GBP Chapter 113 You, Magistrate Yang, dare to use them to repair roads?
Chapter 113 You, Magistrate Yang, dare to use them to repair roads?
What was the identity of Yang Shaofeng, the magistrate of Yang County?
A county magistrate of the seventh rank.
What are the identities of Zhu Liuqi and Chen Choulu?
Craftsmen.
The difference in their social status is not to say it's worlds apart, but it's at least a world of difference.
Now that Magistrate Yang is putting on a show of being courteous and respectful, even going to such lengths to arrange lodging, Zhu Liuqi and Chen Choulu naturally feel immense pressure. Although they don't know the stories behind "Those who praise me do so because they want something from me" and "When one is courteous to others, there must be something in return," Zhu Liuqi and Chen Choulu do know a proverb: "Those who are overly solicitous without a reason are either treacherous or thieves."
Seeing the two men's apprehensive expressions, Magistrate Yang was afraid that being too enthusiastic would frighten them, so he smiled and said, "You two master craftsmen, there's no need to be so polite. Please feel free to stay here."
After Yang Shaofeng arranged for the yamen runners to take the two master craftsmen, Zhu Liuqi and Chen Polu, to rest, Wang Qiong said with a smile, "Brother Yang, His Highness the Crown Prince really didn't misjudge you at all."
Yang Shaofeng was slightly taken aback and asked, "Your Highness..."
Wang Qiong said, "Before I set off, His Highness the Crown Prince said that Magistrate Yang would value the craftsmen more than the rewards. Now it seems that's exactly the case."
Upon hearing Wang Qiong's words, Yang Shaofeng remembered that Wang Qiong had come to deliver the reward on behalf of Zhu Biao. He quickly bowed to Wang Qiong and apologized, saying, "I was presumptuous."
Wang Qiong smiled and pointed to the long line of carriages behind him, saying, "The first two carriages contain woodblock printing plates. Brother Yang can have Zhu Liuqi make paper while Chen Choulu makes the printing plates. Once the paper is made, we can start printing directly."
"His Highness the Crown Prince said that the northern lands have been occupied by the barbarians for four hundred years, and must be in great need of books. Therefore, the two carriages in the middle are filled with books that His Highness the Crown Prince gave to Brother Yang."
"This carriage was full of things like writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones."
"I don't know what's in the boxes on those last two carriages. His Highness the Crown Prince only said that Brother Yang would know what it is once he opened them himself."
Yang Shaofeng's heart stirred, and he walked directly to the last two carriages, opened one of the cabinets, and saw some clothes on the top of the cabinet, with a sachet and a brocade handkerchief on top of the clothes.
Yang Shaofeng immediately cupped his hands in greeting to Wang Qiong and said, "Brother Wang, please convey my gratitude to His Highness the Crown Prince when you return."
Wang Qiong smiled and agreed. After the two sat down in the backyard of the county government office, Wang Qiong smiled and said, "When I was outside Ningyang County, I passed a newly built road. The carriage was very smooth on it. I suppose the cement used to pave the road was also your work, Brother Yang?"
Yang Shaofeng smiled slightly, feeling a little smug.
A road paved with cement is far superior to a road paved with rammed earth, before it cracks from the sun or from freezing.
No matter how compacted the soil is, it cannot change the fact that it is soil. Light rain or snow may not be a problem, but if it is exposed to scorching sun, flooding, or snow disasters, even the most compacted road surface will be affected and become muddy.
When the government conscripts laborers to repair roads, it generally refers to maintaining the official roads paved with rammed earth, rather than opening up any new roads.
Of course, cement-paved roads are also affected by sun exposure, flooding, and snow disasters. However, the biggest advantage of cement roads is that they are easy to pave and have low repair costs. Even if they become potholed, they will not become muddy like dirt roads.
Just as Yang Shaofeng was secretly pleased with himself, Wang Qiong continued, "However, I see that there aren't many people to repair the road. I suppose that's why you requested the transfer of prisoners and war prisoners of war, Brother Yang?"
