After Yang Xuan met up with the Third Prince and others, they headed south and arrived at Zhanjiang Mansion in Yuezhou.
The magistrate of Zhanjiang Prefecture had already learned from the official documents of the imperial court that the third prince was going to Qiongzhou to join the vassal vassal, so it was inevitable to go to sea from Zhanjiang Prefecture.
Although the third prince's visit to Qiongzhou was like being exiled, he was not something that a mere magistrate could afford to neglect. He was waiting at the gate of the city to welcome him early.
Although Zhanjiang Prefecture has the word "fu" in its name, it is actually a county under the jurisdiction of Yuezhou Prefecture. To the west of Zhanjiang Prefecture is Lingnan.
It can be seen from the city wall that Zhanjiang Prefecture is also a poor place, and the county magistrate's official robe is even patched.
"Your Majesty, Liang Dong, has met His Royal Highness King Qiong."
The magistrate of Zhanjiang Prefecture was in his thirties, but he was dark and thin, and his face was full of wrinkles. He looked like he was fifty. He bowed to the ground to greet the third prince.
The third prince stepped forward and helped him up: "There is no need to be polite, Magistrate Liang. We are passing through this place and need to stay for a few days. I hope you will forgive me for causing any trouble."
Magistrate Liang trembled with fright. The highest official he had ever seen was the magistrate of Yuezhou. The dignified prince was so polite. He didn't know what to do for a while.
Seeing this, the third prince simply invited him to get on the carriage and go into the city together.
Along the way, the third prince asked questions about the local people's livelihood and other matters. The county magistrate Liang was trembling, but he answered fluently.
Yang Xuan on the side never said a word, but he remembered it in his heart.
To sum it up in one sentence, poor people come from poor places. Even though Magistrate Liang is an official appointed by the imperial court, his words will not be effective outside Zhanjiang City.
Liang Zhixian actually set up a banquet at the county government office to entertain the third prince. However, in the eyes of Yang Xuan and others, this stuff was really hard to swallow. They took out a few bottles of simplified version of Sansheng Sanshi wine. After a while, Liang Zhixian
I and the two masters got drunk.
The drunken Magistrate Liang kept complaining, saying that in this place grandma did not love her uncle, the people were poor, and taxes could not be collected. Naturally, they were not welcomed by the court and the magistrate, so they became even poorer.
Yang Xuan knew that this was a vicious cycle, so he didn't want to say more. Taking advantage of Magistrate Liang's drunkenness, he asked about the situation in Qiongzhou.
Qiongzhou is also nominally under the jurisdiction of Yuezhou Prefecture, but the previous county magistrate was sent there ten years ago. They don't pay taxes, and Yuezhou Prefecture doesn't care about them. They don't know whether they are dead or alive now.
All in all, that place had been abandoned by the imperial court.
After eating and drinking, a government servant led everyone to the courtyard that had been arranged to check in and rest.
After a night's rest, the third prince and others came to the lobby of the county government office. Magistrate Liang repeatedly complained, saying that he had made a mistake while drunk yesterday, and asked the third prince to forgive him.
Yang Xuan, on the other hand, exchanged glances with Mr. Lu. This old boy is very good at pretending. Yesterday he was clearly just complaining over a drink.
How could the third prince care about this? He directly explained his purpose.
"Liang Zhixian, if you go to Qiongzhou Island alone, you need to build a government office. Since you don't know the situation on Qiongzhou Island, you plan to recruit some civilians in Zhanjiang Prefecture..."
Before the third prince finished speaking, Magistrate Liang frowned and stood up to bow: "His Royal Highness King Qiong, you don't know the situation here. On weekdays, you can't even collect taxes, and the court can't issue decrees.
In Zhanjiang City, I am afraid that if we recruit civilians..."
The third prince interrupted Magistrate Liang with a wave of his hand and said, "Magistrate Liang, we are not conscripting corvees, we are conscripting civilian laborers for wages."
