"The general is back!!!"
A shout came from the Cheng'an gate.
After a while, the entire city was boiling.
On the flat official road, a group of knights appeared, less than a hundred people, but the general's flag clearly indicated the extraordinary identity of the visitor, General Liu Taozi.
Zu Jue followed Liu Taozi and looked at the majestic city in front of him with a smile.
Cheng An.
The roads in Cheng'an are exceptionally smooth and have even been reinforced repeatedly. The road protection forests on both sides are unmatched by other places.
Even though it's still winter, Cheng'an is extremely lively.
The outer city has been formed outside the city. Many people have settled outside the city wall. The houses are undulating with each other and located on both sides of the road. Hu merchants can even be seen in the distance, surrounded by a circle of people, showing off the goods in their hands.
.
People in Cheng'an are quite bold.
When they found a cavalry approaching, they were not afraid at all and even stood on tiptoes to look at it.
And when they recognized the person's flag and identity, they instantly became excited.
Zu Jue saw many people starting to chant. Some people ran to both sides of the road, looked at Liu Taozi from a distance, and began to bow and kneel.
There are old people, women, and children.
They packed it tightly and saw more and more people.
Zu Jue looked at the knights behind him. The knights separated into formations and guarded both sides.
Liu Taozi walked in the front and didn't care much about Zu Jue's little moves.
"General!!"
"Meet the General!!"
Everyone shouted, and the sound got louder and louder, spreading all the way to the city. The city in the distance also became noisy in an instant. Zu Jue saw a group of officials rushing out from the direction of the city gate, and was particularly panicked.
Zu Jue could imagine how frightened the officials in Cheng'an were at this moment.
The general suddenly appeared here without even informing him.
Cheng'an has undergone great changes. The road along this road no longer looks like it used to be. Both the official road and both sides have become extremely different.
What used to be a small village along the Zhang River has now become a large township, with small city walls built and bustling with people, and there are no traces of the past at all.
Only the peach forest has not changed at all.
However, the area around Taolin has been blocked, and others are not allowed to approach.
The same is true for Cheng'an City. The city walls have become somewhat different, and the city gates have also undergone major changes.
Liu Taozi rode Black Wind, passing by many Cheng'an people with high-spirited expressions, and arrived at the city gate all the way.
Suddenly a man came out and said, "General!!"
Liu Taozi reined in her horse, looked at the man, and then smiled, "It's Carpenter Wang."
Carpenter Wang is much older, his hair is gray, and there are more and more wrinkles on his face, but his body is still strong and his face is rosy.
He walked forward excitedly and said, "General, you still remember me."
"Remember, are you still working as a carpenter on the mask you made for me?"
"I don't do it now. It's my nephew who does it and learned my craft."
"The general is more powerful than ever."
As the carpenter was talking, another person came forward and said, "General!"
"I worked as a janitor at the county school. Do you still remember me?"
"I remembered."
Many people gathered around Liu Taozi, and they chatted excitedly with Liu Taozi about the situation.
The cold wind is still there, but it can no longer affect these people.
Zu Jue stood in the distance, just looking around.
Cheng'an's officials began to fortify the surrounding area and carry out security duties. The wanderers in the city probably never thought that one day they would do this, so they ordered the soldiers to fortify the surrounding area, and they were trembling all over.
After an unknown amount of time, officials finally rushed towards the place in a hurry.
An official about fifty years old got off the carriage and hurried to the front to bow to Liu Taozi.
"Cheng'an ordered Fangbao to pay his respects to the general!"
This Cheng Anling was tall, dressed rather simply, and his appearance was nothing out of the ordinary, but his eyes were bright and he had a sense of righteousness.
Liu Taozi looked at Cheng Anling, nodded, and then looked at the rest of the people.
"I'll go back to the official office first. If I'm not busy later, I can catch up with old times."
Everyone saluted again and again, and then retreated.
Liu Taozi asked Fang Bao to mount his horse, and the group walked towards the county government office.
