Chapter 354: How Long Can You Last?
The moment Li Daoxuan heard his tone, he understood.
Wei Zhongxian had been overthrown!
Naturally, all the policies Wei Zhongxian had left behind now had to be overturned one by one, especially those that touched upon the interests of the civil official faction.
Mine taxes were one such example.
The civil officials in Jiangnan didn't want to pay this tax; they wanted to line their own pockets. So, they inevitably revived the ancient policy of "scholar-officials are exempt from taxes."
As a result of this maneuver, the coal mines they had previously contracted all became their private property and were entirely exempt from taxes.
This was a classic case of "state resources being privatized and usurped." Anyone with even a shred of foresight or a modicum of integrity would recognize that something was deeply wrong. The inevitable outcome of such practices would be a horde of "giant rats" hollowing out the entire nation.
Feng Jun, it seemed, was exactly the kind of person with "a shred of foresight and a modicum of integrity." He didn't want "state resources to be encroached upon." He didn't want Gao Family Village, after taking control of the coal at Jingshui Ditch, to "deceptively register" the mine under a certain official's name and then smoothly swallow the entire coal mine.
That was something he simply couldn't do!
He didn't blame Feng Jun for being wary of Gao Family Village. On the contrary, he believed that such caution was the mark of a good official in his position. If Feng Jun had carelessly, even joyfully, handed the coal mine over to Gao Family Village, that would have indicated he was an incompetent official. In that case, Li Daoxuan wouldn't have been able to keep him, lest one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel.
The more he sought to protect the coal mine from Gao Family Village, the more Li Daoxuan respected him and considered bringing him into his fold. If he could fight desperately to protect the "old Ming court's" national resources today, then in the future, he would fight just as fiercely to protect the resources of a "new state."
Li Daoxuan spoke up, "Master Feng, are you worried that Gao Family Village will seize Heyang County's coal mine?"
Feng Jun, upon hearing "Madam Li" ask this, couldn't help but assume a serious expression. "Madam Li, I am well aware of Gao Family Village's benevolence towards Heyang County. However, coal mines are not something to be casually entrusted to private contractors. There are simply too many intricacies involved..."
Li Daoxuan smiled. "How about this? Let's make a gentleman's agreement. For every day Gao Family Village mines coal at Jingshui Ditch, we will voluntarily provide a day's worth of grain to relieve the people of Heyang County. What do you say?"
The words struck Feng Jun's ears, and his heart lurched once more.
Gao Family Village had made its move!
Mine for one day, provide grain for one day. To put it another way, if they weren't allowed to mine, they would cut off their grain support to Heyang County.
Good heavens!
This was a classic case of "a hand offering bread, a hand holding a knife." Should he accept or refuse?
Feng Jun's brow furrowed deeply...
Heyang County simply couldn't afford to run out of grain now. One day without grain, and the entire county's populace would starve. And those Three Pools Knife-Cut Noodles would be a distant memory! Bah, why was he thinking about knife-cut noodles at a time like this? Focus on what matters!
Once the common people had no food, a second and a third Fan Shan Yao would inevitably appear. The hard-won peace of Heyang's residents would be shattered once again.
With this thought, if a small portion of the Jingshui Ditch coal mine could secure food for the entire county, it wouldn't be a loss.
Gao Family Village might profit greatly from this, but the people of Heyang County certainly wouldn't lose.
While there was a risk of national resources being lost, shouldn't national resources ultimately be used to secure the livelihoods of the people?
Exactly!
Feng Jun's expression turned solemn and grave. With a serious, unsmiling, and upright demeanor, he declared: "Very well, then I, this official, shall make a gentleman's agreement with you. For every day you aid Heyang County with grain, you may mine coal at Jingshui Ditch for one day. No matter how great the resistance from the imperial court, I shall bear the brunt of it."
Li Daoxuan smiled. 'A good fellow, indeed. So be it.'
In truth, whether Feng Jun agreed to the coal mine or not, Li Daoxuan would still have rescued the people of Heyang. To put it another way, whether he granted the mine or not, Li Daoxuan would have dug for coal anyway.
With the limited power of a mere mortal like Feng Jun, there was no way he could stop Li Daoxuan, the "colossal Heavenly Lord."
He was merely teasing this earnest official a bit.
The result of his little game was quite pleasing!
Feng Jun hadn't disappointed him.
Li Daoxuan said with a slight smile, "Since we've reached an agreement, we shall proceed to manage the Jingshui Ditch coal mine. Master Feng, will you accompany us, or shall you issue a written order for us to show to the miners at the government kiln?"
Feng Jun replied, "I, this official, will go with you!"
He truly wanted to see how these people from Gao Family Village intended to "mess with" his government-owned coal.
And so, Gao Yiye's retinue began their journey towards Jingshui Ditch.
Feng Jun also mounted his horse, setting off with his private secretary and yamen runners.
Gao Yiye entered the carriage, making it inconvenient for her to speak with Feng Jun, who was on horseback.
However, San Shier also rode on horseback, walking alongside Feng Jun, and the two were quite suited for conversation.
San Shier smiled faintly, "Master Feng truly embodies 'integrity and lofty ideals,' he said."
Feng Jun replied, "You flatter me. I, this official, have no particular ability. For the past few years, my entire county has been ravaged by the Fan Shan Yao rebel leader, and I am ashamed before all my fellow townspeople."
San Shier asked curiously, "How many people are left in Heyang County now?"
Feng Jun replied, "When the Fan Shan Yao rebels were at their most rampant, I truly didn't know how many people there were. But in the past few days, since Gao Family Village arrived to distribute grain, many who had been hiding have come out to work. This has allowed me to conduct a census more easily. Currently, the registered population is eighty-three thousand, two hundred and thirty-two people. I estimate there are still about ten thousand more hiding in remote areas, not yet counted."
San Shier inwardly praised him: 'This man truly has some ability; in just a few days, he's managed to compile such a clear population count.'
Feng Jun continued, "I, this official, have only one concern now. That is, the eighty-thousand-plus registered residents of this county will consume at least forty to fifty thousand catties of grain daily. If they are to eat their fill, it will require eighty thousand catties of grain. Furthermore, your village is employing them, giving each worker three catties of grain as wages daily. If thirty thousand people come out to work, that means an additional ninety thousand catties of grain must be distributed every day..."
Feng Jun said, "In total, a minimum of one hundred and thirty thousand catties of grain will be consumed daily. That is quite a significant amount."
He looked San Shier squarely in the eye, asking earnestly, "I wonder, how many days can your esteemed village truly sustain this?"
San Shier chuckled inwardly upon hearing this. He thought: 'The Heavenly Lord could casually grab a handful of flour and feed your eighty thousand people until they burst!'
However, he couldn't exactly say that out loud.
He feigned an expression of awkwardness, his brow furrowing, a look of worry on his face. "One hundred and thirty thousand catties a day? Let me 'meticulously calculate,' he muttered."
Seeing San Shier calculate so earnestly, with what appeared to be a troubled expression, Feng Jun also grew somewhat anxious. He thought to himself: 'Why is Manager San's expression so heavy? Is he feeling the pressure after hearing about Heyang County's population? Good heavens! Please don't tell me they can't last long. This great drought, who knows how long it will last? Gao Family Village absolutely must hold out.'
Just as he was thinking this, San Shier held up three fingers, and said, "We can only sustain it for *this* long."
Feng Jun was greatly startled. "Three days?!"
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