In the past, when Qin Shihuang unified the world and implemented the system of prefectures and counties, there were only five counties in Jingnan, and Leiyang was one of them. At that time, Leiyang County was so large that it was equivalent to one county today.
Today, even though the land area of Leiyang County has shrunk significantly, it is still a large county. Not only does it have a vast territory, but it also has a large population. As early as the fifth year of Yonghe (AD 140), the number of households in Leiyang exceeded 10,000.
There are few large counties in Guiyang County with a household registration of more than 10,000 people. However, Leiyang is more famous for the fact that it has iron and paper industries, which can be said to be huge profits, and dominates Jingnan with its wealth.
Zhang Xian, the overlord of Jingnan, wanted to take possession of such a big piece of meat for a long time, but the Leiyang Order was replaced by the emperor's edict in the fourth year of Chuping (AD 193).
Zhang Xian's dominance over Jingnan can ignore the orders of Jingzhou Shepherd Liu Biao, but this does not mean that he can ignore the emperor's edict. If he dares to act willfully and disrespect the emperor, he has worked hard in Jingnan for more than ten years and accumulated painstaking efforts.
His prestige will disappear in an instant.
In addition, Leiyang Ling was a fairly sensible person, so Zhang Xian held his nose and endured it.
However, today is different from the past. Leiyang Ling is from Jiangxia under the rule of Liu Biao. Who knows whether he will respond to Liu Biao and stab him in the back during this critical period. Zhang Xian does not dare to bet.
Therefore, when Huan Jie proposed to replace him with his younger brother Huan Yi, Zhang Xian agreed without even thinking about it. Among the big families in Changsha, who would be the least likely to betray him was the Huan family, not the Huan family who treated him so much.
Loyalty, but the Huan family is an old official of Sun Jian, and is destined not to seek refuge with Liu Biao.
At this time, Ma Zhou and Chu Fang were ordered by Liu Jing to raid Leiyang and succeeded. The overall situation in Leiyang was decided. Liu Jing personally led the warships down the Lei River and arrived at Leiyang County in two days.
Leiyang County is located on the west bank of Lei River. Leiyang was once the county seat of Guiyang County in the former Han Dynasty, Wang Mang and this dynasty. Therefore, in addition to the county seat, there is also an old city of the former county.
Because Leiyang produces iron, paper, and has developed commerce, there are more than a dozen ferries on the Lei River and the Fei River. Among them, the Lei River port in the eastern suburbs of the county is the busiest. But that was in the past. Nowadays, the situation in Jingnan is tense, and Leiyang
It had just experienced another turmoil, and all the merchants had already fled.
Huan Yi and Liu Jing stood side by side on the deck, looking at the deserted port, feeling a little heavy. His first task in taking office was to find ways to restore Leiyang's former prosperity. But in today's severe situation
, this matter can be said to be a long and arduous task.
Those who greeted them on the shore were not only Ma Zhou, Chu Fang, Liu Liang and other men wearing armor, but also county officials with high crowns and ceremonial robes.
He didn't know whether they came to greet them out of sincerity or because they were forced by Ma Zhou and others. Liu Jing guessed that it was probably the latter. Because there was no serious evil in Leiyang's appointment, Zhang Xian and Huan Yi were raising troops for no reason, so they must not
human heart.
However, Liu Jing was not worried about Huan Yi. After all, he was as talented as his brother Huan Jie, but he had never had the opportunity to display his talents before. It was absolutely impossible for a mere county to live with him.
After the ship stopped, the two of them went ashore one after another. Huan Yi accepted the visit of the Leiyang County officials. Liu Jingze met with Ma Zhou, Chu Fang, Liu Liang and other close associates. Ma Zhou introduced him to a person beside him and said: "Liu Jun,
This is the Leiyang Iron Official Order."
"I am the Leiyang Iron Officer, Huang Qiao, and I have met Liu Jun." Huang Qiao bowed, facing Liu Jing, and kept his posture very low. He is about forty years old, and may have been in and out of the workshop all year round.
, complexion black with reddish color.
The rank of an iron officer is six hundred stones. The highest supervisor is the Grand Secretary of the Nine Kingdoms. He also takes orders from the local prefect and is at the same level as the county magistrate.
To put it bluntly, Liu Jing is still just a county magistrate from another county, and his official position is not as good as that of Huangqiao. Logically speaking, he does not need to be so humble. However, although Liu Jing's official position is not high, he
He has always had a high reputation and strong soldiers. Even though he borrowed Huangqiao's courage, he did not dare to show off in front of Liu Jing.
Liu Jing saw that he acted very respectfully, smiled and nodded and said, "You don't have to be polite with your step."
Huang Qiao smiled and said, "What a coincidence. Like Liu Jun, I am also from Linxiang."
Liu Jing's expression changed when he heard that Huang's surname was from a wealthy Linxiang family, and Huang Qiu, the former market supervisor, was a descendant of the Huang family. He immediately asked, "Do you know Huang Jun, the former market supervisor?"
Huang Qiao nodded as expected: "He is my clan brother."
Liu Jing said with a smile: "In this way, we are not outsiders. When I first entered the market, I received many favors from Huang Jun. Last year, I was appointed as the head of Ling County, and when I left Linxiang, Huang Jun came here
See you off at the ferry."
Huang Qiao sighed: "My brother of the tribe is addicted to alcohol and does not practice self-discipline. The tribesmen also criticized him a lot. In the end, he ended up doing bad things because of his greed for alcohol. If Lord Zhang hadn't treated him leniently, it wouldn't have been as simple as dismissal and sending him home.
My clan brother has been doing nothing in his life, but fortunately he has some self-awareness and knows how to appoint Liu Jun as a political official. It is said that when he drinks with others, he will talk about Liu Jun."
"After Huang Jun returned home, he drank, had fun, and lived a comfortable life. Such a life is not unenviable." At this point, Liu Jing changed the topic and asked: "Three years ago, Liu Jingzhou sent some Liangzhou people to Lei
Yang Tieguan is a slave and he doesn’t know how to act. Is he aware of this?"
Huang Qiao couldn't help but look surprised, wondering why Liu Jing suddenly asked about those unruly Liangzhou people. There should be no connection between the two. He replied: "I am Leiyang Iron Officer."
, naturally clear.
In the winter three years ago, a total of 283 people from Liangzhou were escorted to Leiyang Tieguan. However, although these people were physically strong, they were not accustomed to the soil and water of the south of the Yangtze River. In addition, they mined and smelted iron day and night, which made it very difficult.
, and it was difficult to eat enough, and over the past three years, nearly a hundred people have died one after another."
"Where are they now?" Liu Jing couldn't help but frown when he heard this. In less than three years, one-third of these Liangzhou people have died. If they wait a few more years, they may all be dead.
Seeing that Liu Jing seemed displeased, Huang Qiao was shocked. Could it be that he really had something to do with these Liangzhou people? He quickly replied:
"The people of Liangzhou are unruly and unruly, and there are many people. I am afraid that they will get into trouble if they get together, so I specially divide them into two. Most of them are sent to the mines for mining, and a small number of them stay in the smelting workshop.
Ironmaking."
Liu Jing knew it well and asked again: "I wonder how far the mine is from here?"
When Huang Qiao heard Liu Jing's words, he didn't know what he meant, and said: "It's not far, just more than ten miles to the west."
Liu Jing nodded and said: "I want to meet these two-week people. If you have nothing to do today, you might as well take me to the mine later."
"Nothing, nothing..." Huang Qiao agreed without hesitation.
Liu Dingding nodded, changed the topic again, and chatted with Huang Qiao.