Chapter 286: Poor, Poor, Poor, Poor [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
Wealthy households?
Shen Tang's eyes lit up.
To the officials, he seemed like a wild beast, long starving and finally spotting its prey, its eyes suddenly lighting up. Shen Tang smiled and urged them to elaborate, as they were unsure of the new prefect's meaning.
Are they planning to bribe local bullies to make a living?
It's not impossible.
In a remote and impoverished place like Heyin, even a dragon would have to cower in submission. Even if you were a prefect, if you wanted to live a comfortable life, you'd have to appease these local bullies. These officials had suffered countless taunts and humiliations. Former colleagues couldn't bear the humiliation; some were bribed into colluding with them, some resigned, some pretended not to know, and others—
Those were truly difficult days.
The only reason they managed to hold on was because they were in such dire straits. They hadn't received their monthly salary for thirteen months, and their families were so poor they were practically starving. There was really nothing to bully, they posed no threat, and they weren't even worth bribing. Getting them to do something would be as easy as crushing an ant.
Although they didn't know why such a young prefect had been appointed, he was worldly-wise and knew how to handle things, so perhaps he would live a long life. In a flash, several officials had similar thoughts, making Gu Chi almost unable to keep his mouth shut.
Their Shen Lang came with a butcher's knife.
Social etiquette?
Knows how to handle things?
Those local bullies might be alright if they knew what was good for them, but if they didn't, the butcher's knife in their hands would mercilessly fall on their necks. Of course, Gu Chi believed that given Shen Tang's desperate state of poverty, even if those "rich households" were willing to show some understanding, their fate might not be good.
Who made Shen Tang poor?
She was poor, so she couldn't stand seeing wicked people richer than her.
Shen Tang stood atop the high city wall, quietly listening to several officials carefully recount the circumstances of each family. Her face was as cold as frost, but her heart burned with fervor, wishing she could immediately grab her sword and rob the rich to help her. Shen Tang nodded occasionally, and sometimes responded with a few words of agreement.
The official said, "...That's about right."
Shen Tang laughed and said, "Wang Chao, go back and find an auspicious day. We'll bring some generous gifts and pay a visit to your door so we can become acquainted with you."
Several officials felt uneasy upon hearing this.
It's a good thing that the new prefect is "sensible" and will live a long life, but his blatant flattery and sycophancy upon arrival, devoid of any integrity, is indeed despicable. However, since they already have poor complexions, their slightly darker faces make it less noticeable.
The officials each had their own agendas.
Gu Chi suppressed a smile and bowed in agreement.
"Let's go back, it's windy up in the city." Shen Tang pulled her clothes tighter, plotting how to kill Zhang Shi. The landlords had money and grain; she'd squeeze some money out of them to give her servants a New Year's feast. "Have any outsiders who have come to He Yin in recent years been registered?"
Although he was disgusted, he still had to put on a good show and said, "It was still there a few years ago, but not in the last two years."
Shen Tang asked curiously, "Why is that?"
The official said helplessly, "We must use pen and ink sparingly when writing."
Yes, the reason is just that absurd.
Although bamboo slips are relatively easy to make, and there are bamboo forests nearby, making it convenient to obtain materials and keep costs down as much as possible, and the writing materials are not exorbitantly expensive, the governor of Fugu County could not even pay the officials their monthly salaries, and the treasury was filled with dust.
The limited amount of writing materials and ink had to be reserved for recording official documents and government affairs, leaving no room for anything else.
Shen Tang: "..."
It is truly heartbreaking to hear and tearful to see.
Even though Fu Gu was poor, she was still beautiful and refined.
However, this also shows that these officials were upright and did their job well within their capabilities. They weren't particularly good people, but they certainly weren't bad people either.
Shen Tang did not intend to let them "transfer their illness".
There are few people now, so we can only grab as many able-bodied men as we can.
"...In that case, it will be difficult to find someone..." Seeing that the official did not respond, Shen Tang could only rely on himself to find a ladder.
Gu Chi played a supporting role on the side.
"Does my lord miss Third Sister?"
The so-called "Third Sister" was just something he made up on the spot.
Shen Tang has an older sister who is not within five degrees of kinship and went to live with a relative of the River Governor. The point is that it is this person, not the order of birth.
She said, "A little."
Gu Chi continued, deliberately raising his voice to ensure the officials could hear their conversation: "My lord needn't worry too much. We've already arrived at the River Governor's residence. This place isn't that big; finding someone shouldn't be difficult..."
Shen Tang sighed, "I hope so."
One of the officials was quite sensible.
"Is Mr. Shen looking for someone?"
Shen Tang nodded: "Yes, I have an older sister who is within five degrees of kinship. If it weren't for her kind-hearted help in my early years, I probably wouldn't be alive today, let alone have achieved what I have today. After that, my sister left with our parents and I heard that she came to the River Governor's Office. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. Now that I have some wealth, I want to reunite with my sister and properly repay her kindness from back then."
The official's expression softened slightly upon hearing this.
Thinking about it, this new prefect is not without his merits.
People who know how to repay kindness are unlikely to have bad character.
