Chapter 132: Oil and salt are not allowed to enter
Li Hui sighed and said slowly: "Everyone, let me tell you the truth. In fact, the reason why I issued the announcement and threatened to confiscate your Zhuangtian property is just to allow you to return to my home in Juchao County.
It's just a method. I admit that this method is not very good, and it is suspected of intimidating you, but there is no better way in this county. I thought that after the bandits were eliminated in Juchao County, you would take the initiative to return. But you didn't do that.
, that’s why I came up with this strategy. If you are dissatisfied and angry, I can accept it calmly. I can’t blame you."
Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what they meant.
Zhang Zizhong said in a deep voice: "I don't quite understand what County Magistrate Li said. Why does County Magistrate Li want me to go back to Juchao County? Does it have anything to do with whether we come back or not?"
Li Hui shook his head and said: "It has nothing to do with me, but it has a lot to do with the people of Juchao County. You should all know the situation in Juchao County now. Although the lake bandits have been wiped out, they are still devastated and there are many wastes waiting to be revitalized. Juchao County
The people of Chao County are still unable to provide basic food and clothing, let alone live and work in peace and contentment. You all are from a large family in Chao County, you are prominent figures in the local area, and the people admire and respect you. This county naturally hopes that you can come back, and we can work together
Let's discuss big plans so that the people of Juchao County can get out of trouble and have enough food and clothing. The power of one person in this county is very small, but if we work together to find a solution, it will be much easier."
Shen Songlin, Zhang Zizhong and others looked at each other after hearing this, and it turned out to be exactly what everyone had guessed before. He was doing this to get people like him to come back and help him solve the current problems in Juchao County.
He said it nicely, saying it was for the people of the county, but in fact it was not because he couldn't survive anymore and wanted to ask everyone for help to solve the problem. This was his own fault. He insisted on taking in thousands of refugees from the north.
I want to gain fame and reputation. Now that I can’t solve it myself, I want to ask people like me to help.
But the problem is that when asking for help, you should be sincere in asking for help. How can he be sincere at all when he spreads rumors and threatens you? Under the current situation, it is absolutely impossible to help him.
Zhang Zizhong cupped his hands and said: "Magistrate Li, when Juchao County was infested with lake bandits, we were forced to move away, which was also a last resort. Although the lake bandits have been wiped out now, we still have lingering fears and dare not return home easily. Besides,
Now that I have established a firm foothold outside, I have finally opened up the situation. Going back to Juchao County will be a lot of trouble and the losses are not small. We also discussed that when everything stabilizes, we will come back, but
There is no need to rush. I can understand Magistrate Li's mood, but even if we come back, we won't be able to help you much. In this matter, I can't help you, and I'm afraid I will disappoint you."
Everyone nodded in agreement, saying that everyone was in trouble at the moment and couldn't come back and couldn't help.
Li Hui frowned and said: "Everyone, this county thinks that you are all from Juchao County, and this is your hometown. The people of Juchao County are your fellow villagers. Now they are in danger, and you should do whatever you can to
Reach out and help. It’s a virtuous thing to do.”
Zhang Zizhong chuckled and said: "This is the truth, but we are really powerless. It is really that we have more than enough ambition but not enough power."
Li Hui knew that these people would definitely not agree readily now, and he did not have such hope. But he still had to say it, and he always had to persuade them sincerely. It was best not to completely break his face.
.
So he smiled and said: "Everyone, actually our requirements for this county are not high. It's not about how much food and supplies you have to pay, nor how much loss you have to suffer. This is what this county thinks. Don't you still have so many people in Juchao County?"
Zhuang farmland? Altogether, there are nearly 30,000 acres. But after you left, the village farmland was left idle, which was really a waste. The county is now suffering from the lack of farmland for the resettled people to cultivate. Therefore, the county is trying to find a way to let you come back.
, I just want to discuss with you whether these manor fields can be used to solve the farming resettlement problem of the people. The county hopes that you can restore the manor to farming, so that the refugees can be hired to farm and give them the opportunity to support themselves. This will
It’s been a big help.”
Everyone frowned and pondered. In fact, Li Hui's proposal was not difficult to implement. Restoring farmland was also what these wealthy families wanted to do. If there were manpower available to hire people for restoration, they would naturally hope to resume cultivation.
But the problem is that resuming farming is a good thing, but Li Hui is so unreasonable and despicable. Why should people like me help him solve the problem? Isn't it good to make him miserable?
Li Hui continued: "To tell you the truth, during this period of time, our county has been looking for places to farm for the refugees in the North. Although there are many wastelands in this county, there are really not many places that can be cultivated. Some wastelands are not suitable for farming.
Even if it is reclaimed, it will take several years to cultivate and fertilize the fields before you can make any profit. But the current problem is how to survive this year and let the people support themselves this year. This is a difficult problem. You must have fields to plant and food to eat before you can stabilize.
