Kidnapped by Princess Changle at the beginning

He knew about Shanzhou.

The typical land is vast and sparsely populated, the population is pitifully small, and there is no way to grow food on large areas of land. Moreover, due to the previous borders with Tuyuhun and Tubo, frequent wars, many places have long been empty. It is no exaggeration to say that, Some counties under the jurisdiction of Shanzhou are not even as good as some small places in Guanzhong.

Chen Chu asked Li Tai and others to manage Shanzhou for a short time. If he worked hard, with Li Ji's cooperation, Shanzhou City should be able to become more prosperous, and even the entire population of Shanzhou could be concentrated in Shanzhou City. In this way, Shanzhou City may be comparable to Lanzhou.

What about the counties under its jurisdiction?

This is not good to say!

Cheng Yaojin thought so.

Changsun Wuji and a group of officials thought so too.

Everyone had their own thoughts and went straight to Namu County in the south of Shanzhou.

Before coming here, everyone only knew the situation in Shanzhou briefly and did not know the details.

As for the selection of Namu County, it was also randomly selected by everyone and Changsun Wuji.

After noon, a group of people finally arrived at the border of Namu County.

Cheng Yaojin rode a horse, walking side by side with Changsun Wuji.

Old Cheng looked displeased, and said: "I just asked someone to inquire. This Namu County used to be bordered by Tuyuhun, and the bandits in Tuyuhun actually invaded, burned, killed, and plundered. , people have all run away... old goblin, you have changed your mind and come here..."

Before he finished speaking, Cheng Yaojin saw Changsun Wuji's eyes staring at the front, dumbstruck.

What happened?

Cheng Yaojin was taken aback, and looked in the direction of Changsun Wuji's gaze.

I saw countless people plowing the land on a large piece of land in the distance.

Those who tilled the land unexpectedly had oxen, horses, mules, and even camels.

It looks outrageous.

But the people in the field are extremely happy.

One by one holding farm tools, in full swing, doing it with great joy.

Looking around, there are people everywhere.

This scene is really shocking!

Changsun Wuji's tightly frowned brows suddenly relaxed.

He hurriedly said: "Speed ​​up and go to Namu County."

The convoy speeded up and soon came to Namu County.

This county is really dilapidated.

It can't even be called a city, because many places are actually walls made of rammed earth, and some places have already collapsed, but no one has repaired them.

However, inside and outside the city, it was extremely lively.

On the narrow streets, even riding a horse is not allowed, and carriages cannot pass at all, and there are crowds of people everywhere.

Helpless, Changsun Wuji had no choice but to order the people to put the horses and carriages outside the city, and then led a group of officials into the city, and went straight to the Namu county government office.

The county government, like this city, is dilapidated and declining.

As soon as Changsun Wuji and others arrived at the gate of the county government office, they saw several men in coarse clothes coming out of the county government office.

Cheng Yaojin yelled hastily: "Is this the Namu county government office? Where is your county magistrate?"

Those people were taken aback.

Afterwards, an honest man stood up and asked, "I am the county magistrate Namu, how many of you are looking for me?"

Changsun Wuji and others looked at the guy carefully, showing disbelief.

This is the magistrate?

If he didn't introduce himself, everyone would think he was a farmer.

It doesn't look like a county magistrate at all.

……

……

Chapter 407 Chen Chu's Ultimate Move

Changsun Wuji couldn't believe it, and asked, "You are Namu County Magistrate Chen Chuan?"

The man nodded: "That's right, it's the official."

After some questioning, Changsun Wuji and others confirmed Chen Chuan's identity as the county magistrate.

Then, Changsun Wuji took out the paperwork for going to Shanzhou on business.

Chen Chuan took a look and was shocked.

The person who came was Sun Wuji, the chief minister of the dynasty?

And the general Cheng Yaojin?

Chen Chu was stunned.

Just imagine, when did such a big person come to such a remote place like Namu.

For example, Li Ji, the current head of the Longyou Road Marching Army and governor of Shanzhou, has never been to Namu County.

Chen Chuan was overwhelmed by flattery for a moment, and hurriedly said: "The lower officials have blind eyes, but they didn't recognize them as Changsun Sikong, General Cheng, and all your lords, please come in quickly."

Changsun Wuji laughed, and led everyone into the county government office.

When he came to the main hall and took a seat, Chen Chuan hurriedly asked someone to bring tea.

