Wei Datong pointed to his nose with a suspicious look on his face.
"Yes!" Jin Feng nodded.
"I'm just a little transporter and know nothing about disaster relief. Sir, don't make fun of me." Wei Datong waved his hand.
"My Lord knows nothing about disaster relief, but he is extremely proficient in water conservancy. This is the most important thing."
"What does being proficient in water conservancy have to do with disaster relief?" Wei Datong asked in confusion.
"The serious autumn floods this time are directly related to the backward water conservancy facilities in Sichuan and Sichuan. His Highness and I came to Mr. Wei because we want him to lead the people to build water conservancy projects!"
"Sir, you absolutely must not!"
As soon as Jin Feng finished speaking, Wei Datong quickly grabbed Jin Feng and said, "Now that the people have suffered a disaster, they can no longer afford the corvee!"
According to the Dakang regulations, construction of water conservancy projects, building bridges and building roads and other livelihood projects fall into the category of corvee labor.
The so-called corvee is a kind of compulsory labor.
To put it bluntly, the common people brought their own tools to help the government work. Not only did they not get paid, but they also had to bring their own dry food.
Nowadays, Sichuan and Sichuan are suffering from serious disasters, and the people are already in dire straits. If the Ninth Princess orders corvee conscription, the people will really not be able to survive.
"Master Wei, don't worry, just listen to what I have to say."
Jin Feng said: "Your Highness's construction of water conservancy this time is not about corvee work. The people will work, not only to take care of the food, but also to pay for the food."
"Sir, there are so many people building water utilization projects. Where did your Highness get so much food?" Wei Datong was even more confused.
"Your Excellency, you have been in Jinma River all this time. You may not know it yet. Let's talk as we walk."
Jin Feng and Wei Datong both remounted their horses and walked toward the city while recounting the events of the past few days.
After Wei Datong heard this, he was completely frightened.
After a long while, he said quietly: "Your Highness is so courageous. He executed so many powerful people at once! This is a hornet's nest!"
"Your Highness has no choice. If they continue to act recklessly, I don't know how many people in Sichuan and Shu will die."
When Jin Feng said this, he suddenly stopped his horse and turned to look at Wei Datong: "If Master Wei is worried about being implicated by His Highness, you can go back now."
"I..." Wei Datong opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
He is considered to be from a family of officials, and he knows very well what so many powerful people represent.
If he had known the news before coming, he would have definitely considered the pros and cons carefully.
But now that everyone is here, if we turn around and leave, won't we offend the Ninth Princess, Jin Feng and Qing Xinyao to death?
Not to mention the identity of the Ninth Princess, Qing Xinyao is still his immediate boss.
If you want to deal with him as a transporter, it won't take any effort.
With a powerful and powerful group on one side and the princess and her immediate boss on the other, Wei Datong would be wrong no matter what choice he made. The best way is not to choose either side.
But now that everyone has arrived in Xichuan City, it is impossible not to choose.
For a moment, Wei Datong felt as if he was being roasted on the fire, suffering from both sides.
"Master Wei, we have known each other for a while. You should know that I, Jin Feng, don't like officialdom. If you have any questions, I will just tell you."
Jin Feng said sincerely: "I don't like to force others. If you are willing to help with disaster relief, I welcome you. If you don't want to, I won't force you. Lord Wei can leave now. I guarantee that the Ninth Princess and Lord Qing will not use it for any reason."
To embarrass you.
Mr. Wei, please think about it."
After Jin Feng finished speaking, he rode forward on his horse.
Behind him, Wei Datong's face was filled with confusion.
Seeing Jin Feng walking further and further, Wei Datong's expression became more and more determined.
Finally, he kicked the horse's belly hard and caught up with Jin Feng.
"Have you thought about it?" Jin Feng asked without looking back.
"I have thought about it!" Wei Datong nodded and said: "I am willing to work with His Highness, Mr. Jin, to build water conservancy projects!"
As the saying goes, county magistrates are not as good as current officials. No matter how powerful the powerful officials are, they are in the capital after all.
After all, Xichuan is still the territory of the Qing family, and Qing Xinyao is his immediate boss. If you want to make things difficult for him, it is much more convenient than the powerful people, who will not protect him.
On the contrary, if he chooses to side with Qing Xinyao, Qing Xinyao can protect him if the powerful people make things difficult for him.
As for Jin Feng's assurance that Princess Ninth and Qing Xinyao would not do anything difficult for him, an old official like Wei Datong didn't believe it at all.
I can't believe it either.
The reason why Wei Datong made this decision was that he finally weighed the situation between the powerful people and the nine princesses and made the judgment that best suited his own interests.
In addition, there is the sentiment of scholars in the feudal era.
Since ancient times, corvée service has been compulsory.
The employment model of Ninth Princess and Jin Feng is unprecedented and will definitely be recorded in history.
If he participates, he can also leave a mark in the history books.
Perhaps this is not a heavy sum, but it will definitely be a positive image of petitioning for the people.
For Wei Datong, it was enough.
Besides, he is still young and wants to move up.
And if you want to move up, you have to stand in line. Otherwise, the ninth princess and the powerful have their own confidants. Isn't it okay to promote their own confidants?
Why promote him as an outsider?
The powerful people are so intertwined that even if he surrenders, he doesn't know when it will be his turn to be promoted.
The Ninth Princess's relationship network is much simpler, and his opportunities are much greater.
After considering all parties, Wei Datong finally chose to side with Princess Ninth and Jin Feng.
"Master Wei, to be honest, if you really don't want to leave now, I will still treat you as a friend. If you agree on the surface but then back off later, I will be really angry!"
Jin Feng's tone became serious: "Either you don't join, but now that you have joined, you must not be half-hearted!"
"Don't worry, sir. I will do my best to complete the tasks assigned by His Highness. I will never be half-hearted!"
Wei Datong patted his chest and promised.
"I believe in Mr. Wei!" Jin Feng stretched out his right hand: "Welcome to join Mr. Wei!"
"Thank you sir for recommending Wei to Your Highness." Wei Datong also extended his right hand and shook Jin Feng's hand: "Wei has taken note of it."
"No need to thank me, the most important thing is to keep the Jinma River in good condition."
Jin Feng patted Wei Datong on the shoulder: "Let's go, His Highness and Lord Qing are waiting for Lord Wei."
There is no Li Bing and his son in Dakang, so there is no Dujiangyan.
When the Minjiang River reaches the Jinma River section, because the Yulei Mountain to the east blocks the eastward flow of the river, it is easy to cause floods.
Over the years, almost all floods that have occurred around Xichuan City are related to the Jinma River, causing the people in Sichuan to suffer miserably.
Jin Feng discovered this when he went to Jinma River for the first time.
But he was fighting Danzhu at the time and he really didn't have time to take care of it.
Now I would like to take this opportunity to take care of it.
Upon arriving at Qing Mansion, Jin Feng led Wei Datong directly to Qing Xinyao's study.
In the study, the Ninth Princess and brother and sister Qing Xinyao were pointing around a sand table.
"Your Majesty, please pay homage to Her Royal Highness the Princess, and pay homage to Lord Qing!"
Wei Datong bowed and saluted the two of them, taking a glance at the sand table.
The next second, Wei Datong's expression changed.
Without waiting for Princess Ninth to speak to Qing Xinyao, she pointed at the sand table and asked, "Your Highness, which master made this sand table?"