spring cloud warm

545
Zheng Wuji motioned for everyone to be quiet, and then said: "The people on this first stone tablet are all meritorious officials of Chenzhou, and their meritorious deeds are engraved on stones, so that the people of Chenzhou will always remember their meritorious deeds."

On the front of the stele are the time and project overview of the excavation of the canal, as well as the deeds of donating money and materials, and the names of these people are on the back.

There is no Zheng Wuji's name on it, it says Xu Chunjun.

The name of King Huaiyang is also on it, and the money at the back is 3000 taels.

On Zheng Wuji's birthday, the steward of the Huaiyang Palace sent 3000 taels of silver.

"My official proposes that we salute and thank these benevolent people. Without their generosity, how could we have completed the project so smoothly?" Zheng Wuji said.

As soon as the words came out, the people immediately responded.

Zheng Wuji took the lead in bowing and saluting, and the tens of thousands of people standing behind him also saluted together.

This scene is very spectacular.

The people who were thanked were also too busy to return the courtesy. Although Zheng Wuji did this without telling them, it was also very beneficial to them, so these people had no objection to Zheng Wuji at all.

They originally intended to give Zheng Wuji a favor, but now Zheng Wuji used their money in this place.

It can be said that he has received favors and shown his face, which is the best of both worlds.

"The people who participated in this project are engraved on the second and third stone tablets." Zheng Wuji pointed to the other two stone tablets and said, "This canal was dug with the power of the whole state, and it will also benefit the whole country. state people.

Regardless of irrigation, sailing, draft and laundry, they are all for their own use, and the government does not charge a penny.

However, annual repairs also require cooperation from top to bottom.

I have written on the stone tablet that this canal will benefit the common people, and it will be beneficial for a hundred years.It must be carefully maintained and not abandoned.

If there is silting, damage or reinforcement, depending on the river section, the local gentry and merchants will collect meals, and the young and strong people will go to work.

The purpose is to ensure the smooth flow of rivers and canals and long-term profits. "

Zheng Wuji knew that after the canal was dug, if he was in office, nothing would happen.

If he leaves, it is not known how the official who comes back will be an official, so this move should be engraved on the stone tablet to warn future generations.

If a place wants long-term peace and stability, it must hide wealth from the people.

This canal is the greatest guarantee for the lives of the people.

The irrigation of the fields is guaranteed, and the common people will no longer go hungry.

Everyone in Chenzhou knows that the fields of the rich are concentrated on both sides of the river.

Now that the river network is connected, the fields with poor harvests before have suddenly become good fields.

Many ordinary people can turn over in a few years by relying on the existing land.

In addition, there is no tax for sailing, and the common people will be less exploited when they do some small businesses.

The food, melons and vegetables produced in the homeland can be sold at a higher price by rowing a boat.

In the past, even if the harvest was better, it was difficult to sell it.

In the life of ordinary people, every family lives carefully.

Every penny has to be broken into two halves to spend, not to mention that considering the tax deduction, it may not be able to sell at a higher price, and it is often disposed of locally at a low price.

This news makes the common people happier than giving wages.

The wages are only temporary, and it is not like digging canals every year.

With this guarantee, their generations will not have to worry about it.

So no one said it, the people spontaneously shouted.

"Master Zhizhou is wise! We are grateful and will never forget it from generation to generation!"

"This is what I should do, and besides, I can't do such a big thing by myself." Zheng Wuji smiled without bowing at all, "These two steles made the oldest and youngest participants in the project A few people came up and took off the red silk!"

At this time, the people under Mr. Wu had already helped the two old people and led the two children to come forward.

These two elderly people are both 70 years old, an old woman and an old man, and their two children are also a boy and a girl.

Everyone said: "This is really a rare scene. I have never seen ordinary people go up to reveal the lottery, let alone women."

"This Lord Zhizhou is different. Didn't you see that he issued a notice a few days ago, telling us not to kill babies anymore?"

"Go up and see in a while, is our name really on it?"

"You are illiterate, how can you know?"

"Aren't you literate? Just ask yourself and remember."

At this time, some officials brought over bamboo baskets one by one, and there were hundreds of baskets.

It was full of copper coins.

"These are everyone's wages. Each county is divided into five groups, and a special person will check it. Half of the wages will be distributed first.

Don't mess around, everyone, according to the order on the booklet, one by one, check the correct signature and draw it away. Mr. Wu shouted loudly, "You can't pick it up on your behalf." "

Those who are responsible for paying wages are the group of people trained by Mr. Wu before. They usually know the people when they are with the people.

Chen Sijing watched from the side, and said to Cong Mingzhang at this time: "Master Cong, look, Zheng Zhizhou just wants to do some practical things.

Those who sued him for taking bribes and abusing people's power obviously didn't know what he meant. "

Although Cong Mingzhang was not reconciled, he also knew that they really couldn't find anything to do with Zheng Wuji.

Whether it's these engraved stone tablets or hundreds of baskets of copper coins, it shows that Zheng Wuji didn't prepare it hastily.

And those who went to Beijing to sue, the bribes that Zheng Wuji said were accepted coincided with the amount of money behind each of their names.

People with a discerning eye knew at a glance that these people took the initiative to bribe Zheng Wuji, but Zheng Wuji accepted it at the time, but did not explain the purpose of the money, and then all used it for the construction of water conservancy.

It is even more unreliable to say that he abused the power of the people. Zheng Wuji not only made these people full of food and wages, but the wages were not low.

These rivers have been repaired and excavated, which has greatly benefited the people.

If this is still an abuse of people's power, there will be no officials in the whole country who benefit the people.

And what Zheng Wuji did was not a one-shot deal.

Not only saved money for the country, but also paved the way for the future.

Every year there will be projects in every state, and the imperial court will allocate funds.

But the real implementation is probably less than one-third.

It is even more difficult to work together like Chenzhou to benefit all people.

As an imperial envoy, Chen Sijing came here to witness with his own eyes, not only did it not do any harm to Zheng Wuji, but on the contrary it was beneficial.

Whether it was Cong Mingzhang, Yao Zheng and the magistrates, they all understood that Zheng Wuji's tricks were really ingenious.

He seemed to offend everyone at the beginning, but in the end, everyone benefited.

Even if someone is slightly grievous in his heart, on the surface there is nothing he can do about it.

If anyone wants to make a fuss about this matter, it is tantamount to asking for death.

After all, all the people from the imperial court have seen it, and Zheng Wuji will be greatly rewarded if he returns to the emperor.

He was originally appointed by the emperor himself, after this incident, he will only be more relied on, and it will only be more difficult to shake him.