Raising chickens and pigs and digging for wild vegetables, the county magistrate's promotion wa

Chapter 273 What the hell is going on here?

"This is the capital of the Ming Dynasty."

As Magistrate Yang gazed at the city walls of Nanjing from afar, he was momentarily speechless, unable to compose any flowery words to praise the city. All that remained in his mind was the word "amazing."

Seeing the shocked look on Magistrate Yang's face, Chang Mao couldn't help but grin and say, "Let's go, Brother Yang, let's go into the city and settle in first."

Magistrate Yang then came to his senses and said, "Oh, thank you for your trouble, Young Master Chang."

As expected of my brother-in-law, he handled things flawlessly, even arranging for the two Chang brothers to come to Dinghuai Gate to welcome his brother-in-law.

Chang Mao feigned displeasure and said, "My brother and I have been to Ningyang County more than once or twice, and we've never been polite to Brother Yang. Now that Brother Yang is being so courteous to us, how can we face going to Ningyang County again?"

As the Chang brothers, Chang Mao and Chang Sheng, entered the city, Chen Zhong, who was accompanying Magistrate Yang, said with a smile, "Magistrate Yang, what do you think of this capital city?"

As Magistrate Yang looked around at the streets of Nanjing, he exclaimed, "It is truly magnificent! The city wall we just saw is even more breathtaking."

Nanjing was indeed superior. Even the section of Shuntian Prefecture city wall that Magistrate Yang had personally witnessed in his previous life was hundreds of streets inferior to Nanjing.

Not to mention Ningyang County, where not even a complete section of the city wall can be found.

What Magistrate Yang envied even more was the sheer number of people in Nanjing and the constant activity at construction sites everywhere.

To say it was shoulder to shoulder would be pure nonsense, but to say it was bustling with activity would not be an exaggeration at all.

Magistrate Yang felt that if Ningyang County had half or even a tenth of the population of Nanjing City, he wouldn't have to worry about not having enough manpower every day.

I just don't know if we can get some more manpower from Old Deng this time?

The second year of Hongwu is almost over, and next year will be the third year of Hongwu. Old Deng should be preparing to relocate people from Shanxi, right?

While pondering his thoughts, Magistrate Yang followed the Chang brothers through the streets and alleys.

"These are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. Further ahead are the Astronomical Observatory and the Ten Temples. There's nothing interesting or fun about these places."

"This is Heming Temple. Ahead is the Imperial Academy, which is full of poor, pedantic scholars. They all deserve a beating."

"..."

"I heard that the Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Works, and the Imperial Observatory are discussing the construction of four walls: the palace city, the imperial city, the capital city, and the outer city. It will take more than twenty years to complete the project."

As Chang Mao and Chang Sheng led Magistrate Yang forward, they told him about the situation in Nanjing. Chang Mao got more and more excited as he talked, and suddenly said, "When you come back in a few years, Brother Yang, the two of us brothers will take you to see the Qinhuai River."

Chen Zhong's face immediately darkened, and he coughed heavily, saying, "Young Master Chang, please be careful with your words. Chang Pingzhang is still in the capital recently."

Chang Mao immediately shut his mouth, feeling a deep sense of regret for Magistrate Yang.

It's a pity that Brother Yang is going to marry two princesses, so a beautiful place like the Qinhuai River is out of his reach.

Chang Mao shook his head slightly and simply focused on leading Magistrate Yang forward.

After walking for quite a while, the Chang brothers stopped in front of a courtyard with its gate wide open. "This courtyard was arranged by His Highness in advance, and all the servants who need to clean and serve in the courtyard have been arranged. Brother Yang, please feel free to stay here."

At this point, Chang Mao pointed to the courtyard across the street with the plaque that read "Chang Residence," and said, "That's my home. My father has already ordered a banquet to be prepared. Once Brother Yang is settled, I will come over to invite him."

What happened next had nothing to do with Chang Mao and Chang Sheng, because this courtyard was prepared by Zhu Biao for Magistrate Yang, so it was a private residence before Magistrate Yang moved out.

It is considered very impolite to visit someone's home without sending a formal invitation or receiving one, unless the two families are so close that "the wife can walk right through the house without any taboo."

Magistrate Yang knew some of the etiquette in this regard, but he never expected that Zhu Biao would arrange his residence to be opposite Chang Yuchun's house.

That was Chang Yuchun, the victim whose son stole ten small dragon balls.

Although I managed to get away with it last time in Ningyang County, now that I've delivered myself to their doorstep, who knows if Chang Heitan will remember those ten small dragon balls again?

After seeing the Chang brothers off, Magistrate Yang followed Chen Zhong into the courtyard.

Then, Magistrate Yang watched as dozens of people stood in the front yard, bowing to him in unison under the leadership of an old man, saying, "Welcome back to the mansion, sir."

Although Chang Mao had already said that all the cleaning and tidying servants had been arranged, Magistrate Yang was still somewhat bewildered after actually seeing the so-called "servants" in the courtyard.

More than a hundred people calling me "Master"?

Corruption, utter corruption! If everyone uses this to test me, how can I possibly withstand it?

Chen Zhong continued to say to Magistrate Yang, "These people were arranged before I went to Ningyang County. However, apart from the steward and the guards, the rest were not indentured servants, but were hired."

Magistrate Yang sensed something was amiss from Chen Zhong's words.

The "servants" that Zhu Biao had prepared were not people who had sold themselves into the household, but rather people who had been hired with money.

This is somewhat absurd, since the Ming Dynasty never prohibited the buying and selling of slaves, and Zhu Biao certainly couldn't afford to buy some slaves.

In other words, although he hadn't heard any rumors or received any official documents, Zhu Chongba, that old scoundrel, was very likely to make a fuss about the servant's indenture.

Does Old Deng want to abolish slavery?

If so, did the officials in the capital also guess it?

Just as Magistrate Yang was pondering this in his mind, Chen Zhong called over the "steward" standing at the front of the crowd and said to Magistrate Yang, "This is Xu Zhong. Like me, he comes from the palace and will be a eunuch in the Princess's residence from now on. Magistrate Yang, please feel free to ask him for anything."

"..."

After explaining everything in detail to Magistrate Yang, Chen Zhong smiled and said to Magistrate Yang, "Magistrate Yang, please settle in first. This servant also needs to return to the palace to report."

After a slight pause, Chen Zhong continued, "Lord Yang, please don't forget to report to the Ministry of Personnel first thing tomorrow morning."

Performance review?

What job is being described?

I'm just a mere sixth-rank county magistrate, why do I have to go to the Ministry of Rites to report for duty?

Nobody told me I came to the capital, you bastards!

Well, tonight I have to face Chang Yuchun's dark face, and tomorrow I have to go to the Ministry of Personnel. What the hell is going on?