Family Rise: Beginning with Grandfather

In early July, the new governor of Anyuan Prefecture finally took office.

The name of the new magistrate is Lin Shoude. He is thirty-nine years old this year. He was born as a Jinshi in the 14th year of Taiping. He has been a magistrate in Jiangnan for 12 years. Although he was transferred during the period, he has never been promoted.

This time, he was promoted to the fifth rank of Anyuan Prefecture, but this promotion was obviously not a good thing.

What kind of place is that in Jiangnan? It is the richest place in Da Rong.

And what about Chongshan Town?

A military border town.

In border towns, there is little room for civil servants to display their abilities.

For example, in the city of Anyuan Prefecture, there is Yang Zhengshan's garrison, and there is also a military defense yamen. If it is a state capital in the hinterland of Darong, most cities will not have a garrison. The local guards are responsible for the city's defense and public security. , and the chief officials from various places occupied a dominant position when facing the guards.

It's different in Chongshan Town. Not only can the chief officials from various places not be able to occupy a dominant position, they also have to cooperate with the guards and battalions in all aspects.

For example, repairing the acropolis, providing supplies, helping the garrison transport weapons and supplies, etc. For these matters, the garrison can ask the local chief official to distribute labor.

Therefore, in border towns, local officials have to obey the arrangements of the guard station in many aspects and cooperate with the actions of the guard station according to the needs of the guard station.

Of course, the health center also cooperates with local government agencies, such as detecting theft, quelling chaos, maintaining local security, etc.

But generally speaking, being a magistrate in Chongshan Town is far less comfortable than being a magistrate in the hinterland of Darong, or even less comfortable than being a county magistrate in Jiangnan.

The key is that Jiangnan is rich. Even if he is an upright official, his annual income is not small.

But what about in Anyuan Prefecture?

If Lin Xuan could make a lot of money, he wouldn't have risked having his whole family raped and killed by joining the Liang family's pirate ship.

Lin Shoude came to Anyuan City from the south of the Yangtze River and received almost no benefits except for his promotion in official rank.

However, Yang Zhengshan estimated that Mr. Lin was not a person who could be an official. If Mr. Lin could be an official, he would not have been promoted as a county magistrate in Jiangnan for twelve years.

Twelve years!

Ordinary officials will have a chance to be promoted once they have been in office for nine consecutive years, but Lin Shoude has not been promoted until now, and he has also come to Chongshan Town. It is likely that he has been suppressed and excluded by others.

In the garrison hall, Yang Zhengshan looked at Lin Shoude curiously.

This Mr. Lin is tall and thin, and looks like Zhou Zheng, but there is no smile on his face, and he is a bit stern.

This is very similar to Xu Jin, but Xu Jin's seriousness is due to his seriousness. In fact, after getting to know each other, Xu Jin is still easy to get along with.

But this Mr. Lin is a bit difficult to get along with.

The two sat down, and as soon as the tea was served, Lin Shoude spoke first: "Master Yang, I have official business to discuss with Master Yang!"

"What official business! Master Lin, please tell me!" Yang Zhengshan asked curiously.

Lin Shoude looked at Yang Zhengshan with a sense of power without anger.

It's okay to target subordinates without anger, but it's a bit inappropriate to target Yang Zhengshan, who has no affiliation with him, not to mention that Yang Zhengshan is higher than him in terms of official rank.

"I want the garrison office to send military households to repair the road going south!" Lin Shoude said.

"What?" Yang Zhengshan thought his ears heard it wrong.

Lin Shoude said again seriously: "I want the garrison office to send military households to repair the road going south!"

After confirming that he heard correctly, Yang Zhengshan looked at Lin Shoude strangely.

The road south!

It was the official road leading from Anyuan City to Yuanhe County. Yang Zhengshan had walked that road before when he went to Tianqing Sword Sect.

Speaking of which, that road really needs to be repaired. It's really unsightly with lots of potholes.

But why should military households be required to repair it?

