistrate Cai smiled and bowed in return: "County Magistrate Lu, please stand up quickly. You and I are colleagues, and in the future we will be neighbors. We should get closer. I am old and stupid, and I can only make up for my shortcomings with hard work. In the future, I will learn a lot from the young and capable County Magistrate Lu."
In front of Her Majesty the Empress, Lu Ruohua humbly asked for advice: "Xinliang City is already under construction. The city wall needs to be seven feet high, and the construction period will be about a year. I was thinking that we can't just sit there and wait for the herdsmen from various tribes to come and seek refuge. We have to actively spread the news and attract them to come."
"It's not difficult." Magistrate Cai was obviously well prepared and immediately smiled and said, "The herdsmen are not born to run around. There are a lot of fields outside Xinliang City. We can organize people to reclaim the wasteland now. It's just right to take advantage of this year to open up tens of thousands of acres of good land. When the herdsmen come, we can directly distribute the land to them." "They don't have grain seeds, and they don't know how to farm. The government can stipulate that as long as the herdsmen who come to seek refuge are registered in the government register, they can get a year's worth of grain seeds. When it's time to farm, the government will send people to teach them how to farm and teach them how to use the plow and various tools. All the harvested grain will belong to them."
"Once word spreads about this kind of free benefits, herdsmen will rush to seek refuge. Who knows, then County Magistrate Lu will be worried because there will be too many people seeking refuge, and Xinliang City will not be able to accommodate them all."
Lu Ruohua smiled knowingly, took out a simple charcoal pencil and paper from her sleeve, and started to write down the notes quickly.
"However, doing so will also test the ability of government officials. They must be fair and just, and have patience, and tolerate the grassland herdsmen retaining most of their original living habits." Magistrate Cai continued.
"We don't have to indulge them blindly. We have to set rules from the beginning to strictly prohibit random fights and killings. There must be elite soldiers in the government office who can suppress the barbaric herdsmen."
"How to implement the policy depends on the specific situation. This matter cannot be explained in a few words, and it must be corrected at any time in the future policy implementation process."
"Changing customs and habits is never a matter of one day or one night. It has to be done slowly. Three to five years is not enough. After ten years or so, when the new batch of children born in Xinliang City grow up, they will truly become citizens of Daliang."
Magistrate Cai spoke freely and heartfeltly.
Lu Ruohua nodded repeatedly, and soon a page of paper was filled up.
Jiang Shaohua also listened attentively, and asked from time to time: "The herders are used to grazing, I wonder if they can adapt to farming?"
Magistrate Cai smiled and said, "They will certainly not be used to it at first. We can't expect them to pay any land tax. In my opinion, Xinliang City will have to rely on the court for some food aid in the next three to five years."
"However, the significance of Xinliang City is not these. The emperor established Xinliang City to make all the people of the grassland tribes return to Daliang. The herdsmen became Daliang citizens, put down their scimitars and bows, and picked up hoes to farm. The wolves on the grassland gradually became domesticated loyal dogs."
"The court sends large quantities of grain every year, so it's worth it."
The governor of Cai County looked ugly, but his heart was as bright as a mirror. These words touched Jiang Shaohua's heart.
Jiang Shaohua smiled and nodded: "I think so too." Then, he smiled at Lu Ruohua and said: "Don't worry, just go ahead and do it. I support you."
"After Xinliang City is built, the land tax will be exempted for five years. Every year, the court will allocate grain according to the numbers on the household registration."
"In addition, the border trade twice a year has become a routine. Ma Yaozong is going back to the capital to serve as the Minister of Personnel. I will also hand over the trade responsibilities to you."
"Ruohua, do your job well and don't let me down."
Lu Ruohua was excited and solemnly bowed: "I will do my best to serve you and live up to your high expectations."
