Chapter 1563: The Mongol leader asks for an audience

After staying in Jiqing for two days, Yun Zheng set off again.

After they entered the Anda tribe, Luntai sent someone to send Qiyan back to the Beihuan royal court.

Yun Zheng has clearly expressed to Luntai that he wants to return Qi Yan to them.

Daqian no longer needs Qiyan as a hostage.

Of course, this may also be due to Jia Yao's consideration.

After that, it was a long march.

Although they don't have many men, their marching speed can't be too fast.

It took them almost half a month to enter Zhenzhou.

After entering Zhenzhou, their speed slowed down again.

Along the way, Yun Zheng continuously sent his personal guards to various tribes in Zhenzhou and Hezhou to inquire about their true situation.

Although Yun Zheng was confident in Ji Ran's abilities, Zhen and He states were too far away from Daqian after all, and the ports had not yet been built.

Within two to three years, supplies in Zhen and He states will probably be in short supply.

However, there is actually very fertile land here.

As long as these lands can be used reasonably, Zhen and He states will even become granaries in the future.

After inquiring about this, Yun Zheng also learned a lot of information.

At present, the land reclamation policy implemented by Ji Ran in Zhen and He states has achieved certain results.

Large tracts of arable land were added in Zhen and He states.

After Ji Ran’s experiments last year, many of Daqian’s crops can be grown in Zhen and He states.

At present, the crops grown in Zhen and He states include rice, wheat, corn, sweet potatoes, potatoes, sorghum and a variety of beans.

The Zhen and He states reclaimed wasteland and cut down a large amount of timber.

Many people have used these woods to build new houses, and also used them to make charcoal, build fishing boats, etc.

Last winter, there were people who froze to death or starved to death in Zhen and He states, but it is said that the number was much less than in previous years.

This is also the same as what Ji Ran described in the report sent to the court.

Zhen and He states are also implementing Yun Zheng's ethnic integration plan.

However, this place is too far away from Daqian, and it is not possible to carry out a large-scale integration for the time being. The main focus is on integrating with the people of the Li Kingdom.

After walking and stopping along the way, they finally arrived at Jindong City which was under construction.

This is the first real city in Zhen and He states, and it was built entirely according to the standards of cities within the Great Wall.

Jindong City is located in Darabu, not far from the gold mine where Yun Zheng once lured Cui Zai.

At present, Jindong City has only built a city wall that is nearly ten feet high, as well as some houses and government offices.

Even this was possible thanks to the large number of captives sent by Shen Kuan and his men from the Andong Protectorate.

Of course, this is also due to the abundant timber resources here.

The abundant timber resources allowed them to cut down as much wood as they wanted and burn large quantities of bricks and tiles.

Ji Ran's plan was to build at least thirty cities in Zhen and He states, so that most of the people in the two states would give up fishing and hunting and cultivate the land.

Of course, Ji Ran's plan is to achieve this goal within twenty years.

But Yun Zheng felt that Ji Ran was still too conservative.

As long as Daqian enters the real development period and the corresponding ports are built, the goal should be achieved in ten years.

Ji Ran and Heshelie led people out of the city to welcome Yun Zheng and his group.

However, Hesheli was kneeling on the ground.

"Welcome Your Highness!"

"I, the guilty minister Hesheli, respectfully welcome Your Highness!"

Hesheli knelt on the ground in fear and trepidation, with his head bowed to the ground.

Although Helander's affairs had nothing to do with Hesheli, Helander was Hesheli's daughter after all.

Hesheli was extremely uneasy about the crime that Hailanduo committed.

Even though he was the Marquis of Ningyuan and the General of Guide, he actually did not have much power.

If Yun Zheng wants to capture him, he can do so at any time.

"Marquis Ningyuan, please stand up!"

Yun Zheng stepped forward and took the initiative to help Heshilie up. "The matter of Hailanduo has been investigated. Lord Ji has also written to me many times, repeatedly emphasizing that Hailanduo's matter has nothing to do with you! You have also made an indelible contribution to the current situation in Zhen and He states!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Hesheli bowed respectfully with a look of gratitude on his face.

"Okay, let's not talk about this anymore!"

Yun Zheng patted Heshelie's shoulder and clapped his hands gently.

Lin Ji stepped forward, holding two fur coats in his hands.

Yun Zheng took the fur coat and said with a smile: "I am very happy that Zhen and He states have such a situation!"

"I was in a hurry on this trip, and I didn't bring any valuables to reward you."

"I bought these two sets of fur coats when I passed by Jiqing. Since it is very cold in Zhen and He states, I will give one set to each of you!"

"I will reward you when I return to the capital!"

As he spoke, Yun Zheng put the fur coat into the hands of Ji Ran and Heshelie.

The two of them couldn't help but feel excited when they received the fur coats given by Yun Zheng.

"Thank you for the reward, Your Highness!"

The two men held up the fur coats and bowed.

Yun Zheng smiled and waved his hand gently: "Let's go, let's go into the city!"

Under the leadership of Ji Ran and Heshilie, Yun Zheng and his party entered Jindong City.

Cement is not used in Jindong, and the roads in the city are still made of stone slabs.

However, the office buildings here are built with bricks and tiles.

Places like post stations and inns are all made of brick and tile structures.

Yun Zheng saw it and was secretly happy.

If you want to completely stabilize these places, you need cities.

In the future, there will be great achievements on this land!

When he arrived at the office, Yun Zheng did not even take a rest and asked Ji Ran to report to him in detail the situation in Zhen and He states.

Ji Ran of course knew what Yun Zheng wanted to know, and he immediately reported it in detail.

Just last month, he completed the population census of Zhen and He states.

Currently, Zhenzhou has more than 27,000 households and about 130,000 people.

Because Hezhou received a large number of captives and refugees from the Andong Protectorate, it currently has nearly 40,000 households and nearly 200,000 people.

The population problem in the two states is also the biggest problem that plagues the development of the two states.

Ji Ran was confident that he could ensure that the people of these two states had enough food and clothing and that every household had surplus food.

But the population problem is something he cannot solve in a short period of time.

In addition, the port construction work has been progressing relatively slowly, partly due to a shortage of manpower and partly because of the weather.

The bridge over the Dan River is about 50% completed. After another winter, Ji Ran promises to complete the bridge.

Currently, there is a boat bridge on the Dan River, and Yun Zheng and his team can enter the Andong Protectorate through the boat bridge.

However, there is also a lot of good news.

When they were reclaiming the land, they discovered a large number of medicinal herbs, many of which were precious.

There are many forests in Zhen and He states, which also leads to a large number of wild animals.

There are actually a lot of high-quality furs here, but due to its remote location, the profits of these high-quality furs cannot be maximized.

Ji Ran suggested that after conquering the State of Yu, a large number of captives could be transported from the State of Yu to the two states of Zhen and He, which would not only increase the population of the two places, but also provide more labor to complete tasks such as building ports and cities.

With the current population of Zhen and He states, it would take too long to develop.

"Don't worry about the population. I will find a way to solve it!"

Yun Zheng gave Ji Ran some reassurance, "After we defeat Yu Kingdom, we will relocate people from the interior! You need to prepare land and temporary shelter for these people."

"I will prepare in advance!"

Ji Ran nodded heavily, "By the way, Your Highness, do you have time here?"

"what happened?"

Yunzheng asked.

"The great leader of the Mongols, Wumuli, wants to see Your Highness."

Ji Ran replied: "He wanted to tell me about this last year. When I learned that His Highness was coming here, I immediately sent someone to inform him! I estimated that it might take him about two days to arrive."

Yun Zheng smiled, "Then let's meet!"