Although the work during this period is very effective, and the number of people in Jizhou is also constantly rising, the number of real prime-age adult men is still limited. Except for local development, it is necessary to intercept some of the people who can eventually become an army.
The number was still too small. This forced Tang Ao to think of other ideas, such as the adult population of Beidi and Xiongnu.
Long Ya has done a survey. Thanks to the fact that there have been no wars in recent years, the population growth rate of Beidi and the Xiongnu is still very fast. This is one of the main reasons why they began to lack food. And if they can afford it, they will be reluctant to part with it.
It is still possible to buy a large number of people from them, which will make up for Jizhou's biggest shortcoming.
With a sufficient population, Jizhou will develop faster and the number of troops will increase. With more confidence, Jizhou can consider fighting out.
The drawings have been prepared. What kind of result can be obtained next? Tang Ao handed it over to Zeng Tong and Han Ce. He believed that with the ability of these two people, they can definitely do this well. After getting the big account, Tang Ao
Then they headed straight to the city inn. Mingshan's son and Rui Butong's son-in-law, Mingshitang, had arrived in Jizhou. As the owner, Tang Ao had to pay a visit and learn about the current situation in Daliang City.
Tang Ao welcomed the arrival of Mingshitang. When he was in Daliang City, Tang Ao knew a lot about Rui Butong and Mingshan, and knew that these were people who were capable and willing to do things. It would not be wrong to have more contact with them.
It's a bad thing. Jizhou is lacking everything now, especially talents.
...
Jizhou Post War.
Mingshitang left the luggage he brought to his servants to take care of. He immediately walked onto Jizhou Street with his wife Rui Ling'er under the protection of several family nurses.
The spacious and clean streets, the bustling crowds, and the sound of hawking filling the air made both Mingshitang and Rui Ling'er feel naturally better.
When their father ordered them to come to Jizhou before, the two of them still had some resistance in their hearts. They were used to hearing the descriptions of Jizhou from outsiders: poor, backward, remote, cold, and even the people here were a little barbaric.
I really don’t understand why my father has to let them come here? Is he really so optimistic about the fourth prince Tang Ao?
Yes, Tang Ao always did amazing things when he was in Daliang City. Whether it was the poems he wrote, the things he did, or the things he created, it all proved that he was an extremely talented person. But so what? Here is
Jizhou is the northernmost place in Daqian, and it seems to be the poorest place as well. Anyone is afraid that after coming here, he will hit a wall, and even heroes will find it difficult to use them.
It was hard to disobey his father's orders, no matter how reluctant he was in his heart, Mingshitang still came from Daliang City to Jizhou.
Coming out of Daliang Imperial City, the prosperity seems to be gone. What I see and hear along the way is that there is no desolation, but it is just getting more desolate.
Especially not long ago, King Zhong launched a war against Daliang City, which caused some villages along the official road to suffer. There are no longer any common people. What exists is just a few villages that cannot be moved away, but they are dilapidated.
A miserable mud house or even a wooden house.
The road was rugged and difficult to navigate. Even in the carriage, it was still bumpy. The internal organs were turned over so many times that all the contents in the stomach were vomited out. I lost my appetite and had no energy. I was worried about my future life.
There is no hope anymore, only fear.
All this began to change after passing through the Liaozhou border and entering the Jizhou border.
At the beginning, the change was not very obvious. I just felt that the road was easier to walk. But as I went deeper into Jizhou, the situation on the roadside also changed. The number of villages began to increase.
Finally, we could see the houses and the curling smoke beside the official road. Then the road became wider and wider, and the number of pedestrians walking on the official road began to gradually increase, and finally it gained some popularity.
The closer we are to Ji City, the more people there are on the official road, and most of them are people with families. It seems that they are all skinny, supporting each other, as if a strong wind can blow them down.
.
In sharp contrast, these people's eyes were very bright, as if they were full of hope for the future, and they were heading towards Jizhou.
That kind of look is hard to forget once you see it, just like the most devout Buddhist going on a pilgrimage. Mingshitang is also infected for some reason, and seems to have new hope for Jizhou, which he is about to arrive.
Finally, after more than a month of continuous driving, we arrived at Jicheng. This is because after entering Jizhou, the roads are smooth and spacious. Otherwise, I am afraid that this time will be delayed a lot.
There are soldiers guarding the gate of Jicheng City. They are all tall and exude a fierce aura. When people look at it, they will involuntarily have the feeling that this person is not easy to mess with and they can hide as far away as possible.
Come.
