Chapter 885 Parents of the People
On the third day when the fleet was stationed, Xue Rengui hurried back.
When I arrived at Fang Jun's ship, I saw a pile of grape wine that Fang Jun had put on the table. I was not polite. I grabbed it and drank half of the jar in one go. Then I put the jar down and turned to Fang Jun. A military salute.
"Xue Li reports to you!"
Fang Jun looked at Xue Rengui with a smile. Although Xue Rengui's clothes were messy because he was in a hurry, the strong spring breeze on his face could not be concealed. "A farewell is better than a wedding. Why didn't Xiao Xue stay for two more days? Anyway, the army is here." If you want to stay for ten days, just come back before departure.”
Liu Renyuan, who was checking Xue Rengui's name on the list to prove that he had returned to the military camp, said sourly: "My brother and sister have reunited with you after a long separation. If you don't feed me, if you are hungry and thirsty, you will be taken advantage of by those rough guys inadvertently." If you enter, that would be bad..."
Men in the army don't pay much attention to etiquette, and they often joke and say dirty words to make fun of each other.
Xue Rengui was not angry either, and laughed loudly with his handsome face: "Mrs. So-and-so is the most loyal woman. She is a real lady from a famous family. She is totally devoted to old Xue. How could she do such a thing? Brother Renyuan, don't be envious. You future The mother-in-law is definitely not bad. It’s just that finding a mother-in-law often depends on luck. No matter how talented you are, if you find someone who is easygoing, you have to accept your fate, right?”
What he said almost made Liu Renyuan angry to death!
But what Xue Rengui said makes sense. He knows people but not their hearts. Who knows what kind of character his future mother-in-law will be like? There are many ladies among us, but not all of them are well-educated and virtuous.
Everyone in the Navy knew about Xue Rengui's situation and were very envious that he could marry such a virtuous woman as Liu. Although Liu Renyuan was rude in his words, he still admired Mrs. Liu whom he had not yet met.
After joking with Liu Renyuan, Xue Rengui said to Fang Jun: "The last general just met the Rudong County magistrate and his party at sea, and said he was coming to pay a visit to the chief manager."
Fang Junqi asked: "Why did he come to visit me?"
Xue Rengui said: "I don't know about the general, but I think we have already arrived. The general's warship is fast and he is one step ahead."
Just as he was talking, someone outside shouted "Rudong County Magistrate" and came to visit.
Fang Jun ordered Xue Rengui to go out and welcome him in, but he himself sat still. It's not Fang Jun's pretense. His official title is ten blocks higher than that of a county magistrate. If the gap is not big, he can go out to greet him. It is said that he is easy-going and friendly, but the difference in status is too big, so he can't be too casual.
After a moment, someone stepped onto the deck and entered the cabin.
A lean man in his thirties, wearing a light green official robe, looks like a big praying mantis...
This man paid homage with great salute: "Sun Cheng'en, the magistrate of Rudong County, has met the Marquis."
Fang Jun slightly cupped his hands and said with a smile: "No gifts, no gifts, please sit down and watch the tea!"
Sun Chengen was quite embarrassed. He picked up the tea cup and took a sip, then put it down and stopped drinking. He sat there and hesitated to speak.
Fang Jun was quite amused. Can he be an official with such a temperament? I am afraid that I will be bullied severely by the old officials and local tyrants and evil gentry in the village, because I am too tender-hearted. Officials don't have to be domineering, but if they don't even have a thick skin, it won't work.
This man is as thin and dark as Fang Jun himself...
The official robe was washed very clean, but the boots under his feet were a little worn, which showed that his family background was not good. An official from a poor family?
Fang Jun was thoughtful and said bluntly: "If you have something to say, Magistrate Sun, you might as well say it directly. After we talk about the business, I will leave you to dinner and let's have a few drinks. Let me tell you, I have the best here." Wine made from grapes from the Western Regions is hard to find.”
Sun Chengen quickly thanked him, then looked at Fang Jun and said: "Master Suwen is the best master of making money in the world. He was known as the 'God of Wealth' when he was in Guanzhong. When he arrived in the south of the Yangtze River, he even turned stones into gold. The lower officials admired him greatly. . I came here because I really want to ask for something. I hope that the Marquis can show you a way to make money in Rudong County so that the people of Rudong County can have enough food and clothing, and will not have to sell their children and have a way to survive! "
He spoke sincerely and looked at Fang Jun, full of expectation.
The look in his eyes is like that of Guanyin Bodhisattva who saves the suffering in the face of difficulties...
Fang Jun was surprised and said: "Why is this so?"
