The Holy Driver's patrol was quite large, so the speed was naturally a bit slow.
It took two more days to reach the boundary of Xinzhang County.
Now that the edict has been issued, officials in Xinzhang have already received the news in advance.
Moreover, people have already been sent out to inquire about the emperor's whereabouts.
At this moment, outside Xinzhang County, officials from the entire county had already gathered outside to greet him early.
The leader was Sun Sheng, the magistrate of Xinzhang County.
Sun Sheng is tall and good-looking, giving people a sense of righteousness and awe-inspiringness at first glance.
At a time when everyone seemed a little anxious, he was the only one who remained calm and composed.
Some officials couldn't help but ask: "Master Sun, aren't you in a hurry now that Your Majesty is here? Why don't you send someone back to the city to make arrangements after I step down?"
Sun Sheng waved his hand gently and said confidently: "No need. Your Majesty will definitely be satisfied with my results today. Unfortunately, the time given to me is too short. If I come back next year, Xinzhang County will be far different from today." Don't."
Sun Sheng is indeed proud of his capital. Since he took office, he has devoted all his efforts to reforming officialdom and rectifying customs.
The Hanlin Academy elected him in the first place just to make achievements and to oppose liberalization of business.
And he did it!
He once inquired about the situation in Pingwan County, where there was an endless stream of merchants and the environment was far more chaotic than the outside world.
However, in Xinzhang County, the people are doing their jobs in an orderly manner. Once the measures to suppress business were implemented, even the prices were a few points lower than in Pingwan County.
This relies on contacting the powerful gentry in the area. After all, Xinzhang's main business is in the hands of these families.
Sun Sheng was not a man who didn't know how to adapt. The death of Yan Guoan was still before his eyes.
Yan Guoan relied too much on favoring the gentry and wealthy households, and suffered the consequences.
Therefore, he did not try to win over local powerful people, but tried his best to attack them!
He often sent officials to inspect the businesses under these family names, and would punish them if prices increased.
If any junior official dared to accept bribes or acted laxly, he would not be merciful.
It was a two-pronged approach of rectifying the officials and cracking down on the powerful that led to today's results.
This process is not too difficult. After all, he is a devolved official from the capital and carries an extraordinary meaning.
The various resources behind him are enough to allow him to get things done while stepping on local snakes.
This time, after His Majesty has finished inspecting the two counties, it is time for him to be promoted and return to the capital, and this ridiculous business of widening business should be stopped.
Sun Sheng thought so.
The person next to me reminded him again: "Master Sun, why don't we prepare a welcome ceremony for His Majesty outside the city? Isn't it too simple to have only a few people from our Yamen standing there?"
Sun Sheng thought for a moment, shook his head and said: "No, Your Majesty regards frugality as a virtue, and this trip is also extremely streamlined. It is best this time."
"If it is done in a grand and flashy way, His Majesty will not be happy with it."
"As long as the city's health and public security are good, it is enough. His Majesty is just taking a brief walk, and will eventually go to the county government office to check this year's results. He will not stay for more than two days at most, so don't be nervous."
"The achievements we have made this time are enough to disdain the whole country! Which county in Dajing can have such a big growth in one year?"
Sun Sheng asked with a smile.
"Yes, it all depends on Mr. Sun's governance. I think His Majesty will be very pleased with you and promote Mr. Sun in an unusual way."
"Comparing these achievements to Pingwan County and my Xinzhang, there is a huge difference!"
Outside the city, a rainbow fart sounded.
...
There is still less than ten miles to go to Xinzhang County.
Fang Zheng sat on the horse and pondered silently.
It is a rare occasion for my father-in-law to come out. This is a good opportunity to express his filial piety.
After passing Xinzhang County, there was a grand welcome ceremony waiting for him in Pingwan County!
Fifty paper firecrackers, red carpet welcome ceremony, ribbon-cutting for public welfare projects... a large-scale fireworks event at night.
He had already written to notify Yang Fengfan in advance.
Don't look at the old father-in-law who is frugal and frugal all day long, and he feels very coquettish!
The emperor likes to see this, but he just doesn't talk about it. Hasn't he always been unable to hold his lips tightly during the whole job before?
If it weren't for the emperor's status, he would have taken his father-in-law out to wash his feet...
I just don’t know how prepared Yang Fengfan is.
If you don't do this kind of thing yourself, you always feel uneasy.
After another journey, the large army arrived outside Xinzhang County.
Sun Sheng led all the officials to bow down.
"I respectfully welcome your Majesty."
Emperor Jing smiled and raised his hand: "No need to be polite, just get up."
Everyone stood up.
Emperor Jing looked at it again and fixed his gaze on Sun Sheng: "Are you Sun Sheng? You are indeed young and promising."
Sun Sheng secretly rejoiced: "I don't dare to take this responsibility. Your Majesty has been tired of traveling and traveling all the way. I have already prepared a place for your Majesty to stay. I also invite your Majesty to enter the city!"
The accompanying officials were delighted.
In particular, Li Yansong, Xu Wenshu, Yang Yingcai and other veterans were extremely happy.
Here we can rest for a while, but this journey has been so bumpy that we almost fell apart.
However, Emperor Jing said to Sun Sheng, "No need!"
"I don't want to disturb the people. Please put on your casual clothes and come with me to visit incognito. There is no need to make a big show of it."
Guo Tianyang said in astonishment: "Your Majesty, that guard..."
"The guards are stationed outside. Is there any problem in Xinzhang County? Don't worry too much. It's enough to have Zhang Biao with me."
Fang Zheng gave Zhang Biao a gentle push and said, "Be alert!"
Zhang Biao raised his chest and raised his head, looking extremely strong.
Sun Sheng also said: "You can rest assured that all the Xiaoxiao in the city have been wiped out, and your Majesty's subordinates will be responsible for your safety!"
The conversation has reached this point, and there is nothing more to talk about.
You can only put on casual clothes and enter the city.
The moment they entered the city, Emperor Jing's eyes lit up as he followed the officials.
Apart from other things, the environmental sanitation is really good. The counties we pass along the way are far less clean and eye-catching than Xinzhang County.
Sun Sheng quietly observed the performance of others and couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
He knew that Fang Zhengyi had a unique style of management, and hygiene was the top priority.
Emperor Jing admired him very much, so he naturally wanted to learn more about Fang Zhengyi's merits, even if this person had a bad reputation in the Imperial Academy.
But as long as it is good, he is willing to adopt it.
"How come there are so few people in this city?"
After walking for a while and only seeing dozens of people, Emperor Jing asked a question.
Sun Sheng replied: "Knowing that His Majesty is coming in the next two days, I have sent people to inform the people in the city. The people are afraid of disturbing the Holy Master, so they dare not go out at will."
"Didn't you ban people from going out?"
"His Majesty has already issued an edict that prohibits restrictions on people's activities. I dare not make any arbitrary decisions. If you continue to go in, there should be more people."
Emperor Jing nodded with satisfaction. He believed that Sun Sheng did not need to lie about this kind of thing.
And after a brief contact with him, I felt that this person was still very open and the first impression was good.
"Okay, then you can first tell me how you govern the county."
...