The strange thing is that with such soldiers bravely guarding the city gate, the people passing by did not have the slightest fear. On the contrary, some businessmen who always went out of the city and entered the city would greet these officials enthusiastically.
The greeting was met with an extremely enthusiastic response from the other party.
Isn't it said that the king of hell is easy to meet, but the kid is difficult to deal with? The officers and soldiers responsible for guarding the city are the most difficult to serve. They often don't offer some benefits, so they can't even think about entering the city in peace. Just like Liang Ji.
At the city gate, the officials guarding there are all with their eyes and noses in the air. Unless they meet a powerful person, they may be more restrained. If they are just facing ordinary people or businessmen, they will definitely
Revealing their most ferocious side.
It's just that it seems to be completely opposite here in Jizhou. The officials have a very good attitude towards ordinary people and merchants who don't have any goods. On the contrary, when carriages and freight convoys pass by, they inspect them very carefully. This kind of behavior is completely reversed.
Mingshitang was very puzzled.
Because just when they entered the city, Mingshitang's carriage was forcibly inspected by the officers and soldiers guarding the city gate. Although the other party was just observing normally, when they saw the woman Rui Ling'er sitting in the middle of the carriage,
, his eyes were very clear, and after finding that there was no problem, he waved and let go. Mingshitang still felt a little uncomfortable. It was like when he came out of Daliang City, there was a big flag with clear characters on the carriage.
No soldiers will come to check.
All this discomfort was not explained until we entered the inn in the city. The staff here said that it was a normal inspection, and that civilians and merchants without goods were not inspected because the things they carried could be seen through at a glance.
Inspecting goods and convoys is to see if there are any contraband or unidentified dangerous persons. As long as there is no evil in mind, such an inspection is just a formality. On the contrary, if there is a real problem
, such an inspection is likely to detect dangers in advance and expose everything.
"Aren't those officials afraid of offending the powerful and having someone put on their shoes later?" Ming Shitang asked with a look of confusion on his face.
"Don't be afraid. With His Highness Prince Ji supporting them, there is nothing to fear. His Highness Prince Ji has said that as long as what they do is reasonable and legal, anyone who dares to come back and cause trouble for them can go to the government office to complain. Officials
If the investigation is true, the relevant dignitaries will be severely punished. If the report is reported to the officials and the officials do not accept it, once found out, they will be equally guilty as the guilty dignitaries." When saying these words, the staff of the inn still remained calm.
He looked very proud and proud. Obviously, in the heart of such a person, he would not have much favorable impression of the powerful.
As if feeling that his words were not enough to shock Mingshi Hall, the staff member continued: "His Royal Highness King Ji said that the world belongs to the people, not the powerful. As long as you have done something for this country
If you have made a contribution, you should enjoy fair treatment. And His Highness King Ji is not just talking about it, but has already started to do it. People who enter the city are exempted from paying the city entrance fee, but the carriages of the rich and powerful have to pay the entrance fee to enter the city.
There is some silver, although it is not much, but it should be what His Highness King Ji said about the world."
"Don't charge people to enter the city?" A flash of surprise flashed across Mingshitang's face. He really didn't pay attention to this matter before, but he knew that his carriage entered the city and paid money. Although
The fee was not a lot, but considering that even his own carriage was inspected at that time, was it still a novelty to charge you? But it was only now that he heard what the person in front of him told him about His Highness Prince Ji's attitude towards the powerful.
It's really different from other places.
It was from this time that Mingshitang became interested in Jizhou and His Highness Prince Ji, who was once nicknamed "Madman Shen" in Daliang City, and began his real journey to experience the city.
After browsing around the city, Mingshitang did not disappoint. This place is indeed different from other places. Not to mention the clean environment and neat roads, everyone must keep to the right when walking.
It is this small change that makes walking on the bustling streets less likely to cause any unintentional friction with other people. It seems that everyone has their own place, and the road becomes more beautiful.
Much more spacious.
The changes in environmental sanitation are just basic. Then there are many shops and restaurants in the city, and their number is not much worse than that in Daliang City. If it is definitely worse, it may just be different in scale.
Unlike in Daliang City, many businesses sell few goods, but the shops are very large, and it seems that they are not upscale enough if they are not ostentatious. In Jicheng, more merchants and vendors only have a cement platform and a pergola that are less than ten square meters.
That's all. In such a place, there are all kinds of goods that should be available in Daliang City. Not only that, here in Mingshi Hall, we also saw many foreigners setting up stalls here, such as ginseng and mountain products.