Chapter 145: Beggar-thy-neighbor
In fact, this situation is not what Ye Xingyuan wants to see. If a large-scale internal refugees become popular, the situation will lose control, and the complete out-of-control refugees will have no benefit to Dinghu Province.
Therefore, Ye Xingyuan quickly said loudly: "Captain Zhu, Miss Zhu, don't hurt the harmony! This time the vassal state sent me here to set up a method of labor-for-relief, hired refugees to dig north-south roads and channels to survive the difficult current affairs in recent years!"
This was a strategy that Ye Xingyuan had secretly agreed with Pan Fantai before leaving the provincial capital. The refugees had already entered Dinghu Province. It would not work without relief, but it would not work only for relief, so they decided to use labor for relief.
Dinghu Province has several ancient roads, including the West Han Canal, including the Fen River and the Han River. The ancient canals are cleared and repaired, and then a new post road is built to connect the waterways, which will form a new water and land channel.
After completion, the transportation between Dinghu and Jingchu provinces will be ten times more smooth. This huge project is also the wish of the people of the two provinces for many years, and it can be realized today by refugees.
At that time, Ye Xingyuan proposed this proposal, and Lord Pan was shocked, but he was also interested. If he could turn bad things into good things, of course he would be undesirable, but the key was how to support these 80,000 people. Now the government warehouse can't get too much food.
Ye Xingyuan was calm and proposed his own response. Mr. Pan was so proud that he agreed to Ye Xingyuan's proposal of this wonderful idea.
"Work-for-relief?" Zhu Zhen rolled his eyes and said patiently: "There is no surplus grain in the official warehouse of Dinghu Province today, so where can I support us? This is the dog officials' delay plan. Brother must not be fooled."
This is because he respects Ye Xingyuan's reputation in the world, so he speaks like this. Otherwise, if someone else would have dragged him out to say this to him, Zhu Zhen.
You also know that Dinghu Province has no surplus food, so you still bring so many refugees into the province? What do you mean? Ye Xingyuan complained a few words in his heart.
But he only smiled and said, "Captain Zhu, don't worry. Lord Pan has asked the big households in the province to raise funds. To prepare money and grain for this work-for-relief, it will surely ensure that the refugees will survive this spring famine." The government has no money and grain, but the big households in the local area still have some food storage.
Zhu Ning'er was also a little disappointed when she heard that Ye Xingyuan's solution was just a common use of labor-for-relief. However, she remained silent and listened quietly to Ye Xingyuan's explanation. At this time, she asked: "Uncle Ye is not an ordinary person. This statement must be targeted. Regardless of the origin of this money and grain, there are no major projects in the province now, so what do we need to do?"
It turns out that you are all clear about the situation in Dinghu Province? Ye Xingyuan sighed in his heart. His father knew that there was no food in the province, and his daughter knew that there was no project in the province. Isn’t this just making sufficient preparations in advance?
Under the eaves, he could only patiently answer: "Originally, Lord Pan was in a state of mind, treated the people well, and could not bear to carry out labor service lightly. In fact, there was a proposal in the province to dig the north and south long canals and rebuild the post roads, but it has always been rejected by Lord Pan. This time it happened to be the best, and it was just right to use the power of refugees to achieve this thousand-year achievement and save these tens of thousands of refugees."
The discussion of the north and south Changqu was indeed very popular in Dinghu Province. Because Jiangzhou City, Dinghu Province is one of the world's transportation hubs, and Jingchu Province produces a lot of wood, tea, and a large number of goods must be transported to Dinghu Province and then transported to all directions.
But because of the excessive fatigue of the people, the motion for the Changqu Post Road in the north and south has never been passed. As for whether Lord Pan agrees or opposes, Ye Xingyuan makes a fool of himself.
When Zhu Ning'er heard that it was this project, her eyes lit up, as if she was just right. However, Zhu Zhen shook his head and smiled bitterly, and her face couldn't help but show a look of disdain, "Young Master Ye, it would be fine if you talk about other small projects. But no one can do this long canal in the north and south for hundreds of years. What kind of virtue can Lord Pan be able to achieve this achievement?"
He refused to believe it, and his attitude became much stiffer. He unknowingly changed from "brother" to Young Master Ye, which was an obvious turning point.
The few people were in a deadlock again. Ye Xingyuan knew that the first level had not been cleared and was not in a hurry to explain the following words. He always had to leave some time for the father and daughter to react.
Zhu Ning'er smiled and said, "It's too late today. My father has been working hard for days and is a little confused. Uncle Ye and Mr. Tang come here from afar. I guess he's tired, so it's better to stay overnight. We'll discuss this big thing tomorrow?"
It was getting late? Ye Xingyuan looked up and saw the sun still hanging high in the sky. He was talking lies with his eyes open, but this girl was very wise, so her words must have a deep meaning. Ye Xingyuan turned to look at her again, but she lowered her head and looked at her without any real expression.
Zhu Zhen was a little angry, but it was not easy to have an attack. He also knew that his daughter had always been a think tank around him and must have an idea in his heart. So he laughed: "I am really tired today, and I can't help but neglect the distinguished guests. Mr. Ye and Mr. Tang should go to rest first, and wait until we can get enough energy tomorrow, so we will talk in detail."
