Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 142 Insights
Zhang Xian waved his hand and said, "You two are too kind. Lüsi is still in its infancy and everything is being explored. I know that one person's strength is limited, so I am eager to find talented people. Zhicai has helped me a lot. Now that you two are here, if you could stay a little longer and give me some pointers, I would be extremely grateful."

Guo Jia was slightly tempted. He looked at Xun Yu, but saw that the latter was still calmly drinking his tea.

He suddenly realized, and a bitter feeling rose in his heart. That's right, the Xun family of Yingchuan had a great reputation, and almost any opportunity was within reach for the Xun family members.

On the contrary, for people like him and his brother Zhicai, opportunity is the most precious thing.

"That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask." He bowed respectfully.

Xun Yu didn't specify anything, but simply smiled and said, "Then I'll be troubling you for a few days, Zhang Zhonglang."

"What a bother!" Zhang Xian seemed very pleased.

One is fine, Xun Yu may be envious, but if he can't keep them, he won't force it. Besides, even if he does keep them, Xun Yu's gentlemanly conduct will remain unchanged.

In the original history, if he hadn't died, Cao Cao would have had a very difficult time becoming king. He couldn't fulfill his duty of loyalty to the emperor and the country, but until his death, he remained a Han official.

He admires such a person, but it would be difficult for them to get together.

And Guo Jia.
He's a talented person, but he needs to be properly trained.

He had a smile on his lips, which showed a hint of enthusiasm.

"Once you arrive, please arrange for Wenruo and Fengxiao to settle in and rest well. If there is nothing else to do this afternoon, you may take them for a walk around the city as you please, without any restraint."

"Yes, sir!" Han Ji replied with a smile.

Both of them nodded and did not refuse.

The afternoon sun was still blazing, but the hustle and bustle of Lüsi City carried a vibrant vitality.

Dressed in a plain scholar's robe, Han Ji, with his gentle demeanor, personally accompanied Xun Yu and Guo Jia. He declined the ceremonial carriages and chose the most down-to-earth way: walking, to experience the most authentic aspects of this border town.

“Brother Wenruo, Fengxiao, please come with me.”

Han Ji led the way with a warm smile: "Lusi City is small, but it is well-organized. When you first arrived, my lord re-planned the streets and markets to make them convenient and clean."

They turned onto a relatively wide main street, not the area with the most concentrated shops, but lined with shops on both sides and bustling with pedestrians.

"Chief Secretary Han!"

"Chief Secretary Han."

"Hey, Chief Secretary Han, have you eaten yet?"

Along the way, the people and merchants of Luqi County were mostly familiar with Han Changshi, who often appeared in public, and their greetings were mostly sincere.

"Brother Gongzhi has a very good reputation."

Xun Yu smiled faintly and teased softly.

Han Ji nodded in response while explaining, "People have always been like this. If you treat them sincerely, they will treat you sincerely. You haven't seen my lord on his tour. If he comes out, this street will be packed with people."

"No wonder I saw that Zhang Zhonglang wanted to come in person, but then he went back to handle official business before leaving. So that's why."

Guo Jia burst into laughter.

The group walked at a leisurely pace, as if enjoying a spring outing.

Upon reaching a certain spot, Han Ji pointed ahead to a line of twenty or thirty people and said, "That's where the work points for this neighborhood are exchanged."

As the group approached, they stood across the street and saw that the store, which looked like an ordinary grain shop, was neatly filled with sacks of millet and wheat, as well as baskets of beans.

At the counter, the shop assistant was using a wooden measuring cup to measure out grain for people.

A man dressed in coarse cloth shorts, resembling a miner, handed his work point card to the accountant behind the counter. The accountant took it, carefully checked the engravings on the wooden card against the thick ledger records in his hand, and confirmed that everything was correct.

He then asked the man, "Three hundred and twenty work points can be exchanged for one and a half bushels of millet. How much do you want?"

One bushel is one shi (a unit of dry measure). This man has accumulated more than 300 work points, which can be exchanged for more than one shi of grain. Compared to the price of millet, which is more than 400 coins per shi, the value of these work points is obviously much greater.

