Chapter 419 Canal Plan
The next morning, hundreds of cavalrymen were divided into fifty groups, each riding two horses and rushing to various places in the south of the Yangtze River. Their first purpose was to notify the government offices in each county to immediately report the status of their inventory of money and grain and government assets to the general manager.

Secondly, notices were posted in various counties to recruit 120 clerks for the General Administration Office through examinations in the Jiangnan Province. They would be provided with housing and a guaranteed monthly salary of five strings of cash. If they performed well, they would have the hope of being promoted to an official position.

A single stone can cause a thousand ripples. Some aristocratic families in Jiangnan were dismissive, but many others secretly sent their children to Jiangdu for the exam.

Some things cannot be said openly. Although the General Administration’s Office only recruits clerks, many things are understood by everyone, like the housing prices in the capital are very expensive. Because it is close to power, wealthy and powerful families have to buy houses in the capital.

It is one thing that housing prices in the provincial capital are high. Rich families in each county have to buy houses in the provincial capital to be close to the center of power.

From ancient times to the present, what is the most valuable thing? Power is the most valuable!

In the morning, Jiangdu County Governor Yuan Min and Chief Clerk Wu Gan came to formally pay a visit to the General Administration Office. This was also the first formal consultation between the General Administration Office and local authorities after its establishment.

Jiangdu County is especially important to the General Administration Office. Many of the land used by the General Administration Office requires the cooperation of Jiangdu County. No!

In the meeting hall, after a few pleasantries, several people got down to business. Gao Jiong had been the prime minister, second only to the emperor for decades, and had great authority in the court. In recent years, he had been successively demoted by two emperors, and Gao Jiong had become very low-key and tolerant. However, with the full support of Jin Wang Xiao Xia, Gao Jiong gradually revealed the aura of a prime minister again.

In fact, he was the prime minister in Jiangnan Province. Xiao Xia needed a powerful person to control the officialdom in Jiangnan Province for him. Neither Liu Wenjing nor Zhang Yunqiu could do it. Only Gao Jiong could suppress all local officials.

“The King of Jin has several important matters that require the cooperation of local governments. The first is to check the assets. This is the King of Jin’s special term. You may not understand it very well. It means to count the money and grain, and check the land, houses and other properties controlled by the government. From the dynasty to the family, it is very important to check the assets.

Including you, I believe that the first thing you think about when you take office is how much money and food you have. On the one hand, the General Administration Office also needs to understand your own financial situation. Yuan Shijun and Wu Changshi should have ready-made information! When can you submit it to me? “

Yuan Min and Wu Gan discussed in a low voice. Yuan Min said, “We do have ready-made data, but we need to go back and verify it and submit it to Lord Gao within three days.”

“Thank you for the cooperation of Jiangdu County! Then, the General Administration Office is also under the Capital Transportation Commissioner’s Office. Just like before, each county needs to concentrate money and grain in the Transportation Commissioner’s Office warehouse, and then the Capital Transportation Commissioner’s Office will transport it to the court. I went to the Yangtze River yesterday to see the transportation warehouses. The number is huge, but the problem is that the General Administration Office also needs its own warehouse. This is a local warehouse, including the expenses allocated to each county and the expenses of the General Administration Office. In this way, I still need docks and warehouses. Does Jiangdu County have any solutions?”

Yuan Min nodded, “There are seven docks on the Yangtze River. Piers 1 and 2 belong to the court and the government. The dock that Gao Gong went to see yesterday should be Pier 1, the court’s dock. Pier 3 next to it is actually the former prince’s dock. It has now been confiscated by the court and is in a sealed state. The General Administration Office can take it away.”

Liu Wenjing beside him said, “Isn’t Pier 3 the Dugu family’s pier?”

Yuan Min smiled and said, “Pier 4 belongs to the Dugu family. Pier 3 was held by the Dugu family on behalf of the former crown prince. After the former crown prince ascended the throne, he renamed Pier 3 to his eldest son Yang Yan. After Yang Yong fell, the pier and warehouse were confiscated by the government and have been sealed up ever since. It can be handed over to the General Manager’s Office.”

