big song poppi

Chapter 596 0593 [The Wisdom of the People]

Han Zhen asked, "Is there no chaos in the city?"

According to Gu Song, more than 500,000 people in the entire capital bought the lottery tickets for Qiyun Society's victory.

Although most people only bought a few cents, there were also some gamblers who bet their entire fortunes.

Now that Qiyun Club was unexpectedly eliminated in the semi-finals, there is no guarantee that the people who lost the game will not do something stupid in their anger.

Fortunately, Han Zhen arranged for a battalion of Qingzhou troops to enter the city in advance to assist Kaifeng Prefecture in maintaining order.

Hearing this, Gu Song had a strange look on his face and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Seeing this, Han Zhen raised his eyebrows and asked, "Are there really people causing trouble?"

Gu Song replied, "There was no disturbance, but the players of Qiyun Club suffered a disaster. On the way back, the people who lost the game threw rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs all over the way."

Han Zhen shook his head and laughed, "As long as they don't hurt anyone, let them do whatever they want."

When people lose money, they always want to vent.

Originally, he wanted to take advantage of this Cuju Competition to create a star benchmark team, which would be used as a part of cultural output in the future.

Qiyun Society is a good choice, but I never thought the other party would be so disappointing.

After giving a few more instructions, Gu Song turned and left.

Han Zhen picked up the red brush and was about to continue reviewing the memorials when he suddenly asked, "Where is the monkey?"

Liu Chang on the side replied: "Your Majesty, General Manager Yang has arrived at Mingzhou Port the other day and should be able to return to the capital before the New Year."

"Ah."

Han Zhen nodded and buried his head in reviewing memorials.

At this moment, the eunuch outside the palace reported: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Chang and Dean Yu request to see you."

"Xuan."

Han Zhen ordered.

The next moment, Chang Yukun and Yu Bozhuang walked into the hall together and bowed, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Han Zhen asked, "What brings you here, my dear ministers?"

Chang Yukun said in a clear voice: "I am here to report on the recent construction of heated kangs in the north. At present, more than 280,000 households in the four routes of the north have built heated kangs, and the total bank loan expenditure is more than 390,000 strings of cash."

The number of kangs is easy to count because the imperial court had a clear stipulation that families with kangs could receive free coal every year.

Therefore, after the kang was built, the people would spontaneously go to the government to register.

"Not bad!"

Han Zhen smiled.

Two hundred and eighty thousand households is already a lot. There are more than two million households in the four roads of Beidi in total, which means that one out of every seven households has a kang.

Suddenly, Han Zhen realized the problem: "This number of households seems to be far from the loan account."

According to the cost calculated by the Institute of Engineering, a kang costs four strings of coins, so the loan amount should be over one million strings of coins.

Even if we exclude some people from wealthy families who do not need loans, the total amount should still fluctuate around 800,000 or 900,000 strings of cash. The gap of 390,000 strings of cash is really too huge.

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Bozhuang showed an embarrassed look on his face. He stepped forward and said, "This is my fault. Your Majesty, please punish me."

Han Zhen said calmly, "Tell me, how did you fail in your duty?"

Yu Bozhuang replied, "I have marked in detail the various materials needed for the kang on the construction drawings. But when the people in the north actually built it, they abandoned the blue bricks and stone slabs and used yellow mud and stones. In this way, including the labor costs, the cost was reduced to less than one coin. In some cases, the kang was built for only two or three hundred coins."

Han Zhen asked, "If we use yellow mud to build a kang, will it be safe and strong?"

"It's okay."

Yu Bozhuang smiled bitterly and said truthfully, "The craftsmen I sent out said that yellow mud mixed with wheat straw and crushed stones, after being built into a fire bed, will become stronger the more it is burned, and can be used for more than ten years."

It cannot be said that this was his fault, because his design was strictly in accordance with Han Zhen's requirements, adhering to the characteristics of safety, strength and durability. The kang built with blue bricks and stone slabs can be used for decades.

But the people don’t think so?
Spending four strings of cash to build a kang, are you sick or am I sick?

What the hell are those blue bricks and slabs? They are no where as useful as yellow mud.

Don't underestimate the wisdom of the people. In this way, the cost dropped from four strings of coins to a few hundred coins.

If there are many males in the family, even a few hundred coins will not be needed. After all, yellow mud and gravel are free.

Moreover, the kang built with yellow mud becomes stronger and stronger as it is heated by the flue. As long as people don't jump around on the kang, it can be used for ten years or so without any problems.

