Wei Wuji sighed: "I think the world is in good shape when the founding of the Great Qin Kingdom was in full swing. I was studying in a fashionable way. It is said that the Great Qin would go to a prosperous era under the leadership of the emperor. But I never thought that in just twenty years, the world...!" He shook his head with confusion on his face, full of regret.

"The world is in chaos, and the northwest will not be peaceful." Pei Ji's expression became serious and stared at Chu Huan. "Second brother, there is a wolf in the northwest. He has been waiting for the opportunity. Now the time has not come. Once the time comes, he will definitely open his bloody mouth and swallow the northwest."

Chu Huan understood what Pei Ji meant and knew that the "wolf" mentioned in Pei Ji could only be Zhu Lingyue, the governor of Tianshan Road.

"Director Chu, in fact, I came to the northwest to join the northwest this time, not to ask for protection from the adults." Wei Wuji hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Mr. Wei actually wanted to...be under the command of the Chu governor to show his ambitions. Although Wuji's career has never been smooth and it is very bumpy, but... But Wuji has thought that Chu governor is generous, and Wuji may be able to do something for the adults in the northwest...!"

Chu Huan knew that he wanted to manage Xiguan, but what he lacked was a large number of outstanding talents. Although Wei Wuji was in a downturn, he still looked quite talented. It was not difficult to arrange an errand for him in Xiguan. He even immediately thought in his mind that there was not enough manpower in the New Salt Bureau. Although the salt road was not yet operating, the factory was built and he would immediately start making salt. The New Salt Bureau would soon become one of the busiest yamen in Xiguan.

He was about to mention the errand of the New Salt Bureau with Wei Wuji. When Wei Wuji saw Chu Huan silent, he felt that Chu Huan was embarrassed and said, "Duke Chu, Wuji came from Hebei to the northwest and entered the territory of Xiguan. Along the way, he saw many fields desolate and no one was farming. Did Chu Dou think about how to solve these problems?"

Chu Huan was stunned.

He had been in Xiguan for a short time. In addition to dealing with Zhu Dang and the gentry of Beishan, he devoted the most energy to the task, one was building a factory to make salt, the other was building an army, and the other was the response to the plague that was still underway.

As for the fields, he also knew in his heart that after the war in Xiguan, a large number of fields were deserted. Although the gentry of Beishan and many local gentry in Xiguan had already cultivated the land, the area of ​​cultivated land in Xiguan was huge, and the land was of different quality and disadvantages. Most of the land that was cultivated was relatively fertile fertile fields in Xiguan, and the area of ​​cultivation was relatively small.

"Xiguan has just passed the war. During the war, countless people in Xiguan died under the iron hoofs of the people of Xiliang. In addition, many people have wandered in foreign lands. Although some people have returned to their hometowns, a large number of people are still wandering outside." Wei Wuji said seriously: "The three paths of Xiguan, in terms of area and population, Xiguan is naturally the first, but Chu Duke should notice that a large number of people in Xiguan are wandering in Tianshan and Beishan. The population of Xiguan is no longer comparable to those before the war."

Chu Huan and Pei Ji looked at each other, and their eyes were full of surprise. Both of them had noticed this problem, but they had specialized in their profession. Chu Huan wanted to eradicate the hostile forces in Xiguan and revitalize the economy of Xiguan. Pei Ji's focus was on building an elite legion for Chu Huan that could stabilize the foundation in Xiguan.

Wei Wuji mentioned the population issue at this time, which is actually a fundamental issue.

When Wei Wuji saw Chu Huan and Pei Ji both looked at him seriously, obviously listening carefully, he immediately said: "If Chu governor wants to revitalize Xiguan, population is indispensable. You don't know whether you have heard about the reforms of the pre-Qin Dynasty. Shang Yang, a great master of Qin, once said that there is no benefit in the people who live in the land and the people who live in the land. There is no need to be rich and strong in the vast land, and the people who live in the narrow land may not be poor and weak. If you want to be strong, the most important part is whether you can effectively exert the effectiveness of population and land."

Chu Huan's eyes showed glory. His previous impression of Wei Wuji was just that he was a scholar with a lot of affection. However, after these words, Chu Huan suddenly felt that he was likely to underestimate this scholar who had been depressed and unsuccessful.

"What are the great opinions of Mr. Wuji?" Pei Ji asked with a smile on his face.

"If the Chu governor wants to restore the vitality of Xiguan, it is naturally necessary to light taxes and taxes." Wei Wuji said solemnly: "But if Xiguan wants to make Xiguan rich and strong, he should make full use of the population and land so that they can best combine together and produce the greatest effect. The population in the northwest is large and sparsely populated. Xiguan has undergone wars and countless casualties, and a large number of refugees are outflowing. Although Wuji first came to Xiguan, Wuji thought that the current Xiguan is large and sparsely populated. This is what Daliangzao said in his mouth that the land is overwhelming and the arable land is not fully utilized, and a large amount of wasteland appears, which is of no benefit to the revitalization of Xiguan."

Chu Huan thoughtfully said, "What Mr. Wuji means is that Xiguan is short of manpower now?"

"Shu Wuji said frankly that the population has dropped sharply, and for Xiguan, it is even a disaster that is even more serious than a war." Wei Wuji looked solemn. "After Wuji entered the pass, he passed by Qingzhou, Beishan, and saw many Xiguan refugees in Qingzhou. Wuji also talked to many people at that time and asked them why they did not return to their hometown. He also knew a little about their thoughts."