The official then asked, "When did that lady arrive?"
Shen Tang wasn't quite sure.
"It could be two years ago, or it could be three years ago? There were battles in various places before, and news was difficult to obtain, so I'm not very clear either." Shen Tang looked ashamed, and the information he provided was very vague, but the officials did not further lower their favorability towards him because of this.
War raged for three months; a letter from home was worth a fortune.
Even in times of peace and prosperity, communication is difficult, let alone in times of war when everyone is in danger and their lives are uncertain.
Just surviving is extremely difficult.
"Don't worry, Mr. Shen, we'll find out once we check the household register."
Shen Tang nodded and hummed in agreement.
To get a better view of Fugu City, Shen Tang deliberately had the officials take him on an extra half-circle tour—the visual impact of what he saw from the city wall was different from what he saw up close.
Looking at the dilapidated houses in the city, which make up 50-60% of the area, I can't imagine how ordinary people rely on these houses to shelter from the wind and rain, and to keep warm and cool.
This first snowfall will likely freeze many people to death.
Shen Tang deliberately tried not to think about this problem.
To make the act more convincing, Shen Tang asked Kang Shi and Qi Shan to help him check the household registers—ostensibly to find the whereabouts of "Sister," but actually to find fault with several "wealthy households"—given their arrogant style in the river magistrate's office, it was impossible for them not to have a criminal record, probably quite a few...
In the past, these people might have destroyed the evidence by burning everything to the ground, leaving no way to prove anything.
But the river god has been in their hands for too long.
The number of so-called "prefects" they suppressed and killed was no less than five, so what could a twelve-year-old boy like Shen Tang possibly amount to? They were the ones who called the shots in this region of He Yin, and even the king's decrees were useless. Arrogant and domineering, they naturally had no fear.
Kang Shi coughed repeatedly, choked by the accumulated dust.
He picked up a scroll at random, glanced at it by the light from the window, and said, "Why bother looking for this? You can grab a handful."
Qi Shan: "Never mind that for now, just put them all away."
He took out one roll and put it into the wooden frame.
Kang Shi looked at the somewhat blurred handwriting. The Jian Shu had been stored there for years, with mold growing on the edges and corners, indicating how long it had been piled up in the room. How long had the victims had had nowhere to seek justice? Every volume was soaked with the blood and tears of ordinary people.
Chu Yao, Gong Shuwu, and Zhao Feng were responsible for settling the people they brought, selecting the elite among them to fill the empty administrative offices. Now that they had settled down in Heyin, everything that needed to be arranged had to be taken care of. In a while, the administrative office would be quite "lively".
In addition, there is one more thing.
Shen Tang asked Gu Chi to calculate the monthly salaries of each official, and then he would take money from his own pocket to cover three months' worth of their salaries.
The rest would be made up after they devoured the Zhang family, this fat sheep. To avoid having any Zhang family spies among these people, Shen Tang simply complained of being poor, saying that he was currently short of money and that the expenses of his troops were very high, so he could not make up for the monthly salary for the time being.
Tell them to wait patiently for another month or two.
She will take her three months' salary home to have a good New Year, and then find a way to make up for it when spring arrives and farming begins.
The officials were surprised.
I never expected Shen Tang to do this.
Although they were subtly trying to get their back pay and then feign illness, they knew in their hearts that the chances were slim.
The person who owes them their monthly salary is not Shen Tang; she is just a newly appointed official and has no obligation to make up for it privately.
She's willing to spend her own money; that shows her generosity.
If they refused to pay, the officials had nothing to say.
They were all prepared to shamelessly bring up the matter at some opportunity, but unexpectedly, Shen Tang offered his help after only half a day of his arrival.
They can't be so shameless as to take their monthly salary and then quit. They have to work for at least half a month or a month, otherwise they won't feel right.
As darkness fell, everyone dispersed.
Shen Tang asked Gu Chi, "Do they have any problems?"
"He's reasonably clever and has no spies or informants."
Shen Tang deliberately brought Gu Chi along and had officials lead the way around, not only to learn about the situation in Fugu City but also to probe their backgrounds. If there were any Zhang family members planted there, they should be swept out as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications.
"Then let's use it for now."
After all, we're all just working people; life isn't easy.
Shen Tang quickly assessed the available manpower and managed to assemble a makeshift team. He needed to devise a plan to deal with Fu Gu as soon as possible, especially since the weather was getting colder and many commoners might not survive.
"Repairing the house... costs money!"
"Relief for the common people... requires money!"
"Reclaiming wasteland for farming... costs money!"
"Recruiting refugees... requires money!"
Money money money money money money money...
Shen Tang wished she could turn stones into gold!
"There are so many rich people in the world, why can't there be one more like me..." She rubbed her forehead, looking at the plan that seemed impossible to implement. Her left eye was filled with "deficit," and her right eye was filled with "money." "Damn it! I guess I still have to fleece the rich!"
"It's just too difficult..."
Shen Tang seemed to have her spine removed, slumping limply onto the old, peeling paint table. Gu Chi, who was helping to check the accounts, glanced at her coldly and said mercilessly, "My lord, keep it down. This wooden table isn't very sturdy."