Han Zhen said in a deep voice: "The craftsmen of the Institute of Engineering have superb skills, but they have been away from the people for too long. This time, let's take it as a lesson. If there are similar things in the future, we should go deep into the people and consider their sentiments."

Four strings of cash is not a lot for the common people in the capital. After all, in a high-consumption area, labor costs are also high.

But for the people in the north, it is a huge burden.

"Wei Chen understands."

Yu Bozhuang responded quickly.

Han Zhen said: "This time, your merits and demerits are equal, so there will be no reward or punishment. You can leave now."

"Wei Chen retire."

Yu Bozhuang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave.

The fact that he was not punished this time was already a favor from His Majesty, so how could he still have the nerve to ask for a reward.

After he left, Han Zhen looked at Chang Yukun and said, "The five routes in the northwest are also bitterly cold. Next year, we can follow this method and promote it in the northwest."

The Little Ice Age has arrived, and the weather will only get colder in the next one or two hundred years.

Moreover, there are many coal mines in the northwest, and people can produce and sell their own coal.

"I accept the decree."

Chang Yukun responded loudly.

……

"Third Brother!"

"Open the door quickly, brother!"

"I know you are at home, open the door!"

Outside the small courtyard at the end of Xishuimen Hutong, Zhao Zhen and his group were knocking on the door with angry faces.

The two dilapidated doors kept shaking and emitting wailing sounds, as if they would collapse at any moment.

At this moment, Zhao Mo and his brothers hated Zhao Kai very much.

Qiyun Society lost!
The key point is that under Zhao Kai's instigation, they bet all their fortunes on Qiyun Society.

After more than a year of hard work, we are now back to the time before the change of dynasty.

The money is gone, the fields are gone, the oxen are gone, everything is gone.

And all this is because of Zhao Kai.

"Step aside!"

Seeing that no one opened the door after knocking for a long time, Zhao Zhen pulled Zhao Shu away.

He just stepped forward, raised his foot, and kicked hard with all his strength.

But with a bang, the old wooden door could no longer hold and was kicked open.

The moment the door was kicked open, a figure in the yard hurriedly fled into the house. It was Zhao Kai.

"Brother San, don't leave!"

Zhao Mo reacted the fastest. He rushed into the yard in three or two steps and grabbed Zhao Kai by the back of the collar.

"hey-hey."

Zhao Kai laughed awkwardly and argued, "Brother Eleven, what are you talking about? I was just about to open the door." Zhao Mo snorted coldly, "Humph, if you're going to open the door, why are you running?"

Zhao Kai lied without hesitation: "I suddenly remembered that the stove in the house is still boiling water."

Hearing this, Zhao Mo said sarcastically: "Third brother, third brother, you are really telling lies all the time now, and there is not a single truth in your mouth. You are almost catching up with the actors in Washizi."

At the same time, the rest of the people rushed forward and surrounded Zhao Kai.

"Eleventh brother, why are you talking nonsense to him?"

Zhao Zhen pushed through the crowd, glared at him and said, "You've ruined me, you need to pay me back!"

He was so angry that he didn't even call him Third Brother.

Zhao Kai retorted: "I am your elder brother, how can you speak to me like this? Do you have any manners?"

"Brother?"

Zhao Qi sneered, "Is there a brother like you? You cheated us out of our money to buy the lottery, and then made us bet our entire fortune on Qiyun Society winning the championship. Now, we have nothing left. Hurry and pay us back!"

"Compensate!"

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"Yes, it's all your fault, pay me back!"

Everyone spoke up and demanded that Zhao Kai pay compensation in indignation.

Zhao Kai was not happy with this and raised his eyebrows, "What kind of talk is this? You are greedy and sold your land and cattle to suppress Qiyun Society. What does it have to do with me?"

Zhao Kai's shameless behavior made Zhao Zhen furious.

"Bah!"

Zhao Zhen shouted loudly and punched him.

This hateful punch was extremely powerful and hit Zhao Kai right in the left eye, causing him to scream in pain.

Zhao Zhen shouted angrily: "Will you pay me?"

"You are a rebel. You dare to hit your brother. Since my father is not here today, I will teach you a lesson on his behalf, a man without a brother or a father."

After Zhao Kai finished speaking, he threw a punch with his backhand.

"court death!"

Zhao Zhen didn't expect that he would dare to fight back, so he shouted and immediately fought back.

Zhao Mo, who was standing by, was afraid that his brother would suffer, so he immediately joined the battle.

