The Sui Dynasty's chess game

Chapter 847 Gathering Public Opinion
Biankou in Xingyang County is the entrance to the Bian River. When the flood passed through before, this place almost collapsed. It was thanks to the magistrate of Xingze County leading three thousand laborers to defend the dike and reinforce the bank with tens of thousands of sandbags that the Yellow River did not breach the dike here, thus protecting the safety of hundreds of thousands of people in Xingyang County.

That morning, surrounded by a large number of soldiers and officials, Emperor Xiao Xia arrived at Biankou and the surrounding area to inspect the disaster situation.

There were disasters, though. Although the Yellow River did not breach its banks, the Bian River overflowed and flooded large areas of farmland. In addition, a large amount of wheat rotted due to excessive rain.

Xiao Xia stood on the Yellow River embankment, watching the turbid Yellow River flow eastward. The rain had stopped for a month, the water level had completely returned to normal, and the downstream flood discharge had long since stopped. The Yellow River had completely returned to normal.

Cui Hongzhou reported: "Your Majesty, I have visited all sections of the Yellow River. The risk of the Yellow River breaching its banks and changing its course has disappeared. Now, all regions are doing their own rescue efforts, and the court is constantly allocating grain. However, various conflicts are also emerging one after another. As soon as one issue is resolved, another arises. The same is true in Xingyang."

"What is the most serious problem? Is there not enough food?"

Cui Hongzhou shook his head. "It's not a food problem, it's a security problem."

"Public security?" Xiao Xia really didn't expect that there would be a problem with public security.

What kind of public security problem?

“Some local bullies shift the blame for losses and prey on the villagers; some gangs of thugs rob and plunder, and abuse women; and there are some other more covert cases.”

"What kind of hidden situation?" Xiao Xia asked, frowning.

"I heard something in Dongjun: the government recruited tens of thousands of people to repair roads and build bridges through a work-for-relief program, paying each person fifty coins a day. But I heard that the people actually only received thirty-five coins, or forty coins at best."

"Why? Was it embezzled by the government?"

"I don't know the specifics, but I've heard that some foremen are taking a cut of ten coins from each person."

"How can such a thing still exist? Is it a regulation for foremen to take a cut, or is it something they do on their own?"

Cui Hongsheng shook his head. "Of course it couldn't be a regulation. Who would dare to make such a regulation? It must have been the foreman's unauthorized action!"

Is this an isolated incident or a widespread phenomenon?

"If it were an isolated incident, I wouldn't have mentioned it. It's precisely because it's quite common that I feel the problem is serious and needs to be reported to Your Majesty."

Xiao Xia turned around and ordered, "Bring General Shi here!"

Before long, Shi Xiaozhen, who was accompanying the emperor on his tour, stepped forward quickly, bowed, and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"I don't know what news General Shi received in Luoyang, regarding public security."

"Your Majesty has received many reports, mainly about local ruffians taking advantage of men going out to work to go to the countryside in groups to harm the people. They don't loot much, but they mainly abuse women. The Imperial Guards have already arrested dozens of groups."

"How was it handled?"

“Give him a hundred lashes, then hand him over to the local government for severe punishment.”

Xiao Xia's face darkened. "Issue my order: have all the people handed over to the local government arrested and sent to Liuqiu Island for land development. Since they have excess energy, let them play a role. Those arrested before must be sent back and sent away. Those arrested in the future must also be sent away. In addition, let them accuse each other and then hand them over to the victims for identification. Once a victim identifies the person, behead them on the spot and hang their head at the village entrance. Without iron-fisted measures, public security cannot be improved."

"Your humble servant obeys!"

After a pause, Xiao Xia continued, "There are two more major cases that involve deeper issues. One is about a local tyrant shifting the losses and oppressing the villagers, and the other is about a foreman taking a cut. Prime Minister Cui will tell you in detail. If we don't have enough manpower, we'll bring in another 10,000 people from the capital."

"Your Majesty, 20,000 men are enough to govern seven prefectures and one county."

