Yan Song paused and turned his head to glance at Tong Qiufeng, his face still showing displeasure.
Yan Yi hurriedly stepped forward, took Tong Qiufeng's arm and asked: "How many people are there in the welcome meeting? Is there anything as extravagant and luxurious as a red carpet? Are there ordinary people who are victims of the disaster?"
Tong Qiufeng was stunned by his three consecutive questions. After he came to his senses, he carefully explained: "Sir, all the people in the county who have nothing to do will basically be present."
"Of course there is a red carpet. We also invited a gong and drum troupe to set up a stage and put in some big flower towers..."
Yan Yi frowned: "These things have been removed. My master has always been honest and simple, and he hates seeing these exaggerated and extravagant things!"
Tong Qiufeng and the officials and gentry behind him were all stunned.
Is the person who came today really Prime Minister Yan? Could it be that he is a fake?
I heard in the past that those who went to Beijing to seek an official position would have to give a large sum of money to Prime Minister Yan. Why is the situation different now?
Is all the news false?
"Yes Yes!"
Tong Qiufeng came back to his senses and nodded hurriedly: "I will let people withdraw now."
"But sir, why don't you keep the stage? It's just a wooden stage. It's not luxurious, but standing on it allows everyone to see the serious appearance clearly."
Yan Yi turned her head and looked up and down at Yan Song's current attire, and saw him nodding his head subtly.
"Okay, then just keep the wooden platform."
"Yes, sir."
Tong Qiufeng kept wiping the sweat from his forehead, thinking a lot, looking carefully for any omissions.
Today I welcome the severe Prime Minister, and everything I do does not go according to his wishes.
I wonder how Yan Xianghui would view himself after today...
Tong Qiufeng was still thinking wildly, but unexpectedly Yan Song suddenly turned around and walked to the right in the muddy water.
There was a group of victims dragging their families with them, being led by government servants toward a dark village in the distance.
Tong Qiufeng's heart skipped a beat and he hurriedly followed Yan Song. Many gentry also hurriedly followed.
Several government servants leading the victims met with their county magistrate and a large group of superiors. The gentry rushed over and hurriedly stopped and came forward: "Greetings to the magistrate."
At the same time, several people were also quietly sizing up the crowd in front of them.
Didn’t I say that I was going to meet Prime Minister Yan today? Where is Prime Minister Yan?
Tong Qiufeng ignored them and followed Yan Song's footsteps towards the group of victims.
To be fair, the condition of the victims was not that bad. They were wearing linen clothes that were patched and stained with mud. They had their families and their families, and they had a bit of fear on their faces as if they were seeing a big shot.
Of course, this expression was not directed at Yan Song, but at Tong Qiufeng and the officials and gentry in the rear.
"Old parents, second master, third master, master Zheng..."
A dark-skinned old man shouted and walked quickly out of the crowd. He looked like a local village elder or clan elder, with a flattering smile on his ravaged old face: "Old parents, are you back?"
"We are welcoming Prime Minister Yan today, are we coping well in Dongzhang Village? Following your orders, we will take everyone out without any loss. We will definitely not cause any trouble to our parents and gentlemen!"
The expressions on the faces of the officials and gentry suddenly froze. Tong Qiufeng held the handkerchief and glanced at Yan Song with an embarrassed smile on his face, wiping the rain and sweat from his forehead.
"this……"
The village elder of Dongzhang Village was even more happy to see him smiling happily.
He saw Yan Song walking in front of the crowd again, looked at Yan Song's clothes up and down, and suddenly realized: "Old parents, is it possible that this eldest brother also suffered a disaster at home? He came out to escape?"
"We in Dongzhang Village have to solve the problems for our old parents, so I will take him in today."
As he spoke, he walked up with a smile, patted Yan Song's arm, and left a yellow mud fingerprint on it: "Brother, you were brought here by your old parents. From now on, as long as we have a mouthful of food in Dongzhang Village, you will definitely
I can’t make you hungry!”
All the county officials and squires are almost losing their temper. Please, please stop saying a few words!
Tong Qiufeng even lost two of his souls. He ran over and slapped his hand away, carefully wiped Yan Song's muddy fingerprints with the sleeves of his official robe, turned his head and said with a kind smile: "Zhang
Third child, this is Prime Minister Yan."
"Ah?" Zhang Laosan was so shocked that his mouth opened wide, his eyes widened, and his mind went blank: "This is... Yan... Yan..."
