Future library

Half a year is enough for a farmer to harvest a round of crops, for a rabbit to have four babies, and for a writer to write one million words.

Half a year is enough to dredge a canal, build a road, and complete a round of renovation of the factory, as long as there is sufficient financial support.

From the moment he arrived in De'an, or in other words, ever since he saw through the weak appearance of the imperial court, Cheng Jinzhou regarded this place as his own fiefdom. He taxed, he built, and he found ways to take farmers off the land.

He sent migrant workers into the mines, into the factories, and onto the docks, just like the British did in the 17th century or the Chinese in the 20th century. Now, some of these smart gentlemen have learned how to do business and travel back and forth between De'an and nearby states and counties. There are also some serious children who are living a peaceful life while being exploited.

Even in Jinchuan Prefecture, De'an is one of the few big cities. Although it has no tall city walls, no buildings that waste money and people, no neat order, and no decadent spiritual heritage, the busy flow of people, numerous commodities and primary industry status prove that it is indeed a big city. The nobles in the capital were also surprised by the great city.

Whether they are workers in coal mines or sulfuric acid plants, their purchasing power is quite good. As commerce develops, workers are increasingly paid in currency instead of food. For this reason, they will appear more in the street markets, making the development of commerce even faster.

The acquisition and sale of large commodities is another change. Almost all the most famous commercial banks in Daxia have branches in De'an. At the beginning, people thought it was the reason for the large number of Star Warlocks, but now no one can explain clearly.

Maybe it's the goods produced in those magical factories, maybe it's the goods brought from another big ship. All in all, De'an's goods are selling fast, exciting and enjoyable.

Tian Shimin rode a horse and slowly approached De'an.

This is a city that feels strange to him. It had no planning, not even streets reserved for the nobility. There are only two bridges on the newly built canal. Important buildings are expected to be built on both sides of the bridge, making it extremely crowded. Just walking people will paralyze traffic. The ferry boat is very dilapidated, just like the houses on both sides of the street, which can only meet basic functions.

However, Tian Shimin read rare happiness and liveliness in people's faces.

This kind of expression could only be seen on the students of the Imperial Academy and the noble soldiers of the Royal Forest Army. It is an affirmation of future life.

Zhou Dunhu unconsciously clamped his thighs together, and the horse lowered its head and walked a few steps. The sound of hoofbeats woke everyone up.

Tian Shimin put on an official expression and said loudly: "Let's go and ask if this is De'an."

Mu Yin was reluctant to admit it and said: "It should be so. No one except the Star Warlock can afford so much food and coal."

He was referring to the open-air warehouses along both sides of the river. Because Cheng Jinzhou maliciously lowered the price of food, the price of food in De'an dropped very low. At one time, it was only one-third of the normal price. The price of 180 yuan per stone was all in vain for Cheng Jinzhou.

Due to limitations in transportation conditions, food prices in the southwest have been greatly affected, and more remote areas such as the capital have not felt anything. The Star Warlocks are not ignorant scholars. Many of them have even studied economic issues. Therefore, you can understand the wealth of De'an just by looking at the huge abundance of goods.

Zhou Dunhu went to ask several people in person, then turned around and said, "It's De'an."

As he spoke, he patted his armor vigorously. After a while, it was covered with soot.

Within half a year of returning to De'an, Cheng Jinzhou had already built it into an industrial city.

A group of pretty girls walked through the alley with smiles, and Honghua stupidly exclaimed, "It's so prosperous."

Mu Yin said unhappily: "I don't know how much people's fat and oil have been absorbed."

Tian Shimin pushed him gently, stretched his hand forward, and said: "Let's keep moving forward, Dun Hu, you go and inform Mr. Cheng."

Seeing the crowded crowd in front of him, Zhou Dunhu ordered two of his men, shouted and rushed forward. Along the way, I saw people whipping people and horses whipping horses. Pedestrians avoided it and picked up speed very quickly.

Tian Shimin and others didn't take it seriously. They were all nobles and had long been accustomed to using whips to clear their way out.

The inner city of De'an is small. Its original plan was just four or five intersecting streets. Today's county magistrate is not in the mood to expand the city, and only officials and wealthy businessmen live there.

There were not as many people coming and going inside and outside the city gate as there were at the pier outside. Zhou Dunhu and his men rushed to the bottom of the city wall and gradually calmed down. He took off his helmet again, put it under his arm, wiped it with a white handkerchief and said, "Where are the city gate officials? We are from the capital."

No one answered.

Zhou Dunhu seemed impatient after waiting for two or three minutes. He was already 50 years old and his energy was not as good as before. After thinking about it, he said to the two people beside him: "Ask the county government for the direction, we will do it ourselves." past."

Suddenly, a soft laugh came from above, saying: "Are you going to go to the county government office to get beaten up?"

Zhou Dunhu suddenly raised his head and saw two star warlocks hanging high in the sky.

