98 Chapter 98
◎Knock on officials◎
This is no coincidence.
Liu Zhaoyu and others suddenly realized that the story about being accidentally separated from the personal guards and inspecting the salt fields was all fake.
The worst result they expected actually happened before their eyes. During the month that the princess was missing, Xiang Jingze had indeed found an opportunity to meet the princess.
How much did he know? What did he tell the princess?
Xie Mingzhuo observed everyone's reactions, stepped forward to help Xiang Jinghui to his feet, and said with a smile, "They say Censor Xiang's whereabouts are secretive. It seems I've come to the right place today. Censor Xiang personally visited the salt fields and mingled with the salt workers. What crime has he committed?"
"The princess arrived at the saltworks. I should have gone to see her, but I was unable to get away. I am guilty."
"Why can't you get away?"
Xiang Jinghui's eyes were stern. "I, along with a group of well-drillers, have developed a new type of salt well. The salt yield from a single draw could potentially be five times higher than before. These past two days are the final stretch, so we must be cautious."
Five times?!
Liu Zhaoyu and the others were all startled. If this were true, then the salt profits would be...
"Is it really five times higher?" Xie Mingzhuo was surprised. "I wonder when it will be completed and inspected?"
Xiang Jinghui smiled and replied, "Princess, you came at the right time. The salt well has just been dug."
"Censor Xiang, if the salt production is truly as you claim, you and the other well-drillers will be pillars of our Daqi. The court will surely reward you." Xie Mingzhuo finished his words and ordered everyone to step back. "Censor Xiang, let's begin."
"I obey your orders."
Xiang Jinghui turned around and gestured to Zhou Da and other craftsmen, but saw that they were all stunned and stupid, kneeling there at a loss.
Princess, this is a princess!
They had been dealing with salt wells all their lives, and the highest-ranking official they had ever met was an ambassador. And they had only seen him from afar and didn't even recognize his voice. But now, when they suddenly saw the extremely noble princess, the blood in their bodies began to flow faster, rushing and making them dizzy.
Xiang Jinghui understood them very well. When he first learned of Tiezhu's identity, he was no better than them.
She raised her voice to remind everyone, "Everyone, cheer up! The princess has come to the saltworks in person and praised us as pillars of the country. Are we going to disappoint her? Zhou Da, draw the brine!"
The craftsmen woke up one after another and rushed forward to work, but their hands, which were usually steady, were not under their control and were shaking violently.
Xie Mingzhuo said calmly and gently, "If you can successfully draw five times the amount of brine in one go, everyone who participates in digging the well will be rewarded with five taels of silver."
Everyone: Five taels!!!
Suddenly he stopped panting and his hands stopped shaking. He immediately turned the windlass of the brine-raising machine and began to draw water from the brine layer at the bottom of the well.
After the transformation, this machine is as tall as a building and requires the joint efforts of many people to turn the windlass. If time is not insufficient, human power can be replaced by animal power, which can increase the power and achieve twice the result.
Compared with the previous Zhuotong Well, the well cavity is larger and the diameter of the brine-drawing tube is much larger. Brine can gush out from the wellbore by simply circulating the force.
“It’s coming out!”
All the cooks, including Yan Dafa, cheered and rejoiced. They witnessed with their own eyes that the new well's brine extraction efficiency was five times higher, and they felt proud of it.
Even though Liu Zhaoyu and others were not familiar with salt affairs, they could conclude from the excitement on their faces that the new well experiment was a success.
The cook who was waiting nearby immediately took the brine and went to the stove in the straw shed to start boiling it.
Xie Mingzhuo was the first to applaud.
"If this can be promoted in Shu, the salt industry can survive. Censor Xiang, you and the other well-drillers have made contributions to the country and deserve a generous reward. Zhang will be promoted."
"I am here."
"This achievement should be recorded in the records and presented to the emperor in a memorial, so that the emperor can be happy too."
"I obey your orders."
"Also, for those who participate in digging new wells, the Ministry of Supervision shall allocate a bonus of five taels per person. If there are new examples in the future, they shall be followed."
Zhang Sian: "...I obey your command."
He roughly estimated that there were about thirty craftsmen involved, and five taels per person equaled one hundred and fifty taels. Although it was not much, he had been running the business for half a year, and there was not much money in the public account of the Tizhusi.
However, I had to obey the princess's order.
"Long live the princess!" The well carvers cheered and knelt down to express their gratitude.