The victims behind were also dumbfounded. I didn’t know who was taking the lead. They all knelt down with a roar.
"Get out of the way." Yan Song pushed Tong Qiufeng's hand away, walked over and started talking to Zhang Laosan just now with a smile.
It's just that Zhang Laosan seemed to be too frightened. No matter what Yan Song said, he just nodded numbly and kept echoing.
Yan Song was speechless, then walked to the back, pulled up the victims with a kind face, and talked with them about the disaster: "How much of the fields in Dongzhang Village were flooded?"
"Strict...Strict Prime Minister..."
These victims were shivering and could not speak clearly: "We are not flooded much in the east... It will only be worse if we go further east..."
The officials and gentry behind them watched with trepidation as Yan Song talked with the victims for a long time before leaving and continuing to Wuzhi County.
After the group left, the shocked victims and government officials gradually came to their senses. They stared for a while, not knowing what to say.
"Prime Minister Yan... the one I was talking to just now was the prime minister of the imperial court? Alas! Can I still see the prime minister in this life?"
"That's right. Look at those big men. Isn't that respectful? But why is Prime Minister Yan dressed like us? I see he has patches on his clothes! Mr. Liu in our village doesn't even wear those things.
Son!"
"You know what the heck, Prime Minister Yan is an upright official. Do you know what an upright official is? He definitely doesn't accept money from others!"
"Prime Minister Yan must be an upright official. He even asked me where the flooded fields were!"
"It would be great if all our officials were the same as Prime Minister Yan..."
The victims and government officials echoed one after another and couldn't help but think of that beautiful scene.
On the other side, Yan Song also led a group of squires and officials, and saw the lively scene in front of Wuzhi County from a distance. Many squires stood in front, looking up, and behind them were the people and victims of Wuzhi.
Looking in the distance and waiting for the arrival of Prime Minister Yan.
"Prime Minister Yan, it's just ahead."
Tong Qiufeng wiped the sweat from his forehead and followed Yan Song step by step. The hem of his beautiful and respectable blue official robe was already stained with yellow and black mud.
The officials and gentry in the rear were like chickens in water, losing their original majesty.
Although the squire who stayed behind wondered why these people were in such a mess without riding in a carriage, when they saw the figure surrounded by Tong Qiufeng and the official servants from a distance, they still led the way and bowed down.
"Students pay homage to Prime Minister Yan, ordinary people pay homage to Prime Minister Yan..."
"Let them all get up." Yan Song frowned slightly.
"Yes, Prime Minister Yan."
Tong Qiufeng hurriedly asked those people to get up, and then led Yan Song onto the stage from behind.
There were many squires left behind, so the people could see clearly what the severe prime minister looked like.
He has gray hair and an old appearance. He is wearing a patched green shirt and a pair of trousers with rolled up legs. It is now wet and splattered with mud. A pair of black cloth shoes are completely covered with dirt.
Covered in mud and water.
"this……"
Everyone was shocked by his outfit.
Is this the prime minister of the dynasty?
If nothing else, just smear a handful of mud on his face and throw him into a pile of refugees so he won't be recognized.
All the squires were about to bow down and bow again, but were stopped in time by Tong Qiufeng.
"Everyone get up!"
Tong Qiufeng helped Yan Song onto the stage, then walked a few steps quickly to the edge of the stage, his eyes shining with wisdom.
Just before he went on stage, Yan Yi couldn't stand it, so she took the opportunity to give him a few words of advice.
Therefore, Tong Qiufeng has now understood something.
He raised his chest and raised his head, regardless of the dirt on his body, he looked up at the squires and common people below, and spoke with suppressed excitement.
"My fellow villagers in Wuzhi County, today is a happy day! We are all concerned about the disaster in Xingyang, and have traveled thousands of miles to come to us to help the victims and repair the Yellow River embankment!"
"Our Wuzhi County is Prime Minister Yan's first stop for disaster relief and embankment construction!"
The squires and common people applauded below.
Tong Qiufeng turned around and glanced at Yan Song. Seeing the smile on his face, he suddenly felt calm. Then he turned around and said loudly: "Didn't someone just ask me why I have been here for so long and why I am so dirty?"
, and some people say that this county took the wrong road and brought all the gentlemen and Prime Minister Yan into the mud ditch!"
There was a burst of laughter from below.