"Master Lin, shouldn't labor be distributed in this matter?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

Lin Shoude shook his head, "Mr. Lin, too many soldiers will hurt the people! The official road south of Anyuan City connects Yuanhe County and Chengyang County. It is the most important commercial road in Anyuan City. If Anyuan City develops, this road must be built. !”

Yang Zhengshan nodded, there was nothing wrong with Lin Shoude's words.

The official road to the south of Anyuan City is indeed the most important official road, even more important than the official road to Chongshanguan, because basically the goods in Anyuan City come from the south, not from the west.

Yang Zhengshan supported Lin Shoude's desire to build roads.

But~~

"Master Lin, you also said that excessive military service hurts the people. Military households are also civilians. If you ask military households to build roads, then don't military households have to serve on behalf of the people?" Yang Zhengshan said.

"What's wrong with this?" Lin Shoude said with a frown.

Yang Zhengshan stared at him for a long time before sighing slightly.

He finally knew why Mr. Lin was sent to Anyuan City and why he was ostracized and suppressed in Jiangnan.

I don’t know how to adapt, and I don’t know how to practice.

Military households serve on behalf of the people, building roads, bridges, renovating city walls, etc. These are all normal things in the state capital in the hinterland of Da Rong.

Excessive service would hurt the people, so many officials targeted military households. However, military households were not required to perform labor service, so they used a small amount of food and salary to mobilize military households.

Strictly speaking, this matter is illegal. After all, not just anyone can transfer military households.

But as long as the health center cooperates and local officials are willing to provide money and food, this matter becomes a matter of course.

Some guards officials even used this to make large sums of money. They enslaved military households to work and pocketed the money and grain given by the local government.

But this method doesn't work in border towns.

"Lord Lin, this is Chongshan Town." Yang Zhengshan thought that Lin Shoude's road construction was good, but the way was a bit wrong, so he planned to have a good talk with Lin Shoude.

"Lord Yang, what does this mean? Does Lord Yang want more money and food!"

However, Lin Shoude did not give Yang Zhengshan a chance to speak, and directly brought the topic to money and food.

Yang Zhengshan's mouth twitched slightly.

What does this mean?

Is it that I want more money and food?

Damn, has this guy read books and become stupid?

Let's not say that I don't mean this, even if I do, you can't talk like this.

Yang Zhengshan was a little depressed, but still said: "Border towns focus on defense, and farming and garrison are the main responsibilities of border town soldiers. I can't spare any manpower from the garrison office to help Lord Lin build roads."

Lin Shoude looked up and down at Yang Zhengshan for a long time, "I didn't expect Lord Yang to be a good official who is not greedy for money!"

"..."

Yang Zhengshan was completely speechless.

Buddy, I know I'm a good official, but you don't need to say it.

What you said sounds a bit sarcastic to me.

Although it was only the first time they met, Yang Zhengshan had already seen that this Lord Lin was a bit simple, yes, simple, outspoken, said whatever he thought, and did things directly. He just came to Anyuan City and did not investigate the situation in Anyuan City, but ran directly to discuss such a thing with him. It is difficult for ordinary people to do such a thing.

However, there is an advantage of such a person, that is, you don’t have to use your brain too much with him, it will be better to speak and do things simply.

Thinking of this, Yang Zhengshan looked at Lin Shoude less helplessly.

"Lord Lin wants to build a road, which I agree with, but Lord Lin wants the military households to serve on behalf of the people, which is really not possible!"

"Lord Lin may not know the hardships of the north when he first came to Chongshan Town! Farmers are civilians, and military households are also civilians. Their lives are already unsustainable. No matter who is asked to work, it will be a disaster!"

"To be honest with Lord Lin, I am also worried about the livelihoods of the military households. In order to help them make a living, I not only raise pigs and chickens in the garrison, but also invite a wealthy businessman from Chongshan Town to open an embroidery workshop, a blacksmith shop and a carpenter shop in Anyuan City to find some new livelihoods for the children of the military households!"

