Chapter 1170 Marshal Ye in the eyes of the county magistrate!

Listening to Ye Mingsheng's words, Ji County Magistrate Cheng Hanfei walked out of the Hou Family Courtyard in a daze and got on the carriage to go home...
Sitting in the carriage, Ye Mingsheng's words just now kept echoing in Cheng Hanfei's mind.

"The workers at Zhangji Textile Factory have to start work at 11:00 a.m. every morning and leave at 11:00 p.m. every evening. They work six hours a day and are not allowed to take a day off in thirty days a month!"

"Even so, these textile workers work so hard every month, but their income is only three taels of silver, right?"

These two sentences echoed in Cheng Hanfei's mind over and over again. At this time, the Ji County magistrate had no idea what Ye Mingsheng meant by these words?
Does the Marshal think that the wages of these textile workers are low?

Three qian of silver a month means three taels and six qian of silver a year. This salary is already quite high in a small place like Ji County. An ordinary family might only earn this much silver after tending to the crops for a year.

Because of this, Zhangji Textile Factory can be said to be a very popular place in Ji County. If you want to work there, you often have to have connections!
Thinking of this, Cheng Hanfei was even more puzzled. This Zhangji Textile Factory was a political achievement that he was proud of. He originally wanted to take the opportunity of the Marshal's southern tour to give it a good introduction and display!

But now the Zhangji Textile Factory is not very popular with the Marshal...
With such doubts, Cheng Hanfei returned home, got into bed and prepared to have a good sleep to recharge his energy for tomorrow's work.

However, as soon as Cheng Hanfei entered the bed, he heard the voice of his wife Wang.

"Ms. sir, you're back!"

"Ok!"

Cheng Hanfei responded casually and wanted to sleep. Although he didn't do any physical work today, when he thought that the Marshal was in Ji County, he felt excited and nervous, and his whole body was exhausted!

It was fine just now, but now as soon as he lay down, a feeling of fatigue immediately swept over his heart, so now he just wanted to have a good sleep!
Although Cheng Hanfei wanted to sleep at this time, his wife Wang didn't care about her husband's thoughts. She asked Cheng Hanfei with some excitement and curiosity:
"What does Marshal Ye look like? Is he as big and strong as the legend says, with a face full of flesh and courage that cannot be matched by ten thousand men?"

Listening to his wife Wang's words, Cheng Hanfei, who was exhausted, didn't want to answer at all and subconsciously chose to pretend to sleep, but Wang was pushing him on the bed and acting coquettishly:

"Husband, please tell me what the Marshal looks like! I haven't even met him yet!"

Although Cheng Hanfei wanted to pretend to be asleep, seeing that Wang Shi kept shaking him if he didn't say anything, Cheng Hanfei had to open his eyes and looked at his wife with some reproach····················
Seeing this, Wang not only did not understand Cheng Hanfei, but snorted in dissatisfaction and said:
"You swore to treat me well for the rest of your life in order to marry me, but now you don't want to answer me when I ask you something?"

"You are such a heartless person! I should have listened to my eldest brother and not married a bastard like you!"

At the end, Wang was even more furious and twisted Cheng Hanfei's arm. Although Cheng Hanfei was also angry at this time, he couldn't help but sighed when he heard Wang mention his elder brother, and said to Wang:

"Your eldest brother is a veteran of the Fengwu Army. If you want to know what the commander looks like, why don't you ask him?"

"I'm not asking my elder brother! I'm asking you, Cheng Hanfei!"

Seeing that Wang seemed to be getting excited again, Cheng Hanfei quickly recalled Ye Mingsheng's image and said:

"The Marshal is tall, but not as big and strong as the rumors say, and his face is not full of flesh. As for his courage, I don't know, but I think the Marshal doesn't need to fight the enemy himself now!"

"Compared to a general who commands thousands of troops, the Marshal is more like an elegant scholar, with a slender figure and a dignified appearance. His temperament is restrained and majestic!"

Hearing this, Wang nodded as if she understood, and then the woman seemed to have thought of something and asked:

"More like a scholar? Can he calm down the fierce Fengwu Army? My eldest brother and his men are really scary..."

