Luoyang, to the east is the Yongji Canal. The Yongji Canal runs from Luoyang through Linqing, Shandong, and finally to Zhuojun, Hebei. It is about 1,000 kilometers long. This is a key river connecting Luoyang to Zhuojun.
The construction of the Yongji Canal has been going on for nearly ten years now. During these ten years, the Yongji Canal has been under construction, and it has consumed huge amounts of manpower and material resources.
As of now, it has not been completed.
In fact, in the Sui Dynasty today, in addition to Yongji Canal, there is also Tongji Canal from Luoyang, the imperial capital, to Qingjiang, Jiangsu.
It is also under construction.
The construction of these rivers required the participation of a large number of civilians.
It places a huge burden on the people.
Li Yongye was one of the civilians who was conquered. He was in his early thirties, but at first glance, he looked like an old man in his early forties. He looked very haggard.
Li Yongye is considered good.
Because he could still persevere, after all, his body bones could still support him. The other people who came to dig the river with Li Yongye were seriously injured, and it was rare to see people from the same batch as Li Yongye.
This day, early morning.
Li Yongye gulped down breakfast and went to the place where he was working. The morning meal was also eaten in the military camp. There was no rich food, it was just like a clear soup with little water. Even so, Li Yongye didn't say much.
The only thing he can do is to eat more and work hard to conserve more energy so that he can continue.
However, Li Yongye and the other workers had just arrived at the river, less than an hour after starting work, when suddenly, the rapid sound of gongs sounded on the river.
This sound is the sound of finishing work.
The excavation of the river channel is not something that Li Yongye and others can leave just because they want to. They must work on time and rest on time.
Everything is coordinated and coordinated.
Li Yongye specializes in excavation of river channels for five years. He has only seen people working for extended periods of time and has never seen anyone finish work early.
What happened today was really weird. However, Li Yongye didn't waste any time. He quickly picked up the equipment, put his own equipment away, and walked back.
"Lao Li, wait a minute, wait for me."
As Li Yongye was walking towards the camp, he suddenly heard a shout from behind him.
He was familiar with this sound.
This is the voice of his friend Jiang Pingchuan.
Jiang Pingchuan is also in his early thirties, about the same age as Li Yongye. Moreover, the two participated in the program at about the same time. It is not easy to survive on the river.
Li Yongye paused for a moment, but Jiang Pingchuan had already caught up.
Jiang Pingchuan said: "Old Li, do you think this is strange? Early this morning, the army notified us of the end of work and summoned us back. Speaking of which, you and I have been here for more than a day or two. So,
Over the years, have you and I ever encountered such a situation?"
Li Yongye said: "I have never encountered such a situation."
Jiang Pingchuan said: "It's like the sun is coming out in the west, it's weird. So I think there may be something unexpected happening in the imperial palace. Do you think it could be the death of the emperor?"
When he said this, Jiang Pingchuan's voice was very low. After all, talking about the emperor without permission was a serious crime of beheading. Jiang Pingchuan also knew about such things.
Ordinary people dare not talk about the emperor.
However, the people on the river suffered greatly, and they all hated Yang Guang. If it weren't for Yang Guang, they wouldn't have been unable to return home, and they wouldn't have died on the river.
All of this was caused by Yang Guang.
That's why Jiang Pingchuan dared to criticize.
Li Yongye snorted and said: "Xiao Jiang, you should be careful, don't let the trouble come from your mouth. Let's go, we will know what happened after we get back."
Li Yongye has always been a man of few words. He doesn't talk much, but he does things very seriously.
Seeing this, Jiang Pingchuan shook his head boredly.
The group of people returned to the camp, and soon after, they were back in the camp and went straight to the school grounds.
The number of people digging the river at this location alone is no less than 50,000.
This is just one of the strongholds. Countless people are digging river channels throughout the planned site of Yongji Canal in order to dredge the river channel as soon as possible so that the river can connect Luoyang to Zhuojun.
Everyone stood still, and the person in charge of this stronghold stood at the front.
The person in charge is named Li Cheng.
In the court, he is an official the size of a sesame seed, but in this camp, he is a leader, in charge of the life and death of fifty thousand people. Who dares to anger Li Cheng, he can deprive the other party of food, and even
Let the other person keep working.
If he wants to deal with people, he has many ways.
Li Cheng said loudly: "I have summoned you all today for one thing only. The Imperial Advisor, King Can, has arrived at the military camp and has important news to announce."
As Li Cheng mentioned Wang Can, he saw Wang Can striding out. His appearance attracted everyone's attention. Everyone's eyes followed Wang Can. In a blink of an eye, Wang Can was at the front.
on the stage.
