Chapter 418 – Rebuilding Xiangyang County (Part 2)
The wisdom of the people present was as varied as a buffet, with Luo Yue and Meng Hunyun being the only sane martial artists, while the rest were like characters straight out of an over-the-top comedy, operating beyond normal intelligence.
Even with the limitations of the era, when Jiang Pengji proposed her idea, everyone seemed to grasp the crux of the problem and extended their thoughts further. While others trudged along step by step, these folks seemed to leap ahead with ten steps, thinking deeper and wider.
“The Lord’s meaning, I find feasible,” Feng Jin nodded. With such limited resources, the only way to navigate was to play the entire game smartly, opening up possibilities for development.
Both Qi Guanrang and Xu Ke agreed.
As for Luo Yue and Meng Hunyun?
They were merely there to eavesdrop, witnessing the stark intellectual chasm between normal and not-so-normal minds.
Jiang Pengji maintained her little gesture of pressing her fingers together, a habit she had cultivated in her previous life.
Those who knew her saw that small gesture and instantly realized she was deep in thought.
“I also thought this approach was pretty good before, but I just had a flash of inspiration and realized it could be even better,” she revealed a meaningful smile, crediting the ideas sparked by her livestream pals; otherwise, she wouldn’t have thought of it on her own.
Meng Hunyun was completely absorbing the lesson, staring without blinking, ready to ask questions after the meeting ended.
However, Luo Yue clearly missed the memo, asking, “What is this better method?”
Qi Guanrang waved his feather fan, eager to enlighten him. “The Lord’s earlier idea must be about building houses on public land and renting them out cheaply to the homeless common people. This would ease both their suffering and the county’s struggles. After the earthquake, many lives were lost, and lots of land became ownerless; by law, this land needs to be reallocated.”
Feeling parched from all the talking, he took a sip of water before continuing, “To ensure the common people have food, we not only need to redistribute or lease these lands but also cultivate fertile fields. If we do this, the demand for farming tools and oxen will rise. When the county rents these out, they can add conditions—like offering discounts for families participating in labor. This way, the common folks will be eager to join in. Even local commoners, considering their need for tools for autumn harvest, will participate.”
Luo Yue looked as though he’d just unlocked the door to a new world.
He had been listening so earnestly, and it seemed Jiang Pengji hadn’t spoken that much.
How does a bunch of scholars glean hundreds of words from just a few sentences?
Ah, the anguish of intellect suppression, perhaps.
Seeing Luo Yue’s baffled expression, the audience in the livestream went wild, criticizing the streamer for being inhumane by dragging them into the ancient real estate game while also screenshotting Luo Yue’s face, pairing it with fitting captions, and sending heartfelt comments his way.
[Slicing Back with Gusto]: Hahaha, poor Luo Yue, that little expression makes me want to laugh!
[Guardian Angel]: That poor child doesn’t even understand the dolor of being intellectually suppressed.
[Full-Channel Recommendation]: A normal guy accidentally stepping into the world of big shots, getting sympathy on the daily.
Unaware of how many thousands felt sorry for him, Luo Yue thought he finally understood the essence of the meeting after Qi Guanrang’s explanation, looking at him with admiration. The county deputy was no ordinary person, and the folks under him were even less ordinary.
Xu Ke chimed in, “If we proceed with this plan, it truly can revive civilian life quickly. Before winter, the displaced common people can have homes and won’t dread the cold. This would be a great act of kindness; if successful, the folks in Xiangyang County will undoubtedly pledge their loyalty to the Lord.”
Jiang Pengji, however, said, “I initially thought this way too, but now I’ve devised an even better plan.”
At this point, all three men exchanged inquisitive looks.
“An even better method?”
Luo Yue was still lost, while Meng Hunyun was busy picking at the dead skin on his hand, enjoying himself.
Why force yourself to understand when it’s obvious your brain isn’t cut out for this?
Meng Hunyun felt he was just there to make up the numbers; development wasn’t really a martial artist’s strong suit, and being intellectually crushed was nothing to be ashamed of.
“Of course, just listen closely,” Jiang Pengji rose and fetched a sheet of uncut bamboo paper, spreading it out. Using a piece of charcoal, she quickly sketched the rough outline of Xiangyang County, making it clearer for everyone.
“Now that Xiangyang County is in ruins, instead of patching it up, we should do something more thorough: rebuild the entire county step by step. A new county office should be built in the center, radiating outward. Xiangyang County is vast, and many areas lie abandoned; these should be reutilized to construct homes.”
As she articulated her thoughts, she rapidly drew on the bamboo paper, soon producing a rough layout plan.
The three men watched intently, sometimes frowning, sometimes displaying thoughtful expressions.
Due to the limitations of their era, they didn’t grasp the nuances of real estate schemes. Still, that didn’t mean they couldn’t understand the benefits; it just required time to process. As long as they followed Jiang Pengji’s train of thought, it would only be a matter of time before they grasped its deeper meaning.
“If all goes well, these areas will only be rented, not sold.”
Once Jiang Pengji finished, she circled another area.
The audience in the livestream secretly cursed her for being too crafty. The areas she circled were the “commercial zones.”
According to her plan, as more citizens settled there, the population growth would naturally boost commerce. The prices of those prime locations would soar, and if the county retained the land deeds, the rent would cover the county’s operating costs.
“These spots are neither for sale nor rent, but absolutely must be built. Roads should be neat and wide, the environment serene and pleasant, and public order must be ensured. I intend to build residences here, aiming for a design that is functional yet elegant…”
Jiang Pengji pointed to the area she had just marked.
Now, just as the calamity had passed, the county could reclaim many land deeds, though these deeds held no value yet. Only when the entire layout was functional would the deeds appreciate. However, she was unsatisfied with the speed of this appreciation because these deeds could shoot for the stars!
Xu Ke narrowed his eyes slightly; as someone managing internal affairs, he was beginning to understand what his Lord was driving at.
Right now, these land deeds were worthless, but once the structure of Xiangyang County was established, their value would soar beyond measure.
With the planning concluded and the blueprint laid out before them, executing it would require unyielding teamwork!
Feng Jin and the other two pondered for a moment before presenting their ideas, enhancing that rough goal into something more complete.
Even though efficiency was key, the entire meeting took half an hour, during which tea had been served twice.
At the end, Jiang Pengji assigned tasks.
“Xiaoyu, go count the available manpower and draft a recruitment notice for laborers. Pay should be settled daily—30% in coin, and the remaining 70% could be exchanged for steamed buns or grains,” Jiang Pengji specified. “Detail every aspect and ensure literate individuals spread the word, making sure the common people grasp the meaning behind it to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Xu Ke bowed, “I shall obey the Lord’s orders.”