The city was becoming more and more lively, and the news of the general's return spread throughout the country. Cheers could be heard everywhere, and children were running along the streets, shouting as they ran.
Liu Taozi has great reputation in many places, such as Wuchuan, Boling, Liyang, etc., but nowhere can he be as famous as Cheng'an.
After all, this is his hometown.
The roads inside Cheng'an have also become particularly strong. Residential houses on both sides are piled up together. There are many high-rise buildings. The doors of restaurants in the distance are open, and there are even people walking out from inside.
Liu Taozi suddenly sighed.
"Many years ago, this place was extremely quiet, like a ghost town. Especially in winter, not a single pedestrian was seen."
He looked at Cheng'an Ling Fangbao who was following him.
"Gao Yan arranged for you to serve as Cheng Anling."
"I'm not familiar with you, and I don't know what your political achievements are, but Gao Jun was very persistent, so I agreed."
"Now it seems that you are doing pretty well."
Fang Bao's face was calm. Even when facing Liu Taozi, he didn't feel too excited or afraid.
He whispered: "It's not my fault. Cheng An was already very good when Lu Jun was around. I just let nature take its course and didn't do anything more."
"I just heard someone at the city gate say that you have saved many people."
"It's all in accordance with the temple's decree, providing appropriate support to the orphans, widows, old and young, and preventing them from starving to death, that's all."
Liu Taozi nodded, "That's it."
Zu Jue followed behind and said slowly: "Fang Gong is still very talented. Cheng'an's affairs are complicated and difficult to manage. The population is large and it cannot be managed by non-talented people. If there is a new state, this person can be the governor."
Fang Bao still looked calm and unmoved.
Although Fang Bao's official position is not high, he can be regarded as a senior person who participated in important events very early.
Born into a wealthy family, he started working as an official at the age of seventeen.
This Fangbao is very fond of Huang Lao's teachings and likes to be quiet and do nothing.
Therefore, when Gao Jun initially recommended this person to be An Ling, Liu Taozi was somewhat hesitant.
But his quietness and inaction are not the same as the current mainstream quietness and inaction. Others talk about quietness and inaction, but then they really do nothing, just close the door, and let the city fall into endless chaos and disorder.
But Fang Bao's quietness and inaction is to provide the people with a relaxed environment as much as possible. They can do whatever is not prohibited by law. They do not engage in business, do not build construction projects, do not object to people going out, and do not force people to work. At the same time, the government should perform its duties
, there is no shortage, officials still ensure local order, and there is no shortage of corresponding positive encouragement, people's livelihood and welfare.
Liu Taozi has seen many people who talk about treating by doing nothing, but this one is one of the few who truly understands treating by doing nothing and can do it well at the same time.
Just now Liu Taozi was chatting with others at the city gate, and everyone spoke highly of Fang Bao.
Not only in politics, but also in life, he has a certain Huang Lao figure who seldom goes out, is diligent and frugal, does not socialize much, and does not care much about official titles and fame.
He even opened a field in the backyard of the government office and planted some vegetables.
The official office has not changed much, and it remains the same as before, having not undergone any obvious renovations.
Everyone returned to the official office, Liu Taozi sat at the top and drank the Cheng'an tea that she was most familiar with.
Zu Jue and Fang Bao were sitting on both sides of him.
Liu Taozi sat in a familiar place and looked around.
“It’s the only place here that hasn’t changed much.”
He looked at Fang Bao, "When I was in Pingcheng, Gao Jun praised you many times and said that you are a ruler. What do you think about the current situation?"
Fang Bao said calmly: "Rule by doing nothing and rest with the people."
Zu Jue laughed.
He shook his head, "Your idea may be used to govern a county, but it cannot govern the entire world."
Liu Taozi was not in a hurry to interrupt the other party. He asked: "How to do nothing? How to calm the people?"
