Chapter 6: Pleading for the People
Li Ji thought for a while and said:
"That's not difficult. Just make a wooden goose with iron feet, 12 feet long, and let it down the river."
"If the wooden goose is stopped, it is shallow."
He combined the common knowledge of Feng Shui and explained a few more things to Lao Yang.
When exploring shallow areas, you only need to clear the quicksand blockages, and do not dig deep into the riverbed and touch the qi veins.
Old Yang clicked his tongue, thinking that he had a lot of experience at such a young age, he was truly an expert.
He suddenly saw a pile of old books next to Li Ji's desk.
He took a closer look and found that they were indeed some Feng Shui and fortune-telling secrets.
There are all these classic works, such as "Liu Ren Ke", "Wu Xing Xiang Shu", "Tui Bei Tu" and "Yuan Tiangang Weighing Bone Song".
"Could he be Yuan Tiangang's disciple? That's not right. Why did he say that his master passed away two years ago?"
Old Yang was just wondering, when Li Ji put forward his own opinion:
"Go back and report to the government, and notify Ningling, Suiyang and other counties to provide dredging tools."
"In addition, we can mobilize the escort officers and soldiers to keep a strict watch day and night."
Lao Yu and Lao Yang still didn't quite understand what Li Ji meant.
With so many blockages, how much manpower would be needed to clear the quicksand?
When Li Ji saw the two of them, he found them to be a confused pair.
He had no choice but to speak directly:
"Please ask the dredging authorities to tell me that I, Li Ji, can dredge the river again overnight without charging a penny."
Old Yang was surprised and said, "You can finish such a large project overnight. You are kidding me."
Li Ji swore: "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. I am willing to guarantee it with my own life."
He then kept the question a secret.
"But I have a condition..."
Old Yang asked anxiously, "Tell me if it's appropriate. I'll tell the authorities later."
"There is a saying among the people that 'the law does not hold everyone responsible'. Those who cause the river to be blocked are to blame for the supervisors."
Li Ji looked at Lao Yang's reaction and said with gritted teeth:
"The government only needs to execute the supervisor Zhao Er."
If one supervisor is executed, what will happen to the more than 50,000 laborers?
Although the 50,000 laborers participated in the excavation of the canal, they are also responsible for causing the river to silt up.
Li Ji saw that Lao Yang had already pointed out the topic, and said slowly:
"This is my condition, pardon them."
Yang Guang was silent for a while and said:
"The law does not hold everyone responsible. What you said is reasonable."
He took a sip of tea and asked hesitantly:
"How can we deter those lawless people if we don't punish these lazy servants? Will the government agree?"
Li Ji spoke eloquently and confidently:
"Old Yang, let me take care of this."
"The emperor's goal is to dredge the river and reach Jiangdu as soon as possible. He also doesn't want to kill so many people at once, as this might cause the wrath of heaven."
When Lao Yu saw Li Ji come out to plead for the servant, he quickly said:
"Yes, Your Majesty went south for pleasure, and killing people will easily arouse public resentment."
He secretly glanced at Lao Yang's expression and said to him:
"It is better to let my younger brother Li Ji handle this matter. Let's go back and report to the authorities as soon as possible."
At this time, Li Ai, the steward of the mountain temple, came in. He saw the three people talking endlessly and quickly reported:
"Master, it's time to eat. Can we talk while we eat?"
Li Ji saw that the sun was already setting, and hurriedly called out:
"This is all my fault. Look, I forgot about time while I was pulling."
"Butler Li, serve the food. These two are my buddies, everyone please sit down and take a few."
Li Ai ordered the kitchen to bring a copper hot pot.
The soup in the hot pot is bubbling with steam.
The hot pot was placed in the center of the eight-immortals table, with red charcoal at the bottom.
Lao Yu and Lao Yang were very surprised when they saw it:
"Xiaoxian, what the hell are you doing? The soup inside is bubbling."
Li Ji's face was full of excitement. As expected, Old Yang was interested in this new stuff.
"My dear brothers, this is the popular copper hot pot, also called the old hot pot."
Lao Yang looked down and saw that there was charcoal fire on the floor of the hot pot.
"Yes, you can eat until the end. The ingredients in the pot are all hot. It's warm to eat in the fall and winter."
Li Ji saw that Lao Yang and Lao Yu were still in a daze, so he quickly gave way:
"Come on, grab your chopsticks. The mutton here is well-cooked and melts in your mouth."
Li Ji took the serving chopsticks, picked up a piece of mutton with skin from the boiling soup, and put it in Lao Yang's bowl.
He picked up another piece of sheep's eye and gave it to Lao Yu.
When Lao Yu saw the sheep's eyes were black and white, he was immediately shocked.
I thought to myself, this little guy is really a foodie, he can even eat sheep eyes.
He picked it up and put it in his mouth. It tasted really good.
"And this wide yam noodle is really chewy."
Here, Lao Yang picked up a piece of lamb heart and put it in his mouth, then cried out, "Ouch!"
Li Ji understood in his heart that this burning sheep's heart was too hot.
"Old Yang, eat slowly, be careful not to burn your mouth."
Li Ji poured his own brewed 'Mengtixiang' sorghum wine for Lao Yang and Lao Yu, and the aroma of the wine filled the temple.
Old Yang narrowed his eyes and slowly inhaled the wafting aroma of wine with his nose.
"Lao Yang, Lao Yu, let's go."
Li Ji picked up the wine glass and said, "This wine is cellar wine, brewed by us at the farm."
Lao Yang drank it all in one gulp, ah!
He grinned, "Good wine!"
He poured the wine and drank it by himself.
"Little brother, you are self-sufficient. You live a very enjoyable life ."
Li Ji swallowed a mouthful of goat liver and said, "There's nothing we can do. There are many people in the village and we all have to pay for food."
Lao Yu chimed in: "Developing a sideline business is also a way to save money."
Lao Yu is also a well-read man, and he knows what it feels like to be the head of a family.
People often say: "If you are in a high position in government, you will worry about the people; if you are far away in the world, you will worry about your ruler."
As the head of a village, he also has to consider his own villagers. He can't just muddle through and sit there doing nothing!
Old Yang said hurriedly: "Little brother, you have great ambitions at such a young age. It seems that you are not an ordinary person."
Li Ji exclaimed in surprise and quickly made up an excuse.
"Hey, what's the point of having lofty ambitions and what's the point of being in the pond?"
“People always say that the best way to hide away is in the mountains and forests, and the best way to hide away is in the city.”
"I also want to live in peace and quiet, to share the sunshine with the mountains and forests, and to share the hardships with the villagers."
When Lao Yu heard Li Ji start talking eloquently, citing poems and verses at will, he was very pleased with him.
I am old, and I would rather have this young man by my side so that we can discuss important matters together in the future.
Lao Yu approached Li Ji and asked with a smile on his face:
"Brother, what are your plans for the future?"
Li Ji thought, when meeting people, one should only say three-tenths of what he wants to say, and not reveal his whole heart to them.
I have only met Lao Yang and Lao Yu twice, so I can't just tell them everything.
He filled Lao Yang's glass with wine and held the glass in his hand with a deep and sophisticated look.
"The future has arrived, and we must have a plan for every step we take. For example, managing the villa."
"Hey, the villa is just a small place, how difficult is it to govern it?"
Li Ji looked at Lao Yu and expressed his opinion.
Those who do not plan for eternity are not worthy of planning for the present.
Those who do not plan for the overall situation are not qualified to plan for a specific area.
Those who are good at defense hide under the nine earths, and those who are good at attack move above the nine heavens, so they can protect themselves and achieve complete victory.
