Chapter 010: Zhao Jiaran, the County Magistrate, begins his tenure

This teasing thought was fleeting, and Zhao Jiaran's mind returned to the Mulan Ponds themselves. He had long been aware of the situation regarding the Mulan Ponds, which is why he dared to volunteer to come to Putian to repair the canals. Even with a basic understanding of the situation, Zhao Jiaran was still very concerned that the local people of Mulan Ponds were fundamentally unwilling to share water with the north. Water is the lifeblood of farmers, and even in the 21st century with various irrigation systems, conflicts arising from agricultural water distribution have not completely disappeared in China. Not to mention the reliance on weather for sustenance in the present.

Four individuals entered the village, and as they approached the door of a wealthy local household, a considerable number of villagers had already gathered around to observe the four officials.

Zhao Yong was taken aback by these words. Upon careful consideration, he realized that there was indeed some truth to them. Even though the lives of the people in the Mulanbei irrigation area were better than those in the non-irrigation area, they still fell short when compared to the ordinary people of Quanzhou. Moreover, Zhao Yong was a servant of Zhao Jiaran, and although the Zhao family was not extraordinarily wealthy, they were certainly not poor. Such heartless arguments would never be openly expressed in the Zhao family.

In the evening, Zhao Jiaran took shelter for the night in the ancestral hall of the village. The flames flickered, and Zhao Yong, sitting around the fire, asked: "Young Master, I feel that what this person with the surname Lin said is probably not the truth."

Zhao County constable. This family is indeed the wealthy household of the village

After hearing these words, the two subordinates of the county officials were momentarily taken aback, then exchanged glances with each other. After a moment, one of them could not help but ask: "Sir Zhao, how could you think this way?"

After listening to Zhao Jiaran's words, another subordinate could not help but interject. "County Lieutenant Zhao, this matter has been discussed several times. However, repairing the canal requires funds, and the north is currently lacking money. We have already been generous by allocating water to them; we cannot continue to lend them money. After we repair the Mulanbei canal, we will only manage to get by. If we are to provide more funds, that is simply impossible. The north is currently impoverished, and it is uncertain when they will have the means to repay us."

Seeing that the local leader was willing to say a few words, Zhao Jiaran felt a sense of joy in his heart. He continued to inquire, "While it is said that we should help in emergencies rather than alleviate poverty, I believe that the water in Mulan Pond is abundant enough. Even if some is allocated to the north, it would not cause Mulan Pond to run dry. Is there no consideration for constructing a northern canal? If a northern canal could be built, the north would also prosper, turning poor relatives into wealthy ones, which would not be a bad thing for everyone."

After listening, Zhao Yong could not help but show a disdainful expression on his face. The rascals claimed that the wealthy were unkind and oppressed the common people, which seemed unreasonable from any perspective. Even if the rich are not good people, do the rascals qualify as good people? In recent days, Zhao Jiarun has been active in Mulanbei, almost visiting all the prominent figures in the irrigation area. Zhao Yong holds a relatively high opinion of those individuals.

Zhao Jiaran took two steps forward and said in a gentle and calm tone: "I am the county lieutenant of Putian County. There has been a murder at Mulan Pond, and some say the perpetrator is from our side. We have come to investigate this matter"

Zhao Yong watched as Zhao Jiaran and his two previously silent subordinates suddenly engaged in lively conversation, unable to accept it for a moment. After listening for a while, he scratched his head, feeling perplexed. He could understand the reasoning of the third young master and the two subordinates, yet no matter how he listened, it still felt incomprehensible. Before Zhao Yong could open his mouth to ask further, he heard Zhao Jiaran say: "It is getting late today, let's hurry and sleep. We still have to travel tomorrow"

Hearing this, Zhao Jiaran smiled and asked, "What you say makes sense. However, is there another perspective? The people of Mulanbei are wealthy, while those here are poor. The two sides are also related, yet the people from Mulanbei only help in emergencies, not in times of poverty. They are barely able to fill their own stomachs. Providing assistance for one or two meals is possible, but if the people here keep asking for help, they will not be able to sustain it. Therefore, they can only prioritize their own well-being first."

Young Master, is this family truly one of the wealthy locals? Zhao Yong could not help but ask Zhao Jiaran. As a native of Quanzhou, he had recently visited Suzhou and Lin'an, which had broadened his horizons and raised his standards for judging wealthy families. More importantly, they had come from the Mulanbei irrigation area, and even though the distance was only ten miles, the conditions of the people on both sides were vastly different

Zhao Yong spoke frankly: "The people of Mulanbei are wealthy, while the people here are poor. Naturally, the rich do not want to cause trouble, so how could they oppress those on this side? I believe that the person with the surname Lin is not telling the truth"

I seem to have heard that Zhao Jiaran has connections with the newly appointed governor of Fuzhou, and this person likely does not regard the Xinghua army with any respect

Upon taking office, Zhao Jiaran immediately went down to the countryside. He wanted to establish his authority, but he was rather too eager.

After the initial construction of Mulan Ponds was washed away by a flood, Qian Si-niang, in her anger, drowned herself. Later, Cai Jing and some local individuals collaborated to prepare and ultimately succeeded in the construction.

The middle-aged man's expression changed dramatically after listening, and after a moment, he appeared innocent and aggrieved, saying, "This esteemed official, I do not know who has slandered me. You must not believe them at all. The people from Mulanbei are wealthy and fierce. We have never had the upper hand in disputes with them. I hope the official can see this clearly."

So it is. So it is. Zhao Jiaran nodded repeatedly, revealing an expression as if he had just awakened from a dream. However, he did not feel this excited in his heart. He even harbored a somewhat malicious thought, 'That is because you have not encountered Jia Sidao. At least Jia Sidao is willing to take the initiative to help us seek officials and even spends his own money to do so'

Zhao Jiaran smiled and asked, "What do you think?"

