The leisurely life of the Qin people

Chapter 231 Distinguished Guest
Wu Bo sat at the entrance of the county government building and inquired with several villagers who were passing by, and soon learned what Magistrate Xiao was doing.

“Uber, a few people are causing trouble.”

Upon hearing this, Wu Bo's face turned cold. It turned out that some people in the county were dissatisfied with Magistrate Xiao's arrangement, which required women and children to weave cloth at night.

The governance of a county cannot rely solely on the magistrate Xiao's gentleness; it also requires strong-willed individuals.

Wu Bo was such a person. He was a senior captain in the Qin army back then, and he was also a local figure in Weibei.

Many of the new residents who have moved here today have experienced numerous conflicts.

Wu Bo hurriedly followed the villagers away, leading his men to stop the local thugs who wanted to cause trouble for Xiao He. During the incident, he resorted to underhanded tactics, but managed to quell the matter.

When Xiao He returned to the county government, he heard about this from Wu Bo.

If Xiao He and Cao Can were to govern a county, it would be difficult to control the villagers. Sometimes, it would be necessary to rely on Wu Bo's prestige, and Wu Bo was indeed a good man.

The three sat inside the county government building eating their meal. Cao Shen enthusiastically poured wine for Wu Bo, saying, "This is our Fengyi wine."

Wu Bo, holding the bowl, said, "This is the first time I've ever drunk Chu wine."

There are many veteran Qin soldiers in this pass, and Wu Bo is one of them. The prestige of these veteran Qin soldiers in various places is sometimes higher than that of the local village chiefs.

Xiao He said, "Thank you for your help last night, Uncle Wu."

“I see that Magistrate Xiao is doing this for the good of the county.” Wu Bo took a sip of wine and said, “If some people keep bothering him, he won’t cause any more trouble.”

Xiao He nodded and said, "I am the magistrate of this county, and it is my duty to consider the needs of the people of the county."

After the three finished eating, Cao Shen took charge of the remaining matters, while Xiao He and Wu Bo rested first.

Actually, after resting, Xiao He sat in his room but didn't fall asleep immediately. Perhaps it was because he drank the wine from his hometown that he missed home, and he couldn't sleep for a while.

The next morning, Xiao He led his men to the fields in the county to check the condition of the frozen soil.

First, he looked at the sky, then Xiao He reached out and dug out some mud. It was already noon, but the thin ice in the field still hadn't melted.

This situation, which usually only occurs in the depths of winter, unexpectedly appeared in early winter.

Xiao He inspected the fields acre by acre, confirming that the ground had frozen over earlier than in previous years.

This made Xiao He look worried. He didn't know if the other counties were in the same situation, or if they were even aware of it.

This winter is definitely going to be tough.

At this moment, Xiao He was also worried about how the people of the county could get through the winter, and he was thinking about how those woolen cloaks could be made as soon as possible.

Xiao He still remembered the county records of Weibei. Initially, there was no Jingyang County in Weibei. It was only after Prince Fusu ordered the excavation of the Baiqu Canal that three counties were established in this area: Sanyuan, Jingyang, and Gaoling.

Previously, the area north of the Wei River consisted of three places: Xianyang, Liyang, and Pinyang, which supported each other.

Xianyang was the site of the Qin King's palace, Liyang was an ancient county in Guanzhong, and Pinyang became prosperous because it was the site of the Qin army's camp.

There is a saying that Liyang is famous for its linen and Pinyang for its polished stone.

The lining of the Qin army's armor was lined with hemp cloth from Liyang, and the Qin army's weapons were sharpened with whetstones from Pinyang.

Compared to Weinan, the people of Weibei have a deeper connection with the Qin people and are the place where the most Qin people gather, and there are also more Qin soldiers there.

Uber was one of them.

Just as Xiao He was about to sell the newly woven batch of wool cloaks to Xianyang, he discovered that these wool cloaks could not be sold in Xianyang.

Xiao He realized that while he could make woolen cloaks, selling them was a very difficult task.

Moreover, there are too many people selling these furs in Xianyang City.

Xiao He sat in the county government office, watching as batches of woolen cloaks were placed in front of him, piling up higher and higher.

Cao Can said, "Then why don't we sell it at an even lower price?"

Xiao He shook his head; he didn't want to do that yet.

Cao Can said, "Why don't we go and ask Tongguan for help..."

Xiao He immediately interrupted Cao Can, looking up at the group of women and children before him, whose eyes were filled with confusion and bewilderment.

Some of these people were even standing barefoot, wearing only thin clothes.

These people all came to Jingyang this year and have nothing.

These people make up 30% of Jingyang's population.

Before long, Wu Bo came quickly and said, "Magistrate Xiao, someone outside wants to buy all our wool cloaks."

Upon hearing this, Xiao He, who had been pondering with his head down, suddenly looked up and asked, "Really?"

Uber added, "The person is outside the county."

Xiao He instructed Cao Can to keep an eye on the place, while he himself followed Wu Bo and quickly left for the outskirts of the county.

Upon reaching the outskirts of the county, they discovered that the buyer was not there. Wu Bo led Xiao He to the banks of the Baiqu Canal.

The Baiqu Canal was still flowing in winter, the water level was not high, and the banks were still frozen. A man was standing on the riverbank, and an old man was standing next to him.

Judging from their expensive clothes, they didn't seem to be from an ordinary family.

Xiao He first looked at Wu Bo with suspicion.

Uber also had a smile on his face, and his eyes indicated that there weren't many people willing to buy Jingyang wool cloaks now.

Xiao He stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Xiao He greets the distinguished guest."

“Magistrate Xiao, there’s no need for such formalities.” Fusu’s gaze remained fixed on Baiqu, and he added, “I have long heard that Magistrate Xiao has governed Jingyang with great success.”

