my grandfather was qin shi huang

The arrival of Zhao Ying changed the atmosphere of the entire Kuaiji County.

Many children of wealthy families have quietly restrained their old unscrupulous ways. Some of them were simply banned by their elders for fear that some bad news would spread to the emperor. His Highness Changsun fell into the ears, thus causing trouble for the family.

As for the lower-class people, the most prominent change is that charity halls, which have been doing public opinion surveys and verifying family situations, and have only distributed some symbolic relief money and food, have really begun to distribute money on a large scale.

Eleven thousand words are not as convincing as a small bag of grain.

When the rice jars bottomed out, people who had begun to dig wild vegetables, boil grass roots, and lived with their belts tightened, and even the children at home were so hungry that they had no strength to cry, actually received a bag of life-saving food, everyone When I looked at Charity Hall again, my eyes really changed.

They began to believe that the Qin people were not bluffing, and that this charity hall was really doing good things and really trying to help them.

"Qin people, this is trying to win people's hearts..."

However, such sounds soon disappeared.

After all, even if someone is buying people's hearts, they are buying them with real benefits, which can help the family tide over this difficult time.

The common people are very simple.

We have to look forward. If there were so many brave men who were at odds with the Qin Dynasty, and if there were really so many people who cared about the Six Kingdoms, the First Emperor might not have been able to unify the Six Kingdoms back then.

"Your Highness, we don't have enough food in our treasury..."

At the Sheriff's Mansion, Li You looked at Zhao Ying nervously.

He knew very well that if the Charity Hall never started doing it, it would be okay, but if it ended in an anticlimax, it would be better not to do it in the first place.

Zhao Ying smiled and nodded.

"I know, Governor Li, please don't be impatient. Just open the warehouse to stock up on food - if it's really not enough, you can temporarily divert some of the military rations..."

As soon as Zhao Ying said this, even General Sitting aside couldn't help it.

"Your Highness, no, if something happens, it will be a big deal..."

Li Youye was startled by Zhao Ying's bold idea. He was so nervous that he swung his sleeves and didn't even care about the tea cup in front of him. He hurriedly packed the tea cup in front of him. He shook his head firmly and refused.

"Your Highness, you must not use military rations without permission. This is a serious crime..."

Seeing that the two of them were so nervous, Zhao Ying couldn't help but smile and wave his hands.

"You really don't need to be nervous. I have my own arrangements. Just listen to me..."

With that said, Zhao Ying took off the sword that the First Emperor had given him before he left, and gently placed it on the cases in front of him. Li You couldn't help but smiled bitterly and shook his head, sitting back down again.

Even His Majesty's sword was revealed, I'm afraid he really has made up his mind.

Jiang Lu, on the other hand, looked at his eldest nephew with a suspicious expression, feeling a little unsure.

"Ying'er, please don't be confused. If something goes wrong - forget it, if something goes wrong, you will be my third uncle! It's amazing. I, like your eighteenth uncle, were taken into custody by His Majesty. Go back and be grounded. Just remember not to go find me for a drink—"

Zhao Ying was amused and moved at the same time, and he raised his hand to Jiang Lu solemnly.

"Third uncle, it's not like this. Just don't worry, I'm not a reckless person. I said, it's just a temporary loan. I will make up for it before I leave..."

When Jiang Lu and Li You saw what Zhao Ying said, they felt a little relieved.

"Nowadays, many people are struggling to make ends meet. The food we temporarily provide can only meet urgent needs. If we really want to completely solve the problem of food shortage in Kuaiji, we have to start with farming..."

Having said this, Zhao Ying stood up.

"Following the old events in Lujiang County, Kuaiji also implements the law of young crops, which allows people to use their household registration as collateral to grow grain on credit. If the charity hall confirms that the family is indeed poor, the full interest will be exempted——"

Speaking of this, Zhao Ying glanced at Li You meaningfully.

"This matter will be handed over to the Mohist disciples. The county officials and Legalist disciples will supervise and assist. However, the Mohist disciples have the right to make the final decision. If you, the county officials, have any disputes, you can first obey the arrangements of the Mohist disciples and then hand it over. Let the Charity Hall verify it, or even report it to me in person!”

As for the Qingmiao method, there are already ready-made cases in Lujiang County. Just let the officials who follow you give a little training to the Confucian and Mohist disciples who serve as storytellers of the Qin Dynasty in Kuaiji, and they will be fully qualified to handle it.

