As soon as the announcement came out, no matter how serious the Tianshui City people were, a long-lost smile appeared on their faces.
Emperor Liujian either never comes once or comes several times in a year. They are really luckier than their parents and ancestors!
The inauguration ceremony of the new city government office was held with great grandeur, and King Yao took the time to attend the ceremony to give all the officials a surprise.
After that, He Lingchuan still immersed himself in the project, leaving early and returning home late, as busy as a spinning top.
The people sent by Qingyang monitored him at the construction site and returned to Youhu Xiaozhu to report He Xiao's itinerary. It was a full schedule. In addition to eating for a quarter of an hour and squatting for two quarters of an hour, it lasted seven hours a day.
Chaos and disaster were imminent, but not only did this guy not run away, he also worked conscientiously on the tasks assigned by King Yao. He really seemed to be focused on building a career here, and Qingyang even admired him.
Whenever something big happens, you have to be calm and pretend to go all out. This kind of person is terrible.
Such a calm young man must die.
At this time, He Lingchuan was discussing with You Rongzhi: "Sir You, the eastward expansion construction site is progressing too fast, and we are in big trouble."
You Rongzhi was surprised: "Why? Isn't this a good thing?"
He had been busy with family matters for the past two days, and as soon as he returned to the construction site, he heard He Xiao's strange words.
Both Jun Shang and Yao Ting hope that the progress will be as fast as possible, so why does He Xiao do the opposite?
"The reason for the rapid progress is the sudden increase in labor force. In the past seven days, more than 12,000 people have been added. Basically, they are here to do the rough work of moving bricks, laying tiles, and stone." He Lingchuan shook his head, "The wages are second, and the time to rush the work is the second most important thing.
It’s okay to give a little more, but the supply of food will be limited.”
When You Rongzhi heard "twelve thousand people", he immediately realized that this was indeed a trouble.
The price of food inside and outside the city has skyrocketed for a long time. In the past, you could buy six or seven kilograms of grain. Now you can only buy one kilogram. Thank God. Even if people squeeze the money and line up outside the grain shop to buy grain, it is very likely that they will finally get in line.
Everyone's food has also been sold out.
A large number of civilians and refugees in the city enthusiastically signed up for the Tianshui eastward expansion project because——
This project is responsible for the food!
It has been rushing to progress from the beginning, and of course it has to introduce preferential measures to attract civilian craftsmen to work.
Although it is a regular and rationed supply, it does not allow all pot-bellied people to open their mouths to eat. The food is not good food. Don't poop when eating, otherwise you may poop out a white and fat worm. But at this time, who can
Do you dare to be picky about food? You have to eat it as a snack with a smile and then savor it.
In just a few days, the Tianshui East Expansion Project has added 12,000 laborers. Adding to the original labor force, all of them are ruthless rice machines.
The project department was suddenly stretched thin.
The price of food is several times higher than before. There is a price but no market!
He Lingchuan smiled bitterly: "I have moved here and there to barely let them eat. They used to have two meals a day, but now they only have one at most. There are complaints in the construction site."
You Rongzhi also felt a headache: "Does the island master have any ideas?"
"I have already notified you that the project has suspended hiring people. The problem is that the number of existing laborers is already very large." He Lingchuan said sternly, "It is really difficult to coordinate the food supply for this project, and we have to ask someone to help."
There were some words he would not say, and some ideas he would not take, because King Yao should make the decision himself.
He can't get involved in these causes and effects.
You Rongzhi asked him: "How many more days can I hold on?"
He also knows that those who work hard are particularly good at eating. People are like iron rice or steel, how can they do without eating for one meal?
"We will be without food in two days at most."
Two days! Sweat breaks out on You Rong's forehead again. He Xiao said, "I can't coordinate." That's the truth.
Unfortunately, this guy is just a council governor and has no real power. There is no point in suppressing him. He can't produce food.
Without power, there is no responsibility.
The one who really makes decisions and takes the initiative to solve practical difficulties must be You Rongzhi and King Yao.
You Rongzhi thought for a while and could only say: "Wait until I enter the palace."
He Lingchuan only talks, he is the real project leader.
You Rongzhi left in a hurry, and He Lingchuan looked at his back and smiled.
The telescope in his arms coughed: "Hey, are you thinking?"
"Yes, it will add fuel to the fire." Qingyang's plan is quite good, and He Lingchuan plans to add more firewood for her.
…
Yao palace, imperial study room.
You Rongzhi has already reported the problem of food shortage in the Tianshui East Expansion Project.
"Two days?" King Yao frowned, "There are only two days of rations left at the construction site, why did you come to report today? You need to coordinate with the Ministry of Household Affairs."
"I've looked for it twice." You Rongzhi smiled bitterly, "But the price of food is too high now. We have to supply food rations for tens of thousands of people, and the cost is equivalent to hundreds of thousands of people before."
The eastward expansion of Tianshui is a huge project. The amount of food consumed every day is staggering, and food prices have increased six to seven times.
If the cost is multiplied by six, then it is not shocking, but scary.
"Master Li of the Ministry of Revenue said that the surrounding granaries are doing their best to ensure the supply of Tianshui City, and there is no spare capacity to take care of the eastward expansion project, unless, uh..."
King Yao frowned: "Say it, leave it alone!"
