Lucheng County is the largest county in Cangzhou. Basically half of the tidal flats in Cangzhou belong to its county, and the coastline alone is hundreds of miles long.
There are three large salt fields in Lucheng County. The two salt fields in the north are directly under the jurisdiction of the Salt and Iron Department and are currently key salt production areas in Jin. The southern salt field is a local salt field and has many historical issues, leading to current conflicts.
The situation intensified, and several county magistrates sadly left.
It has been a month since Han Yu took office. During this time, he has been very low-key. When he first took office, he conveyed the solution of the Salt and Iron Department. All the salt fields belonging to the local government were assigned to the Salt and Iron Department, while the personal salt fields, the Salt and Iron Department
It will be purchased at twice the market price.
After announcing this policy, he ignored it. During this period, he has been inspecting various places in Lucheng.
This morning, he arrived at the mouth of the Zhangshui River, which is also the mouth of the Juma River, which is today's Tanggu, Tianjin. During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, a large port and wharf was built here.
After the Anshi Rebellion, the feudal towns were separated, and the wharf at the mouth of the Zhangshui River gradually evolved into the salt wharf. In name, it is still under the jurisdiction of Lucheng County, but in fact, it has been controlled by the Hebei Salt and Iron Transfer Administration, and the wharf produced in Pingzhou and Cangzhou
Sea salt is transported here in a concentrated manner, boarded here, and then transferred along the Zhang River to the south of the Yongji Canal.
A large market town has formed in Zhangshui Port, mainly home to salt workers and their families. There are nearly ten thousand people living here, and it has almost become a small county town.
This surprised Han Yu. He went north from Lucheng County and saw deserted places everywhere, but it was very lively and prosperous.
"Mr. Han County, are there no expatriate officials from the county here?" Yang Jun couldn't help but ask.
Han Yu smiled and said: "I asked the county magistrate. There is a security chief stationed at the port, but he probably doesn't have much status. This place should be controlled by the Salt and Iron Division."
Yang Jun suggested: "Why don't you go to the dock and have a look! There should be an official office there."
Han Yu nodded and rode towards the dock with Yang Jun and more than 20 soldiers.
Not long after, they arrived at the dock. The dock was paved with bluestone and was several miles long. At the same time, more than a dozen large ships of 5,000 stone were docked. There was also a sheltered bay not far away, which could accommodate at least hundreds of large ships.
.
But at this time, the dock was full of salt boats. Not far from the dock, there were dozens of large warehouses with mountains of sea salt inside. Hundreds of salt workers drove donkey carts to transport bags of salt onto the salt boats.
Han Yu inquired all the way and finally found the government office behind the dock warehouse. There were several large courtyards filled with officials and soldiers from the Salt and Iron Division. There was a sign hanging on the door of one of the small courtyards: Hekou Town, Lucheng County.
This is it. As soon as Han Yu walked to the entrance of the courtyard, a middle-aged man, dark and fat, walked out of the courtyard. He looked Han Yu up and down and asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Han Yugong cupped his hands and said, "I am the new county magistrate of Lucheng. I am looking for Song Yasi."
The middle-aged man's eyes lit up and he asked quickly: "I am the commander, Song Shan, and you are the magistrate of Han County?"
Han Yu smiled and nodded, and the middle-aged man quickly bowed and saluted, "I didn't know that the county king was coming, so I missed you from a distance. Please forgive me, the county king!"
"You're welcome, is this a government office?" Han Yu asked with a smile, pointing to the courtyard.
"Hey! Where is the official office? It is the town station. Please come in, Lord of the county!"
Song Shan politely invited Han Yu into the courtyard. The courtyard was not too small, with four or five rooms, half of which were dormitories, and the other half was the office.
Han Yu walked into the room and sat down. He looked around the room. It was not big, with mottled walls on all sides, and most of the wall coverings were missing. It was tidied up, with only a few old tables and stools placed.
Song Shan poured him a bowl of hot water and said with a wry smile: "The quality of the water here is not good, it's very bitter. Please forgive me, the county magistrate."
The water quality in Lucheng County was also very bad. Han Yu was used to it. He took a sip of water to moisten his throat and asked, "What is the main business here?"
Song Shan sighed and said: "In the past, the entire wharf here was under our control, but now it is under the control of the Salt and Iron Company. Many of the salt workers and their families here are from Lucheng County. If there is a conflict between them, they will come to me to mediate.