But Tong Qiufeng didn't smile. In just two sentences, he had already prepared his emotions, his eyes began to turn red, and his voice began to sound a little more sullen.
"Since I took office as the magistrate of Wuzhi County, I, Tong Qiufeng, have regarded this place as my home. I have spent countless days and nights in the fields of Wuzhi! Folks, how can I lead the wrong way when I am alone in my own home?
Where is the road?"
"For our Wuzhi County, I thought I had done enough and had a clear conscience. But until I went to greet Prime Minister Yan today, I realized that I had not done enough!"
Tong Qiufeng wiped away the tears that were pouring from his eyes, turned around and glanced at Yan Song, then looked back and shouted forgetfully: "Folks, aren't you curious as to why we came back so late and in such a mess?"
"The people present today are all our fellow villagers, and I, Tong Qiufeng, am not afraid of everyone's laughter! Today, Prime Minister Yan criticized my extravagant and exaggerated welcome when he came here!"
The squires and common people looked at him quietly and looked at Yan Song on the stage.
In fact, from the red carpet and the removal of the flower house just now, some people have already noticed the signs.
Tong Qiufeng shed tears while talking, and seemed to be really shocked.
"Xiang Yan took us all the way from there, watching the disaster situation in our Wuzhi County and caring about our victims! He also took me and other elders to see the victims in Dongzhang Village and asked them if they could
After you have eaten, can you put on your clothes..."
The squires and common people were really shocked this time!
Dongzhang Village is only more than one mile away from the county seat. You can know this as soon as you inquire about it. There is absolutely no way it can be faked!
The prime minister, who is inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people, is actually willing to run over and care about those mud-legged people?
Tong Qiufeng even choked up and shouted: "Today I saw Prime Minister Yan's integrity, and I realized how ignorant I was before! Folks, Prime Minister Yan traveled thousands of miles from the capital to come to our disaster area!"
"I have nothing to hold on to, I only carry the breeze on my sleeves, and I have a benevolent heart that warms the mountains and rivers thousands of miles away!"
"Prime Minister Yan is really the number one honest official in our cadre, and he is a role model for all our cadre officials!"
It was only then that Yan Song unexpectedly raised his eyebrows and looked at Tong Qiufeng's back.
The squires and common people below were even more moved!
Tong Qiufeng's words coupled with Yan Song's outfit are not very convincing!
Yan Yi was also in the crowd, looking at Tong Qiufeng on the stage in surprise, thinking that this kid is quite savvy and has potential?
After saying this, Tong Qiufeng wiped away his tears for the last time: "I will never be able to fully understand what I learned from Prime Minister Yan today in my lifetime! Please continue to say a few words to you, Prime Minister Yan."
The squires and common people below all applauded: "Prime Minister Yan, please give me a lecture!"
"Yes, Prime Minister Yan, having an upright official like you come to Xingyang to provide disaster relief is a blessing that we have spent eight lifetimes cultivating!"
"Prime Minister Yan! No matter what you say, our Wuzhi Zhou family will definitely comply with it..."
Looking at the excited people, Yan Song walked forward slowly with a smile on his face: "Actually, there is one thing that Magistrate Tong didn't say right just now. The truth is that he didn't bring anything, but he brought food for disaster relief!"
Before the people below could cheer, Yan Song continued: "But there is only one thing. I want you to know the truth."
The smile on his face slowly disappeared, and his voice became a little darker: "This situation is special. The imperial court does not have much food in stock. The relief food is related to the lives of hundreds of thousands of victims along the coast!"
"The Prime Minister does not hope that during the disaster relief process, there will be people who ignore the lives of the victims and only seek their own selfish interests. They will use their hands to embezzle the disaster relief food! Today, the Prime Minister will put his words here. If you find someone who commits the crime again, don't blame the Prime Minister. It’s unforeseen!”
Many of the squires and subordinates were silent for a moment, and then, whoever took the lead, suddenly burst into violent cheers from the crowd.
"good!"
“We must not embezzle disaster relief food!”
"Xiang Yan said it well..."
In the distance, the two supervisory censors who had been following them since Yan Song got out of the car, holding pens and papers, looked at each other and saw the confusion in each other's eyes.
That’s it? Is this Yan Song?
Can we have something exciting?
…
South bank of the Yellow River, Gaoshan County.
He Shen also rode in a carriage and arrived at the welcome meeting outside the city.
The movement here is much more lively than that on the north shore, and the drizzle can't dampen people's enthusiasm.
