Looking at the children's playful interruptions, Shen Yichen couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly, all the efforts he had made were not for the scene in front of him?

Putting on a big hat to keep out the cold, Shen Yichen walked out of the house.

Wang Neng, a miner standing guard outside the door, saw Shen Yichen and asked, "Young Master Shen, today is Chinese New Year's Eve, do you still want to travel?" ”

"If you don't travel, just take a few steps and take a look."

"Yes, the little one understands."

Wang Neng stepped back, and then motioned to another guard with his eyes, asking him to call for reinforcements.

Master Bian He has ordered during this time that Shen Yichen must carry out the highest level of security, even if he is just walking in Zhang Qiu Town, the number of guards to follow cannot be less than ten.

Walking out of the small courtyard of the station, Shen Yichen came to the alley outside the courtyard.

The children who set off the firecrackers were cheering in the brilliant firelight, not noticing that Shen Yichen was standing behind them and watching silently.

After a long time, the parents of several children beckoned their children to go home for Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, and then they saw Shen Yichen's figure.

"The grass people meet the champion!"

The parents of the children did not kneel down and salute with trepidation as they had seen officials before. On the contrary, they had an excited look on their faces, and they only bowed deeply towards Shen Yichen.

Seeing their parents' salutation, several children found Shen Yichen standing behind them. They also didn't have too much fear, full of innocence to learn the appearance of adults, bowed down and saluted: "The boy greets the champion." ”

Since inspecting the river workers that day, Shen Yichen has set the rule that there is no need to kneel and worship in the illegal hall, and he has strictly implemented it. And not only in the river construction area, but even in Zhang Qiu Town, there is no need to kneel and bow when you see officials.

However, relying on this regulation alone, it still can't change the situation that the people of the Ming Dynasty are afraid of officials like tigers. The reason why the children of Zhang Qiuzhen really face Shen Yichen with reverence, not fear, is that they have been getting along for more than a month.

Unlike other Ming Dynasty officials who were high above and maintained an "unpredictable" image, Shen Yichen almost did everything during this period of time in the reconstruction and river engineering, and every day the people of Li in Zhang Qiu Town could see his busy figure.

Whether you are a literati or a pawn of a peddler, Shen Yichen treats everyone with courtesy.

Habit becomes nature, and over time, there is this scene in front of you.

Shen Yichen returned the salute with a gentle smile on his face, and then asked: "Can I prepare New Year's clothes at home on Chinese New Year's Eve, and can I still have a rich meal on Chinese New Year's Eve?" ”

In the face of Shen Yichen's inquiry, a middle-aged man took a step forward and replied: "Champion Gong, the grass people have been poor and landless since childhood, and after living for more than 30 years, there are more chickens, ducks, and fish on the table this year. ”

"That's good."

Shen Yichen nodded after hearing this, it seems that the life of the victims is much better.

The victims of Zhangqiu Town can no longer be described as having a better life, or even no less than the rich Jiangnan area.

Whether it is to rebuild Zhangqiu Town or to build a river embankment, food and shelter can also be paid five yuan of silver every month. Under normal circumstances, a household could produce at least two laborers, which meant that they could save up to one or two pieces of silver a month.

During the Orthodox Dynasty, there was far from the kind of inflation and soaring prices in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, and now the price of one or two silver can buy more than 600 catties of rice and grain, and there are 100 catties in exchange for meat.

In many areas of the Ming Dynasty, the wages paid throughout the year after exploitation may not be as good as the savings of the victims in Zhangqiu Town for a month.

Being able to eat chicken, duck and fish at the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner was once a lifelong dream of many people, and now Shen Yichen has helped them realize it.

"It's all the great kindness of the champion, and the grass people can live this kind of good life."

The middle-aged man was grateful, but couldn't put it in better words.

At this moment, a woman next to her also spoke: "Champion Yuangong, you haven't had dinner yet, do you want to go to the people's woman's house for a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner?" ”

Anywhere else, absolutely no woman would dare to say such a thing to an official.

But this woman was cooking at the construction site of Zhang Qiuzhen, and she had seen it at least ten times, Shen Yichen led the escort and sat on the ground with the people to eat the same food.

Today's Chinese New Year's Eve, Shen Yichen did not have a private cook like other official masters, and I am afraid that he did not even cook the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, so this woman dared to invite.

