The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

Chapter 118 The night lights up the night (don’t subscribe yet, this chapter needs to be overhauled)

After Wei Yinghong set the tone for this meeting, his officials had a general direction. Now that the prefect has decided to recruit farmers to renovate the Baoan Lake and strengthen the embankments of the Second River.

Sir, will we still recruit corvees from the state capital next year? someone asked.

Wei Yinghong shook his head and refused decisively: The disaster relief has already cost the people and money, so we should send an official document to all counties in the government to let the people cultivate and live peacefully next year, and farm at home with peace of mind, so as not to miss the autumn harvest.

In addition, let them sort out the situation in the county and make preparations for flood prevention next year. If there are difficulties in the county, they are not allowed to hide them and report them quickly.

An official lowered his head and wrote quickly, writing down all the words of the prefect, and it was his job to inform the county magistrates everywhere.

Your Excellency is wise. Someone stood up and praised him. Was this a lie?

If the strong men outside the city can replace the corvee work of the people in Yangzhou, it will be a good thing for both parties.

The people in the city will all praise this matter, and the reputation of the government office will be raised to a higher level.

Wei Yinghong stretched out his hand to signal the official to sit down, and then continued to the others: Continue to talk about other refugees.

Still talking? Someone lowered his head and looked at the list that was circulated in his hand. Leaving aside more than 40,000 strong laborers, there are thousands of old people, widows and children living alone. The remaining list includes less than 40,000 women and children.

But aren’t these people all family members of the civilian husband? We can't find any work for them in Yangzhou city?

An official asked quietly: Sir, what do you mean?

We can't leave them alone. A look of determination appeared on Wei Yinghong's face. It is better to teach a person to fish than to teach him to fish. Everyone knows this truth.

How about giving them a loan?

This is a method that has been passed down since the Spring and Autumn Period. Food, seeds, livestock, agricultural tools, etc. are loaned to the victims in need, thereby maintaining the livelihood of the victims and allowing them to resume agricultural production.

Someone objected on the spot, Isn't this a joke? All the men in their family have come out to work as husbandmen. How do you let the women farm? We go there to prepare so many cattle. Besides, we go there to find so many fields.

Since we can't do any work, why not give the peasants more wages? And also allow them to live with peace of mind?

Only halfway through saying this, the official in charge of the treasury stood up and retorted, Have you ever calculated how much it would cost if you added more than 40,000 people? Over the years, there has been some savings in the treasury, but if we continue to spend it like this, How long do we have to be raised? Don’t even think about it.”

Seeing a dispute on the court, Wei Yinghong glanced at Lin Ruhai and Huang Weizhong. The latter two nodded tacitly, and both felt it was time to take out the booklet.

Everyone, wait a minute, let's take a look at this booklet first. Wei Yinghong coughed a few times, and as soon as he finished speaking, the master behind the screen came out with a pile of booklets. When everyone saw that the prefect looked prepared, they hurriedly took the booklets. .

Seeing that his subordinates were reading carefully, Wei Yinghong simply took a cup of tea and had a sip.

Lin Ruhai's gaze paused for a moment, looking past his colleagues at the door. In the sunlight shining in the room, it seemed that Chen Heng was standing there, confident and eloquent.

It should be said that Chen Heng's perspective is quite advanced. First of all, he stands at the end of the long river of time, looking back from the fall of Yangzhou, and his vision is always different from that of people today.

Hundreds of years later, Zhu Ziqing described his hometown with a slightly sad taste, When the name Yangzhou is mentioned, many people think of it as a place where women are born.

Nowadays, the people in Yangzhou city are prosperous and healthy. No one can connect the two together, but if you really open up the context, everything becomes traceable.

Yangzhou prospered due to the salt policy, but it also relied too much on the salt policy. Covering the words Yanzheng with your hand, the only impression the world has of Yangzhou today seems to be famous prostitutes and thin horses.

From this we can see the degree of danger hidden in the so-called prosperity of Yangzhou. But preaching this now is undoubtedly alarmist. Chen Heng does not want to be seen as a weirdo in the eyes of others.

He switched his attention to the refugees this time. The men still had somewhere to go, but what about the women?

It is conveniently located on the Chang and Huai rivers, with canals running from north to south, and lakes all over the east and west. Yangzhou's favorable geographical location makes it possible to build a large market.

It's a pity that so far, the trade routes from south to north only bring finished products here for sale. There are no commendable finished products in Yangzhou that are sold across the country. Why?

