Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang's attention was finally diverted, Li Jin smiled slightly and said:
"Yes, it is work-for-relief, but it is not just work-for-relief."
"Work-for-relief is actually very simple. It means changing the previous method of distributing free porridge to allowing victims to obtain food through labor."
"This will not only meet the living needs of these disaster victims, but also allow them to earn back their dignity with their own hands."
"Only such disaster victims can be considered real people. Those who can clearly support themselves but plan to live in vain are not considered human beings at all."
"They have lost their dignity. Once a person loses his dignity, he is no different from an animal."
"The water conservancy projects and river embankments in Yiwu County have been in disrepair for a long time, which is why this flood occurred."
"But before the floods, if these facilities were repaired, there would be a huge gap in labor and money required. Even if they wanted to repair them, they would be unable to do so."
"Taking this opportunity, we mobilized hundreds of thousands of people through work-for-relief and renovated the infrastructure in Yiwu County."
"Building bridges, paving roads, and dredging water conservancy are all things that benefit the present and will benefit the future. They can be easily realized in Yiwu County."
“It can be said that with this work-for-relief program, there will be no flood disasters in Yiwu County in the next hundred years.”
"It not only saves the victims, but also improves the local environment. It can be said that we kill two birds with one stone. Why not?"
Li Jin's statement about using work for relief was clear and logical, and it sounded to Zhu Yuanzhang that there were indeed many benefits, but Li Jin did not mention a word about the most fundamental issue.
"We all know these things, you don't need to say any more."
"Let me ask you, where did the grain needed to make these things come from? Did you buy it for Yiwu County?"
Li Jin rolled his eyes and said:
“The wool comes naturally from the sheep.”
Of course, it was impossible for Li Jin to pay for this kind of thing. Generally, the court would pay for this kind of situation. Anyway, it was relief. It was certainly the most appropriate way to choose relief.
But the current emperor is too stingy, and the little money he gives is not enough to cover the expenses, so Li Jin can only find another way.
"What's the meaning?"
Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have an ominous premonition in his heart.
"The money distributed by the emperor today is not enough, so we can only put all the money on the people of Yiwu!"
"You mean? Are you lending money to these people? Let them lend back their grain?"
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't believe it. This was something done by humans?
These victims are miserable enough, but Li Jin actually wants to take advantage of these people. Does Li Jin really have no humanity at all?
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was about to explode, Li Jin quickly explained:
"That's not the case. We're asking the Yiwu County Government to provide loans to grain merchants."
"How else could Yiwu County have so much extra grain for no reason?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned, county government loan?
He has never heard of anyone daring to borrow money from the county government. Isn't he afraid that the county government will not repay it?
"Aren't grain dealers afraid of the county government defaulting on their accounts when they do this?"
"That's not true. This loan is from Pudong Development Bank and is secured."
"If they dare to default on the loan, they will take away the entire mortgage directly."
Li Jin's face was light and calm, as if he didn't care that Yiwu County dared to cheat.
"Mortgage? What did the Yiwu County Government mortgage?"
Zhu Yuanzhang was even more confused. Yiwu County was as poor as ghosts, so what else could be used as a mortgage?
Li Jin said:
"Tax revenue for the next three years."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he was so angry that he vomited blood.
After hearing about the major floods in Yiwu, he had issued an edict to reduce taxes in Yiwu County for three years.
As a result, all the taxes for the past three years have now fallen into the pockets of grain merchants, which makes him extremely depressed.
"Actually, this also has drawbacks. After all, as I just said, the wool comes from the sheep."
Li Jin poured himself a glass of wine, took a sip slowly, and said:
"In the end, the government collects taxes from the people and returns them to the banks. There is still a certain risk."
"The best way is for the court to take money from the treasury and carry out large-scale construction during times of great famine."
"In this way, we can provide work-for-relief services, which can not only solve the food and clothing problems of the victims, but also repair the court's infrastructure. It's the best of both worlds."
"Relief for work should become a national policy and can solve problems for the court at the entire Ming Dynasty level."
"It's a pity that the current emperor is too stingy and has too short-sighted. Just like you, he always thinks about his own little land."
"The pattern has not been opened up. After all, we still have peasant ideas."
Zhu Yuanzhang was originally shocked by Li Jin's first few words, but by the end, Zhu Yuanzhang was furious.
"Asshole, all the people in the world are farmers. When the emperor thinks about the farmers, he thinks about all the people."
Li Jin shook his head and did not argue anymore. Success or failure will be judged by future generations. It is useless to say more.
When it comes to fighting, Zhu Yuanzhang ranks among the top three in history, but when it comes to governing the country, he is a little less interesting.
Zhu Yuanzhang's face turned red with anger, but Zhu Biao next to him was flushed with excitement.
I didn't expect to hear such wise words when I left the palace this time. It was really a worthwhile trip.
"Master Li, I want to toast you for the tens of thousands of people you saved."
Regardless of Zhu Yuanzhang's presence, Zhu Biao poured himself a glass of wine and raised it to Li Jin.
"Hahaha, it's just a small effort, why bother? Come on, drink this cup!"
Li Jin laughed, raised the wine glass in his hand, and drank it down in one gulp.
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw this and how much Zhu Biao valued Li Jin, he didn't say anything more.
Immediately, several people were drinking at the table and discussing the specific details of disaster relief. Zhu Biao nodded repeatedly and felt that he had benefited a lot.
When Zhu Yuanzhang walked out of Hongxiufang, he suddenly thought:
"Isn't Pufa Bank the bank established by Li Jin in Shanghu County?"
"Bullshit, I didn't expect that these benefits would end up in Li Jin's mouth."
Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang was about to get angry again, Zhu Biao quickly advised him:
"Dad, no matter what, Li Jin saved hundreds of thousands of people and not one of them starved to death. It can be considered that his merits outweigh his faults."
"If it hadn't been for his mediation, I'm afraid no grain merchants would have lent grain to Yiwu County, and by then the whole country would have been starved to death."
"Let's forget about this little profit."
Zhu Yuanzhang saw that Zhu Biao defended Li Jin everywhere, and knew that Zhu Biao valued Li Jin very much, so he couldn't help but say:
"Biao'er, Li Jin is a double-edged sword. He can save people, but he can also harm people. You have to be careful."
When Zhu Biao heard this, he suddenly woke up and knew that Zhu Yuanzhang had seen through his mind.
However, as Zhu Yuanzhang said, Zhu Biao still couldn't see through Li Jin. Although he thought he was very talented, he was unconstrained.
I like to take risks when doing things, which is indeed like a double-edged sword.
