Number of People

Chapter 2138 Gui Zijuan works step by step and takes a multi-pronged approach

"Your Majesty is right. It seems that the Governor has put some thought into doing something practical in our Yan'an Prefecture." Qi Suzhen looked at the carts of grain, potatoes, corn and sweet potato seeds transported across the river, and was filled with emotion. "It's rare to meet a governor who is so dedicated to doing things, but it's a pity that he has found himself in such a chaotic place like Shaanxi."

"The worse the mess, the easier it is to promote it. If you really want fertile fields like Jiangnan and Huguang, who among the landlords and gentry will let you experiment in their good fields? Even if you pay them to do it, they may not be willing to do it." Pan Ruzhen thought further.

"Besides, adults have also said that potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn may not be most effective in places like Jiangnan and Huguang. These crops are drought-tolerant and cold-resistant and do not suffer from waterlogging. The soil quality is a bit worse and the drought is a bit drier. , it all works. Isn’t this prepared for our mountainous area in the north? I just don’t know what the actual results will be when planted. I heard that Mr. Xu can achieve good results on the saline-alkali land in Tianjin Wei, but I don’t know about ours. Can it be the same?"

Qi Suzhen nodded slightly: "No matter how bad it is, it's just one or two thousand acres of mountainous and dry land that cannot be irrigated by water. It has been abandoned for several years. There is no one working there in vain. Now the county is also looking for people specially. I went to reclaim the wasteland just to try these crops to see which one is the most suitable for our Fugu area. If I really want to do what the adults said, then next year no matter what the weather is like, I will plant tens of thousands of crops first. Mom, besides, God has not cared about us here in northern Shaanxi for more than ten years, so we don’t dare to hold out hope anymore.”

Millet is definitely the most popular food here, but the yield is low and the weather is just right. This is especially true for wheat. After so many years of repeated efforts, it really breaks the hearts of the people in these mountainous areas.

God has not favored this place so much. Two droughts and one locust in three years, no one can withstand such abuse. According to Qi Suzhen's statistics, in the past three years alone, at least 20% of the people in Fugu have been lost and become refugees. Either they crossed the river to the east of Hetao, or they simply climbed over the border wall to the Hetao side and ate among the Tumut people.

Pan Ruzhen agreed with Qi Suzhen's opinion. We can no longer rely on God. It is better to ask for God than to ask for yourself. "Well, Suzhen, let's see how the results of this year's planting are first. I hope I don't let down the ardent hope of the governor."

"Don't worry, sir. I have specially found a group of people here in the county who are good at farming, and I will definitely arrange for the people from Tianjin Wei. Let us people here learn from them, and we will definitely not miss anything." Qi Suzhen He nodded: "I'm keeping an eye on this matter personally."

"As long as you take it seriously." Qi Suzhen is not Pan Ruzhen's direct descendant, but Feng Ziying seems to think highly of him, so Pan Ruzhen should also think highly of him. "In addition, Fushi and Ganquan will also try this aspect. I hope that your counties can do it." Here is a good comparison. By the way, I would like to remind you that the governor attaches great importance to this matter, probably second only to the pacification of the rebels. In his opinion, this is the most important performance ability to measure a state or county governor. , you must do it well.”

Hearing Pan Ruzhen’s important reminder, Qi Suzhen also nodded solemnly: “Don’t worry, sir, I understand the importance of this matter and I will definitely do the best.”

The magistrate did not pay so much attention to Fugu before. His attention was all on Fushi, Ganquan, Ansai and Yanchang. However, the civil unrest in Yanchang was great and the prefecture of Yanchang was in danger, and he was also implicated.

In total, Master Pan can be regarded as a relatively poor prefect, having caught up with him at such a time, but having said that, he, the magistrate of Fugu County, is not like this. I hope that after the governor comes, he can put the whole situation in order. Turn it around, Qi Suzhen thought.

Although the grain team coming from Hedong has not brought much grain yet, it immediately caused a sharp drop in grain prices in Fugu, Shenmu, Jiazhou, Mizhi, Suide and other prefectures and counties along the route.

Because no one knows how much resources the governor has used, no one knows how much grain will be transported from Hedong, or how much grain is still on the way. This expectation makes the grain merchants who were still hoarding have to change. Strategy, and the administrative pressure from the government also made them understand that if they continued to confront the government, they would be dissatisfied with both sides.

"Food prices are still falling, and corn has now dropped to thirty-two-nine yuan per stone. This should be the lowest price in Fushi City this year." Wu Yaoqing came in and said excitedly: "The price in Wubao has also fallen, about three-yuan. Two or eight yuan, but I guess it can’t go down anymore. The chaos in Pingyang Prefecture is still getting worse, which has also caused the price of food in Shanxi to start to rise, so I guess the price of food will stabilize at this level. If it’s not good, it will go back up a bit.”

“Yao Qing.” The young man who was talking to Feng Ziying stood up and saluted Wu Yaoqing with a cupped fist.

"Hey, Dengfeng, when did you come?" Wu Yaoqing realized that he was rude and didn't even notice that Gu Dengfeng was here and was reporting to Feng Ziying.

 “I just came here not long ago.” Gu Dengfeng also smiled and greeted Wu Yaoqing who came up, and the two hugged.