"Your Highness, if there is a natural disaster this year and the harvest is not good..."

"Then the people are allowed to purchase farmland insurance and implement the "flood and drought conservation" method. For those who purchase farmland deposits, if there is a bad harvest or no harvest due to floods and droughts, Charity Hall can use the average grain output in the past three years to According to the number of acres purchased, 60% of the output will be supplemented, and taxes for the current year will be exempted..."

Li You couldn't help but take a breath of cold air.

This system is simply unheard of!

But if you think about it carefully, it turns out to be an upright conspiracy.

Are you afraid that the land will fail?

Then buy a farmland deposit from Charity Hall!

Of course, the beneficiaries here are those poor people whose families are poor and cannot withstand the unexpected impact, but he knows very well that once this policy is released, he doesn't know how many big households will be excited.

Although Kuaiji County has many rivers and lakes, the construction of water conservancy ditches cannot be compared with Guanzhong. After hundreds of years of intensive farming in Guanzhong during the Qin Dynasty, the cultivated fields were connected by countless ditches, like an orderly chessboard, forming an extremely complete irrigation and farming system.

But this is not the case here in Kuaiji. Many places are either a swamp, or they are just looking at the water source, but cannot reach it. The common people can only use the most primitive method, carrying it on their shoulders. In this case, except for a few wealthy families, For the fertile land in the hands of large households, it has become inevitable to rely on the weather for food.

Therefore, it is conceivable that there will be many wealthy local families with a lot of land who will also come forward to purchase such unheard-of deposits for cultivated land. This is almost like collecting a layer of taxes in advance, but the risks involved are also extremely high.

"Your Highness, if there really is a widespread harvest failure..."

Li You's tone was hesitant.

Zhao Ying smiled.

"It doesn't matter. When the time comes, we will compensate according to the price. I didn't say that we must compensate for food. If the situation you mentioned happens, ordinary people who can't live can compensate for part of the food. After all, even if they don't buy it, We originally had to provide food relief for this deposit. This is food that would have been spent in the first place, so it will have little impact. As for the rich and powerful, it can be converted into gold and silver goods——"

Speaking of this, Zhao Ying said with a smile.

"My fourth uncle has been harvesting a lot recently. Our Daqin will no longer be short of gold and silver in the future - and, if nothing unexpected happens, soon we will no longer be short of even copper coins..."

Will there no longer be a shortage of copper coins?

Li You's heart moved and he glanced at Zhao Ying calmly. You should know that although he is far away from Xianyang now, he has never stopped communicating with his family. With Li Si, his old father who is the left prime minister, his knowledge of the court's information is not much worse than in Xianyang.

But unfortunately, I have never heard any news about this information.

Could it be that the imperial court found another copper mine with huge reserves?

"Of course, gold and silver may not be needed. If there is really a situation where money and food are not enough to compensate, the county can be allowed to transfer part of the salt mine management rights at an appropriate price..."

Da Qin's salt and iron franchise naturally has countless benefits and can greatly enrich the national treasury. However, because of this, it has many disadvantages. At one time, even the normal consumption of salt became a problem for the common people!

But in Zhao Ying's view, there is really no need for all official camps.

Because of this kind of thing, once an absolute monopoly of resources necessary for life is formed, corruption in an absolute sense will inevitably occur.

The tea policy of the Song Dynasty and the salt and iron system of the Ming Dynasty are both heavy historical lessons!

In the later period, those officials became more and more unscrupulous, using their hands and feet in the process to make themselves fattened. Not only did the court not benefit from it, but in some places, there were even strange situations where the Salt Transport Bureau responsible for salt administration reported losses.

Therefore, while the foundation of the salt and iron monopoly system remains unchanged, appropriately releasing part of the salt management authority may not be a bad thing for both Daqin and ordinary people.

Li Youjiu was by Li Si's side, and he had a good vision no matter what he saw and heard. He naturally understood what Zhao Ying's proposal meant and what kind of sensation it would cause once word spread.

"Your Highness—"

Li You took a deep breath.

"What should we do if there is concealment, false reporting, or deliberate artificial reduction of food production?"

"Leave it to the Charity Hall, the county magistrate's office for cross-checking and review, and report it to the cabinet for review. Once confirmed—"

At the corner of Zhao Ying's mouth, a hint of fierceness flashed in his eyes.

