The sun was shining brightly, and the cicadas on the trees were humming.
In the small courtyard, Guo Yi bare his upper body, revealing his strong muscles, and waved his fists tirelessly under the scorching sun.
Before the big beads of sweat fell on the ground, they were evaporated by the heat on Guo Yi's body, gradually forming a mist visible to the naked eye around Guo Yi.
The other followers in the yard were hiding under the shade of the trees, sitting together drinking tea, looking enviously at the heat surging around Guo Yi, but they were envious, but not yearning for it at all.
How difficult is it to be a great master? For them, it is as difficult as the road of Shu, as difficult as climbing to the sky.
Practice Sanjiu in winter and Sanfu in summer.
Without the secrets and techniques of internal training, it is simply unimaginable how difficult it is to simply train in martial arts and become a great master.
Even if he usually jokes, everyone knows how slim Guo Yi's hope of becoming a grand master is.
However, in recent times, everyone has clearly felt the qualitative transformation in Guo Yi.
"Still practicing!"
Zhou Niang walked into the yard carrying a wooden bucket, which was filled with clothes for them and others to change.
"Sanniang is here!!"
As soon as everyone saw Sanniang, they immediately stood up with smiles.
Although they are a group of rough old men who stink and sweat every day, in the past two weeks, everyone has gradually become accustomed to Zhou Niang's existence.
Although Sanniang looks ordinary, she is generous and clean. She arranges a series of trivial matters such as cooking, washing, cleaning, making tea and water every day in an orderly manner.
It was impossible to find a single fault, and even the people in the post house couldn't help but praise Sanniang.
"These are the clothes I washed yesterday. I brought them to you. The tea has been boiled in the kitchen. You can drink it yourself when you are thirsty later."
Sanniang said, taking out the clean clothes from the bucket.
The burlap clothes were washed cleanly, and after being dried in the sun, they still exuded a soapy scent when held in the hand.
The clothes this woman washes are more comfortable than those clumsy men like them.
After everyone thanked him for a while, Sanniang glanced at the room: "Where is the prince? Is he still sleeping?"
"Well, I didn't come back for a long time last night, so I'm probably still resting now."
"Well, building the river channel is not something that can be done in a day or two. The prince is so laborious and troublesome that he is not afraid of hurting his body. You don't follow my advice."
Sanniang couldn't help but feel worried.
"Hey, how can we persuade someone like the Crown Prince?"
When all the followers mentioned the Crown Prince, their eyes were filled with stars. They didn't know the Crown Prince's methods before, but they have gained a lot of experience during this time.
No matter how much Yuyang Mansion asked for, they easily collected one hundred thousand taels of silver.
"It is said that gods can turn stone into gold. I think the prince's methods are not much different from those of gods."
One of the followers boasted.
Not only did everyone not think it was too much, but they nodded vigorously.
It turns out that since the completion of the City God's Temple, Xu Tong began to call on wealthy businessmen in the city to donate money to build the river.
After his call, good guys, all those wealthy businessmen who were usually as tough as a cock seemed to be on stimulants, donating money and materials.
Of course, the reason why they were so enthusiastic was definitely not because of Xu Tong's status as river inspector.
It was because Xu Tong promised them that anyone who participated in this fund-raising event would set up a merit monument for them in the main hall of the City God's Temple.
Their names will be written on it.
Now those wealthy businessmen were still reluctant. The City God appeared again and again and seemed to have become the protector of Yuyang.
It is a great honor to be able to erect a merit monument in the temple of the City God.
Moreover, Mr. Li can borrow the hand of the City God to lower the fire from heaven and kill the river demon. This shows that Mr. Li's weight in front of the City God is stronger than that of the governor.
What do these wealthy country squires lack??
What is missing is this honor and this face.
For this reason, Xu Tong was very considerate and helped them rank the third, sixth and ninth grades on the merit monuments.
And the bidding will be based on ranking, and a person's name will be engraved on the top and most conspicuous place.
Xu Tong gave this position a name, called the Position of Infinite Merit. The starting price is 10,000 taels.
The second level is called the Immortal Fruit Level of Fortune, Luxu, and Longevity. The three positions start at five thousand taels.
The third position is called the koi position with continuous wealth. There are five positions, and the starting price is two thousand taels each.
There are a total of twenty other random merits and virtues, and three hundred taels are taken together.
At first, Guo Yi and others thought that the prince was just out of his mind and that only a fool would buy it at such an expensive price.
Guo Yi also secretly pulled Xu Tong and asked him to lower the price, especially the one with immeasurable merit, which was ten thousand taels of silver.
Your own prince can't even get so much money by selling iron. How do you expect those wealthy businessmen and gentry to be willing to spend so much money to buy a piece of crap?
"Your Majesty, if you ask me, five thousand taels would be enough for this position." Guo Yi said tentatively. In fact, Guo Yi felt in his heart that he would be disgusted with fifty taels.
As a result, Xu Tong rolled his eyes at him: "You know a hammer, you have to study the psychology of customers.
People who are willing to spend five thousand taels to buy a seat don't care about spending another five thousand taels.
Did they buy location?
What they buy is fame, appearance, status, and merit.
Do you think this position is expensive at 10,000 taels? Let me tell you, 10,000 taels is the starting price. If they want to win this position, it will cost at least...30,000 taels."
What Xu Tong said is the same as the Book of Heaven. Even if Guo Yi and others have almost turned their brains into pulp, they still can't figure it out. How can there be such a truth in the world? Isn't this a fool?