The man scratched his head and laughed, "I'll change them all and take them back to my parents to make them happy."

"Okay~"

Upon hearing this, the waiter quickly measured out the rice and poured it into the man's cloth bag.

Guo Jia approached with great interest to examine the work point board and ledger.

The accountant clearly knew Han Ji, and seeing that Han Ji had no objections, he generously showed the paper account book to Guo Jia.

After looking at it for a while, Guo Jia returned and asked, "Chief Secretary Han, how can we ensure that these work point records are not falsified?"

Han Ji patiently explained: "The work point card itself is just a certificate; the core record is in the 'Work Point Master Book' of the work supervisor."

After each workday, each worker must summarize the work points earned by the workers under their jurisdiction and report them to the foreman, who will then enter them into the master register.

When workers redeem their tokens, the accountant must check the master ledger records to confirm accuracy before redemption is permitted. As for forgery…

He smiled slightly, picked up a blank wooden plaque next to him, and pointed to an inconspicuous engraving on the edge.

“When each work point card was issued, the clerks of the Ministry of Works used special tools to leave a secret mark, and the number corresponded to the master register, making it extremely difficult to counterfeit. Furthermore, forging work points is tantamount to stealing government grain, and the punishment is death.”

Xun Yu nodded silently to the side. Although the system design was cumbersome, it could ensure fairness and order to the greatest extent possible when there was a shortage of money.

The group watched for a while longer. Xun Yu and Guo Jia hadn't expected that watching people carry rice, pack rice, and carry rice could be so entertaining. If Han Ji hadn't reminded them, they probably would have watched for a while longer.

Turning the corner, a faint scent of herbs wafted over, and a queue formed in front of a pharmacy with a plaque that read "Renxintang".

The doctors sitting in the shop were not too old.

Behind the counter, the shop assistant was busy preparing and pounding medicine.

"This is the largest pharmacy in Lüchi, and it's also the pharmacy designated by the county government that allows the use of work points," Han Ji explained.

"The chief physician in charge of the clinic, Physician Tang, is a highly skilled doctor who came from Changshan with our lord."

Many miners and construction workers, who are prone to falls, sprains, and heatstroke, can come here for medical treatment.

The county government stipulated that all registered workers holding work point cards, along with their immediate family members, could enjoy a 50% discount on medical fees upon presentation of a certificate issued by the work clerk. Some commonly used medicinal herbs were also supplied at cost price. In the event of a work-related injury, the county government's workshop would cover all medical expenses.

As they were talking, a man with blood-soaked bandages wrapped around his arm and wearing a construction worker's uniform walked in, supported by a companion. He went straight to the counter and showed a special wooden plaque and a piece of paper.

After examining the worker, the apprentice immediately called out, "Quickly, take this coworker to the back and ask Dr. Tang to treat him first!"

Xun Yu's eyes flickered slightly: "Although such measures consume money and grain, they can win over the hearts of the people, unite their strength, and allow laborers to work without any worries."

Han Ji nodded: "My lord often says that people are the foundation. Without strong and healthy people, how can there be a strong and prosperous nation? This is the strategy to consolidate the foundation."

"The simpler the strategy, the better it is," Guo Jia said with genuine admiration.

They continued their journey, stopping and starting along the way. To Xun Yu and Guo Jia's surprise, despite it being a small county town, they couldn't see out of the town even after half a day.

As evening approached, some food stalls began to set up their stoves.

A crowd had gathered in front of a stall selling "Hu Bing" (a type of flatbread).

The stall owner, dressed like a man from the frontier, deftly stuck the dough to the oven wall, and soon it was baked until it was fragrant and crispy.

There were also stalls selling boiled bean soup and steamed cakes nearby, the steaming food smelling delicious.

Guo Jia kept looking in that direction, and Han Ji smiled slightly before leading his men in that direction as well.

"As more and more people flocked to Luqi, local delicacies from all over the country became available."

