Chapter 894: Your Neighbor Is Yang Sichang
Daizhou is next to Yanmen Pass.
To the north, it connects to Xuanfu and Datong; to the south, it links to Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi.
The strategic importance of that location was obvious to anyone, let alone an exceptional middle school graduate.
Chen Yuanbo knew that by going to Daizhou, he could better serve the Heavenly Lord.
He sprang up, laughing to the strategists beside him: "Junior colleagues, I'm leaving, but you can't yet. The official coming to Wenshui County next—we don't know who it will be—but you must neutralize his authority! Keep Wenshui County firmly in Gao Family Village's grasp."
His junior colleagues chuckled: "Understood! Don't worry, Senior, we guarantee that the next magistrate of Wenshui County will see nothing but cooked books."
Chen Yuanbo shook his head, a smile playing on his lips: "I feel like we're being rather wicked."
His junior colleagues replied: "The Heavenly Lord once said that sometimes, to reach the right destination, one must take some wrong turns. Our methods may not be entirely above board, but they serve a righteous purpose."
Chen Yuanbo continued to caution them: "Things on the other side of the Yellow River have been quite turbulent recently. Although the bandits currently lack the capability to cross the river and fight, and our navy has long been stationed nearby, everyone must still pay careful attention to any movements across the river, guarding against a sudden crossing by bandits to attack Wenshui County. Should any bandit activity be detected, immediately call for naval reinforcements."
"Good then," Chen Yuanbo said with a sigh. "Ah, Wenshui County was the first place I truly took charge of after graduation. It feels like my own child. Leaving it now truly breaks my heart."
His junior colleagues teased: "Children are wonderful; isn't it better to have more? Go have your second, third, and fourth 'children,' hahahahaha!"
Chen Yuanbo couldn't help but smile. He quickly gathered his belongings, bidding farewell to his junior colleagues. First, he took a boat back to Puzhou, then transferred to a train in Puzhou, heading north...
This was a journey across Shanxi!
Previously, trains only went as far as Hejin County. From there, one had to transfer to a boat to continue northward. But Chen Yuanbo discovered that trains now reached Pingyang Prefecture directly.
Gao Family Village's railway network had expanded yet again.
Beyond Pingyang Prefecture, the railway was still under construction and not yet open. However, a concrete road had already been completed. Solar buses were already deployed there, so Chen Yuanbo boarded a familiar solar bus, feeling as if he had returned to his student days in Gao Family Village.
Every morning, he'd ride Gao Family Village's solar bus to school. And after school, he'd take the solar bus home.
Every evening, the last bus run was always a thrilling ride. The driver would repeatedly glance at the sun, then bark impatiently: "Get on and off quickly! No dawdling! Once the sun sets, you'll be walking home!"
Filled with memories, Chen Yuanbo arrived in Taiyuan.
Twenty *li* before reaching Taiyuan city, he caught a familiar scent. The outskirts outside the city were dotted with massive factories: ironworks, coal mines, cement plants, lime kilns...
These were all typical Gao Family Village-style factories. Sprawling across vast areas, each factory resembled a fortress.
Their walls stretched for *li* in every direction.
Banners hung at the factory gates. One read: "Dedicate wholeheartedly to production."
"Safety first in production, quality paramount."
"Strive for innovation, forge ahead with progress."
These slogans alone made it clear what was happening here.
Chen Yuanbo's heart swelled with emotion. Taiyuan Prefecture belongs to us now too.
He arrived at the prefectural city, swiftly dismounting from the solar bus. He hurried towards the Governor's Yamen. Reaching the entrance, he waved at a special forces soldier guarding the gate: "Hey, Xiao Wu, is that you?"
The soldier recognized Chen Yuanbo and immediately brightened: "Senior! What brings you to Taiyuan? I heard you were doing great work as a magistrate in Wenshui County."
"I've been transferred to Daizhou," Chen Yuanbo chuckled. "How come you're still a gate guard after all this time?"
Xiao Wu looked embarrassed: "Blame me for not studying hard enough; I couldn't keep up with you, Senior."
"Ah..." Chen Yuanbo patted his shoulder. "Later, I'll put in a request to transfer you to Daizhou. North of Daizhou are Xuanfu and Datong; there will likely be battles there in the future, giving you more opportunities to advance."
Xiao Wu was overjoyed: "Thank you, Senior!"
Xiao Wu went inside to announce him and soon returned. He led Chen Yuanbo in, where Wu Shen was buried amidst stacks of documents, whispering with San Shier, discussing official matters.
Chen Yuanbo saluted and stated his purpose.
San Shier smiled: "Yuanbo, your transfer order couldn't have come at a better time. It's truly perfect that Daizhou is sending you."
Chen Yuanbo said: "I'd like to propose a road construction plan for Taiyuan: to extend the highway from Taiyuan all the way to Daizhou. This subordinate would then have even greater confidence in Daizhou's development."
San Shier pondered for a moment, then looked at Wu Shen.
The latter nodded: "Daizhou is critically important; building a highway there is essential."
The two administrative leaders conferred briefly: "Very well, the road is approved for you."
Chen Yuanbo was ecstatic.
"Oh, right!" Wu Shen suddenly interjected. "After you go to Daizhou, there's something you need to be aware of."
Chen Yuanbo: "What is it?"
Wu Shen continued: "North of Daizhou is the territory of the Xuan-Da Command's Supreme Commander. The previous Supreme Commander of Xuan-Da, Zhang Zongheng, was dismissed for dereliction of duty during the Manchu invasion. And the new Supreme Commander of Xuan-Da, named Yang Sichang, requires particular attention."
Chen Yuanbo asked curiously: "Yang Sichang? I haven't heard that name before..."
Wu Shen explained: "This man is exceptionally capable. As soon as he arrived in Xuanfu and Datong, he immediately began to push forward with vigor. The first thing he intends to do is pacify the 'rebel factions' within Xuanfu and Datong."
Chen Yuanbo frowned: "Rebel factions?"
Wu Shen elaborated: "Xuanfu and Datong are extremely rich in mineral resources. Coal, iron, and other minerals have been mined there since ancient times. Originally, these were all under the court's control, but repeated Manchu invasions disrupted the court's hold over them. Now, Xuanfu and Datong are riddled with private mines, which are nominally illegal. The private mine owners have gathered miners, armed them, and each occupied a mountain stronghold. These are what they call the 'rebel factions'."
Hearing this, Chen Yuanbo couldn't help but chuckle: "Hahahaha! That's quite simple, isn't it... Couldn't the government just step forward, appease the private mine owners, and allow them to legally operate their mines?"
Wu Shen nodded: "Indeed! If we were to handle it, it would be quite simple: just formulate a good policy and offer some appeasement, and the miners' resistance would naturally dissipate. But... Yang Sichang..."
Chen Yuanbo asked: "He won't agree?"
Wu Shen explained: "Yang Sichang's father was named Yang He! He once served as Supreme Commander of three border regions, and upon taking office, he adopted a policy of appeasement towards the bandits. The result, as you know, was that his appeasement policy failed, the bandits grew uncontrollably, and Yang He was dismissed from his post and arrested."
Chen Yuanbo instantly understood: "Yang Sichang certainly doesn't want to repeat his father's mistakes."
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