Chapter 251 Even a纨绔 (spoiled brat) has his day

Everyone looked in the direction from which the laughter came, and saw Li Mu with his hands behind his back staring at the map spread on the ground, shaking his head repeatedly.

Li Yao was secretly furious, but his face remained as gentle as ever.

"Brother, what are you laughing at? Do you perhaps have a better way to manage the Bian River and change its course?"

Li Mu shook his head, answering very decisively.

"No!"

Li Yao...

A mocking smile curled at the corner of Zhao Hong's lips.

"Young Master Li, you may not know this, but before you came in, His Majesty had already asked your elder brother about his plan, but he didn't say anything."

Li Yao became even angrier.

Li Mulian had no way to deal with him, so how could he have the nerve to laugh at him?

He couldn't say it aloud, but with just a glance from the Left Prime Minister, an official immediately stood up and reprimanded Li Mu.

"The heir of the Marquis of Anping only made a verbal declaration of determination to His Majesty, without offering any concrete plan. How dare he mock your younger brother?"

Li Mu walked around the map with his hands behind his back, speaking eloquently.

"Although I haven't figured out a specific plan, I know he..."

Li Mu pointed at Li Yao and said, "His proposed solution is not feasible."

Li Yao was furious.

This plan was developed with the help of more than a dozen advisors. They discussed it repeatedly and determined it to be the most feasible solution.

What does this spoiled brat Li Mu know? How dare he spout such nonsense here!

Li Yao cursed Li Mu in his heart, but put on a troubled look on his face.

“I know that my elder brother also wants to be the Water Envoy. In other matters, I can follow Kong Rong’s example and share pears.”

The position of Water Commissioner was crucial to the successful extraction of oil, and even more so to the nation's water transport and economic well-being.

This isn't a task that you can just get by by having someone else sign in for you, especially since you don't know anything about river management. So please stop making a scene here.

"Once we return home, I will definitely apologize to my elder brother and respect him as before, okay?"

His words caused the surrounding officials to look at Li Mu with a hint of disgust.

"Who gave someone who's never even been to a government office a day ago the audacity to stand here and point fingers?"

"I've heard that the Marquis of Anping's heir is most familiar with matters of romance and pleasure. He can answer any question about the best food, drinks, and entertainment in Bianjing. Does he think that flood control is the same as eating, drinking, and having fun?"

"Ignorance is bliss. When people are stupid enough, they think they are invincible."

A low chuckle rippled through the crowd.

Li Yao listened with secret satisfaction, but continued to persuade Li Mu on the surface.

"Brother, please stop fooling around. His Majesty is still here; this is, after all, a court assembly."

Li Mu frowned and glanced at him.

“You know this is a court assembly. I wanted to discuss the important matter of governing the Bian River with you, but you insisted on bringing up irrelevant things, wasting our time.”

Li Yao's lips twitched with anger, and he blurted out, "What are we discussing? Big brother isn't exactly an expert in flood control. Do you want to discuss with me what good food, drinks, and entertainment are available along the Bian River?"

Li Mu straightened his back, speaking with righteous indignation.

"Although I am not familiar with water management, I am familiar with the Bian River."

"You? Are familiar with the Bian River?"

"That's right. Every year during the Spring Festival, I rent a painted boat with colorful silk ribbons and float on the Bian River, enjoying the flowing wine cups."

In summer, people would rent boats with shaded canopies, place ice basins inside, listen to songstresses play and sing, and enjoy various water performances.

In autumn, I'll go to the Bian River to release moon-lit boats and enjoy a crab feast; in winter, I'll go ice skating on the Bian River, with a few skewers of roasted mutton and a cup of ginger honey water—it's incredibly enjoyable.

Li Yao scoffed, "Isn't this still just eating, drinking, and having fun? I really don't understand how you can talk about something so obviously like a spoiled brat so confidently, brother?"

Li Mu waved his hand.

"No, it is precisely because I frequently visit the Bian River throughout the year that I am familiar with its four seasons, which is why I was able to discern that your plan is merely a castle in the air and difficult to implement in practice."

"you...."

The emperor listened for a long time, a hint of interest appearing on his lips, before interrupting Li Yao's rebuttal.

"Li Mu, what do you think is wrong with your brother's plan? Tell me."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Li Mu responded loudly, then walked to the map and pointed to a dam entrance on it.

He looked up at Li Yao.

"Your plan sounds good at first glance, but there are three problems with it."

"First, we will re-dig the river channel from Baidikou and continue south to Caojiadikou to straighten the river channel."

Do you know how many towns and villages are between Baidikou and Caojiadikou? How many households are there in these villages? How were the people resettled?

Li Yao did not hesitate.

"Of course, they should be moved out. The diversion of the Bian River is His Majesty's order, and those who do not cooperate should be severely punished."

"As far as I know, the route will pass through five towns and twenty-one villages, with about ten thousand households and nearly fifty thousand people. According to my second brother, where should these fifty thousand people be relocated?"

Li Yao opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word.

He had no idea that so many people lived in the Bian River basin.

Li Mu's words sparked considerable discussion among officials.

The Right Chancellor said, "Every inch of land in Bianjing is precious; there is indeed no place large enough to house 50,000 people."

Li Yao: "Then let them relocate to other prefectures and counties."

Li Mu sneered.

“These people have relied on the canal transport for generations, living wherever the water flows. If we make them move to other prefectures or counties, how will they survive? How is this any different from forcing them to their deaths?”

Li Yao had no rebuttal and his face was extremely ugly.

The hall fell silent for a moment, and no one objected.

Seeing this, Li Mu thought to himself that it was fortunate he had often traveled around the Bian River before, otherwise he really wouldn't have been able to control these people.

He cleared his throat and continued, "The second problem is that the riverbed from Baidikou to Caojiadi is located in a low-lying area."

"If we dig a channel here, how much higher will the new dike be compared to the current one? Second brother, have you calculated that? How much additional silver will it cost?"

Li Yao's expression changed slightly.

He didn't consider this issue.

Li Mu said, "The third point is not appropriate. Second brother, have you calculated how long it would take to completely dig from Bai Causeway to Caojia Causeway?"

Li Yao has carefully analyzed this issue.

"If we can send 10,000 to 20,000 laborers to dig on both sides at the same time, we can complete the tunnel in a year at the latest."

"Oh? How much money would it cost to hire 10,000 to 20,000 migrant workers over a year?"

Li Yao's pupils contracted slightly, and his voice became noticeably softer.

"Probably around one million taels."

One million taels!

A series of gasps immediately filled the hall.

Even the emperor, who was sitting at the head of the table, changed his expression.

The annual tax revenue of the Great Chu State Treasury is less than two million taels. Good heavens, Li Yao's plan directly took away more than half of it.

The Right Chancellor stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, what the Marquis of Anping said makes sense. This plan is both laborious and wasteful of resources, and is indeed inappropriate."

The emperor nodded.

"It seems this matter needs to be discussed further."

Li Mu was secretly delighted.

Look, if he weren't usually such a spoiled brat, he wouldn't have been able to come up with a rebuttal to Li Yao today.

Even a spoiled brat can have his day!

I'll definitely brag about it to my wife and daughter when I get back.

Li Mu glanced sideways at Li Yao, whose face was gloomy, and let out a low snort.

Ha, trying to climb to the top by stepping on my daughter and us, father and daughter?

Keep dreaming!