Chapter 193 New Governor
In early July, the new prefect of Anyuan Prefecture finally took office.

The new prefect was named Lin Shoude, 39 years old this year. He was a Jinshi in the 14th year of Chengping and had served as a county magistrate in Jiangnan for 12 years. Although he had been transferred several times in the meantime, he had never been promoted.

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

What is Jiangnan? It’s the richest place in Darong.

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, there is a garrison commander named Yang Zhengshan and a military office. If it were a prefecture in the heart of Darong, most cities would not have garrisons. The city defense and public security would be the responsibility of the local garrisons, and the local chief officers would be in a dominant position when facing the garrisons.

It was different in Chongshan Town. The local chief officers not only could not occupy a dominant position, but also had to cooperate with the guards and camp soldiers in all aspects.
For example, repairing the citadel, providing supplies, helping the garrison to transport weapons and supplies, etc., the garrison could ask the local chief officer to assign labor for these matters.

Therefore, in border towns, local officials had to obey the arrangements of the garrisons in many aspects and cooperate with the garrisons' actions according to the garrisons' needs.

Of course, the garrisons also had responsibilities in cooperation with local government offices, such as arresting thieves, suppressing riots, maintaining local public order, etc.

But generally speaking, being a prefect in Chongshan Town is far less comfortable than being a prefect in the heart of Dayong, or even as comfortable as being a county magistrate in Jiangnan.

The key is that Jiangnan is rich. Even if you are an honest official, the annual income is not small.

But what about in Anyuan Prefecture?

If Lin Xuan could make a lot of money, he wouldn't have to risk the execution of his entire family and board the Liang family's pirate ship.

Lin Shoude came to Anyuan City from Jiangnan, and except for a promotion in his official rank, he received almost no benefits.

However, Yang Zhengshan estimated that Lord Lin was not a capable official. If Lord Lin was capable of being an official, he would not have served as a county magistrate in Jiangnan for twelve years without being promoted.

Twelve years!

Generally, officials will have a chance for promotion after serving nine consecutive terms, but Lin Shoude was not promoted until now, and he came to Chongshan Town. It is very likely that he was suppressed and excluded by others.

In the garrison officer's hall, Yang Zhengshan looked at Lin Shoude with some curiosity.

This Lord Lin was tall and thin, with a handsome appearance, but there was no smile on his face, and he seemed a bit serious.

This is very similar to Xu Jin, but Xu Jin's sternness comes from his seriousness. In fact, once you get familiar with him, Xu Jin is very easy to get along with.

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

The two of them sat down and the tea was just served when Lin Shoude spoke first: "Sir Yang, I am here to discuss official business with you!"

"What official business? Please tell me, Lord Lin!" Yang Zhengshan asked curiously.

Lin Shoude looked at Yang Zhengshan with his eyes, a look of majesty without even getting angry.

It was okay to use intimidation without getting angry against his subordinates, but it was inappropriate to use it against Yang Zhengshan, who had no subordinate relationship with him. What's more, in terms of official rank, Yang Zhengshan was higher than him.

"I want the garrison to send soldiers to repair the road to the south!" said Lin Shoude.

"What?" Yang Zhengshan thought he had heard it wrongly.

Lin Shoude said again very seriously: "I want the garrison to send soldiers to repair the road to the south!"

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

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

Speaking of which, that road really needs repairing. It's really unsightly with all the potholes on it.

But why should the military households be asked to repair it?

"Lord Lin, shouldn't labor be assigned for this matter?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

Lin Shoude shook his head and said, "Lord Lin, many people are injured by military service! The official road in the south of Anyuan City connects Yuanhe County and Chengyang County. It is the most important trade road in Anyuan City. If Anyuan City is to develop, this road must be repaired!"

Yang Zhengshan nodded, there was nothing wrong with what Lin Shoude said.

The official road to the south of Anyuan City is indeed the most important official road, more important than the official road leading to Chongshan Pass, because Anyuan City’s commercial goods basically come from the south, not the west.

Yang Zhengshan supported Lin Shoude's plan to build a road.

