Chapter 400: Kidnapping the Prefect

"Building walls in the prefectural compound is only one part. Since Fourth Elder Brother insists on seeing to believe, why not send a few men on a trip to Yi Isle? Then the truth will be plain as day."

Hearing this, Fang Yuegong asked with keen interest, "Oh? How so?"

Luo Shizhi stood up and walked back to the table, pointing at the large colored illustration. "This is a true-to-life picture — the original dam looks exactly like this. That Yi Isle may have a thousand li of fertile wilderness, but it also suffers from great streams and wicked ravines. To turn that wild land into fine fields, a grand dam is indispensable."

Seeing Fang Yuegong nod, Luo Shizhi continued, "At present, a sister dam to this one is already under construction. Fourth Elder Brother could send some craftsmen and trusted aides to make the trip — they'll learn the skills and see the real thing with their own eyes, killing two birds with one stone."

Fang Yuegong stroked his beard. "In that case, I shall not decline what is rightfully mine to do. I will select the men at once."

"Excellent!"

After thinking a moment, Fang Yuegong added by way of explanation, "It is not that I am petty. But this seawall project bears on a hundred-year grand plan, and I have staked my official reputation and good name upon it. This matter brooks not the slightest negligence. I hope Worthy Brother Luo will forgive me."

"Fourth Elder Brother, what are you saying?" Luo Shizhi smiled understandingly. "My own elder brother serves in the Ministry of Works and knows engineering affairs best — not the least carelessness is permitted; the slightest misstep can brew a great disaster. Fourth Elder Brother's extreme caution is precisely the proper attitude for getting things done."

"That is good, then. That is good."

At this point, Fang Yuegong, sensing the other man's sincerity, took the initiative and asked to see the construction planning blueprints Luo Shizhi had brought.

Luo Shizhi accordingly spread out a new sheet of blue planning paper, took out a ruler unique to the Transmigrators marked with units like zhang, meter, li, and kilometer, and then began explaining to the Prefect.

The dam body drawn in three-view projection was clear, precise, and comprehensible at a glance. Fang Yuegong immediately saw the advantage of such drawings: "The craftsmen that Cao fellow has gathered are truly brilliant — even this drawing style alone shows their skill!"

Once he had learned to use the measuring ruler, Fang Yuegong began listening intently as Luo Shizhi explained the blueprints.

The seawall the Transmigrators had planned: 6 meters high, 12 meters wide at the base, 3.5 meters wide at the crest — a trapezoidal seawall built with stone as the framework and Concrete as the binding agent.

The entire seawall was 6 kilometers long, located in what later generations would call Shanghai Fengxian District — the lowest-lying coastal area on the north shore of Hangzhou Bay, where the dikes frequently breached.

As Fang Yuegong listened to Luo Shizhi's explanation, he kept measuring the drawing with the ruler, nodding repeatedly, his expression full of excitement — if this seawall truly matched what the blueprints depicted, it would be far superior to the one he had planned.

Historically, that seawall had been vastly inferior to the one on the blueprint in length, width, and height, and its total length was also far shorter: 6 kilometers on the blueprint, compared to only 4.2 kilometers historically.

And even that 4.2 kilometers had nearly cost Fang Yuegong his life: no sooner was the seawall completed than a group of Gentry falsely accused him of "embezzling 3,000 taels of silver" and had him thrown into prison.

Later, the common folk who had benefited came forward in droves to the authorities to plead Old Fang's innocence, and only then was his name cleared and his official post restored.

So when Fang Yuegong heard Luo Shizhi list out the dam's construction standards one by one, his face flushed red, his heart surged, and he was so stirred he could not contain himself — anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was lovestruck.

Finally, Luo Shizhi added with a smile, "According to this plan, a forest of red willows will be planted in front of the seawall afterward to break the tidal surges. That should make it complete."

"Good, good, good! This plan is marvelous. We shall build the seawall to these specifications!"