"Repay the wages?" Magistrate Liang's eyes suddenly lit up: "That's different. The people here are poor, but if they have money, it will be easier."
Yang Xuan thought to himself, this old boy is so greedy for money, he seems really poor.
The third prince continued: "Each person receives five cents per day, plus two meals. What does Magistrate Liang think?"
'Gulu'
Everyone saw Liang Zhixian swallowing his saliva, and then he asked cautiously: "May I ask His Highness King Qiong, how many people are needed?"
"Three to five hundred people are not too few, and three to five thousand people are not too many."
Liang Zhixian was stunned for a moment, but he patted his chest and said, "His Royal Highness King Qiong, this matter has been taken care of by the lower official."
Yang Xuan added next to him: "This salary is paid directly to the people. Magistrate Liang cannot withhold it."
Liang Zhixian quickly stood up again: "How dare you deduct wages from the people? I only hope that the people can live a better life. If they live a better life, I can collect more taxes. Besides,
If the lower officials dare to deduct their wages, they will dare to tear down my county government."
Yang Xuan nodded with satisfaction. The words he just said were just to test him. Now it seems that it is not clear whether Magistrate Liang is a good official, but at least he is an official who is willing to do practical things.
"There is another thing I want to ask for. This large number of civilians going to Qiongzhou also need a sufficient number of large ships. This matter needs to be planned by Magistrate Liang."
Magistrate Liang's eyes lit up again, and then he asked cautiously: "There are no big boats, but there are enough small boats carrying thirty or fifty people. I just don't know how much this boat costs..."
The third prince laughed heartily: "You will never take advantage of others for nothing. You can spend whatever you have to. Don't worry, Magistrate Liang."
Magistrate Liang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Highness King Qiong, please rest assured that everything your Highness needs will be prepared within three to five days."
Magistrate Liang seemed to be greedy for money, but he was obviously afraid of poverty and had enough ability to do things. Three days later, early in the morning, a dark crowd of civilians gathered at the port, and the port was also full of fishing boats.
The master in the yamen is registering the identities of the peasants one by one.
The third prince and others stood at the port, looking at Qiongzhou Island across the coast, feeling confident.
Yang Xuan looked at the surging crowd and thought to himself, Magistrate Liang, don't blame me. These civilians have gone to Qiongzhou, but don't expect to come back.
Yesterday, Yang Xiao had already led his people to Qiongzhou Island, and had just sent a signal to indicate that it was safe.
So the third prince and his party set off first.
The port in Zhanjiang Prefecture is dilapidated enough, but the port in Qiongzhou is even dilapidated. To be precise, there is no port at all, only a few wooden trestles, and they are all somewhat decayed.
After getting off the boat, they saw Yang Xiao and others, leading a dozen people in official robes, waiting on the shore.
The third prince nodded, what a foreign land, isn't it also filled with officials from our Dasheng?
"I am under the command of Qiu Jun, the magistrate of Qiongzhou Prefecture, and I have met His Royal Highness King Qiong."
"Xue Xian, the governor of Qiongzhou Wei Town, has met His Royal Highness King Qiong."
"No gift."
The third prince was slightly stunned. The administrative level of Qiongzhou Prefecture was not low. Both the civil and military officials were from the fifth rank, which was much higher than the magistrate of Zhanjiang Prefecture.
A group of people went to Qiongzhou Mansion, but the road this way seemed to be even more shabby than Zhanjiang Mansion. There was not even a decent road, let alone a city wall.
When they arrived at Zhizhou's government office, everyone was even more stunned. Is this thing called a government office?
This is obviously a thatched shed.
It is surrounded by three earthen walls, has a thatched roof, and does not even have doors or windows.
Compared to the pigsty, it is just taller and more spacious.
Yang Xuan looked back in disbelief at the two fifth-rank officials following behind him, wondering if these two guys were fakes.
