The best county magistrate

After Mao Yi brought what he saw and heard in Qingshui County back to Linjiang City, all the officials in Qingzhou were stunned.

Even Yan Chenghai is no exception.

He and Yang Xuanchen often exchange letters, and he is no stranger to the development of Qingshui County.

But it was the first time for Yan Chenghai to hear about those sensitive figures.

Aside from the sea salt that generated tens of millions of taels of silver for the imperial court every year, he did not expect that Yang Xuanchen would also make achievements in agriculture.

Dayan's rice yield per mu is basically 200 to 300 kilograms, while his Qingshui County's rice yield has reached an astonishing 600 kilograms per mu, and it is said that there will be a breakthrough next year.

If this was extended to the whole country, Yan Chenghai would be unimaginable.

"Mao Yi, it is late autumn now and it is impossible to confirm the true situation of the rice fields in Qingshui County."

"How do you assert that what Yang Xuanchen said is true?"

Mao Yi bowed to Yan Chenghai and replied in a deep voice, "Sir, during this trip to Qingshui County, I personally visited farmers' villages."

"The farmers all insist that the yield per mu is about 600 kilograms, but not all rice fields have such yields."

"According to what they mean, there are not many seeds that can produce high yields. It is expected that it will take one to two years to cover all the rice fields."

Hearing this, Yan Chenghai stroked his beard and nodded, with a relieved expression on his face.

It would be incredible if the yield of all rice fields could be increased to 600 kilograms per mu in four years.

"Mao Yi, your main responsibility in Qingzhou is farming. That guy Yang Xuanchen certainly can't deceive you here, right?"

Yan Chenghai's words put a confident smile on Mao Yi's face.

"Master Yan, at first the official didn't trust Master Yang's words."

"But based on rough calculations based on the grain stored in Qingshui County's granaries and farmers' surplus grain, the yield per mu has indeed increased."

"And there are many farmers who have a lot of surplus grain. I took a look and it was all new rice."

"Therefore, Xianguan's belief that Qingshui County's rice fields yield six hundred kilograms per mu is definitely not a lie!"

After listening to Mao Yi's words, Yan Chenghai laughed heartily, "Qingzhou is really lucky to have this son, and it is even more lucky for Great Yan."

"Mao Yi, can you bring back the seeds?"

"In reply to your lord, when Xiaguan was leaving, Lord Yang gave Xiaguan many seeds, saying that he would try planting them around Linjiang City in the coming year."

Mao Yi cupped his hand and replied, then said, "Master Yang not only gave me the seeds, but also told me a lot of things to pay attention to."

"Next year from spring plowing to autumn harvest, the officials will do their best to supervise the trial planting."

After hearing this, Yan Chenghai said hello, chatted a few words with several other officials who were taking exams, and then ended the meeting.

A few days later, Qingzhou's examination results have not been completely collected, but all kinds of information about Qingshui County have entered Shangjing City driven by thoughtful people.

Not only did Emperor Jianwen get first-hand information, but Song Guangxin, the Minister of Rites, also got relevant information.

In a private room of a teahouse in the inner city of Shangjing, Song Guangxin sat around and talked with Zhang Debiao, the Minister of Civil Affairs, and Kong Lingchen, the doctor of Yushitai.

"Master Zhang, Master Kong, do you know about Qingshui County in Qingzhou?"

It was Song Guangxin who spoke. A pair of snake eyes swept over the two of them. The smile on the corner of his mouth made Zhang Debiao and Kong Lingchen tremble.

Both of them nodded, and Zhang Debiao said: "Your Majesty has summoned both of us to the palace."

"They said that after the Chinese New Year, we would send someone to Qingshui County for a re-examination."

Kong Lingchen stroked his beard and sneered: "The magistrate of this county must be greedy for merit and dare to falsify even in exams."

"A county with a population of 8,000 has become a large county with over 100,000 people in less than four years!"

"And they even reported the yield per mu of rice fields as six hundred catties!"

"For these county magistrates, your Majesty doesn't need to tell you. I, the Yushitai, will be the first to investigate."

"If what you said is true, I will definitely not let you go easy!"

If Zhang Debiao's words were impartial, then Kong Lingchen's meaning was already obvious. He and Song Guangxin were wearing the same pants.

"Juniors have long heard that Master Kong is a man of integrity and enforces the law impartially. What I hate most are those corrupt officials."

"If Lord Kong hadn't been so perceptive and wise, those military attachés from Liangzhou in the past few years would have definitely caused a mutiny in the army."

"Looking back at the New Year, the official department will definitely cooperate with the work of the Yushitai and take good care of this county magistrate who dares to make a fuss in the exam."

Song Guangxin put a smile on his face when he spoke, and seemed to be very satisfied with Zhang Debiao's remarks.

Not long after we chatted, Zhang Debiao chose to stand in line. He was indeed a well-rounded person.

