Chapter 32: Silver Money Leads the Way, Commoners Go Crazy

After that, the groups played cards in Da'an Palace until night...

It was Su Liang who reminded them that it was time for dinner, and everyone left after dinner.

That night, Su Liang, Changle, and Little Sizi returned to Furong Garden together.

The next morning...

Su Liang still followed the etiquette to carry out his return to the bride's home journey.

Meanwhile...

Li Er personally went to Mount Zhongnan to visit Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng to ask about what Su Liang said.

The two were clearly prepared for Li Er's arrival...

The answer given also left Li Er speechless. Su Liang is a person who goes against the sky, and the two cannot peek at Su Liang's fate.

However, the two also peeked at the national fortune of the Great Tang: prosperous for thousands of years.

And told Li Er.

For the severe drought, the two only suggested that Li Er should build more water conservancy projects to alleviate the drought.

Not only that...

The two also stated the prophecy of "The sun and moon are in the sky, shining on the earth. Puzzling, neither literary nor martial," and urged Li Er not to include her in the harem.

Li Er found the first part very pleasant to hear, but almost jumped with anger at the latter part.

Not to mention whether the hexagrams of Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng were accurate, just saying that Li Er wanted to include the eleven-year-old Wu Zhao in the harem was ridiculous.

Li Er didn't stay long, and left angrily...

Regardless, this also made Li Er clearly realize the importance of building water conservancy. The cause of the severe drought is nothing more than the terrain and climate conditions.

At noon that day...

Li Er found Su Liang, who had just returned to his bride's home, in Zhao Duke's Mansion. Seeing Li Er's serious expression, the father-in-law and son-in-law immediately discussed with Li Er...

"Good son-in-law, what is your good strategy for what Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng said?" Li Er looked at Su Liang and asked seriously.

"Hehe..." Su Liang chuckled.

Then he took a sip of tea and asked: "Does Your Majesty mean Wu Zhao, or the drought?"

"Of course it's the drought. Could it be that you think I am that kind of person, good son-in-law?"

Li Er said unhappily.

Su Liang could actually solve the drought problem, but it would take too long.

"Hehe... Your Majesty jokes." Su Liang chuckled, then said: "Your Majesty already knows what to do, why ask me?"

Li Er was extremely depressed and snorted: "Hmph... I want to discuss a specific plan with you, so that I can implement it earlier."

"Oh... could it be that those ministers of the Great Tang are all trash? Why doesn't Your Majesty go to discuss with them?"

Su Liang glanced at Li Er and said lightly.

Li Er saw that Su Liang was becoming more and more arrogant, and just wanted to get angry...

Zhangsun Wuji helped out at this moment: "Your Majesty... it's not that the good son-in-law doesn't want to offer advice to Your Majesty, some things still need to be discussed at the court meeting, which is more proper."

"You can't rely entirely on Su Liang!"

"Hmm... what my father-in-law said is right." Su Liang said disdainfully, "If Your Majesty asks for my opinion on everything, it will inevitably make the court ministers feel that it is the power of the relatives."

"Now the Retired Emperor also wants to live in Furong Garden, what will the civil and military officials think."

"I'd better be my carefree prince."

Li Er understood at this moment that Su Liang's intention was to let the ministers in the court discuss it, and he would just give his opinion.

Instead of discussing it well and then notifying the ministers in the court.

Li Er didn't say anything more, looked at Zhangsun Wuji and said: "Fuji, the appeasement work of Dangxiang will be left to you, how about it?"

"Can... my Zhangsun clan can also be considered a branch of the Tuoba clan. I will arrange it properly when I go there," Zhangsun Wuji agreed immediately.

Then he looked at Su Liang and asked: "Does the good son-in-law have anything else to explain?"

"No... some small things, I have already told Xue Rengui."

Su Liang thought for a moment and continued: "However... Father-in-law, you can stay in Dangxiang for a few more days when you go there..."

Then Li Er and Zhangsun Wuji discussed Su Liang's words from yesterday...

The first year of Zhenguan, the twentieth day of the first lunar month.

At this moment, in the Liangyi Hall of Taiji Palace...

The ministers had not yet recovered from the joy of Dangxiang submitting to Tang.

The words that left them shocked for a long time came from Li Er: The common people in Hebei and Shandong do not need to farm this spring, let the common people in both places go to build roads.

This move was clearly the content of the conversation between Su Liang and Li Er a few days ago. After arranging Zhangsun Wuji's appeasement work in Dangxiang, Li Er mentioned it to the ministers.

Wei Zheng, who hadn't sat down yet, stood up and retorted: "Your Majesty... this matter must not be done. This ridiculous thing of not letting the common people farm, even the faint-hearted emperors in history have never done it!!"

Li Er was not angry, knowing that this kind of thing was indeed unacceptable, so he cast his gaze on Su Liang, who came to the morning court specially today, and let Su Liang handle this matter.

