Chapter 172 Change of Impression

The next morning.

Xie Yuan went to the city to accompany Xu Jin to inspect the farmland.

In fact, Xie Yuan doesn't want to accompany Mr. Xu. He still has a lot of things to deal with. Spring plowing has entered the final stage. Next, he has to prepare for the training of the soldiers, prepare to renovate the forts, and prepare for the various forts. Tunpu builds pig pens, sheep pens, stables, etc.

In addition, you have to contact the shopkeeper of Jinxiu Square to select suitable girls to enter Jinxiu Square to learn embroidery.

All the plans made by Yang Zhengshan must be implemented by him, so he is really busy now.

It's just Yang Zhengshan's order to accompany Xu Jin on inspection, and he can't refuse.

After a group of dozens of people left the city, Xie Yuan rode to the carriage and asked, "Master Xu, which way should we go first?"

Since he was accompanying Xu Jin, today's itinerary would naturally focus on Xu Jin.

In the carriage, Xu Jin still had a solemn face, and he said in a low voice: "Dongyan Dun!"

"Dongyan Dun!" Xie Yuan was stunned, "Sir Xu, is Dongyan Dun too far away? Why don't we choose a closer one to take a look!"

Dongyan Dun is a fire road pier on the east side of Anyuan City. It is more than a hundred miles away from Anyuan City. If you work hard, you can run back and forth in a day, but if you take a carriage, you should barely be able to run back and forth.

Xie Yuan felt that there was no need for Xu Jin to suffer like this. Riding a carriage for more than a hundred miles without stopping could knock people apart.

Xu Jinbu made this thought. He felt that since he wanted to inspect, he had to check the places that were most likely to be ignored. Dongyan Dun was the farthest away from Anyuan City, and it was only a small fire road pier, so it was easy to be ignored. .

"No need, just go to Huolu Dun!" Xu Jin refused Xie Yuan's kindness without giving face.

Xie Yuan's expression moved slightly, he glanced at the closed car curtain and said, "Since Mr. Xu insists on going, then let's go!"

After saying that, he ignored Xu Jin and drove his horse to the front of the team.

This old man is obviously here to cause trouble, why should he ask for trouble?

If you want to see it, you can read it, if you want to check it, you can check it.

Isn’t it Dongyan Dun?

There is really no fear of checking!

Except for the official roads, the roads in Chongshan Town are basically full of potholes. You can imagine the feeling of riding a carriage on such roads.

Not to mention carriages, even if a car is placed here, the speed cannot exceed twenty.

Because Xu Jin took a carriage, it took them more than two hours to arrive at Dongyan Dun.

When Xu Jin got off the carriage, he almost lost his balance and fell to the ground. Fortunately, his entourage helped him, otherwise he would have fallen to the ground.

But he was not embarrassed by this. After standing firm, he looked around.

The small fire road mound looks very dilapidated. A section of the outer wall made of dust has collapsed. Through the gate, you can see the dilapidated mud houses inside.

Shabby was his first impression.

He frowned slightly and looked at the surrounding farmland again.

The fields were clearly cultivated.

He walked to the edge of the field with empty steps and reached out to dig.

He wanted to see if the grain was actually planted or if it was just plowed casually.

Seeing this, Xie Yuan's mouth twitched slightly, Master Xu was really careful enough.

To be honest, this was the first time he had seen such careful military preparation. No, it must have been the first time he had heard of it.

In the past, the military officers of the Military Bei Dao would also inspect the farmland, but those inspections were more like a formality. They would usually go to Shaling Fort to have a big meal and then finish the inspection.

Xie Yuan had never heard of Xu Jin traveling such a long distance and having to personally dig up the soil to confirm the military preparations.

Xu Jin is indeed a very careful person, but his carefulness was forced out of him.

When he first came to Chongshan Town, he also saw a cultivated field during his first inspection of the field. He was very satisfied with that inspection. He also felt that the field officer did a good job.

But just a few months later, when he passed by the field he had inspected before, he was shocked to find that the field was deserted. There was not a single wheat seedling in the field, only a patch of lush weeds.

At first he thought he had remembered it wrong, but after investigation, he determined that the abandoned field was the farmland he inspected before.

In order to cope with his inspection, the camp commander plowed the fields overnight and acted as if he had planted wheat seeds.

That was all, but they still didn't sow seeds after that, leaving dozens of acres of farmland abandoned.

Eat a hard time and gain wisdom.

Since then, every time he inspects the fields, he has to see with his own eyes that there are grains in the land before he can feel relieved.

While Xu Jin was squatting on the edge of the field digging soil, three soldiers wearing shabby military jackets ran out from the Dongyan Dun.

When they came to Xie Yuan and others, they looked very nervous. One of the older soldiers bowed tremblingly: "I pay my respects to you all!"

"Well, excuse me. Don't be nervous. I am Xie Yuan, the governor of Anyuan Prefecture!"

"Greetings, Mr. Xie!" The three soldiers paid their respects again.

At this time, Xu Jin also dug out grain seeds. Looking at the grain seeds in the ground, he slowly stood up.

"Are you a flag officer?" Xu Jin looked at the older soldier and asked.

"Isn't this the little one?"

"Where are your flag officers?" Xu Jin frowned slightly.

The man stumbled and said, "Sir, Master Yang came over two days ago and beheaded our little flag officer!"

"Master Yang!"

Xu Jin was stunned.

