Chapter 198 - 198 193 The New Prefect_2

Chapter 198: Chapter 193 The New Prefect_2 Chapter 198: Chapter 193 The New Prefect_2 But this method cannot be applied in the border towns.

“Mr. Lin, this is Chongshan Town.” Yang Zhenshan felt that Lin Shoude’s road construction was a good idea, but the method was somewhat inappropriate, so he planned to discuss it with Lin Shoude.

“What does Master Yang mean? Does Master Yang want more food and silver?”

However, Lin Shoude did not give Yang Zhenshan a chance to speak, and directly brought up the topic of food and silver.

Yang Zhenshan’s mouth twitched slightly.

What does this mean?

Are you saying I want more food and silver?

Damn, has this guy gone dumb from studying too much?

Not to mention I have no such intention, even if I did, you can’t speak like that.

Yang Zhenshan felt somewhat frustrated, but still said: “The border town prioritizes defense, farming, and garrison is the main duty of the soldiers here, my garrison office really can’t spare hands to help Mr. Lin build roads.”

Lin Shoude looked at Yang Zhenshan for a long time, “I didn’t expect Master Yang to be such an uncorrupt good official!”

“…”

Yang Zhenshan was utterly speechless.

Dude, I know I’m a good official, but you don’t have to say it.

The way you say it sounds somewhat sarcastic to me.

Although this is the first contact, Yang Zhenshan already realized that this Mr. Lin is somewhat naive, exactly naive, straightforward and impulsive, speaks whatever comes to mind, and acts directly, not even investigating the situation in An Yuan City before directly coming over to discuss such matters with him, it’s hard for most people to act like this.

But there’s a benefit to such people, that is you don’t need to use too much brainpower with them, speaking and handling matters in a simpler way would be better.

Thinking this, Yang Zhenshan looked at Lin Shoude somewhat less helplessly.

“Mr. Lin wants to build roads, I very much agree with this, but Mr. Lin wanting military households to substitute civilian service, that really won’t work!”

“Mr. Lin, being new in Chongshan Town, might not understand the hardship in the North! Farmers are civilians, military households are also civilians, their lives are already hard to sustain, forcing either to perform labor is a disaster!”

“Not to conceal from Mr. Lin, I am also worrying about the livelihood of the military households, to help them sustain, not only do I raise pigs and chickens in the garrison, but I’ve also invited a wealthy merchant from Chongshan Town to open an Embroidery Workshop, blacksmith shop, and carpenter shop in An Yuan City, to seek some new livelihoods for the children of military households!”

“And now, outside the city, the garrison is being renovated, and the soldiers in the garrison are undergoing training, at this time my office absolutely cannot pull military households over to build roads!”

Yang Zhenshan explained the detailed situation to Lin Shoude.

After hearing his words, Lin Shoude fell into contemplation.

“But the southern official road must be repaired, if that road is not fixed, it’s very difficult for the southern merchant caravans to come!”

He was very dissatisfied with the southern official road because when he came, he traveled on that road, and his carriage broke down due to the excessive bumpiness.

So after he arrived in An Yuan City, the first thing he wanted to do was build roads.

Seeing his serious expression, Yang Zhenshan’s thoughts stirred.

“How much food and silver can Mr. Lin provide for road construction?”

Lin Shoude raised his head and said, “The Prefectural Government has silver, and even if the silver is not enough, the Prefectural Government also has many shops, residences, and fields that can be sold!”

Yang Zhenshan’s eyes brightened, he had indeed forgotten that the current Prefectural Government was very wealthy.

The Liang family, Lin Xuan, Hao Zhaoxian, and many other officials were confiscated, most of the wealth was taken by the Ministry of Revenue, but those immovable properties remained with the Prefectural Government.

The Prefectural Government has the authority to dispose of these immovable properties.

“Since there is silver, then hire civilians to build the road!”

“Hiring? Is that appropriate?”

“What’s inappropriate about it?” Yang Zhenshan smiled, “Our dynasty does not forbid local government offices from hiring civilians for work.”

Indeed, it’s not forbidden, but no government office would hire civilians, because they could make civilians serve labor.

Yang Zhenshan smiled and said, “I think Mr. Lin should consider it seriously, using military households to substitute civilian service also costs food and silver, why not directly hire civilians!”

“Service hurts civilians, but if Mr. Lin is willing to provide civilians with silver money, it wouldn’t be forced labor, but giving civilians an additional opportunity to earn money!”

This matter actually has many operational aspects, such as outsourcing to a contractor, letting merchants to hire workers, and the Prefectural Government only needs to supervise and distribute food and silver.

However, after all, this matter is not Yang Zhenshan’s responsibility, so he only suggested it to Lin Shoude, whether Lin Shoude can do it still depends on him.

Lin Shoude furrowed his brows for a long time, still unable to turn his thoughts around.

Yang Zhenshan didn’t persuade further.

More talk is of no benefit, the key is whether he understands flexibility.

If he doesn’t understand flexibility, no matter how much Yang Zhenshan says, it won’t be useful.

Yang Zhenshan saw off the guest by offering tea, although Lin Shoude was somewhat socially awkward, he understood Yang Zhenshan’s intentions and could only stand up to take his leave.

After Lin Shoude left, Yang Zhenshan stood at the front door of the main hall, pondered for a moment, then turned to Han Fei beside him and ordered, “Go and call Jiang He over!”

Soon, Han Fei brought Jiang He to the study.

“Dad, you called for me?”

During this time, Jiang He had been helping Yang Mingcheng manage the horse farm, most of the time he was outside the city, and only today did he manage to rest at home.

“Yes, go and talk to Luo Zhen, tell him that the Prefectural Government will soon be selling the shops in the city, and tell him to get ready!” said Yang Zhenshan.

Lin Shoude’s arrival would definitely lead to those shops being sold.

Of course, the selling of the shops would not be handled by the government office directly, but by the designated brokers by the government office.