The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

Chapter 402 The Best of Both Worlds
Although Marsh House is close to the sea, it is just a poor and backward state capital.However, in Lingnan, Marsh Mansion is not the worst, its level is considered average.If compared with the capital city, Marsh Mansion is a poor and poor fishing village.

Although Marsh Mansion is shabby and poor, the officials of Marsh Mansion are very rich.It stands to reason that these officials have money, and in order to enjoy themselves, they should spend money to build Marsh Mansion, but they did not.The mansions of these officials look ordinary on the surface, and are not luxurious in any way except that they are larger, but they are very splendidly decorated on the inside.

When Zhao Yao sent people to search his homes, he was shocked when he saw that the homes of these officials were more luxuriously decorated than the palaces.

Although the officials of Marsh Mansion are unwilling to spend money to build Marsh Mansion, they are willing to spend the money on other places, such as shipbuilding.

These officials were willing to spend a lot of money to make the ship look like a walking royal palace.Their ship was very large, with several levels above and below.The interior decoration of the boat is more luxurious and comfortable than their home.You could say they moved their home onto the boat.They basically stay on the boat on weekdays.

They also spent money to build a "brothel boat" with everything in it.The women on board were all bought or captured from inland and foreign countries.Most of them are very beautiful and have been trained to be "obedient and sensible".

There are several levels of "brothel boats".The green ship is the best ship in the class. Both the ship and the women on the ship are excellent.Next is the red boat, which is a little worse than the green boat.The worst thing is the blue boat, the woman on it is not very pretty.

There are more than a dozen boats like the "brothel boat" in Marsh Mansion.These ships rarely dock at the coast of Marsh House. Most of them float on the sea, or dock at the coast of foreign countries such as Annam and Siam.

In addition to Shumafu, other state capitals, such as Taichuan Prefecture, also have "brothel boats".Lingnan's brothel boats are also famous in foreign countries.Rich foreign businessmen, officials, and even members of the royal family often visited.

After Zhao Yao came to Marsh Mansion, he confiscated all the brothel boats in Marsh Mansion.The money that was copied was also very staggering.

There are more than a dozen brothel boats, with a total of 2000 people on board.

Zhao Yao ordered that these people can go home if they have parents and family members.If you really don’t have family or friends to take refuge, then stay in Marsh Mansion.Of course, if they want to go to a foreign country, they can.

Half of the 2000 people left, and half remained.The remaining half can only be temporarily placed in the brothel of Marsh Mansion.Another problem these people have is their identity.Because they were bought, cheated, or kidnapped, and they were all people without any "verification", that is, ID cards.

There are more than half of these people without ID cards in Marsh Prefecture, as well as in other state capitals.Throughout Lingnan, there are very few people clearly registered in household registers.On the contrary, the criminals who were exiled to Lingnan were clearly registered.

Not to mention Zhao Yao, even the officials in Lingnan don't know the population of the entire Lingnan.That's why Zhao Yao ordered the household register to be registered.However, registering the household register did not go very smoothly.

Zheng Qian sent people to publicize the registration of household registers everywhere, and announced all the benefits of registering household registers.However, not many people came to register, and most people were unwilling to register.

Those who came to register were basically criminals exiled to Lingnan.They come to register so that their descendants can become good citizens.

Zheng Qian saw that the people of Marsh Mansion were ignorant and prepared to use force to force them to register, but Wen Daoji stopped him.Wen Daoji felt that they had just come to Marsh Mansion, and if they forced the people as soon as they arrived, the people would think that they were as cruel as the previous officials.However, household registration was the first thing Zhao Yao asked Zheng Qian to do when he was appointed as the Minister of Household Affairs. If he failed to do it well, he would have betrayed his lord's trust.

Wen Daoji couldn't think of a good way. After all, they had just arrived in Marsh Mansion, and it was normal for the people not to believe them.In his opinion, this matter can only be dealt with slowly and cannot be rushed.When the people of Marsh Mansion know that it is really for their own good, they will naturally come to register.

Zheng Qian is impatient and feels that this matter cannot be delayed.He knew that Zhao Yao asked the people of Marsh Mansion to register their household registers in order to know the current population of Marsh Mansion.Therefore, he and Wen Daoji had some disagreements.

Wen Daoji didn't want to see Zheng Qian use strong methods to force people to register, so he took Zheng Qian to find Zhao Yao.

