On the second day, Mr. Meng took Yang Zhumu and Yang Zhulin to stay behind to harvest high-yield crops such as sweet potatoes, while Zhou Shuren and others continued to rush to Lizhou City.
Although some people were left behind to harvest the crops, the city of Lizhou was still waiting for food to save its life. They collected cheap old grains from farmers passing by while on the road, causing the convoy to become larger and larger. In order not to delay the journey, they would sometimes continue on the road at night and rest in the car.
After walking most of the way, Zhulan was secretly glad that she had spent money to buy ginseng when she was in the capital. This time, not only her parents needed it, but she and Zhou Shuren also needed it. They were both very tired these days.
Arriving at the border of Chuanzhou, Zhulan found many apple trees, some of which were large groves of apple trees. Suddenly, she remembered that apples were introduced to the northwest during the Han Dynasty. She also remembered that there was an apple town in the northwest in modern times. Chuanzhou and Lizhou were close to each other and had similar geographical locations. Zhulan's eyes lit up. Fruits were precious in winter in ancient times. "Shuren, look at the apple forest."
Zhou Shuren put down the account book in his hand and looked in the direction Zhulan pointed. It was indeed an apple orchard. "What's wrong? Do you want to eat apples?"
Zhulan, "No, I was thinking that Lizhou City is so close to Chuanzhou, it must be suitable for growing apples. I want to buy mountain land and then buy apple trees from Chuanzhou to plant. What do you think?"
Zhou Shuren naturally supported it, "I'll listen to you."
Zhulan calculated, "I need to build two more icehouses and a few more cellars. I can store apples for a longer period of time. The price will become more expensive as winter approaches. I can make a lot of money then."
Zhou Shuren listened to Bingjiao. The most important thing for him right now is to solve the problem of food and clothing for the people of Lizhou City and ensure the smooth progress of spring ploughing this year. He did not want to think about other ways to increase income for the time being and would deal with it after solving the two major problems.
There are quite a lot of people planting apple trees in Sichuan Province, and there are also many abandoned orchards in the mountains and fields. These are because people don’t know how to grow apples, and they don’t plant apples because the apples taste bad and there is no profit.
I don’t know how to grow bamboo orchid, so it still needs professional fruit farmers to grow it. I will come to Sichuan to hire someone when the time comes.
The distance to Lizhou City was getting shorter and shorter, and there were more and more refugees who could not get food and were begging for food. After seeing the convoy with huge grain transport trucks, more and more people followed the team. Fortunately, there were many officials and wild vegetables were available in spring, so they did not go crazy and rush to grab food.
Entering the area of Lizhou City, there are many people digging wild vegetables for food in the mountains. Fortunately, there is no drought and no grass grows. As long as they can successfully cultivate some high-yield crops, there is hope for life.
Lizhou City is an upper prefecture and also a directly-administered prefecture. The status of Zhou Shuren, the prefect, is parallel to that of the prefect. Although Zhou Shuren is still a fifth-rank official, because he is the prefect of a directly-administered prefecture, Zhou Shuren's salary is more than that of the prefect of a scattered prefecture.
Moreover, Lizhou City is a county under the jurisdiction of a direct-controlled prefecture, and Zhou Shuren, the prefect, has extraordinary power.
Zhou Shuren explained all this to Zhulan later, and only then did Zhulan realize that there was so much to talk about in the state capital.
In the territory of Lizhou City, Zhulan saw that all the children were skinny. This was all due to the war. The most miserable were still the ordinary people. They had no money and could not farm in their hometown. They had no money left after fleeing and could only beg. After the war was finally over, they returned to their hometown without a penny. They could not even afford seeds for spring farming, and the family’s food supply made the situation even worse.
Lizhou City is poor, with few merchants. Some wealthy families have not returned yet, and will not hire helpers. Without additional sources of income, they can only sell their children.
Lizhou City currently has the largest number of human traffickers.
Zhulan felt sad when she saw a group of children leaving with them. These children were all bought by human traffickers.
Zhou Shuren hugged Zhulan tightly and said, "Don't look at it."
Zhulan listened to the cheers behind her, and her heart became even heavier. "Fortunately, we can collect food as we go."