The horse's hooves trampled, and the wheels ran over the wet ground, splashing a pool of muddy water, and stopped in front of the grand stage decorated with flowers and branches.
Accompanied by a burst of crackling firecrackers, He Shen and his Excellency got off the carriage.
The firecracker team, gong and drum team, and suona team in front worked together, making the atmosphere here look like a red and white event.
The two supervisory censors frowned at what was happening in front of them, intending to go up to question Zhou Dafang, the magistrate of Gaoshan County, but when they thought of Wei Zheng's instructions when they came, they had to hold back their words.
"Welcome, sir!" Standing at the forefront was a group of girls as delicate as flowers, all bowing and saluting.
He Shen smiled more like a flower than them. He wanted to move forward, but then he seemed to suddenly think of something and stopped.
"Mingqi, this kind of behavior is unacceptable!"
Zhou Dafang was startled and said hurriedly: "Yes, Sir He, I'm here to be taught."
Saying that, he hurriedly asked people to take these girls down.
He Shen pointed to the hard-working bands again: "Let's stop these too!"
"Yes, sir."
Under the eager eyes of the officials and squires, the tiger-backed Zhou Dafang led the tiger-backed He Shen onto the stage.
"Fathers and fellow villagers in Gaoshan County, today is a happy day! You and your family are very concerned about the disaster in Xingyang, and have traveled thousands of miles to come to us to help the victims and repair the Yellow River embankment!"
"Our Gaoshan County is the first stop for disaster relief and embankment repairs!"
The cheers of many squires and common people suddenly rang out below.
Zhou Dafang nodded with satisfaction and continued to shout loudly: "Here, this county can responsibly tell you fellow villagers that since Mr. He has come to provide disaster relief, we in Gaoshan County will no longer be able to starve to death a single disaster victim, and we in Xingyang will be able to repair it."
The Yellow River embankment, you elders will never see floods in the Yellow River again in your lifetime!!"
As soon as these words came out, many of the squire victims in the venue froze and stared at the stage blankly, not caring about the rain falling into their eyes.
Will not a single disaster victim starve to death?
Can Xingyang really be free from flooding?
Such a loud tone?
Zhou Dafang shouted, his face turned red, and he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Master He is here, Xingyang will be at peace, Master He is here, and the sky will be clear!"
"good!!"
"Master He, if this levee is really repaired, you will be our great benefactor!"
"Yes, sir! I want to build a shrine for you and offer incense to you..."
Looking at the excited faces of the squires and common people, He Shen smiled slightly and took a few steps forward: "Fellow fellows, I don't like to talk too much. No matter how much I talk, I might as well do a practical thing for you!"
"The materials for building the embankment have been transported to the river. How about going over now and adding the first handful of soil to the embankment?"
"Okay!" The people were even more excited. They didn't expect Mr. He to act so resolutely.
The group of people walked towards the river embankment in the rain...
On the south bank, the first breach of the Yellow River was at Banzhu Ferry in the northeast of Gaoshan County. Later, the breach became bigger and bigger, and a large area of the levees in Guancheng County and Zhongmou County were washed away.
Today, I braved the light rain and walked with the squires around the remains of the river embankment for an afternoon, surveying the situation near the river embankment.
Saying that the first handful of soil was added is just a symbolic gesture, and construction does not start today.
Just kidding, the people are not ready yet, and the design of the embankment is not perfect, so how can they start construction rashly?
It's just that Mr. He wanted to express his attitude through this behavior.
Of course, even if it is a random move from the top, the bottom cannot ignore it.
It is said that the shovelful of soil filled with adults has been protected by stone walls built by the squires in the county, for fear of being washed away by water...
In the courtyard of a luxurious mansion in Gaoshan County.
He Shen sat back on the couch, staring at a book in his hand with the dim light in the room, lost in thought.
Today, among the two pretty girls who greeted each other in front of the big stage, one squatted beside Mr. He, squeezing his legs, and the other rubbed his shoulders from behind.
"master."
Liu Quan trotted all the way and entered the door with a smile: "Master, all these people have come to see you today."
"It's coming!"
He Shen stretched out while holding the book and yawned loudly: "Master, I almost fell asleep waiting for you, please come in!"
He waved back, and the two girls quietly retreated.
"Yes, sir."
Liu Quan took the order and turned around and went out. After a while, he brought back a group of squires and wealthy businessmen in rich clothes.
