"This... I think it's Chen... who looks a little more amiable."
"So, I have a hideous appearance?" Emperor Jing Xing teased.
When Li Changkong heard this, he was dumbfounded and thought to himself why the emperor was so unreasonable that he could dig a hole for himself.
Emperor Jing Xing also shook his head and smiled, and said: "I don't want to listen to what you say. You go and call people here. I want to hear with my own ears why they are willing to stay in the bitter cold land of Xishan and work hard."
When Li Changkong heard this, he was quite helpless, thinking that he could still be a fraudster in northern Myanmar?
This person was hired with serious money, how could he be kidnapped?
However, when the emperor spoke, he couldn't say much and could only do what he said.
After a while, an old man in his fifties, dressed as a farmer, with dark skin and a strong Yizhou accent, came over.
All the civil and military officials couldn't help but frown when they saw it.
Fifty-year-old is already considered an advanced age in Daqian, and he should be at an age where he can spend his remaining years at home.
Li Changkong still has to carry a hoe and work every day, which makes people feel uncomfortable.
The birth of this artifact is of great importance.
Emperor Jing Xing has already ordered that all ministers in the court who want to come can come and observe.
This order was also passed to the East Palace.
And in line with the principle of never missing out to join in the fun, Prince Liu Yu naturally came as well.
At this time, he looked at Li Changkong's operations and couldn't help but shook his head secretly.
There are so many young and strong people, but you choose an old one instead. It is in vain that you, Mr. Li, usually pride yourself on being smart.
Really...
Liu Yu was a little helpless, but he was already thinking about how to keep Li Changkong later.
But with his temperament, he probably could only hold Emperor Jing Xing's legs and cry, begging him for mercy.
At the front of the team, Emperor Jing Xing looked at the old farmer who was sweating and panting in front of him, and his face already looked a little ugly.
After glaring at Li Changkong, he made his tone as gentle as possible and said to the old man: "Old man, I see you are already old, why don't you go home and rest?"
"Have a rest? I'm joking. I've lived for most of my life and I haven't had a break."
"No rest? Why is that?"
"You have to make money to support your family. To be honest with you, the eldest son in the family has just given birth to a baby and the younger son has just married. This is the time to use money."
"How can you, an old man, earn all their money?"
"Besides, there are so many places to make money, why come to Xishan?"
"I see that this place is geographically remote and there are a lot of mosquitoes. You are old and the weather is getting hotter now. Wouldn't it be a living hell to work here?"
When the old man heard this, his face darkened. He looked at Emperor Jing Xing and just stood there, silent.
When Emperor Jing Xing saw this, he was also a little puzzled: "Old man, why don't you speak?"
The old man remained silent, shook his head, turned around and wanted to leave, as if he didn't want to cause trouble.
When Li Changkong saw this, he said: "Li San, what do you say? If something happens, I will take care of it for you."
As soon as these words came out, Li San felt relieved, looked at Emperor Jing Xing, and said in an unfriendly tone: "Master, it's not that I don't want to say it, it's just that I feel uncomfortable listening to what you said, old man."
"This Western Mountain is a bit off the beaten track, and there are a lot of mosquitoes. But... the wages are high!"
"The monthly payment is several times more than elsewhere."
"Besides, Mr. Li still cares about our food."
"Where can I find such a good job?"
"Besides, it's not just me who doesn't want to leave. You are here in Xishan, looking for someone here and there, and asking if anyone is willing to leave?"
"No one wants to!"
"Mr. Li not only paid us wages, he also saved many people's lives!"
"I am from Yizhou. After the storm and shipwreck, I fled to Qiandu City."
"We are refugees and we are old. We are looking for something to do, but there is nowhere to find it."
"At that time, the family was fully supported by our two sons."
"It's hard to live alone, let alone marry a wife and have children."
"Later I heard about Mr. Li's job recruitment in Xishan, so I came here to try my luck."
"Who would have thought that the treatment is so good!"
"An old man like me can find a job."
"Well done, you can even build a house for us!"
"I'm quite old, but I haven't even been buried yet. If I don't do more of such a good thing, I'll regret it when I'm completely old and can't do it anymore."
"I'm not kidding you, a few months ago, the little old man's family was so poor that they didn't even have a thatched shack."
"It's different now. We have a house, and we can still eat meat during the holidays!"
"The boss also saved a sum of money and said he wanted to find a private tutor for my eldest grandson!"
"What is this? This is hope!"
"After reading, things will be different. You will be able to take the imperial examination in the future!"
"If you follow me and dig food in the loess like his father, then you are not the same person!"
"We have received such a great favor from Mr. Li, and you just let me go. What's this?"
"The little old man has never read a book and doesn't understand any big principles. But the little old man knows that he cannot be that ungrateful person. If you receive a favor from others, you must repay it."
"If you have anything else, ask someone else. I have to go to work."
With that said, the old man wiped the fine sweat on his forehead with a sweat towel, turned around and walked towards the fields.
Seeing this scene, many ministers shouted angrily, and some even cursed directly.
"Li Changkong, you are so brave, how dare you condone such a cunning person and speak nonsense in front of His Majesty!"
"That guy just now was so brave. Li Changkong, if you want to atone for your sins, go and capture that guy and put him in jail."
As soon as these words were spoken, Li Changkong felt extremely harsh, and immediately sarcastically said: "Everyone of them is quite capable."
"Your Majesty hasn't spoken yet, and you jumped out first? Does His Majesty have the final say? Or do you have the final say?"
"You! How dare you, the thief, stir up trouble here!"
"Okay!" Just when the two sides were about to quarrel, Emperor Jing Xing suddenly shouted sharply.
For a moment, neither party dared to speak.
Emperor Jing Xing turned around and looked at Li Changkong with burning eyes. After a long time, he said: "How many people like him are there here?"
"There are probably hundreds of people."
When Emperor Jing Xing heard this, he nodded, shook his head, and after a while, he exhaled a sigh of relief and said with emotion: "It's my dereliction of duty!"
"These refugees, these hungry people, are all my people!"
"It should all be settled by the imperial court."
"But did the imperial court do it? No! If it weren't for Li Changkong, these people would have been lying dead on the streets of Qiandu City."
"This is not only my dereliction of duty, but also yours!"
"That man just now is one of my subjects. Do you want to take him? Do you want to take him too?" Emperor Jing Xing seemed to be really angry and said in a stern voice.