The Military Governor in Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 127

"Do you usually eat these things?" Xu Changshan continued to ask.

"That's true most of the time," Jia Chen said with a smile.

Jia Chen did indeed eat with everyone most of the time.

Eating with the soldiers can better improve the relationship between superiors and subordinates.

Xu Changshan nodded and said nothing more.

Jia Chen is truly setting a good example.

Historically, those who have achieved this are often renowned generals who have left their mark on history.

Leading by example is easier said than done.

Having such a superior officer is a blessing for the soldiers.

After Xu Changshan arrived, Wang Baisheng and others quickly began their literacy program.

Because they need to train during the day, literacy is basically taught at night.

With limited manpower, this is only being implemented for a small number of leaders like Wang Baisheng.

In the future, we can gradually let the soldiers below learn as well.

You have to eat one bite at a time; you can't rush it.

Liu Cheng and the others from Qianshan Fort also want to learn, but it's impossible for them all to come.

Later, Xu Changshan said that he could go to Qianshanbao in a while.

In other words, he will convert to Islam at Juqiangbao and Qianshanbao in the future.

Jia Chen was initially opposed to this decision, as Xu Changshan was too tired from all the back-and-forth travel, given his advanced age.

In the end, Xu Changshan insisted, and Jia Chen had no choice but to agree.

Among these students, Wang Baisheng and a few others were the loudest, complaining endlessly.

Of course, not all men are like Wang Baisheng, howling and screaming. People like Zhao Zheng have a very proper attitude.

Huang Xiuer and the other women studied the most diligently and didn't say much.

However, one good thing is that, despite Wang Baisheng's complaints, he basically completed the task of learning characters assigned by Xu Changshan.

For example, recognizing a certain number of characters or being able to write a certain number of characters each day.

To make it easier to practice anytime, Huang Xiuer and the others would use a stick or twig to practice writing on the ground whenever they had free time, or they would make a sand tray and write on it.

If you've filled the page or made a mistake, you can simply erase it and continue writing, saving paper and ink.

Of course, Jia Chen couldn't just let Xu Changshan be a teacher; he had to make use of his spare time.

They are currently investigating the matter of the encroached farmland. When Jia Chen and Xu Changshan brought it up, Xu Changshan immediately said that he could keep an eye on the matter without Jia Chen having to say anything more.

Xu Changshan said that these scoundrels are too hateful. The soldiers' farmland in the border towns has been seized. How can they defend the border for the country?

If Jia Chen hadn't stopped him, Xu Changshan would have already taken stock of all the lands registered under the name of the Prince of Dai's Mansion.

Xu Changshan wasn't afraid, but Jia Chen still had to consider the impact.

It's fine to find a few examples of powerful figures encroaching on property, but it's not good to actually get entangled with the Prince of Dai's mansion.

Finally, after Jia Chen's repeated persuasion, Xu Changshan gave up his idea of ​​targeting the Prince of Dai's mansion.

However, Xu Changshan was not so lenient towards the local powerful families who seized the farmland.

Jia Chen naturally agreed with this.

Xu Changshan wasn't afraid of offending people; he was perfectly willing to play the villain.

Moreover, whenever Xu Changshan makes a move, the powerful figures behind them all tremble with fear and dare not let him get involved.

o

Xu Changshan had lived a miserable life in Datong Prefecture for many years, which made their lives difficult as well. They still felt lingering fear when they thought of him.

We finally got rid of this plague god, why go and provoke him again?

Xu Changshan is currently only causing trouble with some military settlements in Juqiangbao and Zhenqiangbao. If this person is angered, it could really affect the entire Beidong Road and even the entire Datong Town.

The losses would be even greater then, so it's better to cut the Gordian knot, abandon these two places, and save the others.

As a result, the inventory of the hoarded lands progressed rapidly, and many people voluntarily returned the land they had seized.

They were clearly instructed by their powerful backers and dared not oppose Jia Chen's side.

Jia Chen was quite magnanimous; he respected those who took the initiative and forgave them for their past transgressions.

Of course, Jia Chen still made a few exceptions, especially Sun Tieyi, who was to be treated specially.

That noon, Sun Tieyi took a nap at home.

I wanted to sleep, but I just couldn't fall asleep.

He's been very troubled lately. Jia Chen, the garrison commander of Juqiang Fort, is conducting a land reclamation campaign targeting people like him. Naturally, his family has used various means to seize a lot of land.

Regarding this matter, he had approached Sun Shaozu, hoping he could help put some pressure on Jia Chen by speaking to higher-ups.

With such a mess, how can these people possibly survive?

How can you spit out land that you've already swallowed?

Isn't this going to kill him?

Sun Shaozu simply told him to keep a low profile for the time being and not to use any extreme methods to provoke Jia Chen.

Isn't he supposed to be low-key?

My henchmen are still being held by Jia Chen's men, forced to do hard labor digging ditches. Did I say anything?

It's so frustrating.

However, he also knew that Sun Shaozu was also having some worries.

The killing of Wei Ya had a huge impact. Although the matter was temporarily severed from the Sun family, Sun Shaozu must have paid a heavy price.

It's really not a good time to make any big fuss at this point.

But he couldn't delay any longer.

The inventory of the farmland under Jia Chen's control is progressing day by day, which is making him very anxious.

"No, I'll go find Sun Shaozu again tomorrow," Sun Tieyi thought to himself.

Regardless of the circumstances, Sun Shaozu is the current patriarch and head of the Sun family.

Someone always has to stand up for them in these situations.

"What are you doing? This is so noisy and disorderly!" Sun Tieyi suddenly frowned and shouted outside.

He heard a commotion outside, which only made him more upset.

