Translator: ryuxenji Editor: H2dH2mr [In response to everyone's call on the official WeChat account, there will be two updates today ^ - ^. Remember to follow me when you have the time. Just search for Huangfu Qi on the official WeChat account.]
It felt like only an instant had passed, but it also felt like countless centuries. Finally, when the atmosphere in the court had reached its most oppressive state, and just when everyone thought that Wang Chong was going to back down, everyone suddenly heard that young voice.
"The various officials have already explained the problem of Ji County very clearly. It is because of the periodic floods that the people there have become so poor. Therefore, in order to solve the problem there, we must first solve the floods!"
Wang Chong stood at the end of the line and slowly raised his head. His words stunned everyone who heard him.
Ji County had been poor for a long time. When the officials of the imperial court first arrived there, they only thought about how to solve the poverty, but they did not think deeply about the source. As a result, Ji County became more and more destitute. But after countless debates in the court, everyone finally learned that the root cause of Ji County's poverty was the floods.
This was Wang Chong's first time attending the court, but he was actually able to point out the root cause of the countless discussions over the years. If it were any one of them, they would not be able to do it. It could be seen that Wang Chong was truly talented, and no one could underestimate him!
"This kid … is very powerful. He does have some ability!"
Lin Changxin stood at the front of the line and looked at Wang Chong, who was dressed in a bright red robe. His eyes narrowed, and his heart was filled with awe. This revolt was to embarrass Wang Chong, to let him know that the internal affairs of the imperial court were not as simple as the battles at the borders. But Wang Chong's first words had hit the nail on the head, and Lin Changxin could not help but feel a sense of threat.
"As for the imperial court sending six or seven officials, they were unable to solve the problem. Not only did the situation in Ji County not resolve, it became even more serious. The reason is very simple. It is better to teach a man to fish than to teach him to fish. Lord Lin, can I take a look at the dossier on Ji County? "
Wang Chong looked at Lin Changxin.
Lin Changxin was stunned. From his standpoint, he naturally didn't wish to let Wang Chong see the dossier, but in front of so many civil and military officials, this was absolutely impossible.
"Bring the dossier to Lord Wang!"
Lin Changxin made a gesture, and an official stepped forward and quickly handed over a thick stack of files.
The Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue had to prepare dossiers for the matters discussed in the imperial court in case of emergencies and for other people to look at. This was all part of the routine.
Wang Chong opened the dossier, found the volume of Ji County Annals, and quickly browsed through it.
The entire imperial court was silent. No one dared to disturb them. If it was in the past, everyone would only laugh at him. After all, Wang Chong was only a general. But now, everyone had a serious expression on their faces. They no longer dared to look at Wang Chong like before.
"Pa!"
A few moments later, Wang Chong closed the dossier and handed it back to the official.
"It seems like my judgment was correct. Based on the county annals of Ji County, the frequent floods have caused the land of Ji County to become extremely barren and lose the ability to grow crops. To control the floods, one needs to build a dam, and this takes a long time, making it very difficult to control the floods. More importantly, the floods have made the common people apprehensive and not rashly plant crops there. Thus, in this lowly subject's view, Ji County needs to adapt to the local conditions and make changes. It is no longer suitable for agriculture and farming. "
Wang Chong indifferently said as he looked at the officials in the hall.
Bang!
Wang Chong's words sent the entire Imperial Court into an uproar.
"Absurd! Food is the most important thing to the people! If the common people don't grow crops, what will they rely on to eat? King of Foreign Lands, you speak nonsense! "
"Your Majesty, this subject accuses Advisor-in-Waiting Wang Chong of harming the country and the people and making irresponsible remarks about state affairs. Your Majesty, please punish him!"
"And here I was thinking that he would have some brilliant idea, but it was this. Laughable!"
… …
Wang Chong's words were like stabbing a hornet's nest, causing the officials to become agitated and begin to criticize him. If not for the fact that Wang Chong had just been made King of Foreign Lands and had been some other Advisor-in-Waiting, the civil officials of the court would have long since cursed and cursed him out of the Taihe Palace.
"Haha, so he's just someone who plays to the gallery! I was just wondering how he could be so formidable! "
On the other side, King Qi sneered.
He had been worried for nothing, but in the end, when it came to internal affairs, Wang Chong was just a good-for-nothing, half-learned man.
"Chong-er! It's over … "
Wang Chong's big uncle, Wang Chong, felt his heart sink. Despite his repeated warnings, in the end, Wang Chong had still fallen into the trap of these people. The civil officials of the court knew how to eat people. Just based on Wang Chong's words today, these people could use this as a pretext to wipe clean Wang Chong's reputation for meritorious service on the border, making Wang Chong the laughingstock of the world.
Wang Chong had spent so much effort and risked his life to get here, but all his efforts had been wasted in a single night!
At this moment, he was filled with self-reproach.
"Heh!"
Wang Chong held his hands behind his back, taking in the expressions and reactions of all the officials in the hall, and he only grinned.