"My aunt is kind and the official is in her heart, and she has official business, so she won't bother."

After finishing speaking, Shen Yichen arched his hand and led Wang Neng and the others to leave.

"Champion Gong walks slowly."

The woman sent Shen Yichen away, with a regretful expression on her face.

If the champion can go to his home for a meal, this is a big event that glorifies the lintel, and it can be written into the family history.

However, Shen Yichen didn't think so, the victims of Zhang Qiuzhen were not rich, and going to be a guest by himself would definitely increase the burden. In addition, no matter how close to the people is, the ancient hierarchy of respect and inferiority is placed here, so that the people can reunite with peace of mind.

After all, in a year of great disaster, Chinese New Year's Eve bears many people's expectations for the coming year.

A new year means a new beginning.

On the fifth day of the first month of the 11th year of orthodoxy, not long after the official document of the imperial court was issued, the Shandong Buzheng Department requisitioned the inventory of various state capitals, and the 500,000 taels of water and silver raised arrived at the wharf of Zhangqiu Town.

In fact, this money was raised by the Shandong Buzheng Secretary with King Lu early, and they were waiting for the next step of the imperial court's impeachment of Shen Yichen. If the impeachment can be successful, and Shen Yichen can be successfully transferred back to Beijing, he will naturally be able to avoid this "peace money".

As a result, the court's painless admonition really shocked the local officials in Shandong, and King Lu did not bring down this yellow-haired boy in the impeachment, and he deserved to be the representative of the Xun Qi.

At the same time, this result made King Lu more and more anxious and jealous, and he realized that Shen Yichen's strong identity background had a chance to use the charge of rebellion and ask himself for the crime.

Now that we have reached the point where we are exhausted, we can only strike first!

"The proprietor, the Shandong Political Secretary is willing to hand over the money, I'm afraid there is an attempt behind it."

Bian He looked at the mountains of silver money and rice grains on the dock, and he did not have the relief and joy that he had received from the imperial court before, but had an ominous premonition.

"It's okay, as long as the money is there."

As soon as Shen Yichen's words fell, he saw Ma Huiguo, the political secretary of the Zuo Political Division, walking down from the boat with a gloomy face, and arched his hand to him: "Shen Yixian, I haven't seen you for a long time." ”

"It's been a long time, Ma is in politics."

Compared with Ma Huiguo's cloudy clouds, Shen Yichen is sunny, and he has earned 500,000 taels of silver for nothing, can he not be happy?

"Shen Youxian, the gentleman is true to his word, the official has sent 500,000 taels of water and silver as promised, it's time to give me the account book."

Among the 500,000 taels of silver, the extra 300,000 taels were almost borne by Ma Huiguo alone. Even if he has been greedy for ink a lot over the years, the amount of 300,000 taels is to cut off a piece of meat from his body.

However, as long as the account book can be completed, 300,000 taels can always find a way to make up for it.

"What ledger?"

Shen Yichen had a surprised expression, as if he didn't understand what Ma Huiguo was trying to say.

Seeing Shen Yichen pretending to be stupid with himself, Ma Huiguo instantly felt furious.

He took a step closer and stood in front of Shen Yichen, and said viciously: "You sent someone to inform Futai's account book, and the official is not in the mood to joke with you." ”

"Oh, it turned out to be this account book, and the official didn't know where it was."

"You obviously told Futai that it was in your hands!"

"Ma has been an official for many years, when did he become so naïve, I said do you believe it?"

Shen Yichen had a playful smile on his face, the ledger was one of the ironclad evidence that made King Lu Fufa ask for guilt, how could he return it?

"You're kidding me?"

Even if he knew that the account book would not be so easy to get back, Ma Huiguo didn't expect Shen Yichen to be so arrogant.

If you don't give it, you don't even bother to find an excuse for delay, and you don't take the political secretary and the palace in your eyes!

"That's right, this official is playing tricks on you, how about it?"

The smile on Shen Yichen's face faded, revealing an aggressive momentum. An official like Ma Huiguo, who is on the wrong side, he doesn't want to give half a good face.

"Shameless boy, you ......"

Ma Huiguo was furious, and subconsciously wanted to reach out and drag Shen Yichen, but as soon as he raised his arm, he was firmly pinched by Canghuo and others like iron tongs.

At the same time, Ma Huiguo's personal guards, as well as the soldiers who followed the guards who came to Jinan, rushed forward after seeing this scene, looking like they wanted to draw their knives and do their hands.