But after he finished yelling, he didn't quiet down; instead, the noise got even louder.

He sat up angrily and walked towards the door, ready to go out and see which fool was causing trouble here, having forgotten all the rules of the house.

With a loud bang, the door was pushed open.

Sun Tieyi was knocked to the ground by the pushed-open door, clutching his face and groaning in pain.

"Who are you people?" Sun Tieyi covered his face where he had been hit, but he still saw who came in.

They're not from the Sun family at all; this is a band of robbers!

"Ah~ it's you? Sun Tiechong!" Soon, he saw another person come in, and he recognized him.

"I didn't expect you to still recognize me." Sun Tiechong stood in front of Sun Tieyi and sneered.

Upon seeing that it was Sun Tiechong, Sun Tieyi was no longer so afraid.

He got up from the ground, ignoring his bruised and swollen face, and said, "Sun Tiechong, I know you've latched onto Jia Chen's coattails now, but you dared to lead troops into a private residence. I can sue you, and I'll make sure you regret it. Even Jia Chen can't protect you."

"Haha~~" Sun Tiechong laughed loudly, his laughter filled with resentment and pleasure, contradictory yet normal.

His wife and children died at the hands of Sun Tieyi back then, and now he can finally see Sun Tieyi get his comeuppance.

In the past, he never dared to dream of such a day.

Now, he has finally gotten what he's been waiting for.

"Sun Tieyi, you have been smuggling prohibited items to the border regions and colluding with the northern barbarians to harm your compatriots. You deserve to die!" Sun Tiechong shouted.

"You...you're spouting nonsense and making false accusations!" Sun Tieyi said, trembling with anger.

Smuggling certainly occurred, and it was also possible that some intelligence was passed on to the northern barbarians.

Many people do these things, so he doesn't see anything wrong with it.

Sun Tiechong strode forward and slapped Sun Tieyi several times.

"Take him away!" If he didn't need to take the man back for trial, he would have loved to tear Sun Tieyi to pieces.

Sun Tieyi's family was raided, and all his relatives were taken away.

On the same day, this kind of thing happened not only in Sun Tieyi's family, but also in three other places.

These were the few companies that Jia Chen ultimately chose to be purged, as a warning to others.

In the end, Sun Tieyi and other main culprits were sentenced to death by hanging for treason, and their families were either exiled or sent to the army, and their property was confiscated.

The so-called confiscation of family property leaves a lot of room for manipulation.

In Jia Chen's view, probably less than one in ten actually entered the imperial treasury.

The amount of property seized this time was enormous. The Sun Tieyi family alone had more than 30,000 taels of silver in cash, plus some gold, jewelry, antiques and paintings, which probably amounted to no less than 50,000 taels.

Of course, there are also real estate deeds, shops, etc., which would probably cost no less than 50,000 taels.

This is just one branch of the Sun family, yet it already possesses a staggering 100,000 taels of silver.

The wealth of Sun Shaozu's family must be in the millions of taels.

The other families whose homes were raided were similar to Sun Tieyi's.

Jia Chen received five thousand taels, Hu Youcai took the lion's share, and many others also received a share.

As for who they were and how much they received, Jia Chen didn't bother to find out, nor could he.

For him, receiving five thousand taels was enough; he was quite satisfied.

Because besides the silver, most of the farmland in Juqiangbao was taken back.

In Jia Chen's view, these items were worth far more than 5000 taels of silver.

With these fields, we can guarantee the army's food supply, which is crucial.

Jia Chen didn't dare to ask for too much; the current result had already exceeded his expectations.

Of course, this is largely due to Xu Changshan; otherwise, the effect would be diminished.

Soon, more than half a month passed, and it was the end of February.

Jia Chen was very satisfied with the development of the Fortress, and most things were progressing healthily in the direction he had envisioned.

But there was something that was giving him a headache.

That is, the skilled artisans who the emperor promised to provide for him, who were proficient in making muskets, had not yet arrived.

He couldn't ask too many questions, so he could only wait.

This uncertainty made him lose his appetite and sleep.

"Sir, Manager Lin has arrived," Wei Dao reported as he entered.

"Manager Lin?" Jia Chen was preoccupied with the matter of the craftsmen and didn't react for a moment.

"It's Manager Lin from the Suzhou Linji Grain Store in Deshengbao," Wei Dao reminded him.

"Oh, please come in, please come in!" Jia Chen said with a delighted expression.

"Sir, Manager Lin is still outside the city gate," Wei Dao said with a smile. "They seem interested in everyone's long run around the city and have stopped to watch."

"Then I'll go over there," Jia Chen said with a smile.

When they arrived at the city gate, Jia Chen saw several carriages parked there from afar.

He had already seen Lin Heqing standing beside the carriage, and next to him was a young man wearing a silver sable coat.

"Manager Lin, you didn't even let me know you were coming so I could have welcomed you!" Jia Chen shouted.

Manager Lin then noticed Jia Chen, quickened his pace, and said with a smile, "You flatter me. It's only been a few months, and you've been promoted to garrison commander. Congratulations!"

As the two were talking, the young man next to Manager Lin looked Jia Chen up and down with a pair of bright black eyes, his eyes full of curiosity.

"And who is this?" Jia Chen asked, looking at the young man.

The fur coat was as white as snow, with fine and soft fur, wrapping the young man up completely.

The young man was clearly afraid of the cold; he was wearing a sable fur hood, revealing only his handsome face.

Such attire suggests immense wealth and status.

Jia Chen could vaguely guess that it was most likely Lin Heqing's family.

"This is my son, named Zhixue," Lin Heqing said with a smile.

"The 'learning' in 'learning'!" the young man added.

>