The table legs were still wobbling.
It made a creaking sound with difficulty.
Just as Shen Tang was about to say that she wasn't that heavy, the next second, her upper body suddenly lost its balance, and she, along with the pile of simple books and ledgers on the table, crashed to the ground with a thud. Several books hit her on the head, and Shen Tang lay there blankly, her expression one of utter despair.
"Damn it!"
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
She has never suffered such injustice in her entire life!
The desk hadn't broken anytime soon, but it just happened to fall over with such a slight movement. Was it trying to antagonize her? Shen Tang's expression was ferocious, and the wild beast within her was ready to break free of its cage.
I wish I could kick this eyesore of stuff away!
Gu Chi laughed out loud, showing absolutely no respect.
Shen Tang got up.
He gritted his teeth and said, "You're still laughing?"
Gu Chi joked, "Crying is not a good omen."
Shen Tang: "..."
The integrity of the literati is indeed a mystery.
"...I think we should have a meeting tomorrow to discuss where to start...By the way, how much grain do we have left?"
Shen Tang was indeed interested in implementing a work-for-relief program, which could provide disaster relief, revitalize the economy, and promote construction—a method that wasn't exactly new. However, after glancing at the master register Lin Feng handed her, she knew that putting it into practice would be quite difficult.
Seeing her sighing, Gu Chi said, "Although we are strapped for cash, we still have enough money and food to last until spring."
Shen Tang was not comforted at all.
She put down the main book and waved to Lin Feng.
"Has your father read the Annals of Yanzi?"
Not long after Lin Feng acquired the Way of the Scholar, Chu Yao discussed with him about giving Lin Feng a courtesy name. This was because the world had the concept of "literary heart and martial courage," and as one of the symbols of identity, the literary heart monogram and the martial courage tiger tally would be engraved with the owner's name to show their identity, which was equivalent to an "identity card." It was generally believed that taking a courtesy name early would help to refine one's literary heart and martial courage.
The characters are usually chosen well in advance.
There's no need to wait until the coming-of-age ceremony.
However, Lin Feng is a woman, and according to custom, she should wait until she comes of age to be married by her parents or future husband. But now she is also a confirmed scholar of the Wenxin School, and should also follow the customs of the Wenxin School.
After thinking for two days, Shen Tang and Chu Yao chose the name "Ling De".
He is renowned and respected, possessing both virtue and talent.
Except that she doesn't sound like a girl.
However, Lin Feng was very satisfied with the meaning of the courtesy name and told everyone he met that he now had a proper name.
Lin Feng nodded: "I only read a few articles a few days ago."
Shen Tang rubbed the spot where Jian Shu had hit her, shifted to a more comfortable but less dignified sitting position, and said, "Then you probably haven't read up to the inner chapters yet. When Qi was in famine, Yanzi used the Luqin campaign to relieve the disaster victims, which was a pretty good method."
Lin Feng still didn't understand.
Gu Chi understood Shen Tang's plan: "During the time of Duke Jing, there was a famine. Yanzi wanted to distribute chestnuts to the people, but the Duke refused. He then ordered the construction of a platform for the roadside palace. Yanzi instructed the officials to pay a high rent, which was not completed for three years. After three years, the platform was completed, and the people prospered. Does Your Highness intend to emulate Yanzi?"
In short, during the reign of Duke Jing, a famine occurred, and Yanzi wanted to provide disaster relief, but Duke Jing refused. Coincidentally, the main palace was under construction at this time, so Yanzi ordered officials to conscript starving people to build it, increased wages, and did not rush the construction to proceed slowly.
Three years later, the palace was completed.
The starving people also received relief.
This is also known as "work relief".
Yanzi achieved his goal of providing relief to the starving people, who survived the difficult time, while Duke Jing gained a palace and a good reputation.
Shen Tang smiled wryly: "I would like to do that, but I don't have the food to produce it. In short, it's a real headache..."
If the goal is simply to provide relief to disaster victims, it's fine to give them less food, as long as they don't starve. They can just lie still all day to reduce energy consumption and get through the most difficult time.
But work relief is different. People need to be fed before they can work. Only when they are fed can they have the strength to do heavy work. The cost of work relief is several times that of simple disaster relief!
Yanzi also ordered the officials to increase the rent.
Increase wages for the starving people who were conscripted.
If you have money, give money; if you don't have money, give food.
The grain that Duke Jing refused to distribute was delivered to the starving people in the form of wages, in a reasonable and legal manner.
The problem is—
How much money and grain does Shen Tang have?
Hehe, I've got 5581 monthly votes! Only 1085 votes left to reach my goal of 6666!
Today is the 29th!
There are only three days left in this month.
Everyone, please check if you have any monthly passes that are about to expire.
Let's give it to the shiitake mushroom! (︶.︶)
P.S.: The fan title event for this month in the book review section, "Fried Mushrooms in Oil," has ended, and the results have been submitted for review and distribution. The list of winners is below the post.
P.S.: Lin Feng's calligraphy reflects the virtues of a gentleman, and Tang Mei and Wu Hui have high expectations for her.
(End of this chapter)
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