Chapter 1529

"How many?" He Lingchuan flicked his finger on the mirror surface, "Dozens of buyers at Youhu Villa, fifteen of them are on the officials' list for the Donghu expansion." "Ah? No way, no way? I checked it over."

"You still need to cross-check officials' relatives. For example, the Gu family bought the refined residence in Phase One, Row Two of Youhu Villa, while the official Huang Shilu on the Tianshui expansion list is the Gu family's son-in-law; the Lao family also snapped up a refined residence at Youhu Villa, and on the Tianshui city expansion list there is Qi Shuhuan, brother of Qi Shuan, the official may be minor but being able to squeeze onto the list is a good thing."

The mirror suddenly understood: "Those officials and nobles who bought Youhu Villa, their 'loyalty' has finally been rewarded!"

"Now you know why these people are fighting tooth and nail to snap up Youhu Villa, right?" He Lingchuan laughed, "This way, over half of the officials in Wang Ting will firmly stand behind Yao Wang. Up to now, Qingyang has lost this round miserably."

"Does Yao Wang doing this have no future troubles?"

"How could there be none? The poison is potent." He Lingchuan said, "Never mind anything else, those people who appear on both lists at the same time, since they spent big money to get into the expansion team, you think they can be honest and economical afterward?"

Jingzi understood, bursting into laughter: "Impossible, certainly impossible. If I were them, I'd definitely earn back double the money I donated!"

"So, this was destined from the start to be a corrupt project. What the project will end up like remains unknown, but the holes eaten out by corruption will surely be shocking." He Lingchuan laughed, "Yao Wang may not even know it himself, but the surface situation looks splendid, he now has no mind to think further."

……

Countless people flicked their abacus beads, and time flew by two days.

Within these twenty or so hours, He Lingchuan was actually summoned to see the sovereign five times.

Even Yao Wang felt a bit embarrassed, others aren't responsible for this project, but he summoned He Lingchuan more times than he summoned the officials participating in the project!

No way, Yao Wang and You Rongzhi have too many questions to consult him about. Although the plan for the Tianshui eastern expansion came out quickly in a short time, once implemented it runs into difficulties galore!

The essence of He Lingchuan's advice lies in one word: "fast".

Wanting the common people to spend money, this huge project absolutely cannot be dawdled. The slower the officials, the less urgent the common people feel, thinking the superiors have reverted to their original obstinacy.

If they aren't in a hurry, Yao Wang and the treasury won't collect money.

But launching such a major project is like Yaoguo's giant rhinoceros war chariot — getting the first few steps moving requires exceptionally strong force.

At this time, the over-fifty-year-old Wang Dongxing suddenly came down with an acute illness and collapsed.

His illness came on like drawing silk, and this huge project was left to You Rongzhi to take command, alone and unable to cope.

The eastern expansion plan had just taken its first step, setting up and entering the site, when it ran into difficulties.

Twenty or so hours later, even the substantive first step was dragging its feet, contrary to the original intention. You Rongzhi had no choice but to enter the palace to seek Yao Wang.

Yao Wang's expression also wasn't good: "Your hundreds of subordinates, are they all eating white rice for free?" Can't even get this little project done?

He originally didn't want to let He Xiaocheng interfere.

"It's not that it can't be launched, but the speed is far below expectation." You Rongzhi could only put on a face and say, "This plan was originally contributed by He Xiaocheng. You constantly summon He Xiaocheng to the palace for advice and strategies, so you might as well……"

The ideas are all his, yet you're constantly running around looking for people to weigh against him?

That night, an edict was transmitted to Yongquan Mountain Villa: Yao Wang appointed He Xiaocheng as Senior Deliberation Officer for the Tianshui expansion project.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror, upon hearing, just spat: "Just giving him an empty title?"

This is clearly a case of creating a post for the person, giving He Lingchuan no real authority. The so-called "Senior Deliberation Officer" means that when Yao Wang and You Rongzhi have matters, they must go to consult He Lingchuan.

In other words, he holds an honorary position as advisor, must offer advice and strategies, and must go when summoned by the king.

But he has neither decision-making power nor command power, only able to offer people "suggestions".

"This old fogey, while guarding against you, still wants to milk you dry!" The Soul-Capturing Mirror couldn't help but loudly curse Yao Wang's black heart, making the horse run while also not letting it eat grass.

He Lingchuan, however, wasn't the slightest bit angry: "Then he also has to be able to guard against it properly."

Milked dry? We'll see, wait and look, in the end who milks whom.

Early the next morning, He Lingchuan didn't wait for a summons, simply went first to find You Rongzhi, openly discussing the eastern expansion project.

"Although this is a project with countless threads, roughly speaking, You Sir only needs to grasp funds, materials, manpower, and progress — these four aspects — and the project can run up to speed quickly."

You Rongzhi nodded: "The project has just begun, so-called 'progress' depends on the coordination of the first three."

When the first three are ready, progress can speed up.

But "materials" and "manpower" largely depend on "funds". The treasury is still in a state of barely making ends meet, unable to allocate that much budget for the eastern expansion project.

Just a few days ago they had just allocated a large sum of money, sent to support Chixia.

Yaoguo has before not lacked large projects, but is infamous for inefficiency. For example, building a canal over twenty li long took five years, and Miaozhantian's divine temple has been under construction for two and a half years and still isn't finished.

