“Hmm, you're right, each county covers an area of more than ten thousand hectares, and those larger ones would cover twenty or thirty thousand hectares. Except the counties, towns, villages, mountains and fertile land, rivers and basin, the rest was at least three thousand hectares of half-saline land, and it was just in one county. Through the whole territory of Cangzhou, there were one hundred and twenty counties, over half of which couldn’t grow things because of the inland sea tributaries, this number was large, and not just Cangzhou, other states near the sea also more or less faced the same problem. If you really can use those lands all, perhaps even His Majesty would reward you.”
Yan Shengrui who was walking with Ling Jingxuan shoulder by shoulder, said deeply, with his tiger eyes unconsciously darkened. Perhaps, before he lost his memories, as the owner of this territory, should also have felt annoyed on this thing.
“His…His Majesty? No way!”
Hearing that, Han Fei nearly popped his eyes out, and his footsteps also stopped. Except Ling Jingxuan, other people's reaction was no better. Now it was still a question whether they could have a chance to see the magistrate, while he directly dragged the noblest one of the whole Qing Kingdom into this? Trying to scare them to death, huh?
“Hehe…He is just making a metaphor. His Majesty attends to numerous affairs everyday. How could he notice such small figures like us?”
Indignantly throwing someone his dagger eyes, Ling Jingxuan helplessly comforted them. Yeah. Why drag him into this? They are just some common farmers, OK?
“It’s OK. It’s OK. If even His Majesty notices us, I would definitely get scared to death.”
Exaggeratedly patting on his chest, Han Fei was still a little shaken. His Majesty was too far away for them. If they knew the one standing before them speaking so eloquently was His Majesty’s younger brother, how could they react? They’d definitely get their sh*t scared out.
“Daddy, hurry up, the boat is about to sail, we are all waiting for you.”
As they were chatting, they had passed through the village market, and those little buns who had already been at in the boat waved to them, because it wasn't market day today, and in this season, few people would go to town or county, so the two ferry boats were both empty. Ling Jingxuan and others took a look at each other and then paced their steps.
“Daddy, Uncle Boat said three copper coins per person, the cargo is extra charged.”
Before they approached, Ling Wen, the only who hadn’t boarded, ran to meet them, he grabbed Ling Jingxuan’s hand and quietly complained, and the already delicate little face showed undisguised sorry feeling for money. It only cost a copper coin taking an ox cart to town. Why would it cost three copper coins to go to the county? That’s apparently blackmailing.
“It’s OK. Anyway, we don't go to the county often. Just take it as taking a parade on the river.”
Hearing his son's quiet complaining, Ling Jingxuan reached out his hand to rub his head and then led him to walk again. Three copper coins were not expensive actually, but to those poor people and Ling Wen, it was expensive indeed.
“Hmm.”
Realizing that this money couldn’t be saved, Ling Wen did not say anything more, except that he still did not look good. Although it was not his money, he still could not help feeling distressed at the thought that thirteen of them amounted to nearly forty coppers.
“Hey bro, about how long can we get there?”
After paying and getting in, the boat that can hold 20 or 30 people left the ferry slowly. Ling Jingxuan didn't sit on the long stool inside with others, but stood side by side on the bow with Ling Jingxuan. Lingjing was the largest fresh-water river of Qing Kingdom, which almost ran through the whole kingdom, the tributaries extended in all directions, reaching many counties and towns, so, the water transport was relatively developed, but the agriculture was slightly insufficient due to the inner sea, and their national strength couldn't catch up with the rich Dong Kingdom and strong Xi Kingdom over the years.
“We are going against the current. It will take about an hour. So, Childe Ling, please go in and sit.”
The boat owner was a skinny man in his 40s, although he had heard about Ling Jingxuan’s things, he would never recognize him. Recently Ling Jingxuan had really made too much noise, like doing big businesses, buying land and building his manor and so on, so few people wouldn’t know him now.
“It’s fine. I’d like to enjoy the breeze here. Just take us as air.”
Smiling slightly, Ling Jingxuan held one hand behind while the other finger-crossed with Yan Shengrui’s. They were just standing there together like a heavenly-made match. Hearing him, the boat owner also couldn’t say anything more, so he just lowered his head and kept rowing.
“Brother Yan, look! Lingjiang River is getting bigger and bigger.”
This was the first time those little buns took a boat, so they were extra excited, especially Ling Wu who was very lively and active at usual times. Like a little monkey, he jumped and screamed, which made Chu Yan, Ling Wen and his footboy Zhou Changsheng worried, only afraid that he might fall into the river. So they were all staring at him without even blinking now.
“This is just a tributary of the Lingjiang River, the real mainstream of the Lingjiang River stretches to the horizon. Xiaowu, if you like, you can go have a look after growing up. And the sea, it much bigger and wider than Lingjiang! It’s said that no one has ever crossed it. So we don’t know what it is like on the other end.”
ραпdα nᴏνa| сom Holding his hand, Chu Yan gently explained, with naked yearning crawling into his eyes, if he can get real freedom, he really want to walk around and see, especially the other side of the sea.
“Really? I'll go, I'll go...”
Hearing his words, Ling Wu looked up excitedly. He was very interested in any unknown things.
“Well, if you want to go, you have to wait until you grow up. Now let's go and sit down. It will be bad if we fall into the river.”
Bending down and stretching out his hand to pet the little tip of his nose, Chu Yan held him with one hand, while the other holding Ling Wen, the three of them walked back side by side. And Zhou Changsheng and Song Xiaohu behind them quietly exhaled a long breath. Finally their little masters are safe!
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