The Great Han Dynasty: From Feng Lang Juxu to the Eternal Emperor

Chapter 340 Relief for work

Naturally, Wei Ning was not the first to propose working-relief. This model has existed for a long time in history.

So when Weining proposed working-for-relief, the court didn't respond much.

The specific measures are nothing more than requiring local people to participate in disaster relief, and Ding Nan will be exempted from corvee in the future.

As the new minister of the Ministry of Industry, Lu Chongguo was naturally the first to appear. He cupped his fists and said, "I see your highness, the Crown Prince."

"I have a few questions, and I dare to ask His Highness the Crown Prince to think about them."

Wei Ning was neither humble nor arrogant, and said calmly: "Speak."

Lu Chongguodao: "This idea was mentioned by Qi officials as early as the Spring and Autumn Period. In the second year of Qi Jinggong, floods broke out in Qi. Yan Ying gathered the refugees to control the floods. However, there were not enough military personnel, so he had no choice but to find local people to participate in disaster relief and provide and exempt them from corvee service.”

“In the third year of Duke Jinggong of Qi, according to Yan Ying’s idea, the State of Qi implemented the strategy of providing work-for-relief, but the results were not satisfactory. All the people who participated in the disaster relief did not do their best, and even the flood control failed to achieve results for a year. It is the imperial court that provides these people with more and more food and consumes more and more money."

"The most troublesome thing for the court is that in the third year of Duke Jinggong of Qi, a plague suddenly broke out among the refugees who participated in the flood control. Tens of thousands of people were killed and injured, and as many as 30,000 were infected by the refugees. It brought catastrophe to Qi. Today we follow Yan Ying's example , what if the tragedy of Qi Jinggong’s third year happens again?”

Weining: "?"

He frowned and looked at Lu Chongguo, and said indifferently: "Master Lu, don't you take the court's policy into your heart?"

Lu Chongguo was stunned.

Before he could speak, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said displeasedly: "Are you born in the year of the Ox? I whipped you before you even thought of doing something?"

"How long did it take for the Handan Earth Dragon to turn around? How did the Crown Prince come up with the strategy to avoid the plague? Did I have the Yamen register the five strategies for epidemic control?"

"How long has it been and you have forgotten all about it? Or did you guys not remember the Crown Prince's words at all?"

Lu Chongguo trembled slightly and said hurriedly: "This... I know the crime."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty ignored Lu Chongguo. Instead, he looked at Weining and said, "Lu Shangshu's concerns are not unreasonable."

"If so many people don't use their full strength, it will only waste the imperial government's finances. In the end, the flood will still not be cured. How to deal with it?"

Wei Ning thought for a while, looked at the ministers and said, "Who said that Gu wants to use the common people?"

what?

These words made everyone present confused. Who should the common people use?

Work-for-relief without using the people?

Wei Ning said: "What if I use refugees?"

"Since the flood has occurred, there must be many homeless people in the local area. This group of refugees is the labor force."

“Also, the core issue of cash-for-work is how to solve the problem of financial allocation.”

"They don't see any immediate benefits in getting rid of corvee. What if we provide financial compensation?"

"How many things have been done are recorded by the supervisor, and then money is given to them every day to subsidize their labor."

"In this way, the enthusiasm of the refugees will certainly increase. They have lost their wealth, and if the court immediately provides them with a way to replenish their wealth instead of giving it away for free, then their enthusiasm will definitely increase, right?"

When Wei Ning finished speaking, the court fell into silence.

Weining only changed his thinking slightly, and the thinking of the ministers was solidified. They always wanted to learn from the methods of the previous dynasty, but never thought of changing.

yes! If the refugees are allowed to participate in the disaster relief, rather than the people who have not been affected by the disaster, their enthusiasm will definitely increase.

Wei Ning glanced at the ministers and continued: "After we have finished controlling the flood, we can place a stone tablet under the tree and write down a list of the hundreds of people who participated in the flood control."

This has no practical significance, but it can spread their good reputation, which will definitely attract more people to participate in disaster relief. When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty heard this, he couldn't help but slightly opened his eyes and glanced at Weining.

Zhao Zhou and other three senior officials nodded frequently, appreciating Weining's suggestions.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince is a wise man. I think this strategy is feasible."

Naturally, the six departments would not refute. Weining had already broken up the flood control methods and fed them into their mouths. He just had to teach them how to provide disaster relief.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty glanced at the ministers of the three provinces and six ministries and said: "You are the ministers of the country. You should think of these things if you use your brain a little."

"Now I ask the prince to teach you, what use do I need you for?"

The ministers clasped their fists and begged for mercy with a look of shame on their faces.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty snorted and said: "Zhongshu drafts the decree, the subordinates review it, and the Minister of Finance sends the Ministry of Industry to the local areas to implement it."

"Let me control the process. Don't think that everything will be fine now. Will you encounter any problems during the implementation? Do you want to make adjustments? The prince no longer needs to worry about this, right?"

Lu Chongguo, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, hurriedly clasped his fists and said, "I don't dare."

After the six ministries of the three provinces left, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said to Weining with sincerity: "Your ideas and suggestions are all good. I have really learned a lot these days."

Weining shook his head and said, "I just mentioned it casually. It's not something to be proud of."

He thought for a while and said to Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "The people of the country are still impoverished. Now that the north has been stabilized, the Han Dynasty should vigorously develop the economy."

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty said: "Why don't I know how to develop it?"

Weining asked Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty: "The land in the world is vast, but the court only cares about a small corner of the country. Why not completely develop Jiangnan and circulate the national economy so that the wealth of the people can gradually increase."

The north has always been the economic and political center, and the rulers have never thought about developing the southern economy. The main reason is that the previous Huns posed too great a threat to the north, and the court had to spend huge sums of money to invest in northern towns to prevent possible invasion.

Now that the Huns' troubles have been resolved, it's time to look south.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty pondered for a moment and asked Weining: "What economy in the south is worth feeding back to the north?"

Wei Ning said: "Business."

"For handicraft industry, the land in the south is suitable for growing mulberry trees, and the silk produced can be transferred to the north and sold."

"Father, have you ever thought about why the economic cycle was blocked before?"

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty pondered for a moment, his eyes lit up, and he said: "The way!"

Wei Ning nodded and said: "Yes! Way!"

"The reason that prevents the development of the north and the south is the roads. Local government regulations are complicated, land transportation takes a long time, and the roads have been in disrepair for a long time."

"Because water conservancy is not repaired, it is difficult to transport water to the north."

"Not to mention at sea, Dahan's ships are dangerous to operate at sea, and the technology for building ships is not in place."

The poor water conservancy and backward ship technology made it difficult to connect the north and south economies. In addition, the roads on land were in disrepair for a long time, and the court was reluctant to spend money on road repairs. This kept the economy in a sluggish state, and all the economic and tax revenue from the north was subsidized to the south...

Now, it is time for policy adjustments.

(End of this chapter)