Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 253 Yang Zheng's Request

The Yangmen County government office is divided into the front and back yamen, separated by a gate in the middle, just like the Beishan County government office.

Mao Chunfang worked and received guests in the front court. When the time came, he went to the back court to rest.

On this day, Mao Chunfang had been back in the back office for quite some time. After having dinner, he was about to read some books before going to bed, but he heard a servant come to report, "The master wants to see you for something."

"Why are you here again?" Mao Chunfang's tone was full of dissatisfaction. "Tell him to wait in the study room at the front yamen. I'll be there right away."

"Yes."

After the servant left, he read two more pages of the book before leaving.

When I arrived at the study in the front yamen, the lawyer had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Mao Chunfang coming over, the lawyer hurried forward to salute and report: "Just now, the village head came to the yamen to look for the chief clerk."

"What's the matter?" Mao Chunfang frowned and sat down.

The lawyer understood too well what his expression meant. If the matter was not important, what Lord Mao said next would not sound good.

"Many of our county magistrates have been harassed by Beishan County's yamen runners, and some have even been arrested three or four times a day." The lawyer said, "Lord Meng's men are too rampant. With such behavior, how can they take you seriously?"

Mao Chunfang glanced at the master and asked without any emotion: "What is your plan to deal with it?"

"Your Excellency might as well report this to the prefect. If the prefect does not care about this matter, you can join forces with other county magistrates and ask the magistrate to report it to the court."

Mao Chunfang said: "I just filed a complaint with the emperor before the end of the year, and now I want to report it again. How do the ministers in the court view the officials of Liangzhou? Don't you have any tricks at all? It is impossible for other county magistrates to get involved."

"Sir, this is the last resort." The lawyer came close to him and said, "Sir Meng is obviously wrong in this matter. Please report it to the prefect. Even if the prefect indulges Sir Meng, he will still warn him."

"We must report it to the governor, but is there any other way?" Mao Chunfang asked again.

The master thought for a moment and said, "In order to appease these village heads, why don't we keep them for a few days? I'm afraid Lord Meng's men won't dare to come to our house to ask for them."

Mao Chunfang laughed, "Your brain is always useful. Ask people to sort out the posthouses in the north and let the village headmen choose voluntarily. The posthouse will open its doors to those who are willing to live there.

Remember to send people to guard the posthouse."

"Yes." The master replied, "I will arrange it overnight. There is one more thing."

"explain."

"The village heads in two places said that many women left their area." The village head said: "They left behind men, the elderly and children and went to Beishan County.

It won’t affect anything for now, but without women, there will be no newborn children. In the long run, it will be disadvantageous to our Yangmen County.”

"Beishan County said that land will be divided regardless of gender. Naturally, many women will come, but in the long run, can those women keep the land in their hands? After all, he is a child. If he does everything for political achievements, he will suffer in the future."

The master said, "Sir, you have to take care of this matter as well."

Mao Chunfang thought, what's the point? How many more years will he stay in Yangmen County? Why should he consider such a long-term matter? But he said, "I know what I'm going to do. Let's do it today. Go and arrange the post house."

"Yes."

It was already midnight when Yang Zheng and his companions returned to the county government office.

He handed the person he brought back to Cheng Guang for arrangement, and he went to Meng Changqing's study and took a look around. Seeing that the candle was still on, he went forward and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Yang Zheng pushed the door open and saw Meng Changqing sitting behind the desk, concentrating on the papers on the desk. He did not approach, but said from two steps away: "Master, have you not rested yet?"

Meng Changqing looked up, and a smile appeared on his face the moment he saw Yang Zheng, "It's Brother Yang, why are you back at this hour?"

"People have been coming here one after another and have been waiting until now."

Meng Changqing gestured for him to sit down, then turned around and poured him some hot tea. "Among the last group of people today, are there any women who came alone?"

"Yes." Yang Zheng took the teacup with both hands, "Thank you, sir." Then he asked, "Sir, do you think there are any problems with those people?"

"It's hard to say." Meng Changqing said: "Our policy is here, and it is reasonable for women to leave their families and come here.

Within a short period of time, the public housing department will arrange personnel to patrol day and night.

Time will tell if someone is really up to something, and sooner or later they will be exposed."

Meng Changqing added: "Everything has risks. We can only be prepared and try to reduce the risks as much as possible."

"I know what you mean." Yang Zheng paused for a moment after he finished speaking.

Meng Changqing knew that he must have something else to say, so he didn't rush to do what he had done before, but waited for him to speak.

After spending a long time together, the two of them had a tacit understanding. Seeing this, Yang Zheng said directly: "There is one thing I want to ask you, sir, and I don't know if I can get your permission.

I heard that you will stay in Beishan County for a few more years. We brothers came to your side from the military camp and became your personal soldiers. Now is the time when Beishan County is short of people. Can you allow your families to move to Beishan County?"

Before Yang Zheng brought up this matter, Meng Changqing had never really considered this aspect.

It can be seen that people can only understand their own actual difficulties. If they do not consider others in the same situation, there will always be shortcomings.

"It would be great if your family could be reunited." Meng Changqing first stated his attitude, but then added: "However, I don't have the authority to do this. So I can only do my best to promote it. I dare not give you any guarantees at this moment."

"I understand. We are very grateful that you are willing to give it a try for us." Yang Zheng said, "Whether it succeeds or not, I will never forget this kindness."

After Yang Zheng left, Meng Changqing sat on a chair and started to think about this matter.

Although they were his personal soldiers and he paid them every month, they still received money from the Ministry of War and were still registered as soldiers.

The current mission is to protect Meng Changqing.

The imperial court has very strict control over soldiers, especially in recent years. If a soldier escapes, his family will be implicated.

Therefore, after soldiers join the army, their families will receive special attention from the local headman.

In a normal military situation, if a soldier wants to have a family member accompany him, he must have made meritorious contributions before he can apply, but not all applications can be approved.

In simple terms, that person must hold an official position in the army, but the position cannot be too high or too low.

The boundary between them is very subtle.

It was really a difficult task for Meng Changqing to bring the families of his personal soldiers to Beishan County.

At least it is impossible with Meng Changqing's current power.

Even if he asked Wei Fangyun for help, he did not have the power to do so.

When Meng Changqing thought of this, he immediately took out the paper next to him and started writing.