Since Cangshan has reached Pingcang County, how can it be too far away? However, this time they did not continue walking north, but turned around and headed southeast.
The vast mountain forest is difficult to walk through, but at the foot of the mountain is an open land with growing greenery. However, no one has cleared it, so it is regarded as a wasteland.
When traveling in this kind of area, even if you miss the official road, it is still very fast.
The sky was clear and clear after the rain, and the unique smell of earth in the north followed for more than fifty miles. When the green grass faded, the group finally entered the boundary of Pingcang County before dusk.
On the way, Zhou Bai met another group of search and rescue personnel. They were county patrols who had arrived belatedly, and they were still guided by the anxious Lao Huang.
At this time, the Jin people who should leave had already evacuated from the border of Daxu Kingdom, and the county and city soldiers were just finishing the work and writing a detailed investigation report to explain to the superiors.
After joining Lao Huang, Zhou Bai, escorted by Pingcang County soldiers, went straight into the county seat. The county magistrate Ji Hongzhe wanted to see him.
Unable to refuse, even though it was Chen Zhongbang's request for help, no matter what Ji Hongzhe's reasons were for sending troops, Zhou Bai had to accept this sentiment.
After several inspections and detours through several corridors, Zhou Bai met Ji Hongzhe in the back hall of the county government office, which is the residence of every county magistrate.
In the presence of the elder, naturally Zhou Bai was the first to say hello.
"Xiaosheng Zhou Bai has met the county magistrate."
"It's good that my nephew is safe and sound. I have been thinking about it all day, for fear that we in Pingcang will lose a great talent." Ji Hongzhe smiled broadly, obviously very happy for Zhou Bai's arrival.
Zhou Bai sighed a little, and at the same time continued: "The bad luck caused unforeseen disasters, but my nephew will definitely remember your kindness in helping me."
Ji Hongzhe paused as he picked up the tea cup. He called his nephew because he wanted to win over him. Zhou Bai said he was grateful but also changed his name, so he was willing to get closer to him.
"You are the chief criminal in Bei'an County. How can you say that you are in bad luck? I have looked through the county annals and there is no one as old as you."
"Will my nephew prepare to take the provincial examination this year, or will he grind for another two years?" After Ji Hongzhe comforted him, he asked about business again.
"When you return to the county, you should be brave and diligent. I don't want to miss this autumn." Zhou Bai replied with his hands in hand.
However, he knew that Ji Hongzhe wanted to hear more than this, so he continued: "Since I am a scholar and am the chief case officer of the county, it must be useful to speak in the family. Don't worry, Hongni Township will definitely support the county government's decree, but there are If you send a message, my Zhou family will definitely respond."
Ji Hongzhe nodded slightly, smiled and said: "There will be a new policy in the county, which needs the support of all the major families. With the support of the Zhou family, who is the number one in the township, it will be much easier to handle outside."
"But will this delay you from studying behind closed doors? A good nephew cannot delay his studies."
Zhou Bai shook his head and said: "There is no limit to the road, and there is no limit to the study. However, it should not be a problem to recruit people. I just wonder if you can reveal that there are some new policies that require cooperation, so that I can prepare the clan."
Ji Hongzhe frowned and felt a little unhappy. No matter how talented you were, you couldn't say so much right now, right?
You must know that there is a folk saying that "gold people are promoted, and silver Jinshi" is not only that the promotion of people can better reflect the crossing of social classes, but also because it is much more difficult to be promoted to Jinshi than to be a scholar.
The imperial examinations before the examination were only for scholars, and the contents did not exceed common sense and did not deviate from the ordinary.
However, since the beginning of the provincial examination, the interpretation of Taoist scriptures has been added. Having the title of candidate means the qualification to enter the Taoism, and you can seek immortality from now on.
Except for the children of aristocratic families who usually have some exposure to Taoism and have some foundation in Taoism, the direct descendants of general county magnates will not be involved in the subject of interpretation of Taoist scriptures before they are admitted as scholars.
Arrogance or arrogance may have really led him to meet such a genius.
With a skeptical mind, Ji Hongzhe tested Zhou Bai's academic skills again, but the results surprised him. Zhou Bai could answer the questions with ease, including the meaning of classics, policy theory, and even the interpretation of Taoist scriptures.
He can't guarantee Dingzhou Jieyuan or Yayuan, but as long as he is lucky enough, Zhou Bai will definitely be pre-selected.
Then Ji Hongzhe changed his slightly contemptuous attitude, put down his reserve and began to discuss the new policy with Zhou Bai. This was said in the middle of the night.
That night, the news that Zhou Bai stayed at the county government office also spread throughout the county.
Many big families privately criticized Ji Hongzhe for his lack of martial ethics. For example, the county magnate Chen family, under Chen Yun's persuasion, was preparing to spend a lot of money to win over him, but now the county magnates didn't even give them a chance to meet.
Early the next morning, after having breakfast cooked by the county's wife at the county government office, Ji Hongzhe personally escorted Zhou Bai out of the main entrance of the county government office. It can be said that the heads of other families may not pay such attention to it. Now this has been said. My own people are friendly.
"Master, several people came to me yesterday and asked you to go to the banquet. Would you like to stay for a few more days?" Old Huang put his head in the newly purchased carriage and asked.
"If I don't go, my family will be in a hurry. They can understand."
Zhou Bai glanced at Ji Hongzhe, who was watching them leave, and said calmly: "Although the county magistrate is an official, he is also a Jinshi, and he will not tolerate being bullied by a young boy like me."
Last night, Zhou Bai seemed to be unable to resist Ji Hongzhe's enthusiasm and stayed overnight. In fact, this had already made his position clear, and the Zhou family would support him openly from now on.
It was too fast and did not conform to the logic and interests of the survival of local powerful people. Therefore, many families found it difficult to understand and even thought Zhou Bai was too impetuous.
But how do they know that in a few years of great catastrophe and reshuffle, there will be no hidden rules and interests. They are busy competing with the county magistrate, so they might as well think about how to protect themselves.
On the way back again, Zhou Bai recalled the content of the long conversation one night in the car. It was almost the same as the decree that Hongzhe was planning to issue in the previous century.
Recruiting refugees and issuing wasteland reclamation orders; county soldiers participated in the defense of Kukou Pass, and incidentally contributed funds to repair the pass city wall; recruited powerful servants to clean up the bandits in Cangshan...
They are all extremely sensitive decrees. Just look at the first and simplest one, which is land reclamation for refugees, and it involves the interests of all parties.
This unowned land in Pingcang County has been favored by major families for a long time. Although they have not made drastic measures to open up wasteland for farming, they are also subtly devouring and annexing it.
Whether it is a county tycoon family or a rural family like the Zhou family, it is not that they don't want more land, but the family status is not enough, and exceeding the number of acres violates the court decree, so the land is left uncultivated and empty.
If there is a breakthrough in family status in the future, which clan member has a future, the surrounding wasteland will be room for development, there is no need to worry at all.
In the previous century, Hongzhe failed to appease all parties, which resulted in the New Deal ending in a tailspin, and he finally left Pingcang County in despair.
But now with his help, it may be a little different. At least opening up wasteland is what Zhou Bai has always wanted to do. He wants more land to grow food.
In a blink of an eye, the archway of Hongni Township was clearly visible in front. This time, the patriarch Zhou Mingxuan personally led the team to greet them.
Red ribbons, welcoming villagers watching the theater, and lively gongs and drums.
"Master, what a big battle, all the top officials are here!"
"It seems they understand what it means to be a fifteen-year-old criminal leader."
