Chapter 163 Thunderous Means (asking for monthly votes)

After running around outside for more than ten days, Li Xiang's homework was doing quite well.

This time it was not only a meeting to get acquainted with this group of local tyrants, but also a declaration of control over the Dengzhou officialdom.

Those who came to participate in the meeting were all officials of the seventh rank or above in Dengzhou, and they were considered well-known figures.

Of course, Xiao Qiang, the principal of Yucai University, once said that the one with a head but no face is a sea cucumber.

Of course, the county magistrates also came to the Governor's Mansion to participate in the meeting. For example, Feng Qing got up early today and even changed into a new official robe.

Actually, I had intended to wear this outfit during the Chinese New Year. After all, I was here to make myself familiar to the Prince of Hengshan, so of course I had to make a good first impression.

Feng Qing sat upright in his seat. He had also heard about what Li Xiang had done in Chang'an and was looking forward to him being able to make achievements in Dengzhou as well.

"Isn't this County Magistrate Feng?" After Wang Heng entered the venue, he saw Feng Qing and greeted him with a smile.

"Your humble servant greets Biejia Wang." Feng Qing bowed.

"Isn't it that County Magistrate Feng is wearing the clothes he wore during the Chinese New Year?" someone nearby joked, "In terms of respectability, no one can compare to County Magistrate Feng."

Feng Qing smiled but didn't answer, which seemed to indicate that he was just trying to save face.

Soon, everyone arrived.

Just when everyone was getting impatient, Li Xiang, Quan Wanji and others entered through the main gate.

The first time Feng Qing saw Li Xiang, he felt that he looked familiar.

Thinking again, isn't this the young man who came to his county school to donate money the day before yesterday?
Oh... Feng Qing was so regretful. If he had known earlier, he would not have acted so mercenary. What would he do if the prince thought that he was full of money?

"County Magistrate Feng, how are you?" Li Xiang paused in front of Feng Qing and looked at him with a smile.

Feng Qing hurriedly returned the greeting, but the movement made his hat a little askew.

Li Xiang stretched out his hand and pointed it at his head: "Mr. Feng, your official hat is crooked."

Feng Qing frantically straightened his hat, and Li Xiang said meaningfully, "That's it, but the hat can be crooked, but the butt must not be crooked."

Having said that, he walked to the top seat and sat behind the desk.

Bureaucrats at all levels in Dengzhou were looking at Feng Qing, wondering how Feng Qing, who had always been upright, had managed to climb to the high position of Prince of Hengshan.

Some people were also envious. Seeing how enthusiastic the prince was, they were afraid that Feng Qing would become rich from now on...

Quan Wanji had been the chief secretary for many years and was familiar with the rules. After a brief introduction, everyone stood up and greeted Li Xiang.

"Your subordinates greet the Prince of Hengshan."

"Okay, everyone sit down." Li Xiang said with a smile.

"Thank you, Prince." Everyone sat down.

Li Xiang looked around and said with a smile: "Recently, I have been to various counties in Dengzhou. What I mainly looked at was the people's livelihood issues in Dengzhou. I also have some opinions on some issues."

Hearing this, everyone's heart couldn't help but shudder.

I thought Li Xiang was going to travel, but I never expected that he was actually going to various counties in disguise to inspect people's livelihood?

This is also one of Li Xiang's combination punches, which is throwing stones.

Going undercover to investigate people's livelihood is just like looking for stones.

Holding a meeting and raising the problems found is like throwing away the stone.

Of course, this set of combination punches was not invented by Li Xiang, but he learned it from an invincible old man.

The art of struggle is "throwing stones, adding sand, and undermining the foundation."

He continued, "My father, the sage of today, once taught me, 'The ruler is like a boat, and the people are like water. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it.' Therefore, I believe that the people's livelihood issue should be the top priority today."

At this point, Li Xiang glanced at the officials who were all thinking about their own things and said, "It is said that a new official has three things to do when he takes office. The first thing I want to do is to implement a rule in Dengzhou, that is, to be diligent in government and love the people."

"In this regard, County Magistrate Feng has done a very good job. When I was in Wendeng, I not only visited the county seat, but also the villages under the county's jurisdiction."

"Mr. Feng has not only made contributions to education, but also has done a good job in improving people's livelihood, especially in curbing the local nobles from annexing land. I think he is a very responsible official."

Although Li Xiang's voice was still a little immature, his tone was steady and powerful, making people dare not underestimate him.

