Some things were inevitable. When the main wife passed away, she left behind a son and a daughter. When the side wife was alive, she had two sons. Naturally, she would be biased towards her son. Some antagonisms had unknowingly arisen.
They were all his children. Which side did you want him to be biased towards? There were some things that he knew very well, so he could only pretend to be confused.
However, he knew his eldest son's temperament. No one knew him better than a father. When he was alive, he could still suppress him. If he was not around, he really did not dare to imagine what would happen to the mother and sons. He knew very well that the mother and sons were not his son's match at all, but they were unwilling to settle down. It was understandable why they were so stubborn.
Therefore, he regretted it. If he had not married back then, with only this son and daughter, many things would have been easier to deal with.
Shao Pingbo, who had climbed up the attic, came behind Shao Dengyun. He faced his father's majestic back and bowed. "Father!"
Shao Dengyun said with his back facing him, "It's difficult for you to go to the capital to beg this time."
Shao Pingbo said, "It's not surprising that someone in the capital covets the land of the Northern State. Fortunately, I did not disappoint you. The supplies should be crossing the river in a few days. I have already arranged the distribution."
Shao Dengyun sighed softly. "Consecutive years of disaster. I wonder if it is God's punishment for me."
Shao Pingbo said, "Father, you are too serious. Natural disasters are unpredictable and cannot be controlled by humans. However, we can do our best to deal with the aftermath and minimize the losses. The flood in the flooded area is gradually receding. Some things should be implemented as soon as possible. I suggest that we use work as relief and use disaster relief food to gather the victims to work. We should clear the damaged and blocked channels as soon as possible. This way, we can ensure that the victims have food to eat and that we can farm for the next half of the year. It will allow the Northern State to recover as soon as possible. "
Shao Dengyun said, "Very good, approved!"
Shao Pingbo cupped his hands and continued, "The flood this time has fully exposed the shortcomings of the Northern State's water conservancy facilities. I suggest that we send people to explore as soon as possible and come up with an overall plan. Then, we will focus on the construction of water conservancy in the Northern State and construct the main channels for water storage and irrigation. In times of drought, we can divert the water from the river. In times of flood, we can divert the flood in time. At the very least, if there is another disaster, we can let the disaster pass quickly. It won't be like some places where the flood will turn into a lake and affect farming. As long as this project is completed, in a few years, the Northern Province will have a completely different scene! "
"That's easy for you to say," Shao Dengyun said. "Such a huge project will consume countless financial and material resources. How can there be so many workers?"
Shao Pingbo said, "It's impossible to do it all at once. We can't afford it, but we can do it step by step. First, we can guarantee the main food production areas. We'll encourage the rich families to contribute money and food, and we'll gather the refugees to work. Whoever completes the construction of the area will own the fertile land in that area. This will definitely encourage a large number of rich families to participate in this project. In this way, we won't have to spend too much money. We can even allow foreign wealthy families to participate. As long as they can complete the task according to our standards, it doesn't matter if they are from the Northern Province or not. So what if we give them free farmland? The fields are in the Northern Prefecture, and the grain is also produced in the Northern Prefecture. Naturally, the priority is given to the Northern Prefecture. "
Shao Dengyun placed his hands on the railing, his back still facing her. "Have you ever thought about it? If you do this, how can the ordinary people be a match for the rich families? When the time comes, I'm afraid that many people's farmland will be seized in disguise. "
Shao Pingbo said, "This pain has to be endured, and the sacrifices that should be made must be faced. The individual citizens only care about their own families, and it's unlikely that they will work on their own. It's impossible to complete such a huge project with scattered sand. Someone must organize them. Without any benefits, which rich family will be willing to contribute money and food to do this? As long as there are obvious benefits for everyone to see, it will definitely attract the rich families from outside the Northern Province. As long as the money and food gathered can fill people's stomachs, who knows how many starving people from other prefectures outside the Northern Province will definitely hear about it and come to work. We can borrow the manpower and financial resources from outside the state to gradually and quickly complete the water conservancy construction outside the main food production area. "
"The more perfect the irrigation project is, the more food supply can be maintained, and the more people will gather from all directions. In this chaotic world, people from outside the state will come to the Northern Province and have food to eat. Naturally, they will settle down and naturally become people of the Northern Province. As long as the population is sufficient, the Northern Province will have sufficient sources of soldiers. With a prosperous population, business will naturally flourish, and wealth will naturally gather here. After a few years, the Northern Province will be a rich and populous land. This will be the foundation for our Shao Family to establish a foothold in the long run! "
"Of course, this year's post-disaster replanting must be started first. We must get through the current predicament first, otherwise, there will be trouble."
Shao Dengyun said, "For this matter, come up with a detailed plan first."
"Yes!" Shao Pingbo responded, took out a paper raft from his sleeve, and respectfully presented it with both hands. "Father!"
Shao Dengyun looked back, slowly turned around, took the paper raft, and looked down at it. He muttered twice, "The King of the Northern Province, the King of the Northern Province, a piece of candy … I've seen this. Do you know who did it?"
"Niu Youdao! I met him on my way back from the capital … "Shao Pingbo roughly explained the situation.
