Pang Yumin cried sadly: "Captain Han, everything is gone. There is not a grain of rice left in my Pang family's granary. There is no way to accommodate the people."
Han Baihang heard that Pang Yumin wanted to ask for his help, and hurriedly said: "You have to ask Magistrate Mei about this matter. Our troops have run out of rations. I have ordered the troops to reduce their rations. It is really impossible to help the people."
Pang Yumin opened his mouth and sighed: "When County Magistrate Mei came, he brought me two thousand yuan for disaster relief, but it didn't help at all."
Han Baihang had previously thought that rebuilding Yong'an Town would cost at least tens of thousands of dollars, and the two thousand yuan given by Mei Changyuan could only relieve the temporary emergency.
"Mayor Pang, it is urgent to rebuild the town, but what is more important is to prevent bandits. This is the blockhouse I conceived, and construction has already started. I have advanced part of the initial costs, and asked Mayor Pang to allocate some money." Han Baihang took out the money.
I learned the sketch of the blockhouse and introduced it to Pang Yumin.
When Pang Yumin heard about the allocation of money, he became confused and said: "Captain Han, let's put the matter of the artillery tower aside. We must first take care of the people's stomachs and find ways to raise food."
Han Baihang didn't mention the case of the forts again, and changed his voice: "Has Mayor Pang figured out how to rebuild the town?"
Pang Yumin smiled bitterly and said: "How else can we rebuild it? Repair it as before. But we don't have money right now, so we can only look at it in the future."
Han Baihang shook his head and said, "I have an idea. Is Mayor Pang willing to listen to it?"
Pang Yumin glanced at Han Baihang: "Please tell me!"
Han Baihang smiled and said: "I heard that half of the shops along the street in the town belong to Mayor Pang's family."
Pang Yumin nodded and said: "Not bad."
Han Baihang said: "Yong'an Town is bustling with commerce and trade. The sooner we rebuild, the sooner we can make money, right?"
"right!"
Han Baihang laughed and said: "So I want to lend money to Mayor Pang so that Mayor Pang can rebuild it early."
Pang Yumin glanced at Han Baihang warily and said, "Captain Han wouldn't lend me the money in vain. He must have some requirements."
"That's natural."
Han Baihang smiled and said: "What I want is simple. From now on, I want two levels of commercial tax in Yong'an Town."
When Pang Yumin heard this, his color suddenly changed and he forced a smile and said: "Captain Han, I don't dare to borrow this money."
Han Baihang smiled and said: "Mayor Pang, you can borrow it if you don't want to, but I want to lend it to the people for reconstruction. You have no objection to that."
Pang Yumin rolled his eyes and said, "This is a good thing. Why would I have any objection? I would like to thank Captain Han on behalf of the people in the town."
"Haha, Mayor Pang is too polite." Han Baihang smiled slyly.
…
Han Baihang's lending to the people was not entirely out of good intentions. Lending money has been profitable since ancient times, but the profit he sought was not the black-hearted interest like a donkey rolling around, but to change the commercial street pattern of Yong'an Town. This matter is complicated to say,
In fact, the reason is very simple. The official road from Yongcheng to Xiao County passes through Yong'an Town. On both sides of the road are long commercial streets, making money every day. Han Baihang plans to lend money to the people at low interest rates, but the condition is to abandon the original official road.
If the road is no longer needed, an official road will be rebuilt and the commercial street will be moved here, which will have the effect of draining the bottom of the cauldron. This will force Pang Yumin to submit and give him the commercial tax collected by the town.
The reason why Han Baihang is so impatient to get Yong'an Town's commercial taxes is because of the severe constraints imposed by Ding Zuopeng in Yongcheng. If he wants to make achievements in suppressing bandits, he must first break out of Ding Zuopeng's sphere of influence and gain independence in military expenditures, and Yong'an Town has just experienced the destruction of bandits.
, it is when the power of local snakes like Pang Yumin is declining. This is the best time to intervene in the local area. By the time Ding Zuopeng and Pang Yumin react, he will have already established a firm foothold.
The next morning, Han Baihang sent soldiers to beat gongs and drums in the town and shouted: "Folks, this is great news. Company Commander Han feels sorry for everyone who has been harmed by bandits. In order to help you rebuild your home, you can borrow money without mortgage. No donkeys."
The interest rate is 5% per month, and the first three months are interest-free. Come and borrow money..."
At the same time, the people Han Baihang sent to various towns to buy grain also came back. The grain in large and small carts was piled up on the town's threshing floor. The grain was not used for disaster relief, but was sold to the people who borrowed money at a lower price than the market price.
