Chapter 608 Young Master, you are here on orders from heaven!
Shuan Zhu understood the young master, so he reminded Fan Wei to clean up the streets immediately after taking office as the prefect.
Manure tax is not an exorbitant tax, but a tax that must be collected.
Because in a provincial capital city like Baoding, at least 10,000 cattle, horses, camels and other livestock enter and leave every day. If no control is taken, the result will be one, that is, there will be a stench everywhere inside and outside Baoding.
The capital has already proven this.
There is no other reason why the emperor had to sprinkle water and sweep when he went out. It was just because the roads were full of feces.
Many outsiders who came to the capital for the first time were surprised to see the filth everywhere under the emperor's feet. "The roads in the north are filled with filth, especially in the capital. They stay naked in the daytime and do not avoid officials. Their decency is disrespectful, and the villains get used to each other."
It secretly dissipates the feeling of respect and fear."
The area around the Deshengmen campus where Jia Liu took the imperial exam was the largest cattle, sheep and horse market in the capital, and the excrement was piled up like hills.
This phenomenon occurs mainly because the urban sewers left over from the Ming Dynasty have been shut down for a long time, and the sanitation facilities in the city are also seriously insufficient. There is a lack of toilets. No matter whether it is in the city or outside the city, most people do not have toilets. Women use clean buckets and pour water directly in the early morning.
In a nearby ditch and canal.
Over the past hundred years, the ditches have become impassable, so ditches need to be dug regularly.
In addition to human excrement, there is also livestock excrement on the street, "left behind by people and camels, donkeys, mules, cattle, horses, and dogs." The stench rises with the wind, and the sour wind sweeps over the face.
The capital used much more livestock than Baoding. As a result, mule and horse dung was spread all over the capital at all times in the streets and alleys, in front and behind the ministries and yamen. When it rained or snowed, it turned into a stinky paste, making it look like a large dung factory.
The records of what Westerners saw and heard in the capital of the Qing Dynasty can be summed up in one sentence - "This is where the barbarians are."
After the Tatars occupied China, civilization magically disappeared in this land in the east.
Of course, another reason why the stench in the capital is so serious is because the population is so dense that the rural areas around the capital cannot digest the feces produced by millions of people.
Baoding was much smaller than the capital, but Jia Liu's first impression was that it smelled bad, with feces everywhere.
When I think about working in this city for a few years, I definitely have to take action.
After all, he couldn't control the capital at that time, so he could still do something about his one-third of an acre of land.
But he couldn't directly explain why the governor's station was so dirty, so he used ventriloquism.
Those who can understand will definitely make progress, and those who can't understand will forget it.
Seeing Fan Wei following him, he couldn't help but ask him: "Has Director Yang given you some advice?"
"Well, after I took office, I collected a excrement tax and organized manpower to be divided into areas to clean the streets and city gates to ensure that you no longer have to smell the stench."
Fan Wei had a very serious attitude towards his work, and at the same time he reflected on why he did not hear the unintended meaning of Mr. Gui's words.
Since ancient times, only those who figure out what is best can make progress and make continuous progress.
"This is just the surface. The key point is that we need to pay attention to the environmental sanitation issues in the city. Take this and handle it according to the instructions in the book. After one year, you will be the best in the world in the official performance appraisal."
Fan Wei quickly took the brochure from Mr. Gui's hand. The cover was "Urban Construction and Development Plan".
After opening, there are directories on the first page, which are sewer construction, public health construction, street environment improvement, construction of recreational facilities for the people, livestock management, etc. The last directory is landmark buildings.
Essentially, except for cement, reinforced concrete, and Jia Liu, which could not be produced for the time being, everything else was available in the Qing Dynasty.
Sewer construction technology has been around since the Ming Dynasty, but later generations used plastic pipes. Nowadays, ceramic pipes are used, or they are repaired with bricks and stones and maintained regularly.
Therefore, as long as Jia Liu is willing to do it and the people below can do it seriously, he will definitely make Baoding the most beautiful and civilized city in the Qing Dynasty.
Serve as a benchmark.
It was undoubtedly his greatest political achievement as the Governor-General of Zhili.
You can see it at a glance.
"Do you know how much I have broken my heart for the sake of this prefect and the people of Baoding?"
Jia Liu rolled his eyes at the dog-headed military advisor and said, "Because Mrs. Liu asked me to open my heart last night, this time it will be easier for you. Put the booklet away and follow the instructions above. If you need money, the province will pay for part of it for you, and you can do the rest yourself."
I have to think of a way. In short, I only have one request, which is to change things every year, and make big changes in three years. If you do this, your political performance will be the best in the world in the official evaluation, and you will be able to rise in the future. Do you understand?"
"Your Majesty is really honest about your humble position."
Fan Wei subconsciously sniffed his sore nose and made up his mind. If the adults still wanted him to sleep with him, he would grit his teeth and endure it.
Everything is for progress and for the sake of the Qing Dynasty, not shabby.
"Don't say anything against your will. I can rest assured that you will do things."
As they were almost arriving at the governor's office, Jia Liu didn't want to say too much, but he still warned: "I'll let you find a way to fund the project on your own. I'm not asking you to levy excessive taxes, but I want you to use your brain. For example, you can find a way to introduce private funds for project construction."
, don’t just reach out and ask for money from the people. Even if you collect taxes from the people, you must take it from the people, use it for the people, and let the people know where the money they paid is spent. Only then can you, the prefect, be supported by the people."
"I understand, I understand!"
Fan Wei kept nodding his head. The Gui family's spirit of loving the people like a son has always been an example for him to learn from.
