It was December, and Bafang felt that his young master suddenly became busy. He stayed in the study all day, seemingly dealing with official business. I had to go to Liangzhou Mansion three to five days ago, but for more than ten days in a row recently, I had no intention of going to Liangzhou Mansion.
Bafang is considered someone who knows Meng Changqing well and knows that there must be something wrong here.
It's just that when he said goodbye to Master Wei last time, he didn't see anything unusual.
"Sir." Bafang approached Meng Changqing and saw that she was holding an idle book in her hand. He felt that something must have happened when he was not aware of it.
"I haven't been busy with anything recently. Why don't you go to Liangzhou Mansion to visit Mr. Wei?"
Meng Changqing's answer was very superficial, "Local officials are not allowed to leave their jurisdiction without important matters."
Why didn't I see you say this when I went to Liangzhou Prefecture every three days?
Meng Changqing put down the travel notes in his hand, "Besides, why am I so busy when I have nothing to do? The New Year is approaching, and many official documents have to be submitted to the government for approval. Even if I want to pay my respects to my uncle, I really don't have time."
Bafang: "Why don't you put that travel book away before you say this?"
Meng Changqing looked at him, and Bafang shrugged, "Two days ago, Colonel Zhang brought news that Yangmen County is getting more and more chaotic. We are relieved that you don't go there."
"Yangmen County is busy suppressing bandits, Hongjia County and Weishan County are helping to repair the city wall. Naturally, other county governments also have their own affairs. The following counties are very busy, and my uncle will definitely not have time to spare. He still has to wait until the New Year is over. , I’ll go and say hello again.”
"It's good to celebrate the New Year." Bafang said, "The gangsters in Yangmen County will definitely be wiped out before the New Year. When you go to Liangzhou Mansion, my wife and aunt will feel more at ease."
"How many years have those gangsters been rampant? The legal system remains unchanged, and they can be wiped out by just sending more manpower?" Meng Changqing took the shortbread at hand and ate it, "Which dynasty's officials did not act clean on the surface."
"Why do I always feel that you didn't realize that you are also an official when you said this?"
Meng Changqing said: "Obviously I do things cleanly on the surface."
"Master, why do you say this about yourself?" Bafang said, "You work hard for the people. Those of us around you see it, and the people of Liangzhou also see it. Otherwise, how could you have such a good reputation?"
Meng Changqing smiled nonchalantly, "I don't want a good reputation. People say I am a bad person. One day I do something good, everyone will say I have changed my ways. But now, what if I do something that is not what they want? The thing immediately became extremely sinful."
"What you said reminds me of what the Grand Tutor said." Bafang said: "If you are an official, you will be burdened by your reputation."
Meng Changqing nodded, "Those who work for profit will be devoured by profit. But if you don't work for fame or profit as an official, how can you still serve the people? How many such fools can there be among millions of people?"
"But what you do is not just for the people."
Meng Changqing corrected, "That's what I did before, and it happened to be beneficial to the people."
"How do I feel..." Bafang hesitated, but finally said it, "You just don't want to admit that you are a good person, so the word good person is not a curse."
"Why not?" Meng Changqing always has some opinions that everyone can't understand.
Just as Bafang wanted to talk about this matter in detail, he heard someone calling him outside the study.
Outside the study, the government official came over to report, "Someone from the Liangzhou Prefecture government office has sent a message, asking us to go over there when you have time."
"Did the government office tell you why you were asked to go there?" Bafang asked.
The unskilled cadre shook his head, "I forgot to ask, I will remember to ask more in the future."
Bafang followed up and said, "What about the people from the government office?"
"I went to the posthouse to change horses. I said I would go back immediately."
Bafang explained, "You go to the post house and entertain the people, and I will report to the adults."
"Why!"
Bafangfei ran into the study room of the front office and told Meng Changqing the news, "Master, do we want to stay with the people from Liangzhou Prefecture? So we can ask him why he asked you to come over."
Meng Changqing put down the miscellaneous books in his hand, "Okay, you better think more comprehensively. Go to the back office to see what snacks are available, take them to the post office, and then talk to that person."
"Hey, I'll be there right away."
After Bafang left, Meng Changqing stood in front of the study window.
She knew that Liangzhou Mansion asked her to go there at this time because of two things. One was for her to pull people. If it was really about this, she could not avoid it. As for the other, if it involved her, Then I can’t tell whether it’s a trouble or a good thing.
About a stick of incense later, Bafang ran back from outside, carrying an empty food box in his hand, "Master! I didn't find out anything.
I always think it's not a good thing. "
"Of course, good news must come before good things for you to hear." Meng Changqing had already changed into his official uniform and was putting on his outer cloak.
Bafang stepped forward to help, "You want to go there now?"
"Since the government office is looking for me, I have to be free no matter how busy I am." Meng Changqing took the small package from Bafang, "Go and tell Mr. Bai that we will leave in a quarter of an hour and ask them to wait for me in the backyard."
"yes."
Meng Changqing put on a hood, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed.
The people around her were used to her appearance, and they had to wrap themselves up tightly when riding horses in winter.
After leaving the Beishan County Government Office, the market outside was bustling with activity.
Originally there was no market in Beishan County, only one grocery store. Later, people in Luojia Village began to enjoy the benefits of doing business by the wall.
But as the repairs to the city wall were completed, the people on the wall had left, and naturally their business was no longer available.
After having tasted the taste of making money, and then asking them to live on their fingers in the winter, they certainly found it difficult to accept.
Meng Changqing moved the market next to the wall to Beishan County according to her original plan.
How the government managed them in the past is still how they are managed now. It was also named North Wall Market.
Compared with markets in other counties, the Beiqiang Market’s tax collection is already quite low, but the flow of customers has dropped sharply, and business people will inevitably feel a gap.
Several families who initially went to the city wall to do business gave up.
But when someone gives up, someone starts.
Not long after the Beiqiang Market opened, more and more people were doing small business inside, and the entire Beishan County became lively.
Meng Changqing walked outside the market and could hear the sounds of hawking inside.
When the group arrived at the gate of Yangmen County, Chu Mufeng rode a few steps forward and stood in front of Meng Changqing. Even Xi Bei stood close to Meng Changqing.
Chu Mufeng said: "Mr. Meng, please let your subordinates clear the way."
"Excuse me, Master Bai."
When the guard soldier checked the identity of the visitor, he looked at Meng Changqing with a searching look.
When the city gate opened, Meng Changqing and others rushed to Liangzhou City along the official road.