When everyone tasted it, they were all amazed. This tea turned out to be the top quality tea produced by the West Datang Company.

Cheng Yaojin was surprised and said: "I never expected that Namu County could have such good tea. Chen Chuan, is your county magistrate corrupt?"

Chen Chuan stood up in panic and tremblingly said: "General, I am wronged. Since I served as the magistrate of Namu County, I have never received anything from anyone. How have I ever talked about this corruption. To be honest, this tea , it was sent regularly by the West Datang Company, but it was not for bribing officials, but for some rewards for everyone's hard work..."

Hearing this, Changsun Wuji asked curiously: "Magistrate Chen, why did the West Datang Company reward you? Don't worry, just speak slowly, sit down and talk."

Chen Chuan sat down anxiously, and said slowly: "Qi Sikong, Namu and the surrounding counties are the cotton planting bases of the West Datang Company. At the beginning, King Qi personally brought people to inspect... There is a large piece of wasteland, but there is a shortage of manpower. In order to allow the cotton of the West Datang Company to be planted on time, even I, the county magistrate, personally led people to work in the field. Now, the entire Namu County is planted with cotton. As an official of one party, the lower officials naturally have the duty of persuading farmers and mulberry farmers. However, in this place, the main purpose of persuading farmers and mulberry farmers is to manage and protect cotton. After a while, the lower officials know a lot. Thanks to the busy work of the West Datang Company, all the staff of the West Datang Company are very grateful to the Namu County Government.”

Changsun Wuji and others suddenly realized.

When I was in Chang'an, I only heard that Shanzhou planted a lot of cotton, and many merchants even said that the cotton in Shanzhou was overwhelming and huge, but everyone thought this was an exaggeration.

But now it seems that even that tree has been planted, and other counties have also been planted. This scale must not be small.

It seems that the previous rumors are correct. The West Datang Company is only a part of it in Chang'an. The real big head is still in Shanzhou.

Changsun Wuji stared at Chen Chuan, and asked curiously: "Accordingly, the cotton has been planted and harvested now, but the old man looks at the dress of the county magistrate Chen, is he going to take people to help harvest cotton? Is it still manpower? Is it in short supply?"

Chen Chuan finally relaxed at this moment, shook his head, and said, "Sikong, there is no shortage of people in Namu now, and there are even more and more people... I am going to take the people who came to defect to Namu to open up wasteland... "

"Open up wasteland?"

Everyone was stunned.

After all, in a place like Shanzhou, where the land is vast and sparsely populated, and there is no one to cultivate a large area of ​​land, what is the value of wasteland?

Chen Chuan saw everyone's confusion, and explained: "Sikong, General, gentlemen, it's like this. At the beginning, Shanzhou was short of manpower, but there were only so few people in Shanzhou. Even if there is no war now, the short-term It is impossible to increase the population too much... Therefore, after His Majesty granted most of the land in Shanzhou to Ping Xibo as a fief, Ping Xibo announced through the West Datang Company and General Li that no matter who As long as you are willing to go to Shanzhou to help the West Datang Company grow cotton, you can not only receive wages, but also take care of food and housing. After planting cotton, you can reclaim wasteland in Shanzhou. Each person can reclaim up to ten acres of land. It belongs to Ping Xibo, but the people who cultivated it can plant it for free for ten years. After ten years, they only need to pay a very small rent every year, and they can continue to contract and plant it. This is the unique contracted land in Shanzhou. As soon as the news comes out , people come to Shanzhou from everywhere, even people from the south of the Yangtze River, especially in Guanzhong, many people who have no land have moved to Shanzhou with their families, just to have a piece of land to cultivate..."

"Of course." After a pause, Chen Chuan continued, "The people who come to seek refuge the most are people from the Western Regions. These people used to live as nomads, and many of them ate their last meal without resting. After arriving in Shanzhou, they lived and worked in peace and contentment. Everyone is unwilling to go back. As the news spreads, more and more people come to seek refuge. Among them, the Tubo people are the most. As slaves, they barely had enough to eat, but after arriving in Shanzhou, they became people with land. Of course they are willing to come to Shanzhou... A few days ago, thousands of people came from Tubo. In Namu, there are no farming tools, no cattle, and even food, so I, the county magistrate, will naturally try my best to let them stay."

what?