"Rely on what? Of course it's the iron, copper, and silver mines! "
Just when the crowd was at its most furious, Wang Chong suddenly spoke, his words immediately suppressing all the angry voices in the hall. For a moment, the entire hall was silent.
"King of Foreign Lands, what do you mean by this?"
In the end, it was Supervising Physician Lin Changxin who spoke, voicing the question on everyone's mind. His expression was solemn, and there was a questioning look in his eyes.
"It's very simple! Although Ji County is no longer suitable for the development of agriculture and farming, I happen to know that Ji County is rich in iron, copper, and silver mines! "
Wang Chong confidently said.
"What!"
Everyone was dumbfounded by Wang Chong's words. Even King Qi, standing by the coiling dragon pillar, was shocked speechless.
Ji County had iron, copper, and silver mines!!
How could one of the poorest counties have so many precious minerals? How could this be? This was simply a fantasy! The Imperial Court had sent six or seven officials there, but they had never heard of any mines there!
Wang Chong's words left everyone dumbfounded!
"King of Foreign Lands, are you speaking the truth?"
A civil official suddenly stepped forward. It was Remonstrating Physician Han Xiaoyun, a solemn expression on his face. If what Wang Chong said was true, then not only could he fill the Imperial Court's treasury, he could also help an impoverished county rise above the rest. This was truly killing two birds with one stone.
"Of course!"
Wang Chong indifferently said.
"One of my subordinates happened to be passing by, so he learned of it. As for whether it's true or not, the Imperial Court can send people at top speed. It should be a matter of a few days before we know. "
None of the officials in the court believed Wang Chong's words. Ji County was not an important place. If there were iron, copper, and silver mines there, and Wang Chong knew of them without the knowledge of the common people, then all the good fortune of the world had been seized by Wang Chong's' subordinates'.
Wang Chong, dressed in his crimson imperial robe, stood with his head held high, his expression confident and relaxed. Seeing the doubtful gazes of the crowd, Wang Chong only grinned and offered no explanation.
When he was reading the county records of Ji County, he had especially examined the map of the area, and after carefully thinking about it, he recalled that Ji County was rich in iron, bronze, and silver mines. Because these mines were buried rather deep, not even the common people knew of them, and the area remained in a state of extreme poverty.
But Wang Chong was different. He could use his memories to buy WuZi Steel from the Hydra mine and guide his cousin Wang Liang to a deserted island to bring back meteoric iron, so he naturally could discover the mines beneath Ji County. Moreover, when the calamity arrived in the future, the earth would crack open and all these mines would be exposed.
"The iron mines can be used for mining, smelting, forging, and weaponsmithing. These can recruit a large number of peasants and provide them with work. And the copper and silver mines can be used to forge coins and fill the treasury. At the same time, a portion can be transferred to Ji County to deal with the flood disaster.
"The flood disaster in Ji County took a long time to deal with and cannot be dealt with in a short period of time. This is also the reason for the failure of the previous officials. The common people have to eat every day and cannot wait for so long. But if the Imperial Court allocates funds … We can spend two to three years mobilizing everyone to build dams, divert the flood, and allow the land to recover on its own. When the dams are built and the flood disaster is completely dealt with, we can once again develop agriculture and farming. Sharpening the axe will not delay the work of cutting firewood! "
Wang Chong smiled at the end.
Hearing Wang Chong's final words, the civil and military officials in the hall all had strange looks on their faces. Beneath the coiling dragon pillar, King Qi's face was as black as the bottom of a wok, extremely unsightly.
He had not instructed Lin Changxin to deal with Wang Chong so that he could show off. In his original plan, no matter how clever Wang Chong was, he would be able to think of a way to sabotage his plans. He would not be able to carry them out. But if Ji County had an iron mine, copper mine, or even silver mine, coupled with Wang Chong's plan, then even an idiot would know that someone was trying to sabotage his plans.
Because just based on these, Wang Chong was already in an invincible position!
He had completely lost this round!
"This bastard!"
King Qi clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Although he hoped that this was fake, with Wang Chong's current status, he would not joke about such a thing. The risk was too great, and it would be too easy to expose him! And from the reactions of the officials, Lin Changxin's attempt had also backfired. Not only had he failed to attack Wang Chong, but he had also increased Wang Chong's influence in the Imperial Court.
"Lord Wang, where are these mineral veins that you mentioned? We will immediately send people to investigate and excavate. "
Another civil official stepped forward and asked.
Wang Chong did not hesitate and quickly reported three locations. The places where the mines were buried had some special characteristics, and because they contained silver, copper, and iron, the surface of the mountain was different from other mountains, making it very easy to identify.
"Did you hear that? Record these places and immediately send them to the officials of Ji County. Follow the map and excavate on the spot."
The civil official said.
"Yes, Lord!"
At the edge of the Imperial Court, a minor official in charge of passing on information quickly left the hall.
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