"he?"
Wang Tianze couldn't help but frown. He had considered that Tang Huan wouldn't bring up this topic, and that was exactly what she had done.
But I never expected that someone else would be dragged out to fob me off.
Wang Tianze knew this person; they had met yesterday and shared a drink.
He speaks rudely and behaves licentiously. One can vaguely sense that the Tang family couple and even Tang Liu all have a clear fear of Li Dai Kui.
Besides, he was just a lowly guard in the government office, with only a minor official position.
Why would you want someone like that to discuss strategies for governing a country with you?
Wang Tianze subconsciously felt that this matter was very unreliable, but he was unwilling to let go of any opportunity, so he could only nod helplessly.
Tang Huan chuckled and gestured for Li Da Kui to sit down, patting him on the shoulder. "Perform well and don't let me down."
"Yes!" Li Daikui clasped his hands in a fist and bowed solemnly.
Once everyone looked over, Tang Huan began the conversation, asking Wang Tianze, "When you came to Qihuai County yesterday, did you notice how clean the streets, rooms, and even the outhouses were?"
"Not bad." This was also what surprised Wang Tianze. "How did you manage to do that?"
Tang Huan narrowed her eyes and looked at Li Daikui.
Li Daikui immediately puffed out his chest and said, "That's because Qihuai County has a magical sewer system. All the filth and grime go elsewhere through the sewers, which is why Qihuai County is so clean."
"But where can all that filth and grime be sent?"
Li Daikui said matter-of-factly, "Of course we'll send it to the neighboring county. They happen to be south of Qihuai County, where the terrain is lower and there's a sewer system, which is very convenient."
Despite his discomfort, Gao Yi retorted, "But doesn't this ruin the neighboring county?"
Li Daikui shook his head and said, "No, it may seem a bit dishonest for us to send away the filth, but the neighboring county has barren land and crops are difficult to grow. Manure and the like have become the best nutrients. In just one year, the neighboring county has become fertile land, and everyone is self-sufficient and grateful to Qihuai County."
He proudly stated, "Now, several counties in the north are vying to let us pass through their sewers."
Li Daikui usually speaks rudely and barbarically, and his tone still retains the arrogance he had when he was a bandit. Therefore, Tang Huan rarely lets him speak. He was quite excited because he rarely had such an opportunity.
"What is honey to one is poison to another, and vice versa. What is useless to us may contain great value to others. Do you understand this?"
Wang Tianze felt uncomfortable with the smugness in Li Daikui's voice, but he still had to admit that Li Daikui was right.
Tang Huan nodded in satisfaction, signaling Li Daikui to continue.
After receiving instructions, Li Daikui took a sip of tea and continued, "Do you know why criminals have been completely eradicated in Qihuai County?"
"Because of Qihuai County's unique welfare system." Wang Tianze only learned this yesterday, so he answered the question easily now.
But to everyone's surprise, Li Daikui shook his head again.
"It's not just that. Only with rewards and punishments can the people be convinced. In addition to the welfare system, the authorities have also established a severe criminal law system and assigned a group of people who are powerful enough to intimidate the people to enforce it. I am the best example of this."
"Some people are suited to farming, some to being officials, some to doing business, but some are suited to fighting. The adults put them all in the positions that suit them best."
"In this way, Qihuai County is naturally better than other places."
These words made Wang Tianze fall into deep thought.
A system that clearly distinguishes between rewards and punishments is indeed crucial and effective.
But what Wang Tianze cared about even more was what came next: putting the right people in the right positions. This reminded him of the current imperial court.
How many people occupy those positions but fail to perform their duties?
He has the power, but lacks the ability.
This is what led to the cumbersome and inefficient bureaucratic system in Daqing, with too many incompetent people.
If this is the case in the imperial court, it is even worse among the officials below.
"Also, you're all from the capital, right? You should know that the situation in Qihuai County is very special right now, but why hasn't anyone reported us to the outside world all these years? So many mouths, yet all of them keep their mouths shut."
"I don't know." This was also a great source of confusion for Wang Tianze.
Li Daikui laughed loudly, "This is the simplest thing. In adult terms, it's like slapping them and then giving them a sweet treat. Let them see the methods of Qihuai County, and then let them gain some benefits from it. By combining kindness and severity, everyone will naturally be afraid and grateful..."
Li Daikui suddenly got excited when this was mentioned.
"Hey you, I remember you were from Qihuai County back then, right? You must still remember the bandit situation around Qihuai County, right?"
Gao Yi, who was suddenly called upon, nodded solemnly and added, "There are bandits on every hilltop around here, ranging from a dozen or twenty to over a hundred, which poses a huge security threat."
"Did you see it when you came this time?"
No.
Along the way, apart from the difficult journey, we did not encounter any bandits.
"To be honest, this is how you dealt with the bandits in the surrounding mountains. First, you subdue them with force, and then you show them some benefits. As a result, all the bandits in the area obediently came down the mountain again."
Gao Yi asked, "How do you know so much?"
"Of course I know. Back then, Black Wind Mountain was flattened overnight by the adults, which is why I followed him down..."
Gao Yi suddenly looked at Li Daikui.
Black Wind Mountain was home to the largest band of bandits in the area back then...
While Gao Yi was shocked by Li Daikui's identity, Wang Tianze couldn't help but let his thoughts wander elsewhere.
This incident made him think of the external threats facing Daqing.
What we previously referred to as internal troubles has now become external threats.
To make Daqing strong, in addition to pacifying the court and putting everyone in their proper positions to do their jobs, dealing with powerful enemies is also very important.
The way Qihuai County dealt with mountain bandits was remarkably similar to how Daqing dealt with the Empire.
What seemed like a casual remark made Wang Tianze feel that Li Daikui was subtly pointing out Daqing's current predicament.
He began to suspect that Tang Huan had taught Li Daikui all of this in advance, and that his lack of knowledge about governance was just an excuse.
Of course, these words are simple and easy to understand, and are not particularly profound. It is already quite remarkable that a bandit who has surrendered can understand so much.
With such insights, he could easily boast in front of many ministers in the court.
If even a bandit is like this, then what kind of great wisdom must Tang Huan himself possess?
Wang Tianze was determined to get something from Tang Huan this time, otherwise he would never leave Qihuai County!
On the other side, Tang Huan also noticed that Wang Tianze's gaze towards her had become strange, and subconsciously reached out to touch her buttocks.
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