Jia Liu nodded slightly, Baoding was right under his nose, and he could see with his butt whether Fan Wei was doing well or not, so he wasn't afraid that Fan Wei was messing around behind his back.
Surrounded by civil and military officials such as Zhili Chief Envoy Yang Jingsu, Admiral Wan Chaoxing, and Inspector Wang Guangquan, they finally arrived at their future work unit, the Zhili Governor's Yamen.
The building is still very grand, facing south, with a typical northern government office architectural style. From the outside, it occupies a large area.
When I looked up, I saw a plaque, which was placed vertically instead of horizontally. On it were written the six characters "Zhili Governor's Department".
There is a group of enclosed courtyards outside the gate, consisting of east and west prison rooms, east and west gates, screen walls, etc.
When the new Governor arrived, relevant officials and staff from the Governor's Office lined up to greet him. The overall atmosphere was similar to that of welcoming leaders, except that there were fewer flags and banners.
The handover ceremony between the old and new governors has been arranged and the venue is in the lobby.
My predecessor, Zhou Yuanli, was waiting in the lobby.
When Jia Liu arrived, he saw his seventy-year-old predecessor standing in front of a screen in the middle of the lobby. The screen was painted with cranes, seas, and suns, which looked quite impressive.
On the left and right are various public case tables, Haofeng racks, and even a Wanmin umbrella.
On behalf of the imperial court, Man Zhangjing of the Military Aircraft Department, Jiang Atong, and Dr. Zhong Yubao, a staff officer of the Ministry of War, presented relevant identity certificates to the officials in charge.
Afterwards, Yi Jiang'a read out the imperial edict of Jia Jia Shikai's appointment as the Governor of Zhili, followed by a few symbolic polite words from Jia Liu and Zhou Yuanli, the predecessor, and then took over from each other the seal of the Governor's Office of Zhili and the royal flag.
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Shuan Zhu and others verified some handover documents prepared by the former governor, that is, the opening of old management, new management, and expulsion, which was a four-column inventory.
The folk saying is called accounting.
A doctor from the Ministry of War's official position came here to serve as the "supervision committee member". After the handover between the old and new governors was correct, he would sign and seal it.
But this process is undoubtedly symbolic, because it is impossible for Jia Liu, the successor, to liquidate his predecessor.
This is an unspoken rule in officialdom.
In other words, even if Zhou Yuanli left some big holes for him, he would have to step in and find a way to solve it himself instead of impeaching this water control expert who returned to his hometown in honor.
Just like when he first became the director of the Jingling Committee, he was unable to settle the old accounts of his predecessor.
The four-pillar inventory was signed and sealed respectively, which means that the handover of the old and new governors was successfully completed.
Next, Zhou Yuanli, the old governor, spoke a few words to Jia Liu, the young governor. The general meaning of his speech was similar to what Jia Liu said in the infantry commander's office.
That is to say, different words are used in different eras.
There is no qualitative change in the central meaning.
When Lao Zhou spoke, Xiao Jia listened with an open mind and said a few words from time to time about how Zhili was doing under Master Zhou's governance and what he would do in the future.
It's all official talk.
Finally, amidst the cheers, Zhou Yuanli and his family members took a carriage and left the governor's office where they had worked for two years.
At this point, the dust has settled.
Lao Zhou was not sure, Jia Liu was not sure, but Lao Yang secretly told him that there were more than thirty carriages for Lao Zhou to move.
After being visited by officials, Jia Liu looked at the lobby in front of him. Li Wei, who also had a similar background, worked here decades ago.
In a hundred years, a person named Shikai will also live here for a while.
Carrying forward the past and bridging the future, carrying on the past and bridging the future!
After struggling for so many years, one can imagine Jia Liu's inner excitement when he finally has his own complete office, the Governor's Yamen.
Touching every object in the Governor's Hall, I felt a sigh of relief in my heart. Life is really a mess. Who is a sage and who is a traitor?
When I looked up, I suddenly found a large plaque hanging with the four characters "Lao Gong Chief Shepherd" written on it. I couldn't help but wonder who it was from.
Yang Jingsu hurriedly said: "Sir, this plaque is a royal letter from the late emperor, given to the former Governor of Zhili, Tang Zhiyu."
"Ah, was it written by Yinzhen?"
Jia Liu directly called Yongzheng by his name, which was very natural.
Lao Yang was slightly startled, and then naturally echoed: "It was written by Brother Lao Si."
Jia Liu smiled. Lao Yang was absolutely loyal and could join the association. He would lead the formation of the Zhili branch.
Suddenly he glanced sideways at Lao Yang: "Brother Pu Yuan, there is a secret that I really want to tell you, but this matter involves Jiangshan Sheji, and I don't know if I can tell you. Because once this matter is spread, it will affect the whole world.
I'm afraid there will be a catastrophe."
The prince-in-law suddenly looked extremely serious and seemed to be very hesitant, which made Lao Yang subconsciously straighten his waist and said respectfully: "Since it is your lord's secret, it's okay if I don't listen."
This answer caught Jia Liu off guard, as Lao Yang was not very good at complimenting.
Just when he was worried about how to tell this secret to Lao Yang, Shuan Zhu rushed in, holding a square-looking object wrapped in clothes in his hands. He might have been too excited to pay attention to the threshold under his feet, and almost tripped over.
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After stabilizing his body, he said excitedly: "Master, that demon is right, the imperial seal is really in the well in the back room of the governor's office!"
After saying that, he stepped forward and eagerly opened the package in his hand, revealing a jade seal with a corner made of pure gold.
Whether it is jade or gold, there are traces of being burned by fire.
The eight characters of "Destined by Heaven", "longevity and longevity" are clearly visible.
There are also four words "Destiny Stone" on the right side.