Paddy fields, people one by one, chatting while working, and laughter can be heard from time to time.
Such rural scenery is the real world.
On the ridge of the field, a little girl of seven or eight years old came over. She was dressed in coarse clothes and linen, with her trouser legs rolled up, her little feet covered in mud, and she was carrying two bundles of seedlings.
Although her skin is slightly darker, she has a pair of bright black eyes, showing simplicity and innocence.
He looked at Xiao Yuan and asked curiously: "Are you a guest from far away?"
"Oh? How do you know?"
The little girl smiled: "Because we don't have such nice clothes here."
"Haha!" Xiao Yuan laughed heartily and pinched her cheek gently: "The little girl is so smart. Look, your father is waiting impatiently."
"Ah?" The little girl tilted her head and saw, sure enough, the man in the paddy field was already shouting: "Erya!"
"Hey, it's coming, it's coming." She responded and said to Xiao Yuan: "Are you thirsty? There is a kettle at my house over there."
After saying that, he ran away with the seedlings.
This little episode also warmed the heart of General Peng Shuang, because he also had a daughter, and he couldn't help but say: "Your Majesty, this little girl is so cute."
"The people are honest and the children are kind." Xiao Yuan said, and suddenly remembered something: "I just forgot to ask if all the children here are literate, and I also need to check out the previous policy of borrowing official grain from the people here."
After that, he rolled up his sleeves and trouser legs, ready to go down and help the people plant rice, while chatting.
Seeing him like this, Peng Shuang and Xu Hu were shocked. The emperor went to the paddy field, how could this happen?
Peng Shuang said anxiously: "Your Majesty! You are the Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, how can you ignore the dragon body!"
"It's just planting a seedling, you think I can't do it?" Xiao Yuanle said, he really can.
Xu Hu said: "Lao Peng is right, your Majesty must not do this!"
Xiao Yuan felt helpless for a while: "We have learned about the county town, but we haven't figured out the situation in the countryside yet. We have to find a fellow villager to talk to."
Xu Hu heard this and said hurriedly: "I'll go, I'll go!"
After saying that, he immediately started to slip on his shoes and roll up his trousers. When he went down to the paddy field, he was close to the people and helped with the work. At the same time, he did not have conversation skills like Xiao Yuan, but asked directly: "Fellow, can I ask you something?" "Nothing"
Not long after, Xu Hu returned, and before Xiao Yuan could ask, Peng Shuang said, "You're such a rough guy, you didn't scare anyone, did you?"
"What are you talking about?" Xu Hu was unhappy: "I am such a good person, I had a lot of fun chatting with that fellow countryman."
"Your Majesty, I just inquired that there is a comprehensive school in the nearby countryside. Some children in each village go to learn literacy, and some do not. It is because they generally believe that it is better for children to work at home. Generally speaking, less than half of them go there. , but Wang Yuanju actually used this matter to encourage students to learn in the countryside."
"In addition, the grain, seeds, cattle, etc. that the villages previously borrowed from the government have almost all been repaid after last year's bumper harvest."
"When paying back the grain, does the government charge additional interest?" Xiao Yuan asked.
Xu Hu shook his head: "No, the people here are saying that the country is good to the people."
"Yes." Xiao Yuan nodded: "Let's go and wash the mud off your legs and feet."
The three of them walked along the field ridge for a while and found the source of the river. But while Xu Hu was cleaning it, Peng Shuang suddenly said, "Your Majesty, look, is that Wang Yuanju?"
The number one scholar in the first year of the founding of the People's Republic of China was very famous at that time. Of course Peng Shuang had seen him.
Xiao Yuan followed his instructions, and sure enough, by the river in the distance, Wang Yuanju, dressed in the uniform of a county magistrate, was talking to a few villagers.
If he doesn't stay at the county government, why come here?
But Xiao Yuan soon understood. Although he couldn't hear the other party speaking, he could still guess that it was probably a water distribution issue in nearby farmland.
Of course, this is actually a small matter for a county magistrate, but he went to the countryside in person, which shows that he cares very much about spring plowing and people's livelihood.
"Your Majesty, do you want to come over and take a look?" Xu Hu finished washing and had already put on his shoes and socks.
Xiao Yuan thought for a moment and shook his head slightly: "Forget it, let's go to Jiyang tomorrow."
He did not go to meet Wang Yuanju, and the other party did not know that the emperor had come to Xinghe.
Three days later, Jiyang County Mansion.
After the same open and secret visit, Xiao Yuan came here directly.
The capital of a county is located. Naturally, there are guards with swords standing on both sides of the gate. Their eyes are not squinting and their waists are straight.
Not long after, Jiyang County Governor Zhang Shanping came in a hurry, almost trotting.
He still held Xu Hu's token in his hand. When he saw Xiao Yuan, he immediately knelt down and saluted.
"No need, let's talk in the house." Xiao Yuan stopped him.
"Ah? Yes, yes, your Majesty, please." Zhang Shanping responded repeatedly, bending sideways and being extremely respectful.
Xiao Yuan stepped in. When Xu Hu passed by, Zhang Shanping smiled apologetically and handed back the token with both hands: "Your military badge."
"Master Zhang, you're welcome." Xu Hu retracted and said politely.
Several people entered the county house, and Xiao Yuan went directly to the study and sat down where Zhang Shanping usually worked. While flipping through the official documents on the desk, he said: "Jiyang is developing well and has the atmosphere of a large county. , the people’s livelihood here is pretty good, and Zhang Qing is indispensable for this.”
In this study room, among the four people, Zhang Shanping, let alone sitting, was afraid that he would stand in the wrong position. Hearing this, he immediately lowered his body and said respectfully: "The success of Jiyang today is all due to your majesty's deployment and the support of the country. Minister, How dare you take credit?"
Xiao Yuan raised his head and glanced at him, and said with a gentle smile: "In a county, you have the ability to manage things, so there is no need to be too modest."
With that said, he closed the official document in his hand and said, "By the way, what does Zhang Qing think of Wang Yuanju, the magistrate of Xinghe County?"
Zhang Shanping was moved in his heart and did not dare to answer immediately. Instead, he thought about Xiao Yuan's meaning in his heart, and then said truthfully: "Your Majesty, Wang Yuanju is a talented person. He is not only good at writing, but also a practical person. He is definitely not Compared with those ordinary scholars, he is a person who dares to engage in county administration in a drastic way."
"Just like Xinghe, it was originally the last county under Jiyang's jurisdiction, but now it ranks second."
Xiao Yuandao: "From what you said, I can understand that you compared him to a minister who opened up borders and expanded territories."
The expansion of territory by civil servants is certainly not that of military commanders.
Zhang Shanping said: "Your Majesty clearly knows that this person does have pioneering talents."
"Yes." Xiao Yuan nodded and started reading another official document.
Seeing this, Zhang Shanping bravely said: "Your Majesty is tired from traveling and traveling. I will arrange a dinner for you to relieve your fatigue."
"Just keep everything simple." Xiao Yuan said, "In addition, please help me arrange a place to stay. I will rest at the county mansion tonight."
"Yes, I will take care of it now." Zhang Shanping bowed down, bowed, and bowed. (End of chapter)
