108, Chapter 108

Yang Haiyan has only been to two counties. Even in the memory of the original owner, she has never been to other places except the capital. Of course, compared with the capital, no county seat is as prosperous as the capital. Therefore, Huanshui County and Bianguan County, which Yang Haiyan has visited, are also incomparable to Yunxiang County.

Due to poverty and backwardness, Yunxiang County cannot develop in all aspects, so people who once had some financial foundation, such as wealthy businessmen or county residents with some family background, will move away from Yunxiang County. If a county falls behind in development, how can towns and villages develop? After all, the county seat can drive the town and village.

As for the current Yunxiang County, Yang Haiyan felt that it was the town over the family room. No wonder the General's Mansion is a bit dilapidated. After the things that don't fit the palace's appearance were demolished, restructured, and moved away, what's left is an empty palace, so it's dilapidated. The prince's palace is like this, and the shops in the county town are also old. Probably the only thing that's okay is that it didn't fall down like a city wall.

Yang Haiyan has already bought land, including the land for the military camp and the land for the general's mansion. These lands were selected by Niu Da. Speaking of which, land here is much cheaper than land at the border.

At the border, the first-class land cost 10 taels of silver, the middle-class land cost 6 taels of silver, and the low-grade land cost 4 taels of silver. But here, the top-grade land only costs six taels of silver, the middle-grade land only has four taels of silver, and the low-grade land only has two taels of silver. Because there are few rich people and all those with status have migrated, there is no place to sell the products produced by poor families, making the land cheaper.

However, this place with cheap land also has an advantage, and that is the tax issue. Because land is cheap, people have more land. With more land, there is more food left after paying taxes. With more food, everyone will be full.

To sum up the situation in Yunxiang County, poverty is really poor because there is no money. But the people are still very energetic because they can eat enough.

Logically speaking, since the land is cheap and there is a lot of harvest left in the land, their conditions can be good. But if you take things to other counties to sell, the round trip expenses are also expensive. Therefore, people in Yunxiang County give people the impression that they are content with just one inch of land and are used to their current life. When food and clothing can be provided, poverty is not so important.

What can be done in such a poor place? ‌Doing business in the store? Like at the border? Probably no one even bought snacks.

Grow crops to sell?

Don't think about it.

So for the people of Yunxiang County, what they want now is how to make money for them, not how to let Yang Haiyan make money for herself.

Let the people in Yunxiang County make money, and when they become rich, Yang Haiyan will also make money.

There is only one way for them to make money, which is to use the land for welfare. They are not short of land. Soon, Yang Haiyan had an idea in her mind. The way to make money from the land was not difficult for modern people at all. After thinking about it, Yang Haiyan went to visit the few shops in the county that were still doing business.

Qin Fang was waiting at the gate of the county town. Hearing that Lieutenant Lu had arranged for soldiers to call his wife, he did not go back. However, when the soldier came back, his wife did not come, and all expectations and surprises were in vain.

The soldier didn't know what Qin Fang was thinking, so he said respectfully: "General, my wife left here and never returned home."

When Qin Fang heard this, he hummed expressionlessly.

The soldier was shocked when he heard the response. Did he do something wrong? Why does the general sound unhappy?

Before the soldier could think too much, Qin Fang said again: "Go and get busy."

Soldier: "Yes."

The group of people led by Qin Fang did not need to set up tents, because the group of people led by Yang Haiyan had already set up enough tents. After they arrived, they moved in directly.

Qin Fang checked around and found that this place was much better than the camp in the wild. Everyone was in good spirits and felt a little relieved. "Colonel Lu." He called over Colonel Lu who came first.

Lieutenant Lu hurried over: "General?"

Qin Fang pointed to the collapsed city wall over there and asked, "This city wall has collapsed. Why doesn't the county magistrate repair it?" He doesn't interfere in ordinary affairs in Yunxiang County, but as the general who defends the city, this wall will be his responsibility from now on. , so he must take care of it.

Lieutenant Lu said: "My subordinates asked the county magistrate. The county magistrate said that this matter is a bit complicated and he will tell you when you arrive. He also said that he still needs your help in this matter. However, my subordinates also asked the common people about this. The collapse of the county wall is related to the mountain in the southeast. "

oh? Qin Fang looked to the southeast. The mountain was very close to the county seat. It took about two quarters of an hour to ride a horse. There are few mountains so close to the county seat. "What does it have to do with that mountain?"

Lieutenant Lu explained that he found it incredible: "Renzhou was originally the territory of Prince Liang, and now your general's mansion was renovated from the original residence of Prince Liang. It is said that Prince Liang built the palace in the barren Yunxiang area. County, because of this kind of mountain. King Liang liked hunting, and there were a lot of prey in the mountains. However, King Liang was worried that the people would go hunting and kill his prey, so he made a rule that the people of Renzhou would not go hunting. We went hunting on that mountain, so the mountain had a name, Beast Mountain. Because King Liang could not hunt so many prey on his own, there were more and more prey on the mountain, so he called it Beast Mountain."