Having approved the engineering design and planning on the blueprints, the Prefectural Governor gestured for Luo Shizhi to take a seat, then personally changed the guest's tea. Host and guest rested together in pleasant harmony for a while, drank a cup of tea, and then began the next round of discussion.

The next round of discussion was more critical in content: the specific funding allocation plan for the seawall.

Here, Luo Shizhi made a promise regarding Old Fang's greatest concern: the most capital-intensive issue — materials, including all the stone and Cement — would be entirely borne by that Master Xiong. The Songjiang Prefectural Office would not have to spend a single coin on it.

"So, Songjiang Prefecture need only conscript Civilian Laborers and raise some silver for their wages and provisions, and the matter is settled?" Fang Yuegong found this somewhat hard to believe.

"Indeed." Luo Shizhi nodded. "Master Xiong has already opened a stone quarry near Hangzhou. If Fourth Elder Brother breaks ground next year, one or two Cement kilns should also be completed by then. That way, stone and Cement can be shipped down the Qiantang River, available for use as needed."

Hearing this, Fang Yuegong rose and began pacing slowly about the room. At the same time, he calculated roughly on his fingers with his hands tucked behind his back in his sleeves. After a general reckoning, he could not help feeling somewhat Confused: no matter how he figured it, given current stone prices and the Cement price Luo Shizhi had just quoted, the material costs alone for this seawall would definitely exceed 150,000 taels of Silver — he wouldn't even be surprised if it reached 200,000.

And that made the matter somewhat fantastical — Fang Yuegong knew exactly why Luo Shizhi had come: it was nothing more than trading the seawall project for the Prefectural Yamen's assistance in Tearing at Each Other with the Land Deed Alliance.

But the price this Xiong Dao, or that Cao Jiangjun, was putting up was simply too outrageous, making Fang Yuegong feel it was utterly unreal, utterly contrary to common sense: this was over 150,000 in genuine gold and silver! If that silver were taken to Beijing to pull strings, it could secure a post as a Feudal Official for a term or two.

Or to put it more bluntly, even the post of Songjiang Prefect was nothing special. If you really pushed it, fleecing seven or eight thousand taels a year from this position would already be utterly shameless — which showed just how absurd 150,000 taels was.

In the early years of Chongzhen's reign, the total Liaoxiang quota assigned to all subordinate prefectures for delivery to the capital was only 380,000 taels — and how much did destitute Fujian deliver? 120,000 taels.

In other words, with one word, this fellow Xiong was pulling out more silver than an entire impoverished province's Liaoxiang tax quota to support Old Fang in building the dike — a price that far exceeded anything Old Fang could offer in return.

After all, Old Fang was only a Prefect. At most, he could lean slightly in Xiong Dao's favor within the scope of his authority; he couldn't throw that gang of Gentry into jail. Their combined influence, he knew, was far greater than Old Fang's — one misstep and he'd lose his post... For this bit of work, truth be told, even 10,000 taels would be more than enough.

Having weighed all the pros and cons, gains and losses, Prefect Fang's previously lively heart suddenly went cold.

Because based on his rich life experience, the whole act Luo Shizhi had come to put on today — though skillfully done, with Cement and colored pictures and all — the moment money was mentioned, the man's true colors showed. The Great Ming had no Lei Feng. When something could clearly be accomplished with 15,000 taels of silver, and someone insisted on offering 150,000 instead, it was plainly a sham.

"Most likely they're dangling bait to Deceive me into acting, then they'll renege and shirk afterward... Well played, you surname Xiong, well played, you Cao Qiu Ba!"

Having figured everything out, Prefect Fang promptly sat back down in his chair. Picking at his fingernails, he said with a mirthless smile, "In that case, let us settle the matter."

Hearing the Prefectural Governor give the go-ahead, Luo Shizhi laughed heartily. "Fourth Elder Brother, this venture will make your name immortal for a thousand years! Your younger brother here is truly envious — ha ha, ha ha."

