Chapter 234: First Volume_Chapter 234: A New Official Sets Three Fires Upon Taking Office

First Volume_Chapter 234: A New Official Sets Three Fires Upon Taking Office

When he saw this number, Qin Feng was startled — one must remember that counties around Jingdu have populations of at least four or five hundred thousand.

How could Beixi County's population possibly be so small?

But on second thought, Qin Feng let it go.

In the present era, apart from densely populated regions like Jingdu, or some prosperous Zhou Fu,

in most regions, a county with a hundred thousand people is already considered an "upper-grade county."

A remote, godforsaken county like Beixi, with only a little over thirty thousand people, is hardly strange.

After all, in these times, the average lifespan is still less than thirty years.

Scarce population, low labor force, barren resources, and god-awful finances — all of it made Qin Feng's head buzz.

But every cloud has a silver lining.

Although the population was terribly scarce, the expense of subsidizing the common people could be saved considerably.

At this moment, the entire County City was pitch black, with only the Beixi County Courthouse still lit.

Qin Feng sat in DaTang, clicking away at his abacus with a clatter — not a shred of an official's bearing, more like a wily old merchant who'd been in trade for years.

Well versed in the principle that giving a man a fish is not as good as teaching him to fish, Qin Feng immediately gave the order: "Since warfare is frequent these days, and the areas around Beixi County have suffered poor harvests, grain prices have risen. Ning Hu, take some guards, and recruit additional hands from the village heads — go somewhere farther from Beixi County and purchase grain. Focus on cheaper millet; as for seeds, buy according to thirty-six thousand qing of land."

Qin Feng took out a Ten Thousand Liang Silver Note, handed it to Ning Hu — return the change if there's surplus, make up the difference if there's a shortfall — and told him to set off at once to make the purchases.

Then he looked toward the gathered scholars.

Including those packed into DaTang and the side rooms, there were two hundred and seven in total. Setting aside the half-baked ones who could only recognize a handful of characters, these two hundred or so represented the entire scholar class of Beixi County.

Although the scholars didn't know what Qin Feng intended, ever since Qin Feng arrived in Beixi County, he had first reviewed the backlog of wrongful cases, then sent Ning Hu to purchase grain and seeds — so naturally the scholars had not the slightest doubt about him, and simply waited.

Qin Feng swept his gaze around and asked softly: "Are there any Xiucai among you?"

The hall was dead silent; no one answered.

Qin Feng couldn't help but sigh inwardly — that bastard Chen Li had ruined Beixi County so badly that tens of thousands of people couldn't produce a single Xiucai.

Qin Feng had to Withdraw and Seek the Next Best: "Are there any Tongsheng?"

This time, a few Village Elders stepped out from the crowd.

The youngest was already Fifty-something, with burial earth piled up to his neck.

Seeing the Village Elders kneel to salute, Qin Feng hurriedly had the scholars beside him help them up — lest they kneel and never rise again, dying right there in the hall.

As far as Qin Feng knew, anyone who had studied Journeyman Studies but had not passed the Xiucai exam could be counted as a Tongsheng.

But a Tongsheng is not necessarily a true scholar.

These five old men before him couldn't even muster a complete set of Teeth between them.

Qin Feng's head spun with confusion. He quickly counted out Ten Tael of Silver, giving each man two taels, and said with a smile: "Elders, I've dragged you out here for nothing in the middle of the night. Take these two taels of silver home, buy yourselves some food, and go rest."

After sending the five old men away, Qin Feng looked at the remaining bewildered scholars and sighed: "Is there anyone here who has studied Journeyman Studies, and is between twenty and forty years of age?"

Before long, ten young men stepped forward.

Qin Feng breathed a sigh of relief, and without beating around the bush: "The County Yamen is desperately short of hands right now. Would any of you be willing to serve in the County Yamen?"

The crowd suddenly understood.

So all Qin Feng's elaborate maneuvering had been to recruit personnel.

Especially those ten young men studying Journeyman Studies — they breathed a sigh of relief.

The leading White Clothes scholar, just over twenty, cupped his hands: "Sir, although I have studied the sages' books diligently, I have no experience in governance — I fear I am unequal to the task."

The other young men were much the same.

Qin Feng couldn't be bothered with such concerns now. He waved his hand, showing he didn't mind: "You can learn slowly if you don't know how. As long as your heart is set on serving the people, you are talent. For those who come to serve in the County Yamen, pay will be divided by position: County Assistant Magistrate, ten taels of silver per month; accountant, eight taels; administrative affairs, five taels — and so on. Even the lowest Yamen Runner gets three taels of silver."

At these words, the hall that had been silent instantly filled with murmuring.

"Even Yamen Runners get three taels of silver? My whole family toils for an entire year and earns at most two taels of silver. After Taxation and miscellaneous levies, we're lucky to have one tael left."

"Three taels? I wouldn't do it for thirty! People are divided into four ranks — Shinan Nonggong. Yamen Runners are beneath even merchants, the lowest and most contemptible of all. Any family with a yamen runner among them is barred for three generations from taking the imperial exams. But then again, five taels of silver for handling administrative affairs is awfully tempting."

"Young Master Qin is willing to spend so much money hiring amateurs like us — isn't he afraid of making a mess of things?"

"Heh, why worry about that? All these years my wife of humble means has struggled and suffered to support my studies. Since Lord Qin is recruiting talent, I must come try! If not for myself, then at least for my family?"

Amid the debate, some had already begun signing up with Qin Feng.

Qin Feng was naturally overjoyed. Anyone willing to sign up, he accepted without exception. As for the quality of the personnel, he would consider that later — for now, he had to get the County Yamen's team set up. Otherwise, with Qin Feng alone, the vast majority of affairs simply couldn't be carried out.

Out of the two hundred or so scholars, Qin Feng recruited a total of thirty.

Those who weren't taken on hadn't come for nothing either — each received two taels of silver as a reward.

Just as the crowd was about to leave, Qin Feng suddenly called out to them, narrowing his eyes with a grin: "Our Beixi County has over thirty thousand people, yet can't produce a single Xiucai — isn't that a bit embarrassing?"

Hearing this, the scholars flushed with shame.

A scholar of rather blunt temperament rebutted him outright: "Lord Qin has only just arrived here and doesn't understand the local conditions — that's not your fault. Going to Beijing for the exams is a huge expense. We can barely feed ourselves, let alone have spare money to go to Beijing."

Qin Feng naturally understood the hardships of People's Livelihood — his earlier remarks had merely been deliberate provocation.

The scholar class is the foundation of any region.

Normally, the number of scholars directly determines whether a locality prospers.

Under the rather disgruntled gazes of the scholars, Qin Feng remained as cheeky as ever, showing not the slightest restraint now that he had entered officialdom: "Since I have taken up the post of Beixi County Magistrate, I naturally intend to set the People's Livelihood in order. Tomorrow I will post a Public Notice — you may all come read it yourselves. Whether you choose to strive for improvement or continue to sink, after that, it will have nothing to do with me."

Hearing these words, the scholars' eyes were full of doubt.

Compared to ordinary Common People, scholars' mindsets are actually harder to change.

In their hearts, all crows under Heaven are equally black. Even though Qin Feng had just taken office and was making a show of vigorous reform, in a few days at most, Qin Feng would be corrupted by this world just like every other Official...