However, the sergeants of Dongchangwei and Tai'anwei moved faster, "brushing, brushing" the sound of swords unsheathed, and Ma Huiguo's escorts, who followed the disembarkation, were circled several times inside and out.

Shen Yichen didn't dare to say that Zhang Qiuzhen, a territory that he had been running for two months, could still be played by officials of the Shandong Political Division, which was simply incompetent!

"Ma participated in politics to dissipate his anger and save face for himself, and on behalf of the people of Shandong, I would like to thank my colleagues for the water conservancy and silver."

The sword shining with cold light made Ma Huiguo calm down instantly, Shen Yichen was a ruthless person who was notorious, and even the palace guards dared to disarm. It's really possible to run to his turf.

"Okay, Shen Yanxian, the flowers are not red for a hundred days, let's see!"

After saying that, Ma Huiguo snorted angrily, then flicked his sleeves and turned around, and yelled at his subordinates: "Let's go!" ”

"I'm not far away."

Shen Yichen responded, and then led Bian He and the others to turn around and leave, he didn't have the leisure to fight with Ma Huiguo, and there were still urgent matters waiting to be dealt with by himself.

At this time, in Shen Yichen's study, Chen Tao, the chief bookkeeper in a neat official uniform, was waiting nervously.

After he received Shen Yichen's order to meet him, he returned to Zhang Qiuzhen from the Yellow River construction site, and seized the time to bathe and change clothes, change into clean clothes, and then came to meet Shangguan.

Unexpectedly, Shen Yichen was not in the mansion, he was led to the study by Wang Neng to wait.

"Master Chen, I've been waiting for a long time."

Hearing Shen Yichen's voice coming from outside the door, Chen Tao immediately got up and saluted: "The lower official pays a visit to Youxian." ”

"No need to be polite, this official knows that your thunder order is popular, and this time it will be straight to the point."

"Just now, the 500,000 taels of water and silver requisitioned by the Shandong Provincial Government Department from various state capitals have been transported to Zhangqiu Town. Now that there is no shortage of money and people's power, the official wants to take advantage of the time difference before the spring flood season to introduce the Qinghe River to attack the sand and wash away the silt accumulated on the riverbed in advance. ”

Shen Yichen mentioned this idea to Bian He a few years ago, but at that time, the conditions in all aspects were not very mature, so Shen Yichen did not continue to insist on it.

Now the number of displaced people in the entire Yanggu County has exceeded 400,000, and the silver money, rice and grain in the warehouse have exceeded one million taels.

It can be said that the Ming Dynasty has not reached the height of Shen Yichen in terms of water control, whether it is silver money or people's power.

However, what really made Shen Yichen make up his mind was the progress of blocking the Yellow River breach in Zhangqiu Town, which was more than ten days faster than the previous expected mid-January, and the breach could be completely blocked tomorrow.

Since the Ming Xuande period, due to the increasingly bad weather during the Xiaoice River period, the Yellow River flows through Shandong and bursts almost every year. Shen Yichen wants to do something against the sky to change his life, so that Shandong will no longer suffer from the flooding of the Yellow River in the eleventh year of orthodoxy!

"Bai Xian, do you really plan to carry out the attack on the sand in advance?"

Chen Tao was excited at the moment, and his tone was trembling.

The reason why the progress of blocking the breach will be advanced is that in addition to the unity of the people in water control, Chen Tao learned of Shen Yichen's plan, which happened to coincide with his own thoughts.

The use of the dry season to bind water and attack sand in advance can make the people in Shandong Province suffer less from the harm of a year's flood. Even bigger, if Shandong is located in the lower reaches of the torrent can be released, the flood control pressure of the upstream border provinces will be greatly reduced, and Fuze will not only be a province.

However, this kind of thinking is too crazy, and the requirements for people's power and financial resources have reached an astronomical amount.

Even if he knew that Shen Yichen also had this thought, Chen Tao didn't dare to take the initiative to show it, so he could only lay a good foundation with practical actions.

"That's right, this official wants to execute it in advance, but I don't know if Master Chen has the certainty that he can withstand the 'flood peak' within three months for the hundreds of miles of embankments along the coast?"

The biggest problem is the sturdiness of the embankment, and any leakage in the Yellow River dam for hundreds of miles will cause the embankment to burst for thousands of miles.