Cheng Hanfei glanced at Wang in classical Chinese, and then said calmly:
"That's something you'll have to ask my uncles and nephews. But when they mention the Marshal, they're like mice seeing a cat. They're both respectful and in awe of him!"

"Alright! Alright! Go to sleep, my lady!"

"Ok!"

After satisfying his wife Wang's curiosity, Cheng Hanfei wanted to continue sleeping, but after his wife's tossing and turning, he didn't know why he was no longer sleepy and couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard he tried!

After tossing and turning for about an incense stick of time, Cheng Hanfei simply gave up sleeping and lay down on the bed, thinking about what Ye Mingsheng had said to him today.

Seeing Cheng Hanfei's worried face, Wang asked with concern:

"My husband, have you made any mistakes in front of the Marshal?"

"Don't worry, there will always be a way. If it doesn't work, I'll ask my elder brother to beg for mercy in front of the Marshal!"

Cheng Hanfei felt a little warm in his heart after hearing this, and then he shook his head and said:
"I didn't do anything wrong in front of the Marshal. I just don't understand the Marshal's thoughts!"

"What do you think, Marshal?"

"This is our men's business, and has nothing to do with you, a woman. Just go to sleep!"

"Husband, just tell me about it. As the old saying goes, three cobblers are better than Zhuge Liang. Although I, your wife, am not that smart, I am better than others. Tell me and let me give you some advice. I will definitely be able to help you..."

Although he didn't want his wife to worry about his affairs, Cheng Hanfei couldn't resist Wang's constant persuasion, and finally told Wang the story.

After listening to her husband's story, Wang said with some surprise:

"Photographer, what do you mean? Is Marshal Ye still a good official?"

Cheng Hanfei hesitated for a moment and said:
“Yes and no!”

"What do you mean, sir? If it's yes, it's yes. If it's no, it's no. How can it be both yes and no? What do you mean by this?"

Cheng Hanfei hesitated for a moment and said:
"As a subject, the first duty is to be loyal to the monarch and His Majesty!"

"But you know, everyone in the world says that Marshal Ye's intentions are known to everyone. Even a fool knows that Marshal Ye will definitely become the emperor in the future. As a minister, this is the greatest sin!"

Wang thought for a moment and said:
"That's right!" "My eldest brother said this before when he was drunk. Marshal Ye gave gifts and built relationships when he was in the Imperial Guard. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to become General Huwei, the commander-in-chief of Fengzhou, when he came to Liaoyang!"

"My lady, you can't say this outside. It's very disrespectful!"

"Don't worry, my husband. Your wife is not stupid. How could she say such things outside? My husband, please continue. Since Marshal Ye committed the greatest crime, how can he still be a good official?"

Cheng Hanfei sorted out his thoughts and said slowly:
“Although Marshal Ye is a traitor who holds the emperor hostage to control the princes for the sake of the Great Zhou, but to the people of the world, Marshal Ye may be the best official in the world…”

"Since the Fengwu Army entered the pass, Marshal Ye has worked hard to govern the country and rectify the administration of officials. The lives of the people have obviously improved, and all the corrupt officials and bullies have been punished!"

At this point, Cheng Hanfei said with some self-mockery:

"Even those of us who are officials have seen a significant salary increase!"

Hearing this, Wang couldn't help but roll her eyes at him and said:
"Although you officials had low salaries before, you still have various kinds of filial piety now, and these filial piety are much higher than your salaries!"

"Now, although the salary has increased a lot, the inspections are getting stricter and stricter. You officials don't even dare to accept filial piety. The women who played cards with me all said that their family income has decreased a lot!"

Cheng Hanfei waved his hand and said:
"Although you have been filial in the past, it is not something that can be seen in public. If the higher-ups want to get you, they will use this as an excuse, and they will always come up with it. You won't be able to say anything!"

"Although the salary now is not as much as the silver I gave as a filial tribute before, it is clean and aboveboard. No one can use this matter to make a fuss!"

Speaking of this, Cheng Hanfei said with some emotion:

“To be honest, I hope Marshal Ye will be the emperor. At least he selects his generals based on their abilities. It’s unlike in the past where if you didn’t have a good family background or a good father, you would never have a chance to succeed…”

"My husband, since you speak so highly of Marshal Ye, what are you worried about?"