The reason why Wang Can is here is that he is responsible for changing the way of river excavation.
Wang Can had already planned to change the way of digging the river before, just because he had been marching east and west and had various things to contribute. Wang Can took the opportunity to thank Yang Guang when he entered the palace and talked about the changes to the Grand Canal.
, won the support of Yang Guang.
Now, Wang Can is executing this matter.
He wants to make reforms.
Reform the way all people work.
This is also the reason why Wang Can came out in person.
Although Wang Can could have stayed in Luoyang and carried out reforms remotely, but when it came to such matters, Wang Can came in person because he could not be careless in the slightest.
Wang Can looked around and looked at everyone present. He raised his hand and lowered his hand to signal all the people to stop talking.
Immediately, Wang Can said: "Today, I have summoned all your workers. The reason for this is because the Yongji Canal still needs to be dredged and excavated, but the method has been changed."
"The imperial court will no longer collect corvees for the excavation of the Yongji Canal."
"So now you are free."
"You don't have to worry about being targeted by the court for not digging the Yongji Canal. From now on, you are already free men and you don't need to participate in the digging of the Yongji Canal."
Wang Can said the reason for his visit today.
boom!!
Discussions suddenly broke out in the entire school grounds.
The minds of all the common people were filled with disbelief and shock. Many people's minds had gone blank, they had lost the space to think, and they were in a daze.
It's so unreal.
They have been digging rivers everywhere for several years. Many of them range from young to old, but from the beginning to the end, the court has never released them, and they have been detained here.
But now, the court has changed its attitude.
It's very surprising.
Wang Can stood above and looked at the people who were talking about each other. He did not disturb them, but watched quietly. After a long time, the discussion gradually stopped, and no one spoke anymore.
A pair of eyes fell on Wang Can again.
It's just that in these pairs of eyes, although there is gratitude, there is more doubt.
is it possible?
Is it really possible to stop imposing corvee labor?
Such a situation makes people doubtful in their hearts.
Jiang Pingchuan was impatient, and he couldn't hold himself steady. He immediately said: "Master, if we don't collect corvees and no one will dig the river again, will the Yongji Canal continue? If the imperial court no longer collects corvees,
Everyone is gone, who will do it?"
Wang Can smiled and said: "It's actually very simple. The court now does not collect corvees, but recruits workers. For those who are willing to stay and continue to dig the Yongji Canal, the court will settle their wages every day."
After a pause, Wang Can continued: "Not only that, your meals in the army will also be changed immediately. In short, from now on, you will no longer have anyone to supervise and whip you. Everything depends on you. More
The more you work, the less you will get. It all depends on you."
Wow!!
All the people were even more surprised when they heard this.
Recruiting workers to excavate the Yongji Canal cannot be completed overnight.
This will consume a lot of money.
Can the court afford it? But these are beyond their control. They just know that now they are indeed free and no longer affected by corvee.
Wang Can roughly said it, without going into details, and shouted: "Now, all of you have to make a choice. Those who are willing to stay and continue doing things will stay and continue doing things. Those who are not willing, will stay and continue doing things.
You can pack your bags today and return to your hometown and home."
"If you want to stay, I welcome you."
"If you want to leave, I won't stop you."
"Everything is left to your own will."
The expression on Wang Can's face was full of smiles, and he said: "Now, everyone makes a choice. Those who are willing to stay, stand still. Those who want to leave and return, all stand up and stand on the left side of the school field.
side."
"let's start!"
Wang Can gave another order.
Many people left one after another, unwilling to stay.
Jiang Pingchuan looked at Li Yongye and said seriously: "Old Li, you don't talk much on weekdays. However, you have always been assertive. Tell me, what should we do?"
Although Jiang Pingchuan talks a lot and likes to talk a lot, in fact, when Jiang Pingchuan follows Li Yongye, Li Yongye is the main one, and he trusts Li Yongye's judgment.
Li Yongye said: "Xiao Jiang, we came out to work. Although we were forced to work as slaves, in fact, we didn't achieve much. Are you willing to just go back in despair? Now the court wants to pay wages, let's give it a try first.
If it really doesn’t work, just leave. Especially this time, there will definitely be a lot of people leaving, and more people need to stay. If we stay now, this is an opportunity!"
"I'll listen to you."
Jiang Pingchuan believed in Li Yongye very much, so he nodded in agreement.
The other people who followed Li Yongye also agreed.
As Li Yongye judged, many people have chosen to leave. There are tens of thousands of people in a team, but the number of people who are really willing to stay is no more than 5,000. It is simply not one out of ten.