Finally, Zhou Xian accepted Huang Fei's suggestion. A large guard group composed of 200 soldiers, and a staff member named Ma Huaiyi, who was also accompanied by Zhou Xian to Ye County. It was from Ma Huaiyi that Zhou Xian learned about the general situation in Laizhou.

In the Ming Dynasty, the entire Shandong was divided into six government offices, namely Dongchang Prefecture, Jinan Prefecture, Yanzhou Prefecture, Qingzhou Prefecture, Laizhou Prefecture and Dengzhou Prefecture. According to their corresponding geographical locations, Chang, Ji and Yan are generally called the East Three Prefectures, while Qing, Lai and Deng are called the West Three Prefectures.

The geographical environment differences between the east and west prefectures in Shandong are obvious, generally manifested as the geographical characteristics of the three east prefectures with many plains and the three west prefectures with many mountains. In addition, the main areas where the Grand Canal flows through are all in Dongchang, between Jinan and Yanzhou prefectures, and the two sides of the canal are also the most prosperous areas in Shandong's economy.

Such characteristics result in more than 60% of the people in Shandong concentrated in the Western San Prefectures, but the taxes provided by the Western San Prefectures and the Eastern San Prefectures to the court every year are basically the same. Because the Eastern San Prefectures have many mines, especially lead ore, basically account for more than 20% of the supply of lead ore from the Ming Dynasty.

When the mining industry was most prosperous in the Ming Dynasty, there were 2,000 households in Laizhou Prefecture specializing in mining. Later, most of these mines were occupied by local tyrants, and the exploitation of these miners became more and more serious, resulting in their life being very difficult. By this time in the late Ming Dynasty, most of the miners saw the decline of the imperial court and often gathered together to occupy the mine veins and violently resisted the official army.

In addition to these miners, ordinary people also caused the problems. Historically, natural disasters in Shandong have always been the first in the first place, which can be said to be drought for nine years. Laizhou is already mountains and few fields, and because it is adjacent to mountains and seas, the soil is poor. In addition, most of the rivers flowing to the three eastern prefectures originate from the central mountainous areas, and they all enter the sea in a radial shape. The rivers are short, the water is insufficient, and there is no water at all.

There is a saying that in Laizhou, "A drought for three days will become a dry pond; if one day rains, the fertile fields will leave with sand and stones." Simply put, on the sunny day, the river will be completely drought. On the next day, the rainstorm will cause the soil in the fertile fields to flow to the sea with the river. In such a drought environment as late Ming Dynasty, the situation in Laizhou was even more tragic. Most people did not provide food and clothing, and fled to the wealthy Xisan Prefectures, and even the Jiangnan region.

During the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty, the population of Laizhou reached its peak, with a population of more than 800,000. However, in the late Ming Dynasty, the people fled everywhere. In addition, the Wuqiao mutiny, Kong Youde captured Laiyang, Dengzhou, and led his troops to attack Laizhou. The new governor of Denglai Xie Lian and Laizhou governor Zhu Wannian held the lonely city of Laizhou for several months, and the entire Laizhou counties were almost powdered. The population of Laizhou also reached the lowest point at this time, with less than 400,000 people, and most of them were still old and weak who could not escape. In other words, from Jiajing to Chongzhen, the population of Laizhou was lost half.

What's more serious is that in Laizhou, the few young and strong people who were left were forced to make a living, and they all followed bandits. Better, they used horses as their mounts, and ran hundreds of miles in one day, scattered across the entire Shandong area, becoming authentic horse bandits. Those who were slightly worse ran into the mountains and became bandits. In the Laizhou Prefecture alone, there were nearly a hundred bandits of all sizes.

In times of trouble, monsters are rampant. In addition to miners and bandits, there is also the White Lotus Sect.

In the second year of Tianqi, under the leadership of the leader Xu Hongru, they held an uprising in Yanzhou Prefecture, leading several counties to tens of thousands. Although it was finally pacified, some White Lotus believers completely hidden after the failure of the uprising. One of them came to Laizhou under the leadership of Zhang Jianbai, one of the four great kings under Xu Hongru. Taking advantage of this chaotic era in the late Ming Dynasty, the believers continued to develop, and it is said that there were thousands of believers.

In addition to these, there are also many powerful and gentry in the Laizhou area. They are in charge of the only fertile land in Laizhou, cooperate with local garrison generals, and constantly annex the land of the people. They live the most luxurious life, but bear the lowest responsibility, and some even have their own private troops.

If we use one word to describe the current Laizhou, it is so bad that it is unimaginable.

Zhou Xian looked at the bonfire in front of him and sighed in his heart. In the past, he thought that Laizhou was the place that Yang Sichang personally selected for him, and it would definitely not be too bad, but he didn't expect that it would be like this situation in front of him.

Ma Huaiyi saw Zhou Xian’s face look ugly and said, “Master Zhou, this is everything the villain knows at the moment. Although some places may be a little different from the real situation, they should not be much different.”

Zhou Xian nodded and said, "Mr. Ma, you said it very much, I know everything."

Ma Huaiyi is about forty years old, thin and has a mustache. When he heard Zhou Xian's words, he hurriedly bowed and said, "Master Zhou is polite, you can just call me Huaiyi."

Zhou Xian nodded and asked, "Huaiyi, are you interested in doing things under my hands? I just arrived in Laizhou and need some people who can fully trust and understand the situation in Laizhou. If you want, I will trust General Huang, let him bear the pain of giving up and give you to me."

Ma Huaiyi was originally from Laizhou. He went to Dengzhou by chance and eventually became Huang Fei's subordinate aide. However, as the general of Denglai, Huang Fei had as many as eight subordinate aides. He was not outstanding in wisdom and was a dispensable existence there. When he heard Zhou Xian's intention of recruiting, he thought in his heart that if he could gain a foothold in Zhou Xian, he would definitely be much better than Huang Fei's side. Without thinking, he said: "The villain is willing to serve the Lord of the Taigong."

After hearing this, Zhou Xian nodded and said, "Huaiyi, there is something else. There are two prefectures and one county under the rule of Laizhou Prefecture. In addition to Ye County, which is directly under Laizhou, there is a prefecture in Pingdu Prefecture. Weixian and Changyi County under its rule have one county magistrate. The other is Jiaozhou. In addition to one prefecture, there are two county magistrates under Gaomi and Mo. Among these two prefectures, which of the five prefectures have better official reputations and which are worse? If I want to change the current situation in Laizhou as soon as possible, which officials can I use to take action?"

Ma Huaiyi lowered his head and pondered for a moment, and said, "Zhou Futai, among these people, the best one should be Guo Wenxiang, the governor of Jiaozhou, and the worst one should be considered Wang Duheng, the magistrate of Weixian County. The others have their own advantages and disadvantages, and it is difficult to judge them alone. However, these local officials have more or less connections with each other or with local gentry. For example, Wang Duheng is a descendant of a branch of the Wang family in Xincheng. The subordinates think that the Futai still remains unmoved before they are absolutely sure."
Chapter completed!