vstars Chapter 124 Going North
Chapter 124 Going North
Xu Siyu and Lin Yiqing made a lot of preparations before setting off north.
We took the Dongling River waterway and went upstream for eight days to reach Yuanzhou.
At Yuanzhou Wharf, a long cloth curtain fenced off a quiet path, and the prefect of Yuanzhou came with a group of state officials to receive the ship.
Xu Siyu was not given the opportunity to get off the boat directly. A carriage with red wheels and a canopy came on deck and took her directly to Yuanzhou Official Posthouse to rest.
When the carriage arrived at the inner courtyard gate of the post station, Xu Siyu was asked to get off the car and saw the Yuanzhou prefect who received her so grandly.
Wow, He Zhongteng is still the prefect of Yuanzhou.
Although he was not demoted to the right by taking advantage of Yuanzhou as he said, compared with Fu Hexiang's death in the middle of the journey, he was still the prefect, which was a mercy from fate.
It's no wonder that Xu Siyu didn't know about He Zhongteng's current situation. Ever since the Heike brothers restored the trade routes, the Xu family caravans have been operating independently or cooperating with the Ming Palace, and there is no trace of their predecessors anymore.
Xu Siyu didn't dare to ask, after all, it was easy to link it with defection and rebellion.
"Everyone should mind their own business", no news is the best news.
It’s just that it’s exciting to see someone I know, even if we don’t have a good relationship.
Xu Siyu was the first to greet He Zhongteng: "He Zhizhou, long time no see!"
At the moment, He Zhizhou lowered his posture very low, "Tong Zhilang and Ruren are doing well!"
Yes, although Xu Siyu and Lin Yiqing did not want to be officials, because they made great contributions to the Ming Dynasty, the King of Ming still conferred them honorary positions and imperial edicts.
This was a reward from the Ming Palace to them, and also a signal from the Ming Palace that it wanted them to do more for the Ming Dynasty.
Unable to refuse, the couple had no choice but to accept it.
Although He Zhongteng was the prefect, his rank was higher than theirs and it was an actual position, but he had always been good at business. Lin Er and his wife were the new nobles of the Ming Dynasty, and they were escorted by the royal guards when they traveled. As a small and submissive official like him, he naturally could not look down on anyone.
Therefore, even if he knew who the visitor was, he could still humble himself and flatter him.
I introduced the situation of Yuanzhou to Xu Siyu and welcomed the Xu family caravan to bring more vitality to Yuanzhou.
In Yuanzhou, half of the city is civilians and half is soldiers.
The Xu family caravan has a small base here. Lin Yiqing feels that this investment is sufficient, and Xu Siyu feels the same way.
The caravans are just passing by, and this place is just a transit point, not the end point.
Xu Siyu saw that the prosperity here was superficial, and often couldn't help but ask He Zhongteng if he regretted moving from Changjia County to Yuanzhou.
Fortunately, Lin Yiqing always remembered to hold her back and prevent her from getting too proud of herself.
The next day, the couple crossed Guangjian Pass and headed for Zhong'an Prefecture.
Half of this official road was built with Xu Siyu's money, so her trip was not in vain.
The road was full of ups and downs, one mountain after another. The convoy was circling around the mountains. According to the team leader, it would take three days to travel this distance.
Xu Siyu, who was tired from walking around the mountain, could only pass the time by counting the fortresses on the hilltop.
Before Xu Siyu could complain about the difficult road, the mountain roared, rumbling..., and rocks were rolling down.
Xu Siyu hid in her compartment, and Lin Yiqing crawled on her.
The muffled groaning sound of the earth continued for half a cup of tea, then the shaking stopped and tranquility returned.
It was only when Xu Siyu and his group left the mountains and approached Zhong'an Prefecture City that they learned that the earthquake had occurred in the Xiping Mountain area, on the northwest border with Xia State...
Some old buildings collapsed in Zhong'an Prefecture, but it was not at the epicenter, so the casualties were controllable.
Pingxia was stationed here, and relief sheds were quickly erected, and everything was in order.
Thinking that they would have to pass by here on the way back, the group did not stop and continued walking north through the canyon for seven days, finally arriving at the real border city - Ninghai Prefecture.
Xu Siyu saw what it meant to be "the sky is like a dome, covering the whole area."
Under the cloudless blue sky, on the lush grassland, there is abundant water and grass, and herds of cattle and sheep are revealed as the grass sways in the wind.
Xu Siyu felt that any piece of land here would be suitable for a ranch, and finally decided to choose the ranch based on the people.
Pingxia gave her a pasture and slaves to manage it.
Yes, in the land of the original Mo tribe, people were divided into nobles and slaves.
After the Ming Dynasty took over this land, they classified these captives as untouchables. Although they were no longer slaves, they still had to live in their masters' homes.
Xu Siyu chose the family with the most girls and divided her pasture into four parts according to the areas they would take care of.
She cannot change the values of the times, but she is silently carrying out her "resistance" within the scope of her power.
"Yun Ye, Yun Ruo, Yun Luo, Yun Zhen... and the other girls on the ranch, the girls on our Siye Ranch don't marry outside the family. We only seek husbands-in-law. Do you understand?"
Because Xu Siyu was the first "new noble" to arrive in Ninghai Prefecture, the slaves who had been waiting for her selection immediately inquired about the reasons for their failure after she did not choose them.
They feel insecure because they are not chosen by their masters.
In particular, the defenders of Ninghai said that for the time being, only the Xu family would come to Ninghai.
Those who were not selected still had to follow the army. In addition to herding, they also had to be ready to go to the battlefield at any time.
Although slaves' lives are cheap, they still cherish their lives.
When they heard that the Da Xi family, chosen by the owner of Siye Ranch, was looking for a son-in-law, the sons of five or six families were ready to marry into the family overnight.
"Madam, my Batu, Bater, and my nephews Muren and Altan all have the same body shape." The old man from the He Ruo family hunched his head, but pointed his thumb upwards to show Xu Siyu.
"Marriage, engagement... leave their work to them."
According to the customs of the Mo people, children can get married at the age of twelve.
I didn't hear Xu Siyu agree, and the Qifu family over there started to introduce their son...
After a bunch of similar yet complicated names were introduced, fifty or sixty people prostrated themselves at Xu Siyu's feet waiting for her answer.
Being knelt down to worship, Xu Siyu did not feel comfortable, but only felt a sense of being forced.
Who could have imagined that she would see so many men vying to marry into her family's family.
She came here to round up the ranch and discuss breeding plans, so how did she become a matchmaker?
Regarding the matter of finding a son-in-law, Xu Siyu let the Yun Ye sisters decide for themselves, which scared the girls.
They have never made a decision and don't know how to choose.
Xu Siyu asked Rui'er to teach them these things. She couldn't let her, as the master, think about everything, right?
Lin Yiqing selected two managers from among the retired veterans and asked them to take care of the ranch. Basically, the ranch affairs were settled.
Because of Guang'an Hou's instructions, Xu Siyu specially visited Ninghai garrison commander Pan Guangyi.
In her opinion, the hardships here are not on the same level as those in Panlong Mountain. Panlong Mountain is a lack of freedom, while here it is a torture of the environment.
Xu Siyu simply provided General Pan with all the methods she could think of, such as the earthen kang, coal stove, and fire wall. She also sent him a truckload of down quilts and promised him that she would send him new quilts every year.