The five capable staff members who followed Lin Ruhai back then, starting with Wang Wenyan, Wu Yaoqing, Cao Yu, Gu Dengfeng, Qian Guisheng, Wang Wenyan and Wu Yaoqing, have already come to the forefront. Almost everyone knows that these two people are Feng Ziying's right-hand men. Cao Yu is a half-hidden person. After all, he controls the propaganda mouthpiece in Beijing and should not be too public. However, well-informed people also know that Cao Yu and Feng Ziying have a close relationship.

Gu Dengfeng and Qian Guisheng have completely gone into hiding. Except for those who are closely related to Shanshan and Shaanxi businessmen, they vaguely know that this person seems to have been connecting Feng Ziying and Shanshan and Shaanxi businessmen. Sometimes he also has to come forward on Feng Ziying's behalf. Others are not too big. Qian Guisheng has always been hiding in the darkness. Except for handling private matters for Feng Ziying, he almost never shows up. Even Wang Wenyan and Wu Yaoqing rarely see Qian Guisheng.

"Sit down, Yao Qing." Seeing the two of them exchanging greetings very affectionately, Feng Ziying was also very satisfied. He didn't mind that the personal relationship between this group of subordinates was good, and each of them went their own way and fulfilled their responsibilities. This was his respect for each of them. A basic requirement for division of labor but cooperation.

"The price of food in Pingyang Prefecture has risen. Originally, corn was less than three taels per stone, but now it has suddenly risen to four taels and one yuan, and the increase is very fierce..." Wu Yaoqing has been paying attention to food prices, "This may Let’s also drive up food prices here in Xi’an.”

"I can't control that side for the time being." Feng Ziying shook her head: "As long as the situation in the three prefectures of northern Shaanxi is controlled, Xi'an Prefecture will not be able to cause much trouble. Of course, if the rebels want to take advantage of the situation to enter Shanxi and Henan, I will not care. Less than that, now I can only solve the problem in Shaanxi first, and the key to the problem in Shaanxi lies in northern Shaanxi."

Northern Shaanxi is the key. The situation in Xi'an Prefecture is bad, can it be worse than the three prefectures in northern Shaanxi?

Besides, the rise in grain prices in Pingyang Prefecture will definitely have an impact on both Shaanxi and Henan, and will also attract grain from Henan. Moreover, I have also arranged to transfer grain from Henan. Although the quantity is not large, this is expected. But it is very important. It can suppress grain prices to a large extent and force grain merchants who are hoarding food to be unable to increase prices arbitrarily.

Wu Yaoqing and Gu Dengfeng both laughed. This is beggar-thy-neighbor. Such words can only be said in private. Otherwise, if word spreads, there will be a big commotion in Shanxi? The court will also be unhappy.

Feng Ziying also realized this and waved her hand: "Of course, in the end, we will definitely solve the problem of the rebellion in the eastern part of Xi'an Prefecture, but before that, I really don't have the energy to catch everyone. This requires It depends on how the court in Shanxi arranges it. Anyway, I have reported the situation to the court and we will see how they respond."

Wu Yaoqing came in and reported on the rise and fall of food prices and then left knowingly. Don't inquire about things you shouldn't get involved in. Each of them has their own scope of responsibilities, unless Feng Ziying asks them to cooperate with each other. Generally speaking, Next time, they all go to inquire about each other's affairs, but their personal feelings in private are not affected.

"The Fan and Cao families may have discussed it again after they returned, and are still ready to cooperate with you in Shanxi. Because the Wang family is too strong in the capital, the Fan and Cao families find it difficult to compete with the Wang family, and if Internal discord will also affect the reputation and strength of the entire Shanxi merchant group, so no matter from any point of view, they will not fall out with the Wang family, but they are unwilling to just follow Jiwei to drink some soup. , but they still feel that Shaanxi is too poor, they feel like tasteless food, and it is a pity to abandon it. They always feel that the combined strength of the Fan and Cao families is no weaker than that of the Wang family. The market in Shaanxi alone is a bit tasteless. …”

Gu Dengfeng's words made Feng Ziying couldn't help but laugh, "The tone is not small, the appetite is quite big, but the vision is a little shallow. Shaanxi is indeed unable to compare with Beizhi and Liaodong, but once the court pacifies Jiangnan and the situation stabilizes, Can we still ignore the huge west side? The problems of Yarkand, Uszang, and Mongolia in the West Sea will sooner or later be included in the court's planning to solve them. Can't they see this?"

Gu Dengfeng shook his head and said with a smile: "If the Fan and Cao family had such a vision, they would not be overwhelmed by the Wang family. However, it is precisely because they are overwhelmed by the Wang family that they want to find another family. Other ways,..."

“What they call other roads is probably not Shaanxi, but other places, right?” Feng Ziying glanced sideways at Gu Dengfeng, “Shandong?”

"Your Excellency, your guess is correct. They want to include Shandong and Shaanxi together, but they are definitely more optimistic about Shandong. However, if your Excellency is here in Shaanxi, they are willing to use all their resources to help." Gu Dengfeng said directly: " So they prepared a batch of grain in Henan and shipped it outside Tongguan."

 (End of this chapter)