Chapter 217 Three Years Have Passed in the Blink of an Eye
Under Du Min's personal supervision, the construction of the dikes in Wen County proceeded smoothly and in an orderly manner.
At the end of March, it was time for the spring hemp harvest. Merchants from Jiangnan, led by Wang and Li, arrived in Wen County one after another by car. Du Min personally returned to Henan County and asked Meng Qing to entertain them. She was a merchant's daughter and had been awarded a title for her business acumen, so the merchants treated her with even greater affection.
Mencius' parents rarely heard their native accent, so they came to Wen County with him.
After discussing with Magistrate Guo and the post station manager, Meng Qing arranged for the merchants who had traveled from afar to stay at the post station, thus demonstrating the importance that the Huai Prefecture government attached to the matter.
“You should rest here for three to five days. The workshop that makes hemp thread is in Wuzhi County. Prefect Du has already sent someone to deliver the message, and they will send the hemp thread within three to five days,” Meng Qing said. “This year, we have been busy with water conservancy projects and have not had time to pay attention to the hemp workshop’s business, so we have neglected this matter. As soon as you arrive in Luoyang, write a letter and have it sent. The manager of the hemp workshop will send the hemp thread to Wen County in advance to avoid delaying your journey.”
"It's alright. We can stay at the post station. What's a delay of three or five days? Even thirty or fifty days would be worth it." Wang the cloth merchant joked. He patted the table in front of him and said, "This desk has received countless high-ranking officials. It's covered in literary air and official prestige. It would be worth a lot of money if sold. We can pat and slap it without spending any money. Isn't that a profit?"
Meng Qing chuckled and joked, "If you put it that way, I might sell the table to you."
“If you can make the decision, I will buy it.” Wang, the cloth merchant, had no shortage of money and was not afraid at all. He continued, “I will take this table back to Wu County and hold a grand banquet like my friend Meng, so that the people of Wu County can see this desk from the Wen County post station in Huai Prefecture.”
"You must have so much money you don't know what to do with it?" Meng's father chimed in.
Wang the cloth merchant smiled and said, "To say something that might offend people, it's true, we really have nowhere to spend our money."
Meng's mother glanced at Meng Qing. If they could persuade Wang, Li, and other cloth merchants to donate money, they could easily raise 50,000 strings of cash, far exceeding the donations from the merchants of the five counties of Huai Prefecture. But she was also conflicted. If they really raised enough money, Du Min would be able to act even more recklessly. Once Huai Prefecture was no longer plagued by floods and droughts, the money Meng Chun had earned would be useless, and the hope of changing his household registration would become a distant dream.
"When you leave, take this desk with you. Let it enjoy the riches with you, and give you a chance to squander your wealth," Meng Qing said. "I can make the decision. I don't want any money. I only have one request: please bring more business to the hemp and paper mills in Huaizhou. You should have seen it on your way here. Most of the fields in Wen County are planted with ramie. Not only Wen County, but also Henan County, Wuzhi County, and Wude County have expanded the acreage of hemp this year. Huaizhou has no shortage of good hemp."
“Okay,” Wang Bushang agreed.
"It's a pity that this opportunity may not come to us. Meng Xiaoyou is working hard to bring business to Huaizhou Mafang," said Li Bushang.
Of the seven merchants seated inside, four said they had all been persuaded by Meng Chun to come to Huaizhou to purchase goods.
"Prefect Du is a talented man who hails from Suzhou. If the place he serves needs political achievements, we are willing to lend a helping hand, as long as he can." The middle-aged man sitting at the head of the Li cloth merchant's table spoke. He was round-figured, with a kind face and even gentle eyes, appearing completely harmless. But he was the largest silk merchant in Suzhou, and his silks were sold as far as the Western Regions. He was a remarkable figure.
Meng Qing understood the implication: this silk merchant wanted to invest in Du Min, hoping to make Du Min his patron. She realized that Wang the cloth merchant's boast of having too much money probably meant the same thing. She smiled and smoothly declined, "So this is the confidence of having wealthy relatives. It's a pity Suzhou is too far from Huaizhou; it's inevitable that we can't help. Huaizhou's paper mills have no shortage of customers. There are Qingniao Paper Craft Schools in twenty or thirty prefectures centered around Luoyang, and these are all customers of the paper mills. As for the hemp mill, it's just a toddler learning to walk; it doesn't need your strong support. With your wealth, any one of you could easily feed it to death. Whoever feeds it to death would be held responsible; wouldn't that be a losing proposition?"