Rudong County is close to the sea and now has abundant seafood. Even though the fishing industry is underdeveloped due to the backwardness of fishing boats and nets, it is difficult to make a fortune, but it is not difficult to go out to the sea to catch a few fish every day and have a full meal. Bar?
Are you still selling your sons and daughters?
It's deceptive...
Seeing Fang Jun's disbelief, Sun Cheng'en didn't seem to be surprised. He smiled bitterly, full of sourness and guilt: "I am an incompetent official. I am the parent of the people of Rudong, but I can't seek prosperity for the people under my jurisdiction. I really feel ashamed of Your Majesty." , I am ashamed of the imperial court, and even more ashamed of the people of Rudong..."
He had already expected it. If the land in the east is close to the sea, how could he not even have a meal? Speaking of which, let alone others who didn't believe it, he himself couldn't believe it!
Yet this is indeed the case.
Rudong County did not exist before the Spring and Autumn Period. It was just a vast ocean. Later, the sediment at the river mouth silted up into a sandbar, and gradually became land. Only then did people inhabit, and it was called "Fuhaizhou" in history.
At the beginning of the Western Han Dynasty, it was a fief for Wu King Liu Bi. Liu Bi "boiled sea water in the east to make salt" and was the first to fry salt in Huaihe District. The first batch of "salt cubes" appeared in Rudong. During the Three Kingdoms period, Jianghuai was the front line of the war between Cao and Wu. Cao Cao moved residents in the Jianghuai area and the county was established here.
However, the sandbanks are mostly saline-alkali land and do not produce food, making people's lives miserable.
Originally, it was possible to go to sea and rely on fishing to supplement the household income and exchange for some food. However, Rudong County is really too poor and does not produce wood. If you want to build a ship, you have to go out to buy wood. The people cannot afford it...
The only few fishing boats in the county are small and dilapidated sampans, and they can't catch a few fish even if they go out to sea. In addition, there are always sharks in the offshore this year, which has harmed more than a dozen fishermen, and there is no one left. Dare to go fishing in the sea.
Fang Jun pondered for a while, Rudong has been cooking salt since ancient times, so developing the salt industry is not a bad strategy.
"Magistrate Sun wants me to speak for you and ask the court to allow the establishment of a salt farm in Rudong and issue a license?"
The salt farm in Huating Town is the envy of all coastal states and counties. If Dong County is so poor, I imagine that if there is a salt farm, the county's finances will be greatly improved. Not only can it be lifted out of poverty in one fell swoop, it can even become a star county along the coast of Suzhou and Yangzhou.
Unexpectedly, Sun Chengen shook his head and said: "The Marquis has misunderstood what the official meant. The official came here shamelessly because he wanted to ask the Marquis to help the people of Rudong County and point out a way for everyone to have enough food and warm clothes, not For the sake of Xiaguan's future, it doesn't mean that Xiaguan is noble. For the sake of the people, it's okay for Xiaguan to kowtow to you, but if it's for yourself, Xiaguan can't lick his face. Please. Furthermore, Rudong County is now boiling the sea for salt, but it is all for the wealthy families. Isn't it still starving to say that it is treasonous to do it for the imperial court and for the wealthy families? It’s no different if the wealthy families carry out the work. Even if they set up salt farms, most of them will be taken away. What else will be left for the people? ”
Fang Jun suddenly stood in awe, and his originally casual posture became more serious, straightening his back to show respect.
This is a good official!
If Fang Jun asked the court for permission to establish a salt farm in Rudong County, there would be almost no problem. After all, he was the one who created the method of drying salt, and everyone has to give him this face.
But Magistrate Sun had already seen the essence of the matter.
The establishment of the salt farm caused the GDP of Rudong County to increase rapidly, reaching an unprecedented height in a short period of time, even surpassing some wealthy counties in the interior. However, this does not have much to do with improving people's living standards...
In later generations, China’s GDP ranked second in the world. What was its per capita income ranking?
More than seventy people...
If Sun Chengen can not plan for his own political achievements, but only care about improving the lives of the people, he must be more responsible than 99.9% of the officials in later generations. Only such officials can be called "the parents of the people" "!
The people of Rudong County are so lucky!
Liu Rengui, Liu Renyuan, and Xue Rengui on the side also stood in awe of this unassuming county magistrate. Fang Jun looked at this county magistrate who was probably the first to "attract investment" in history, and he made up his mind to come up with a good way to make a fortune for the people of Rudong County. That is for the poor people, and even more for the parents of the noble person in front of me!
But, what’s the best way to do it?
(End of chapter)