Chapter 465 - 402: Repairing the Embankment (Part 2)

Chapter 465: Chapter 402: Repairing the Embankment (Part 2)

Luo Pingyuan bowed. "I accept my punishment. Thank you for your leniency, Lord Governor."

Xu Yuanzhi then looked to the Duke of England. "As for the Jiang Family, they no longer hold any Official Position. Let the Jiangzhou Jingwu Bureau handle them. They will be investigated and dealt with according to the law for the crimes of spreading rumors, slandering the Court, and disturbing the local order. What does the Duke think?"

The Duke of England nodded. "Acceptable."

Gao Changhe took this moment to speak, his tone deferential. "The Duke and the Governor are truly perceptive. Your judgment is fair, and your punishment of the wicked is a blessing for Liyang."

Xu Yuanzhi waved a hand. "Please, be seated."

Everyone sat down again, and the atmosphere in the hall eased slightly.

Xu Yuanzhi picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced over the officials below with a faint smile. "Alright, now that this matter is settled, there’s no need for such formality. The Duke of England and I have come together on this occasion for another important matter, one that will require the full support of everyone in Liyang."

Gao Changhe immediately pledged, "Please give your orders, Governor. Everyone in Liyang will cooperate fully, without the slightest hesitation."

Xu Yuanzhi set down his cup, his expression turning serious. "The Court, in its compassion for the people of Jiangnan, has specially allocated two million taels of treasury silver to rebuild the Lishui River Embankment. This is to secure our water management and prevent future disasters."

He paused briefly before continuing. "I have had the State Government Office calculate the costs in detail. The project requires a total of approximately three million taels. The Court has allocated two million, which leaves a shortfall of one million taels. The State Government Office, difficult as it may be, will find a way to squeeze out five hundred thousand taels. The remaining deficit of five hundred thousand taels will need to be raised and covered by the various Government Offices in Liyang."

"The deadline set by the Court is two years. The Lishui River Embankment must be completely rebuilt within that time. This matter concerns the safety and livelihood of the people, as well as the honor of the Court. I expect all counties to coordinate their efforts and ensure it is completed on schedule."

Gao Changhe was stunned by this and instinctively looked toward the Duke of England.

’Rebuild the embankment?’ he thought. ’I’ve never heard anything about this. The Court never mentioned repairing any embankment for this trip south.’

But the Duke of England’s expression was indifferent, as if the matter had nothing to do with him, or as if he had already known everything.

Though alarmed and suspicious, Gao Changhe dared not let it show on his face. He quickly stood up and said, "This is a sign of vast imperial grace. The Lishui River Embankment has been in disrepair for years, and the people have long awaited this. For the Court and the State Office to provide such support and allocate a huge sum is truly a blessing for the people of Liyang. The Liyang Commandery Magistrate’s Office will do its utmost to raise the five hundred thousand taels and will not dare to cause any delays."

The county magistrates of Liyang and the other counties also rose one by one, expressing their willingness to cooperate fully and support the embankment’s reconstruction.

Only Duan Ruhui, the Lishui County Magistrate, remained seated with his brows tightly furrowed, not having spoken a word.

Xu Yuanzhi’s gaze instantly fell upon him. His tone was level. "Magistrate Duan, do you have some difficulty with this?"

Duan Ruhui was a man in his forties, with a lean face and a serious, unsmiling demeanor.

He stood, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "In response to the Governor, I do indeed have reservations that I feel I must voice."

He paused, then continued, "For the most part, the Liyang region has enjoyed favorable weather in recent years. Since the major repairs to the Lishui River Embankment in the 9th year of Yuan Jia, for more than twenty years, the counties along the river have conducted annual maintenance inspections. Critical sections have also been reinforced multiple times. The embankment is now sturdy and poses no major risk."

He looked up, his gaze frank. "To suddenly launch such a large-scale project and rebuild the entire line would not only cost a fortune and exhaust our people and resources, but the construction period would also be lengthy. If we encounter heavy rains during construction, especially if critical areas like the weirs are handled improperly, it could actually weaken the embankment and increase the risk of a breach. Therefore, I believe this undertaking is neither necessary nor wise."

As soon as he said this, the hall fell silent.

Xu Yuanzhi’s expression remained unchanged, betraying no emotion. He simply stared at Duan Ruhui and said coolly, "This year’s plum rain season in Jiangnan lasted for quite some time. The Astronomical Bureau has submitted a report suggesting that the rainfall in the Jianghuai region may be even heavier next year. Rebuilding the embankment is both an act of the Court’s grace and a precaution against potential future floods.

If Magistrate Duan truly believes this is improper, you are free to draft a memorial detailing the pros and cons and send it directly to the Court. You can ask the Court to withdraw this repair project. The Duke and I will certainly not stand in your way."

His words were calm, but Gao Changhe could no longer stay seated. He shot to his feet and rebuked, "Magistrate Duan, what is the meaning of this? Can you guarantee that the Lishui River Embankment is impregnable and needs no further repairs? It is a rare occasion for the Court and the State Office to place such importance on this, allocating a massive sum for reconstruction. This is a sign of boundless imperial grace, a deed that will benefit the people of Liyang for generations to come!