Even Zhou Da, the arrogant old man, couldn't stop smiling.
"Xiang Yushi, you were able to lead the craftsmen to achieve such a feat. The court will not forget your contribution." Xie Mingzhuo said with a smile. "It just so happens that the ambassador of Jianzhou has knowingly broken the law. The ambassador's position is currently vacant. You are the inspector of salt and are well-versed in salt affairs. You are a master of the art. Until the court sends an official, you will serve as the acting ambassador and governor of Jianzhou's salt affairs."
Xiang Jinghui bowed to the ground and said, "I will do my best to live up to the princess's kindness."
"Stop kneeling and get up." Xie Mingzhuo helped her up with his own hands, his eyes full of admiration and encouragement. "Jianzhou Salt Field is just a starting point. I hope you will start from here and see each other rise to the sky together."
Xiang Jinghui's eyes were slightly moist, and he choked up and said, "I will remember this."
The two of them "get along well with each other", while Liu Zhaoyu and his ilk looked at each other in bewilderment. Even a fool could see that the princess valued Censor Xiang, but they just didn't know what Censor Xiang had done in the past year and why he appeared in Jianzhou Salt Field to supervise the construction of new wells.
Xie Mingzhuo suddenly turned around and looked at everyone with disdain.
"Before I left Beijing, I worked the fields at Ditan Park with my father. He personally held the plow and cultivated the land, saying, 'Only when you understand the suffering of the people can you cultivate a benevolent heart.' What do you think, my Lords?"
Jiang Youxin said without hesitation: "Your Majesty loves the people like his own children, and his grace is felt by all quarters. I, your ministers, am ashamed to be inferior to you."
"Ask for knowledge, and you'll be rich; self-reliance, and you'll be small. Since you know you're not as good as them, why don't you even take the 'Ninety-Eight Articles' personally approved by the Emperor seriously?" Xie Mingzhuo sneered. "As local officials, you're not striving for progress. The salt administration is failing, and bandits are rampant. How can my father and I, and the people, feel at ease?"
The ministers knelt down and said: "We are guilty."
"If kneeling down and apologizing could solve the problem, what use would you have for us?" Xie Mingzhuo said mercilessly. "Jiang Youxin, Liu Zhaoyu, Zhang Sian, our father can still personally hoe and plow, and encourage farming. It shouldn't be a problem for you to personally draw brine and boil salt, right?"
Officials: “…”
"Not willing?"
Jiang Youxin hurriedly said, "I obey your orders. I will follow your Majesty's example and personally draw the brine and fry the salt. I also ask for your guidance, Imperial Censor Xiang."
He had just seen it clearly. It was just a matter of exerting some strength, no big deal. If it could calm the princess down, he would not mind doing it for a whole day.
The others understood what he meant and just took it as a way to appease the princess, so there was no harm in it.
Liu Zhaoyu sneered inwardly. It was just turning the windlass and burning the salt stove. How could it be as hard as military training?
"Admitting one's mistakes and correcting them is the greatest virtue." Xie Mingzhuo nodded in satisfaction and instructed Xiang Jinghui, "Xiang Yushi, this new well will be handed over to you gentlemen today. You and Master Zhou will supervise the work to avoid damaging the salt well and wasting firewood."
Xiang Jinghui agreed immediately.
There were about twenty officials of all ranks who came to welcome the princess, which was more than enough.
She was divided into three groups: one group to draw brine, one group to carry it, and one group to boil it.
Jiang Youxin and others followed orders and performed their duties.
At the beginning they were full of confidence, especially Liu Zhaoyu, who relied on his strong physique and volunteered to turn the windlass to draw brine. However, although this task seemed simple, it also required skills.
The salt workers watching the excitement on the side didn't dare to point out anything, but suddenly heard Zhou Da exclaim: "You look smart, but why are you so stupid? I told you not to add more, why did you insist on filling the stove? Firewood doesn't cost money? What will happen in your next life if the fire goes out?"
The person he was teaching a lesson to was Jiang Youxin, no matter how high his official rank was. Since the princess asked him to give some advice, he dared to do so.
If it weren't for the fact that he is a high-ranking official, he wouldn't just give verbal instructions, he would have to get involved.
Jiang Youxin's old face turned red.
He had never even been to the kitchen, so how could he know there were so many tricks to making a fire?