Zhao Kai was addicted to alcohol and sex, and was in very weak health. It was already difficult for him to deal with Zhao Zhen alone. Now that Zhao Mo joined in, he was beaten without any chance to fight back.

"Don't fight, don't fight."

Zhao Kai squatted on the ground, protecting his head with his hands, screaming.

Zhao Shu and others stood aside and watched coldly.

After fighting for a while, Zhao Qi stepped forward and said in a fake tone, "Okay, stop fighting."

"Humph!"

The two brothers stopped fighting, and Zhao Zhen snorted coldly: "Hurry up and pay the money, or I will continue to beat you!"

Zhao Kai just felt itchy around his mouth, and when he touched it with his hand, his palm was covered with a bright red color.

It turned out that he was bleeding from his nose.

Zhao Kai was both ashamed and angry at the moment. He covered his nose and said in a muffled voice, "Okay, okay, you beat me up in broad daylight. I'm going to Kaifeng Prefecture to file a complaint!"

"Let's go, I want to see how the Kaifeng prefect will punish us!"

Zhao Zhen was not afraid at all. He grabbed Zhao Kai and walked out.

"Yes, let's go to Kaifeng Prefecture!"

Zhao Shu and his group echoed the sentiment.

At this moment, all the brotherhood and the reputation of the royal family were out of the question.

The most important thing right now is to get your money back.

Otherwise, the New Year is approaching, it is freezing cold and they are penniless, how are they going to survive?
Not to mention the wives and concubines at home who were threatening to divorce and return to their parents' homes.

If you can’t get the money back, your wife and children will be separated and your family will be destroyed.

A group of more than ten people walked out of the alley and headed towards the Kaifeng government office.

Along the way, Zhao Zhen and his companions cursed and arguing, attracting the attention of the people.

When the people took a closer look, they were immediately delighted.

Hey, aren’t these the princes of the Song Dynasty?
When they saw Zhao Kai bleeding from his nose, the people were immediately furious and surrounded him.

The people of Tokyo City love to join in the fun. When the Jin people and Han Zhen attacked, they had plenty of time to join in the fun, not to mention the peaceful times now.

What's more, it's the lively old Zhao's family.

In a short while, hundreds of onlookers gathered.

"Prince Xin, what's going on?"

Someone in the crowd asked.

Zhao Zhen heard this and said loudly: "Let the villagers know that this guy lied that his father was seriously ill and borrowed money from us, then turned around and bought all the money for Mengcai. Then he tricked us into selling our land and cattle and used all our assets to buy the Qiyun Club to win the championship. Now that the Qiyun Club lost the game, this guy refuses to admit it!"

Wow!
As soon as these words were spoken, the people were immediately furious.

This news is really too explosive.

Zhao Kai suddenly became anxious and said quickly: "When did I ask you to sell your land and cattle? It's you who are greedy and now you blame me for everything. You should blame Qiyun Society!"

……

On Niuxing Street, Zhao Gou was holding his wife Xing Bingyi's hand and strolling on the street.

He is now in high spirits, having led the club into the quarterfinals. Although they lost to their opponents and were eliminated in the first round, it was enough.

The top eight would at least get a bounty of several thousand strings of cash.

As the New Year is approaching, Zhao Gou has a rare chance to relax, so he takes his wife and children out to buy New Year's goods.

As I was walking, I suddenly heard a noise in front of me.

Xing Bingyi looked at the crowd and asked curiously, "Husband, what are you doing in front?"

Zhao Gou pondered and said, "I don't know, maybe it's an acrobatic performance."

As the year draws to a close, various street performers become active, hoping to make some money during the festival.

Seeing his wife's curious expression, Zhao Gou suggested, "Let's go and take a look?"

"it is good."

Xing Bingyi smiled and nodded.

As they talked, the two men walked over, and Zhao Gou, relying on his strong body, squeezed into the crowd.

When he saw clearly what was happening in the crowd, his face changed and he turned around and tried to run away.

"Ninth Brother!"

Zhao Mo had sharp eyes and spotted him in the crowd at a glance, and shouted loudly.

This voice immediately attracted the attention of everyone present, and they all turned their eyes to him.

It was too late to leave now, so Zhao Gou had no choice but to stay and said with a forced smile, "Hello, brothers."

Zhao Qi said loudly: "Brother Jiu, you are here at the right time. Please help us judge the case."

At this moment, Zhao Gou wanted to slap himself twice. He had been so mean just now, and now he was in trouble.

(End of this chapter)