Chapter 12: Moving the Pole to Establish Trust

On the way back.

Inside the Chen Family Horse Carriage, Chen Kui looked gloomy.

"Master, this County Marquis is no soft persimmon. We..."

A man with the appearance of a Master crouched nearby and asked insidiously.

Chen Kui pondered for a moment, shook his head slowly, and snorted coldly: "What can a master who donated money to buy an official position possibly achieve? We have managed Yinzhou for so long; how could our status be shaken by them? Just wait and see! In a lawless place like Yinzhou, I fear they won't last more than a few days before returning to Liangzhou!"

"Master is wise!"

The other three families, on their way back, had the same thoughts.

Although Yinzhou had long been without a master, occasionally, there would still be wealthy men who didn't believe in bad luck and would buy an official position here to have some fun. But most of them were just having fun, and then, unable to bear the arid climate and the impoverished life here, they would soon pack up and head home.

How long could this father and son of the Liu Family last?

Clearly, these Four Great Noble Families did not take this newly arrived County Marquis seriously.

"Son, how are we supposed to live here!"

Liu Dahao had always lived in luxury; seeing this environment, his face fell.

The three of them went in for a look around, but as soon as they stepped through the main gate, with a loud crash, the entire door frame split, nearly crushing them to the ground.

Liu Zheng also said with a headache: "We must find someone to renovate it."

He thought to himself, it was fortunate he had money in his hands. It seemed that extorting ten thousand taels of silver from Chen Ping when they left Liangzhou was quite rational. Otherwise, they might really have ended up just as the Powerful Clans hoped, with nowhere to live, and would have had to run back to Liangzhou in disgrace.

However, who could have imagined that when the three of them reached the street with silver in hand, they couldn't even find a craftsman!

Those people on the street, upon seeing the three of them, acted as if they had seen enemies; their eyes were cold, and they all expressed no interest in earning their money.

Qin Zhangfeng was a bit indignant and went up to argue, nearly getting into a fight.

"What is going on?"

Liu Zheng was a bit bewildered.

In this era, could there really be a situation where one had money but couldn't spend it?

Liu Dahao also asked strangely: "Zheng, could it be that those Four Great Noble Families are playing dirty and won't let others work for us? These people are truly wicked to the core!"

Liu Zheng, however, shook his head; he felt that things were not that simple.

He took Liu Dahao and Qin Zhangfeng to the busiest place in the city. Yinzhou only had one Market, which usually opened until noon, but looking at it, the goods were also pitifully sparse—all coarse grains, crudely made ceramic bottles and jars, and animal furs; there was truly nothing worth mentioning.

But this place was already considered the area with the highest foot traffic in Yinzhou.

Liu Zheng found a spot right in the center and said loudly: "The County Marquis Mansion is undergoing repairs; are there any craftsmen willing to come? The payment will be doubled!"

A group of people was attracted over, and upon hearing this, they scoffed: "County Marquis Mansion? There is still a County Marquis Mansion in Yinzhou?"

"What? Another County Marquis?"

"Great, which master is it this time coming to have some fun?"

"Is it not enough that Yinzhou is poor? Is it enough for you to toss us about?"

The commoners, upon hearing this, were furious. Some shirtless men even picked up hoes and were about to smash them over. Fortunately, Qin Zhangfeng was there to protect them, but many people still spat at them.

So that was how it was.

Liu Zheng sighed slightly in his heart.

It seemed the prestige of the Yinzhou County Marquis Mansion had already dropped to freezing point in the hearts of the people. There was no dignity to speak of, and not even a shred of credibility!

Liu Zheng said loudly: "Everyone, rest assured, our purpose in coming this time is to make Yinzhou rich and its people strong, so that everyone can have enough to eat!"

The crowd burst into laughter again.

"Have enough to eat?"

"What a joke!"

"It would be good enough if you didn't skin us alive, and you talk about having enough to eat?"

"Great, now how much tax are you officials going to make us pay?"

These commoners were not afraid of these government officials at all.

It is said that when people have enough food and clothing, they know honor and shame; when the granaries are full, they know etiquette. The people of Yinzhou were constantly starving; how could they care about the distinction between officials and civilians? And because there had been no government control for years, they still feared the Powerful Clans who owned the land, but they did not take this newly arrived County Marquis to heart.

"This..."

Liu Dahao had not expected that his first time as an official would be so unsuccessful.

Liu Zheng shook his head, but smiled and said loudly: "Everyone, I can understand your feelings. The fact that the Yinzhou County Marquis Mansion has been ungoverned for years is truly the fault of the imperial court."

"Today, my father and I have come to this place; we will not leave until we have built this place into a prosperous city!"

Liu Zheng spoke with great force.

But the commoners, naturally, did not believe him.

Everyone who came here said such big words; wasn't it all just to collect taxes?

Liu Zheng looked at the suspicious and disdainful eyes of the crowd, and suddenly, the story of Shang Yang from the Warring States period came to his mind. The Qin State back then was in the same situation: impoverished, with people starving. The public's trust in the government was non-existent, and the government's credibility was at its worst.

The method Shang Yang used back then was to move a wooden pole to establish trust.

And now.

The situation was surprisingly similar.

Liu Zheng took a few Silver Notes from his bosom and smiled faintly: "Everyone, as long as my father and I are here, from now on, the Yinzhou County Marquis Mansion will keep its word; whatever is commanded will be done, and whatever is promised will be fulfilled!"

"Here are five hundred taels in Silver Notes!"

"Whoever carries these two logs to the County Marquis Mansion for me today, these five hundred taels of silver will be his!"

