Chen Qin, Tao Seventeen, and Thirteen Lang loaded the last sundries and drove the ox cart to the road to wait. Du Zhongxiao stood at the door of the farm work, looking at a field of life, and felt infinite emotion in his heart. When I came, it was still a reed, and in addition to wild ducks and other small animals, there were also robbers who killed people and set fires. More than two years have passed, and now it has become a fertile field as far as the eye can see.

Su Song, who was beside him, sighed: "When I came here to try the Ma Meng case that day, it was still full of reeds and deserted. Now there are villages all over the village, and chickens and dogs smell each other. After being here for two years, he has done a lot of things for the people. ”

Du Zhongxiao said with a smile: "In order to deal with Ma Meng's gang of robbers that day, I opened a camp here, but I didn't expect that when I left, it was my greatest political achievement. The world is unpredictable, who can say clearly? Nowadays, the camp and field affairs here are the largest source of wealth in Bozhou, and if there is a disaster in other states, it is necessary to transfer grain from here. Zirong will be the last term, and the number of households here will almost exceed that of Yongcheng County. ”

After speaking, he pointed to the huge steam locomotive lying on the open ground not far away, and said: "Since I arrived in Yongcheng, I have thought about making this thing well, but I have been busy for more than two years, and I can only run." I can really pull the goods, I don't know what year and month. This thing is too heavy to take away, so I will stay here, I can be free of time, I can be attentive to this thing, maybe one day, I can be like the car and ship in Chenzhou Hantong. ”

Su Song nodded: "In the past few years, I have also been thinking that it is right to work the steam engine, and there are many benefits to this thing." Rest assured, I will recruit skilled craftsmen and continue to improve, and strive to run on the ground like a car and ship one day. ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded, this was a regret for staying in Yongcheng. When I first wanted to make a steam engine, I thought that the model would be easy to make, and it would not be too difficult to be practical, but I didn't expect that after five or six years, it was still a big toy. Of course, I am only a county magistrate, and the resources I can use are limited, which is also the reason. But the most fundamental reason is that the steam engine involves too many industries, and it is not easy to make up for all links in a small workshop. With Su Song's ability, he will be able to continue to develop the industry he left behind, and Du Zhongxiao's most hope is to be able to do a good job in the steam engine.

Turning around and looking at the workshop that was still in full swing to make farm tools, Du Zhongxiao said: "It's not too early, it's time to hit the road." ”

With that, he strode towards the ox cart waiting on the road.

When Du Zhongxiao came to Yongcheng, he and Han Yueniang only brought a personal envoy. Now that the female envoy is married, there are more Qu Wuniang, Xiaoqing, and Jing Liangjing, waiting for the camp and field. Leaving at this time, Du Zhongxiao was followed by Chen Qin and his wife, Luo Jing and Tao Seventeen, who had some personal relationship with Du Zhongxiao and followed him to pursue the future. Thirteen Lang is suitable for joining the army because of his physical growth, especially after becoming Du Zhongxiao's entourage, he learned some archery and horse archery, and he didn't want to be buried in the place. Du Zhongxiao went to Bingzhou, where it was the front line, and it was the time to give full play to his strengths.

Su Song saw each other off all the way, and the two arrived at the Yingtian Yamen, where Qiao Baoping had already brought the officials to wait there. These are all new recruits after Du Zhongxiao arrived in Yongcheng, and with the growth and fortune of Yingtianwu, the relationship with Du Zhongxiao is not comparable to those rich and noble people in Yongcheng.

After the salute, Du Zhongxiao said to Qiao Baoping: "When the banquet finally ends, you and I are destined, colleagues have been friends for more than two years, and there has never been a dispute, and we will do the camp and field affairs together as promised." After I leave office, Su Zhi County will raise the camp and field affairs, and you should be as good as before. ”

Qiao Baoping crossed his hand and sang the promise.

