Chapter 331: Strategy for Retaining People

Zuo Anmin left the Southland, he was going back to Chang'an to report.

The proceeds from the Zhu family's confiscation were also secretly transported away, including the proceeds from the sale of the Zhu family's property at a low price.

In addition, the gold mines on Xiaozhuya Island were dug by people arranged by the court.

As for the Zhu family, they would be killed on the spot later.

However, the 300,000 shi of grain seized from the Zhu family was left in the Southland after Zuo Anmin asked the emperor for instructions to solve the problems in the Southland.

The Zhu family's property of thousands of hectares of land and hundreds of shops were all sold and bought by Xie Zhan at half the price.

The silver money Xie Zhan used was the cash inherited from the Chen family.

Xie Zhan almost used all the cash on the Chen family's face to buy these properties of the Zhu family.

Now that the Zhu family's property is in his hands, plus the original property of the Chen family, the Xie family has now become the largest force in the Southland.

At this time, Xie Zhan was doing a final review of his plan.

Previously, he asked Zuo Anmin to order the county governor to block the gates of the city in the south to prevent the people from Liaodong County from escaping.

Now he agreed to let Qin Sheng, Xue Xu and others go, but the major gates of the city in the south could not be opened at will.

Now there are disaster victims and refugees outside the major gates of the city in the south. Once the gates are opened, they will all pour into the city.

He is ready to solve the problem of the disaster victims in the south, which is actually the problem of food, clothing, housing and transportation. The first thing is of course the problem of food and accommodation.

He decided to use the strategy of work instead of relief.

This strategy originated in the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, King Jing of Qi refused to release grain for disaster relief after the disaster. So the prime minister Yan Ying took the opportunity of King Jing of Qi to build a road bed and hired disaster victims, deliberately expanding the scale of construction, so as to extend the construction period and achieve the purpose of disaster relief.

The situation at that time was very similar to the present. Xie Zhan thought it was useful, so he decided to imitate the sages and solve the problem of disaster victims in this way.

Later, when Lu Songli learned that Xie Zhan used this method, he also praised Xie Zhan for his flexible mind. The earliest record of the idea of ​​using work for relief dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period, and then it rose in the Song Dynasty. At that time, not only government organizations but also civilian officials and gentry participated. It was amazing that Xie Zhan could learn and use it at this time.

Xie Zhan calculated the grain on hand. In addition to the 300,000 shi of grain left by the emperor, he planned to take out the 200,000 shi of grain stored by the Chen family, and then ask for some money from wealthy families.

Moreover, the grain in Jianghuai and Huaihe regions was coming down soon. As long as he could let the victims get through this period of time safely, he could basically complete the military order he made to the emperor.

He did it as soon as he thought of it. Xie Zhan went to the Nandi County Magistrate's Mansion and told the county magistrate about the idea of ​​using work for relief.

The county magistrate had received an order from the imperial envoy Zuo Anmin, saying that Xie Zhan had obtained the emperor's special permission to deal with the Nandi issue and asked him to cooperate with him.

The county magistrate got the plan and immediately prepared to post a red list outside the city gate to summon the people to work.

Xie Zhan returned to Xie Mansion from the County Magistrate's Mansion, and his subordinates reported to him what the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce Bookstore had done.

After Xie Zhan let Qin Sheng, Xue Xu and others go, although he asked the officers and soldiers surrounding Ji Mansion and Liaodong Chamber of Commerce Bookstore to withdraw, he felt that he must not relax his vigilance against them, so he had people monitor them all the time.

After learning about the actions of the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce Bookstore, Xie Zhan knew what they were up to at a glance.

He reacted quickly and went to Lu Mansion in person.

Mr. Lu was in poor health and had been bedridden recently.

Xie Zhan personally came to Mr. Lu's yard to visit him.

As the current head of the Lu family, Lu Fei had to accompany the distinguished guests.

The three of them discussed the actions of the Liaodong Chamber of Commerce Bookstore for a long time in the side hall of Mr. Lu's yard.

After Xie Zhan left, Mr. Lu was both happy and worried. He was happy that Xie Zhan was so powerful, worthy of being the heir trained by a big family in Chang'an City. He was also worried about Xie Zhan's power.

Mr. Lu looked at his granddaughter standing beside him, and finally could only sigh deeply.

In response to the insinuations made by Liaodong Chamber of Commerce Bookstore before leaving, Lu quickly responded.

Lu booked the largest restaurant in the south and sent invitations to all the scholars who had consumed in Lu's Bookstore, inviting them to a gathering.

Almost all the people who received the invitations attended the event, and everyone was curious about what Lu wanted to say.

The old patriarch of the Lu family, Mr. Lu Yuanheng, appeared in the restaurant with the new patriarch Lu Fei, and said to everyone sincerely, "Lu's Bookstore can be what it is today, thanks to everyone's continued support."

The scholars in the audience talked a lot.

"That's a good thing to say."

"You Lu family also know that?"

Grandpa Lu continued, "I invited everyone here this time because I want to talk to everyone. I know that for some reasons recently, everyone has a lot of opinions about Lu's bookstore, and even thought about leaving the South. We have seen and heard everyone's demands."

The scholars were quiet, mainly because Grandpa Lu looked like he was in his twilight years, standing there, and his words were very sincere, which made them embarrassed to say anything harsh.

"The Lu family has done something wrong in the past, and we have been working hard to improve it. Lu Fei--" Grandpa Lu waved at her.

Lu Fei stepped forward and stood next to him.

Grandpa Lu continued, "This is the new head of our Lu family. The prices of books, paper, and four treasures of the study are high, and we will work hard to reduce costs so that everyone can buy good and cheap things. Please give us a chance and supervise us."

After Grandpa Lu finished speaking, he bowed to them. But because of his poor health, his legs were shaking badly.

The scholars couldn't bear to watch.

"Mr. Lu, you'd better sit down."

"Miss Lu, please help your grandfather sit down."

Lu Fei stepped forward to help, but Mr. Lu refused. But although Mr. Lu refused to sit down, he slowly straightened up.

"I very much agree with what Mr. Zhang Zai said. Scholars should set their minds for the heaven and the earth, establish their lives for the people, inherit the unique knowledge of the saints, and create peace for all generations."

"The Southland is our roots, and the people here are our fellow villagers. The Southland has just experienced a natural disaster and is in turmoil. It is also the most difficult and difficult time. We cannot abandon it. Otherwise, our Lu family will surely die. blame."

After Mr. Lu said these words, he finally left with the help of Lu Fei.

Seeing his appearance, the scholars felt very sad.

Mr. Lu fell ill after returning home.

This strategy of the Lu family is still very shocking to readers. It is sincere and full of sincerity.

The Lu family, the second largest among the six aristocratic families, bowed its head.

Look, the Lu family has even changed its head. Isn’t sincerity enough?

Little did they know that the Lu family was using waste.

But the effect was very good, and many scholars gave up the idea of ​​leaving the Southland. They want to do something for their hometown, not to mention that their parents are here and they don’t have to travel far.

At this time, the government posted a list stating that the victims could work for relief in exchange for food rations, and recruited scholars to assist the government in registering and rehabilitating the people.

Many scholars have come to sign up.