Yang Shaofeng suppressed his smugness and nodded in agreement: "Brother Wang is absolutely right. If we use these people to build the road, it will probably take decades to complete the road to Yanzhou Prefecture. That is why I had to petition the court to send prisoners and war criminals to build the road."
Wang Qiong nodded and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince is already aware of what Brother Yang reported, and has already ordered three hundred prisoners to be sent to Ningyang County, but..."
After a slight pause, Wang Qiong continued, "His Highness the Crown Prince believes that the population of Ningyang County is still too small. If there are too many prisoners and war captives, it will be a troublesome matter to manage them. Therefore, he did not agree to Brother Yang's request to transfer the prisoners of war."
Upon hearing that Zhu Biao was only allocating 300 prisoners to Ningyang County, Yang Shaofeng immediately became anxious.
What can three hundred people do?
With two hundred prisoners, they could repair two zhang of road a day. With three hundred more prisoners, they could only repair five zhang of road a day.
Good heavens, it's about 7,500 zhang from Ningyang County to Yanzhou Prefecture. It would take five years to complete the repairs without using any able-bodied men from Ningyang County.
This is only a road that's one zhang wide...
After pondering for a while, Yang Shaofeng simply said to Wang Qiong, "To be honest, Brother Wang, I have already had people start firing bricks to build some temporary houses. Some of them will be used to house the people who have been relocated to Ningyang County, and the rest will be used to house the prisoners of war and criminals."
After telling Wang Qiong to sit in the back office and wait a while, Yang Shaofeng ran back to his study and brought back a few sheets of paper. He then stuffed them into Wang Qiong's hand and said, "Brother Wang, take a look. In the eight communities outside Ningyang County, each community will build a courtyard like this. The people who have been relocated will live here temporarily. When they have money, they can buy houses in the county town or build their own houses outside the city."
"As for the prisoners and prisoners of war, they will be housed by the roadside and guarded by special yamen runners. A few prisoners who have performed well will be selected to help manage the prisoners, so it is not easy for prisoners to escape."
"..."
“So…” Yang Shaofeng said tentatively, “I still need to trouble you, Brother Wang, to put in a good word for me after you return to the capital, and ask His Highness the Crown Prince to allocate more prisoners to Ningyang County.”
After hearing Yang Shaofeng's plan, Wang Qiong was completely stunned.
Wang Qiong even wanted Yang Shaofeng to explain what it meant that as long as enough criminals were exiled, Magistrate Yang would dare to spend half a year repairing the road from Ningyang County to Yanzhou Prefecture, and then another half a year repairing the road from Ningyang County to Jining Prefecture.
Also, what does it mean to be unafraid of having many criminals or prisoners of war?
Do you, Yang Da, know whether or not you are clear about the difference between criminals and prisoners of war?
There were many reasons why criminals were sent to work as laborers. Some, like the relatives of Liu Hongchang and Master Geng, were unlucky victims who were implicated, while others were sent because they had committed crimes.
However, a large portion of these exiled prisoners had a fixed term of imprisonment and would eventually be released, so even if they suffered greatly, they could grit their teeth and persevere.
But for criminals who will never be released and go home, are they still willing to grit their teeth and persevere?
If given the chance to escape, they will vanish without a trace.
As for prisoners of war... those who survived on the battlefield were either ruthless and skilled elites or particularly cunning veterans. You, Magistrate Yang, dare to use them to build roads?
Wang Qiong shook his head slightly and said, "This humble official can only convey Brother Yang's message. As for whether it will succeed, it ultimately depends on His Highness the Crown Prince's decision."
Yang Shaofeng was overjoyed and bowed to Wang Qiong, saying, "I am deeply grateful for Brother Wang's kind words!"
Wang Qiong exchanged a few polite words before changing the subject and asking, "Brother Yang, it's been two or three months since I left last time. I wonder if there have been any changes in Ningyang County during these two or three months?"