After hearing the reports from the two of them, Zhao Yao frowned and looked a little unhappy.

"Your Highness, it's not that the people are unwilling to register, but they don't dare to register. They are afraid of being cheated." Wen Daoji thought that Zhao Yao was dissatisfied with the people's unwillingness to register, and hurriedly explained to the people, "Also, the swamp used to be Government officials have never asked people to register their household registers."

Zheng Qian, who was standing aside, said with a cold face: "A bunch of stupid people." The people in Lingnan were the most ignorant people he had ever seen.

"Master Zheng, it's not their fault that the people are stupid, but they have been deceived by officials of the Marsh Mansion before." Wen Daoji sighed and said, "Besides, they haven't read books and don't understand anything." The people in Lingnan are really pitiful.

"They listened to those dog officials before, why didn't they listen to His Highness?" Zheng Qian was angry about this. "They did whatever the dog officials told them to do. His Highness just asked them to register the household register, and did not What's the point of asking them to do hard work but they don't want to register?" This clearly meant that he didn't take his lord seriously.

"The previous officials treated them harshly. If they were disobedient, they would be punished. They will naturally be obedient." Wen Daoji continued to defend the people, "It's not that they don't listen to His Highness, but they don't believe His Highness temporarily. After a while, When they see how good His Highness is, they will naturally listen to His Highness."

"How long will it take?" Zheng Qian said with a serious face, "I don't think there's anything wrong with forcing them to register." We have to be more ruthless in dealing with these stupid people.

Seeing that Wen Daoji couldn't explain clearly to Zheng Qian, he had to plead with Zhao Yao.

"Your Highness, when you first arrived, it was normal for the people to doubt you. Give them some time and they will know how good you are."

"Your Highness, I still think it would be better to force them to register."

"Master Zheng, you..."

Zhao Yao raised his hand to interrupt the argument between Wen Daoji and Zheng Qian, and said, "Since the people are unwilling to register, let them register willingly."

Neither Wen Daoji nor Zheng Qian quite understood what Zhao Yao meant: "Your Highness, what do you mean?"

"It's very simple, give them more benefits."

"Your Highness, your previous decree has given them benefits, exempting them from taxes and corvee, but these people don't know what they are doing, and they are still unwilling to register." Zheng Qian felt that just by registering the population, he had given so much to the people. It's too much for the people to not appreciate the benefits. "Your Highness, these people are stupid people. They don't understand if you reason with them or give them benefits. Only by punishing them will they understand and be obedient." When he traveled before, he met many stupid people. Even if you reason with them nicely or give them benefits, they don't understand.They only believe what they think.

Zheng Qian continued: "My lord, this is your first order since you came to Marsh Mansion. The people did not obey it, which undermines your majesty. I think it is better to punish them so that they can fear your majesty." ." We must use strong methods to deal with the stubborn and stubborn ignorant people, so that they will be afraid, and if they are afraid, they will be obedient.

"Your Highness, when you first came to Marsh Mansion, you killed so many officials. The people are already afraid of you. If you force the people to register again, the people will only be more afraid of you, which is not good for you."

What Zheng Qian and Wen Daoji said was correct. "Don't be impatient, just listen to what I have to say."

"Please speak, Your Highness."

"My lord, please tell me."

"You also know that I am getting new salt. I originally planned to wait a few days and distribute one or two new salt to each household so that the people can taste the new salt and buy new salt in the future. However, After listening to your report just now, I changed my mind." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "Distribute new salt to every household who comes to register their household register. As long as they come to register, they will be given one tael of salt. No. Those who come to register will not be given new salt.”

Both Zheng Qian and Wen Daoji thought this was a good idea.

"My lord is merciful."

"Your Highness is wise."

"Isn't this the best of both worlds?" Zhao Yao originally wanted to give the people new salt, but now he just made use of registering the household register to do so. "For those who have registered before, you will arrange for someone to send them there tomorrow."

Zheng Qian said respectfully: "Yes, my lord."

"The common people will definitely take the initiative to register for salt." Zhao Yao said with a smile, "It just so happens that you also take the opportunity to promote the new salt and let the common people know that the new salt I make is not only delicious, but also cheap."

"Your Highness, although I don't know the exact number of households in Marsh Mansion, each household is given one or two new salts, which should add up to a lot." Wen Daoji was a little worried that Zhao Yao would not produce enough new salt, so he tactfully reminded Zhao Yao.