Han Ji smiled and said, "As long as it is clean and hygienic and the city tax is paid on time, the county government will encourage it. If Fengxiao is interested, you can try this flatbread later. It has a unique flavor."

Guo Jia was indeed somewhat tempted, but his gaze was drawn to an inconspicuous but very clean little brick house on the street corner.

A wooden sign hangs at the entrance of the house, bearing four neat characters in clerical and regular script: "Public Toilet".

"What is that?" Guo Jia asked curiously.

“Oh, that’s a public restroom,” Han Ji explained.

"The lord has strictly ordered that no one may urinate or defecate indiscriminately in the city. Therefore, these public toilets have been set up in the main streets and near the market, and are cleaned and maintained regularly by the workers of the 'Sanitation Workshop'."

The wooden bucket by the entrance was filled with lime water; people could rinse themselves off before entering and leaving. This seemingly trivial act greatly improved the city's sanitation and reduced the spread of disease. He pointed to several people in uniform gray tuxedos pushing wooden carts, sweeping the streets a short distance away: "Those are the sanitation workers."

Looking at the clean and tidy public toilets and the busy sanitation workers, and recalling the relatively clean streets he had walked along, Xun Yu gained a new understanding of the meticulousness of Zhang Xian's governance.

Such “small things” would not be undertaken with such dedication unless one possesses great perseverance and a genuine commitment to the people.

"The flatbread is ready!"

A shout came from the stall where a man dressed as a frontier soldier was hawking his wares.

Upon hearing this, Guo Jia quickly walked over, took out five-zhu coins, and asked, "How much are they?"

"Three for two coins, how many do you want?"

"Your attire, your accent..." Guo Jia's lips twitched.

He tossed down four five-zhu coins: "Give me six."

"Okay, do you want chili powder?"

"Chili powder? Cornelian cherry?"

"Chili peppers are chili peppers, and dogwood is dogwood. Chili peppers are spicy, and dogwood is pungent. You need to be able to tell the difference, kid."

"Will it taste better if I add it?"

"Absolutely!"

"add!"

Although he didn't know what chili powder was, the stall owner said it had to taste good, so Guo Jia believed him.

The stall owner took the money and quickly scooped off six palm-sized flatbreads, then opened one side and added some bright red dry powder inside.

He then wrapped it in a lotus leaf and handed it to Guo Jia.

Holding the sesame cakes, Guo Jia returned to Han Ji and Xun Yu's side, opened the lotus leaf package, and a pungent aroma wafted out.

He reached out and handed one to the two of them. Han Ji didn't stand on ceremony and picked one up and started eating it, saying as he ate.

"The owner of this stall is also from Jizhou who came from Changshan with our lord. Don't be fooled by his frontier-looking attire; he is actually from the Central Plains."

"Haha, I knew his accent sounded familiar."

Guo Jia burst into laughter, then took a bite of the flatbread, and the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a flushed red!
"What's that? My tongue can't taste anything!"

"Hey, hey, hey, if you can't handle spicy food, why did you add chili powder?"

Han Ji hurriedly found some water and handed it to Guo Jia.

The latter rinsed her mouth but still felt her tongue was very numb: "The stall owner said it has to taste good with chili powder."

"Your taste is actually quite good, Fengxiao, you'll know once you get used to it."

What else could Han Ji say? This kid just believes whatever others say.

Xun Yu watched with amusement. When he smelled that pungent aroma earlier, he guessed that there must be some ingredients in the flatbread that people from other places wouldn't be used to.

See, it's exactly as I expected.

The three of them then walked away peacefully.

Summer evenings are exceptionally long, but they also relieve most of the heat.

They walked along the street through several alleys and came to a relatively quiet courtyard.

The courtyard wall was not high, and the clear sounds of children reading and laughing could be heard from inside.

A wooden plaque hangs at the entrance: "Ciyoufang".

"This is the orphanage established by our lord." Han Ji's tone softened considerably.

"The facility was specifically designed to house orphans who had lost their families due to war or famine, or young children whose families were unable to support them. It provided food and lodging and hired literate old scholars to teach them basic literacy, as well as simple arithmetic and handicrafts."