Du Zhongxiao looked at the yamen of the camp field, a peach tree planted by himself was blooming, and a few yellow orioles were singing in the spring light, which was quiet and peaceful. Sighing slightly, he said to Qiao Baoping: "Everyone, please go back, it's not too early, I should be on the road." ”

After speaking, he said goodbye to everyone, turned over and got on his horse,

In the ox cart next to him, Lu Saisai was bored, and said to Qu Wuniang beside him: "This car is so small, the two of us are crowded, and we don't know how long we have to walk on the road, and we are suffocating to kill people." ”

Qu Wuniang said: "Sister, you take care of it." Thinking that a few years ago, we were still singing songs and begging for some money, how dare we think of such a happy life now? Du Zhi County treats us well, and we will definitely be able to live a better life here. ”

Lu Saisai looked at Chen Qin, who was busy outside, and said a little lazily: "Life is happy, but it is too boring." Alas, working in the yamen, there is no big injection of money, no fine clothes and food, and there is no great interest. ”

Qu Wuniang could only persuade her with good words, asking Lu Saisai not to think about the past anymore, and to live with Chen Qin with peace of mind in the future. In the past, I sang songs, and I circled between those rich and noble, saying that I ate well and dressed well, but it was just a reward from others, but in fact, I had no money, where could I compare to now. Both are well-off families, and there is meat and fish every day, which is comparable in the past.

After following Chen Qin in the ranch for nearly two years, Lu Saisai's heart slowly retracted, although he still complained from time to time and had some petty trouble with Chen Qin, he finally settled down. She is not a fool, she is already at this age, she can't do what she did in the past, does she really want to be a concubine for a rich and noble person? is old and decrepit, and he is not a fool except for the rich and noble.

Du Zhongxiao and Shisanlang rode horses, Chen Qin, Luo Jing and Tao 17 escorted the car, and a group of nearly ten cars left the Yingtian Yamen.

Qiao Baoping had been standing at the yamen, watching Du Zhongxiao and his party go away, before he sighed and turned back to the yamen. He was originally an ordinary writer, but he accidentally followed Du Zhongxiao to take charge of the camp affairs, and after more than two years of work, he has been able to take charge of himself. The current Qiao Baoping, although he has no official status, his real power is actually greater than that of many magistrates. As soon as Du Zhongxiao left, he couldn't help but be a little dazed. According to the canonical system, after two years, Qiao Baoping can be promoted from a human official to an official, which can be regarded as a breakthrough. It's just that Qiao Baoping is a little hesitant, those petty officials may not be as good as they are now.

All the way to the west, passing through every village, there are villagers gathered at the intersection to see off Du Zhongxiao.

The camp is not as good as Yongcheng County, and the recruits are all poor, and there are no rich and noble people or poor people. Occasionally, the villagers are seriously ill, or they owe some debts at weddings and funerals, and they will not be sad to help each other. Compared with Yongcheng County, Yingtianwu is a paradise here, with no dispute with the world, rich and happy.

When he arrived at Daliushu Village, Baozheng Guan Chaoyin took the villagers to wait at the intersection early, and when he saw Du Zhongxiao and his party coming, he stepped forward to salute.

Seeing that Thirteen Lang was riding a big green horse, he was very angry, and Liu Ah in the crowd said loudly: "Thirteen Lang, when you arrive at the border pass, you are lucky to make meritorious service and become a general, don't forget us folks." If you have free time, come back often. ”

Shisanlang thanked him, looked at the familiar villagers, and felt a little puffed.

Du Zhongxiao took the wine handed over by Guan Chaoyin, drank it in one gulp, and said loudly: "The villagers have a heart, don't leave it at that." I hope you will remember that it is not easy to cultivate here, and stick to your family business. I have already played the imperial court, and the camp and field affairs are set to be permanent, and there will be no indiscriminate taxation, so you can rest assured. ”

The villagers thanked each other loudly. There were no landlords in the camp and fields, and these errand workers were all served in turn. Because the output of the public land was harvested, the cost of collecting taxes was lower, and the peasants lived much better than in other places. For them, what they are most worried about is that the imperial court will see the development of various villages, change the system, and let this good life never return.

Du Zhongxiao himself knows that there are many farms and wastelands and a sparse population, and this system is suitable. Of course, dozens or hundreds of years later, when the population multiplies and the contradiction between man and land is prominent, it is impossible to say what it will look like at that time, and the current system may not be able to be adhered to. But after all, he is an ordinary person, how can he manage the future, and he shouldn't worry about things in the future.

After drinking the send-off wine and bidding farewell to everyone, Du Zhongxiao turned over and got on the horse. Chai Xin took the convoy with his entourage and headed west. He will send Du Zhongxiao's family to the county border, and after he comes back, his boss will be replaced by Su Song.