But the princess was supervising them, so he didn't dare to object. He squatted pitifully in front of the stove and watched Zhou Da fiddle with it for a while, and the fire that was about to go out was rekindled. He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Seeing that even such a high-ranking official did not dare to speak, the other salt workers turned into "masters" and talked in unison, correcting the officials' actions.
Unfortunately, how can the officials who are used to holding paper and pen adapt to the harsh working environment in the salt fields?
They hadn't realized it just now, but after the stoves were lit, the smoke and fire heated up the area around the salt well. They all turned red in the face and sweated profusely. Their official robes were soaked, as if they had just been pulled out of the water.
My shoes and socks were soaked in brine, and they made a creaking sound when I walked. It was uncomfortable and my skin seemed to feel a little burning.
I really want to take it off, but with the princess here, it would be disrespectful.
Even though the officials tried their best, they were still much slower than the salt workers. The time it took them to draw brine once was enough for the salt workers to do five times.
Not to mention boiling salt crystals.
Xie Mingzhuo studied it for a while, then asked loudly, "Where is the general manager?"
"I am Yan Dafa, a humble servant. I kowtow to the princess and wish her a thousand years of longevity." Yan Dafa immediately knelt on the ground, performing a non-standard etiquette.
"I heard that if the cooks at the salt field are lazy, the supervisor will often whip them to urge them to work. Do you think they are lazy?" Xie Mingzhuo asked slowly as he sat on a rough bench.
Yan Dafa wanted to crawl into the ground and said carefully: "Princess, the masters have not yet adapted to the labor in the salt fields. It is normal that they are slow."
"Xiang Yushi, what do you think?"
"No one is born adaptable. I believe that burning forests to make fields and draining lakes to fish are not good deeds." Xiang Jinghui said carefully, "The stove farmers produce salt for the court and benefit the world, so they should be treated well. However..."
"Go on."
"Farmers rest in winter, officials take holidays during festivals, and merchants and craftsmen enjoy a balance between work and rest. However, salt workers work year-round, toiling away at wells and stoves day and night, straining their muscles and bones. They can't even enjoy the salt they produce. Why is this so?"
These words moved the salt workers so much that they burst into tears.
Yan Dafa knelt on the ground, not daring to say anything.
Could he say that it was because his superiors were pressuring him hard and he wanted more surplus salt to make huge profits?
I'm afraid that once the princess leaves, he will follow in Mr. Bai's footsteps.
Xie Mingzhuo said in a deep voice, "Xiang Yushi, please draft a memorial as soon as possible and submit it to the emperor. Ask the officials to think carefully about why the salt workers of Daqi endure so much hardship but are not treated well."
In fact, the court did not originally treat the stove owners like this. In addition to supplying the quota of salt required by the government, the stove owners could exchange the remaining salt they produced for grain from the government. One small salt was exchanged for one stone of rice, which was considered preferential treatment for the stove owners.
However, "the hardship falls on the cook, while the profit goes into the pockets of the merchant" is the norm.
Tears welled up in Xiang Jinghui's eyes and he agreed immediately.
The other salt workers seemed to have finally vented their grievances. They squatted on the ground and wiped their tears. Their scene was pitiful and heartbreaking.
Jiang Youxin and others: "..."
The princess looked a little gloomy. She must not bring bad luck to him, so she had to work harder!
It was not until nightfall that the princess returned to the camp. The officials followed her, dragging their aching bodies. Just as they were about to leave, they heard the princess speak.
"Jiang Youxin, when you return to your tent, copy the 'Ninety-Eight Articles' a hundred times. When the exhortation is over these few days, give me a full copy."
Jiang Youxin: "..."
He couldn't even lift his hands!
Only Liu Zhaoyu still had the energy to spare. He asked, "Princess, the case of the extermination of the family has been concluded. Why do you want to stay for a few more days? Chengdu Prefecture still has a backlog of government affairs that we must attend to."
All the officials agreed.
"Even if we ignore government affairs for a few days, Chengdu Prefecture will not disappear. We have councilors, deputy governors, and deputy governors to assist us. You don't need to worry. I have made up my mind, so there is no need to persuade me."
Everyone: “…”
The one hundred and first time I envy and hate the Censor who returned to Chengdu first!
Jiang Youxin almost vomited blood. Although he was responsible for boiling salt and the labor was not as hard as Liu Dutai and others, his arms were already broken after a day. How could he have the energy to copy it a hundred times?
