Chapter 1179 Intrigue!

Ye Mingsheng was quite interested when he heard Zhao Wanxian's idea. After all, in the current traditional concept of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a large population is considered a very good thing. Even when the Ministry of Personnel of the Great Zhou Dynasty conducted assessments, population growth was used as one of the assessment indicators. Few or even almost no one thought that a large population was a bad thing...

So looking at Zhao Wanxian who was sighing, Ye Mingsheng also asked with interest:
"Tell me more specifically what you think!"

Facing Ye Mingsheng's question, Zhao Wanxian organized his words and said:

"Everyone knows the advantages of having more people. Strength in numbers can create greater value and more wealth!"

"People need food, clothing, shelter and transportation to live in this world. They need to eat, wear clothes and have a place to live. These are inevitable needs of people. The needs of one person may not be a big deal, but the needs of 100,000 or 1 million people are a very large number, even an astronomical figure!"

"To meet the needs of so many people, you need a lot of food, a lot of cloth, and thousands or even tens of thousands of houses. If you can't better meet their needs, there will be an imbalance in order, leading to chaos and eventually causing accidents!"

Seeing that Zhao Wanxian's last words were very tactful and implicit, Ye Mingsheng nodded slightly, motioning him to continue.

Seeing Ye Mingsheng nod as if to agree with what he said, Zhao Wanxian continued:

"So how to make better use of the large population is the key to governing Hebei and Henan as a governor!"

“Although they have experienced decades of tyranny, according to statistics from the previous governor Murong, the population of Hebei and Henan has exceeded 10 million. In addition, according to historical experience, as long as peace is maintained and no war occurs, the population of Hebei and Henan will increase substantially in the next ten to twenty years...”

Zhao Wanxian paused for a moment, then spoke seriously:

"Marshal Jiyu has only so much arable land. I don't think we can rely on the land to absorb so many people. This will just go back to the old ways!"

"I have seen many factories of the First and Second Manufacturing Bureaus in Liaoyang. I have personally seen these factories produce a lot of products. I have read some of your instructions to the First and Second Manufacturing Bureaus. In your instructions, you mentioned the word industrialization!"

"I think the key to Jiyu's development is industrialization. I know that the two manufacturing bureaus have many factories that want to build branches, such as cement factories, brick factories, match factories, textile factories, and even firearms factories. I think all of these can be settled in Jiyu!"

"We have a lot of young and strong laborers in Hebei and Henan. As long as the Manufacturing Bureau trains them a little, I believe they will become very good workers. Their presence will greatly promote the development of industrialization in our Great Zhou!"

Ye Mingsheng was somewhat surprised to hear Zhao Wanxian's idea. After observing Ye Mingsheng's expression, Zhao Wanxian said:
"Marshal, I heard that the two manufacturing bureaus are having financial difficulties in expanding their factories. I think we can cooperate in the construction. Our Hebei-Henan Provincial Government can contribute part of the money, and even the land needed for the factory. Our Provincial Government can also provide..."

Hearing this, Ye Mingsheng looked at Zhao Wanxian seriously and couldn't help but ask tentatively:

"When did you come up with this idea?"

Zhao Wanxian said without hesitation:
"You mentioned this method in your instructions to the Manufacturing Bureau. I think it is very effective, so I kept it in mind!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng also remembered that he had indeed issued such instructions to the two manufacturing bureaus in order to expand production capacity. He never thought that this idea was indeed remembered by Zhao Wanxian!

Under Zhao Wanxian's inquiring gaze, Ye Mingsheng nodded slightly and said:
"Your idea is very good, but you still need to go and discuss the specific situation with Chen Changgui and Su Junjie!"

"I understand the humble position!"

Seeing that Ye Mingsheng did not agree directly, although Zhao Wanxian looked calm on the surface, he was still very disappointed in his heart. After all, this was related to his political achievements. At the same time, he was very clear that more than one person was targeting the establishment of these factories.

Murong Yuliang, who had just been transferred to Huainan, was also planning to settle these factories in Huainan. Zhao Wanxian had already heard that Murong Yuliang had attracted a lot of investment from Jiangnan through some personal connections. In other words, Huainan had more advantages than Jiyu in terms of money.

