On the second day, Meng Juren took Yang Zhumu and Yang Zhulin to stay behind to harvest the high-yield sweet potatoes and other crops, while Zhou Shuren and others continued to rush to Lizhou City.

Although they left people to harvest the crops, Lizhou City was still waiting for food to save its life. They collected cheap old grains from farmers passing by while rushing on the road, which made the caravan bigger and bigger. In order not to delay the journey, they would sometimes continue to travel at night and rest in the car.

After traveling most of the way, Zhulan was secretly glad that she had spent money to buy ginseng when she was in the capital. This time, not only did her parents need it, but she and Zhou Shuren also needed it. They were both exhausted these days.

Arriving at the territory of Chuanzhou, Zhulan found many apple trees, some of which were large groves of apple trees. Suddenly, she remembered that apples were introduced to the northwest during the Han Dynasty. She also remembered that there was an apple town in the northwest in modern times. Chuanzhou and Lizhou were close to each other and had similar geographical locations. Zhulan’s eyes lit up. Fruits were precious in winter in ancient times. “Shuren, look at the apple orchard.”

Zhou Shuren put down the account book in his hand and looked in the direction Zhulan pointed. It was indeed an apple orchard. “What’s wrong? Do you want to eat apples?”

Zhulan said, “No, I’m thinking about Lizhou. With Lizhou City and Chuanzhou so close, it must be suitable for growing apples. I’d like to buy some mountain land and then buy apple trees from Chuanzhou to plant. What do you think?

Zhou Shuren naturally supported it. “All right,”

Zhulan calculated. “I’ll also build two ice cellars and a few more underground cellars. I can store apples for longer periods of time. The price will increase as winter approaches, and I’ll make a lot of money then.”

Zhou Shuren listened to the ice cellars. His most important priority right now was to ensure food and clothing for the people of Lizhou City and to ensure this year’s spring plowing went smoothly. He wouldn’t think about increasing his income until he solved these two major problems.

Many people in Chuanzhou planted apple trees, and there were many abandoned orchards in the mountains and fields. These people didn’t know how to grow apples because the apples didn’t taste good, and they didn’t grow them because they didn’t make a profit.

Zhulan didn’t want to grow apples by herself either. Planting required professional fruit farmers, and they would have to come to Chuanzhou to hire them.

The journey to Lizhou City grew shorter and shorter, and the number of refugees starving and begging for food increased. Seeing the convoy’s massive food wagons, more and more people followed. Fortunately, there were plenty of officials and spring had arrived, so they didn’t rush in to grab food.

Entering Lizhou City, the mountains were filled with people foraging for food. Thankfully, there wasn’t a drought that had left the grass barren. As long as they could successfully cultivate high-yielding crops, life would be hopeful.

As they entered the vicinity of Lizhou City, there were many people on the mountains digging for wild vegetables in search of food. Fortunately, it wasn’t a drought where not a single blade of grass could grow. As long as they could successfully cultivate high-yield crops, there was hope for a better life.

Lizhou City was a superior prefecture and also a directly governed one. Zhou Shuren’s position as the zhizhouZhizhou (知州): the administrative head of a prefecture, typically a fifth-rank official in imperial China. was parallel to that of a zhifuZhifu (知府): the administrative head of a prefectural-level capital, typically holding a higher rank than a zhizhou in imperial China.. Although Zhou Shuren still held a fifth-rank official title, because he served as the zhizhou of a directly governed prefecture, his salary was higher than that of a zhizhou in a regular prefecture.

Zhou Shuren later explained all this to Zhulan, who then realized the significance of the prefectural capital.

In the territory of Lizhou City, Zhulan saw that the children were all skinny. This was all caused by the war. The most miserable were still the ordinary people. They had no money and could not farm in their hometown. They had no money to escape and could only beg. After finally finishing the war, they returned to their hometown without a penny. They could not even buy seeds for spring plowing. In addition, the family’s food supply made the situation worse.

Lizhou City was poor and there were few merchants. Some wealthy families had not returned yet, and they would not hire people to help them. Without additional sources of income, they could only sell their children.

Lizhou City currently had the most slave traders.

Zhulan felt sad when she saw a large group of people leaving with some children. These were all children bought by slave traders.

Zhou Shuren hugged Zhulan tightly, “Don’t look.”

Zhulan listened to the cheers behind her, and her heart became heavier. “Fortunately, we collected food as we came.”

Zhou Shuren nodded. Several caravans carrying food followed behind. Zhou Shuren sighed, “There’s not much silver left.”