As the Lishui County Magistrate, you show no thought of cooperation. Instead, you make excuses and obstructions. Are you really going to wait until the embankment fails and floods the farmlands and houses? Should Liyang then have to raise three million taels of silver for repairs on its own? Or perhaps you, Duan Ruhui, will pay for it yourself?!"

Stung by the rebuke, Duan Ruhui’s face flushed red and pale. His chest heaved, clearly showing his defiance, but in the end, he didn’t dare to argue back. "Yes... I misspoke. My considerations were incomplete. Please do not blame me, Your Excellencies."

Xu Yuanzhi smiled. "No matter. A major project like repairing the embankment requires hearing all opinions and discussing them thoroughly to ensure a comprehensive plan with no oversights. Magistrate Duan was acting out of public-spiritedness. I understand."

His gaze swept over the crowd. "Does anyone else have anything to add? Feel free to speak."

The hall was silent. With such a clear precedent, who would dare say more?

After waiting a moment and receiving no response, Xu Yuanzhi gave a placid smile. "In that case, we will consider the matter settled for now. As for the specific details, the Duke and I will conduct an on-site inspection of the Lishui River Embankment in the coming days. We will discuss them with all of you in detail afterward."

He lifted his teacup in a gesture of dismissal. "You’ve all had a long and tiring journey. You’ve worked hard. Please, return and rest for now."

"We will take our leave."

Everyone rose in unison, bowed, and filed out of the main hall.

The officials took their leave and departed.

Gao Changhe stood up and said respectfully, "There is still some time before the evening banquet. Shall I lead the Duke and the Governor to your rooms to rest for a while?"

"There’s no hurry."

Xu Yuanzhi looked at Gao Changhe with a broad smile, gesturing for him to sit back down. "The matter of the embankment repair is decided, but there are many particulars that I need to discuss with Governor Gao in advance."

Gao Changhe sat down again. "Please instruct me, Lord Governor."

Xu Yuanzhi glanced at the Duke of England beside him. Seeing the Duke nod, he then said, "In the hall just now, I only mentioned the fundraising and not the matter of levying corvée labor. Does Governor Gao know why that is?"

Hearing this, Gao Changhe’s brow furrowed slightly before smoothing out again, his mind racing.

’No corvée labor?’

’For an embankment project worth three million taels, if we don’t use conscripted laborers, the cost of labor would be astronomical.’

’The Court’s allocation is huge, but if it’s all spent on hired workers, plus materials like stone and earth, there would be little left over.’

He mulled it over for a moment, then asked tentatively, "Lord Governor’s meaning... is that you intend to have the project undertaken by the Scholars and Gentry and merchants?"

Xu Yuanzhi nodded. "Correct. The two counties of Liyang Mirror Mountain and Lishui are where the Court’s policy of converting paddy fields into mulberry groves is being implemented. However, the Jiangzhou Textile Bureau only collected a total of eight hundred thousand bolts of raw silk this year, far short of the quota set by the Court."

His gaze hardened slightly. "The Duke and I have discussed this. The top priority for Liyang moving forward is still converting paddy fields to mulberry groves. If we levy corvée labor to repair the embankment at this time, it will inevitably affect the cultivation of mulberry fields and the sericulture business, which would be highly detrimental to the national policy."

"Therefore, for the embankment repairs, the Liyang Commandery Magistrate’s Office need only take on the responsibility of supervision. You don’t need to manage the operations yourselves. The actual construction can be handed over to a single family from the merchant gentry to take full charge. If Governor Gao has a suitable candidate in mind, feel free to recommend them."

Gao Changhe was stunned.

’When Xu Yuanzhi had first mentioned repairing the embankment, he’d already had a vague inkling.’

’After all, local projects of all kinds, from repairing bridges and paving roads to building city walls and government offices, are indeed contracted out to merchants and gentry who have intricate connections with the chief officials.’

’It’s practically an unspoken rule in officialdom.’

’But a major project like rebuilding the Lishui River Embankment has always been led by the Government Office, using levied corvée labor and overseen at every level.’

’He had originally assumed that since Xu Yuanzhi proposed this, he must have already chosen a contractor—most likely a relative or a trusted subordinate. All he himself would have to do was follow orders, cooperate, and take a small cut of the profits.’

’But what he never expected was that Governor Xu’s words seemed to imply he was going to hand this power over to him.’

’A three-million-tael project... the room for maneuvering and the potential profits were enough to make anyone’s heart pound with envy.’

’If his own relatives were to take on the contract, he could use his authority as Governor to conscript laborers instead of hiring them. He could also demand grain and materials from the various counties under the guise of apportionment. The savings, both inside and out, would amount to far more than just a few hundred thousand taels.’

’Even if they built it honestly without cutting corners on labor or materials, they would still make a fortune.’

’Was this Governor Xu really willing to hand over such a juicy piece of meat?’