Zhou Shuren nodded. Several grain transporting convoys followed behind him. Zhou Shuren sighed, "There's not much silver left."
Zhulan was silent. There really wasn't much left. Now she had 15,000 taels left, and there would be many places to use the silver in the future. "Put yourself in my shoes. The silver came with you to Lizhou City. At least it didn't pass through many hands in the middle. We used it on the refugees. Wouldn't you feel better if you think this way?"
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "It is indeed much more comfortable."
If this is put down layer by layer, we would be thankful if we could get 20,000 taels out of the 50,000 taels of silver by the time we reach Lizhou City.
It was noon when they arrived at Lizhou City. The Tongzhi and Tongpan had been waiting outside the city gate with their men for a long time.
As soon as Zhou Shuren got off the carriage, he saw the haggard Tongzhi and Tongpan. He had the information given by the emperor. The Tongzhi and Tongpan were both newly transferred. The Tongzhi was originally the prefect of Sanzhou in Chuanzhou. He was promoted from the fifth rank to the fifth rank. Although he was promoted, Zhou Shuren looked at the haggard appearance of the Tongzhi and estimated that he would rather continue to be the prefect of Sanzhou and endure it slowly.
The Tongpan was also newly transferred from Jiangnan Prefecture. He was clearly in his thirties, but he looked so haggard that he seemed to be in his forties.
Tongzhi Chen Chen, 43 years old, was not only overwhelmed but also worried all the time about whether his head would move away. When he received the imperial edict that the new second place in the imperial examination became the magistrate of Lizhou City, he directly cursed. How could a second place in the imperial examination who had never been an official handle the mess of Lizhou City? Wouldn't his head be moved away at that time
Now looking at the new prefect, Lord Zhou, and then at the huge convoy, he knew at a glance that the vehicles behind were all grain trucks. He put away his contempt, thinking that the emperor must have a reason for valuing him.
He Yun, the 36-year-old Tongpan, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the team, because help had arrived.
Tongzhi Chen Chen and Tongpan He Yun stepped forward, "Sir Zhou."
Zhou Shuren returned the greeting, "Master Chen, Master He."
Chen Chen and He Yun looked at each other and realized that they did not believe that Lord Zhou had investigated them in advance. Lord Zhou accurately said their surnames, which must have been told by the emperor. No wonder all the people in Lizhou City were newly transferred. The two knew in their hearts that the emperor really valued Lord Zhou.
Since the emperor values them, they dare not despise them. The two of them could not help but glance at the officials in the team. Who knows who among them is the emperor's man? Lizhou City is already a mess, and the two of them have not improved the situation in Lizhou City. The emperor must be dissatisfied, so it is better for them to be honest.
Chen Chen said, "Master Zhou, you have worked hard on the journey. Please come into the city."
Zhou Shuren said, "You two go ahead. I will tell my family and then go back to the government office with the team."
Just as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves came from a distance. Zhou Shuren looked at Wu Chun who was leading the way. He knew that he had heard the news and came to pick up the Yang family.
The Tongzhi, Tongpan and others were stunned. Why did the stationed General Yang come? They soon found out why he came.
Wu Chun dismounted and saluted, "Uncle, you have worked hard on the journey."
Zhou Shuren smiled and said, "I was thinking of writing to you after I got into the city, but you heard the news and came here on your own."
Wu Chun explained, "I sent people to guard outside the city gate. I knew that the city would welcome you today, so I came here from the garrison. Uncle, are your grandparents doing well on the journey?"
Zhou Shuren said, "I'm fine, but I've been on the road for a long time and need to recuperate for a few days after returning home. I'll go back to my uncle's house first, and wait for him to come back in the evening so that our family can have a good reunion."
Wu Chun knew that his uncle had something to ask him, so he smiled and said, "Okay."
The Tongpan and the Tongzhi were silent, but they knew that because Lizhou City was close to the border and was an upper prefecture, there were more soldiers stationed there than in other prefectures, a total of 4,000 people. The highest commander was General Zheng, and this General Yang was the second person with the say. These two generals had made great contributions and were personally appointed by the emperor, who trusted them very much. Unexpectedly, they were also Lord Zhou's nephews!
This time, the two of them really didn't have any thoughts at all. If they remembered correctly, General Yang even saved General Zheng's life!