These words referred to both the hemp workshop and Du Min. Meng Qing was reminding them that Du Min wouldn't be taking up a post in Jiangnan, his influence wouldn't extend to the region, he couldn't offer the corresponding rewards, and he didn't have the ability to act as their protector. If officials and merchants colluded, both sides would die if things went wrong.
Wang and Li lowered their eyes one after the other. The kind-looking Lü Bu Shang did not react. He continued, "My son will eventually grow up. I only hope that we have helped him on his path to adulthood."
"You all have already done a great service by coming all the way to Huaizhou despite the long journey," Meng Qing began to feign ignorance. "The people of Huaizhou can earn money from the hemp they grow thanks to your support, and they will be grateful to you. It is a good thing that Du Biejia and I have facilitated the connection between Suzhou and Huaizhou. It is a great honor for both Du Biejia and me. You are our family, and we are very proud of you for giving us face. Please rest at the inn for now, and we will host a banquet for you tomorrow or the day after, when Du Biejia is free."
Lu Bu agreed, saying, "I'm sorry to have troubled you and Prefect Du."
"Don't say that, we're the ones causing you trouble," Meng Qing said with a smile. She stood up and said, "There's no wind today, and the weather is warm. If you'd like, why don't you go out for a stroll and see the famous suspended river in Huaizhou?"
“Alright.” Wang Bushang stood up as well. “Lord Meng, you’re busy, I won’t bother you any longer.”
Meng Qing nodded, then looked at her father and said, "Father, I'm entrusting the guests to you for hospitality."
Meng's father was somewhat apprehensive. He had realized that these people were up to no good.
"Don't worry, it's rare for me to meet someone from my hometown, so I'll definitely give them a warm welcome," Meng's father agreed, forcing himself to be polite.
Meng's mother went out with Meng Qing and asked, "Where are you going?"
"Let's take a look at our paper mill." The paper produced by the Meng family's paper mill now supplies dye houses in Luoyang, Heqing, and Heyin counties, and the rest is sold to paper mills in Huaizhou. She wants to check the accounts.
“I’ll go with you,” said Mencius’ mother. After they got into the carriage, she quietly asked, “Is there any hope for your little brother?”
“Of course there are. Besides Wen County and Xiuwu County, the other three counties are also affected by the Yellow River. It will take at least ten years to repair them all,” Meng Qing said in a low voice. “In Huaizhou, the problem is more serious than the Yellow River floods. This place is unable to support population growth.”
Meng Qing returned to Hanoi County in early March. She was overseeing the sale of the properties confiscated last year and the land redistribution for Du Min when she learned that there was no land left to redistribute in Hanoi County. Of the land allocated this year, apart from the forty hectares confiscated, the remaining twenty-one hectares were all allocated land under the names of males who had died last year. After a person's death, the allocated land lost its owner, and the government took it to redistribute to males who were twenty-one years of age or older.
After careful consideration, the sixty-one hectares of land were divided among five hundred able-bodied men, with the lowest allocation being only five mu (approximately 0.33 hectares).
In a place where the equal-field system is ineffective, if some of the people who have lost or have little land are not relocated, the new population will inevitably be suppressed, and even middle-aged men will harbor hatred towards older men, leading to frequent cases of heinous murder.
After hearing Meng Qing's analysis, Meng's mother finally felt relieved.
The mother and daughter spent most of the day looking at accounts in the paper mill. When they returned to the city in the evening, they met Du Min at the city gate.
Du Min abandoned his horse and told the driver to fetch it, while he sat on the carriage shaft and drove. Through the carriage door, he inquired about the situation: "Second Sister-in-law, I heard that these wealthy merchants from Jiangnan have been wandering around the places where laborers are working. Do they intend to make any charitable donations?"
"More than that, if you just nod your head, they're willing to give you everything they have." Meng Qing moved closer to the car door and sat down.
Du Min understood the implication of his words, and he chuckled, "Forget it, I was greedy. Merchants are shrewd; they would never do a losing business."
Sitting in the carriage, Mencius' mother: ...
“They’ve come here specifically for you. If you’re free tomorrow, call Magistrate Guo and have a meal with them at two tables,” Meng Qing instructed. “Regardless of their purpose, the fact that they’ve come after receiving the letter shows that they’re from the same hometown. Since they’ve come to your territory, you’re the host and you need their help, so you should treat them warmly.”