He was a rude person. He explained a few words of scenes and was impatient. He turned around and left seriously. Zhu Ning'er smiled and said goodbye, and then floated away. Someone else came to arrange the daily life of Ye Tang and the others.
Everything in the private camp is simple. Even the envoy sent by the governor cannot receive any special preferential treatment, only a small broken tent.
Ye Xingyuan didn't care, and Tang Shiyan didn't dare to complain. The two of them didn't go to compete for food with the refugees. They just took some clean water and ate it randomly with the dry food, so they discussed it in the account.
Tang Shiyan recovered and asked, "Brother, your name of timely rain is so powerful? I was a little disgusted before, but now I want to come here, I'll just take a nickname."
Sure enough, he was still an unreliable teammate. He was walking in the world. Could it be enough to rely on a nickname? Ye Xingyuan fought the magistrate head-on and forced him to retire from the fifth-rank inspector's officer. He luckily won a spring rain from the sky, which won the respect of the people in the world.
What do people in the martial arts world respect the most is the heroes who dare to challenge the government. Otherwise, it would be very useful to just have a timely nickname? What is Tang Shiyan thinking about now?
"As far as I think, I am a famous scholar in the family. Even if I wander around the world, I can't lose my identity. When I was young, I liked white clothes. Why would I call it "White-clothed Xiushi"?" Tang Shiyan asked Ye Xingyuan with great enthusiasm.
Sure enough, it was about to have a big gathering in Water Margin! Ye Xingyuan shook his head helplessly, "Senior's title is not auspicious, you should not use it anymore. If you really want a nickname, I think you are usually resourceful, so you might as well call it Zhiduoxing!"
Tang Shiyan's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands and praised, "Tang Shiyan's wisdom! How wonderful! Sure enough, his brother is extraordinary, and he is a great expert when he takes action, turning decay into magic."
He felt that this nickname was not only matched with the identity of a scholar, but also showed his old Tang's advantages, and he couldn't help but feel complacent. Ye Xingyuan sighed and pulled his sleeves: "I'll talk about the nickname for the time being. At this time, the seniors discovered that although these 80,000 refugees were short of food, half of the cooked in the pot were wild vegetables, there were also some rice soup, and they still had some food in their hands."
Although there are not many, at least they can barely supply them. Tang Shiyan was stunned and nodded and said, "It seems that there is a scent of rice soup. Isn't this a good thing? They have food in their hands, so they may listen to their advice more."
What I am afraid of is that I don’t have a single grain of food in my hands. When I am desperate, people will inevitably become crazy. No matter how they move with emotion, it is useless to understand them with reason. Tens of thousands of people will become terrible torrents driven by hunger.
"It is of course a good thing for them to have food in their hands, but where does their food come from, it may not be a good thing." Ye Xingyuan patiently guided Tang Shiyan to think. Old Tang was his shield, and he must have a corresponding understanding of the situation and should not just be confused.
Where did their food come from? Tang Shiyan was confused all of a sudden. This question is indeed strange. If refugees had food that could be eaten for half a month, they would never leave their hometown easily. After all, for them, only those who are attached to the land can have life.
"Someone gives them funding? Someone is guiding these refugees behind this group of refugees!" Tang Shiyan was also a talented man after all. After thinking for a while, he immediately grasped the key, and his heart jumped and almost fell from the stool.
This is a heart-killing thought. Of course, funding refugees is not a bad thing, but on the contrary it is a great good deed. However, if you take out the food and try to control the actions of refugees, it would be a great rebellion.
Who would do such a thing? What was his purpose? Tang Shiyan was sweating coldly, and his clothes were wet on his back.
Ye Xingyuan nodded and said, "You are thinking well, the real problem lies here!" Otherwise, even if Zhu Zhen and Zhu Ninger had great skills, they would not be able to arrange these 80,000 refugees properly.
Nowadays, private camps are lingering in the Peacock Gorge, and it seems that they are waiting for something. This kind of waiting is not out of trust, but more like waiting for a price.
Tang Shiyan guessed carefully: "You mean someone wants to use these refugees? To commit rebellion? To rebel?" When talking about these words, Tang Shiyan's lips began to tremble and his heart was cold. He didn't want to get involved in such a big deal.
Ye Xingyuan smiled, "It's not that exaggerated." Even if there is no peace and prosperity now, the imperial court is majestic. If someone intends to rebel based on tens of thousands of refugees, that's just a joke.
"Why should I urge the refugees if I don't do this?" Tang Shiyan couldn't understand why some people were so bold.
Ye Xingyuan sneered: "The profit is so ignorant! When the Jingchu refugees are civil, if there is a big trouble, the first thing that will be unlucky will be the Jingchu officialdom. The biggest suspicion is naturally them! I think it is probably because they harmed their neighbors and deliberately let these refugees go to Dinghu Province.
Besides, there are many incidents in the officialdom. Maybe someone in Dinghu Province will add fuel to the fire. I want to use this matter to capture Lord Pan. Do you think he is so innocent?"
Tang Shiyan was stunned and even more disbelief. When he was about to ask in detail, Zhu Ning'er's voice outside the tent sounded, "Uncle Ye, I have something to tell my niece about, don't you know how to come in?"
Chapter completed!