"As for the other two counties, in my opinion, they are a little disappointing." He glanced at Liu Dianyu, the magistrate of Qingyang County, and Song Yuchen, the magistrate of Kuding County. "Especially in Yang Village of Kuding County, there are even powerful slaves who bully people and force the common people to sell their fields."

Having said that, Li Xiang looked at Song Yuchen.

"Of course, I'm not blaming County Magistrate Song. After all, as the head of a county, it's normal for him to not be able to take care of things."

Song Yuchen was sweating all over. His heart was beating like a drum in his chest and almost jumping out of his throat.

If one understood Li Xiang's words literally, then one would be close to death. Of course, the old hands in the officialdom understood what he meant.

'I'm not blaming you' means I am blaming you.

'It's normal to have areas that are not taken care of', what do you do for a living?
"I am guilty, I deserve to die!" Song Yuchen and Liu Dianyu hurriedly left the table and fell to the ground to plead guilty.

Liu Dianyu certainly knew that he must have done something fishy as he was caught by the prince. If he didn't apologize quickly, would he have to wait until others hung him up and watched?

"It doesn't matter if you make a mistake. If you know how to correct it, you are a gentleman." Li Xiang said with a pleasant face, "Song County Magistrate, Liu County Magistrate, please stand up."

The two wiped the sweat off their faces and returned to their original seats.

Li Xiang stretched out his hand, and Li Lifu understood and took out a list.

Li Lifu has been busy these past two days, running all over Dengzhou just to find some typical examples.

"This is the list of what some officials in Qingyang County, Kuoding County, and Penglai County did," Li Xiang put the list on the corner of the table. "As the saying goes, 'If the water is too clear, there will be no fish; if the person is too strict, there will be no followers.' I will ignore the minor faults of others, but these officials not only indulged their slaves and forced people to buy their land, but also beat people to death in broad daylight."

"Robbery is not enough..." Li Xiang suddenly slammed the table and shouted angrily: "You want to kill people too!?"

"Can such a black sheep really sit in the government office with a high-sounding name and endanger our team?"

Li Xiang turned around and looked at Duan Zan and said, "General Duan, the people on this list, including Qingyang County Lieutenant Liu Wenxin, Kuoding County Recorder Wang Anxiang and others, are all dismissed from their posts and investigated!"

"Yes!" Duan Zan picked up the list and walked out with a team of Black Armor Army.

The officials attending the meeting really didn't dare to breathe, for fear that Li Xiang would cause trouble for them.

Only Feng Qing sat upright in his seat, his expression calm and unmoved at all.

There was really no need for that. After all, he only had one daughter, and if she stayed at home, she wouldn't cause any trouble. After Duan Zan left, Li Xiang tapped the table with his fingers.

After throwing stones, you can establish your authority. After hitting with a big stick, it's time to add sand and eat sweet dates.

Using multiple sets of combined punches at the same time to deal with the Dengzhou officialdom is a bit like using an anti-aircraft gun to kill a mosquito.

But as the saying goes, even a lion will use all its strength to fight a rabbit.

"I will not pursue the actions of the people from each family because I think the impact is not great."

Li Xiang put the matter behind him. After he said this, officials at all levels looked at each other and all breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Xiang once again set the tone: "Governors are the parents of the people. Parents love their children and they plan for the long term."

"While inspecting various counties, I discovered a rather serious situation."

"Dengzhou has been a saline-alkali land since ancient times. Crops can only be grown near water. This is why the court divided Dengzhou into a lower state."

Li Xiang was right about this. The Jiaozhou Peninsula in the Tang Dynasty was indeed like this. Yan Shigu once commented, "Laiyi, bordered by the sea on three sides, is a salt marshland where no crops can grow and is suitable for grazing."

The so-called Lai Yi refers to Dengzhou.

But what he said was a bit nonsense. It is not appropriate to graze in a place where there is no grass.

"Since arable land is limited and not suitable for growing crops, the people naturally need other ways to make a living to supplement their family income." Li Xiang looked at Feng Qing, "Arable land is scarce, and growing crops naturally does not require so many people, so I plan to let these idle people go out to sea to fish and develop marine fish trade."

Hearing Li Xiang's words, everyone looked at each other.

"The prince's idea is good, but..." Wang Heng said hesitantly, "Where can we sell the fish after we catch them? If we sell them to the surrounding areas, there is no shortage of fish in the coastal areas."

Wang Heng expressed the doubts of most people. In fact, he was not here to sing a different tune, after all, Feng Qing thought the same way.

"Of course, it will be sold to Chang'an, to the grasslands and the Western Regions, and even to Tubo." Li Xiang said with a smile.