Therefore, Murong Yuliang's idea is that your Manufacturing Bureau only needs to provide the technology, and then our Governor will provide the money and land to build the factory. In the end, the money earned by the factory will be split 50-50 between the Governor and the Manufacturing Bureau.
This is very attractive to the two manufacturing bureaus which are in financial difficulties, and this is also what Zhao Wanxian is worried about.

Of course, although Huainan has financial advantages, it also has its own disadvantages compared to Jiyu. Because of Xu Zhaojie's tyranny in the past few years, nine out of ten houses in Huainan were deserted. In order to survive and get rid of Xu Zhaojie's cruel rule, many people had to leave their homes and flee from Huainan.

Although in the past few months, under the hard work of a group of Fengwu Army officials, many people have returned to their hometowns from Anqing, Jingchu, Jiangnan and other places, but in general, Huainan is currently lacking in labor and cannot provide a large number of young and strong labor like Hebei and Henan!
Combining the advantages of both sides, Zhao Wanxian believed that Hebei, Henan and Huainan were still on the same starting line, so it became particularly important to win over Ye Mingsheng's attitude. As long as Ye Mingsheng was inclined towards that place, the balance of victory would be completely tilted!

Thinking of this, Zhao Wanxian thought of the opportunity Song Haibo had given him that night. After a moment's hesitation, he carefully asked Ye Mingsheng:

"General, we have made new progress in the Jiyu case a few days ago. The governor Sun Yu, the Kaiyang prefect Yang Peng, and the Xuhe county magistrate Wang Zida have all been arrested by the governor. The stolen money we have confiscated has reached a huge amount of 650,000 taels of silver!"

"I have already ordered people to load this silver into a sealed truck and prepare to ship it to the imperial court!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingsheng glanced at Zhao Wanxian and asked with a half-smile:
"You really want to do that?"

Zhao Wanxian said directly after hearing this:

“Ji Yu is the Ji Yu of the imperial court. Naturally, we must obey the imperial court and the unified command of you, the Marshal…”

Ye Mingsheng smiled and said:

"Of the 650,000 taels of silver, your Provincial Government should keep 150,000 taels. I know you are very brave and under great pressure in Jiyu. You need money in every aspect. We can't let Zhao Wanxian, a skilled cook, be helpless without rice!"

After Ye Mingsheng finished speaking, although Zhao Wanxian felt a little pained when he heard that he was only given 150,000 taels of silver, he immediately said respectfully:

"Thank you, Marshal, for your grace!"

After saying this, Zhao Wanxian continued:
"Marshal, with this money, we can guarantee the workers' treatment while negotiating with the Manufacturing Bureau about the factory's establishment. I have heard about your guidance to Zhangji Textile Factory when you were in Ji County, and I admire you very much!"

"I have an idea. When our Jiyu factory is built, we will first implement the work system you set up, Marshal. We will provide free lunch every day, work only four and a half hours a day, have two days of paid leave every month, and pay overtime for the extra time, etc."

"I believe these measures can effectively protect the rights and interests of workers and allow them to get the pay and treatment they deserve!"

Hearing Zhao Wanxian's idea, Ye Mingsheng's eyes flashed with a strange color, and he pondered for a moment and asked again:
"Do you think these measures are difficult to implement?" Zhao Wanxian said without hesitation:

"There are definitely difficulties, but we must face them head-on and not back down when faced with difficulties!"

Feeling the firm determination in Zhao Wanxian’s words, Ye Mingsheng’s eyes could not help but flicker twice. Zhao Wanxian was immediately delighted when he saw this. Although Ye Mingsheng still did not express his opinion, based on his understanding of Ye Mingsheng, he knew that the factory’s settlement in Hebei and Henan would most likely be successful...

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When Ye Mingsheng was inspecting Jiyu, the Ye Mansion was not peaceful. When An Miaoyi was inspecting Jingren's homework, a maid came over and reported to An Miaoyi:

"Madam, Madam Bai has tied up a maid in her house and said she wants to see you!"

Hearing this news, An Miaoyi was also a little surprised and hesitated before asking:

"Did Bai Yuanyuan say anything?"