The preparations for Tianshui city's expansion have dragged on for many years, afraid to break ground, also because Yao Wang worries about this inefficiency.

Now he starts to complain, He Lingchuan's earlier grand promises to him were round and beautiful, but in actual operation, it reverted to the original efficiency, and even kicking off the first step is not easy.

This makes him very irritable.

So he simply dragged He Lingchuan in as well, wanting to see clearly whether this guy just talks big or can actually get things done.

"Building roads and bridges is still easier, just conscript corvée labor. But later constructing buildings, erecting walls, building towers, fine carving and polishing — that requires finding experienced craftsmen, and the more the better; plus all sorts of materials, wanting them to arrive promptly requires spending money."

He Lingchuan laughed: "Dàyāo commerce is developed, especially in Tianshui city, experienced craftsmen have all joined teams, rarely working alone. For example, the foreman of the team building Youhu Villa, leading a crew of four or five hundred is no problem, and he can also coordinate materials on his own. The new city is so large, I see Your Sir's plan has already divided the new city into several zones, each zone assigned to a dedicated team — isn't this very…… very reasonable, what's the problem?"

Yaoguo has a long history, not lacking experience in large projects. In the past, building dams, roads, divine temples also often used complete teams, sectional construction by zone.

These are all very mature construction plans, far ahead of Shanjin other places. In He Lingchuan's view, these teams are the contractors, i. e., the so-called Party B.

The team foreman also revealed that behind these big and small teams, there actually stand nobles and wealthy merchants. For example, he himself, behind him is the Gu family.

Tianshui city has a long history, all profitable trades, the powerful and noble will stick a foot in.

"Still the old problem, money." Materials need money, construction needs money, launching the first step requires giving money, "the sovereign had them advance first, promising to repay with a ten percent increase within three months, but they still drag their feet."

Obviously Yao Wang also knows, the forces behind these contractor teams have money. As long as everyone chips in to advance a little, the project can immediately get running.

But enthusiasm cannot be forced, Yao Wang also cannot.

"The world bustles, all for profit. The sovereign's idea is excellent, but the effort still needs to be a bit greater." He Lingchuan rubbed his thumb and middle two fingers together a few times, making a gesture of giving money, "Within three months, repay double!"

You Rongzhi jumped in fright: "Double!"

In Yaoguo's history, the government has never opened such high interest! "Without high interest, how can it be fast? What's most important now, isn't it progress?" He Lingchuan advised him, "If the initial stage can't get up to speed, everyone sees insufficient follow-through, who will put up money? Conversely, as long as the new city breaks ground smoothly, who worries about no money entering the treasury afterward?"

You Rongzhi then went into the palace to consult Yao Wang.

In the end Yao Wang decided: For contractor teams that advanced materials and manpower, the treasury will repay with a fifty percent increase within four months!

Yao Wang still feels the pinch of money, not as radical as He Lingchuan, chose a middle-of-the-road solution.

He Lingchuan, upon hearing, also just laughed, as expected.

This move really worked — the Yao King gave the word, and the team, materials, and labor were on site immediately. After the kickoff meeting wrapped up, the project broke ground right away.

The voucher the Yao Court issued to the contractor was a "promissory note" stating the amount and date, stamped with the Qing Hong treasure seal. Whoever held it could cash it with the authorities four months later for the face value.

Best of all, this thing could be transferred.

With funding, materials, and labor sorted, progress indeed jumped up all at once.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror fumed: "The Yao King old thing made you work for free, and you actually did?"

"Why not?" He Lingchuan laughed. "He thinks that by not giving me an official post, I have no real power. Let him keep thinking that."

The mirror asked, confused: "But actually?"

"The real difficulty of the East Expansion of Tian Shui isn't in getting it started," He Lingchuan said slowly. "Its most dangerous aspect won't show until after launch! For Yao State to dare undertake this project — that's overreaching!"

Just then, Wan Si Liang rushed in to report: "My lord, a large contingent of palace guards has arrived outside!"

He looked tense, ready to spring into action at any moment.

He Lingchuan was also somewhat surprised, but smiled: "No matter, I'll be fine."

He went out to greet them at the Ying Quan Mountain Villa and saw it was Zhao Song, followed by a dark mass of nearly a thousand men, all dressed as guards.

He Lingchuan now frequently came and went from the palace, and at a glance he recognized them — they seemed to be the palace's inner guard.

"Zhao brother, what's this?"

Zhao Song produced a handwritten decree, solemnly saying: "His Majesty commands me to lead nine hundred guards to attend and protect Island Master He, in recognition of his labors!"

He Lingchuan suddenly understood, and thanked him repeatedly.

The Yao King had actually sent him a detachment of nine hundred men as a guard detail!

The Soul-Capturing Mirror in his pocket gave an "ouch": "Really this thoughtful? Hey, is the Yao King afraid you'll embezzle the funds and run?"

He Lingchuan had several million in project funds tucked in his robe, not to be paid to the Yao King for another three or more months. Holding such a huge sum, the Yao King could hardly feel at ease!

So this nine-hundred-strong guard team, nominally for protection, was in fact surveillance — to ensure He Lingchuan couldn't slip away from under the Yao King's nose.