The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

"My Lord, our Mochun County is not the same as it was in the past. Walking in the streets and alleys of Mochun County, it was so deserted that you couldn't find a single person. Now, the streets are bustling with cars and people coming and going. Look at the houses next to each other, they are full, and even small vendors on the streets can be seen everywhere. In the past, the people had no money and were so poor that they couldn't even fill their stomachs with sweet potatoes. Now, everyone has food to eat. In the past, the people were all pale and thin, and their faces were as haggard as if they were withered. Now everyone has a happy face and a rosy glow. My Lord, it is a blessing for us that you came to our Fengying. Such a scene is all thanks to you, my Lord. Don't you want to go and see it yourself?"

After listening to it, Wan Lianxing thought for a moment, and then said, "Well... you have already said this in front of everyone just now. You come here and say it again. I really can't understand what you mean. County Magistrate Chen, you can just say what you want to say directly. There is no need to beat around the bush and still not get to the point."

Chen Gongxiang hurriedly bowed and said, "My Lord, I am not trying to beat around the bush. It's just that I feel that although the people in our Mochun County have lived a relatively prosperous life, it is still slightly inferior to Qiaochun County under Xu Shixun's jurisdiction."

Upon hearing this, Wan Lianxing nodded slightly, motioning Chen Gongxiang to continue.

"My Lord, the waters of Qiaochun County are as developed as those of Fengying City. They can grow rice and raise river clams. Xu Shixun has also built many factories in Qiaochun County. Building factories is a good thing for the country and the people. On the one hand, people who want to make money can go to factories to make money. On the other hand, the government of Qiaochun County also has money. It's not the same in Mochun County. We have to spend money to buy food, and we dare not even think about growing rice and raising river clams. We don't have many factories there. After all, there is not much sugarcane and sweet potatoes. The men in the whole Mochun County make money by repairing water conservancy projects, and the women spin yarn and weave cloth, raise ducks and grow mulberry trees."

Wan Lianxing frowned slightly and said, "Isn't that enough? I heard that your Mochun County has a bumper duck harvest this year, and every household has more duck eggs than they can eat. Why didn't you say a word about such a gratifying achievement?"

Chen Gongxiang replied with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, you don't know! The people's lives are better. We have exempted the people from corvée and taxes according to your instructions, but there is no money in the county government. If some factories could be established here, our county government in Mochun County would not be so stretched!"

Wan Lianxing nodded slightly to show his understanding, and then continued, "There are not many factories in Mochun County. I believe you, County Magistrate Chen, also know why. You don't produce sugarcane or sweet potatoes, and the land is not easy to improve. I know that your county government is a little poor, but it is not as bad as you said. I exempted the people of Fengying from corvée and taxes, but I didn't exempt the merchants from business taxes. I heard that your Fengying is full of businessmen, so you can collect business taxes."

Chen Gongxiang quickly responded: "My Lord, I have collected taxes from merchants."

Wan Lianxing said: "Even so, can't the taxes collected be enough to cover the expenses of your county government? You should know that Yan Qilian, the county magistrate, has never asked for a single tael of silver from you places. On the contrary, he will allocate silver to places that need it."

Chen Gongxiang sighed helplessly, and then said frankly: "To be honest, Lord, to be honest, Lord, I also want to build a university in the city of our Mochun County, just like the one in Fengying City. It's just that the silver needed to build such a school is not a small amount."

Wan Lianxing gently closed the folding fan in his hand, raised the corner of his mouth, and said with a smile: "If you come to ask for money to build a school, just say it directly. Why do you have to beat around the bush and go in such a big circle?"

Chen Gongxiang quickly cupped his hands, a trace of embarrassment on his face, and hurriedly explained: "Your Majesty has governed Fengying for two years. He has always generously paid out of his own pocket for the people of Fengying. Now, there are already several of the twenty county offices in Fengying that do not need your help. And our Marquis of Mochun County spends the most money, and the prosperity of the streets is not inferior to any other county. It is really difficult for this humble official to come to you to ask for money. But seeing that the children of Mochun County have no school to study, I, as the county magistrate there, really feel ashamed, so after thinking it over, I still come to you to ask for money."

"Building a school is a good thing, but it is definitely not enough to have only one school in your city. Children from villages close to the city can still walk to study, but children from villages far away still have no books to read."

Wan Lianxing nodded to show his understanding, and then said thoughtfully: "Well... building a school is indeed a good thing that benefits the country and the people. However, it is probably far from enough for a county as big as yours to have only one school. Children in villages close to the city may still be able to come to study, but there are still no books to read in remote areas."

Upon hearing this, Chen Gongxiang quickly agreed, "Your Majesty is right! This is a matter of following the example of superiors. Your Majesty has set a good example for us in Fengying City. Naturally, I must follow suit and learn from it, and then let the people below do the same. Over time, there will be schools in remote places too."

Hearing this, Wan Lianxing couldn't help but burst into laughter. He patted Chen Gongxiang on the shoulder and said approvingly: "County Magistrate Chen, you are indeed far-sighted and thoughtful. I was right about you. Fengying is in need of good officials like you. I haven't seen you for a long time. You are more pleasant to listen to than before. Don't worry about the money. I will ask Lord Yan to allocate it to you later. If other places also want to see the school, let Lord Yan allocate the money while the officials of each place are here."

Upon hearing this, Chen Gongxiang fell to his knees and said, "My Lord, you are so righteous. I, Chen Gongxiang, thank you on behalf of the people of Fengying. It is a blessing for us and the people to have you in Fengying."

Wan Lianxing reached out and helped the man up, "Go find County Magistrate Yan to transfer the money."

Chen Gongxiang said, "My Lord, won't you come with me to Mochun County? Don't you want to see how the water conservancy project has been built?"

Wan Lianxing smiled, "Didn't you say that your Mochun County will be rebuilt soon?"

Chen Gongxiang said, "Your Majesty has contributed manpower, money, and effort to such a long-term plan. Don't you want to see it with your own eyes? Don't you want to taste the water that the people of Mochun County are drinking now to see if it still smells like the stinky river ditch? Your Majesty, please see this feat with your own eyes."