Fang Bao continued: "Many people feel that the current world is in troubled times, and what is most needed is strong military strength, to drive the people with all their strength, and to work diligently in government, so as to quickly calm down the world and end the troubled times."
"When I was in Yecheng, I also debated with others. They all said that Huang Lao cannot be used in troubled times. This is a truth that the ancients understood."
"But I feel that what they said is wrong."
Zu Jue stared at him with a smile, "I would like to hear the details."
Fang Bao looked at Liu Taozi and said, "My lord, in my opinion, chaos and rule are not determined by the size of the country."
"It is true that great unification is the basis for many governance, but great unification may not always be governance."
"There are chaotic times during the time of great unification, and there are also times of chaos during the time of separatism."
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“In troubled times and governance, does it depend on the living conditions of the people, or on whether the country is strong or not?”
"I believe that if the people are rich, not bullied by foreign enemies, not forced by hunger and cold, the king is wise, and the officials are honest, then this will be a good governance."
"With such governance and everyone doing their best, the country will inevitably be strong and unified, and unification will be inevitable."
"If your lord asks me about the strategy of governing the country, I can only advise you to be lenient and benevolent, to be less law-abiding, and not to treat the people as tools for war or farming."
Zu Jue listened to what he had finished saying, and then slowly shook his head.
"What I'm talking about is the principles for governing a local area, but not the principles for governing the world."
"Not all cities in the world are like Cheng'an. There are still too few places for you to go. If you have seen nobles killing people for no reason on the road, a large number of people have no land to cultivate and starve to death under the city walls, and thieves and beasts occupy the mountains and forests.
, the merchant would not say that if he did not dare to cross the border."
"I have read many books, including Huang Lao, Confucianism, Xuanxuan, Legalism, Agriculture, and Buddhism."
"Since Yang Min's death, the situation in the world has become out of control. If you use the method you mentioned to reduce the government's interference in civil affairs, the final result will be that nobles are rampant, thieves are everywhere, and the people cannot be peaceful, but
It makes the people suffer even more."
"Moreover, it is inevitable that the national power will be weakened, and sooner or later it will be defeated by thieves."
"What you just mentioned about troubled times and governing times, for me, troubled times are when wars continue and people are unable to make a living. In troubled times, we must act beyond the standards of past actions, forcibly arranging cultivated land and arranging residences. This is not based on the people.
Cattle and sheep tools, this is to keep them alive."
Fang Bao has a very peaceful temperament. Hearing Zu Jue's rebuttal, he was not angry at all.
"This is just my own idea. I won't change it even if I don't seek approval from my ancestors."
Zu Jue smiled and stroked his beard and stopped talking.
Liu Taozi looked at Zu Jue, "Let Xu Zhicai send a disciple here."
"In many years, this landlord may be able to do bigger things."
Liu Taozi only stayed in Cheng'an for a few days and left quietly soon.
There were more important things waiting for him in Yecheng.
When the prefectures and counties were first divided, the area of ​​Yecheng was not allocated to the other governors. Gao Mai was directly appointed as the magistrate of Yecheng, and also took charge of the surrounding counties of Cheng'an and Linzhang.
Although Gao Mai only had these three counties in his hands, any one of these three could be compared to the population or grain output of a large county.
The combined population of the three counties exceeds that of a large state like Gwangju.
These three counties in Qi State have always had additional establishments, and the county magistrates here are at the same level as the prefects.
Liu Taozi separated his troops before arriving at Yecheng. He took some of his people to Cheng'an first, while Shi Wansui and others went to Yecheng.
Mainly because he wanted to go directly from Yecheng to Jinyang. In order to save time, he went to Cheng'an first, and then passed through Yecheng and took the official road directly to Jinyang.
When he took Zu Jue and others to Yecheng next door.
Gao Mai had already known the news and led everyone to guard the official road.
"Lord!!"
Gao Mai came forward with excitement on his face and bowed to see him.
Shi Wansui and others stood further away, maintaining order.