"Considered as rebellion, the person in charge has no family property and belongs to the Yi tribe! Those who cooperate in the cover-up and help cover up will be punished by being pounded in Dancheng. After the expiration of the term, they will be sent to Mobei to border..."

Good governance benefits the people, but it must be supported by thunderbolt means.

Otherwise, once someone takes advantage of the loophole, this good governance will turn into bad governance that harms the people and the court, causing endless harm.

When Li You heard this, his heart suddenly trembled. For the first time, he could intuitively feel the ruthlessness and domineering nature of this emperor's eldest grandson who looked amiable and smiled when he spoke.

"With His Highness's good governance, the people of Kuaiji are finally saved——"

Li Youcheng bowed his hand to Zhao Ying sincerely.

Although it is not yet known how he will solve the food problem, if this policy can really be implemented, the benefits to Kuaiji will be self-evident.

As the son of the Zuo Prime Minister and one of the youngest governors in the Qin Dynasty, he already had a promising future. How could he not have the ambition to govern the country and make some achievements in his heart?

Zhao Ying smiled and waved his hand.

"These are just a way for the people to survive, but the potential of Kuaiji is more than that. On the way here, I have personally observed the water and soil conditions here. If Commander Li manages it properly, Kuaiji will definitely become a wealthy country in less than ten years." The land of plenty and plenty in the world!"

Li You:......

Most of the excitement in my heart disappeared in an instant.

If it can be done, of course it would be best, but if it cannot be done...

Seeing that Li You was almost stuck, Zhao Ying couldn't help but laugh.

"Don't worry, Governor Li. Of course, I won't need to trick you. Since I'm on your majesty's southern tour and have come to our Kuaiji, before I leave, I will naturally help you find a feasible path. From now on, you only need to follow the steps." If you do a good job, then even if you don't reach the land of plenty I call it, it will still be a great achievement..."

Hearing what Zhao Ying said, Li You secretly breathed a sigh of relief, stood up solemnly, and bowed deeply to Zhao Ying.

"I will do my best, and I will not dare to fail His Highness's trust!"

Zhao Ying quickly left the table and stepped forward to personally hold Li You's arm.

"Chief Li comes from a well-known family and has been an official in Xianyang for many years. Of course, I can rest assured of his ability and loyalty. Otherwise, I would not have recommended you to His Majesty in the first place..."

The two sat down again, and Zhao Ying said slowly.

"It is not enough to just implement the Young Crops Law and the flood and drought conservation system. If we want to build Kuaiji into a real land of plenty, we must implement the land reclamation system and implement the method of parallel military and civilian settlements..."

Hearing this, Li You couldn't help but feel something in his heart. He suddenly thought of Zhao Ying's systems in Hexi County and had some vague guesses.

"Dare you ask His Highness for advice..."

Zhao Ying waved his hand.

"There are two most important factors that are currently hampering the development of farming in Kuaiji. One is the insufficient construction of irrigation canals, and the other is the too many tidal flats and swamps and the lack of available farmland..."

Hearing this, even Young Master Jianglu, who had never cared much about Nong Sang's affairs, could not help but subconsciously lean forward slightly and prick up his ears.

He is the first prince among the Qin princes to serve as a local county captain. How could he not want to make some achievements to prove himself?

It can be said that, to a certain extent, he, like Li You, is under a lot of pressure and wants to prove himself by achieving great results in Kuaiji County.

Regarding this issue, Zhao Ying had already made up his mind.

He calmly picked up the teacup and took a sip before speaking.

"I heard that if you use force to drive people away, they will be unwilling and have resentment in their hearts. If you drive people away with benefits, there will be no disadvantage. Building ditches is originally a move that benefits the people. However, if you forcefully recruit people and drive them away, Then public dissatisfaction will inevitably arise, and we will achieve half the result with twice the effort. Instead of spending money and effort and draining the treasury, we might as well drive it away with profit..."

Having said this, Zhao Ying glanced at Li You and Jiang Lu who looked puzzled, and said with a smile.

"What I mean is that we can encourage local wealthy families to build ditches to irrigate farmland——"

When Li You heard this, he couldn't help but feel moved in his heart.

"Your Highness means——"

"Local big families who build ditches can receive court subsidies, or a 30% tax exemption within three years. At the same time, they are promised that the ditches will be owned by them within thirty years. During this period, they are allowed to use one Sell ​​water to farmers who need irrigation at a suitable price—specifically how much is appropriate, I will call them together and discuss with them when the time comes..." (End of Chapter)