Joy of Life: I am a Han Dynasty succubus, and I rebel from the beginning

Chapter 213: Liu Hong Spends All His Wealth, Craftsmen Weep

The third prince's tomb is also near Kyoto. After all, he is not yet an adult and does not even have a fiefdom.

It can only be built near the imperial tombs of the successive kings of Qing State.

Li Chengru looked at the craftsmen who had made the Hanging Temple look almost brand new, and his expression was moved.

"This is a move to win people's hearts. You should know your Majesty's character. I'm afraid you won't be the governor of Kyoto for long."

"It doesn't matter. People always have to be willful! When I was a commoner, I had to risk my life to get a piece of black bread. I don't want them to be like that."

Liu Hong chuckled and spoke.

Even if he did not release these craftsmen, he would not be able to stay in the position of Governor of Kyoto for long.

After all, it was an emergency move by Emperor Qing, and he took charge of both the military and political affairs of Kyoto.

Now most of the troops in Kyoto are in Liu Hong's hands. How could Emperor Qing not be worried?

Is his method of balance a bit too suppressive of the Qin family?

Li Chengru turned his head away and said nothing more.

The younger generation nowadays holds suitable official positions.

Probably only Qin Heng from the Qin family is left. Maybe there is another candidate for the Governor of Kyoto, and that must be Qin Heng.

Li Chengru didn't understand why Liu Hong did this.

Liu Hong had been fighting openly and secretly with the Qin family, and for no reason he gave up the position of Governor of Kyoto to Qin Heng.

So kind?

Liu Hong just smiled lightly and didn't explain.

The Qin family will not take action against him because they have a common enemy, Fan Xian.

Facing Emperor Qing's favorite child, even Old Master Qin couldn't help but tremble in his heart. He had to win over enough allies before choosing to assassinate Fan Xian.

Liu Hong looked at the craftsman who had been freed from his restraints below, his eyes becoming profound.

For the sake of Shijia Town established by Shi Chan, he chose to compromise with the Qin family and gave up the position of Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.

Now, for the sake of these craftsmen to survive, Liu Hong is willing to compromise again and exchange him for the position of Governor of Kyoto.

While 50,000 people were eating and drinking, they were also engaged in high-intensity labor to build the mausoleum.

Liu Hong did not withhold any grain and distributed it all.

Shi Chanli and Versace were frowning all day long, holding an abacus, and their hearts were bleeding.

No! Liu Hong embezzled hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, and he spent one third of it in this month. This is too expensive.

“Sir, if we make thicker porridge and pickles, and add some oil and meat from time to time, I’m afraid it will be a bit difficult for our family to handle it.”

Shi Chanli couldn't help but speak after all.

They can support a craftsman for a day, but not for a lifetime.

Liu Hong shook his head and insisted on his own approach.

"This is nothing. They have suffered for decades, and this is what they deserve."

"As for their future, don't worry, I have my own arrangements."

Seeing Liu Hong's expression, Shi Chanli left with a sigh.

Liu Hong had his own plan. If these craftsmen still had families, he would give them travel expenses and let them go home.

However, this group of people have not returned home for decades, and I am afraid that only a few of them have left.

But don't worry. Among the millions of acres of land confiscated from the aristocratic families, Liu Hong alone took up 100,000 acres.

He was able to support 20,000 craftsmen, and the remaining number of generals under his command was about the same.

Then recruit some more people, or arrange them to Kyoto and provide them with a job that can support themselves.

Liu Hong calculated everything very well.

If it really doesn't work, Liu Hong gritted his teeth and tried to be more greedy and send them to Qianlong Bay and Dingzhou.

The world is so big, it is impossible that we can’t even support 50,000 craftsmen.

These craftsmen have been suffering from malnutrition for many years, but they do have strength.

Whether it was to be a soldier, to forge weapons, or to be a tenant, everyone was eager to get the job.

With the efforts of 50,000 craftsmen, the tomb of the third prince was quickly built. After all, it was the tomb of a prince, not even a prince, so it couldn't be more magnificent than the emperor's tomb.

