Qingzhou, the state capital.
As soon as Chen Xinghe arrived, he called Chen Jiu and Mu Shangwu over for a meeting.
On the day Mu Shangwu took over Qingzhou, nothing big happened.
The banditry problem was solved by Zhao Ping, the people's lives improved significantly, and no one made trouble.
As for some officials being arrested, their posts have become vacant.
They are all temporarily filled in by their subordinates.
Even if there is some literary work, Chen Jiu will do it for him.
His main task is to occasionally lead troops on inspections to intimidate the younger generation.
So Qingzhou is peaceful.
"It seems that what sir said is good."
Chen Xinghe asked about what happened in the state capital during this period and couldn't help but sigh: "The people don't care who is an official. What they care about is who can lead them to live a good life."
"So I decided to reform."
"reform?"
Chen Jiu and Mu Shangwu were both stunned.
"How to reform?"
Chen Jiu asked, "Is there any will from the Holy One?"
"No."
Chen Xinghe shook his head, "As long as I serve the people wholeheartedly, even if His Majesty finds out, he will only reward me."
Chen Jiu's brows furrowed even deeper, but he didn't try to dissuade him any more.
He is just a counselor. When the master cannot see the direction clearly or when he enters a wrong intersection, he will guide the direction and give advice.
If the master decides on a path, he will do his best to help.
I will fight to the death to achieve my master's goal.
This is what a qualified counselor should do.
But Mu Shangwu smiled and asked, "Lord Zhou Mu, can you first tell us how to reform?"
"If I think it's feasible, I will give my full support to Mr. Zhou Mu."
"First, all corrupt officials, regardless of their official position, who are corrupt, take advantage of power to bully others, use their power for personal gain, and make their wits dim, will be thrown into jail as long as there is evidence."
"Collect the evidence, let me judge the guilt personally, and then send it to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the capital at a selected date, and hand it over to the Ministry of Civil Affairs in the capital for disposal."
"Second, increase officials' salaries."
"All officials in Qingzhou, no matter how big or small, will have their salary increased five times."
"The county magistrate who used to receive only a few dozen taels of silver a year can now receive hundreds of taels of silver."
"Sir, is this inappropriate?"
Chen Jiu interrupted him and said: "Officials' salaries are generally allocated by the court. We have raised their salaries here. If the court refuses to recognize it and still pays them according to the original salary, what should we do?"
"Are you going to stick it on yourself?"
"Sir, you work hard and love the people, but you don't have much money left in your hands."
"It's okay to stick it up for a year or two. If it keeps sticking up, I'm afraid the gate of our state capital will be sold, right?"
"Hahaha, you don't have to worry about the money. I will explain it in detail later."
Chen Xinghe gave up and continued: "If the salary is not improved, officials will not be able to support their families, maids, servants, etc., so they have to be greedy and have to take money from the people."
"Only by allowing them to live a life without worries about food and clothing can they do their best to serve the court."
Mu Shangwu nodded with deep understanding.
Although I can’t quite understand it.
It feels like the food and grass the soldiers had during the war is the same.
If you don't have enough food and clothing, do you still expect the soldiers to fight to the death for you?
Why?
Is it just based on that illusory patriotism?
Although there are some, they are pitifully few.
What's more, the people themselves are in dire straits, especially being harassed by bandits from time to time, which makes them miserable.
If there is true love, I am afraid it is also hatred.
The same goes for officials.
Without adequate salary, people study hard in poverty, is it just to work as a coolie for the royal family?
People also want to shine on their family name.
Chen Jiu was worried that he had missed something, so he hurriedly bent over his desk and wrote furiously, recording everything Chen Xinghe said.
Seeing this, Chen Xinghe nodded with satisfaction.
Children can be taught.
Much stronger than Xu Tianhua and Peng Yue.
In Xiping Village, Mr. Zhao told so much, but neither of the two guys knew how to take a pen and write it down.
After Chen Jiu finished recording, Chen Xinghe continued: "Third, Daxing Business."
"What?"
Chen Jiu was immediately shocked, "Sir, aren't all merchants lowly?"
"This understanding has always been there. If we develop commerce, wouldn't that encourage everyone to do business?"
"But merchants cannot obtain fame."
"Isn't this cutting off Qingzhou's rising stars?"
"Although you can't see anything at the moment, if things go on like this, Qingzhou will only fall further and further behind, and even..."
Chen Jiu didn't say the next words, but Chen Xinghe could already hear the seriousness of it.
But he didn't care, but smiled and said, "So what?"
"As long as we have money, are we afraid that we won't be able to recruit talented people to govern the world?"
"The key is that we don't have any money."
Chen Jiu reminded.
"When merchants prosper, there will be money."
Chen Xinghe explained: "I intend to collect business tax."
"Anyone doing business in Qingzhou must pay a certain business tax, otherwise they will be expelled directly."
"Master Zhou Mu, do you still want to collect taxes from merchants?"
Chen Jiu became puzzled again, "Businessmen do not have taxes when doing business in other places, but they do in our Qingzhou. So will they still come to our Qingzhou to do business?"