, in order to encourage people to borrow money.
The people were on the verge of desperation at this time, and naturally they would not let go of Han Baihang's life-saving straw. In just one morning, Han Baihang lent 30,000 yuan.
After borrowing the money, Han Baihang, the creditor, took action. After he selected the new shopping street on the map, he sent a squadron to build the road. All the people whose houses were occupied were rewarded handsomely.
By the time Pang Yumin got the news, the regiment members had already neatly repaired the roadbed of Lixuguan Road, leaving only the paving with blue bricks.
"What is Han Baihang going to do?" Pang Yumin was confused. He was also rebuilding shops these days. He didn't bother to keep an eye on Han Baihang's actions and hurriedly went to see it in person. After asking about it, he found out that Han Baihang was going to build a new commercial street. Now he
He quit his job and built a new shopping street. Where would he put his shop? Then he angrily went to the military camp to ask Han Baihang for questioning.
Han Baihang had been on guard against Pang Yumin's visit, so he led his troops to hide in other towns for inspection. He walked for five days before coming back. When he came back, the new shopping street had been paved with green bricks. During this period, Pang Yumin had not blocked the construction, but the face
The soldier, who was like a wolf and a tiger, could only stare and worry. When he heard that Han Baihang was back, he hurriedly gathered more than ten merchants to find Han Baihang.
"Captain Han, the new street must not be built!" Pang Yumin shouted loudly as soon as he saw Han Baihang's face. Under his leadership, more than a dozen merchants who came together also protested loudly and excitedly.
Han Baihang smiled but said nothing. He waited until everyone was dry and shut up, then said, "Why can't the new street be repaired?"
Pang Yumin said anxiously: "Why build a new street when there are old streets? Isn't this a waste of money and a waste of people? Besides, if the new street is built, where will we go?"
Han Baihang smiled slightly and said: "What kind of truth is this? I built the new street with my own money. It's not a waste of money and people. As for where you want to go, isn't the old street still there?"
Pang Yumin's face turned green. The old street is still there, but how can a town have two parallel commercial roads? Moreover, the new street is wider and flatter than the old street. This is not deliberately replacing the old street. He is
When he was about to argue about this, he saw a half-smile on Han Baihang's face. He suddenly understood that it was Han Baihang's intention to build the new street. No matter how much he argued, it would be futile. But he couldn't understand why Han Baihang did it.
He was suddenly in trouble, but after all, he still had some city power. He asked those powerful merchants to go back. When Han Baihang was the only one left, he cupped his fists and said, "Captain Han, what can I do to offend Mr. Pang?"
"No!" Han Baihang shook his head.
Pang Yumin sighed and said: "Company Commander Han, what exactly do you want?"
Han Baihang said with a smile: "It's not what I want, it's what Mayor Pang wants!"
Pang Yumin was confused for a moment: "What?"
Han Baihang looked at him and said slowly: "The officers and soldiers want to suppress the bandits, and there is nowhere to raise military expenses. Does Mayor Pang have any good ideas?"
Pang Yumin understood now. After arguing for a long time, he still wanted money. He held his breath in his heart and said firmly: "Captain Han, I don't have any good ideas. Yong'an Town is a remote and poor country. We really can't afford the military expenses for suppressing bandits. You can handle the military expenses."
We should go to Magistrate Mei."
Han Baihang's pupils shrank, and Pang Yumin took out Mei Changyuan to press him, which made him feel very unhappy. He couldn't help but sneered and said impatiently: "Mayor Pang, it's useless for you to move Mayor Mei out. Yong'an Town is going into the mountains to suppress bandits.
The bridgehead. After our officers and soldiers were stationed here, the bandits disappeared and merchants traveled safely. The town collected a lot of taxes. Our officers and soldiers contributed a lot. You must come up with this military expenditure."
Pang Yumin's face changed: "Captain Han, how dare you force me to pledge my donation?"
Han Baihang raised his eyebrows. This Pang Yumin was really stubborn. Since he refused to drink the toast, don't blame him for being fined. He had a bright smile on his face: "How could it be possible? The Republic of China has royal laws and military disciplines, so military expenditures are naturally huge.
The mayor took the initiative to pledge the donation, so there is no reason to force him."
"What about the Xinjie issue?" Pang Yumin asked, seeing Han Baihang's attitude softening.
Han Baihang smiled softly and said: "Easy to say, easy to say. I will definitely not embarrass Mayor Pang."