But~~
"Lord Lin, you also said that too much conscription hurts civilians. Military households are also civilians. If you ask military households to build roads, don't they have to serve in the military on behalf of civilians?" Yang Zhengshan said.

"Why not?" Lin Shoude said with a frown.

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

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

Inflexible and not practical.

Military households served in place of civilians, building roads, bridges, repairing city walls, etc. These were very normal things in the provincial capitals in the heart of Darong.

Too much labor would harm the people, so many officials turned their attention to the military households. However, the military households did not have to perform labor, so they were mobilized with a small amount of food and wages.

Strictly speaking, this is not in compliance with regulations. After all, not everyone can transfer military households.

But as long as the garrisons cooperated and local officials were willing to provide money and grain, this matter would become a matter of course.

Some officials of the garrisons even took advantage of this opportunity to make huge money. They enslaved the military households to work and put the money and food given by the local government into their own pockets.

But this method doesn't work in border towns.

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

"Master Yang, what does this mean? Master Yang wants more money and food!"

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

The corner of Yang Zhengshan's mouth twitched slightly.

What does it mean?
Do you mean I want more money and food?
Damn, has this guy become stupid from reading so much?
Not to mention that I didn't mean that, even if I did, you can't talk like that.

Yang Zhengshan was a little depressed, but still said: "The defense of the border town is the most important thing. Farming and garrisoning are the main responsibilities of the soldiers in the border town. I can't spare any manpower to help Lord Lin build the road."

Lin Shoude looked Yang Zhengshan up and down for a long time, "I didn't expect that Lord Yang is actually 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 have to tell me.

What you said sounds a bit sarcastic to me.

Although it was only the first contact, Yang Zhengshan had already seen that this Lord Lin was a bit naive. Yes, he was naive. He spoke his mind and said whatever he thought. He also did things directly. He just came to Anyuan City and did not even investigate the situation in Anyuan City, but ran straight to discuss such things with him. It was difficult for ordinary people to do such a thing.

However, there is one advantage of such a person, which is that you don't have to think too much about him, and it is better to keep things simple.

Thinking of this, Yang Zhengshan no longer felt so helpless when looking at Lin Shoude.

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

"Lord Lin has just arrived in Chongshan Town and may not know the hardships of the north! Farmers are civilians, and military households are also civilians. Their lives are already difficult to sustain. No matter who is sent to labor, it will be a disaster!"

"To be honest with you, 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!"

"Right now, the garrisons outside the city are being renovated, and the soldiers in the garrisons are also receiving training. I absolutely cannot transfer military households to repair the road at this time!"

Yang Zhengshan told Lin Shoude the details.

After hearing his words, Lin Shoude fell into deep thought.

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

He was very dissatisfied with the official road in the south, because he took that official road when he came here, and his carriage broke its shaft because it was too bumpy.

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

Seeing his serious expression, Yang Zhengshan's mind moved slightly.

"How much money and grain can Lord Lin give to build the road?"

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

Yang Zhengshan's eyes lit up. He had forgotten that the current prefectural government was extremely wealthy.

The homes of officials including Liang Jia, Lin Xuan, and Hao Zhaoxian were searched and most of their property was taken away by the Ministry of Revenue, but the real estate was left in the prefectural government.

The prefectural government has the right to dispose of these immovable properties. "Since you have money, then hire the people to build the road!"

"Hire? Is that appropriate?"

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

It is true that there is no prohibition, but no government office would employ common people because they could make them do labor.

Yang Zhengshan smiled and said, "I think Lord Lin should think about it carefully. It costs money and food for you to serve as military households on behalf of the people. Why don't you just hire the people!"

"Too much labor hurts the people, but if Lord Lin is willing to give money to the people, it won't be labor, but will give the people another opportunity to make money!"

There are actually many ways to do this, such as finding someone to contract it out and letting merchants hire workers, and the prefectural government only needs to be responsible for supervision and the distribution of money and grain.

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

Lin Shoude frowned and thought for a long time, but still couldn't come to an end.

Yang Zhengshan stopped persuading her.

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 guest off. Although Lin Shoude was a little unworldly, he understood what Yang Zhengshan meant and could only stand up and say goodbye.

