back to ancient times to be emperor

Chapter 499

"According to Li Qing's opinion, how should the people of Henan Prefecture be settled?"

Li Jie followed Lu Chengqi's words, and continued: "It's okay to use work for relief."

Lu Chengqi was just asking casually. Relief with work has already proved its value.He can also be regarded as a copy of Roosevelt's New Deal in the later generations of the United States. In the name of water control, he recruited a large number of young and strong to dig canals and dredge the Yellow River.Through labor, wages are paid.This kind of model was quickly accepted by the simple Han people, and it naturally had an unexpected effect. "It's just that Li Qing has never thought about the flooding of the Yellow River, how many people have been displaced and their families have been destroyed? If there are no young and strong in the family, how can they support their families?"

Li Jie, as an honest person who does more and talks less, naturally also saw this aspect: "My Majesty, I have also discovered this situation..."

Lu Chengqi poured him another cup of tea, and said with a smile: "Then why didn't Li Qing give me a memorial about this?"

Li Jie was stunned for a moment, nana speechless.

Lu Chengqi sighed: "I know that Li Qing distributed all his salary to these common people. It is better to give people fish than to give them fish. This kind of support can only last for a while, how can it last for a lifetime?"

Li Jie held back for a long time before choking out a sentence: "Your Majesty Qi Zuo, it is not the strength of the minister alone, there are other squires who have also opened warehouses to release grain..."

Lu Chengqi took a sip of the tea, and said calmly: "Of course I know about this, because I ordered Huangzhuang to do this..."

Li Jie was taken aback: "So that's the case, no wonder..."

"Li Qing is still not seasoned enough! I want you to remember that the imperial court is your backer at any time. No matter if the sky collapses or the earth cracks, as long as the imperial court does not fall, the treasury exists for the people. Otherwise If so, why is it necessary to collect taxes to enrich the national treasury? Disaster relief cannot be achieved by one person or dozens or hundreds of people working together. How can the country gentry and rich household help them!" Lu Chengqi taught earnestly, Li Jie nodded slightly after listening.

Lu Chengqi continued to say: "The imperial government collects taxes from the people and uses them for the people. There are unpredictable events in the sky, and people have misfortunes and blessings, just like floods and earth dragons turning around. We can only do our best to rescue the disaster and save a person." It is one. After the local state capital reports to the imperial court, no matter how big the matter is, I will leave the funds for disaster relief. Of course, I want the Changping warehouse designed by Li Qing, also for the self-help of the local state capital. Dashun Land It is so big, if such a natural disaster occurs in the land of the extreme west, the land of the extreme south, the land of the extreme north, or the land of the extreme east, if self-rescue is not carried out, the relief from the imperial court will not be able to go for a while. This is not to make the people suffer Did you die in vain!"

Li Jie took it very seriously, and said: "Your Majesty's heart is benevolent, the blessing of the country, the blessing of the people!"

If the second person said that, Lu Chengqi would definitely take him as a sycophant.But when the honest man Li Jie said so, Lu Chengqi accepted it calmly.Because Li Jie understands Lu Chengqi, and Lu Chengqi also understands Li Jie, this honest person would not have said such a thing if he hadn't sent it from his heart.

Lu Chengqi waved his hand and said: "The world is not my world, but the world's people. If there are no subjects, what is I? The people are the foundation of the Dashun Dynasty. If the people want to let Dashun fall, then I will It's not the emperor anymore..."

There is no taboo at all, because that's what Lu Chengqi thinks in his heart.Of course, this sentence can only be said to Li Jie, for another person, Lu Chengqi would not dare to say that.

"His Majesty……"

Li Jie was a little choked up for a while, although he was deeply influenced by Confucianism, and loyalty to the emperor was the rule that he had to follow since he was sensible, but how could an emperor like Lu Chengqi not let him die for it!
Lu Chengqi also knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, so he smiled dumbly, drank the tea in his cup and said, "It's rare to see Li Qing today, so I talk too much, no wonder!"

Li Jie was silent and had nothing to say.Lu Chengqi continued to say, "The flood control of the Yellow River was not achieved overnight. If there is no suitable candidate, I would be reluctant to ask Li Qing to go."

Li Jie was silent for a long time, before suddenly asking: "Does Your Majesty have to dig a canal?"

Lu Chengqi was taken aback, and said, "Why not?"

Lu Chengqi told him about the benefits of the canal a long time ago, and Li Jie has no reason to forget it.There is this question suddenly, is there any deep meaning?
Sure enough, Li Jie said seriously: "Your Majesty, the harm of the Yellow River's flood control is temporary, and the merits will last forever. These ministers all understand. But the treasury allocates nearly 500 million guan every year, and can only dig tens of miles. Is it worth it for such a long time? "

Lu Chengqi also said very seriously: "I think that if you can use money to stop the flooding of the Yellow River and stop the people from being displaced, it will be worth it. I don't know if Li Qing has calculated this account. Since the establishment of the Dashun Dynasty, the Yellow River alone has Flooding, how much money was lost? At least tens of millions of guan! A mere 500 million guan a year is nothing compared to tens of millions of guan! The northern area. If the Yellow River no longer frequently floods, how much tax can the prefectures of Hezhong, Henan, Kaifeng, Daming, Dongping, and Hejian bring to the court? After the canal is connected, passing business travelers will bring With more goods, how will business develop? Li Qing should not focus on the present, but the future!"

After hearing this, Li Jie's knots finally disappeared.He had never taken over such a costly project, and tried every means to save money for the court.Can opening a canal be a way to save money?After more than half a year, the waste has exceeded the budget.Li Jie didn't think he was doing a good job, that's why he had this knot.

"Li Qing, don't worry about it. The canal will benefit thousands of years. No matter how much it costs, it should be done." Lu Chengqi smiled and said in his heart: "Think about Emperor Yang of Sui who dug a canal and even lost his country. I just dug for a while now, as long as I take my time, use the system of recruiting craftsmen, strictly supervise, stop deducting wages, and ensure the lives of craftsmen, there should be no disasters. I don’t believe it, I will be the second Sui Yang Emperor !"

Li Jie finally made up his mind and said: "Since Your Majesty said so, I will do my best to divert the Yellow River and connect all its tributaries!"

Lu Chengqi nodded, and said: "That's it, it's getting late, and seeing Li Qing's dusty face, he must have come to see him after returning to Beijing. It's not good for me to keep you, you go home first , Say hello."

Li Jie immediately got up and saluted and said, "Your Excellency, leave!"

After finishing speaking, under the guidance of Lu Chengqi's personal eunuch Gao Gao, he left the plum garden.Outside the plum garden, I happened to meet Queen Zhou Zhiruo.Li Jie hurriedly saluted and said: "I have seen the empress."

Zhou Zhiruo said in surprise: "Li Shangshu is in a hurry to leave the palace, why don't you try the dim sum in the imperial dining room?"

Li Jie declined and said: "It's getting late, I can't stay any longer..."

Zhou Zhiruo was also reasonable and said, "Come here, give Li Shangshu these cakes and put them in food boxes. Li Shangshu must not refuse, this is His Majesty's order!"

Li Jie was blocked from talking, so he had no choice but to let the maid behind Zhou Zhiruo fetch the food box and fill it with snacks before letting him out of the palace.

(End of this chapter)