"I dare not say that it has been effective, but I have done my best." At this point, Xiao He had already categorized the person in front of him as an official of Xianyang City or a wealthy family.

Fusu continued, "My people saw someone selling wool cloaks in Xianyang, and they couldn't sell them. After inquiring, they found out that it was from Jingyang. I happen to need a wool cloak."

Xiao He then asked, "Very well, may I ask if our esteemed guest has brought the money for the transaction?"

Fusu said, "I will exchange one hundred cartloads of hemp cloth with you, and I can also discuss a longer-term deal with you."

Xiao He wished to hear the details.

"From now on, sell all your cloaks to me."

"Okay." Xiao He agreed as expected.

Before long, laborers arrived pulling carts full of linen. The linen wasn't of very good quality, but it was still usable for making clothes.

Xiao He accepted them all without hesitation.

Fusu looked at a room in Jingyang County, where Xiao He had used these looms to make these woolen cloaks.

In the county now, people are celebrating the acquisition of hemp cloth, and many lightly dressed county residents are happily wrapping themselves in it.

Fusu asked, "Why don't you let the people of the county use wool to get through the winter?"

“A fine wool cloak can be exchanged for dozens of linen garments, and there are so many people in the county here that there are not enough sheepskins to go around. Moreover, linen garments are easy to preserve, can be altered and mended, and are suitable for the people in the county to wear. However, wool cloaks are too precious, and once they are made, they are not easy to mend.”

After hearing Xiao He's words, Fusu roughly understood.

Although Jingyang County has enjoyed bumper harvests year after year, the people who have migrated there are still very poor.

The reason for helping Xiao He was that Fusu remembered Weinan back then, and Weinan was facing the same difficulties as Jingyang was now.

Xiao He asked, "May I ask if the person before you is an official from Xianyang?"

Fusu nodded and said, "I work in the Prime Minister's office."

Upon hearing this, Xiao He's expression relaxed. He had probably thought of it before, and now that he had confirmed it, he realized it was indeed true.

Xiao He accompanied the man to the outskirts of the county and said, "If anyone discusses this matter, say that it was my idea, Xiao He's."

Fusu said, "I only ask for a clear conscience?"

The man before him spoke without any airs, yet he exuded a very approachable aura. Xiao He sighed and said, “I do not wish to inquire about the Prime Minister’s opinion. If the Prime Minister’s office feels that I have done something wrong, Xiao He is willing to accept punishment.”

"Debating right and wrong is inherently a self-destructive process, I think..."

At this point, Fusu paused for a moment, then said, "No one can say that they can do everything perfectly. You are no exception, nor am I, including that young master Fusu from Xianyang."

Hearing the other party speak so highly of the young master, yet remain so composed, Xiao He looked embarrassed and did not reply.

Of course, you can't reply to that.

"I am leaving."

After saying this, Fusu and Tian An left.

This distinguished guest only stayed in Jingyang for half an hour. Sitting outside the county, Xiao He finally breathed a sigh of relief, as if the pressure on him had suddenly disappeared.

Cao Shen ran out of the county and said with a smile, "This winter, we'll make it through."

Winter comes early and goes late in Guanzhong, lasting longer than in Chu.

Three days after the distinguished guest took the wool cloak, it finally snowed in Guanzhong.

However, even if the snow is heavy now, the children here have thick clothes to wear.

A stove was lit inside, and water was boiling in a kettle.

The door was pushed open, and some snowflakes drifted in with the wind. Wu Bo entered and said, "Magistrate Xiao, when that distinguished guest came earlier, he went to see the salt pond on the back mountain."

The salt lake behind Jingyang has always been under the control of the Qin royal family, and there are still a few Qin soldiers guarding it.

The fact that the guest was able to enter the area under the Qin army's control indicates that he was indeed from the Prime Minister's residence.

Xiao He looked suspicious. He knew it was wrong to investigate this distinguished guest who had helped him, but he couldn't help feeling uneasy without knowing the other party's identity.

After receiving confirmation from Wu Bo, Xiao He was relieved.

The other party was unwilling to reveal their identity, but this person was indeed an official of the Prime Minister's office.

That was all Xiao He could confirm; as for who the other party was, he had no idea.

Putting down his pen, Xiao He handed the completed document to Wu Bo, asking him to deliver it to Xianyang, thus completing the last matter of the year.

We are just waiting for the winter solstice to arrive so we can welcome the next year.

Xiao He walked outside and looked at the smiles of the children in the alley. Only then did he truly feel that the hardship of lacking clothes was finally over.

Once again, I recalled what that distinguished guest had said: no one can guarantee that they can do everything perfectly, including you, me, and even that young master Fusu from Xianyang.

Xiao He recalled that when Prince Fusu dealt with Yin Tong, was the punishment of his family too harsh? Many people inside and outside Guanzhong were talking about it, especially the old nobles in Qi and Lu. Some people even said that if Prince Fusu did this, who would dare to serve Qin in the future?
It seems they have long been accustomed to the idea that the preferential treatment a monarch gives to the scholar-officials should be reciprocated in order to gain the support of the scholar-officials.

The distinguished guest also said that focusing solely on right and wrong is an extremely wasteful process, and that it is better to be able to face oneself with a clear conscience than to argue about right and wrong.

In other words, no matter what you do, the result will not satisfy everyone; there will always be someone who stands up to oppose you.

Xiao He remarked, "This is probably the spirit of the Qin people."
The officials in the Prime Minister's office in Xianyang were indeed remarkable.

……

PS: Only one chapter will be updated tonight. I will make up for the missed updates when I have time.

(End of this chapter)