Liu Wenjing and Gao Ying looked at each other with meaningful smiles in their eyes. They certainly knew that Pier No. 3 was Yang Yong’s asset, and they also knew that it was currently sealed. They just wanted to take advantage of today’s opportunity to take it over.

Gao Jiong added: “Once the amount of money and grain for the court is determined, it needs to be transferred to the warehouse of the General Administration Office.”

Wu Gan nodded, “Absolutely!”

Gao Jiong continued, “Then it’s about dredging the canal. Shanyang Du was only dredged before. According to the court’s requirements, it needs to be consistent with Tongji Canal, that is, it needs to be widened by another three meters and dug five feet deeper. This section of the canal is under the responsibility of six counties, including Jiangdu County, Lujiang County, Liyang County, Tongan County, Zhongli County and Huainan County. It needs to recruit 150,000 civilians and the construction period is five months. According to the principle of those who have money to contribute money and those who have strength to contribute strength, the six counties will allocate their respective responsibilities according to the population ratio. For example, Jiangdu’s allocation is 50,000 people, and Jiangdu can only provide 30,000 people. Then Jiangdu County will have to pay out 20,000 strings of money, 20,000 stones of grain and 20,000 pieces of cloth every month, and it will continue for five months. The same is true for other counties. If there are not enough civilians, we will use money, grain and cloth to make up for the shortage, and then we will use this money to recruit civilians.”

Yuan Min blinked and asked, “If we send out 50,000 people, how will we provide food and accommodation for these 50,000 people?”

Wu Gan also frowned and said, “If we are short of people and need to make up the difference, Jiangdu Prefecture can’t afford to pay that much money every month!”

Liu Wenjing smiled and said, “You two’s question is actually one question. Let me answer it. I know that there are 200,000 households in Jiangdu County. One male will be selected from four households, and the other three households will bear the cost of the male’s food. It is calculated as three catties a day, six dou a month, and the other three households will bear two dou of rice each month. The male selected can be exempted from five years of labor service, and the other three households can be exempted from one year of labor service if they bear the food. They will calculate this account.

As for the shortage of people, the money, grain and cloth to make up the difference will be shared by all families except the civilians. This is a big loss. I believe no county is willing to make up the difference, unless some officials want to take advantage of this opportunity to make a fortune. “

Yuan Min and Wu Gan discussed for a while and felt that this plan was acceptable. Yuan Min then asked: “Can Jiangdu County really afford 50,000 people, or is this just an example?”

Gao Jiong said calmly: “We have obtained the household registration list of each county in Jiangnan Road from the previous year from the court. If there is no change, Jiangdu County will have a quota of 50,000 civilians.”

“When does it start?” Yuan Min asked again.

“Wait for notification, it will probably start next month!”

At the same time when Gao Jiong and the other three met Yuan Min and Wu Gan, Xiao Xia also came to the Xiao Mansion after a long absence. The head of the family, Xiao Cong, and his clansmen personally greeted Xiao Xia at the door.

Now the Xiao family is the largest family in Jiangdu, surpassing the Liu family and the Chen family. Xiao Cong was named Duke of Liang, and he will soon go to Beijing to replace Su Wei as prime minister.

Su Wei was appointed as the Inspector of the Two Lakes Province and no longer worried about the Prime Minister.

The Minister of Justice Xiao Yu was also appointed as the Surveillance Commissioner of Jiannan Road, and Pei Yun took over as the Minister of Justice.

Xiao Xia’s carriage slowly stopped, and Xiao Xia got out of the carriage. Xiao Cong and Xiao Gui quickly stepped forward, knelt down and said, “Greetings to His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin!” The Xiao family members behind them knelt down one after another.

Looking at the gray-haired Xiao Cong, Xiao Xia recalled the times when Xiao Cong had taken care of him. His nose felt a little sour, and he quickly helped Xiao Cong up, “I will always be a member of the Xiao family, Patriarch, please don’t be like this. Fourth uncle, you should get up quickly too.”

After helping Xiao Cong and Xiao Gui up, Xiao Xia waved to everyone and said with a smile: “Xiao Qilang has returned home, everyone get up!”

Everyone cheered. When Xiao Cong heard Xiao Xia calling himself Xiao Qilang, his eyes turned red and he choked up and said, “Okay! Okay! Xiao Qilang, let’s go home.”

(End of this chapter)