If Cangshan Mountain is already there, how can Pingcang County be too far away? However, this time they did not continue walking north, but turned around and headed southeast.

The vast mountain forest is difficult to walk through, but at the foot of the mountain is an open land with growing greenery. However, no one has cleared the land to take care of it, so it is regarded as a wasteland.

Traveling in this kind of area is extremely fast even if you miss the official road.

The sky was clear and clear after the rain, and the unique smell of earth in the north followed for more than fifty miles. When the green grass faded, the group finally entered the boundary of Pingcang County before dusk.

On the way, Zhou Bai met another group of search and rescue personnel. They were county patrols who had arrived belatedly, and they were still guided by the anxious Lao Huang.

At this time, the Jin people who should leave have already evacuated from the border of Daxu Kingdom, and the county and city soldiers are just finishing the work and writing a detailed investigation report to explain to the superiors.

After joining Lao Huang, Zhou Bai was escorted by Pingcang County soldiers and went straight into the county seat. The county magistrate Ji Hongzhe wanted to see him.

Unable to refuse, even though it was Chen Zhongbang's request for help, no matter what Ji Hongzhe's reasons were for sending troops, Zhou Bai had to accept this sentiment.

After several inspections and detours through several corridors, Zhou Bai met Ji Hongzhe in the back hall of the county government office, which is the residence of every county magistrate.

When the elder was in person, Zhou Bai was naturally the first to say hello.

"Xiaosheng Zhou Bai has met the county magistrate."

"It's good that my nephew is safe and sound. I've been thinking about it all day, for fear that we in Pingcang will lose a great talent." Ji Hongzhe smiled broadly, obviously very happy about Zhou Bai's arrival.

Zhou Bai sighed a little, and at the same time continued: "The bad luck caused unforeseen disasters, but my nephew will definitely remember your kindness in helping me."

Ji Hongzhe paused while picking up the teacup. He called his nephew because he wanted to win over him. Zhou Bai said he was grateful and also changed his name, so he was willing to get closer to him.

"You are the chief criminal in Bei'an County. How can you say that you are in bad luck? I have looked through the county annals and there is no one as old as you."

"Is my nephew preparing to take the provincial examination this year, or will he be grinding for another two years?" After Ji Hongzhe comforted him, he asked about business again.

"When I return to the county, I will work hard and bravely. I don't want to miss this autumn." Zhou Bai replied with his hands in hand.

However, he knew that Ji Hongzhe wanted to hear more than this, so he continued: "Since I am a scholar and am the head of the county case, it must be useful to speak in the family. Don't worry, Hongni Township will definitely support the county government's decree, but there are

If you send me a message, my Zhou family will definitely respond."

Ji Hongzhe nodded slightly, smiled and said: "There will be a new policy in the county, which needs the support of all the major families. With the support of the Zhou family, who is the number one clan in the township, things will be much easier to handle outside."

"But will this delay your study behind closed doors? A good nephew cannot delay his studies."

Zhou Bai shook his head and said: "There is no limit to the road, and there is no limit to the study. However, it should not be a problem to recruit people. I just wonder if you can reveal that there are some new policies that require cooperation, so that I can prepare the clan."

Ji Hongzhe frowned and felt a little unhappy. No matter how genius you are, you can't say so full of words now, right?

You must know that there is also a folk saying that "golden people are promoted, silver Jinshi", not only is it better to reflect the leap of social class, but also because it is much more difficult to be promoted to a scholar than to be a scholar.

The imperial examinations before the examination were only for scholars, and the content did not exceed common sense and did not deviate from the commonplace.

However, since the beginning of the rural examination examination, the interpretation of Taoist scriptures has been added. Having the title of "juren" means that you are qualified to enter the Taoism, and you can seek immortality from now on.

Except for the children of aristocratic families who are usually exposed to it and have some foundation in Taoism, generally the direct descendants of county magnates will not be involved in the subject of interpretation of the Taoist scriptures before they are admitted as scholars.

Arrogant and arrogant, or maybe it really made him meet such a genius.

With a skeptical mind, Ji Hongzhe tested Zhou Bai's academic skills again, but the results surprised him. Zhou Bai could answer the questions with ease, including the meaning of classics, policy theory, and even the interpretation of Taoist scriptures.

He couldn't guarantee that Dingzhou would be able to win the title of Yuan or Asia Yuan, but as long as he was lucky enough, Zhou Bai would definitely be a preselection candidate.

Then Ji Hongzhe changed his slightly contemptuous attitude, put down his reserve and began to discuss the new policy with Zhou Bai, which was said in the middle of the night.

That night, the news that Zhou Bai stayed at the county government office also spread throughout the county.

Many big families privately criticized Ji Hongzhe for not practicing martial ethics. For example, the county magnate Chen family, under Chen Yun's persuasion, was preparing to spend a lot of money to win over Ji Hongzhe, but now the county magnates didn't even give them a chance to meet.

Early the next morning, after having breakfast cooked by the county's wife at the county government office, Ji Hongzhe personally escorted Zhou Bai out of the main entrance of the county government office. It can be said that the heads of other families may not pay such attention to it. Now this has been said.

My own people are more friendly.

"Master, several people came to me yesterday and asked you to go to the banquet. Would you like to stay a few more days?" Lao Huang put his head in the newly purchased carriage and asked.

"If I don't go, my family will be in a hurry. They can understand."

Zhou Bai glanced at Ji Hongzhe, who was watching them leave from behind, and said lightly: "Although the county magistrate is an official, he is also a Jinshi, and he will not tolerate being bullied by a young boy like me."

Last night, Zhou Bai seemed to be unable to resist Ji Hongzhe's enthusiasm, so he stayed overnight. In fact, this had already made his position clear, and the Zhou family would support him openly from now on.

It was too fast and did not conform to the logic and interests of the survival of local powerful people. Therefore, many families found it difficult to understand and even thought Zhou Bai was too impetuous.

But how do they know that in the next few years, there will be great catastrophes and reshuffles, and there will be no hidden rules and interests. They are busy competing with the county magistrate, so they might as well think about how to protect themselves.

On the way back again, Zhou Bai reflected on the content of the long conversation one night in the car. It was almost the same as the decree that Hongzhe was planning to issue in the previous century.

Recruiting refugees and issuing wasteland reclamation orders; county soldiers participated in the defense of Kukou Pass, and incidentally contributed funds to repair the pass city wall; recruited powerful servants to clean up the bandits in Cangshan...

They are all extremely sensitive government orders. Just look at the first and simplest one, which is land reclamation for refugees, and it involves the interests of all parties.

This unowned land in Pingcang County has been favored by major families for a long time. Although they have not made drastic measures to open up wasteland for farming, they are also subtly devouring and annexing it.

Whether it is a county tycoon family or a rural family like the Zhou family, it is not that they do not want more land, but the family does not have enough status, and exceeding the number of acres violates the court decree, so the land is left uncultivated and empty.

If there is a breakthrough in family status in the future, and which clan member has a future, the surrounding wasteland will be room for development, so there is no need to worry at all.

In the previous century, Hongzhe failed to appease all parties, which resulted in the New Deal ending in a tailspin, and he finally left Pingcang County in despair.

But now with his help, it may be a little different. At least opening up wasteland is what Zhou Bai has always wanted to do. He wants more land to grow food.

In the blink of an eye, the archway of Hongni Township was clearly visible in front. This time, the patriarch Zhou Mingxuan personally led the team to greet them.

Red ribbons, welcoming villagers watching the show, and lively gongs and drums.

"Master, what a big battle, all the top officials are here!"
Chapter completed!