"There is no need to spend some money... Mr. Yan Ge is really extravagant. Each employee is paid two taels of silver a month, and the labor is also given nine taels of silver a month. The court also takes care of the food... Oh, since it is a labor, why? Do you still have to pay them wages and take care of them? They are all my subjects, isn’t it the right thing to work for me?”
Zhu Changxun complained to Ni Wenhuan that he deliberately stopped this costly project.
However, after much thought, he finally did not move it.
After all, after Yan Chenhao compromised, he immediately handed in the approval document requesting the Northland water conservancy construction. At that time, he already understood that this was a transaction.
You use your troops, and I will govern my country. The cabinet agrees with you sending troops, but you also have to approve this matter. This is probably what Yan Chenhao meant when he compromised in the end.
After all, they haven't completely broken up yet, and it's really hard to stop Zhu Changxun.
Ni Wenhuan saw the emperor's thoughts. He rolled his eyes and already had an idea. He came closer and whispered:
"Your Majesty, the official documents and orders of the imperial court cannot be made accurately without the seal of the Chief of Ceremonies..."
After the words fell, Zhu Changxun's eyes lit up, and he understood what Ni Wenhuan meant.
But after all these years of stamping like a stamping machine, I still haven’t come around and realized that the final decision is in my own hands!
Whether you want to pay so much money or not...there are ways!
After thinking about this section, Zhu Changxun was in a good mood, and his favor towards Ni Wenhuan became even higher.
The two chatted for a while, and then Ni Wenhuan also left.
Just as he was about to leave the imperial study, Zhu Changxun's unintentional voice came from behind him.
"By the way, Zhou Yanru, the bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion in the cabinet, you can communicate more with him."
After hearing this, Ni Wenhuan's mind suddenly changed and he had already guessed something.
Could it be that Mr. Zhou Ge is also one of His Majesty’s people? Perhaps at least, favor His Majesty?
Then you should make some good friends...and be careful, there are business-stealers coming.
"It's better for me to be a humble minister."
He turned around and responded.
…
Beizhili, beside a river.
At this time, the water flow has been stopped by the upstream dam, exposing the thick silt at the bottom of the river. Migrant laborers, waving tools and shirtless, are cleaning it.
It was already the end of June in the tenth year of Wuxing. Spring plowing and summer harvest had ended, and the people had entered the slack period. After several months of preparation, all materials and project plans had been prepared, so the imperial court mobilized the people to start work. their plans.
When I first heard about such a project, people actually complained a lot.
No matter how much you talk about the water conservancy project benefiting the people for generations, everyone only knows that they have to do corvee service for the court again.
Although there are regulations that as long as you are willing to pay the labor tax, you can be exempted from corvee, but most people still cannot afford it, or are reluctant to part with it, so they can only come to serve.
Originally, during the off-season, one could still do small jobs, but the court's work was a waste of effort, and one had to bring one's own dry food and tools. Who would be happy with that! If it lasts longer, it will be even worse, and sometimes even farm work will be delayed.
Therefore, the large-scale corvee in each dynasty was a disaster area. The direct reasons for Chen's victory over Wu Guang in the late Qin Dynasty, the Grand Canal in the late Sui Dynasty, and the Red Turban Army in the late Yuan Dynasty were all due to heavy corvee labor.
It is precisely based on this that Yan Chenhao formulated a system that provides a certain amount of monthly salary as compensation. Nine coins of silver is not much, and is generally lower than the monthly salary of ordinary workers. However, it is much better than wasting effort and even consuming one's own food and tools.
And if you go to work part-time, you may not be able to get these. After all, just like the winter vacation workers and summer vacation workers in later generations, it is impossible to get the same salary as a regular worker in a few months, not to mention Also in charge of food.
So the treatment is actually pretty good.
When the people heard that this time's military campaign was different from the past, their resentment immediately disappeared. People in some places even rushed to participate, and they also had great respect for the proposer of this policy.
At this time, they were cleaning up the river with high morale, preparing to build a dam for this section of the river, and various water diversion measures.
On the other side of the crowd, you can also see a few unique people. Although they are also dressed in short clothes, they are obviously different from everyone else. When the supervisors saw them, they all nodded and bowed and greeted:
"grown ups."
The man smiled and nodded in response.
It was Zuo Guangdou, who was the general person in charge of water conservancy this time. He selected a river section and came to inspect the construction status.
It can be seen from the look on his face that he is still very satisfied with the current construction status.
He picked up the local map and looked at it, pointed to a place not far away, and told the officials beside him:
"On that side, another reservoir can be built, and water can be diverted from here during droughts in the future."
Zuo Guangdou, although he is a scholar, he has learned a lot. In addition to Confucianism and spiritual studies, he is quite familiar with water conservancy matters. The old people from the Ministry of Industry around him heard this. He said yes again and again, without any objection.
Zuo Guangdou took a general tour of the construction site with a bright smile on his face.
The workers were motivated, the supervision was strict but not brutal, and the project drawings were drawn by professionals, so the work progressed quickly.
If all parts of the Ming Dynasty's northern border are as efficient as this, it is estimated that the water conservancy project will be completed in the year after next. From then on, the agriculture in the north will become more prosperous, and Shou Fu's blueprint for a prosperous age will be Put together an important piece.
His smile grew brighter.
After taking another two steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back to the person in charge of the construction site and asked:
"I remember, the lunch box the day after tomorrow is the day when money is paid, right?"
"Yes, sir, everyone has become more and more motivated in the past two days, and it is also because the salary is about to be paid. This is the first time that there is compensation for corvee work, and everyone is very motivated."
The person in charge replied.
"Okay, okay, let me tell you, as long as you work hard, the imperial court will definitely need you!"
Zuo Guangdou nodded and said with a smile.
I think he also questioned the chief minister at the beginning. You must know that labor is the obligation of the people. Since they do not pay, they should serve the court. There is no need to give them money. But the chief minister said that he was building water conservancy for the people. If it harmed the interests of the people and caused chaos among the people, then he would rather not build it.
Now it seems that I was short-sighted. The workers who were paid were very motivated and obeyed the instructions. The construction efficiency has doubled!
(End of chapter)