Xie Yuan beside him explained: "Two days ago, Lord Yang inspected all the fire road piers and beacon towers. Lord Yang was furious and killed the small flag officer of Dongyan Dun because he sold the grain seeds!"

He knew about this matter. It was not Yang Zhengshan who told him, but the garrison officer below reported it to him.

Not only the small flag officer here, but also the garrison officer above was reprimanded by Yang Zhengshan and beaten with ten military sticks.

Therefore, the garrison officer transported another batch of grain seeds to Dongyan Dun overnight.

Xu Jin fell into silence. He really didn't expect Yang Zhengshan to come to inspect before. No, he didn't expect Yang Zhengshan to inspect the fire road piers and beacon towers.

Before, he still disliked Yang Zhengshan a little, thinking that Yang Zhengshan was arrogant and inactive.

Now he realized that he was wrong.

"Didn't appoint a new small flag officer?" Xu Jin asked again.

"Probably not." Xie Yuan frowned. He was the officer in charge of the garrison. Although all the garrisons, fire road blocks and beacon towers were under his jurisdiction, it was impossible for him to manage every fire road block.

Such matters naturally had to be handled by the garrison officers below, so there was no need for him to handle them personally.

Xu Jin didn't care much about this matter. He just asked casually.

"I'll go take a look around!"

After saying that, he walked towards the soldiers who were working in the fields around him. He stepped forward to check the grain seeds and nodded with satisfaction after finding that they were not moldy.

In the next two days, Xu Jin would inspect the fire road blocks with Xie Yuan every day. He didn't inspect all the fire road blocks and beacon towers like Yang Zhengshan did. He only randomly inspected those places that were more easily overlooked.

The results of his inspections were similar to those of Yang Zhengshan. There were many problems with the fire road blocks and beacon towers, but they were all problems left over from the past. These problems could not be blamed on Yang Zhengshan.

He also learned from Xie Yuan about the plans made by Yang Zhengshan, and realized that Yang Zhengshan was not the idle official he thought he was.

Therefore, his impression of Yang Zhengshan was much better.

After the inspection, Xu Jin came to the garrison office again to find Yang Zhengshan.

But this time his attitude towards Yang Zhengshan was different.

"Sir Yang, do you have any problems that need me to coordinate!"

After the two sat down, Xu Jin took the initiative to ask.

Yang Zhengshan's eyes lit up, and this Sir Xu didn't seem so annoying.

"Haha, there are no other problems, but I do lack a lot of food and grass here!"

"Sir Xu may not know that next I plan to train garrison troops and renovate garrisons, and there are many places to spend money!"

He was not crying poor on purpose, but really poor.

The food and grass he asked for from Songzhou Guard last year had long been consumed. There was still a lot of food and grass that Wang Sheng transported, but those food and grass had to be left for the garrison camp to pay food and wages, and they could not be moved easily.

Originally, he was thinking about whether to go to Songzhou Guard to ask for some food and grass, but now Songzhou Guard has no commander, so he can't find anyone to ask for food and grass.

Although he is the commander of Songzhou Guard, he really can't make the decision on this matter.

Now that Xu Jin has taken the initiative to bring it up, he naturally can't let go of this opportunity.

The military preparation department is also responsible for money and food. Although the Ancha Si has no food and grass, the military preparation department can directly ask for food and grass from the Dusi Yamen.

If Xu Jin is willing, he should be able to help Yang Zhengshan get some food and grass from Chongshan Pass.

Yang Zhengshan doesn't know if Xu Jin has such ability, but there is no loss in trying.

Xu Jin thought about it and said, "I can try, but there shouldn't be too much!"

He himself is not sure, so he can only say to give it a try.

"Then I'll trouble you, Lord Xu!" Yang Zhengshan smiled immediately, "Lord Xu came at the right time. The mansion just bought a fat sheep today. Don't leave at noon. I will accompany Lord Xu to have a good drink!"

If someone is willing to help, we can't just ignore a meal!

"Forget it! I have official business to attend to." Xu Jin refused without thinking.

"It's just a meal, it won't take too long!"

Yang Zhengshan enthusiastically pulled Xu Jin into the restaurant next door.

How could an old man like Xu Jin resist Yang Zhengshan's pulling? Yang Zhengshan pulled the old man into the restaurant next door with just one hand.

It's called a restaurant, but it's actually a small hall with an eight-immortal table and a tea table inside. It's where Yang Zhengshan entertains guests.

However, he doesn't have many guests, so this small hall has not been used many times.

Xu Jin couldn't refuse, so he had to stay and wait for Yang Zhengshan to arrange.

Soon, the food and wine were served. Under Yang Zhengshan's enthusiastic greeting, the two of them toasted each other, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

It's really easy to get close at the wine table. After a few glasses of wine, the two of them called each other brothers.

Of course, this is a prerequisite.

At this time, Xu Jin had a much better impression of Yang Zhengshan and was willing to make friends with him.

Yang Zhengshan also thought that this old man was good. Although he looked difficult to get along with, he was actually a serious and responsible person.

There were relatively few officials like Xu Jin in Chongshan Town.

Compared with those corrupt officials, Yang Zhengshan preferred to contact officials like Xu Jin.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Yang Zhengshan wanted to be a good official, so he also wanted to contact good officials.

Under this premise, the two got along so well.

If Yang Zhengshan invited Xu Jin to dinner at the beginning, Xu Jin would definitely not eat it, even if he was forced to.