After joining in with a few dry laughs, Fang Yuegong suddenly dropped his smile and said, with feigned casualness, "There is just One Sample. At present, this seawall project has everything waiting to be done. That Master Xiong is surely no stranger to silver. How about advancing a deposit of twenty or thirty thousand taels to the Prefectural Yamen first, so that I, Old Fang, can get things underway... What does Worthy Brother Luo think?"

By this point, the great Prefect Fang was already prepared for Luo Shizhi to make excuses, after which he would fire off a few veiled barbs and send the man packing.

"Still, I must find a way to keep those drawings for myself — they'll be useful later," the wily old fox Fang added in his thoughts.

But the next moment, Prefect Fang was stunned. Luo Shizhi nodded without the slightest hesitation and replied, "That goes without saying. A deal this large naturally requires a deposit. Master Xiong has already prepared 50,000 taels of silver, to be delivered tomorrow. Fourth Elder Brother need only Be Ready To receive it in the silver vault."

"Ah?!" Fang Yuegong was dumbfounded by this sudden turn. He blinked and stared hard at Luo Shizhi, who was lowering his head to sip tea, for a long moment. Sensing that the man did not appear to be suffering from delusions, Fang Yuegong, incredulous and trembling slightly, opened his mouth and asked, "Brother Luo, do you mean that in earnest?"

Only then did Luo Shizhi look up in astonishment at Old Fang's utterly discomposed expression. After blinking a few times, he could not help throwing his head back in laughter. "Ha ha! Fourth Elder Brother, I fear you've never dealt with Master Xiong before, have you? Ah, pitiful hero — tripped up by a bit of filthy lucre, losing all his poise..."

After showing off a bit of book-learning, Luo Shizhi suppressed his laughter, extended five fingers, and said to the expectant Fang Yuegong with absolute finality, "Fifty thousand taels of gleaming spot silver — here tomorrow."

With a crash, Prefect Fang shot to his feet and, even more discomposed, shouted at Luo Shizhi, "Don't leave! Tonight, you and I shall share a bed and sleep foot-to-foot. If I don't see the silver tomorrow, I'll charge you with Deception and fraud!"

Luo Shizhi burst out laughing again. "To think the dignified Songjiang Main Hall would stoop to kidnapping today — have you no shame?"

At noon the next day, after Fang Yuegong had stood guard at the Prefectural Yamen Storehouse door and finished counting out every last tael of that 50,000 in silver, he turned around on the spot and performed a deep bow to Luo Shizhi. "Fang Yuegong acknowledges his error and Believes In he misjudged Worthy Brother and Master Luo. I offer my apologies here. Whether beating or punishment, I submit to Worthy Brother's will."

"Fourth Elder Brother is astute, capable, and deliberate in every step — what crime is there?" Luo Shizhi helped the Prefectural Governor to his feet and said cheerfully, "In fact, Master Xiong gave instructions Previously: this 50,000 taels of silver is simply lent to Fourth Elder Brother to pay the Civilian Laborers' wages and buy grain and rice. This way, Fourth Elder Brother won't need to go begging at the gates of those great houses, and there'll be less Trouble Afterward — taking silver from those bloodsuckers brings no good!"

Hearing this, Fang Yuegong sighed with deep emotion. "A truly grand gesture. It is Fang who has failed to conduct himself properly. Another day, Fang will certainly go on behalf of the Coastal Area folk to Master Xiong's residence to pay his respects and make a good friend of him."

At this, Fang Yuegong's expression turned resolute. "Worthy Brother, please set your mind at ease. Go back and tell Master Xiong that I will issue orders to my subordinates today to make some Trouble for those bloodsuckers. I can always lend Master Xiong a hand."

Unexpectedly, Luo Shizhi shook his head. "Fourth Elder Brother need not do so."