Upon learning that the people of Mulanbei intended to divert water, Zhao Jiaran felt much relieved. In his initial plan, he even considered utilizing the authority of the governor of Fuzhou to mobilize troops to suppress the resistance. If this matter could be resolved peacefully, Zhao Jiaran naturally believed it would be even better

That Zhao Jiarun has not yet turned 15 this year, yet he has already tied up his hair. One cannot help but wonder how his parents have raised such a person

Zhao Jiaran's father is the governor of Qingyuan Prefecture and is also a successful candidate in the imperial examination. He should not be unaware that at this age, one ought to style their hair in a topknot

Seeing that the middle-aged man was willing to speak, Zhao Jiaran happily said: "Could you please get me a few chairs? I have walked a long way and my legs are tired. Let us sit at the door and talk."

After listening to Zhao Yong's words, the two subordinates of the county lieutenant who came along remained silent, their gazes fixed on Zhao Jiaran

Feeling indignant, Zhao Yong could not help but let out a hum. As soon as the sound escaped his lips, he noticed Zhao Jiaran, who was standing beside him, giving him a gentle push. Then, stepping forward, Zhao Jiaran said softly: "Since you put it this way, there must be some reasoning behind it. I have come here to pay a visit, and I would like to ask this gentleman to explain your reasoning to me."

"How can you be so sure?" Zhao Jiaran asked

In addition to Zhao Yong, County Lieutenant Zhao Jiaran also had official attendants. This time, he brought two subordinates, and together with Zhao Yong, the four of them traversed the mountainous area north of Mulanbei. The local people, upon seeing them, actively stepped aside. Apart from these four individuals who wore official uniforms, each was armed. Even in Fujian, where bandits were numerous, the presence of four well-armed officials held a certain deterrent effect

The area north of Mulanbei is not an irrigation zone, and the disparity in living standards on both sides is quite pronounced. The houses in the irrigation zone are evidently superior to those in the non-irrigation zone, and the clothing and spirit of the common people differ significantly. When there is inequality, there is a call for change; the common people are not interested in embellishments, but rather in assistance during difficult times. The more impoverished the area, the stronger this demand becomes.

During the Song Dynasty, the position of the county magistrate was quite minor, with responsibilities including overseeing archers and prohibiting violence and misconduct. It was akin to a role that combined the functions of a county armed department and a public security bureau chief. The personnel under his command were also minor officials who maintained public order in the county and frequently patrolled the area

The original Putian was either subject to flash floods that washed away the fields, or faced seawater intrusion during high tides, which would naturally ruin the crops after being soaked in seawater. Once the farmland was inundated with seawater, it would turn into saline-alkali land, causing significant damage to grain cultivation. The Mulan Dike was constructed at the confluence of the Mulan River and the tidal waters of Xinghua Bay, creating a long embankment that allowed the freshwater level to rise above the highest tide of seawater. The freshwater retained by the dike was channeled through numerous irrigation canals to various grain fields in the Xinghua Plain. The Mulan Dike, situated at the foot of Mulan Mountain, ensured that the local grain fields transformed into irrigated land, much like the Dujiangyan irrigation system. Throughout history, the price of irrigated land has been several times, even ten times, that of dry land, highlighting the disparity in yield and stability between the two types of farmland.

Furthermore, since he has come out to hold an official position, he should bring his mother here to fulfill his filial duty. If he were far from home, one could still understand his concern for his mother's journey. However, it only takes four to five days to travel from Fuzhou to our Xinghua Army, yet he shows complete disregard. Although this person is young, he is exceedingly arrogant

Stepping forward, Zhao Jiaran arrived at the door of a wealthy household. Before the officials could knock, the main door had already been opened. A man in his forties stepped out, somewhat trembling as he first saluted the officials, and then asked, "May I inquire what brings you esteemed officials here?"

That person originally thought Zhao Jiarun would put on an official air and reprimand him. However, he was taken aback by Zhao Jiarun's counter-question, leaving him momentarily speechless. In the end, he could only stammer, "County Lieutenant Zhao, my home is in Mulanbei, and I find your words quite reasonable. In times of emergency, we do not help the poor; our generation has many relatives, and it is not that we are unwilling to assist. A favor of a dou of rice can lead to enmity over a dou of rice, truly illustrating that we help in emergencies but not in poverty."

Zhao Jiaran nodded slightly; although there was no particular expression on his face, he was extremely pleased inside

Every word is filled with malice. Zhao Jiaran's age and demeanor have clearly not gained the recognition of his colleagues. This young man, regarded as arrogant, eager for quick success, and lacking in manners, entered the northern territory of Mulanbei with a hairstyle that does not match his age, looking travel-worn and weary.

After the arrival of winter, Xinghua Military Prefecture entered a rather languid state. All the taxes that needed to be collected had been gathered, and there were no renowned ports like Quanzhou or Fuzhou in this area. The officials spent their days either sitting or sitting. A few junior officials basked in the sun, discussing the latest topics

The middle-aged man hurriedly bowed and said, "I do not dare to speak reason in front of you, sir, but the people from Mulan Pile have been excessively bullying us. I will explain to you what they usually do, and then you will understand that we have been wronged."

Mulanbei is a renowned water conservancy project in Xinghua and even in Fujian. Initially, it was the local populace who intended to construct it, but they struggled due to insufficient funds. It was known that a local woman, Qian Si Niang, financed the construction. Qian Si Niang's father was an official, and after his death, she transported his remains back to their hometown for burial. Once the burial was completed, she sold her property and utilized the money left by her father, gathering a total of 100,000 coins to build the dam on the Mulang River in Putian.