"Two adults, why are we talking about business while we are chatting? Song invited you here to taste the first-grade Zixiao Xiancui newly produced by Wushan Pavilion."

"Come, come, have tea, have tea."

When Kong Lingchen heard that it was tea from Wushan Pavilion, his eyes looked very satisfied.

He took a sip of tea and put down the cup, frowning as if he had something to say.

"Master Kong, is this tea bad?" Song Guangxin asked.

"No, no, the tea is excellent..."

Kong Lingchen paused and then asked: "The owner of Wushan Pavilion is a woman named Tea Fairy. I heard that she has an unexplained relationship with Yang Xuanchen, the magistrate of Qingshui County."

Zhang Debiao rolled his eyes and immediately added, "Zhang heard someone say before that Wushan Pavilion is actually his property."

"What? His estate?"

"The imperial court has repeatedly ordered that those who apply for official positions are not allowed to engage in business. Is Yang Xuanchen really so audacious?"

Kong Lingchen shouted in feigned surprise.

"Oh, let's drink tea. As long as the tea is good, it doesn't matter whose property it is. Mr. Kong, if you don't listen to the wind, it will be rain."

After Song Guangxin said something, he then changed the subject.

"If Yang Xuanchen dares to openly defy the court's laws and regulations, we will find out after an investigation."

"Let's not talk about this anymore."

"Song asked you two to come here. He has something else to say..."

When he saw the doubtful looks in their eyes, he stopped trying to make excuses and instead took out two 10,000 taels of silver notes from his arms.

"Xie Tianjie from Xie's Trading Company came to see me a few days ago and said that he has not been allocated a share of Qingzhou Haiyan for three consecutive years."

"Next year's share allocation will be finalized before the year, and his intentions are all reflected in these two banknotes."

"I think that boy Xie Tianjie is quite sensible, he knows how to behave, and he is a good hand in business."

"I wonder if you two adults are willing to take it for Song's sake..."

Song Guangxin did not continue speaking, but Zhang Debiao and Kong Lingchen already understood what he meant.

It's just that a salt merchant approached the Minister of Rites to lobby, and he also approached the Ministry of Officials and Yushitai, so the meaning was even more obvious.

I have long heard that Xie Tianhua of the Xie family suffered from depression in Qingshui County, and his eldest brother Xie Tianjie wanted to regain his place.

Although the Xie family and Yang Xuanchen did not say they were sworn enemies, the matter of face alone made the Xie family unable to hold their head high in front of the salt merchants.

The issue of the share of sea salt for the coming year was already imminent, and at this time, the officials and Yushitai were approached.

It was obvious that they wanted the two of them to put some pressure on Yang Xuanchen, so that the Xie family could gain a share and at the same time kill Yang Xuanchen's arrogance.

Zhang Debiao naturally put away the banknotes, and the smile on his face became brighter.

"Don't worry, Mr. Song. Zhang will go to the palace to meet the emperor tomorrow. Please move forward the date of the re-examination."

Seeing him put away the banknote, Kong Lingchen also smiled and grabbed it into his sleeve pocket.

"Master Zhang, I'm going to face the Holy Spirit with you. It's unlikely that people from the Ministry of Civil Affairs will be there. I won't send anyone from the Yushitai Supervisory Office, haha."

At this time, Song Guangxin raised the tea cup and said with a smile: "Song used tea instead of wine. Thank you two adults."

"Where."

"Don't dare."

The two of them were polite and found excuses to leave.

"Master, why do you want to win over a wallflower named Zhang? Isn't it enough that we have that old man?" A charming woman flashed out from behind the screen.

Song Guangxin took a sip of tea and said calmly: "Some things need more people to do it."

"To prevent Yang Xuanchen from entering the capital, it is not enough to have the Yushitai. We also need the energy of the official department."

"Moreover, His Majesty and Concubine Shu are very fond of him, as are Jiang Zekai from the Ministry of Revenue, Liu Qingshan from the Hanlin Academy, and Li Changliu from the Imperial Academy."

The woman asked doubtfully: "Others are easy to talk about, so why does the Minister of the Ministry of Finance think so favorably of him?"

Song Guangxin glanced at the woman with his peripheral vision and said, "Haiyan from Qingzhou earns tens of millions of taels of silver for the Ministry of Household Affairs every year. Jiang Zekai fills up the treasury almost while he is lying down."

"Why do you think he thinks so highly of him?"

The woman lowered her head silently after hearing this, not knowing what she was thinking.

After a brief silence, the woman suddenly said: "Master, why don't you go kill him?"

Song Guangxin put down the tea cup, shook his head and said in a deep voice.

"He has entered the court's sight. You must not act rashly at this time."

"We need to take him down legitimately!"

He paused and continued: "The Bladeless Sword must be with him, I must get it..."