"As long as the people's power and river materials are sufficient, the lower officials will be completely sure!"

The strategy of harnessing water and attacking sand and accumulating and clearing yellow has been perfected in Chen Tao's mind for more than ten years, and he has deduced several different solutions to almost any hidden danger.

For Chen Tao, the difficulty of the project has never been a problem, the problem lies in people and money!

"Now that the autumn grain transportation is over, the official has reached an agreement with the big merchants in the south of the Yangtze River to purchase river materials. When the canal is unblocked, a large amount of river materials will soon be delivered to Zhang Qiuzhen, which is not a problem. ”

"As for the people's power, how much do you still lack?"

Shen Yichen signed a cooperation agreement with a large merchant in the south of the Yangtze River, and the benefit was that in addition to getting silver money and rice grain, he also gained material capacity.

You must know that ancient transportation is not as good as modern times, there is not enough capacity, even if there are mountains of materials, they can only be rotten in their hands.

The end of the autumn grain transportation is over, and the summer grain transportation still has half a year, and the orthodox eleven years are not the year of the imperial examination, at this time, the canal can be described as "empty", just enough to use the vacant capacity to help Shen Yichen transport various river building materials.

"To comprehensively strengthen hundreds of miles of river embankments, at least 100,000 people are needed for the lower officials!"

The reinforced river embankment of the Ming Dynasty was not a flood control dam with a concrete structure as in modern times, but just a pile of earth embankments.

In addition, at the site where the water is rushing and turbulent, the four sets of embankments are used to strengthen the dangerous river embankment.

But even so, the reinforcement of hundreds of miles of river embankments in ancient times can be called a major policy of the country. Shortening the incident to three months would be more of a "dream project".

Lakh?

Shen Yichen heard this number and thought for a moment.

At present, the number of people involved in the great cause of river engineering on the river embankment has actually exceeded 100,000. According to Shen Yichen's "Two Rivers Slightly Sparse" of the imperial court, the target plan is to control water and the people's power, which is about 150,000 people.

If another 100,000 people are requisitioned, the number of people who can control the water will be exaggerated to as many as 200,000, and the pressure on the money will be greatly increased.

"Then the official promised you that another 100,000 people would be recruited to control the water!"

Without too much hesitation, compared with the people who were spared a year's floods, it cost more than 100,000 or 200,000 taels of silver, which was really a good deal.

"Xie Baixian, the lower officials will not disgrace their mission!"

Chen Tao's heart was surging to receive the order, and his crazy idea, which had been silent for more than ten years, finally had a chance to come true.

"Okay, Master Chen, you only need to do your best to control the water, and the official will do his best to supply all the follow-up material transfers!"

Shen Yichen also gave Chen Tao a preventive shot, don't worry about exceeding the budget, just implement it boldly.

"Yes, Hello!"

After instructing Chen Tao, Shen Yichen turned to Jiang Pei, the county leader, and ordered: "Jiang County Cheng, tomorrow the Zhangqiu Town Breach will be blocked, and a large number of flooded fields will be vacant." ”

"There are many people in Yanggu County now, and there are still a large number of displaced people coming in the future, and this official hopes that you will redivide the fields to ensure that everyone has land to cultivate."

Hearing Shen Yichen's order, Jiang Pei hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Bai Xian, does this include the Zhuangtian of the palace?" ”

"When did the palace have a farm in Zhangqiu Town?"

Shen Yichen asked rhetorically, and then added: "It can be divided according to the fish scale book of Yanggu County." ”

"The subordinate officer takes the order."

Jiang Pei had been by Shen Yichen's side for a long time, and gradually realized the irreconcilable contradiction between him and King Lu.

In the past, Jiang Pei might have admonished Shen Yichen not to offend King Lu too much. And now that the two sides have torn their skins, there is no need to worry.

After instructing these two things, Shen Yichen sat in front of the desk and boiled himself a pot of tea to taste slowly.

It can be said that it was not until the beginning of the moving palace Zhuangtian that Shen Yichen could be regarded as a real public break with King Lu. Coupled with the 500,000 taels of the Shandong Political Secretary today, it is estimated that Zhang Ji will not have any more ideas for peace talks.

Next, it was King Lu's turn to make a move.

To be honest, Shen Yichen was really a little curious, what tricks could King Lu, who was imprisoned in the feudal country, come up with to deal with himself?