Once they are a little older, they will be sent to the thatched cottage for further study, or to various workshops to learn a trade and make a living on their own.

They did not go inside to disturb them, but simply stood outside the door.

Through the half-open courtyard gate, you can see a group of children of all ages, some of whom are reciting the "Jijiuzhang" (a classic text on comprehension) with swaying heads, following an old woman.

Some children were playing simple games like hopscotch and shuttlecock in the open space of the courtyard, while a few older girls were learning to spin thread from a woman under the eaves.

Although the children were simply dressed, their faces were clean, and their expressions were focused or joyful.

“Even the young have their strengths…” Xun Yu sighed softly, his gaze complex.

The fact that he values ​​and actually raises orphans so much, if not a way of raising assassins, shows a level of responsibility that far surpasses that of many self-proclaimed benevolent local officials.

"This is the future of Lüqi." Han Ji looked at the scene in the courtyard, his eyes filled with emotion.

“My lord said that children are like seedlings. If they are carefully nurtured, they may become pillars of society in the future. Even if they do not become pillars of society, if they can learn a few words and acquire a skill, they can still make a living. This is better than being homeless on the streets and being taken advantage of by wicked people.”

Guo Jia's eyes, peering through the crack in the door, held complex emotions. Though he was of noble birth from a humble background and of higher status than ordinary people, he was no different from the children here, struggling to learn in the face of powerful and wealthy families.

"Only those with talent can be employed; this is the foundation for establishing oneself!"

He murmured softly, so that no one else could hear him.

The golden rays of the setting sun shone on the courtyard walls of the orphanage and also fell upon the three people standing outside the gate.

Leaving Salesian House, we embarked on our journey home.

As dusk settled, smoke rose from chimneys throughout Luqi City, filling the air with the aroma of food.

People who had worked all day began to return home, and the pedestrians on the street showed a greater sense of urgency and relaxation in getting home.

The peddler carrying his load called out his last sales pitch, and the lights in the restaurants and taverns lit up one after another, beckoning late-night diners.

The sign for chilled fine wines stood out prominently under the lights.

As Han Ji walked along, he continued to introduce some details, such as the fire-prevention water tanks hanging at the entrances of certain streets and alleys, the night watchman system, and the "literacy classes" regularly organized by the county government.

Guo Jia remained silent for a long time, but his clear eyes were always observing and pondering.

Grain shops, labor exchange offices, blacksmith shops, pharmacies, public toilets, orphanages... these seemingly trivial details, like countless small streams, eventually converge into a great river called "Lüsi".

It exhibits a governance model that is distinct from other places, full of order and vitality. Zhang Zhonglang's hands seem to have touched the most subtle corners of this small town.

Xun Yu, on the other hand, appeared more composed. Occasionally, he would ask Han Ji a question or two about a certain detail, but most of the time he walked in silence with a deep gaze, as if he wanted to engrave everything he saw and heard into his mind.

The turmoil within him was far more intense than it appeared on the surface.

This Luqi is far more than just a well-governed border town.

The institutional innovation here is not like the work of a general who maintains the status quo, but more like the work of a... founder who builds a foundation.

"Brother Gongzhi," Xun Yu finally spoke as they approached the county government office, his voice gentle yet carrying a barely perceptible hint of inquiry.

"The atmosphere in Lüchi is truly admirable. Zhang Zhonglang has lofty aspirations, and the governance of Lüchi is perhaps just the beginning?"

Han Ji paused slightly, his smile remaining gentle, but his eyes had become more profound.

He didn't directly answer Xun Yu's subtly meaningful question. Instead, gazing at the massive new city wall rising from the ground in the twilight, its outline becoming increasingly clear, he said meaningfully...

"Brother Wenruo, you may not know this, but this place is not like the Central Plains. People from various tribes, such as the Hu, Xiongnu, Xianbei and other nomadic peoples, often come south to plunder."

"What my lord does is merely to make life better for those ants whom the court officials despise and look down upon!"

"so."

'Is that right?'

A question arose in Xun Yu's mind.

(End of this chapter)