Just because the people in Yangzhou are too comfortable. It was so comfortable that even the business of salt merchants was in the hands of merchants from Shanxi and Huizhou.

They only need to collect rent, drink tea, and repeat the happiness every day.

Trying to force such Yangzhou people to join in production and creation will undoubtedly result in half the effort with half the effort.

Who is willing to live a comfortable life and go work hard with you?

But this time the refugees have given Yangzhou the opportunity to take off again. They need money, jobs, support for their families, and a city that can accept them temporarily, or permanently.

Among the refugees, men's lives are well arranged. According to Chen Heng's idea, based on the premise of flood disaster, they should have enough money to survive by dredging the river and protecting the lake.

But women will have a headache, there are really not many things that can suit them.

The method Chen Heng came up with was to pick up the declining Yangxiu again.

Yangzhou embroidery was once as famous as Su embroidery, until a large number of Huizhou merchants poured in during the Chenghua period of the Ming Dynasty. The merchants who became rich due to the salt policy squandered their gold and silver in Yangzhou wantonly.

Over time, it directly gave rise to the tertiary industry that Yangzhou is famous for in the country.

In its metropolitan area, there are thousands of people living in it. In other outlying towns and cities, there are often people who live by their doors, laugh and sell their livelihood. A scholar named Xie in the former Ming Dynasty described the women of Yangzhou in just a few lines. life is summarized clearly.

This kind of industry is a double-edged sword. Although it attracts tourists from all over the world, it also brings a lot of income to the government. But it also forced many Yangzhou people to lock their wives and daughters at home. Anyway, we have rent at home, and if you go out and show off all day long, what do people think our family does?

However, when Yangzhou officials realized this, the female workers who were originally skilled in embroidery had almost dispersed, and the remaining ones were all elderly embroidery workers, and it was useless to try to save them.

If Chen Heng hadn't specifically pointed out this time that women and children among the refugees could be used in Yangzhou embroidery, Wei Yinghong would have never thought of this declining industry.

If rouge and perfume can be created together, Yangzhou will no longer become a monster that relies solely on salt policy.

Wei Yinghong and Lin Ruhai also saw this, so they identified the wasteland in the west of the city and planned to build a tapestry street as described by Chen Heng there.

Thousands of small workshops were gathered into one place, and the government government personally eliminated them, exempting them for one year and reducing them for three years. In addition, someone was sent to teach women crafts, and Wei Yinghong was very confident that he could accomplish this.

Everything is difficult at the beginning. What is more difficult than the beginning are ideas and people. Now that there are tens of thousands of women on hand, there is no need to worry about them not doing it.

Chen Heng concluded at the end of the article: Knitting is now popular today, and various techniques are no longer what they used to be. Mianfang fabrics are produced in Songjiang Prefecture and Suzhou Prefecture, and silk fabrics and raw silk are produced in Huzhou Prefecture and Jiaxing Prefecture.

The climate of Huzhou and Jiaxing is similar to that of Yangzhou. You can go here to learn sericulture techniques. Ask for advice from Suzhou and Songjiang. With the help of business travel from south to north in the city, this can be done.

After the officials in the hall read the contents of the booklet, some of them didn't react and asked blankly: What about the remaining food, clothing, and housing?

You're stupid. Others have made money. Are you still worried that they won't be able to eat or wear clothes?

“Is there enough wasteland in the west of the city?”

It's enough. If it doesn't work, we can add more. The west side of the city is close to the Yellow River, and few people go there to sell land. We only need to raise the foundation to ensure that when the Yellow River floods, it will not be flooded.

Where's the money in our treasury? Someone looked at his colleague.

People who manage money like to hear about the issue of open source. After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, If you really want to do it, sir, we can grit our teeth and get through it. We just need to go to the salt merchants next year to make some connections. They have to help with the expenses of the academy.

It was good that everyone could discuss the matter to this point, but Wei Yinghong didn't expect them to come up with any solution immediately. Things will be fine as long as they are done step by step. He and Lin Ruhai looked at each other and smiled, and then said kindly to Huang Weizhong: Help me go outside the city and see what that kid is doing.

Yes, sir.

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Under the background of this era, people in Yangzhou City are still comfortable and comfortable. Xue Biao, Qian Dayou and others went out for half a day and came back with several carts of old clothes.

No one is short of a few worn-out clothes, and since they don’t want you to donate money, these clothes are useless just sitting there. No one asked them for it before, but today I saw someone asking for it, so I just took it out to accumulate merit.