Feeling Li Er's gaze, Su Liang also understood that Li Er was asking him to give the ministers an explanation! Although Li Er supported him, he would not take this hot potato.

Su Liang smiled slightly and thought to himself:

As expected of Wei Duidui, he dared to scold Li Er as a faint-hearted emperor in public.

Then he stood up and looked at Wei Zheng and said: "Oh? Is Wei my lord saying that His Majesty is not even as good as a faint-hearted emperor?"

"This... this..." Wei Zheng was instantly embarrassed.

Wei Zheng also realized that his words were too heavy, and it was inappropriate to draw conclusions easily without waiting for Li Er to finish speaking.

Then he quickly looked at Li Er and said: "Your Majesty, I don't mean that."

"Building roads is naturally a policy that benefits the country and the people, but it needs to be completed within half a year for five thousand li, and not letting the common people farm, this... this is really inappropriate."

Dai Zhou also stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, the time for building roads can be longer, and not letting the common people farm is really unreasonable."

"Your Majesty, think twice!"

"Your Majesty, think twice!"

The ministers agreed one after another...

Li Er waved his hand when he heard this: "You should listen to the Prince of Chu's opinion first, why are you so sure that the Prince of Chu has no good strategy?"

As Li Er's gaze looked at Su Liang, the other ministers were the same.

Su Liang then stood up and said: "Do the ministers think that the severe drought in Hebei this spring and the severe drought in Shandong this summer are nonsense, is that so?"

Wei Zheng said: "Yes! If the Prince of Chu can say the weather a few days later, we will naturally believe it."

"But things a few months later... naturally will not be believed."

"Even if we all believe it, so what?"

"Isn't it still unable to block the mouths of the people in the world!!"

"Are you trying to make His Majesty a faint-hearted emperor?"

After Wei Zheng finished speaking, he scanned the ministers in the court.

Everyone nodded at this moment...

It was really too unbelievable what Su Liang said!

Su Liang chuckled: "Then what if there is a severe drought in Hebei this spring?"

Wei Zheng said: "If there is a severe drought in Hebei this spring, the ministers will naturally believe what the Prince of Chu said."

Fang Xuanling echoed: "If it is as the Prince of Chu said, we ministers will naturally have no opinion."

Du Ruhui on the side also followed the sound and said: "If it is so, use work as relief."

"It's not too late to build roads then."

The ministers in the court nodded one after another after hearing the words of several people.

"Good, good, good... then may I ask the ministers, how is the water conservancy in my Great Tang now?" Su Liang asked on the spot.

Fang Xuanling said immediately: "Regardless of whether there is a severe drought, no matter when, building water conservancy is a policy that benefits the country and the people."

"The ministers will naturally have no opinion."

"Good... there is more than a month before spring plowing. His Majesty's intention is to build branch canals on both sides of the Yongji Canal. What do you think?" Su Liang asked with a smile.

Everyone understood when they heard this...

The Prince of Chu is determined that there will be a severe drought in Hebei in the spring.

Regardless, everyone had no opinion on what Su Liang said.

It is reasonable and well-founded, and it is really impossible to refute!!

Li Er saw that everyone was silent, and said: "Since the ministers have no opinion on building water conservancy, then the matter of building branch canals on both sides of the Yongji Canal is settled."

"The specific plan will be discussed by the Ministry of Works to come up with a plan."

"Duan Lun, I order you to be personally responsible for this matter."

"Your minister obeys!" Minister of Works Duan Lun immediately took the order.

Seeing Li Er's gaze still looking at him, Su Liang continued: "Whenever a severe drought comes, there are corresponding signs."

"If signs of a severe drought appear, will you recognize what I said?"

"Before the severe drought comes, it must be the drop in water level and the drying up of the river. This is naturally clear."

"If it doesn't rain for a long time, naturally I will believe what the Prince of Chu said."

Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui sang one after another.

The ministers also recognized this.

Su Liang wanted this effect, and seeing that the effect had been achieved, he said: "Since everyone has no opinion, then all the sweet potatoes and potatoes harvested at the end of last year will be transported to Shandong for cultivation. What do you think?"

Su Liang also had his own plans for this. Currently, Su Liang can make materials for artificial rain, but it is indeed difficult to send them to an altitude of 8,000 meters, and I don't know if it can catch up before summer planting.

Li Er waved his hand when he heard this: "There is no need to discuss this matter, it's just sending some people to help with sowing, it's not a big deal, so it's settled."

The ministers couldn't say anything when they saw this.

This matter is indeed a small matter. The land in Shandong is more fertile than that in Guanzhong, and I think the yield per mu will not be small, but it just costs more manpower.

If you can harvest more, you can plant more during summer planting.

After Li Er finished speaking, Su Liang continued: "Then let's discuss the matter of building roads..."

The ministers cast their gaze on Su Liang. Waiting for Su Liang's next words...

"If the common people build roads voluntarily, what opinions do the ministers have?"

Su Liang looked at everyone in the field with a smile...

Including Li Er.