.Your farmland was originally fertile land. It can be cultivated to produce grain after weeding and plowing. It does not need to undergo too much maintenance. This county has invited you back several times to discuss this matter with you. You can resume farming.
Zhuang Tian, you can hire refugees to farm, they can support themselves, you can also benefit, and it has also done a big favor to the county and gained good reputation. You can achieve multiple things with one stone, why not do it?"
Zhang Zizhong glanced at everyone, knowing what everyone was thinking, and he laughed while stroking his beard.
"Haha, the county magistrate doesn't understand farming at first glance. He is oversimplifying things. The land in Zhuangtian has been abandoned for several years, and the soil fertility is gone, just like a barren mountain. Re-cultivation also requires fertilizing the fields.
. Now that farming is resumed, the grain production in the first year is less than 50%, and the gain outweighs the loss. Besides, when we hire the refugees, we naturally have to feed them. Otherwise, who will starve to death and freeze to death? How will the county magistrate spare us? But in this case,
, in the end, not only will we not have any income, but we will lose our capital. Besides, we all have roots in other places, so it will be difficult for us to return to our hometown at the moment."
"That's right, how can it be so easy? It's easy to say. When you hire people to work, you have to feed them and pay them. If you lose money, you will lose everything. Farming is worse than leaving it empty. Who is responsible for losing money?
What? Do you think I'm waiting for someone to be taken advantage of?" Others nodded in agreement.
Li Hui frowned and said: "Since you all have difficulties, of course I have to consider your difficulties. Since you are unwilling to resume farming the farmland and are worried about losing your money, then the county will not force you to come back and resume farming the farmland. Otherwise, this is the case.
Well, I do have another way, you guys can see if it works."
Zhang Zizhong smiled and said, "Please speak, Magistrate Li."
Li Huidao: "It's very simple. Since you are unwilling to re-cultivate, you will take out your farmland and hand it over to the refugees for re-cultivation. After re-cultivation, they can help you restore the fertility of the land, weed and open canals, etc. They will do it without you."
Putting in any energy will help you cultivate and fertilize the fields. This is also good for your farmland. You only need to give them three years of farming time. After that, if you are willing to come back and cultivate again, you will take the farmland back. At that time, you must hire them to farm.
Yes, if you don’t want to be hired, don’t force it. The county also has a three-year buffer period and will find another place for them to cultivate land and settle down. This can also alleviate their immediate urgent needs. After all, this is their first year of naturalization in the county.
If you can survive on your own, you need to grow food. You don’t have to do anything, you can solve their livelihood, accumulate merit, and resurrect the farmland, what do you think?"
"Why? What a beautiful idea!" someone shouted loudly.
Li Hui frowned and looked, but a pale and thin man in his thirties stood up.
"My Dongguan Shen family is the first to disagree. Why should my family's land be farmed by those poor homeless people? It's a joke. I would rather be left there, with grass growing, trees growing and thorns growing, and I'm happy too. I still want to farm.
Three years? It’s a beautiful idea. You are not allowed to move. If anyone touches a piece of dirt, I will go to the capital to file a complaint and punish them for the crime of embezzling private property." The man shouted loudly.
Li Hui frowned and asked in a deep voice: "Who is this?"
"I don't want to change my name, I don't want to change my surname. I am Shen Youzhi, the eldest son of the Shen family in Dongguan. What's wrong? Am I wrong? Our private property can be left unused as we please, and we can do as we please, and leave it to others for whatever purpose we have.
Don’t think we don’t know that Magistrate Li is occupying us in disguise. Three years later, if we try to drive them away, it will be impossible. By then, if Magistrate Li runs away, who should we look for?
Go? The poor devils made a fuss, but we ignored them. No way. Absolutely not." Shen Youzhi said loudly.
"What Shen Shaodong said is absolutely true. Why should our private property be farmed for three years by others? It was your idea, Magistrate Li, to take in the refugees and naturalize them, and to cut off the land and occupy the land. What does it have to do with us? I firmly refuse to allow it. If you want to farm it, I will do it Shen
The family's land will be trampled over the old man's body." Shen Songnian caught the opportunity and hurriedly agreed.
"We don't agree either. The farmland is our private property. What does it mean to grow it for them? Our farmland feeds them? It's a joke."
"You can plant it, buy it first. I'm willing to sell it. Ask them to bring the money. For 150,000 acres per acre, I'm willing to sell all 300 acres of my farmland to them."
"It really doesn't hurt to stand and talk. Your family has built a house, so why don't you let others move in? It's completely ridiculous."
The rest of the people also talked in various directions.
Li Hui's face darkened, and he looked at the people in front of him with an indifferent expression. These people were not just greedy for wealth, they had no humanity at all. It was obviously a good thing, but they just didn't want to. They expected that they would not dare to occupy it by force.
Their Zhuang Tian knew that this was a taboo act, so they refused to cooperate.
In this case, there is no need to be polite to them. If you can't suppress these local gangsters, you, the magistrate of Juchao County, don't have to do anything.