At this moment, Xiao Xia saw a village ahead, so he went straight to the village to see for himself the actual extent of the disaster affecting the farmers.

Xiao Xia told everyone to wait on the main road, while he entered the village with only a dozen guards and Chu Suiliang.

The village was small and quiet, without even the sound of dogs barking. Just then, Xiao Xia saw an old man repairing farm tools in the yard. He gave Chu Suiliang a wink, and Chu Suiliang understood and stepped forward, saying, "Old man, I have something to ask you!"

"Young man, what's the matter?" "Was all the summer grain in your village flooded, or was some harvested?"

The old man glanced at him and, seeing that he didn't look like a local, but rather fair-skinned and clean-cut, guessed that he was someone of status.

"Why do you ask?"

“Old man, we are imperial envoys, specifically responsible for understanding the hardships of the people. It’s been raining a lot lately, hasn’t it? That’s why we’re here to find out.”

"Please come in and sit down! I'll pour you some water."

"We don't need the water, we have a kettle. Could you please bring a few small stools, sir?"

The old man brought out five or six small stools. Xiao Xia walked into the courtyard. He was wearing a blue silk robe, a gauze hat, and holding a folding fan.

The guards placed a stool for him, and he sat down, then smiled and said to the old man, "Please sit, sir!"

The old man then realized that this was the official in charge, and the other man was just an attendant.

Several more neighbors, both men and women, arrived, and Xiao Xia invited them to sit down.

Five or six villagers were sitting in the courtyard. The old man had just said, "This rain is truly the worst we've seen in decades. Although we braved the rain to harvest some wheat, it all got moldy and we had to throw it away. In reality, we had no harvest at all."

Another middle-aged man said, "This time it's terrible. Even in the past, when there was a drought, there would still be some harvest, but this time the losses are all gone."

"Are you aware that the imperial court is distributing disaster relief grain to the three major grain depots in each county?"

“I know! We’ve all gone to get them. But that can only help fill our stomachs temporarily. We still need to go to work and earn some money to buy coarse grains. My son went to repair the road. He can earn forty coins a day, which can buy four bushels of coarse wheat.”

"Only forty coins!"

Xiao Xia frowned. "The imperial court pays each laborer fifty coins a day."

"I heard that their foreman took it away, saying it was the rule, and if you don't accept it, you'll be sent home, so you can only put up with it."

"Are you aware of this rule?" Xiao Xia asked.

"That's nonsense. We weren't recruited by the foreman. We registered directly with the government. What do we have to do with the foreman? Why are you withholding our wages?"

Everyone was furious and angrily denounced the withholding of wages. They all had men to work, so deducting ten coins a day directly infringed on their vital interests.

"I will report this to the court later. Are there any other aspects that you feel the court needs to improve?"

"The current emperor has done a great job. He opened the Sanru Shop and saved the lives of countless poor people. He is truly a rare wise ruler. Unlike the late emperor, he was not harsh on the people. He treats the people even better than the founding emperor. This is a rare golden age!"

Xiao Xia nodded. Seeing that the other person seemed hesitant to speak, he smiled and said, "Brother, please feel free to say whatever you want to say!"

The man scratched his head and said, "I heard that the wages are high when working in the mines. Anyway, the grain is all gone this summer. Could the imperial court organize us to work in the mines for a year and then come back to harvest the wheat next summer?"

"If you all go to the mines, who will farm the land?"

“There are definitely people who can farm. My wife can sow wheat seeds in early winter and clear weeds in spring. We can ask someone for help if necessary.”

Xiao Xia chuckled and said, "You can go to the mine if you want! There are several large iron mines in Hebei Province. The closest one to you is the Wu'an County Iron Mine. Although it's a bit tiring, you can earn at least 150 coins a day. I'll report it to the court, and there will be a recruitment notice then."

Xiao Xia took his leave, and only then did everyone notice that there were countless officials waiting for this envoy on the official road in the distance, including their prefects and magistrates, all of whom were very respectful. Even the Prime Minister Cui, whom they had met last time, was very respectful.

For a moment, everyone's legs went weak with fear.

(End of this chapter)