Everything is difficult at the beginning, Su Liang had already made up his mind what to do.

As soon as this was said... the court became noisy.

Wei Zheng stood up immediately and said slowly: "If it is really so, naturally no one will say that His Majesty is a faint-hearted emperor."

"We ministers in the court naturally have no opinion!"

After that, the civil and military officials all agreed...

Su Liang looked at Li Er and said: "Your Majesty, since the ministers have no opinion, let me handle this matter, and I will definitely handle it properly."

"Oh... I wonder how you want to handle it, good son-in-law." Li Er asked.

Su Liang was speechless, can't you say it in private.

Li Er's move, isn't this clearly making the ministers embarrassed...

Su Liang said helplessly: "The road from Changan City to Taoyuan City was replanned and built, and most of the roads to be built are in good condition, so there is no need for more than 1.6 million people to build, just one million people is enough."

"There are thirty thousand refugees from last year, and now only seventy thousand are missing."

"Your Majesty can order the ten thousand Lingjun Guards in Duji Dao and Hedong Dao, as well as the ten thousand Xiao Guards in Henan Dao and Hebei Dao, to assist in building roads."

"In this way, only fifty thousand people are missing, and I will continue to recruit workers."

"This... this..." Li Er was speechless.

Su Liang's move is using silver money to open the way!!

Everyone in the hall was shocked, Su Liang is going to pay for road construction out of his own pocket!!

Facing everyone's surprise, Su Liang just smiled lightly...

Rich and willful!!

After the court meeting, Zhangsun Wuji immediately went to Dangxiang.

For this reason, Su Liang also gave his carriage to Zhangsun Wuji. He is his cheap father-in-law after all. He had already promised Li Er to give him one, and he couldn't be partial.

Su Liang, who returned to Furong Garden, immediately called Wang Xuance and arranged the matter: one million people are needed for road construction, the contract is for half a year, and the wage is one gold.

That day, the news that Su Liang was recruiting workers spread throughout Duji Dao.

The common people told each other, and the registration offices in Changan City and Taoyuan County were crowded with common people, with more than fifty thousand people signing up.

It included thirty thousand refugees.

When the news of Su Liang's recruitment reached other states and counties, more than one million people had signed up in just three days.

Su Liang saw that there were enough people, so he revoked the notice that only one million people were needed.

Expanded the number of recruited workers to two million, so that the road could be built earlier and other roads could be built.

By the time the news reached Hebei, Shandong, and other places, the number of people had reached two million.

But at this time, the common people in Hebei and Shandong were not happy. Why did they need outsiders to build roads in their territory, and they asked Su Liang to recruit more people.

Su Liang didn't expect the temptation of money to be so great, but thinking about it carefully, it was because he gave too much wages.

At this time in the Great Tang, the average wage of the common people was less than 50 wen a day. In half a year, at most, they could only have eight taels of silver.

And Su Liang gave ten taels of silver.

In order to solve the worries, Su Liang also took care of food and housing.

No way, the words had already been said, and it was not good not to let the common people in Hebei and Shandong sign up.

Then he directly lifted the restriction on the number of recruited workers.

A full half a month later...

The number of people who signed up was close to four million.

The common people who signed up covered Duji Dao, Guan Nei Dao, Hedong Dao, Hebei Dao, Henan Dao, Shannan West Dao, and Shannan East Dao, covering a small half of the Great Tang.

For this reason, Su Liang also built all the roads in the Guanzhong area, Hebei area, and Shandong area.

The time was still for half a year, because there were too many people, and it was impossible to arrange them all to the two roads that had been formulated before.

During this period, the ministers in the court were all surprised...

A full four million people, one gold each, that is four million taels of gold.

Su Liang also took care of food and housing... if it was all converted into gold...

A full fifty thousand jin of gold!!

Li Er was overjoyed...

Su Liang's move not only can build roads faster and more, but also doesn't need the national treasury to pay, and he feels beautiful in his heart.

Meanwhile, good news also came from Zhangsun Wuji...

Currently, the appeasement work of the Dangxiang tribes is going very smoothly.

The reason is nothing else, Su Liang suggested Li Er bring some good things to appease them, not only white sugar, snow salt, Zui Tang, but also ten thousand fire stoves designed by Su Liang.

Of course, they were not given to them for free, but exchanged for a large amount of gold, silver, jewelry, cattle, sheep, and horses. Some have already been transported to Changan City...

This is also Su Liang's strategy, while being both kind and powerful, to consume their foundation!!

Not only that, Su Liang also specifically urged his cheap father-in-law: find a way to exchange Zui Tang, snow salt, white sugar, and other items for Tuyuhun's Qinghai horses, and he would arrange for caravans to transport them continuously.

Qinghai horses, Tuyuhun crossed local horses with Persian Dawan horses, because they gave birth to foals, they were raised on the shores of Qinghai Lake, not only cold-resistant, but also capable of traveling a thousand li a day, hence the name "Qinghai Horse." ===== CHAPTER 33 =====