"Your Highness, you don't know that fish are different from cattle and sheep and other animals. They cannot survive without seawater." Wang Heng explained to Li Xiang, "They have already gone bad before they were transported to Chang'an."

"I know this," Li Xiang explained, "If we use salt to pickle the sea fish, then the problem of transportation and preservation will be solved."

"But this salt..." Wang Heng hesitated again.

At the seaside, salt is actually more expensive than fish.

"Don't worry, Wang Beijia. I know a method to make salt. We can get low-cost salt from sea water." Li Xiang said with a smile.

When Wang Heng heard this, he immediately said, "If that's the case, then I have no doubts."

"I have a caravan in Chang'an. We can ask them to come and buy the salted fish and sell them in various places." Li Xiang finally set the tone, "In my vision, I want to help the people in Dengzhou get out of poverty during my term of office, and let every household drink meat soup in the future."

Of course, it is not the kind of promise of a bowl of soup for three generations. Li Xiang really intends to let the people live a good life.

"The Prince is benevolent!" the officials said one after another.

He said this, but he didn't believe it at all in his heart. He is really a talker who can even say that the people can get out of poverty and have meat soup.

Is this the legendary good grandson? Could he be the reincarnation of Emperor Hui of Jin?

Of course Li Xiang didn't care what they were thinking, he still had a few steps to take.

As the saying goes, "If the soil is too hard, it will not be breathable. If you add some sand, it will be breathable." Li Xiang planned to place some of his own people in the officialdom of Dengzhou, which is adding sand.

"I have already made up my mind about the candidate for the Chief Secretary of the Military Governor's Office." Li Xiang looked at Feng Qing. "Feng Qing, the magistrate of Wendeng County, has been in office for 20 years and has worked diligently. The people have praised him. I have decided that Feng Qing will be the Chief Secretary of the Military Governor's Office."

Feng Qing stood there in a daze, as if he had been hit by a sledgehammer.

Having wasted so many years as the magistrate of Wendeng County, he thought he would have no hope of promotion in this lifetime. He never expected that the Prince of Hengshan would have such a keen eye and discover him.

Faced with such a good opportunity, he certainly would not say "How can I, a magistrate of Wendeng County, be the Chief Clerk of the Governor's Office", but immediately stood up to thank Li Xiang.

"Your humble servant Feng Qing thanks the Prince!"

The officials below looked at Feng Qing with either envy or jealousy, all with resentment on their faces.

But it was useless whether they were willing or not. After all, Li Xiang had already grasped their vital points, and his identity made it impossible for people to object.

Li Xiang nodded slightly and continued to announce the appointment: "Wang Heng, the deputy governor of Dengzhou, can be appointed as the deputy governor of the Metropolitan Government."

Upon hearing the news, Wang Heng instantly threw away his previous reluctance and expressed his gratitude on the spot.

The deputy governor of the Metropolitan Government is a close minister to the emperor's grandson!

As long as you catch the eye of the emperor's grandson, do you still have to worry about not being able to rise to a high position in the future?

Li Xiang announced several more appointments, reorganizing Dengzhou's original officialdom.

This is also the last step, muddying the water and then undermining the foundation.

Feng Qing was the sore spot he planted in the Dengzhou officialdom, and Wang Heng and others who were pulled into the Dengzhou Governor's Office by him were the people he dug up.

Finally, Li Xiang did not forget to paint a rosy picture for them.

Drawing a pie in the sky is a science. If you draw it too big, it will seem a bit empty and pretentious, and if you draw it too small, it will seem unsatisfactory.

"I'm sure you've all heard of my caravan. It's very popular on the grasslands." Li Xiang continued, "If you can work hard and cooperate with me, we can establish a trade channel with the inland and grasslands, and you won't have any trouble selling your goods."

What this statement does not explicitly mean is that, of course, your benefits will be indispensable.

Although everyone present here does not hold a high position, who is not a smart person? They heard the subtext of Li Xiang's words carefully.

"Yes!" the officials responded one after another.

After the meeting, Li Xiang left behind Feng Qing, the new chief of the Governor's Office.

He was not in a hurry to say anything to Feng Qing, but was thinking about the navy.

The navy has an irreplaceable position in his plan.

And now that the navy was being marginalized by Zhang Liang, he certainly couldn't help but take care of this matter.

Thinking of this, Li Xiang decided to go to the navy in person to take a look. It happened that he hadn't seen Su Dingfang and Pei Xingjian for a long time. While reminiscing about the past, he also wanted to talk to them about the navy's issues.

(First update sent)

(End of this chapter)