Qin Fang knew some things about King Liang, Yang Haiyan had mentioned it to him. Later in Huanshui County, he spent some time with Du Ke and found that although Lord Du looked serious, he was a good official. So he also asked Lord Du about the way of being an official and the affairs of Yunxiang County. However, he didn't know about the matter of Beast Mountain, and Lord Du had never mentioned it to him, so Lord Du must not know about it either.

Qin Fang said, "Go on."

Captain Lu: "Yes. The people here said that there are more and more prey on the Beast Mountain. Although King Liang died and this place was handed over to the court, the court has never said anything about the matter of the Beast Mountain, so the people dare not go to the Beast Mountain to hunt. Therefore, the result of too many prey on the Beast Mountain is that... every winter, the prey has nothing to eat and will go down the mountain to cholera the people. There are no people at the foot of the Beast Mountain anymore. The people have moved away."

Qin Fang frowned: "You want to say that the collapse of the city wall of this county was caused by the prey on the Beast Mountain? A mere beast, no matter how ferocious it is, can it be so powerful?"

Captain Lu did not believe it, but: "The people saw it with their own eyes, how can it be false? If it was one or two people who said it, I would not believe it, but every one of them said so, and they also said that they saw it with their own eyes."

If this is the case, why didn't the county magistrate of Yunxiang County report it to the court? Qin Fang looked at the city wall and pondered.

County Yamen

The yamen runners would go on duty outside the county town every day, one to observe the situation of the surrendered barbarians, and the other to see if there was anything they needed help with. However, they did not expect to meet General Qin coming back today. So, the yamen runners immediately returned to the county yamen and told the matter to County Magistrate Yang.

County Magistrate Yang said in surprise: "General Qin is back? I see, you can go down." General Qin just came back today, and he must go back to the general's mansion. Besides, he was tired from traveling for days, so even if he wanted to visit, it would be tomorrow.

With an idea, County Magistrate Yang went to the backyard of the county yamen.

County Magistrate Yang arrived at the gate of Mrs. Yang's yard and was informed that Mrs. Yang was entertaining guests, so he said: "Then I will go back to the study. When Mrs. Yang is too busy, come and tell me."

Maid: "Yes."

As soon as County Magistrate Yang left, the maid came to her and said: "Madam, the master is back. He knows that you are entertaining guests. He has returned to the study and said that he will come when you are free." It was clear from the words that County Magistrate Yang had something to do with Mrs. Yang.

Seeing this, the guest said tactfully: "Since Madam Yang has something to do, I will take my leave first."

Mrs. Yang said: "Then I won't see you off."

After the guest left, Mrs. Yang went to the study to find County Magistrate Yang: "Master."

County Magistrate Yang was practicing calligraphy. When he saw Mrs. Yang coming in, he said: "Has the guest left?"

Mrs. Yang: "He left. It was Mrs. Shang who came to matchmake for Shunqing." Yang Shunqing, the brother of County Magistrate Yang, is 25 years old this year. After the Yang family got into trouble, County Magistrate Yang was transferred to Yunxiang County. He is the eldest son, and his parents and brothers followed him. But Yang Shunqing's wife was unwilling to come. Yunxiang County is not only far away, but also poor. So, Yang Shunqing and his wife divorced.

Today, Mrs. Shang came to matchmake for her niece.

When County Magistrate Yang heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little moved: "Let's talk about this with Shunqing some other day. It's been two years. It's not a solution for him to do this. After all, the child is still young."

Mrs. Yang said: "Don't worry, Master. I know what's going on. By the way, did you come to me for something important?"

County Magistrate Yang said: "Yes, the yamen runners at the city gate reported today that General Qin is back. I think we should visit the General's Mansion tomorrow."

Mrs. Yang said: "I know what's going on. I'll make arrangements."

County Magistrate Yang was discussing what gifts to prepare for the General's Mansion tomorrow, and as the mistress of the General's Mansion, Yang Haiyan didn't know that the male owner was back.

She walked around the county and returned to the mansion. As soon as they returned to the general's mansion, Uncle Hong, the gatekeeper, said, "Hello, Madam. You are finally back. My man went to look for you, but did he bump into you?"

Yang Haiyan was surprised: "No, Aunt Hong came to look for me? Is there something going on in the mansion?" Yunxiang County is not big, but it is not small either. It is indeed not easy to find someone if you go looking for him.

Uncle Hong smiled and said, "It's a big deal. The master is back."

Yang Haiyan was overjoyed when she heard it: "Finally he is back." As she said that, she quickly entered the gate.

Uncle Hong hurriedly said, "The master is back, but he is still outside the city. He has not returned to the general's mansion. Only Aunt Lian and the others have returned to the general's mansion."

Yang Haiyan stopped: "Haven't you come back yet? How long has Aunt Lian been back?"

Uncle Hong said, "It's been more than half an hour."

Yang Haiyan was stunned. It has been more than half an hour. Why hasn't Qin Fang returned to the mansion? "Then I'll go outside the city to see."