Chu Huan nodded and said, "When I came to take office, I also saw a large number of refugees in Qingzhou. Judging from their situation, they seemed not ready to return home." After a pause, he asked, "Young Master Wuji, are they worried that the people of Xiliang will call again?"

Wei Wuji raised his hand and waved his hand, "Du Chu has never cultivated the land and does not understand the farmers' feelings for the land." Suddenly, he felt that his words were a little abrupt and said awkwardly: "Du Chu, what I mean is...!"

Chu Huan smiled and said, "Young Master Wuji has something to say, but it's okay to say it. We are sitting here and talking now, just friends, without any restraint."

Wei Wuji was relieved and then said, "Just like the pen of a scholar or the scale of a merchant, this field is the lifeblood of the people. Who would be willing to live outside unless he was absolutely sure?"

"Then why don't they return to their hometown?"

"Actually, the reason is very simple. Many people think that even if they return to their hometown, they will not be able to survive." Wei Wuji sighed: "There is land but no food, and if there is no land, how many people starve to death, the people are not afraid of swords and guns, but they are afraid of no food. The three roads of Xiguan, the soldiers of Xiliang invaded our Qin State and almost occupied the entire Xiguan territory. On the contrary, the two roads of the North Mountain of Tianshan were in danger, and the iron hoof of Xiliang did not enter their territory, so their production was not destroyed. How many land gentry in Xiguan were destroyed and their property was looted. Although the gentry in Beishan and Tianshan were robbed during the war, their vitality was not damaged...!" After a pause, he said: "Otherwise, the gentry in Beishan would not have such financial resources to pour into Xiguan and spend a lot of money."

Chu Huan nodded slightly, and Pei Ji was also thinking.

"So when the autumn harvest is reached, the harvest of Beishan and Tianshan will not have much impact, at least they will not starve people to death. The refugees in Xiguan also said that even if they beg, they will probably get a few bites of food. However, when they return to Xiguan, there is no place to go to beg." Wei Wuji smiled bitterly: "Among the people who returned to Xiguan, most of them have small farmers with their own thin fields. Many of the tenants who rented land stayed in Beishan and Tianshan to farm for the local landlords and gentry. At the beginning, those tenants farmed for landlords and gentry, but at the end of the year, they could still leave a few percent. Now the refugees in Xiguan are farming on their side, with harsh conditions and cannot get a bucket of grain at the end of the year, but the employer can give them some soup and water every day to let them survive."

Chu Huan sighed. He had no research on this before, but he also knew a little that the people at the bottom of the empire were divided into small farmers and tenant farmers. Small farmers all had their own fields, but the number was very small. After paying taxes, they could still leave some siloed grain. Tenant farmers, without their own fields, could only farm for wealthy families. In fact, they were renting fields and growing grain. Compared with small farmers, in addition to paying taxes to the government, they also had to pay most of the harvest to their employers as rent. Throughout the year, there was only a few left and they could barely make a living.

As for slaves, they are like cattle, sheep and livestock, which can be traded freely. Their own bodies do not belong to them, let alone own things.

Pei Ji listened for a long time and suddenly spoke: "Young Master Wuji said it well. Population is the top priority. Whether it is production and construction, even if it is recruitment, it requires a large population. Today, Xiguan, as Mr. Wuji said, a large amount of land is deserted and the population has dropped sharply... This is definitely not a good thing for Xiguan."

Chu Huan said with some worries: "Refugees are living outside, so you can't tie them back with a rope?" He smiled bitterly: "Many people have already settled in it, and I'm afraid they have lost their heart to return to their hometown."

"Since Mr. Wuji talks about this issue, I believe he has been thinking about it for a long time." Pei Ji looked at Wei Wuji, "What good recipe does Mr. Wuji have to resolve this situation?"

Wei Wuji sighed: "Actually, many years ago, Master Chen and I... Oh, Master Chen is a family teacher. At that time, he said to Wuji, the lord...!" He seemed to feel a little inappropriate, looked at Chu Huan and did not dare to continue speaking. Chu Huan said again: "Young Master Wuji can speak freely and not be restrained."

Wei Wuji then said: "The emperor was obsessed with practicing Taoism, and his taxes increased day by day. The family master said at that time that the prosperity of the country would soon change. The people would not be able to fill their stomachs and do not cover their bodies, so they would never have the intention to engage in production. What the master said has come true. Several years ago, many lands in the empire began to be desolate, and many people were forced to become bandits...!"

"Where is the Master Ling now?"

Wei Wuji smiled bitterly and said, "My master passed away three years ago. After he passed away, Wuji went to the capital to serve the court. It's a pity..." He shook his head and sighed, "Wuji has the heart to serve the country, but he has no way to serve the country. The country's plan left by his master has never been useful. Later, he left Beijing and went to Hebei. He wanted to show his ambitions in Hebei, but... he still did nothing..."

Chu Huan immediately asked, "What is the plan for governing the country?"

Wei Wuji raised his head, his eyes shining, "The master's plan to govern the country is to deal with the current situation in Xiguan. Wuji came here this time and only hoped to show his ambitions under the command of the Chu governor. Wuji believed that as long as the Chu governor adopts this strategy, it will not only allow the refugees living in Xiguan who are wandering abroad to return in a steady stream, but also solve the current situation of a large number of desolate fields."
Chapter completed!