Liu Zheng pointed with one hand at the logs he had just bought to use for the roof beams and the main gate, and held the five hundred taels of Silver Notes in the other.

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole crowd was in an uproar.

Two logs, five hundred taels?

People discussed it heatedly, but most were still suspicious and disbelieving. Under heaven, where could such a good thing exist? Five hundred taels of silver could allow an ordinary family to eat for twenty-five years!

The people here in Yinzhou probably couldn't earn these five hundred taels in a lifetime!

"Young Master, are these words true?"

Just as everyone was doubting, a bare-chested, burly man stood out and asked in a muffled voice.

The bystanders sneered one after another.

"You believe this too?"

"Tie Zhu, don't let these people from Liangzhou trick you!"

"Five hundred taels, how heavy would that be?"

Liu Zheng smiled as he looked at this Tie Zhu and nodded: "If the brave man can carry them over, the five hundred taels are right here, yours to take!"

"Good!"

Tie Zhu responded, smiled honestly, and said: "I, Tie Zhu, have nothing else, but I do have a bit of strength!"

As he spoke, under the mocking gazes of the people, he lowered his body and picked up a round log with one hand, which made both Liu Zheng and Qin Zhangfeng gasp slightly. This fellow's strength was truly not ordinary. One must know that those round logs were used for roof beams and were a full three meters long!

This fellow tucked one under his arm and was actually moving as fast as flying without the slightest effort.

Liu Zheng was overjoyed, and the three of them followed him at the same time.

When the commoners saw this situation, they also put down the work in their hands one after another and followed, running along the street. One reason was to go and watch the excitement, and the second was to see if this County Marquis Mansion would really give these five hundred taels of silver to this Tie Zhu!

"What is happening that is so lively?"

"You don't know? The County Marquis Mansion is giving out money! Five hundred taels!"

"Really or fake?"

Very quickly, almost everyone on the streets of Yinzhou heard this news. For the lifeless Yinzhou, this was a great excitement, and along the way, the number of onlookers grew more and more.

That Tie Zhu was sweating profusely, yet he did not rest for a single moment along the way.

"Good!"

"Strong as an ox!"

"Tie Zhu, well done!"

The commoners cheered him on, and children also ran around him, shouting and yelling.

The market was about three li away from the County Marquis Mansion. This Tie Zhu did not stop for a single moment, and finally, with a boom, the two three-meter-long round logs were placed by him in front of the County Marquis Mansion.

The commoners' applause was like thunder.

Such a burly man deserved this much praise.

"How about it?"

Tie Zhu smiled honestly and looked at Liu Zheng.

Liu Zheng smiled: "The brave man has heaven-sent divine strength, which is truly admirable! These five hundred taels are yours!"

As he spoke, he handed the five hundred taels of Silver Note to Tie Zhu.

Tie Zhu was stunned.

The commoners who were watching the excitement were also dumbfounded at the same time.

He really gave it?

"He really gave it?"

Tie Zhu looked at the Silver Note, overjoyed: "The County Marquis really gave the money! This County Marquis keeps his word! The County Marquis's Young Master really gave the money, five hundred taels! Mother, your son has earned money for you!"

Thousands of commoners were in an uproar.

The actions of this young master of the County Marquis Mansion directly changed their view of the County Marquis Mansion. Liu Zheng smiled slightly; public opinion in this day and age relied on these street commoners. If today's matter spread, it would be of great help for the County Marquis Mansion to establish its prestige in the future.

"Young Master, does the mansion lack craftsmen?"

"Young Master, we can help!"

"Lao Zhang is a skilled carpenter!"

Soon, many people came over tentatively to ask.

Who wouldn't want to earn money?

At once, the County Marquis Mansion became lively, with carpenters, gardeners, and handymen. Liu Zheng was also very happy to see this. These commoners had little schooling, but precisely because of that, they liked to wear their joys and sorrows on their faces. If the County Marquis Mansion was good, they would be good; if the County Marquis Mansion was no good, they would speak ill of it.

Such people were, on the contrary, easier to get along with.

Therefore, no matter how many people there were, Liu Zheng accepted them all.

Anyway, he had money now, so he didn't mind these.

"Young Master, Young Master, can I still come?"

Just after distributing the work, that Wei Tiezhu came over again with an honest smile, looking embarrassed: "My mother said to keep that silver for me to take a wife, so I still have to come and earn money!"

Everyone burst into laughter, making good-natured jokes one after another.

Liu Zheng shouted "Good": "Not only can you, but Tie Zhu shall temporarily act as the Foreman here. These craftsmen will be managed by you, how about that?"

"Ah?"

Wei Tiezhu touched his head, his face showing hesitation.

But fortunately, these commoner craftsmen were very simple and honest, and naturally, they would not be hypocritical, so they all expressed that they would cooperate with Tie Zhu in his work. Wei Tiezhu excitedly agreed.

This work lasted directly until the night.

What Liu Zheng did not expect was that just by using the tactic of "moving a log to establish trust" today, these commoners had taken the County Marquis Mansion to heart. By the time night fell, many families had sent over rice, flour, and lard, and large pots were lit right in the courtyard. Some even slaughtered chickens and sheep. For the first time, Liu Zheng felt the enthusiasm of these commoners.

You treat them with three parts kindness.

They wish they could return it with ten parts.

With such commoners, who could not love them?

With such popular support, why worry that those Powerful Clans would not be destroyed?

On his first day in Yinzhou, Liu Zheng stayed in the courtyard with these craftsmen, watching the stars in the sky.

This fiefdom would surely become the starting point for his Bitter Remonstrance to dominate the world!