"With my lord!"
"Student Zheng Tong, I have met Mr. He!"
"Lin Zhangquan, a common man, has met Mr. He..."
The squires and wealthy businessmen crowded into a room full of people. He Shen smiled and asked them to sit down: "Liu Quan, why don't you serve tea quickly?"
"Okay, sir!"
The people who came to see him had already inquired about He Shen and his master's character. After greeting him, they didn't say much and just presented stacks of banknotes with both hands.
The leader, Zheng Tong, wore a black silk robe with a round collar and called himself a student. He also gave the thickest banknotes and said with a smile: "Master He has done so much for our Gaoshan County, we can't help but express our gratitude?"
"This is all our people's wishes. I hope you will accept it!"
He Shen subconsciously went to take it, but when he reached halfway, he remembered the purpose of today and his hands froze.
"With my lord?"
Seeing that he was suddenly stunned, Zheng Tong and others looked at him tentatively.
"Ahem~"
After coming back to his senses, He Shen coughed twice to hide his embarrassment, reached out and continued forward, grabbed Zheng Tong's hand, and pushed the banknote back into his arms.
"With your lord?" Zheng Tong was dumbfounded.
All the squires and wealthy businessmen were also dumbfounded.
What's going on here?
"Zheng Xiaolian..."
He Shen turned around and walked a few steps back to sit on the chair. When he looked back, he already had a heavy look on his face: "Now Gaoshan County is seriously affected by the disaster. I see it in my eyes and it hurts in my heart."
Although everyone didn't understand what kind of medicine he was selling in his gourd, they still agreed: "Master He is really a good official who loves the people!"
"The students have also realized the painstaking efforts of Mr. He, so Mr. He should just accept it..."
"no!"
He Shen shook his head and said with an extremely firm attitude: "Everyone, you are all natives of Gaoshan County."
"Instead of giving this money to me, why not do something practical for your hometown?"
Everyone had smiles on their faces, but they didn't think so in their hearts.
Do you think we are willing to give you money? Aren’t we afraid that you will put on your shoes?
Zheng Tong thought He Shen was too shy and was too embarrassed to take it, so he hurriedly advised: "Master He, all of you here are from Gaoshan County, but we are all citizens of Daqian!"
"The situation is far away from that of the great people, not in a small mountain county. If you take this money, it will be more beneficial to Daqian!"
"That's right! My lord, this money must be spent by those who know how to spend it, and spend it in a practical and useful way!"
"Brother Liu makes sense! We don't know how to spend money, so we have to let people like you who know how to spend money spend it..."
He Shen looked at them speechlessly: "Everyone, you have all misunderstood my meaning!"
"No misunderstanding, no misunderstanding."
Zheng Tong smiled flatteringly, grabbed the banknote and stuffed it into He Shen's hand.
At that moment, Baobao and I really felt that we could no longer control ourselves.
Then at the last moment, he still held back forcefully and withdrew his hand: "Shut up!"
"Everyone, listen to me!!"
Seeing that He Shen's expression didn't seem to be fake, many wealthy businessmen and gentry stopped in silence, but the banknotes in their hands were still confiscated.
Then under the bright lights, He Shen looked around and said seriously: "Everyone, you are all from Gaoshan County. Don't you want to do a good deed and make the fellow villagers grateful?"
"Don't you...don't you want your name to be engraved with an inscription and be praised by others?"
Everyone present was dumbfounded by his question, wondering what kind of trick this was?
But Zheng Tong immediately cooperated: "I want it! Sir! We all dream about it!"
"Yes, sir, who wouldn't want to do that!"
"Master Zheng is a filial and honest man. He may have a chance in the future, but Sir, we white-bodied businessmen may not have that day in our lives..."
Seeing that they all had this idea, He Shen nodded slowly: "Now, I can give you a chance."
He didn't wait for the merchants and gentry to speak, and said: "In the past, the imperial court wanted to provide disaster relief and repair the embankment. After the embankment was built, you just used it. It has nothing to do with you. At most, you are just like ordinary people, guarding the embankment behind it."
Stay in the fields and live a peaceful life for a few days."
"When the flood comes, the embankment will not be able to withstand it, and it will be like today again!"
After He Shen said this, everyone present fell silent, and even Zheng Tong did not speak again this time.
Without him, these words truly spoke to their hearts.
They were people who really lived here, but now in this situation, they actually seemed like outsiders.