The ground is facing the air, the heavy armor is facing the star warlock, and he is not carrying a bow and arrow. It can be said that there is no possibility of winning. Zhou Dunfu suppressed the urge to put on his helmet again, cupped his hands and said: "I am Sir Zhou Dunhu of the Royal Forest Army. I am in trouble with my armor and stomach. Please forgive me for my lack of etiquette. I am the Warlock Tian Shimin and the Warlock Mu Yinxing who are congratulating the court. Come to the front station and tell me to wait..."

"Are there no senior officials?" The star warlock in the sky is Xi Wuyong. His more than ten years in the Royal Star Warlock's residence made him very familiar with the imperial court.

Zhou Dunhu was really stunned. Cheng Jinzhou had threatened His Majesty the Emperor, and with the temper of the civil servants, they would definitely not come to celebrate for him - it was an optional celebration, and the lack of respect for conventions and traditions was naturally a way to express their dissatisfaction.

Knowing this, Xi Wuyong laughed and said, "Okay, you can follow me."

"This Lord Star Warlock..." Zhou Dunhu couldn't see clearly Xi Wuyong who was looking up, so he had to follow his footsteps, turned a few steps, and soon arrived at the newly renovated county government gate.

An official in the iron-clad county government. Floating officials have always been wandering around, causing harm to one place and never building anything.

Zhou Dunhu saw many shabby county offices in other places, saw the newly painted vermilion gate of the county government, and two stone lions that were taller than himself. His nose twitched slightly and he thought: He is indeed a young man. If he is a For a civilian county magistrate, this alone can push him out of office and make him a lifelong candidate.

Xi Wuyong walked a little ahead, explained a few words to the steward guarding the door, and then flew away. First-level star warlocks had to take turns on duty, so he couldn't leave for a long time.

The steward Cheng Yi smiled at Zhou Dunhu and went in to report. After a while, he came out and said: "Sir Cheng is studying astrology in the mansion and is not allowed to be disturbed. I also specifically explained the situation, and the master was right."

"Sorry to trouble you." Zhou Dunhu maintained his identity and was handed a wallet of five taels of silver by the knight next to him.

The manager in charge bumped it with his hand, squeezed it hard, and said with a wide smile: "He is indeed a knight from the capital. I will tell the people below that they must be gentler, and they can take off their clothes."

"Take off your clothes?" Zhou Dunhu heard something was wrong, and a murderous look suddenly appeared on his face.

The kung fu he had practiced on the border and on the hunting grounds was quite murderous. Cheng Yi was so frightened that he took two steps back and said, "Sir, this is the De'an County Government."

"What about De'an County Government Office?"

"There are star warlocks guarding the De'an County government office." A lazy voice came from next door, saying: "I am Lu Lushan, a third-level star warlock. If you continue to talk nonsense, you will be killed directly."

Cheng Yi was also smart and knew something was wrong. He winked and whispered: "Sir knights, didn't Mr. Xi tell you just now? You were whipping civilians outside the city with 80 military sticks. Master Cheng said you were Nobles from the capital, please take off your clothes as soon as possible for free of charge. Mr. Lu is a star warlock who came back from the northern battlefield. When he says he kills, he really means killing."

As he spoke, he became afraid.

Several knights looked at each other, wondering how their envoys could become prisoners despite doing a good job.

Lu Lushan obviously didn't have much patience. He only moved his fingers, and after hearing two bangs, several knights flew up and were dragged to the wall by the heavy metal equipment, unable to move. He was using the magnetic star array that he was most proud of.

The equipment that Zhou Dunhu and others relied on to sign up on the battlefield has instead become a cage to imprison themselves. Except for the fact that their heads can still move, their entire bodies are half-glued to the wall, like overly thick Ukiyo-e paintings.

Lu Lushan snorted: "You're asking for trouble. Behave later."

Cheng Yi was sent from the Cheng family's old house. He was an old man from the third room, but his rank was lower. He had just been promoted to steward after being sent here by Cheng's mother. Although he had seen a lot of star warlocks recently, he had never seen a noble. Knight, slightly timid.

Several government officials rushed in from outside. Holding thick ropes in his hands, he tied up a few people first. They were all newly selected proletarian sons of Cheng Jinzhou. They were ruthless and careless, and their every move was not trivial. They even tightened their plate armor like chain mail.

"Be careful with my armor." One of the knights roared, and the result was two slaps on the face.

The dignified noble burst into tears immediately, not out of pain, but out of anger.

The head of the government office checked it again, then patted Zhou Dunhu on the head and shouted: "Mr. Lu, we have tied it up."

Lu Lushan did not answer. He waved his hand at the other end of the house, and several knights fell from the wall and fell heavily to the ground.

"Guys, let's go, let's make a decision."

"Take off their armor first, heavy." A yamen officer made a reasonable suggestion after dragging it.

This time even Zhou Dunhu was about to cry. What the hell is De'an? Even the government officials are so arrogant.

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