None of his ministers are happy!
"Unless you get food from the military warehouse."
King Yao slapped the table and became angry: "Army warehouse? Military rations are always given priority, but you actually want to do the opposite? After being an official for so many years, your common sense has gone into the dog's belly?"
Which country dares to cut off the army's food supply easily?
"This..." It's okay to poke a little secretly. Haven't you done this a long time ago? How much better can a military warehouse be than a flat warehouse? Of course, You Rongzhi can't tell the truth in front of King Yao, so he has to retreat.
Secondly, "We can also go to the market to buy high-priced grain, but we can't provide it to laborers for free. Even if we only sell it at cost price, the project will be... difficult to carry out."
It was agreed at the beginning of this project that the laborers would be provided with free meals and drinks, but they would start collecting food fees in the middle of the project. This was fine, as the situation forced it. But with the current food prices, how could those idiots afford it?
I'm afraid a day's work would cost less than half a meal.
Do they come to work to make money, or do they come to the construction site to lose money?
Both You Rongzhi and Yao Wang could imagine how noisy the Tianshui East Expansion Project would be if this method were followed.
Those gangsters are not happy. Stealing things and shitting and urinating are just trivial things. If they get excited, they might start a big riot on the spot, smashing, smashing, and looting.
However, if we continue to provide free food to construction sites, the cost will be too high.
Tens of thousands of people, six times the price of food! Every penny has to be paid from the national treasury!
Is the humble hard work they do worth the price?
Thinking of this, King Yao's heart ached with pain.
Actually, there is another way.
He said solemnly: "If this is the case, the Emperor's Slurry is about to explode. Anyway, the project will be stopped during those days, so it is better to advance."
When the Emperor's Ooze breaks out, both humans and animals are driven by instinct and tend to become disowned. Every time the Emperor's Ooze has flourished, the city has been in chaos, so large projects such as the eastward expansion of Tianshui that involve the cooperation of many people will inevitably be temporarily disrupted.
Work stoppage.
There are only a few days left, so why not go ahead of time?
You Rongzhi asked in a low voice: "You mean?"
"Keep a few teams, and the rest will be paid and kicked out in advance." King Yao's words always make sense: "If you work a few more days, you won't be able to finish a temple; if you work a few days less, you won't miss much of the construction period.
"
As long as King Yao is willing to make up his mind, You Rongzhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, I will make arrangements right away."
"Be nice and don't cause any big trouble."
You Rong responded and respectfully resigned.
His back was completely wet with sweat. When he came out of Shuangxian Palace, he was blown by the cold wind from Yuquan Palace and sneezed dozens of times.
well!
…
What He Lingchuan was waiting for was not You Rongzhi, but Zhao Song, who had just returned from the palace.
He went to Gong Mianjun this morning to report on his work. Of course, he mainly talked about He Xiao's recent words and deeds, which was simply called a snitch.
Seeing his strange expression, He Lingchuan asked with concern: "Brother Zhao, what happened?"
Zhao Song's lips moved, hesitating whether to say anything or not.
But then I thought about it. He Xiao was very well-informed. If I didn't hear it from him, there were other channels.
So he took He Lingchuan to a corner and whispered: "Last night, Tingwei took the palace guards to arrest someone."
This is very important. Do ordinary people need Tingwei to take action?
"who?"
"Hu Ganying, the left envoy of the Chayi Guard, Wang Zuo, the magistrate of Tianshui City East, and I heard that there are two senior officials from the Ministry of War. I am not sure of their names yet."
He Lingchuan was surprised: "What do you mean?"
"The Tingwei captured them and locked them up in a prison for interrogation. So far, no one has figured out their charges."
Zhao Song only knew one thing: Tingwei was also acting on the orders of King Yao, no doubt.
"Are these officials related to each other in some way?"
Zhao Song shook his head: "I don't know."
He has been in the court for many years, and he knows that gossip must be measured. Some words can be said casually, but some words must not be speculated on, otherwise it will be a trivial matter to lose one's official position.
He Lingchuan had been hanging out in Tianshui City for so long, and after entering the palace for a few days, he became more and more familiar with King Yao's temper. This old man was a bit headstrong, but at the same time he was not a resolute person. He suddenly ordered the Tingwei to arrest the person without even giving a clue.
The reason, regardless of the opinions of the government and the public, means that——
Either he was so angry that he couldn't care less about the impact; or the crime committed by these people was so big that King Yao felt that it was urgent to arrest them and interrogate them.
Of course, both situations may be possible.
Tianshui City is experiencing a troubled period these days: project projects are not working well, food prices are skyrocketing, refugees are starting to make trouble, and Luodian in the north is frequently harassing the border... Also, King Yao in the deep palace may have just realized Qingyang's plan
deal with him.
Which of the above things did those ministers commit?
At night, another news came.
Bao Wei, the minister of the Ministry of War, was taken away by Tingwei and died of poisoning on the way to prison; Wu Xianlong, the minister of war, fled and his whereabouts are unknown.
These incidents caused an uproar in Yaoting. People everywhere were talking about what these high-ranking officials had committed.
Before King Yao had time to speak frankly, a piece of bad news came first:
A fire broke out in the kiln!
This season is dry and dry, so the fire is particularly fierce and out of control.