The Empress’ Livestream
chapter-397

Chapter 397: Moving the Capital to Chenzhou (IV)

The future master was so sly. Did she still need a strategist, even if they were a loser?

As someone considered “normal” by Jiang Pengji, Feng Jin felt that he had suffered thousands of injuries.

The nerves in the corners of his mouth seemed to be out of control. If it was not for his excellent upbringing from an early age, he might have lost his mind already.

“So you see, according to my preliminary speculations, Xiangyang District isn’t a worthless place. It’ll depend on how it’s utilized and developed.” Jiang Pengji continued, “However, these are all just my personal speculations. We’ll have to go to Xiangyang District in person to know about the actual situation there.”

Feng Jin looked at the map, then back at Jiang Pengji. He suddenly understood that no matter where she was, she would cause trouble.

“According to my experience, Xiangyang District has iron ore veins and moderate reserves. If it’s mined…”

Swords, guns, and armor were the necessary pieces of equipment for an excellent troop. They were also the biggest items of expense. Jiang Pengji was very poor, and she could barely provide food for the troops. She already somewhat struggled to provide them with 100 or 200 sets of top-grade weapons…

“But… even if there is iron ore that can be mined, how can it be transported?” Feng Jin was not someone who liked to bicker, but his friend really needed a spanking and his hands felt itchy. He could not help it.

If she was so capable, she should just go directly to heaven.

“I heard some people say that if one wants to be rich, he should build roads first. One should give birth to fewer children and plant more trees… Bah. Forget about the last part.”

Jiang Pengji could not control her mouth and blurted out the ridicule of the audience in the streaming room. She said seriously, “The focus is on the first part of the sentence. The prosperity of a place depends on whether or not it has roads that are accessible from any direction. The texture of the soil in Xiangyang District isn’t soft. If a road that can provide access to the outside world is built, it can lessen any inconvenience. You don’t have to worry about the money and manpower that are required to build a road.”

“Conscript labor?” Feng Jin frowned. The people had hated conscript labor since ancient times, but the court orders had to be executed.

To put it simply, conscript labor was unpaid, physical labor. There was no reward for doing it well. If one did not do his job well, his whole family would be killed.

If Jiang Pengji implemented that when she had just taken office, it would easily cause hatred and conflict among the locals.

“That’s why I say you’re too noble. You need to be flexible on some matters. It’s not good to stick to the rules,” Jiang Pengji continued, “People recoil from normal conscript labor. Why? It’s because conscript labor is exhausting and there’s no reward. Their time is wasted, and the farming of land in their own homes is held up. Would there be anyone who isn’t willing to join if they are given a certain reward and have their three meals taken care of? When the work is completed, the agricultural tax of each household can be reduced at the worker’s discretion. That, or they can rent farming tools and cattle from the government at a low price.”

“What about the money?” Feng Jin could not help but be vulgar and targeted the heart of the problem.

Jiang Pengji spoke eloquently; however, in order to implement everything she had mentioned, money was necessary.

Where would they get the money?

She snorted and yelled, “Xiaoyu, are you there? Come in.”

Xu Ke, who was as busy as a bee, came into the tent. Both the temperature and the smell inside the tent were much more pleasant than outside.

“Yes?”

Jiang Pengji replied, “Have the troops returned from searching the ruins of every residence? What’s the result?”

Feng Jin suddenly understood. His face turned somewhat green. Where would they get the money? The money would be directly “borrowed” from what they found in the ruins.

Jiang Pengji would leave a bill signed in acknowledgment of debt. She would repay the victims whose things they had “borrowed” whenever she had the money.

However, Feng Jin had given the suggestion himself. He could only silently endure any insults she had.

Before the earthquake, many high officials were outside the city to escape the heat. Most of the casualties were manservants.

When the earthquake struck, the Emperor wanted to move the capital. Some households urgently dispatched their manservants to return to their houses, then pack their bags and family properties.

There was not much time, so many things could not be taken. The things left behind were mostly petty gains for Jiang Pengji.

Upon hearing her request, Xu Ke looked ruddy. He took out a list of treasure donors from his sleeve.

The high-ranking officials did not have time to move things, but Jiang Pengji’s troops had a lot of time. They would take whatever they could with them. It was a raid.

Every troop member was empty-handed when they came, but their bags were full when they left.

Jiang Pengji said, “Look. Don’t we have silver now?”

Feng Jin was speechless. He had no desire to talk to her.

Jiang Pengji did not continue teasing the pitiful Feng Jin. She quit while she was ahead. “First, count the number of people who are willing to come with us. Time waits for no man.” Jiang Pengji paused then said, “Oh, right—get some of them to dress up like commoners and propagate the news about the Tsing Yi Army and the Red Lotus Group.”

The audience in the streaming room did not understand Jiang Pengji’s intentions, but Feng Jin and Xu Ke understood immediately.

Most of the people in the current era found it somewhat difficult to leave their homeland. Even though they lost their homes and the court did not care about them, they were still willing to stay. In their minds, it was better to stay than to follow a stranger to an unfamiliar place to start over.

Jiang Pengji was not sure how many among the 10,000 people were willing to come with her. She simply used a means.

By coming with her, they would be able to eat meat and warm congee for every meal. Their lives would not be in danger. If they stayed in the same place or went to their relatives for shelter, the rioters would kill them.

Although the reflex arc was a little longer, the viewers in the streaming room were still very clever. Many of them praised Jiang Pengji’s brazenness.

Caolaoban Airuqi: “You have my respect.”

Dage Maicaoxie: “I like that the streamer is so shameless. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, when Uncle Liu was defeated, it was difficult for him to leave the 100,000 people in Xinye. He said that the people voluntarily took their families along and followed him. I have a conspiracy theory about this concerning the streamer…”

Erge Wudadao: “I’ve never seen someone so audacious before. She’s self-confident about the strength of her righteousness… I like it.”

Jiang Pengji glanced at the bullet screen and secretly rolled her eyes. Did they not know that she lacked manpower and money? If she did not think of a way to broaden their source of income and reduce expenditure, how could such a huge matter be arranged?

In fact, the people had an extremely favorable impression towards Jiang Pengji. Many people respected her from the bottom of their hearts. How many people did she personally save from the ruins?

They were alive not because of how kind the court was, nor because of how the court loved the people as their own children. They were alive because of Jiang Pengji’s kindheartedness.

She had rescued them, so it was as though they had a new lease on life.

When the news was spread about Jiang Pengji leaving for Xiangyang District, many people were in a panic. It did not help that news about the Tsing Yi Army and the Red Lotus Group, which did not sound like proper organizations, spread as well. The people were desolate and feared abandonment.

They would die if they stayed in Shangjing. Why not take step of faith, follow Jiang Pengji, and start over again? Their lives could not be worse than they were currently.

Most of the young people were willing to come with her, but the elders and children were a problem. They could not walk fast, so they would just be an encumbrance.

“To the elders—don’t worry. Whoever is willing to come can come. Langjun won’t leave anyone behind.” One of the young men in the troops comforted an anxious and fearful grandfather and his grandson with a bright smile.