In the city of Yangzhou, which has more than one million people, you have to say that except for the top wealthy households, everyone else is living a miserable life. Chen Heng didn't believe it. The economic situation of any commercial city was like a pyramid.

If you want to compare Yangzhou today with a city in later generations, after much thought, only that city is suitable. Outsiders come to do business, while locals collect rent, occasionally find a job to kill time, or hang out with friends for tea.

At this time, it was time to take out the list Du Yunjing had made. Chen Heng started distributing it to the old, weak, women and children, paying special attention to those households with children at home.

Seeing the smiles on the faces of the victims who received the clothes, Xue Biao and Qian Dayou felt that their hard work was not in vain. He picked up a few cups of tea in the greenhouse and asked Chen Heng, Brother Heng, what are we going to do next?

Keep going, it will take at least two or three days to do this. Chen Heng signaled them not to rush, Right now, we still have to wait for news from the government office.

Prefecture?! Xue Biao and others didn't know Chen Heng's plan, so they had no choice but to suppress their doubts. I asked my friends for fifty more people and rushed to the city again.

Not long after the two men left, Huang Weizhong, the magistrate of the prefecture, came over with instructions from Wei Yinghong. As soon as Huang Weizhong arrived at the scene, he saw a dense crowd of people outside the porridge shop.

Looking around, Huang Weizhong can clearly feel the changes in the refugees. Groups of three to five people stood talking at a distance, and the expressions on their faces were slightly relaxed, no longer as alert and cautious as in the past.

Master Zhizhou secretly thought that it was a good thing. As long as the victims were willing to speak, it would be a first-rate good sign.

He first went to the porridge shop to check the consistency of today's white rice porridge. There are special regulations in the Dayong Law, commonly known as the chopsticks float, the head falls to the ground, and there is also a saying that the scarf does not leak.

After all, I just hope that the refugees can have enough to eat. Wei Yinghong asked Huang Weizhong to personally manage the granary and charity warehouse in the mansion, which was equivalent to equating the porridge for disaster relief with his black gauze hat.

Seeing that everything was correct, Huang Weizhong came to the greenhouse and sat down next to Chen Heng, who had been waiting for a long time.

Sir. When Chen Heng and Huang Weizhong met for the first time, they couldn't figure out the appropriateness of their conversation. After saluting and saying hello, they stood aside with their hands down.

You did a good job. Huang Weizhong couldn't help but praise him as soon as they met. Not only because Chen Heng changed the atmosphere of the camp in just a few days, but also because he was able to immediately think of ways to open up resources through the refugees.

If this happens, Yangzhou can really prosper for another hundred years.

Chen Heng thought that Zhizhou was just a matter of praising the camp, so naturally he did not dare to take credit, so he gave all the credit to the students from major academies. After all, without sincere scholars like them, no matter how many ideas he had, it would be useless.

Huang Weizhong didn't point it out. He just pulled the other party and asked about the current situation of the camp.

The two people sat together, Chen Heng was mainly talking, and Huang Weizhong was mostly nodding.

After Chen Heng finished talking about what happened in the past few days, Zhizhou came to his senses and told Chen Heng what the government had just decided.

When I heard about it from the government office, I decided to start Yangzhou Embroidery. Chen Heng was not surprised, just a little excited.

As the person in charge of this plan, he thought even deeper.

The benefits of this matter have been laid out in the open, but there is another hidden aspect that is not easy for ordinary people to know.

If a large number of laborers suddenly flood into a city, the idlers and day laborers in the city will definitely be afraid that they will take away their jobs. This kind of contradiction and panic is irreconcilable.

Nowadays, among these refugees, the men are responsible for the corvee service in the government offices. Women find another way. It will basically not affect the current lives of Yangzhou people, but will make them live more comfortably.

This was the beginning of Yangzhou people’s true acceptance of the refugees.

As long as they are given some time to each other, Chen Heng believes that the two parties will be able to slowly merge together.

Huang Weizhong was still talking when he mentioned that the government was preparing to distribute money to the old, weak, women and children.

Chen Heng thought of another idea and asked: Since we are ready to distribute money to the old, weak, women and children and enter the city, we might as well make this matter more lively.

Lively?! Huang Weizhong is from Shandong, and he values ​​​​and upholds rules. Although he didn't object, he still felt disgusted with the word in his heart.

Chen Heng was not innocent. He said frankly: Sir, although the refugees have lowered their guard now, most people are still frightened rabbits and are easily startled. You see, the city gate has been open for half a day, but there are still very few refugees coming and going in the city. Not much.