"Mr. Wen, don't worry about this. After the first batch of new salt is made, it will weigh almost a hundred kilograms, which should be enough for the salt industry." Zhao Yao had previously asked the guard chief and the others to build many beaches.During these days, some more beaches were built.

Wen Daoji and Zheng Qian were so shocked that they heard that the first batch could produce hundreds of kilograms of salt.

"By the way, Zheng Qian, you will bring some new salt back later and put a few bowls of new salt at the household register. When the people come to register, you can let them taste the new salt. Only the people have tasted the new salt. Knowing that the new salt is delicious, they are willing to register and buy new salt in the future." Just after Zhao Yao finished speaking, he thought of another idea, "In this way, you can add another benefit. As long as the people register their household register, they can buy salt in the future. Cheaper."

He added: "Once our new salt is 350 yuan, people can buy new salt for the first time after registering, which will be [-] yuan cheaper, [-] yuan per stone."

Zheng Qian frowned slightly and said, "Master, is 350 yuan per stone of new salt too cheap?"

"It's not like we will always sell them [-] yuan. The first time they bought new salt after registration was only [-] yuan, and the second time they bought it was [-] yuan." Zhao Yao didn't feel that he was at a loss, "This will allow them to Active registration can better promote the new salt."

Wen Daoji said: "Your Highness still has a way."

"Lord, what should I do if someone still doesn't want to register?"

"Then arrest him." Zhao Yao is not an easy talker. The reason why he is willing to give some benefits to the people of Marsh Mansion is because he has just arrived in Marsh Mansion and needs the support of the people. "By the way, if someone makes a false report, he will be severely punished if found out."

"Yes, my lord."

"Have those tribes been settled?" There are several small tribes in Marsh Mansion.The chieftains of these tribes and the chieftain's lackeys were all killed by Zhao Yao before, and now only a small number of them are left. "Are they honest?"

"Some people are dishonest, but they have all been arrested. The remaining people are at peace for the time being." Zheng Qian reported humbly, "I have ordered people to beat them up for those who were arrested."

"You can't be merciful to the people of these tribes, you can only use harsh measures." The people of the Lingnan tribe are all locals. They are all barbarians in the eyes of the people in the capital. They are barbaric, rude, vicious, do not understand etiquette and rules, let alone praise. , and bully the weak and fear the strong.It is useless to use a gentle policy towards them, they will even rub their noses in their faces.Only by beating them and making them scared will they become obedient. "Keep people watching them." Although their chieftain was killed, it does not mean that the people of these tribes will always be honest.

"Your Highness, wouldn't it be bad if you keep sending people to keep an eye on those tribesmen?" Wen Daoji suggested, "Your Highness, you still have to send people to discipline and govern them."

"Of course you won't send people to monitor them all the time, but you have to monitor and scare them for a while so that they will be afraid. Once they are scared, they will be obedient, and then let them choose a new chieftain again. This new chieftain candidate It must be done with my consent.”

Wen Daoji: "Your Highness is wise."

"Do you have anything else to report?"

"Your Highness, is it time for you to go to court?"

"Go to court?" Zhao Yao looked shocked, "You want me to go to court?"

"Your Highness, your small court has been established. It is reasonable for you to go to court."

When Zhao Yao heard this, he immediately dropped his face and said very reluctantly: "Is this very bad?"

"Your Highness, you have to go up, otherwise how would you know what's going on in the court?"

Zhao Yao had a bitter look on his face: "Going to court every day?" When he was in the capital before, the thing he hated most was going to court every day.I didn't expect that when I came to my fiefdom, I would have to go to court.

"Your Highness, if you don't want to go to court every day, you can go to court once every three days, and then go to court on the first and fifteenth day of every month." Regardless of Wen Daoji's suggestion of going to court, he himself doesn't want to go to court every day, but this court must Get on.

"I'll do as you say." As long as I don't go to court every day. "Don't go to court too early. Go to court at Chen time." He no longer wanted to get up before dawn and go to court at dawn. "We are not like the imperial court, so we don't need to go to court too early." To be honest, he felt it was too early for Chenshi to go to court.However, you can't go to court at the same time. It's too late.

　Veterans, ask for a monthly pass! ! !
　　
　
(End of this chapter)