"Understood, I'll arrange it later," Du Min agreed.
The following evening, Du Min set up a banquet at the inn, inviting Magistrate Guo and all the officials and clerks from the county government. He had given Magistrate Guo a heads-up beforehand, stating that these were not only his fellow townsmen but also important figures from Huai Prefecture, and that they must be treated with the utmost hospitality.
Magistrate Guo had already given instructions to his subordinates, and that evening, the clerks lowered their guard and treated them with great hospitality. With Du Min and Magistrate Guo enthusiastically urging them to drink, after several rounds of urging, all seven wealthy merchants were drunk to the point of passing out.
Two days later, forty-three cartloads of hemp thread arrived from Wuzhi County and were sold at the price of top-quality hemp thread. None of the seven wealthy merchants picked and chose; they bought them all without hesitation.
The official price of top-quality hemp thread is ten wen per liang. However, due to prior agreement, the price of Huaizhou hemp thread will be lower than the market price, and will be set at nine wen per liang, making it sixteen wen cheaper per jin.
Forty-three cartloads of hemp thread weighed 13,500 catties, totaling 1,944 strings of cash.
“The hemp workshop was only completed at the end of last year, so the time is short and the cargo volume is not large,” Meng Qing explained from the side. “When will your ship come to Luoyang again? Send a message after you arrive. If the schedule is tight, the manager of the hemp workshop can transport the hemp thread to Luoyang.”
"Let's come over. If we do, we'll have to trouble Governor Du to host another banquet." Lu Bu was still reluctant to give up on Du Min, this big fish.
"These are no trouble at all, of course I can do it," Du Min replied with a smile.
"Then we won't bother you any longer; we should be going now," Lu Bu said, bidding farewell.
Du Min led his men to see them off, only stopping when they reached the city gate. After watching the convoy disappear into the distance, he dismissed the men behind him and complained to Meng Qing, "I was waiting for them to donate some money, but they didn't give a single penny. They really won't act until they see the benefits."
Meng Qing was also puzzled. "I was thinking they could donate some money. They even asked my dad where the grain and meat from Hanoi County came from."
Du Min shook his head, "I've been looking forward to this for days in vain."
Meng Qing laughed, "They're not fools. If you're not willing to offer them benefits, they won't give you any."
"Never mind." Du Min stopped thinking about it. "Second sister-in-law, are you going back to Hanoi County with Uncle Meng and Aunt Pan? I'll take you back. I should go back too; I can hardly remember what Ximei looks like anymore."
"Go back." Meng Qing nodded, but Meng's parents did not plan to go back. The two elders wanted to stay in Wen County to cook for the laborers and enjoy a lively period of time.
Meng Qing then went back to Hanoi County alone with Du Min. Afterwards, she went to her parents' home to pack some clothes for her parents and had Du Min take them with her. She also sent Wang Saozi to serve her.
Half a month later, Meng Qing received a letter from Du Min. Wang Bu Shang, Li Bu Shang, Lü Bu Shang, and others had sent people to Wen County a day earlier to deliver two thousand live sheep, two thousand live pigs, five thousand live chickens, five thousand live ducks, and one hundred cartloads of grain. Moreover, they were sent under the banner of Du Biejia and Meng Junjun's family, making a great show of force and instantly gaining fame.
From Luoyang to Wenxian, the towns along the route all knew about this, and even Du Min's efforts to mobilize the entire prefecture to save the Yellow River in Wenxian spread throughout Luoyang and other places.
A month later, Du Min received 100,000 strings of cash from the imperial court for the repair of the Yellow River, and he immediately became wealthy. He obtained the imperial funds with ease, entirely thanks to the promotion of Wang and Li, among others. Du Min immediately wrote a letter of thanks.
By the end of June, the height of summer had arrived, and the sweltering heat was no longer suitable for heavy outdoor work, so the Yellow River repair project was temporarily suspended. Du Min distributed three months' wages, and the laborers happily left with their pay.
Two months later, without any prompting from the government, the laborers, who had finished their farm work and were thinking about the chickens, ducks, pigs and sheep they hadn't finished eating, spontaneously headed to Wen County.
They stayed there for the entire winter, only returning to their hometowns with their wages and tools when it snowed.
Three years passed in this way. The Yellow River, which passed through Wen County, was rebuilt with dikes and was no longer affected by the Yellow River floods.
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Author's Note: Let's use the time manipulation technique.
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