He Shen looked around and said with a smile: "But this time is different! Before I went to Xingyang as an envoy, I begged Your Majesty in the court for three days, and specially won a great benefit for you!"
Everyone looked at him anxiously, are you sure it is really a welfare?
He Shen said with a smile: "This time, I want to build a stone embankment in Xingyang, a stone embankment that will not be broken for a thousand years!"
The gentry were stunned when they heard this. The room was deathly silent, except for the popping sound of the lamps exploding.
He Shen sat back with a smile and took a sip of tea slowly and slowly.
"With...and your lord..."
Zheng Tong's voice was trembling: "What you said...is true?"
All the squires and wealthy businessmen were also full of hope and stared directly at Heshen.
If such an impregnable embankment can be built, who will benefit the most?
Of course it’s them, the landowners and wealthy households!
Take this year as an example. Summer grain is usually harvested by the end of June, but this year it rained continuously in early June, and there were rumors that the levee was in emergency every now and then.
Some people don't dare to take the gamble and just grab the summer grain while it's still green.
Some people wanted to take a gamble, but the result was that the food was directly submerged in the ground by the flood...
These are endless tears, something I have to gamble on every year!
If Xingyang can really eliminate floods forever, not only will there be no need to gamble, but maybe after harvesting the summer grain, we can follow the example of Hengshan County and let the tenants grow autumn grain again, and their income will be doubled that year!
He Shen put down the tea cup with a smile: "Of course it can't be true anymore, but don't be too happy too early!"
Zheng Tong pursed his dry lips: "My lord...I wonder what conditions the court has..."
He Shen sighed and stood up slowly: "It's not easy for the court either."
"At a time when grain supplies are cut off, the imperial court has just sent off the Imperial Guards of the Ten Guards to go on an expedition. There is also a fire in Changping Granary in Longxi County. It also has to provide relief to the victims in several counties along the coast. There is not much leftover grain in the imperial court's pot.
…”
"It stands to reason that the stone embankment can only start construction after the canal is re-opened and the grain is transported."
"But I begged Your Majesty for a few more days, and finally got a second benefit for you."
Another benefit?
The gentry were dumbfounded and didn't know what to say.
"My lord...dare I ask about this second benefit..."
He Shen suddenly laughed: "That is to say, I have caught up with the opportunity now, otherwise no matter how much I ask Your Majesty, I will not get this second benefit."
There was a mysterious smile on his fat face: "Now the grain cannot be transported, but I know that you will definitely have food!"
"I...we..."
Zheng Tong was stammering and speechless, and the others were also shocked, thinking to themselves, you have been holding it in for so long, so you are interested in our food?
He Shen said with a smile: "Don't worry, I am not asking you to requisition your grain, but I am asking you to borrow grain. When the canal is opened and the court's grain arrives, I will unload the ship and return it to you immediately!"
The expressions of the squire and wealthy businessmen softened again.
If they were talking about directly requisitioning food, then they would still have to murmur in their hearts, but borrowing food would be different.
The imperial court's ships carrying grain leave here every year, so they can't see it?
He must be able to pay back the food!
Of course, being able to do so and being able to do so are two different things.
This is also the last concern of the squires. The imperial court will not cheat customers and rely on them, right?
He Shen seemed to notice their concerns and stretched out his hand to emphasize: "If you are willing to borrow food, you can borrow it. If you are not willing to borrow food, I will never force him!"
"It's just that this stone embankment will stand on the shore for thousands of years. When the embankment is completed, I will ask the court to engrave the name of the person who borrowed food on the side of the embankment. The stone embankment will not be destroyed and the name will not be destroyed.
destroy!"
"Let the imperial court erect an archway like this in the streets of the people who borrow food, and write, 'Destroy the family and cause trouble, but benefit the village.'"
"Let's work hard. There are countless memorial arches for Juren and Jinshi, but archways like this..."
He Shen pursed his lips and shook his head: "I'm afraid Daqian can't find one now, and there may not be one in the future..."
Thousands of years of stone embankment inscription! Out-of-print archway!
The allure of these two things was unimaginably great, and everyone present's breathing quickened.
Zheng Tong was not fascinated by the great thing in front of him, he still had some concerns.
The other squires were vaguely led by Zheng Tong. Seeing that he did not speak, they suppressed their desire and remained silent.
There was a look of regret on He Shen's face: "This embankment construction is not a day's work. It may take ten years to build the entire Xingyang river embankment."
