Imperial County Magistrate

Chapter 17 Population is the primary productive force

A huge pothole appeared in the vegetable field, destroying half of the vegetables. Even Zhao Kang and the others who were hiding ten meters away from the splashed mud could not avoid it, and they all looked disgraced.

"Damn, the ingredients seem to be dropping a bit too hard."

Looking at the huge pit ahead, even Zhao Kang was a little confused.

There was no way. In his previous life, he was just an ordinary person. At most, he liked to read miscellaneous books. The most powerful thing he used in Chinese New Year firecrackers was the Daxi cannon. When did he play with black powder and other prohibited items.

Thinking about it, Zhao Kang couldn't help but feel afraid. Fortunately, he led his people to retreat far away, otherwise he might have been reincarnated by now.

Zhang Long's legs were a little weak and he almost lost his balance. He asked with quarreling words: "Master, Master, what on earth is this! How can it be so scary? The god was angry just now!"

"Yes, yes, Master Lei Gong couldn't bear to see us ripping off customers, so he got angry!"

Everyone around him turned pale. When Zhao Kang heard this, he pretended to be calm: "What kind of criticism are you talking about? This is called black gunpowder. It can be used to blow up mountains and quarry rocks in the future. Tsk, tsk, tsk, this power is really incredible."

Zhang Long now believed Zhao Kang's words about killing people. The big pit on the ground could bury three people.

This is also the reason why Zhao Kang has no experience in dealing with this kind of banned product for the first time. Although he knows the proportions, he just used three kilograms of sulfur, which is indeed a bit harsh.

After all, he has seen the world. After the shock, Zhao Kang calmed down and his mind became alive at the same time.

How much effort will this black powder save me?

How convenient is it to open mountains and mine?You can even make a fortune by using it to make firecrackers during the New Year!

As for what makes a cannon?
Zhao Kang really never thought that I would live comfortably and carefree here, and only go to fight with people to death when I was full.

After thinking about it, Mr. Zhao grinned to the back of his ears and immediately called everyone: "Come here, this black powder thing must not happen, one, two, three, four... No. 17 must not know about it, do you understand! This will be the county’s top secret!”

"understand!"

Zhao Kang's prestige is beyond words. Without him, Yuanjiang County would not be what it is today. Everyone nodded.

Looking at the big hole in the vegetable field, Mr. Zhao sighed and gloated: "It's such a good thing, tsk tsk. It's a pity that this land has been ruined. I don't know which unlucky guy it belongs to."

Looking at the destroyed vegetable field, Zhao Kang had a bad taste like when he was a child and used firecrackers to blow up cesspools.

"That...Master." Zhang Long hesitated before speaking.

Zhao Kang turned around and said with a smile: "What's wrong?"

"Uh... this land seems to be yours." Zhang Long said cautiously.

Zhang Kang: "..."

I****************
A group of government workers backed away: "Master..."

"You didn't notify me in advance about such a big thing. Sir, I'm very angry now! Everyone is fined ten cents!" Zhao Kang said angrily.

Zhang Long felt aggrieved: "You didn't say this thing was so scary."

"If you dare to talk back, Zhang Long will be fined an extra ten cents! Find someone to replant my land immediately. I won't be able to eat fresh vegetables tomorrow. I'll take it from you!"

With some depression, Zhao Kang returned to the county town. As soon as he entered the city, he hurried to the warehouse and told the people in the warehouse to keep the sulfur and saltpeter well. He was absolutely not allowed to go near the open fire. No one was allowed to enter or leave the warehouse without his permission.

As for making black gunpowder, there is no rush. The materials are all there, so there is nothing to worry about.If all these hundreds of kilograms of sulfur, soil, saltpetre, and charcoal were turned into black powder, Zhao Kang would be afraid that he would not be able to sleep. It would be fun if he went to heaven in his dream one day.

Returning to the county government office, Gao Quan, who was in charge of the human resources of various factories in Yuanjiang County, asked for an audience.

This is the human resources director he appointed, responsible for the dispatch of workers in various factories. In Yuanjiang County, it can be said that one person is less than ten thousand people.

At the beginning, he was also the confidant who followed Zhao Kang and tightened his belt to resist.

After yawning, Zhao Kang motioned Gao Quan to sit down and said, "Let's talk about something."

Gao Quan said respectfully: "Master, we don't have enough people. Should we consider recruiting some people from other places?"

Zhao Kang frowned slightly: "Our county now has almost 5 people, right? It's not enough?"

Gao Quan spread his hands helplessly: "Sir, there are only six tea factories, brick factories, soap factories, textile factories, cement factories, and porcelain factories in our county. And these are only those in the county."

"Where are the charcoal and fertilizer factories that have been moved to the mountains outside the city and don't need people? The fields outside the city also need people to cultivate, right? I have replaced the cleaning team and discipline team in the city with elderly people."

"Okay, okay, stop chanting, my head hurts."

Zhao Kang rolled his eyes.

Gao Quan said at a loss of whether to laugh or cry: "So, even though our county has a large population, the elderly, weak, women and children account for two-thirds, and the remaining young and strong laborers have also been assigned, so we have to replenish the population."

"It seems that we really need some planning."

Zhao Kang's eyes rolled up: "Tianshui County next door should have calmed down during this time, right?"

Gao Quan's eyebrows jumped: "This is not good. What if I catch a sheep and force the guy to file a complaint?"

There are at least 3000 people in Yuanjiang County who were originally from Tianshui County next door and were tricked and abducted by Zhao Kang.

After the war was settled, Zhao Kang's industry was in full swing and he was in urgent need of labor. At that time, he wanted to take Zhang Long and others with sacks and go to various counties to kidnap people.

The situation in Tianshui County next door was much better than that in Yuanjiang County. After the war, more than 1 refugees returned home. As a result, he was asked to lead people to trick people into coming to Yuanjiang County to work.

He defrauded more than 3000 people and almost forced the Tianshui County Magistrate to jump into the river.

The primary productive force in this era is not technology, but manpower!

Only when there are many people can we develop!

Listening to Gao Quan's words, Zhao Kang nodded: "That's true, what about Qinghe County?"

"Not to mention that place. The people we tricked in the past two years, when we got back, people from most of the county came to our place overnight, and it almost became Qinghe Township." Gao Quan laughed slyly.

Zhao Kang: "Then go to Linchuan County. This place is next to Jiangling Prefecture and there are a lot of people there."

Gao Quan nodded and asked quickly: "What should we do this time?"

Zhao Kang chuckled: "The old way is to recruit workers. After recruiting them, tell them that if they come to our Yuanjiang and settle down, they can enjoy all the benefits that locals should have. Every five people they recruit will be rewarded with one tael of silver, as much as we want! In our Yuanjiang County will allocate houses to them after five years of service! I don’t believe that he can still walk on our land!"

Zhao Kang and Gao Quan looked at each other and laughed slyly at the same time, like two foxes stealing a chicken.

(End of this chapter)