The Struggle of the Reborn Prince

Chapter 36 Principal

On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, the flavor of the New Year has become stronger and stronger, and the large cars traveling between the government and the capital have become increasingly common. They want to sell the last two batches of vegetables before the year, buy back all the items for the New Year, and escort them to the government.

The family members celebrating the New Year.

"Your Majesty, all the officials are here and waiting to discuss matters. Let's go there too!" Huang Jingchen said to Zhao Tao in the side hall of the main hall.

"Uncle Huang, do you think what we discussed is feasible?" Zhao Tong had long talks with Huang Jingchen every day for the past two days, and explained his ideas to Huang Jingchen one by one, hoping to get his support.

"Your Majesty, I have already said this. Your Majesty is the head of the palace, and we are all servants. You can do whatever you want, no matter what you order. Even if you do something wrong, it will only cause you to lose some money.

It won’t hurt our muscles and bones, Prince, feel free to do it, I will give you my full support!”

"Okay, Uncle Huang, let's go!" Zhao Tong stood up and walked to the big study room next door. He saw that Huang Jingchen's expression had not changed much, as calm as before. Zhao Tong understood that he still had reservations about him, but at least he had already

Start accepting yourself.

The three stewards in the study room and the outer courtyard stood up and saluted when they saw the two people coming in. Zhao Tong took his seat at the head of the table, Huang Jingchen sat next to him on the right, and Jian Xi stood behind him. After the waiter in the waiter brought tea, Feng Xi led

Come to the door and guard the door. The remaining people in the room are the general managers of all aspects of the government. It can be said that this is a high-level meeting in the government.

"Chief Executive, please first tell us about the government's income and expenditure this year!" Huang Jingchen said.

"Yes, this year the government has a total income of 230,000 guan, including 4,800 guan from the prince's salary, 150 guan from the food court, 4,000 guan for additional expenses, 180,000 guan from the palace, and tenancy

Eight thousand dan for rice and 5,000 dan for wheat. It cost 3,200 guan and 450 guan to repair the mansion. The prince spent 2,600 guan and left a balance of 192,000 guan!" Zheng Fu, the chief steward, commanded all the people in the mansion.

Explain each item of expenditure one by one.

"Well, second manager, please tell me about Zhuangzi's situation in the mansion!" Huang Jingchen nodded and said.

"Yes, Prince, Chief Manager, at the beginning of the year there were two Zhuangzi in the mansion, with 200 hectares of land, 513 tenant households, and 837 people, including 110 hectares of high-grade farmland and 110 hectares of medium-grade farmland.

There are 60 hectares of fields, 15 hectares of low-grade fields, all of which have been planted with wheat, and 12 hectares of mulberry fields, all of which are grown into timber. There are now 104 oxen and more than 50 draft horses. At the end of the year, the land in nearby Chen Village was acquired.

There are more than two hundred hectares, two Zhuangzi, and a big house." Zheng Lu, the second manager, explained the situation.

"It's your turn as the third steward, tell me about the situation in the mansion!" Huang Jingchen said to the third steward Zheng Shou. Zheng Shou stood up and allocated the staff in the inner and outer courtyards of the mansion, and talked about the recruitment and replacement of staff in various departments and positions.

He said that the personnel in the inner court were assigned to the palace and he had no control over them.

After the three stewards finished their reports, they handed over the account books and rosters under their respective control. They handed them to Huang Jingchen happily, but he did not accept them. He said, "Give the account books to the prince. From now on, major events and expenses in the palace will need to be dealt with."

It can only be executed with the permission of the prince. You can report small things to me, and I will inform the prince. You all know!"

Several people in the hall looked at each other, stood up and bowed at the same time and replied: "Young men, I understand!" They understood the meaning of Huang Jingchen's words. In the future, the prince will personally take charge of matters in the palace.

.

"Third steward, there are suddenly a lot of servants in the house. Are they new ones you bought?" Zhao Tong asked as he picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea.

"Second Master, we didn't buy it, this is from the Zhuangzi we acquired, and it's all debt repayment!" The third steward glanced at the chief steward, Zheng Fu, and said.

"Ahem, what's going on with the second master?" Zheng Fu took over and answered Zhao Tao's question. It turned out that Chen Tang had worked hard to acquire so much land over the past few years, but he didn't expect that he would end up making a wedding dress for Zhao Tao.

, which made him feel unwilling. Obviously he 'sold' all the land to Zhao Tao, but secretly he searched through all the debtors. During the handover, he persuaded them to 'buy' those who were actually in exchange for the land.

The children of tenants who could not afford debts were servants. The chief steward thought that they were old people who could be used in the house. He thought that someone had to take care of the garden, so he bought those people without thinking too much. Unexpectedly, they were used by Chen Tang.

He transferred the debt to them with his "Golden Cicada's Escape" plan. When he understood what was going on, he couldn't have an attack and could only be a mute eating Coptis chinensis.

"Those are all children, and they are of no use if they stay in the house. Let their families use the principal to redeem them!" Zhao Tong did not expect that he would become 'Huang Shiren' as soon as he took over, and thought of giving them a discount.

Let the family take it back and forget it. Even though they suffer a little loss, maybe their family reunion can be considered a good deed.

"Haha, Second Master, we have thought about this method, but only a few people were taken back, and there were more than 60 people left. They said they had no money to redeem them!" the big manager said with a wry smile. They found out

After asking the question, I also thought of this remedy, but no one 'appreciated it'.