They are just worried that Yangzhou people will look down on them. The government officials regard them as passing locusts and a burden. If they really want to feel at ease, it is better to come with the money and distribute it to them on the spot.

One is to show it to the refugees, and the other is to establish the government's credibility.

When Huang Weizhong heard this, he reacted and said with a smile: You are trying to imitate Shang Yang's bounty for standing trees. After understanding Chen Heng's thoughts, he immediately changed his tone, Then how much do you think is appropriate?

It doesn't take much, three to five thousand taels is enough. Chen Heng knew that this kind of thing only needed to be a gimmick. If you really want to get one or twenty thousand taels, placing them outside the city will disrupt order.

Don't go too far in anything, just let the refugees see the government's sincerity.

Is there more? Huang Weizhong had already been aroused by Chen Heng's desire to communicate, so he asked directly.

Are there any porridge shops in the city prepared for them? Chen Heng asked. These people have already entered the city, so there is no reason to go out of the city to fetch porridge every day.

It's easy. Huang Weizhong said nonchalantly, Invite half of the refugees and half of the neighbors to open a porridge shop directly in the city and deliver food to the refugees.

This is the best, Chen Heng nodded happily.

If you have any other requests, tell them while I'm here. Looking at Chen Heng's appearance, Huang Weizhong always felt that the other party could still do something.

Sir, I... Seeing Huang Weizhong's friendly eyes, Chen Heng smiled and said shamelessly, I want to get some things in the city to play with tomorrow?

Seeing the mystery of what he said, Huang Weizhong asked curiously: What is it?

Chen Heng looked around, put his head into the other person's ear, and whispered.

After hearing this, Huang Weizhong didn't think much. He just waved his hand and said, You can figure it out yourself. Just pay attention to safety.

Seeing that Chen Heng had nothing else to do, Huang Weizhong simply stood up and prepared to go back with a few subordinates. But before leaving, he suddenly stopped holding the horse's rope and asked, Have you not finished writing your book on public security?

Chen Heng blinked and said with some confusion: Public security?

It was the prefect who gave it the name. Huang Weizhong thought about the booklet he was looking at, and felt that there was something behind it, and felt very scratched in his heart.

I wonder where you saw it? Chen Heng was also a little confused. It didn't make sense. Except for some things that shouldn't be said or couldn't be said, he basically wrote everything clearly.

What about after persuading mulberry to plant silkworms? You have no follow-up? Huang Weizhong stared.

Chen Heng suddenly realized that Wei Yinghong had read half of the volume to him. He couldn't help but laugh and said: No more, really no more.

Okay, I'll take it as what you're telling the truth. Huang Weizhong nodded at him and got on his horse with a smile.

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All the officials in the hall had dispersed, and Wei Yinghong chatted with Lin Ruhai in a good mood. He took out Chen Heng's booklet again, pointed at it and said, I'm going to submit it to His Majesty, what do you think?

Okay. Lin Ruhai nodded and said, Don't be too talkative. It's not appropriate for this child to show off.

I know, I know. Hahahaha! Wei Yinghong narrowed his eyes and couldn't stop laughing, Master Pei will be here in a while, and I will tell you two an interesting story.

say what?

People really couldn't help but talk about it. As soon as they mentioned Pei Huaizhen, the mountain chief walked in on crutches.

The two met their mentor and met again in the afternoon. As the topic continued, the conversation returned to what happened to Wei Yinghong just now.

Do you still remember the article Chen Heng wrote with Cui Youdao and Du Yunjing when he took the government examination for the first time?

Seeing that Wei Yinghong was trying to sell things off, Pei Huaizhen urged impatiently, Speak quickly.

I sent the articles of the three of them to His Majesty at that time. Wei Yinghong glanced around the two of them and picked out a soft persimmon, Ruhai, do you want to guess what His Majesty did? Reply to me?”

Lin Ruhai was too lazy to pay attention to him and just poured tea for Pei Huaizhen.

Wei Yinghong was not angry and laughed: Hahahahahahaha, Your Majesty said, Hahahaha, Wei Qing, sometimes even I can't understand your official career.

The revision is done, that’s it. For this chapter, I read the literature all night yesterday and wanted to cry. Talk about Yangzhou, the ups and downs of the commercial capital of Ming and Qing Dynasties, I read it all night. I wrote another 10,000 words and sorted them out. I will explain what I can explain first, and the rest will be explained later.