"Shilang Zhou, in my opinion, no matter whether it is possible or not, you must try it first." Li Dingguo suggested.
Zhou Lin nodded and then said: "Today, I will go to Huangshan Prefecture and ask the Huangshan Prefecture magistrate to recruit and collect corvees for us!"
Huangshan City, the capital of Huangshan Prefecture.
Huangshan Prefecture is a prefectural city next to the Bianhe River.
It can be said that if this section of the Bianhe River bursts its embankments, Huangshan Prefecture will be the first to suffer, so Zhou Lin felt that he should be able to gain something from this trip.
But he still underestimated the Zhao family's influence here.
That afternoon.
Huangshan Fucheng, the magistrate's office.
"Master Magistrate! Master Magistrate! Oh no! The Minister Zhou sent by the imperial court to repair the embankment is here! He wants to see you by name!"
Wang Kai, the prefect of Huangshan, frowned when he heard that Zhou Lin was here. The Zhao family had already spoken.
No one is allowed to provide any help to Zhou Lin anymore.
Zhou Lin's purpose of coming here this time is obvious. He must want to help him.
But if he provided help to him, it would be a violation of Zhao Jiafa's words, and he would not have a good life in Bian'an County in the future.
But if you don't listen to him and don't provide help to Zhou Lin, you can't justify it as a court official, and you have violated the court's order.
It’s really embarrassing!
Perhaps seeing the look of concern on his face, the master on the side hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, are you worried about the fact that the minister may ask for help this week?"
Wang Kai nodded: "That's right, it's a dilemma!"
The master smiled and said, "What's so difficult about this?"
Wang Kai showed a look of surprise: "Hurry up and tell me!"
The master then whispered a few words in Wang Kai's ear. The more Wang Kai listened, the brighter his eyes became. Finally, he nodded repeatedly:
"Okay! Okay! That's it!"
Soon, Wang Kai led people to the gate of Huangshan Fufu and met Zhou Lin who came.
As soon as they met, Wang Kai hurriedly saluted Zhou Lin respectfully:
"I have met Wang Kai, the magistrate of Huangshan Prefecture, and I have met Zhou Shilang!"
"Excuse me, Magistrate Wang. I have come here this time to ask for something, and I hope Magistrate Wang will give me your full help.
You must also know, Prefect Wang, that the imperial court needs to repair and strengthen this section of the river embankment in Huangshan Prefecture, which requires a large number of manpower. It is impossible for me to transfer people from Bianjing. As the local parent official, I can only I can trouble you, Magistrate Wang! "
Zhou Lin had no intention of sparing Wanzi, and immediately told him the purpose of his visit when they first met.
Wang Kai, the prefect of Huangshan, smiled immediately and agreed upon hearing this.
"Hahaha, don't worry, Minister Zhou, I will definitely do my best to recruit people for you!"
Just when he was making his vows, the Master of Huangshan Mansion on the side suddenly stood up and said:
“Prefect, this is not easy.
This year, all the corvees in our Huangshan Mansion have been collected and distributed, and now there are no more available corvees in the mansion.
If you want to recruit people, you need to show off real money to make it possible.
Even if real money and silver are displayed, at this time of year, most people are still busy with spring plowing and may not want to come! "
"What? All the corvees in this mansion have been collected. What's going on?
How great is this! "
Wang Kai suddenly showed a surprised expression, his face was full of sorrow, and he looked at Zhou Linda apologetically:
"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhou. I didn't expect that all the corvees in this mansion would be recruited so early this year. Now I'm afraid it's a bit difficult to recruit enough people."
Zhou Lin looked at this scene and knew that the other party was probably playing a double act. It was only April, and Huangshan Mansion was not carrying out any major projects. How could it be possible that all the corvees had been collected and distributed? It was clear that he did not want to help him collect the corvees.
But if others say so, there is nothing I can do about it.
Zhou Lin's face remained calm, without showing any expression, he just nodded slowly and said: "It doesn't matter, Magistrate Huang just informs the people about the recruitment of manpower to repair the embankment.
The treatment for embankment builders is three meals a day and thirty cents a day. Men over the age of fifteen and under forty can pay as much as they want! "
"Okay, I understand!"
Wang Kai agreed happily, and soon the officials of Huangshan Mansion spread the notice about the imperial court's recruitment of manpower to build embankments.
However, until the city gate was about to close that day, no one came to the Yamen to sign up!
Zhou Lin had no choice but to leave the city in a hurry and return to the military camp.
…
That night.
The big tent in the army.
"What's the matter, Minister Zhou? What did the Huangshan prefect say?"
Just after dinner, Li Dingguo asked Zhou Lin, who had been looking heavy since he came back, about today's situation.
Zhou Lin shook his head and sighed, then said three times:
“It’s hard, it’s hard!
Wang Kai, the prefect of Huangshan, always agreed to all my requests, but it didn't take long for him to find other excuses, saying that he couldn't recruit people.
Just react negatively! "
Li Dingguo touched his chin and said, "In other words, he doesn't want to offend you or the Zhao family, so he just uses the word drag to solve the problem?"
"exactly!"
Zhou Lin nodded.
"Is Minister Zhou still prepared to continue working hard at Huangshan Mansion?
Does this general think there may be no hope?
Now is the time for spring plowing. Not to mention that the Zhao family has made a statement. Even if they have not said anything, I am afraid that the people will not be willing to put down the spring plowing and come with us to build the embankment. "
Li Dingguo shook his head and was very unfavorable about this matter.
Zhou Lin frowned and thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said:
"I will try my best tomorrow! I will personally go to each township and county to tell you!"
Li Dingguo shook his head, feeling that he was doing useless work, but he didn't say much.
The next day, early in the morning, Zhou Lin took a group of government officials to the townships and counties in Huangshan Prefecture. He found places where people gathered and talked about the benefits of building river embankments and how Huangshan Prefecture would be affected if the river embankments were breached. situation faced.
Dawangzhuang.
"Folks, repairing the river embankment is not for me or the court, but for yourselves!
Maybe the younger generation don’t remember it, but I believe the older generation probably still remember that before the river embankments were repaired, Huangshan County would be reduced to a swamp every spring flood.
By that time, the fields will have no harvest and the people will have no place to stand. This is not just talk!
Now the river embankment is damaged and needs to be repaired. Otherwise, if the spring flood comes and the river embankment is washed away, the entire Huangshan Prefecture and even most of Bian'an County will be ruined!
This is not dangerous sensationalism, this is the bloody reality before us and the difficulties we will face!
I would like to ask everyone to take some time out of your busy schedule to help repair the river embankment!
You can rest assured that this time, whether it is three meals a day or wages for repairing the river embankment, I will not default even a cent!
End of the day, end of the day!
Please help me, folks! "
…
(End of chapter)