In addition, if there is a need for salt workers here, officials from the Salt and Iron Department will come to me, and I will apply to the county, which will be responsible for recruiting workers."
Han Yu understood that this place was actually a labor dispatch station responsible for managing labor.
Han Yu asked again: "Can this harbor still operate? I mean, it can berth sea ships and the like."
"Of course. There is a lot of bulk cargo exchange between Zhu Tao and Zhu Si in the Central Plains. Large ships are parked here to unload their cargo, and then transported to Youzhou by tanker. I remember that just at this time last year, there were ten ships with five thousand stone.
Come here to park and unload cargo.”
At this time, two men walked in, and the leader said: "I said, Lao Song, we have also drank. When will you go to the county to ask?"
"You came just in time!"
Song Shan quickly stood up and introduced: "This is our County Magistrate Han. He came to Hekou Town specially to inspect. You want to buy land and negotiate with him."
The two men hurriedly held their hands and said: "Long time admiration! Long time admiration!"
Han Yu was confused and asked in a low voice: "Who are they?"
Song Shan introduced him: "One of these two is Manager Li of Dugu Mansion in the capital, and the other is Manager Jin of the Dou family. The Dugu family and the Dou family are planning to buy land in Hekou Town to build ships."
It turns out that the shipbuilding yard is going to be set up in Hekou Town. This is a good thing!
But Han Yu was still a little confused, so he smiled and said: "It's been less than a month since I took office, and the relationship here is still a little unclear. Shouldn't I go to the Salt and Iron Company to buy land?"
Song Shan hurriedly said: "Let me explain it first! I would like to inform the County Lord that although the Salt and Iron Company is using the wharf and warehouse, the wharf and warehouse do not belong to them. They belong to the Cangzhou Prefectural Government. The Salt and Iron Company only rents them temporarily. Theirs
The land belongs to several major salt fields in the south and has nothing to do with the dock and warehouse. In addition, the land outside the dock and warehouse belongs to our Lucheng County. The land they want to buy is not within the scope of the dock and warehouse and belongs to the jurisdiction of our Lucheng County, which is Hekou Town."
Only then did Han Yu understand. He smiled and asked the two stewards to sit down, and asked with a smile: "Has the land you want to buy determined?"
Manager Li nodded, "Not long ago, the two major families sent people here. The specific location has been decided, and then we want to apply to the county and quote a price to purchase the land."
Han Yu stood up and said, "Let's go to the scene and have a look!"
A group of people left the dock and rode to the south bank of Zhangshui River. The two stewards were both people who had seen the big world. They found that Yang Jun and more than 20 soldiers were all brave, powerful and majestic. Even the guards of their family were far away.
Rather, the two of them were very surprised, how could a small county magistrate have such powerful subordinates? They couldn't help but look at Han Yu with admiration, and their tone became much more polite.
The land that the two families are interested in is about two miles away from the dock. It is flat and covered with many acid and alkali resistant weeds. To the north is the surging Zhangshui River. The river is several miles wide and the water is very deep, which is very suitable for shipbuilding.
The land they want to buy is about 500 acres, bordering Zhangshui in the north and Hekou Town in the south. It is said to be Hekou Town, but it is actually just a dozen rickety houses, basically shops, including taverns, inns, and grocery stores.
There is also a brothel, and to the south is the area where salt workers and their families live.
Manager Li pointed with his horse whip and said: "These five hundred acres of land are now wasteland and are worthless. After we get the land, we have to build roads and build houses, which is very expensive. According to our proprietor's wishes, either every day
We can buy it with the money of one mu, or rent it to us for twenty years with five hundred guan. Of course we have to discuss it with the county magistrate."
Although Han Yu was young, he was cautious and sensible. He smiled slightly and said: "I would like to sign and lease it to you now, but the two stewards should also understand that I cannot bypass the state government on this matter, even though it is the county.
The land deed is issued, but if you bypass the state government, you will be in trouble in the future."
Manager Li nodded, "I understand. When will there be a clear answer?"
"Two stewards, please follow me to the county first! I will report it to the state government when I get back. I guess it is just a formality. I will get a reply in about ten days and a half."
The two stewards looked at each other. The rules of officialdom were here, and they had no choice but to nod and say: "Okay! Let's go to the county with the county king."