Li Chengru calculated that the time was almost up, and rushed to Kyoto to report. However, the craftsmen, who had rarely enjoyed a month of peace and quiet, were anxious and fearful of their own fate.

They never dreamed of building a temple under the dark and gloomy Hanging Temple like prisoners again.

Liu Hong held a thick stack of land property documents in his hand, and there was a mountain of silver behind him.

Looking at this group of honest craftsmen who silently endured the injustice in the world, he spoke softly.

"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. This is the little help I can give as the Governor of Kyoto."

Er Gouzi, Huang Xuan and others looked at Liu Hong in disbelief.

Your Excellency is a well-known corrupt official in Kyoto, but you never expected to give away all your wealth to these craftsmen.

It seems that they have to pay a little, at least give up part of their land.

The national treasury allocated very little for the construction of the third prince's tomb, and only 80,000 taels of silver were used for the materials to build the tomb.

There is also some aged mixed rice, which is enough to keep the craftsmen from starving.

After all, it has been like this for many years.

They call it corvée labor, but who needs to pay for corvée labor? Free labor is not useless, so use it as much as possible.

Unexpectedly, Liu Hong, despite pressure from court ministers, not only released these craftsmen but also gave away all his family wealth.

It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.

With the land and the first pot of gold, this group of craftsmen can live a stable life for at least ten years. If they are lucky, they can even marry and live a stable life.

"The Duke of Pei is kind and benevolent. We are willing to sacrifice our lives for him."

Countless craftsmen knelt down in a crowd, their cries shaking the earth.

Back then, they became de facto prisoners of the royal family just for a few taels of silver.

Now Liu Hong not only gave them money, but also distributed the land that their ancestors had longed for.

This kindness! Even if they are asked to die for Liu Hong now, there are still many people who will do it.

Shi Chanli and Fansace, who had been complaining all day long, didn't know what to do for a moment when they saw this scene.

Shi Chanli was okay, after all, he was just a poor merchant.

Versace is different. He can't understand how just a few acres of land and a few taels of silver can win the loyalty of others?
Isn't this loyalty too cheap?
"Did you see that? In fact, they want very little. Just enough food to eat is enough. Even if they don't have enough food and can barely survive, that's fine."

Liu Hong looked at these craftsmen and spoke softly.

The generals under his command looked at each other and fell silent.

Back then, they became bandits and hooligans just to have enough food to eat.

Although the request seems ridiculous to the higher-ups, in their eyes it is the dream that their ancestors have been longing for for generations.

"This is my personal behavior. You can do whatever you want. If it doesn't work, you can take them back as tenants."

"I just ask you one thing. You were once civilians too. Don't forget your roots. Be nice to the people below you no matter what."

Liu Hong's eyes were sincere, and he had removed all disguise and defense.

The general, who had originally had some thoughts in mind, felt ashamed because this was the land he had obtained with great effort.

For someone as generous as Liu Hong, giving it all away at once is no less than cutting off one's own flesh and blood.

Liu Hong also understood this, so even if he had ideals in his heart, he made concessions to his subordinates and tacitly allowed them to become the new aristocratic family.

In any case, as long as it can make life better for the people below, it will be good in the end.

Ji Xin stood up, looking excited and his face flushed.

"Sir! My family also has two thousand acres of land. I am willing to give it all and follow you, Sir!"

Your Excellency is as great as the sun. Ji Xin knows that he will never be able to become Liu Hong in this life.

But learning more is ultimately a good thing.

Liu Hong laughed and scolded Ji Xin and slapped him.

"You are just a deputy general of the city defense army, you can't make a living! Just give a hundred acres as a token of your appreciation. You will get married soon, and it will cost a lot."

The generals under his command heaved a sigh of relief when they saw that what Liu Hong had just said was not empty talk, and they all took out some of their land.

Er Gouzi spoke awkwardly and scratched his head.

"Brother, I won't take the land, I'll just collect some tenants, thirty taxes a line."

(End of this chapter)