"No one is coming, so why are you expelling them?"
"No one will come, so we will cultivate it ourselves."
"Grow it yourself?"
Chen Jiu was even more confused, "Sir, our people are so poor that they can hardly afford to eat. How can we have the capital to do business?"
"Hahaha."
Chen Xinghe laughed and said, "Don't worry about this. Mr. Zhao has already promised me that he will open the textile factory near Qingzhou and choose the location in Evil Wind Valley for the time being."
"When the textile factory is established, nearby villagers will be recruited to work."
"I will provide three full meals a day and four additional copper coins."
"You must have heard of Mr. Zhao's textile factory, right?"
Then Chen Xinghe saw the two of them shaking their heads at the same time.
"I……"
Chen Xinghe had a feeling that he was playing the lute to a cow, so he had to educate them about the popularity of Xiping Village Clothing Village.
Then Zhao Ping's strategy was explained.
Use business to drive people's livelihood, stimulate the economy, increase people's income, and improve their quality of life.
"Is this okay?"
Chen Jiu asked weakly.
It's no longer as sharp as before.
After thinking about it carefully, it seems feasible.
However, living in a feudal society, I have accepted the hierarchy of scholars, farmers, industry and merchants since I was a child, and I still cannot regard merchants as the key to supporting the development of a place.
"Why not?"
Chen Xinghe looked slightly dissatisfied, blowing his beard and staring.
"I doubted it at first, but Mr. Zhao described to me the living conditions after business development."
"In other words, Xiping Village is just a prototype."
"There, little can be learned, strong people can be used, old people can be supported, and everyone's face is filled with happy smiles. That is the state of the prosperous age."
"We in Qingzhou have been in a state of illness for a long time, and we must take a strong dose of medicine."
"Just follow sir's strategy."
"Successful, we will become famous, and even go down in history."
"Failure can also leave our mark in the long river of history. It is better than doing nothing."
"The fourth point is also the most critical point."
Chen Xinghe didn't wait for the two people to respond before continuing: "That's recruiting people."
"hiring?"
The two of them were stunned, "Who are you recruiting?"
"Could he be a merchant?"
"What shall we tempt them with?"
"Are you going to rob it?"
"Even if we snatch it away, they won't do their best to work for us."
"If you relax a little, the other party may escape."
"What have you been thinking about all day?"
Chen Xinghe said angrily: "When I talk about recruiting people, I mean recruiting useful talents in the world."
"Whether it is a businessman, a person with lofty ideals, a skilled craftsman, or even someone who knows some strange and obscene skills, I will not let them go."
"Anyone who comes and passes the test will be treated extremely well."
"You have three meals a day, white rice, white steamed buns, and meat. You can eat whatever you want."
"I also gave him a mansion, furnishings, maids and servants."
"As for silver taels, as long as you can show your true talent and learning, the minimum reward is fifty taels of silver."
"If I can stay in Qingzhou for a long time, my salary can be doubled."
"Chen Jiu, you can arrange this matter."
"It must be spread to the entire Dawei Dynasty. Anyone who comes to seek refuge will be sent to Xiping Village for review by Mr. Zhao."
"yes."
Chen Jiu did not refute and nodded in agreement.
After all, the large-scale rectification of officials in Qingzhou has been a secret. Everyone knows that Qingzhou is paralyzed and is in urgent need of manpower.
There is no need to take an exam, as long as you pass the review, you will be assigned an official position.
Just thinking about it, it's beautiful.
What's more, they also rewarded maids and servants with houses and mansions.
It is simply more comfortable than obtaining a meritorious degree and waiting for an appointment from the court.
Job postings are easy to create.
In addition, Mu Shangwu helped and dispatched soldiers to travel around with the recruitment information to read it out.
It was delivered very quickly.
However, no one knew that this recruitment information was not that Mr. Zhou Mu needed officials, but that Zhao Ping needed manpower to help with research and development.
Therefore, many frustrated people and skilled craftsmen came forward one after another to find out whether the information was true or false, planning to rush to Qingzhou to find out.
If you're lucky, you might be able to find an official position.
If you're not lucky, it's just a sightseeing tour.
Even Qingzhou's Minister of Industry, Bai Chigan, received the news and rushed to Qingzhou's mansion to meet with Chen Xinghe.
"Lord Zhou Mu, is this notice true or false?"
"Of course it's true."
Chen Xinghe said with a smile.
"Do you have any relatives or friends who would like to recommend you?"
"No."
Bai Chigan shook his head and said, "I intend to recommend myself as a lower official."
"I came here this time to ask for leave from Mr. Zhou Mu and go to Xiping Village for Mr. Zhao to review."
"After passing the exam, the lower official's salary may be increased to one hundred taels of silver."
Without giving Chen Xinghe a chance to answer, Bai Chigan took the notice and left excitedly.
"I……"
Looking at his retreating figure, Chen Xinghe wanted to cry but had no tears.
This...why did you poach the people around me away?