Zhulan was silent. There really wasn’t much left. Now there were still 15,000 taels left, and there would be many places to use the silver in the future. “Put yourself in my shoes. The silver followed you to Lizhou City. At least it didn’t pass through many hands in the middle of the exploitation. We all spent it on refugees. Wouldn’t it make you feel better if you think about it this way?”

Zhou Shuren smiled. “It does feel a lot better.”

If the funds were handed down layer by layer like this, they would be lucky to have even twenty thousand taels left out of the original fifty thousand by the time it reached Lizhou City.

It was noon when we arrived at Lizhou City. The Tongzhi and Tongpan had been waiting outside the city gate for a long time with their men.

As soon as Zhou Shuren got off the carriage, he saw the worn and haggard faces of the tongzhiTongzhi (同知): the deputy to the zhifu or zhizhou, assisting in administrative and judicial duties in a prefecture. and tongpanTongpan (通判): an assistant official in a prefecture responsible for supervising finances, judicial matters, and checking the power of higher officials.. He had the documents granted by the Emperor—both officials had recently been transferred. The tongzhi had previously served as the zhizhou of Chuanzhou, a regular prefecture. He had been promoted from a fifth-rank deputy official to a full fifth-rank one. Although it was technically a promotion, judging by the tongzhi’s weary appearance, Zhou Shuren guessed he would have rather stayed in the regular prefecture as a zhizhou and endured the slow climb.

The Tongpan was also newly transferred from Jiangnan Prefecture. He was obviously in his thirties, but his haggard appearance made him look like he was in his forties.

Tongzhi Chen Chen, forty-three years old, was not only overwhelmed but also constantly worried about losing his head. When he received the imperial decree that the newly appointed second-place jinshi (top scorer in the imperial exam) was to become the zhizhou of Lizhou City, he cursed outright. How could a bangyan who had never held office before possibly manage the mess that was Lizhou City? Wouldn’t that mean they’d all end up losing their heads together?

Now, looking at the newly appointed zhizhou, Lord Zhou, and then at the massive convoy—clearly filled with grain carts—he set aside his initial disdain. If the Emperor valued this man, there had to be a reason for it.

He Yun, the thirty-six-year-old Tongpan, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the procession; help had arrived.

Chen Chen and He Yun stepped forward, “Lord Zhou.”

Zhou Shuren returned the greeting, “Lord Chen, Lord He.”

Chen Chen and He Yun exchanged glances, realizing they didn’t believe Lord Zhou had investigated them beforehand. Lord Zhou’s accurate identification of their surnames must have been informed by the Emperor. No wonder so many of the officials in Lizhou City were newly appointed. They both knew the Emperor truly valued Lord Zhou.

Since the Emperor valued him, they dared not disrespect him. The two couldn’t help but glance at the officials in the procession. Who knew who among them was the Emperor’s man? Lizhou City was already a mess, and they hadn’t been able to alleviate the situation. The Emperor must be dissatisfied. It would be better for them to be honest.

Chen Chen said, “Master Zhou, you have had a hard time on your journey. Please enter the city.”

Zhou Shuren said, “You two go ahead. I will inform my family and then return to the government office with the team.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of horse hooves came from a distance. Zhou Shuren looked at Wu Chun, who was leading the team. He knew that he had received the news and had come to pick up the Yang family.

The Tongzhi, Tongpan, and others were stunned. Why did the stationed General Yang come? They soon understood why.

Wu Chun dismounted and saluted, “Gūfù, you have had a hard journey.”

Zhou Shuren smiled, “I was thinking of writing to you after entering the city, but you heard the news and came here on your own.”

Wu Chun explained, “I sent people to guard outside the city gate. I came here from the base knowing that the city would welcome gūfù today. Uncle, how were yéyé and nǎinǎi on the journey?”

Zhou Shuren said, “We’re all in good health, but we’ve been rushing the whole way home and will need a few days to recover. Today, let’s all go back to your gūfù’s residence first. Once I return this evening, our whole family can have a proper reunion.”

Wu Chun knew that his gūfù had something to ask him, so he smiled and said, “Okay.”

The tongpan and tongzhi both remained silent. They knew very well that because Lizhou City was near the border and as a directly governed prefecture, it had more stationed troops than other prefectures—no fewer than four thousand men. The highest-ranking commander was General Zheng, and General Yang held the second-most authority. These two generals had rendered great military service and were personally granted their titles by the Emperor, who trusted them deeply. Who would have thought that General Yang turned out to be Lord Zhou’s eldest zhizi!

The two of them really didn’t have any thoughts this time. If they remembered correctly, General Yang had even saved General Zheng’s life!

(end of this chapter)

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