Chen Chu actually made such a policy behind his back?

After hearing this, everyone was stunned.

And it succeeded, continuously increasing the population of Shanzhou.

Cheng Yaojin thought for a while and said in surprise: "Magistrate Chen, according to what you said, so many people from Tubo came to Shanzhou, did the Tubo court not notice?"

Chen Chuan laughed, and said: "In the past, Zanpu in Tubo must have been in a hurry, but now, the whole of Tubo is growing cotton, and there is a steady stream of business contacts with Shanzhou. Retreat, businessmen from all over the world can enter Tubo from Shanzhou, and Tubo people can also enter Shanzhou at any time. I heard that all of Tubo are doing business vigorously, and they want to use this to make Tubo stronger, and these Tubo people who come to Shanzhou , did not come here at once, they all sneaked away one after another, I am afraid that within a year or two, the Tubo court will not be able to react!"

Everyone: "..."

And this kind of operation?

It's all because Songtsan Gampo is a hero, so he wouldn't make such a low-level mistake, right?

Changsun Wuji and others became more and more curious about Shanzhou and Namu.

Changsun Wuji stood up abruptly, and said, "Magistrate Chen, quickly take me to have a look. The old man wants to see what's going on with those people."

Chen Chuan didn't dare to neglect, he hurriedly ordered his subordinates to make preparations, and led Changsun Wuji and a group of people to leave the county government office, out of the dilapidated county town, and head straight for the wasteland.

……

……

Chapter 408 Visit by Prime Minister Mendo

Shanzhou City is lively and crowded.

The Grand General's Mansion and the Governor's Mansion are combined into one. This is the place where Li Ji, the chief of the Longyou Road Marching Army and the governor of Shanzhou, lives and works.

But some time ago, people in Shanzhou suddenly discovered that next to the General's Mansion, a house that had been abandoned for a long time suddenly appeared inhabited.

There is even a team of guards dedicated to guarding the house.

And someone saw that General Li Ji, Qi Wang Li Tai, Chang Sun Chong and others often came and went in and out of this house.

For a while, many people guessed that there was a remarkable person living in this house.

In fact, the people living in this small courtyard are none other than Chen Chu, Princess Changle, and Ansi.

Chen Chu has been in Shanzhou for more than half a month.

At first, Li Ji and others thought that Chen Chu came to Shanzhou with some mission.

But after Chen Chu came, he only said that he was here for tourism.

Every day during the day, he took his two daughters with him in a light car and light clothes to look around and have fun around Shanzhou City and its surroundings.

I don't know what fun things the three of them have been playing while hiding in the house all night.

After a long time, Li Ji believed Chen Chu's words, and really believed that Chen Chu came to Shanzhou for sightseeing.

But then a secret decree from Chang'an made Li Ji dumbfounded again.

Because of Li Er's secret decree, it was very clear that Li Ji, the great general and governor, should obey Chen Chu's deployment unconditionally.

Li Ji thought about it, but couldn't figure out what kind of medicine Chen Chu and Li Er sold in their gourds.

So he ran here every day, drinking and chatting with Chen Chu when he had nothing to do, trying to get Chen Chu's words.

Unfortunately, Chen Chu never expressed his purpose in coming to Shanzhou.

this day.

Chen Chu just woke up.

The servant came in and reported: "Boss, General Li is here to see you."

"Oh, this old Li is really annoying. Tell him, if he wants to stay, he can stay for a while. We will take care of the meals. If he is busy, he should leave quickly. I don't want to meet guests for the time being." Chen Chubai He waved his hand and asked the servants to send Li Ji away.

The servant was dumbfounded.

General Li Ji, in this one-third of an acre of land in Shanzhou, can be said to cover the sky with one hand, and has great power. Anyone who sees him will tremble three times, even the king of Qi will give him some face.

Only his own boss didn't pay attention to it.

The servant said: "Boss, the general said that he came to see you today not to chat, but to discuss important matters."

"What's the big deal? Old Li, didn't he ask me to drink and brag? What's the big deal? I'm so annoying..."

Chen Chu reluctantly came to the main hall.

But Li Ji was pacing back and forth with an anxious look on his face.

Seeing Chen Chu, Li Ji sighed: "You kid is finally willing to see me..."

Chen Chu sat down, picked up a piece of snack on the table, stuffed it into his mouth, and asked, "What is the general wind blowing?"