The changes in Yecheng are not as dramatic as those in Cheng'an. In the cold winter months, there is no bustling scene of people coming and going like in Cheng'an.
Gao Mai rode on the little mule and followed Liu Taozi, like a mouse following a bear, and he felt particularly strong about this.
Zu Jue looked at the mule under the opponent's crotch with disdain in his eyes.
I've used this trick before!
"I heard that my lord defeated the Southerners in the Erhuai area and killed Wu Mingche, the general of Chen State!"
"When the news came, everyone in Yecheng was overjoyed!"
"I even walked to the gate to tell everyone about my lord's achievements!"
Gao Mai did not hide his admiration for Liu Taozi, but Liu Taozi asked: "How is the situation in Yecheng?"
Gao Mai's face turned serious, "It's not very good."
"At the beginning, many people fled to Yecheng. After I took office here, I tried many methods, but people still fled to other places, especially to Cheng'an and Linzhang."
"The grain output is much higher, but it can't compare with Cheng'an and Linzhang."
Gao Mai was a little embarrassed.
Yecheng, as the head of the three cities, was outshone by the other two cities in his hands.
Especially when the other two cities are still under his control.
Liu Taozi led them into the city. The city indeed looked desolate. There were not many pedestrians on the roads. The direction of the two cities also seemed a little quiet, even a little worse than before.
Gao Mai's face became increasingly embarrassed.
But Zu Jue explained: "My lord, many people living in Yecheng were officials and dignitaries at the beginning. Later, many people escaped. Those who did not have time to escape were also arrested and dealt with."
"The situation in Yecheng is even more complicated than that in Cheng'an. Since we regained Hebei, this is the only place where rebellions have occurred repeatedly."
"The main reason is that anyone can be found here. Just Wei Xiaokuan's people, there are so many hidden here. Gao Jun did a pretty good job and captured many traitors. The grain output last year was also very high.
It's just that compared to Cheng'an, it seems a little inferior, but everyone in the cities in Hebei Province is like this when compared with Cheng'an."
Liu Taozi nodded.
"Is the palace always empty?"
"It has always been empty. I stationed people around it and only conducted four cleanings and searches."
"Where are those people who used to be in the city?"
"Those people mentioned by the lord, I will deal with them according to the law, deal with them according to their past crimes, seize their family property, sentence them to punishments such as apprenticeship, exile, and death, and prohibit their children from participating in assessments and entering schools.
There are also those who were relatively restrained in the past and had no bad behavior, so I left them enough farmland according to the land equalization system and took back the excess."
"They no longer prohibit their children from entering the school or participating in the assessment. In the beginning, there were always people colluding to take back Yecheng. By this year, the situation has been much better. Just before, some people were arrested because of the appeal.
."
"Oh? What other turmoil did the statement cause?"
Gao Mai smiled bitterly, "I arrested a total of seventeen people the day the appeal was released!"
"These people are here to persuade me to stand on my own feet and resist the general."
"oh?"
Gao Mai continued: "They feel that the general wants to destroy the temples of Qi State. They think that I am a member of the Qi State clan and should stand up and lead them to resist the general."
Zu Jue chuckled, "It sounds good, why didn't Mr. Gao do it?"
Gao Mai looked at Zu Jue. The relationship between the two was actually very good. It was Zu Jue who suggested that Gao Mai go on an expedition with Kou Liu, which was regarded as a promotion to Gao Mai.
He patted the Gao Wang Sword on his waist.
He said very seriously: "My lord treats me as a nobleman of the country, allows my clan to take charge of Yecheng, and even rewards me with a sword!"
"How could I do such a shameless thing?"
"The State of Qi has been destroyed a long time ago, the country is gone, loyalty is cold, countless members of the clan have died at the hands of their own family members, people are in panic, but now you want the clan to stand up?"
"I want to follow my lord and make achievements, and all other matters have nothing to do with me!"
"By the way, Grandpa, did you write that appeal?"
“It’s so well written!”
Chapter completed!