"If you ask me, since the Marshal intends to raise the wages of those workers, you should call that Fatty Zhang over now and raise the wages of those workers tonight. When Marshal Ye comes to inspect tomorrow, let Ye Mingsheng see your ability to do things!"

Hearing this, Cheng Hanfei smiled bitterly, shook his head and said:

"You woman think it's too simple, it's not that easy!"

Wang asked in confusion:

"Why is it not easy?"

"The money earned by Zhang's Textile Factory didn't go into your pocket, Cheng Hanfei, and you, Cheng Hanfei, didn't take the money that Fatty Zhang gave you. Even if Marshal Ye asks about it, we are not afraid!"

Hearing Wang's words, Cheng Hanfei smiled bitterly again. Seeing this, Wang also advised:
"My husband, I would tell you not to think too much. Before, Wang reported you, and the Censorate sent people to investigate you. Everyone said that you, Cheng Hanfei, were going to get into trouble and be finished, but in the end, you were still safe and sound!"

"Hundreds of thousands of people in Ji County all know that you, Cheng Hanfei, are an honest official, a good official!"

"In the past, during the spring ploughing season, the county magistrate would drink tea at the county government office. Now you go to the rice fields to command and take charge, and you don't go home for days. You have also exceeded the taxation tasks assigned by the higher authorities!"

“I think that as long as Marshal Ye is not blind, he will definitely know that you, Cheng Hanfei, are a capable person and will promote you to a high-ranking official…”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Hanfei quickly blocked Wang's mouth and reminded her:

"You are being disrespectful! Stop thinking too much, woman, and go to bed!"

"Yes! Husband, give me a hug!"

Although she stopped the lady from continuing speaking, it is no exaggeration to say that Wang's words touched Cheng Hanfei's heart!

Cheng Hanfei thought to himself that he was capable, and the people in Ji County had spoken very highly of him in recent years. Thinking of this, Cheng Hanfei no longer felt any worries and fell asleep peacefully.

After a good sleep, Cheng Hanfei came to the Hou family compound early in the morning to wait. After Ye Mingsheng had breakfast, he brought a group of people to the Zhangji Textile Factory!
Although it was called a factory, it was actually just a large workshop. Knowing that Ye Mingsheng was coming, the factory stopped operating. Led by the owner Zhang Hui, hundreds of textile workers came together to welcome him.

"I, Zhang Hui, pay my respects to Marshal Ye! Long live Marshal Ye, long live him!"

Looking at Zhang Hui's fawning look, Ye Mingsheng nodded and walked into the workshop, where there were dozens of looms.

Because Ye Mingsheng had seen these looms in the Second Manufacturing Bureau before, he took a quick look at them and then shifted his attention to Zhang Hui, a middle-aged man with a big belly...
Ye Mingsheng asked Zhang Hui how long it took to produce a piece of cloth, where it was sold, how much silver it sold for, whether the business was good, etc. Although Zhang Hui had a fawning look on his face, he was also a very shrewd businessman. He answered Ye Mingsheng's questions without hesitation, and it was obvious that he knew all about these business matters!

After listening to Zhang Hui's story, Ye Mingsheng immediately asked him:
"According to what you said, Mr. Zhang, your textile factory can earn at least five thousand taels of silver a year!"

Zhang Hui said flatteringly:
"Thanks to the Marshal's blessing, after deducting the cost of labor and materials, our textile factory earned 7,531 taels of silver last year!"

Listening to Zhang Hui's words, Ye Mingsheng smiled and continued:

"So, after deducting the taxes, at least five thousand taels of silver went into your pocket, Mr. Zhang?"

As soon as Zhang Hui heard this, he wanted to say something, but when the words came to his lips, he seemed to have thought of something, and then looked at the county magistrate Cheng Hanfei beside him!
Seeing Zhang Hui looking at him, Cheng Hanfei was also a little annoyed. Just when he was about to say something, Ye Mingsheng's face changed and he said coldly:

"Zhang Hui, just say whatever you want to say! If you tell even a lie, you know the consequences!"

Hearing Ye Mingsheng's words, Zhang Hui was immediately frightened and said quickly:

"In reply to Marshal Ye, the bulk of the money was not put into my pocket..."

(End of this chapter)