The runner still had much more to say, determined to keep them all in this county, but the county magistrate had returned…

The runner could only regretfully stop talking, using eyes full of affection to look at them. “If you want to register as residents, you must come find me.”

This was all his achievement, after all.

Liang County’s magistrate was Zhang Ce. He was among the early students in the school who had both father and mother and had previously studied. However, he was a fervent admirer of Zhao Hanzhang and Fu Tinghan, and he had been fortunate enough to attend their classes – especially Fu Tinghan’s mathematics, which he had attended for eighteen sessions!

Therefore, he was very familiar with Fu Tinghan and considered himself the latter’s disciple. At first glance seeing Fu Yong, he perceived the resemblance in their features.

But he didn’t believe the other party, because there were always some evil people in this world who fantasized about breaking up his two teachers, thereby creating conflict between them and splitting the country. He had heard that in one county, a handsome man had appeared who actually bore five parts resemblance to Teacher Fu, claiming to be Teacher Fu’s half-brother from a different mother, requesting the county yamen send him to Luoyang to seek refuge with relatives.

Fortunately, that county’s magistrate had also come from the school. Hmph, who didn’t know this kind of trick? How could they be so easily fooled?

At this moment, Zhang Ce looked Fu Yong up and down with sharp eyes, wanting to see guilt on his face. “You say you have what relationship with Minister Fu?”

Fu Yong replied, “Cousins. Our grandfather was from Beidi’s Fu clan, named Zhi. My father’s name is Chang, ranked second in the family.”

Zhang Ce was slightly surprised. He had actually stated it in such detail, making him somewhat believe it. How should he handle this?

Zhang Ce’s expression softened slightly as he asked, “How did you come to be here?”

Fu Yong explained, “My father was the magistrate of Heyin County. In the second month of the second year of Yongjia, the Xiongnu came south and Heyin City fell. My father fled with the city’s people. On the way, we encountered the main Xiongnu army and had no choice but to take refuge in the mountains, only emerging now.”

Zhang Ce was surprised. “You stayed in the mountains the whole time without coming out?”

“Yes.” Fu Yong asked, “So this year is the fifth year of Yongjia, correct?”

When Zhang Ce heard this, he believed it three parts more, because – among Dajin’s common people, who would still want to use the Yongjia era name now?

Although Emperor Yongjia had no particular faults, but… during the Yongjia period, they had truly suffered terribly. No one wanted to continue living in the Yongjia years.

Zhang Ce said, “This year is the first year of Jianxing. The late emperor, he… was captured by the Xiongnu last year and killed by the Xiongnu’s Liu Cong. The current emperor is descended from the Prince of Wu.”

Fu Yong and Fu Hong’s mouths dropped open.

Fu Yong swallowed and carefully asked, “I heard the runner mention some national policies – the current emperor could be called an enlightened ruler.”

Zhang Ce grew somewhat happier and said, “The national policies were all established by the Great General. The emperor is young, but he has the advantage of being obedient.”

He looked Fu Yong up and down, believing them a bit more. “Do you know who the Great General is?”

Fu Yong and Fu Hong already had some guess after seeing the portrait. “Could it be Zhao Hanzhang of Xiping?”

Zhang Ce’s lips curved upward. “Exactly – Teacher Zhao. She is also my teacher. Ah, if only you had come out earlier. Provincial Governor Fu passed away from illness not long ago.”

Speaking of this, Zhang Ce put away the smile on his face and asked, “I wonder where Second Master Fu currently is? There is a Doctor Shen from the capital in the vicinity. I can ask him to escort you gentlemen back to the capital.”

They had already received word from Fu Tinghan asking them to search for people skilled in water management. Rumor had it that several young masters of the Fu family were all skilled in water management, with Second Master Fu being the best.

Whether this Fu Chang was truly Fu Chang, just have him talk with Doctor Shen and they would know. People could be faked, but knowledge and learning could not.

First draw the person out.

Fu Yong said, “My father is still in the mountains. We came out because we lacked farming tools in the mountains – after all, when the Xiongnu army came with such overwhelming force, we had lived in the mountains for so long not knowing how the outside world had changed.”

Zhang Ce expressed understanding, then decided to send people with them into the mountains to bring everyone out. “How can life in the mountains compare to outside? Transportation is inconvenient – even buying salt requires two days of travel. It’s too hard. Better to have them all move out. No need to worry about cultivation – I’ll allocate them sufficient farmland.”

Fu Yong didn’t respond, only smiled and said, “Please allow me to discuss this with my family.”

Fu Yong still didn’t quite trust Zhang Ce and this new regime, even though it still bore the name “Jin.” But he always felt it was no longer Jin.

Moreover, the people in the mountains had been self-sufficient there for years. He feared they wouldn’t want to come out. Forcing them out might lead to unfortunate events.

Fu Yong went out and discussed with his companions. They finally decided to temporarily stay in Liang County – first, to learn more about this new world; second, to buy farming tools and salt.

Zhang Ce was very generous, helping them settle in.

The next day, Fu Yong went to inquire about grain prices.

The beans had all been harvested, and wheat was also being reaped. Grain prices had already fallen back, even lower than three years ago during the warfare.

However, the wheat Fu Yong’s group had brought out was very good quality and still sold for a good price. He then led people to the medicine shop and sold all the medicinal materials they had brought, before finally going to buy farming tools.

He discovered that farming tools had also become different.

Because he had rarely farmed before, this time when buying farming tools he brought five young men who were the best at farming and had been involved in cultivation since childhood. They stood in the farming tool shop with wide eyes.

“This plow is different. The one I used before wasn’t like this. Here, here should be straight.”

The shop assistant glanced over and said, “Plows have long been different. Using this one is more labor-saving. Straight plows haven’t been used for ages.”

“What’s this?” A young man held up a tool.

The assistant replied, “Weeding claw. It can weed and also hoe the earth. Using it is even more labor-saving than a hoe. It just arrived – the Sinong Bureau under the Ministry of Works in Luoyang only recently provided the blueprints. Our county immediately made them. The neighboring county doesn’t have them yet.”

A young man picked up a hoe. “This one hasn’t changed, but this iron… it’s really beautiful.”

“Of course! This is iron from Luoyang’s iron mines, made using a special smelting method. This hoe is extremely high quality, better than anywhere else.” The assistant was very proud, though the price was also slightly higher. He asked, “How many items will you buy?”

Fu Yong asked the price, then quietly asked the young men, “Is this price high or low?”

The young men’s eyes lit up as they immediately whispered, “Low, low! Much lower than before.”

Hearing this, Fu Yong immediately waved his hand. “Give us five sets of plows, twenty hoes, twenty weeding claws…”

The assistant’s eyes nearly disappeared from smiling. He grabbed an abacus and skillfully calculated the price, then extended his hand. “Gentlemen, please show your household registers and certificates from your village.”

Fu Yong was stunned. “Why do we need household registers and certificates?”

The assistant heard this and looked at them suspiciously. “Why wouldn’t you need household registers and certificates? You’re buying so many farming tools – you must be buying collectively. You can’t possibly need this many tools for just your own household, right? Since you’re buying collectively, there should be a certificate. Without looking at the household register, how do we know who you are? What if you’re bad people who buy farming tools to smelt into weapons for rebellion?”

Not only did buying farming tools require household registers – buying iron kitchen utensils also required them, such as iron woks!

The assistant saw they couldn’t produce them and immediately backed away, retreating out of the shop before shouting loudly. Immediately over ten residents rushed over and escorted them to the county yamen.