After seeing Lin Shoude off, Yang Zhengshan stood in front of the main hall door and pondered for a moment before ordering Han Fei beside him, "Go call Jiang He over!"

Soon, Han Fei brought Jiang He to the study.

"Dad, you're looking for me!"

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

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

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

Of course, the sales shop would not be run by the government, but by the pawnshop designated by the government.

But no matter who is in charge, it won’t affect the Luo family, they can buy those shops.

"Okay, I'll go find Luo Zhen 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 prefectural yamen should be selling the land outside the city. See if there is a good farm."

Yu Qingyi, who was embroidering a robe, frowned when she heard this, "I'm afraid the remaining money at home is not enough to buy a farm!"

Zhuangzi means farm.

A farm may have as little as two to three hundred acres of land, or as much as thousands of acres.

The price of farmland in Anyuan City is similar to that in Anning County. An acre of dry land is about four taels. In this case, a small farm will cost nearly a thousand taels.

Yang Zhengshan knew how much money the family had. Although Yu Qingyi was the housekeeper during this period, Yu Qingyi often showed him the account books, so he was very familiar with the family's financial situation.

There is no money at home, but he has money in his hands!
Yang Zhengshan did not touch any of the property in the Lingquan space.

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

This warehouse belongs to him, and contains some of his sundries. Actually, there is not much in it, as all the valuables have been placed in the Lingquan space. This warehouse is just a cover-up.

Soon, Yang Zhengshan carried 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 farm!"

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

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

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

The sale of land by the prefectural government was an opportunity, and the Yang family took the opportunity to buy a farm.

"Where did you get so much silver?"

Yu Qingyi looked at so much silver with surprise and doubt in her eyes.

"My dear, you are not embezzling the government's salary!"

"..."

Yang Zhengshan looked helpless.

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

However, it is normal for Yu Qingyi to think this way. After all, Yu Qingyi now controls the financial power of the Yang family, and she knows very well how much money the Yang family has.

Yang Zhengshan suddenly took out so much silver and money, which must not have come from a legitimate source.

"Well, this is not the result of embezzlement, but its origin is indeed hard to explain!" This is all Yang Zhengshan could say.

Yu Qingyi took out a silver ingot from the box and looked at it. "Did my husband cheat me?"

She still believed in Yang Zhengshan's character. She knew whether Yang Zhengshan was a corrupt official or not. After all, she slept in the same bed with Yang Zhengshan every day and knew a lot about the affairs of the former yamen.

As for black eating black, this is the most common thing in the underworld, and Yu Qingyi has also done this before.

"Well, that's about right!" Yang Zhengshan said with a smile.

Yu Qingyi's eyes sparkled. She remembered the night when Yang Zhengshan went out. "How much did my husband eat?"

She looks like a little money-grubber, which makes her look cute in a unique way.

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

"Ten thousand taels!" Yu Qingyi guessed with a money-grubbery mind.

"wrong!"

"Is it too much or too little?" Yu Qingyi's eyes were full of anticipation.

"not enough!"

Yu Qingyi's eyes became brighter.

Ten thousand taels was already a lot for her. Even though she used to be the head of the Tianqing Sword Sect, the most silver money she had ever seen was just a silver note worth one thousand taels.

"Twenty thousand?"

"wrong!"

"Thirty thousand?"

Yang Zhengshan continued to shake his head.

Yu Qingyi's eyes widened, and even her mouth opened, "Could it be fifty thousand?"

In the underworld, it is common for gangs to rob each other for a few thousand or eight hundred taels, but tens of thousands of taels are almost unheard of. At least Yu Qingyi has never heard of it.

Martial artists in the martial arts world have never been the symbol of wealth. Although they are much more financially well-off than ordinary people, it is impossible for such people to exist in the martial arts world compared to real wealth.

"There are almost 50,000 taels of gold and silver!" Yang Zhengshan felt that it was enough. It would be bad if he told the truth and scared his wife.

Yu Qingyi was almost scared to death.

Fifty thousand taels!

That’s fifty thousand taels!
This is not a small amount of money for anyone, even the dignitaries in the court!

"Really no trouble?"

Yu Qingyi became worried.

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

(End of this chapter)