"Mrs. Bai didn't say anything, she just wanted to see you! And that nanny was beaten pretty badly!"

Hearing this, An Miaoyi seemed to realize something and immediately looked at Qiqige beside her. Qiqige met An Miaoyi's gaze and shook her head firmly.

Seeing this, An Miaoyi was relieved, and immediately instructed Jingren, who was reciting The Difficult Road to Shu,

"Go back to your room and write it down!"

Jing Ren raised his head upon hearing this, and asked An Miaoyi expectantly:

"Mom, can I go play for a while after I finish my dictation?"

As soon as these words came out, An Miaoyi immediately frowned and scolded:

"Mr. Gu will be here to give you a lecture tomorrow, and you're still thinking about playing? Go and prepare for your lessons after you finish your dictation. If you don't perform well tomorrow, I'll spank you!"

Hearing the word "board", Jingren's face, which was originally full of expectation, immediately turned cloudy. He lowered his head and followed the maid and nanny beside him back to his room...
After Jingren left, Qiqige also led Bai Yuanyuan into the house. When Bai Yuanyuan saw An Miaoyi, she couldn't help but said in a very aggrieved tone:

"Madam, you have to make the decision for me!"

An Miaoyi was also curious about what Bai Yuanyuan had encountered, and immediately asked:

"Sister Bai, what happened? Who bullied you?"

Bai Yuanyuan immediately said:
"Madam, I have always been aboveboard since I came to the Ye Mansion. I have always served the Marshal and the old lady wholeheartedly and have never dared to be careless. I have also lived in peace with all the sisters. However, I never thought that someone would secretly bribe the nanny beside me and wanted to search for evidence of my crime!"

At this point, Bai Yuanyuan's expression of grievance was beyond words, and two lines of tears fell from her eyes. The next second, she knelt in front of An Miaoyi and said:
"Please, Madam, make the decision for me!"

An Miaoyi was a little surprised for a moment when she saw Bai Yuanyuan kneeling in front of her. She didn't expect that besides herself, there were other people who had placed people around Bai Yuanyuan.

As An Miaoyi thought about it, she stood up from her chair, helped Bai Yuanyuan up and consoled her:

"Don't worry, Sister Bai. As long as the matter is true, I will definitely take care of it for you!"

Bai Yuanyuan wiped the tears from her eyes after hearing this, and then said to An Miaoyi:
"With your words, Madam, I feel relieved!"

"I have already brought the person. He is just outside the yard..."

Upon hearing this, An Miaoyi looked at Qi Qige who was standing beside her and immediately ordered:

"Bring people in!"

"Yes!"

Under An Miaoyi's order, a nanny in her forties or fifties was immediately brought in front of An Miaoyi. This person was none other than Nanny Li who was beside Bai Yuanyuan. However, this time Nanny Li was no longer as calm as before. Her entire face was covered in bruises, and it was obvious that she had been tortured in some way!

After Nanny Li was brought up, Bai Yuanyuan also said directly:

"Madam, she is a traitor. She took advantage of others and promised to collect evidence against me. God has mercy on me, Bai Yuanyuan has always been upright and honest. There is no evidence for her to collect!"

"Madam Li, now that the Madam is here, you should tell her the truth about who is the mastermind behind this and who instructed you to do this!"

Because she knew that Nanny Li was not hers, An Miaoyi was not panicked at all and said directly:
"Is what Madam Bai said true?"

Facing An Miaoyi's question, Nanny Li nodded and said with some shame:
"It's true. Someone did ask me to secretly collect evidence against Madam Bai, but I was forced to do so!"

An Miaoyi also became interested after hearing this and asked:
"Confess and be treated leniently; resist and be treated severely. Tell the truth!"

Seeing An Miaoyi interrogating Nanny Li, Bai Yuanyuan also secretly observed An Miaoyi's expression. At this time, Nanny Li lowered her head and said helplessly:

“Before I entered the mansion, I did some wrong things and was caught with evidence. I thought no one knew about this, but a year ago when I was purchasing outside the mansion, someone found me and showed me my evidence. They threatened me to secretly collect information about Madam Bai’s crimes, and if I didn’t agree, they would make my evidence public…”

(End of this chapter)