Faced with Mr. Ye's scolding, Chen Ping replied loudly: "Teacher, you have misunderstood. I don't dare to encourage the county magistrate to bully the people.".
How could he not hear the hidden meaning in Ye Lao's words and know that Ye Lao was protecting himself?
All the officials outside are working hard to repair the roads.
The purpose of repairing roads is to benefit the people and improve living conditions, so how can we provide additional benefits to the people?
Businesses are also citizens, and imposing apportionment is actually putting the cart before the horse.
"My idea is to let wealthy businessmen voluntarily contribute money and food to fund road repairs in the county."
At this point, not only did Mr. Ye roll his eyes and was noncommittal about this initiative, but even County Magistrate Wang of Yunchou Haisi couldn't help but sneer.
Magistrate Wang waved his green robe, waved his sleeves, and said in a disdainful tone: "It's really whimsical, no, even more unrealistic than whimsical!"
"Businessmen and profit-seekers are the most despicable and profit-seeking people. This is the conclusion left by Confucian scholars of all ages and even ancient sages."
"If you want to influence businessmen and get them to devote themselves to political affairs that benefit the people and actively donate money to build roads, it is better to influence the monkeys in the mountains. Maybe the monkeys can help carry a load of wood."
Perhaps because he was too anxious, Magistrate Wang made no secret of his disdain for the merchants in his words.
Although Mr. Ye doesn't have much prejudice against merchants, his silent attitude has already expressed his position.
Only Chen Ping's little face couldn't help but twitch hard.
Only then did he realize that the scholars in this world have such contempt for businessmen.
No wonder He Qingxuan feels inferior because he is the son of a businessman.
Although these two were amiable elders in front of him, they were still scholars, and their arrogance would inevitably cause them to have some distance from businessmen. As an official, Magistrate Wang naturally had even greater disdain.
The storm is approaching, and the top priority is to unite all the forces that can be united to overcome the difficulties.
As Chen Ping, who has memories of past lives, of course he does not recognize this prejudice in his heart.
But sometimes this prejudice can be a help. If used properly, it can make up for the lack of money.
Chen Ping stopped trying to be pretentious and directly stated the key point, "It's true that businessmen pursue profit, and this is exactly what we want to take advantage of!"
"For those wealthy and well-known businessmen, reputation is often the greatest benefit, and this benefit is even worth paying a huge price for."
"The teacher won't deny this, right?"
Mr. Ye nodded slightly, thoughtfully, probably following Chen Ping's train of thought.
This idea may really solve the current urgent need.
Magistrate Wang naturally thought of the many consequences of doing so, and the risks he faced should not be underestimated.
Most of the wealthy businessmen have their own hidden agendas.
Once you get involved with them, no matter how high-sounding it is on the surface, it’s all business.
But in the eyes of outsiders, it was the county magistrate himself who was involved with them.
Many collusions between government and businessmen often start like this.
Magistrate Wang is still weighing the pros and cons and repeatedly considering whether he needs to take this risk.
Mr. Ye took the lead and opened the lid directly.
He said in a deep voice: "Aren't you afraid that those businessmen will use this matter as a pretext to let the county magistrate fall into their trap step by step?"
"Collusion between officials and businessmen is not just as simple as making profits, the lessons in the history books are bloody!"
After Mr. Ye made this point, Magistrate Wang's face visibly stiffened, and then a look of shame appeared on his brows.
Indeed, this hole cannot be opened.
Otherwise, the bottom line that I have adhered to for many years will be completely broken sooner or later, and the cautiousness of these decades may also be destroyed in one day.
Chen Ping admired Mr. Ye's thoughtfulness, but he still shook his head and said with a smile: "Teacher, you have forgotten the most important point."
"We are only doing this in Yongshun County, and we are not recruiting wealthy businessmen from all over the world."
"With the wealth and background of the major businessmen in Yongshun County, what can they dare to do and what can they do?"
Hearing this, most of the worries on the faces of Mr. Ye and Magistrate Wang faded away in an instant.
It’s indeed a beauty!
We only care about the humble words and righteousness of the sages and the blood dripping in the history books, but forget that Yongshun County itself is just a small pond and cannot stir up much waves.
The most that those so-called businessmen can do is to open a few more shops in the county and towns, and the storefronts are more prosperous and prosperous than others. The most power they have is to receive two more new harvests every time the official wine is opened.
It’s just wine, not a climate at all.
Magistrate Wang became curious about Chen Ping's plan and asked hopefully: "Even if I am willing, what should I exchange for money and food with businessmen, and how can I make them famous?"
"You can't say a few empty words of praise and then write a few words of praise, right?"
"Those businessmen are not fools, they are all smarter than monkeys."
After all, County Magistrate Wang was born in Juren, so he was very thoughtful if he could even think of inscribing commendations.
Because in this world, there are very few merchants who can get commendations written by local officials.
In the traditional concept of scholars, they are naturally unwilling to come into contact with businessmen who are full of copper odor.
Even if you have no choice but to keep a distance from them as much as possible, let alone write inscriptions and poems.
Chen Ping said with a smile: "The way to become famous quickly is not only to write books and establish lectures, but also to establish monuments and biographies."
"The county magistrate might as well erect a stone tablet several feet wide by the roadside for businessmen who have donated a certain amount of money."
"Then according to the amount of donation, from right to left, engrave their names and the amount of donation."
As soon as Chen Ping finished speaking, Magistrate Wang raised his eyebrows, clearly understanding the beauty of this method.
Businessmen financed it, and officials erected monuments to commend it. No matter in terms of behavior or ethos, it was impeccable.
The corner of Magistrate Wang's mouth curled up and he said with a smile: "In this way, all the merchants in the county will inevitably rush to donate in order to be able to inscribe their names on the monument and to rank higher!"
"Throughout the ages, many emperors, generals and ministers could not help but use their power to erect monuments and biographies for themselves, hoping to be remembered forever."
"How could those merchants resist such temptation?"
At this point, Magistrate Wang decided that this plan was feasible.
A few words from Chen Ping solved Magistrate Wang’s urgent need.
He bowed respectfully to Mr. Ye and Chen Ping, said "Thank you for your kindness!", then immediately got up and returned to the county government office.
When Magistrate Wang left the warehouse, Mr. Ye was silent for a long time and whispered worriedly: "Whether this plan will have any future consequences depends on luck!"
But it was difficult for him to explain the truth behind these words to Chen Ping.