As a result, when I arrived at the donation site, I discovered that the fool turned out to be me.
The first donation price of 10,000 taels was raised to a sky-high price of 32,000 taels of silver in public.
The wealthy businessman who won this position was a famous local rice merchant in Yuyang.
Guo Yi and others still can’t figure out why they laughed so happily on the spot after spending 32,000 taels of silver to buy a lonely fat man?
Could this be the legendary pure and innocent person?
The second-class ones were named Fu Lu Shou by Xu Tong, and the price is about 10,000 taels each.
Although it is not as dazzling as the first class, the three words "Fu Lu Shou" still cannot stop the enthusiasm of these wealthy businessmen.
The same is true for the third rank and the fortune koi position, with 8,000 ounces per position.
As for the last twenty or so random merit points, the highest is one thousand two hundred taels and the lowest is six hundred taels.
In this way, the monument was erected, and one hundred thousand taels of silver were paid into the account.
It is said that when Jiang Zhen, the governor of the first state, heard the news, he thought, shouldn't he, the governor of the state, come up with a name?
As a result, when I heard the quotation, I was stunned on the spot.
With the little money they had embezzled from their officials, it would have been easier to buy a stone tablet.
This has simply refreshed the views of many officials. It takes three years to clear the prefecture, and one hundred thousand snowflakes of silver. No matter what, it doesn't take three years for the money to go into their pockets.
Of course, the money goes as quickly as it comes.
Xu Tong established an account book, and kept all the money raised this time intact in it. He announced the expenses every once in a while and posted them on the street for people to watch.
It built rivers, provided relief to the people, and repaired the City God's Temple. Every expense was clearly recorded.
At this moment, Jiang Zhen and other officials could not help but feel relieved.
The twelve gold bars last time were indeed a test by Jiang Zhen, and Xu Tong actually said in public that those were the donations he had allocated.
At this time, Jiang Zhen and other officials began to wonder what the prince was thinking.
I thought that this time I was going to spend money to eliminate the disaster. I thought I was unlucky and vomited out all the stolen money. When building the river channel, Xu Tong turned stone into gold with a backhand move, which made everyone look stupid.
While they were happy that they didn't have to pay any money, they couldn't help but admire the prince's methods so much that some officials even swore secretly in their hearts.
Don't challenge this prince. He is very young and his methods are terrible.
In fact, Xu Tong knew very well from the beginning that the River Inspector made his name sound majestic, but in fact he was just a fifth-rank official.
It is unclear how the three previous river inspectors died?
Not only because the money for building the river has been completely stolen by Yuyang officials, but also because the river demon is causing trouble, and the river gods are killing the common people, it’s damning that those river inspectors can build the river.
If the river could not be built, it was natural that he would have to file a memorial. However, the memorial was not even sent out, so he was muzzled.
Of course Xu Tong was not afraid that officials like Yuyang would dare to attack him, but he also did not want to be used as a weapon by those invisible black hands.
So I simply found another way and created a drama that turned stone into gold.
At this moment, a group of followers were chattering endlessly about how the prince turned stone into gold.
"Hey! Your Majesty, you're awake!"
Everyone was talking enthusiastically when they suddenly saw Xu Tong standing behind them. They were startled and hurriedly bent down to say hello.
"Hey hey hey, it's okay, just keep talking, I'm listening very enthusiastically."
Xu Tong squinted his eyes and said with a smile.
"Your Majesty, do you want to go to the river today?"
Sanniang stepped forward and asked.
"I won't go. Guo Yi will take them to the river later to check whether the wages are paid in time and whether the food is withheld."
In fact, I know nothing about digging rivers. In the past few days, I have already completed the work of raising money, food, recruiting workers, and tools. The remaining work of building rivers is to be directed by a few veteran river workers recruited, which is a professional matter.
, it’s better to leave it to professionals.
Next, you only have to go through the acceptance process to complete your identity task.
So there is no need to run to the river every day.
Guo Yi heard the words and walked up. Before anyone got close, everyone could feel the heat wave on his body.
"Brother Guo, wipe your sweat."
Sanniang took out a towel soaked in water and handed it to Guo Yi.
Guo Yi responded honestly, quickly took the towel and wiped himself before putting on the clean clothes.
"Your Majesty, let's go now. It's a hot day. Please sleep a little longer. I'm watching what happens on the river. If anyone dares to cheat, I'll have plenty of ways to teach him a lesson."
After Guo Yi finished speaking, he motioned for everyone to follow him to the river.
"Brother Guo, it's already noon, why don't we go after lunch!"
Sanniang hurriedly called him, but Guo Yi waved his hand: "That's good, let's go eat on the river and try the food on the river."
Unexpectedly, Guo Yi waved his hand and led the people out in a hurry.
"Oh, Your Majesty, Brother Guo is good at everything, but he does things in a hurry."
Sanniang turned around and said with a slight complaint.
Xu Tong squinted his eyes and said with a smile: "That's just him."
After saying that, he stretched and yawned: "No, no, I'm going to take a nap again. Don't call me for lunch. I'll eat it when I wake up."
"Okay, then I'll leave it for you to warm in the kitchen pot."
"Anything works!"
Xu Tong said, walked back to the room, closed the door and window, took out a stick of yellow incense and lit it.
Then as soon as he lay down on the bed, his soul followed the green smoke of Huang Xiang and walked into the hall behind him step by step. He didn't have time before, but now he finally got some free time. He planned to give it a try and see the bastard and the two fat men.
Sloutoutuo, can you make something good for yourself...