If the princess wants to kill him, just say so!
The others looked at him with sympathy. It was your fault for not memorizing the "Ninety-eight Articles".
"Zhang Sian, as the supervisor, you should be familiar with salt affairs. A nine-story tower starts with piling up earth, which shows the importance of laying a solid foundation. From now on, you will follow the salt field workers to dig new wells and must not slack off."
Zhang Sian: "...I obey your orders."
I dreamed tonight that the princess would return to Beijing tomorrow.
"Liu Zhaoyu," Xie Mingzhuo said, not intending to let any of them go, "Bandits are rampant in Shu. As the governor, you must not allow them to run rampant. Draft a 'bandit suppression' strategy within the next few days. It must be effective."
Liu Zhaoyu: “…”
Everyone left in despair. After returning to the tent, they wished they could go back to the time before the princess came to Shu and slap themselves a few times.
Wouldn't it be better to let the princess arrive safely in Chengdu? Why did a bandit have to show up along the way? Why, why, why!
Even Liu Zhaoyu felt regretful.
If he had known that the princess could be so troublesome, he would not have agreed to the Taoist priest's suggestion and would have sent people to intercept the princess's carriage.
We can't just sit there and wait for death, letting the princess lead us by the nose.
He signaled Jiang Youxin and the others to enter the tent and said, "We must persuade the princess to return to the capital as soon as possible."
Everyone unanimously agreed that if they continued to struggle, they would almost lose their lives.
"The princess is determined to make us suffer, and no one can persuade us." Jiang Youxin looked at Liu Zhaoyu. Didn't you, Old Liu, also suffer just now?
Liu Zhaoyu was confident: "There is one person who may be able to be persuaded."
"who?"
"King of Shu."
At Xie Mingzhuo's tent, Gao Quan came to report, "Princess, the governor of Jianzhou has suddenly fallen ill and needs to return to the city for treatment as soon as possible."
"Ask Doctor Xu to take a look at him."
"He said that Doctor Xu is young and a girl, so she's not suitable."
Xie Mingzhuo chuckled lightly and said meaningfully, "Alright, let him return to the city. If anyone else falls seriously ill, tell him that a provincial governor doesn't need a sickly person. He should follow Governor Kong's example and ask to be buried as soon as possible. Father will definitely not refuse this time."
"yes."
Upon learning that the princess had agreed, everyone had some thoughts of imitating the prefect and going back home after getting sick, but their thoughts were instantly extinguished after hearing Gao Quan's reply.
Based on their understanding of the princess, she could definitely do it.
Jiang Youxin comforted others and himself: "It's okay, just bear with it for two more days. When the King of Shu arrives, we will be free."
Inside the tent, Jiang Qing was puzzled.
"Why did Your Highness allow the prefect to return to the city?"
"First, we can't push them too hard. We have to give them some hope," Feng Caiyu explained. "Second, we need to see the reinforcements they've brought in."
"What reinforcements?"
Xie Mingzhuo said calmly, "It's rare to enter Shu, so I have to meet the King of Shu. After all, he is a relative."
Prince Shu's Palace.
The young man in brown clothes sneezed suddenly, raised his hand to rub his nose, tightened his clothes, and continued to look down at the tender buds in the cup.
The glass cup I bought from Beijing is really useful. It is completely transparent and you can even see the growth of the roots clearly.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty!"
The servants shouted outside, but did not dare to step over the threshold. The people inside were the prince's beloved ones, and no one could enter without the prince's permission.
The young people turned a deaf ear.
"Your Highness! The prefect of Jianzhou has sent someone to report that Princess Rong'an has arrived at the Jianzhou Salt Fields, but for some reason has been camped there. He requests that you personally go there and persuade her."
"No time."
"The conditions at the salt works are terrible. If anything were to happen to the princess, His Majesty would be furious, and the palace would be implicated. Your Highness, you might as well go and try to persuade them. If that doesn't work, you'll have fulfilled your duty, and no punishment will befall you in the future."
The room was quiet for a moment, and then the young man's slightly hoarse voice came out: "So annoying."
The servant had no choice but to use his ultimate move: "Your Highness, it is said that the glass factory in the capital was built under the leadership of Princess Rong'an. You have been saying that the glass cups are not the right size and you want to customize a batch. Why not go see the princess in person and mention this to her? Maybe she will agree."
The door suddenly opened and the young man stepped out.
"Prepare the car."
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