"And now, the garrisons outside the city are being renovated, and the soldiers in the garrisons are also receiving training. At this time, I absolutely cannot withdraw military households to build roads!"

Yang Zhengshan told Lin Shoude the details.

After listening to him, Lin Shoude fell into deep thought.

"But the official road to the south must be repaired. If that official road is not repaired, it will be difficult for the caravans in the south to come!"

He was very dissatisfied with the official road in the south, because when he came here, he took the official road, and his carriage broke because of too much bumps on the road.

So after arriving in Anyuan City, the first thing he wanted to do was to repair the road.

Yang Zhengshan saw his serious expression and his mind moved slightly.

"How much money and grain can Lord Lin take out to repair the road?"

Lin Shoude raised his head and said: "The prefectural government has silver. Even if the silver is not enough, the prefectural government has many shops, houses and land that can be sold!"

Yang Zhengshan's eyes lit up. He forgot that the current prefectural government is rich.

The Liang family, Lin Xuan, Hao Zhaoxian and other officials were raided, and most of their property was taken away by the Ministry of Households, but those real estates were left in the prefectural government.

The prefectural government has the right to dispose of these real estates.

"Since there is money, then hire civilians to build roads!"

"Employ? Is this appropriate?"

"What's inappropriate?" Yang Zhengshan said with a smile: "Our dynasty does not prohibit local government offices from hiring civilians to work."

It is true that there is no prohibition, but no government office will hire civilians, because they can let civilians do labor service.

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said: "I think Lord Lin can think about it carefully. Your military households also have to spend money and food to serve on behalf of civilians. Why not hire civilians directly!"

"Too many labor services hurt the people, but if Lord Lin is willing to pay money to the people, it will not be labor service, but give the people an opportunity to make money!"

There are actually many places where this kind of thing can be operated, such as finding someone to contract, letting merchants hire workers, and the prefectural government office is only responsible for supervision and issuing money and food.

However, this is not Yang Zhengshan's responsibility after all, so he just made a suggestion to Lin Shoude. As for whether Lin Shoude can do it, it depends on him.

Lin Shoude frowned and thought for a long time, but still did not change his mind.

Yang Zhengshan did not persuade him anymore.

There is no point in saying more. The key is whether he knows how to adapt.

If he doesn't know how to adapt, no matter how much Yang Zhengshan says, it will be useless.

Yang Zhengshan served tea to see the guests off. Although Lin Shoude was a little ignorant of the ways of the world, he also knew what Yang Zhengshan meant, so he could only stand up and say goodbye.

After seeing Lin Shoude off, Yang Zhengshan stood in front of the main hall and pondered for a while, then ordered Han Fei beside him: "Go and call Jiang He over!"

Soon, Han Fei took Jiang He to the study.

"Dad, you're looking for me!"

During this period, Jiang He has been helping Yang Mingcheng manage the horse farm, and has been staying outside the city most of the time. Only today can he rest at home.

"Well, go and tell Luo Zhen that the prefectural government will sell off the shops in the city recently, and let him prepare!" Yang Zhengshan said.

When Lin Shoude comes, he will definitely sell off those shops.

Of course, the sale of shops will not be handled by the government, but by the designated yamen.

But no matter who is in charge, this matter has no impact, and the Luo family can buy those shops.

"Okay, I'll go find Luo Zhen right now!" Jiang He responded and left.

After Yang Zhengshan left the Yamen, he returned to the main courtyard and said to Yu Qingyi: "During this period, the Zhizhou Yamen will sell the fields outside the city. See if there is any better Zhuangzi."

Yu Qingyi, who was embroidering a robe, frowned slightly when he heard this, "I'm afraid I don't have enough money left at home to buy Zhuangzi!"

Zhuangzi, that is, a farm.

A farm may have as little as two to three hundred acres of land, but as many as over a thousand acres.

The price of land in Anyuan City is similar to that in Anning County. An acre of dry land costs about four taels. At this rate, a small village costs nearly a thousand taels.