"But which section to build first and which county to build first is up to my decision. Nowadays, there is no such thing as borrowing food before the canal ships arrive. If the canal ships arrive, this matter will no longer happen...
…”
"If Gaoshan County cannot raise food, I can only wait here for a while, and then go to Guancheng and Zhongmu counties to try."
He sighed and shook his head: "It's just that I'm afraid there won't be such good things in the future..."
When the imperial army captures the Kingdom of Wu, they will soon be able to bring in water ships. By then, the dams in a county may not have been completed yet. The imperial court will have food later, so why need to borrow more food?
In other words, perhaps only one of the three counties can enjoy this kind of treatment, have this archway, and carve one's name on the stone embankment that has been built for thousands of years...
Everyone present was breathing rapidly.
He Shen picked up the green jade vine tea cup and took a sip: "Don't make up your mind easily. Just go back and think about it before giving me a reply. After all, this is a big matter..."
"Master, don't think about it, I'll borrow it! I'll borrow the food!"
A businessman's face flushed with anxiety and he squeezed out from the crowd: "Master He, the common man Lin Zhangquan is willing to lend the imperial court eight hundred shi of grain!"
Everyone recognized him. This person was Lin Zhangquan, the president of Guantong Trading Company.
"oh?"
He Shen was startled and looked at him with a smile: "Okay, if there are names engraved on the embankment, there must be a distinction between high and low!"
"Since you are so sincere, if one day the levee is completed, your name will be engraved on..."
Halfway through the words, Zheng Tong in front became anxious. At this moment, he couldn't care about anything else and said hurriedly: "Master! The students are also willing to provide food! The students are willing to directly give the court a thousand shi of food! I won't come back!
"
"Hiss~" All the squires present took a breath of cold air, and the temperature in the room rose a few points.
One thousand stones of grain! This is not a small sum!
Normally, the price of food in Xingyang is about eighty-nine qian per stone, which seems like nothing at all. But now that there has been a major disaster, the price of food has soared to the sky, and it is no longer possible to compare prices with money.
No matter how much money you have, you can’t eat it, but this food is a life-saving thing and you can’t sell it no matter how much money you give!
In addition, food is of great use during disaster years. When the victims cannot afford to eat because of high food prices, they can use the food to buy their land at a low price. When the situation improves next year, the land will be used.
It’s good land for farming again!
How much land can these thousand stones of grain be exchanged for this year?
All the squires calculated it silently in their hearts and came up with an astonishing figure. Then they looked at Zheng Tong in shock.
Although you are always relying on the largest clan in Xingyang, the Zheng family in Xingyang, isn't the price too high?
He Shen was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Okay, okay!"
"Since Zheng Xiaolian is so sincere, your name should be engraved on the top."
Lin Zhangquan on the side murmured a few times, trying to argue, but in the end he couldn't speak.
In fact, he doesn't lack this food at all. What he wants is the name and the archway!
With those things in hand, in the future, officials from all over the country will think highly of him. How can they dare to blackmail his chamber of commerce at will?
However, Lin Zhangquan understood that the Zheng family in Xingyang would definitely not sit back and watch as a businessman like him was engraved in the first place. If they continued to fight, they would only bring humiliation to themselves.
He Shen looked at everyone who was doing it again with a smile: "Everyone, I don't want to borrow much food this time. It only needs enough to last until the boat arrives! I won't borrow more!"
"After all, the fewer names on this embankment, the more precious they are!"
Many squires could no longer bear it any longer and hurriedly spoke enthusiastically: "My lord, the common man Liu Fuchang is willing to lend you three hundred shi of grain!"
"How can I borrow it? Your Excellency, student Zhong Liang, is willing to give 400 shi of grain to the imperial court to support the Stone Embankment!"
"Sir! Wang Changhai, a grassroots man, is not only willing to lend four hundred shi of grain, but is also willing to help the court contact good stone dealers! It is definitely the cost price..."
"Hahaha..." He Shen's mouth almost broke out in laughter: "Take your time, one by one!"
"Liu Quan! Come and register quickly!"
"Okay! Master!"
…
But the happiness with the adults did not last long. The news of borrowing grain to build embankments spread to Guancheng and Zhongmu counties overnight. The squires and wealthy households in these two counties stopped working!
Mr. He, you are not doing this properly!
We also want to borrow food! You didn’t even come, so you just left us outside??