When he saw this number, Qin Feng was shocked. There were at least four to five million people in the counties surrounding Kyoto.
How could the population of Beixi County be so small?
But after thinking about it, Qin Feng was relieved.
In today's era, except for densely populated areas, such as Kyoto, or some wealthy state capitals.
In most areas, counties with a population of 100,000 are considered "high-class counties."
It’s not surprising that a remote and remote county like Beixi County has a population of just over 30,000.
After all, these days, the average life expectancy is less than thirty years old.
The scarce population, low labor force, meager resources, and damned finances all made Qin Feng's head buzz.
But everything has two sides.
Although the population is extremely short, the cost of subsidizing the people can save a lot.
At this time, the entire county was dark, with only the county government lobby still lit.
Qin Feng was sitting in the lobby, clicking his abacus. He didn't have any official demeanor, but looked like an old man who had been in business for many years.
Qin Feng, who knew well that teaching a man to fish is worse than teaching him to fish, immediately ordered: "Nowadays, after all, there are frequent wars, and the food harvest around Beixi County is poor, so that the price of food has gone up. Ning Hu, please bring some guards, and then find The district chief will allocate some manpower to a place farther away from Beixi County to purchase some grain. Mainly the cheaper millet, and as for the seeds, we will harvest them based on 36,000 acres of land."
Qin Feng took out 10,000 taels of silver notes and handed them to Ning Hu. He refunded more and paid less, and immediately went to prepare for purchase.
Then he looked at the literati gathered there.
Including the literati crowded in the lobby and cubicles, there are 207 in total. Excluding those who can only read a few words, these 200 or so people can be regarded as the entire literati group in Beixi County.
Although the scholars did not know what Qin Feng was going to do, since Qin Feng came to Beixi County, he first tried the backlog of unjust, false and wrongful cases, and then sent Ning Hu to purchase grain seeds. Naturally, the scholars did not have the slightest doubt about Qin Feng and waited. That’s it.
Qin Feng glanced around and asked softly: "Is there any scholar here?"
The scene was silent and no one answered.
Qin Feng couldn't help but secretly sigh. That thief Chen Li had done so much to Beixi County. Tens of thousands of people couldn't even get out of the county.
Qin Feng had no choice but to settle for the next best thing: "Can there be a child?"
This time a few old men walked out of the crowd.
The youngest ones are all in their fifties, and the soil is buried up to their necks.
Seeing the old men kneeling and saluting, Qin Feng quickly asked the literati next to him to help them up, so as not to die in the hall if they couldn't get up from their knees.
As far as Qin Feng knows, anyone who studies and develops a career but does not become a scholar can be regarded as a child born.
But a child is not equal to a scholar.
The five old men in front of me couldn't put together a complete set of teeth.
Qin Feng Naoren felt confused and quickly counted out ten taels of silver, distributed two taels to each person, and said with a smile: "Old gentlemen, you have to make this trip in vain at night. Take these two taels of silver back to buy some food, and go back Just rest."
After sending the five old men away, Qin Feng looked at the remaining confused scholar and sighed: "Is there anyone here who is studying and doing business and is over 20 years old and under 40 years old?"
After a while, ten young people came out.
Qin Feng breathed a sigh of relief and did not beat around the bush: "Now the county government is extremely short of manpower. Are you willing to work in the county government?"
Everyone suddenly realized.
The reason why Qin Feng spent so much time co-writing was to recruit people.
Especially the ten young people who were studying to start a career breathed a sigh of relief.
The leader, a scholar in white clothes who was in his early twenties, raised his hand and said: "Sir, although I have studied the books of sages diligently, I have no political experience, so I am afraid I will not be qualified."
The same is probably true for the other young people.
Qin Feng couldn't care about so much now. He waved his hand and said he didn't care: "If you don't know, you can learn slowly. As long as you serve the people wholeheartedly, you are a talent. Anyone who comes to the county government as an errand will be divided according to their positions, and the county magistrate will have a monthly salary of ten taels of silver." , eight taels for the accountant, five taels for the government affairs, and so on, even the lowest official has three taels of silver."
As soon as these words came out, the originally quiet lobby was filled with whispers.
"Even the government officials have three taels of silver? Our family has been working hard for a whole year, and we can only earn two taels of silver at most. After excluding taxes and miscellaneous donations, there is only one tael of silver left."
"Three taels? Thirty taels won't do it! There are four levels of people: scholars, farmers, industry and merchants. Yamen servants are not even as good as merchants. They are the lowest and most despicable people. Anyone with a Yamen servant in the family will not be admitted to the official position for three generations. But then again , I can also get five taels of silver to deal with government affairs, which is extremely gratifying."
"Master Qin is willing to spend so much money to hire laymen like me, aren't you afraid of self-defeating?"
"Hey, why do you care so much? Cao Nang's wife has worked hard these years to support my education. Since Mr. Qin is recruiting talents, I have to give it a try! Not for myself, even for my family?"
Following a debate, people started to sign up for Qin Feng.
Qin Feng is naturally full of joy. As long as he is willing to apply, he will accept them. As for the quality of the personnel, he will consider it later. For now, he will set up the county government team. Otherwise, Qin Feng alone will not be able to do most things. carry out.
There were about two hundred literati, and Qin Feng recruited thirty people in total.
The rest were not in vain, and each person was rewarded with two taels of silver.
Just before everyone left, Qin Feng suddenly stopped, narrowed his eyes and said with a smile: "We have more than 30,000 people in Beixi County, and we can't even produce a scholar. Isn't it too embarrassing?"
Hearing this, all the scholars blushed.
A scholar with a relatively straightforward temper retorted bluntly: "Master Qin has just arrived here and does not understand the people's sentiments. It is not your fault. Going to Beijing to take the exam is a big expense. It is difficult for us to even have food and clothing. How can we have enough money to go to Beijing?" "
Qin Feng naturally understands the hardships of the people's livelihood, and his previous remarks were just deliberately irritating.
The literati group is the foundation of a party.
Normally, the number of literati is directly related to local prosperity.
Under the dissatisfied gazes of all the literati, Qin Feng smiled as playfully as ever, showing no signs of restraint because of becoming an official: "Since I have taken over the post of Beixi County Magistrate, I naturally have to rectify the people's livelihood. I will post a notice tomorrow, everyone. You can come and check it out by yourself. Whether you will work hard or continue to sink will have nothing to do with me."
After hearing these remarks, the eyes of all the scholars were full of doubts.
Compared with ordinary people, it is more difficult to change the ideas of literati.
In their hearts, the world is as dark as crows. Even if Qin Feng takes office as a new official and tries his best to govern, within a few days, Qin Feng will be corrupted by the world like other officials...