It's not that Yang Zhengshan didn't know how much money he still had at home. Although Yu Qingyi was the housekeeper during this period, Yu Qingyi often showed him the account books, so he knew the financial situation of the family very well.

The family has no money, but he has money in his hands!

Yang Zhengshan did not touch the property in Lingquan space at all.

"I'll get you some money!" Yang Zhengshan turned around and walked out of the side room and came to the warehouse next door.

This warehouse belongs to him, and there are some of his sundries in it. In fact, there is nothing. He has placed all the valuable things in the Lingquan space. This warehouse is just to hide it from others.

Soon, Yang Zhengshan took out a large box from the warehouse.

He placed the box in front of Yu Qingyi and opened it, revealing the white silver inside.

"Use this money to buy a banker!"

He is not short of silver now, but how to convert that gold and silver into the Yang family's property is a problem.

Silver placed in the Lingquan space is just a pile of metal, which has no meaning. It only makes sense if it is spent or invested.

But with so much gold and silver, it was not easy for Yang Zhengshan to spend it. He could only take it out little by little.

This time Zhizhou Yamen's land sale was an opportunity, and the Yang family just took the opportunity to buy a farm.

"Where did you get so much money?"

Yu Qingyi looked at so much money, his eyes full of surprise.

"Husband, you are not embezzling the government salary, are you?"

"..."

Yang Zhengshan's eyes were full of helplessness.

Even Yu Qingyi would think this way, but what about outsiders?

But it's normal for Yu Qingyi to think this way. After all, Yu Qingyi now holds the financial power of the Yang family. Yu Qingyi knows how much money the Yang family has.

Yang Zhengshan suddenly took out so much money, it was definitely not money from a serious source.

"Well, this is not greedy for ink, but its origin is really difficult to explain!" Yang Zhengshan could only say this.

Yu Qingyi took out a silver ingot from the box and looked at it, "Has your husband cheated on you?"

She still believes in Yang Zhengshan's character. She naturally knows whether Yang Zhengshan is a corrupt official. After all, she sleeps with Yang Zhengshan every day and knows a lot about Qianya's affairs.

As for cheating on others, this is the most common thing in the world, and Yu Qingyi has done this before.

"Well, that's about right!" Yang Zhengshan smiled.

Yu Qingyi's eyes were bright. She thought of the night Yang Zhengshan went out, "How much did your husband eat?"

She looks like a little money addict, looking cute and unique.

Yang Zhengshan couldn't help but want to tease her, "Guess!"

"Ten thousand taels!" Yu Qingyi guessed as a money fan.

"wrong!"

"More or less!" Yu Qingyi's eyes were full of expectation.

"Less!"

Yu Qingyi's eyes brightened even more.

To her, ten thousand taels was already a lot. Even though she was the leader of the Azure Sword Sect before, the most money she had ever seen was just a thousand taels of silver note.

"Twenty thousand?"

"wrong!"

"Thirty thousand?"

Yang Zhengshan continued to shake his head.

Yu Qingyi's eyes widened and his mouth grew bigger, "Could it be fifty thousand!"

In the Jianghu, it is common for the gangsters to eat up the gangsters, and it is common to eat a thousand or eight hundred taels, but tens of thousands of taels is almost unheard of. At least Yu Qingyi has never heard of it.

Jianghu warriors have never been representatives of wealth. Although Jianghu warriors are much richer in money than ordinary people, compared with real wealth, such existence is impossible in Jianghu.

"Almost fifty thousand taels of gold and silver!" Yang Zhengshan thought it was almost enough. It would be bad if he frightened his wife by telling the truth.

Yu Qingyi was really almost frightened.

Fifty thousand taels!

That’s fifty thousand taels!

This is not a small sum for anyone, even those dignitaries in the court!

"Is there really no trouble?"

Yu Qingyi became worried.

Yang Zhengshan reached out and took her into his arms, "Don't worry, there won't be any trouble!"