Chapter 1178

First Volume, Chapter 1178: The Family Visit Army

Within the Inner City of Beixi County, there were more than ten three-story pavilions visible to the naked eye!

"County Magistrate Lin… how many three-story pavilions are there in Beixi County?"

As he asked this question, the Vice Minister of Rites' voice trembled with each word.

Lin Quqi didn't even think—he blurted out: "Twenty-seven in total. According to Qin Wang's plan, the more pavilions, the less land they consume, and the more people they can accommodate."

"Of these twenty-seven three-story pavilions, five belong to various yamens; the remaining twenty-two were all distributed free of charge to Beixi County's meritorious subjects."

"Beixi County's three great generals—Zhao Yulong, Ning Hu, and Xu Mo—each own one pavilion."

"The rest of the pavilions are occupied by talents from commerce, industry, and governance."

"Put simply, anyone who has made great contributions to Beixi County may live in a pavilion."

At this, Lin Quqi grinned: "I also have one—but come to think of it, Qin Wang is not among them."

"After all, Qin Wang rarely returns to Beixi County; even when he does, he stays in the yamen's inner quarters."

Jing Ci was already gripping her small fists tightly, overwhelmed by how novel everything in Beixi County seemed to her.

When Lin Quqi turned to face the Di Study Group, he was startled to find everyone frozen in stunned silence.

Lin Quqi couldn't help but laugh: "What's wrong with you all?"

The Vice Minister of Revenue swallowed hard, his voice dull: "Beixi County is even more prosperous than Da Di Wang Du."

"Every commoner lives in a pavilion; the Inner City alone has twenty-seven three-story buildings."

"The cost of such massive construction must already be astonishing."

"Even Tianji Camp's most skilled craftsmen, no matter how frugal, would need tens or even hundreds of thousands of taels of silver to build a county of this scale."

Lin Quqi silently marveled—no wonder Ministry of Revenue officials were so sharp on finances.

Since Qin Feng began expanding Beixi County, the total spent on infrastructure alone has exceeded two million taels of silver.

Beyond military expenditures, infrastructure is the largest item in Beixi County's budget.

But the returns are substantial.

Beixi County has attracted a flood of talent; its commercial activity has reached unprecedented heights, even spawning several commercial hubs radiating from the county itself.

Merchant caravans don't even need to enter the city—they can store goods at designated strongholds and send only their representatives inside.

And…

Due to Beixi County's intense commercial ties with neighboring states and barbarian lands, its streets are entirely covered by shops of every size and kind, offering commodities so vast they seem to include everything under Heaven.

As Jing Ci walked along Beixi County's bustling streets, she marveled aloud; a single glance into a random general store left her gaping in shock.

The shopkeeper and clerk inside were both women!

"County Magistrate Lin—can women in Beixi County appear in public?"

Lin Quqi shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Except for the Army and craftsmen, no industry imposes any restrictions on women."

"At first, few women joined production, but because Beixi County's commerce is so advanced and profit margins so high, every person can save several taels of silver per year."

"To earn more, nearly every married woman has been sent out by her family to work."

"Unmarried women, while not engaged in production, face no special restrictions either—after all, for Beixi People, raising extra daughters is no burden."

Jing Ci silently marveled—no wonder, since entering Beixi County, she'd seen so many little girls.

In Beixi County, the number of male and female children was nearly equal…

As for the Army and craftsmen restricting women, that was understandable.

After all, warfare in this age demands strength and physical endurance, especially for heavy armor troops who must bear armor and hold the line—women's weaker physiques simply cannot handle it.

The same logic applies to craftsmen.

There were too many new, astonishing things in this Beixi County waiting for Jing Ci to discover.

She had originally planned to lead the Di Study Group through Beixi County for a month, merely skimming the surface.

Now, she had changed her mind—she would memorize every detail of Beixi County.

Even if she couldn't master it all, just being able to replicate a Beixi-like city upon returning to Di would be enough.

Jing Ci's thoughts, of course, did not escape Lin Quqi's notice.

Lin Quqi didn't care—after all, building a city like Beixi required more than just money and people.

The most crucial element was a leader like Qin Feng—unconventional, bold enough to reshape reality.

As Jing Ci led the Di Study Group through Beixi County like travelers in a dream, marveling at everything…

Qin Feng's secret mission arrived quietly in Beixi County.

Within just a few days, Beixi People whose ancestral homes lay in Jiangnan began their journey home to visit relatives.

The journey was long and fraught with danger.

To ensure the safety of these returning families, all were required to follow the Beixi Army's marching route and were counted.

At every guan ka, they had to report their presence.

These five hundred Beixi People returning home nearly all drove their own carts, laden with bundles, dragging entire families, full of pride.

Because the Brocade Guard had scouted ahead and bribed the bandits along the route…

As long as this Family Visit Army stayed on its designated path, no one would be in danger.

With smooth sailing, they reached Jiangnan in just over twenty days.

They did not head straight home—instead, escorted by Beixi Light Cavalry, they were all taken to the ZhuZhen.

At this time, the ZhuZhen was already bustling: ten thousand Beixi troops and seven thousand garrison troops had joined forces, and not a single battle had occurred during this period.

Qin Feng, bored with idleness, spent his days studying with Liu Ming how to publicize Beixi County's great achievements.

Upon learning the Family Visit Army had reached the ZhuZhen, Qin Feng's eyes lit up—he rushed out of his ying zhang.

Looking at the five hundred elders and townsfolk, Qin Feng felt deeply comforted.

"This journey was long, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers—you've all worked hard."

The townsfolk, gazing at Qin Feng so close at hand, trembled all over with excitement, their faces flushed red.

Among them, the vast majority had only heard of Qin Feng's name but had never seen him in person.

Now that they had finally seen the city lord they had longed for, they could not help themselves.

Whoosh.

The Beixi People spontaneously knelt to the ground, bowing in reverence.

"Your Highness, I never thought I'd see you in this lifetime."

"Our good life today is all thanks to Your Highness's gift!"

"If not for Your Highness taking us in back then, my whole family of five would have starved to death."