,,,,,,,,,,,,

Xun Yu sighed in his heart. The emperor obviously lived in the deep palace for a long time. He didn't know what was going on outside, nor did he know the changes in the situation outside, nor did he know how powerful Liu Jing's influence was. He took it for granted that he would issue a serious punishment, and he would have to make a big mistake.

But Xun Yu didn't know that he could not persuade him directly. After all, the emperor was wary of him. If he didn't persuade him well, he would backfire and could only use facts to speak. Thinking of this, Xun Yu slowly said: "Does your Majesty know that Jingzhou publicly recruited scholars last autumn?"

Liu Xie was stunned. He didn't know about this. He shook his head, "I haven't heard of it."

Xun Yu sighed, "Jingzhou's recruitment of scholars has a great influence. All the court and the people in the world know it. I'm afraid that only the emperor doesn't know it."

Liu Xie couldn't hold back any more and hurriedly said, "Can the Shizhong tell me?"

"Jingzhou openly recruits scholars, and the name is aimed at Jingzhou, but in fact it is aimed at the world, not filial piety and honest, but openly taking exams, regardless of poverty or humbleness, or selection of merits. According to the exact news, more than 100,000 scholars from all over the world went to Jingzhou to take the exam, from Liaodong to Longyou to the west, and all the scholars and commoners rushed to Xiangyang. The momentum was huge, and the fifteen great gentry in the world also sent their younger brothers to take the exam, and finally admitted the rest. It can be said that this incident caused a sensation in the court and the people."

Liu Xie was shocked. He didn't know about this at all, and he couldn't imagine that there would be 100,000 soldiers in the world rushed to Xiangyang to take the exam. After a while, Liu Xie said jealously: "Xiangyang is so attractive."

"Don't your Majesty understand?"

Xun Yu said anxiously: "Liu Jing has a reputation in the world. Liu Jing conquered Yizhou. How many people asked the Prime Minister to recognize him as the governor of Yizhou. This time, Liu Jing's north expedition to Guanzhong, all the major families in the world were silent and no one accused him. Does Your Majesty want the subtlety in this middle?"

Liu Xie's face became increasingly ugly. He was not stupid, so why didn't he understand what Xun Yu meant? In other words, Liu Jing had gradually gained the support of the gentry. "Hmph" Liu Xie snorted coldly: "The Xun family should have also sent me to participate in the so-called open recruitment of scholars."

Xun Yu responded for a while: "Your Majesty, what I want to say today has nothing to do with the Xun family. I just want to say that even the Prime Minister dares to deprive Liu Jing of the title. Why does Your Majesty do this? I hope Your Majesty understands my painstaking efforts."

Liu Xie said coldly: "I understand, is there anything else?"

"There is nothing else. I will not disturb Your Majesty and I will take my leave."

Xun Yu bowed and slowly retreated. Liu Xie did not try to keep him. He watched him retreat coldly. Xun Yu was once one of Cao Cao's four major strategists. He was not willing to believe that Xun Yu was thinking about him. He was just instructed by Cao Cao to come to test his details.

Xun Yu walked out of the imperial study room, raised his head and let out a long sigh. The emperor really disappointed him. Even if he didn't accept his kindness, he should at least understand the situation. If he continued to be confused like this, he might not be able to even save the throne in the end.

Xun Yu shook his head and left the palace with great pleasure.

It was gradually May. According to the initial plan, before the early summer, the general's mansion would need to move back to Xiangyang, spending summer and autumn in Xiangyang, but the plan was not as good as change. The Han army began the second northern expedition preparation after the failure of the Northern Expedition. The preparation was carried out in Yizhou, so the plan would be adjusted. This year, the general will not move back to Xiangyang for the time being, and will move back to Xiangyang after the Northern Expedition is successful.

Although the General's Mansion did not move back to Xiangyang, Liu Jing had to appear in Jingzhou. This was actually a balance. Although it was necessary to strengthen control over Yizhou, Jingzhou could not be neglected. Liu Jing inspected the counties in Jingnan in April. In early May, he arrived in Lingling County under the escort of thousands of personal soldiers.

Lingling County can be said to be the second largest county in Jingnan after Changsha County. It ranks among the forefront of Jingnan in terms of area and population. It is also a place where many Han people live. Many senior officials under Liu Jing, including Liu Min, Zhou Buyi, Jiang Wan and others, are all from Lingling County.

The governor of Lingling County was originally Liu. Last autumn, Liu went to Yedu to settle down as the representative of the Jingzhou royal family. Liu Jing appointed Liu Xian as the governor of Lingling and appointed Jiang Wan's uncle Jiang Jing as the governor of Lingling County.

But Liu Jing's inspection in Lingling County was not just to listen to the report of Shouhe County Chief. His more important purpose in coming to Lingling County was to go to Lingling County.

Liu Jing took a five-stone official boat along the Xiangjiang River, and rushed southward, guarding Liu Xianyi accompanied him. The mountains in the distance were green and the forests were dense. However, there were large rice fields on both sides of the Xiang River, and huge water trucks stood by the river.

Liu Xian pointed to the large rice fields on both sides and smiled at Liu Jing: "More than ten years ago, the Lingling area was vast and sparsely populated, and the land was sufficient. The locals used fire and water to farm, and they did not cultivate. A mu of land produced only about kilograms of grain. My father and I have been improving the farming methods of the locals over the years. Since ten years ago, we have accumulated fertilizer and ploughed deeply, and the grain production has increased year by year. Now, a mu of land can produce five or six kilograms of grain. The grain yield has increased, and the lives of the locals have also become richer."