"The parents of these people are so cruel. They can't bear to give up even a few dollars when they see their children suffering!" The third steward said bitterly. He was very embarrassed when there were so many freebies in the house.

"That's not the case. No one's child is hurt. It's just that when they go back, the family will open more mouths, and they can still make a living in our house!" Zhao Tong said with a sigh.

"Well, since that's the case, let's stay here for now. Let them learn the rules, find out the details of the family, and then make arrangements. What do you think, Your Highness!" Huang Jingchen said. Zhao Tong didn't think there was anything good to do now.

Fazi, nodded to agree.

"Yes, it all depends on the orders of the chief steward!" the third steward replied.

"Although we bought Zhuangzi, Chen Tang was too ruthless in his plundering. The tenants all want to give up their land and find new owners. So our land will no longer be cultivated next year. What can you do?" Zhao Tong asked.

"Nowadays, every household has very tight control over their tenants, and it's not easy to find them unless there is a bad year," said the second steward.

"Second Master, why don't we go to the south to find some tenants after spring starts? There are more people there and less land. Maybe we can find some people!" the big manager said.

"Do you know why the tenants want to quit?" Zhao Tong asked.

"I don't know, maybe it's because the land rent is too high, but it's the same everywhere, 40-60 or 50-50!" said the second steward.

"Actually, the problem still lies in the land rent. What we practice here is share rent. The more grain they harvest, the more they will have left. However, due to years of famine and disrepair of water conservancy, the grain harvested from the best fields except for seeds and rent taxes, there is nothing left.

There is not enough food to feed the family until the end of the year, not to mention those low-grade fields that can only grow one season of wheat every year and the harvest is not enough to pay the rent and taxes. How could they not run away? Even if you find new people, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep them!

"Zhao Tong said.

"Why do you know this so well, Second Master?" Second Steward Zheng Lu immediately understood that what the Prince was saying was reasonable. After a year of hard work, he couldn't even fill his stomach, and even he had to run away.

"You have been following me around Zhuangzi for nothing these past two days. You really think you are just looking at the scenery!" Zhao Tong said, "You are in charge of Zhuangzi's fields. Let me ask you, there have only been two snowfalls in winter this year. If

If there is no rain in spring and a spring drought occurs, what are you going to do?"

"Second Master, I haven't thought about this, but we can't be afraid of drought if we guard two rivers!" Zheng Lu said vaguely with sweat on his head.

"Hmph, what can you use to lead the water there? Can you carry it on your shoulder? The one close to the water may be fine, but what about the one far away?" Zhao Tong asked again and again.

"Then we can only wait until it rains. There is nothing we can do!" the second steward said sarcastically.

"The prince has entrusted you with all the affairs of the palace. Is this how you handle things? Have the palace ever paid you less wages? If you have done something wrong, has the prince ever beaten or scolded you? You can't go back.

During the Chinese New Year, the prince sent someone to bring your family members for a reunion, and also gave you extra salary for the New Year, and made new clothes. This is how you repay the prince, are you worthy of the old prince?" Huang Jingchen hit the desk hard, stood up and shouted sternly.

asked.

"Young men have betrayed the great trust of the king and the trust of the prince!" The three stewards stood up and bowed their heads and said with shame on their faces. They actually didn't do anything that the prince said. They looked a little old.

Can't hang on anymore.

"It's good to know. Use your brain more in the future and don't just see the things in front of you!" Huang Jingchen waved his hand for them to sit down.

Zhao Tong looked at Huang Jingchen and felt grateful, knowing that he was sincerely promoting him to the position and teaching them a lesson. Huang Jingchen twisted his face and gave a knowing smile, "Don't look down upon me, Your Majesty. He asked a few questions to defeat the chance of the stewards.

There is a lot of heart and mind!

"These few things have not been done well, and there are also issues with your respective authority. Today we have to discuss these things and come up with a countermeasure, otherwise our life will not be easy next year!" Zhao Yu saw that several people were honest, and Yoyo

said.

"Yes, it all depends on the second master's orders!"

"You all come over here!" Zhao Fu ordered Jianxi to put the map on the table and spread it out, and asked the three of them to come closer.

"You see, the Baishui River passes through our village. If used well, it can irrigate our farmland and relieve the worry of drought!"

"Second Master, the water in this river is only two feet deep and the water surface is less than ten feet. The water volume is too small. I'm afraid it won't be able to irrigate tens of thousands of acres of land!" the second steward said, shaking his head.

"So we need to build a dam to store water. I asked the old people in Zhuangzi and they said that a dam was built here to store water many years ago. I also went there and inspected it carefully. The old site is still there. If the dam is built,

, it can form more than two hundred acres of water surface, which should be enough. We can also use the water surface to raise fish and ducks to increase income!"

"Second Master, if we build a dam, we will need a lot of manpower, but where can we go to recruit them now?" Third Steward Zheng Shou asked again.

"I have thought about this too. The two villages have more than a thousand people, and many people have nothing to do now. As long as the price we offer is right, I think they will do it, and we can also pay them one month's wages in advance.

It not only solves their urgent need, but also solves our problem!" This idea is a variation of work-for-relief commonly used in later generations, and both parties can benefit.

"Well, Er Ye has a good idea. We have built dams and dredged canals. The low-grade fields in the past can be turned into high-grade fields that can guarantee harvests despite droughts and floods. Then they will not be able to leave even if they are driven away, and more can be attracted.

People!" the chief steward said approvingly, stroking his beard.