Shao Dengyun flicked the paper in his hand. "He's vicious. He's trying to drive a wedge between us."
Shao Pingbo said, "Father, you're wise."
"If you take over the Northern Province, what are you going to do with the three of them?"
Shao Dengyun suddenly blurted out such a sentence.
Shao Pingbo was stunned and looked at him blankly. Although he quickly guessed what it meant, he did not dare to answer.
To be able to climb to the position of a general with great military power from a small soldier, his father seemed to be a boorish man, but he was a meticulous man on the outside. The military power of the Northern Province was in his father's hands, and all the generals were his men. It was difficult for others to get involved. Whoever controlled the military power of the Northern Province would naturally be supported by the Great Zen Mountain and other cultivation sects.
Shao Pingbo lowered his head and replied, "Father, your words make me afraid."
Shao Dengyun waved the paper in his hand. "I know what you're worried about. Don't worry, I won't let a mere trick succeed. Today, I can tell you clearly that you're the eldest son of the Shao Family. Whether it's in terms of ability or age, the Shao Family's business will eventually be handed over to you. You're underestimating me, Shao Dengyun, if you want to sow discord between us with a mere nursery rhyme. I will increase my support for you in the future. Do whatever you need to do. Don't be afraid of anything. "
"Thank you for your trust, Father," Shao Pingbo replied politely.
Shao Dengyun said, "But I want to know how you will deal with the mother and son in the future."
Shao Pingbo said, "Second Mother is also my mother. Wubo and Fubo are also my younger brothers. Of course …"
Shao Dengyun interrupted, "I'm not as scheming as you. Don't beat around the bush and say useless things!"
Everyone was silent. Shao Pingbo found it hard to answer. He did not know if his father was testing him.
Butler Yang Shuang did not even dare to breathe. He did not expect Shao Dengyun to suddenly throw out such a topic. Even as a butler, he felt awkward. He slowly retreated and prepared to leave.
Shao Dengyun glanced at him. "Did I allow you to leave?"
Yang Shuang froze. He lowered his head and did not dare to move.
What could Shao Pingbo say? After a moment of silence, he said, "Show filial respect to your two younger brothers …"
"I want to hear the truth!" Shao Dengyun interrupted him again.
Faced with his father's imposing manner, Shao Pingbo was in a dilemma. What should he say? You don't believe what I said. Can you accept what I said?
"Sigh!" Shao Dengyun suddenly sighed softly. "Promise me that you will let the mother and son live!"
At this point, Shao Pingbo understood that his father must have revealed his thoughts. He slowly raised his head and said, "Father, do you really want to hear my thoughts? I'm afraid that it won't sound good! "
Shao Dengyun looked at him and waited for him to continue.
Shao Pingbo gathered his courage and said, "There are some disturbances that do not need to exist. It's not that I'm heartless, but I'm afraid that some people are not willing to accept it. It's not good for anyone if they cause trouble! If I take over the power in Bei Zhou, I will remove all the power from the mother and son and let them be unemployed rich people. "
"I hope that's the truth!" Shao Dengyun nodded slightly. After a moment of silence, he waved his hand helplessly. "Go do your own things."
Shao Pingbo went to the Political Affairs Hall after leaving the attic.
A group of people in the hall stood up and saluted. "Eldest Young Master!"
Shao Wubo and Shao Fubo called him Big Brother respectfully.
"Is Second Mother well?" Shao Pingbo asked lightly.
Shao Wubo replied, "Mother is well."
"You go do your own things. I'll go and greet her!" Shao Pingbo said and left.
He went out of the Political Affairs Hall and went to the main courtyard of the inner house. He asked a servant to inform him and waited in the courtyard.
After a while, a woman in luxurious clothes came quickly. It was Shao Pingbo's concubine, Lady Ruan. Hearing that Shao Pingbo had come, she personally came out to greet him with a smile. "Eldest Brother is here."
"Greetings, Second Mother!" Shao Pingbo saluted respectfully. "How is Second Mother?"
"I'm fine. I haven't seen you for a long time. I heard that you went to the capital. You must be tired from the journey, right?" Lady Ruan extended her hand to invite him in. "Come in and have a seat."
Shao Pingbo obeyed the order and followed her to the hall. He knew very well that before he was married, his father had already moved him out of the family. This Second Mother had contributed a lot to the separation. To put it bluntly, she did not want him to stay by his father's side.
Lady Ruan busied herself and asked someone to bring a bowl of soup. "This is the soup I just stewed."
"I'm just full." Shao Pingbo declined. In fact, he didn't dare to eat her food.
Knowing that she had tried to be friendly in vain, Madam Ruan waved her hand for someone to take the food away. She said with a smile, "Eldest Brother, you are already over thirty years old. You are not young anymore. Even your two disappointing brothers have children running around. You should consider the rest of your life. Recently, I have seen a few young ladies from noble families. How about I bring them to you to meet them some other day?"
"Okay!" Shao Pingbo nodded and changed the topic. "Second Mother, Liu 'er shouldn't be indulged. It's better to let her go out less in the future."
Lady Ruan smiled and said, "There's no need to indulge her. She's just going to learn something like poetry. This is a good thing."
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