Liu Jing looked at the farmers busy in the rice fields and nodded with relief, "Food problems are always a big deal, the basis for the strong national strength, and the guarantee for the world. This Northern Expedition failed to succeed. The fundamental reason was that there was insufficient food. Of course, it was not the lack of food, but the problem of transporting food. However, the next Northern Expedition may be a problem of adequate food. So during this inspection of Jingnan, I told the county officials: "Let the people eat a full meal and the soldiers have no worries about lack of food, that is a good official. It is really gratifying that Lingling County can always attach importance to agriculture."

Speaking of this, Liu Jing and Liu Xian smiled at each other. Without further ado, Liu Jing was already enough to express his meaning. Grain first, as long as Lingling can become a major grain-producing county, Liu Xian's improvement will be just around the corner.

At this time, Liu Xian asked again with a smile: "The Palace Master went to Lingling County specifically for Lingqu."

Although Lingling County has the same county name as the county name, it is actually just a small county, and it is located in a relatively remote south and has no status in Lingling County. However, it is the origin of Lingqu. The other end of Lingqu is located in Shixing County to the south. Lingqu connects Xiangshui and Lishui, and is a water transportation route from Jingzhou to Jiaozhou.

At this time, a team of more than 20 cargo ships came towards him. The flag of Jiangling Wu's Trading Company was inserted on the bow. The waterline was deep and full of cargo. Liu Jing watched the fleet sailing across from him. Then he said to Liu Xian: "I have reached an agreement with Liu Bei to relax the trade between Jingzhou and Jiaozhou in the future. Although the Xiang River mainly flows through Changsha County, some of it flows through Lingling County. I hope Lingling can seize this opportunity and develop the trade."

"Weichen will seize the opportunity, but the last time the provincial governor said that it would be strictly prohibited to transport strategic materials such as pig iron, armor, bronze, and grain into Jiaozhou, but there are many roads from Lingling to Jiaozhou, and I am worried that I can't control it."

Liu Jing laughed, "This kind of smuggling transportation of materials cannot be completely controlled. It can only be said that the official must strictly prohibit it. Major merchants are not allowed to transport it and strengthen water inspections, so there will be no large-scale transportation of strategic materials in the south."

Liu Xian nodded, "I understand."

.........

As soon as the fleet headed south, it arrived in Lingling County at noon the next day. Lingling County was indeed just a small county. The county town was short and dilapidated, with a circumference of twelve miles and a population of only more than a thousand households.

People here make a living by agriculture and fishing and hunting, but since last autumn, when Liu Jing promised to borrow 50,000 shi of grain to Jiaozhou, Lingling County has become lively.

Taking advantage of the opportunity of transporting grain, several major commercial banks in Jingzhou bought land and opened stores in Lingling County, building warehouses and docks, so that the trade industry in Lingling County developed almost overnight.

With the development of trade, shops, taverns, hostels, brothels and other industries have emerged rapidly. Eight taverns in the county have opened in one month. Not only are almost half of the locals in Lingling employed, but there are thousands of merchants from other places and thriving business, and the reputation of Lingling County has also begun to spread.

Like Lingling County, Shi'an County on the other end of Lingqu also showed an equally prosperous scene. Shi'an County, which was later Guilin, once belonged to Lingling County, and later was assigned to Cangwu County. It was a trading window for Jiaozhou. Merchants from Jingzhou drove into Lishui through Lingqu, arrived in Cangwu, and then followed Yushui to Fanyu, Nanhai County, so Lingqu became the trading throat channel between Jingzhou and Jiaozhou.

When Liu Jing's boat slowly moved closer to the dock in Lingling County, the county magistrate led a group of officials to wait on the dock for a long time. The county magistrate stepped forward and knelt down to salute Liu Jing, "Lingling County magistrate Zhou Yun paid a visit to the prefectural governor and met the guard."

Liu Jing quickly helped him up, smiled and comforted him, "Thank you for your hard work in the past few months. It is not easy to build a new dock and warehouse in such a quick time."

Not far away, there are dozens of huge warehouses, which are the official warehouses, and they are built in just two months. No wonder Liu Jing praised County Magistrate Zhou. Not only the official warehouse, but also the official wharf, which was also completed within two months. This is not easy. In addition, in addition to the official warehouse and the official wharf, several major commercial banks have also built their own wharfs and warehouses respectively, making the Xiangshui River, which is more than ten miles long, full of huge warehouse groups, which is spectacular.

Liu Jing followed the county magistrate into the county government office. He sat down and asked about the county magistrate's situation. Finally, the topic turned around and asked, "I want to know some of the latest situation of Liu Bei. Can the county magistrate introduce it?"

In fact, Liu Jing also knew about the development of Liu Bei in Jiaozhou, but due to Chengyuan, inconvenient information and delayed news, he received Liu Bei's information and some things that happened at the beginning of the year. Now four or five months have passed, and the situation must have changed. This is also one of his main purposes for coming to Lingling County.

County Magistrate Zhou hesitated for a moment. He has been busy building a dock and warehouse in the past few months. He didn't care about Liu Bei's recent situation, and he didn't know it either. However, someone knew it. He hurriedly said: "Please ask the governor of the state. The Wu family's merchant fleet had just returned from Jiaozhou yesterday. I'll ask them to introduce the situation."
Chapter completed!