"Work-for-Relief?"
With Gao Yang's words, the entire Jinluan Hall fell into deep thought.
Even Wu Zhao's gaze swept over.
"What is Work-for-Relief?" Chancellor Xu Xuanji asked curiously.
Gao Yang looked at Xu Xuanji and said, "In years of great disaster, the poorest people have no money and can't afford food, but they do have labor."
"Therefore, I boldly propose to renovate the county office, not to exploit the people, but to show the wealthy merchants in Linjiang City that in the face of natural disasters, the common folk are willing to work for very low wages just for a meal."
"A little money and a meal, and the people are very grateful."
"If the major government offices and wealthy merchants take action, as long as the grain prices in Linjiang City stabilize, a significant portion of the disaster victims can survive!"
"This is Work-for-Relief!"
As Gao Yang's words echoed through Jinluan Hall, Cui Xinghe was shocked, and Chancellor Xu Xuanji was deeply moved.
"What a Work-for-Relief!" Xu Xuanji openly praised.
This line of thinking had never occurred to them before.
On the dragon throne, Wu Zhao's beautiful eyes turned to Gao Yang.
Gao Yang's words opened an unprecedented perspective for her.
The court was not limited to disaster relief alone.
There was also Work-for-Relief!
Under natural disasters, the people, for survival, could sell their labor cheaply.
This approach seemed cruel and harsh to the people, but in reality, it was a way to save them!
Wu Zhao's gaze was filled with admiration, her eyes brimming with satisfaction.
Wang Zhong couldn't help but say in a deep voice, "But even with Work-for-Relief, why must Lord Gao exploit the people so harshly, ten coins a day is too stingy!"
The daily income for the people of Great Qian ranged from thirty to a hundred coins.
This wage was already very low.
It could be considered exploitation.
For a moment, many eyes turned to Gao Yang.
Cui Xinghe closed his eyes, saying nothing.
He only thought Wang Zhong was too foolish, wasn't this giving Gao Yang a chance to shine?
Gao Yang turned to Wang Zhong and mocked, "If General Wang doesn't understand the people's livelihood, it's better to remain silent. Appropriate silence is not shameful, it's better than becoming a laughingstock."
Wang Zhong was furious, "Gao Yang, how dare you insult me? Are you seeking death?"
Wang Zhong's eyes widened in anger, after all, he was a veteran who had fought on the battlefield. This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Such sudden anger was indeed intimidating.
Gao Tianlong said indifferently, "In the Duke Dingguo Manor, you old fool have no place to threaten."
"With me here, do you even have a say?"
Gao Tianlong's words shocked the officials.
The Duke Dingguo usually didn't attend court, but now he was here, protecting his own with such dominance.
This made some people secretly alarmed.
Wang Zhong looked at Gao Tianlong's indifferent eyes, wanting to speak, but the words stuck in his throat.
"Yang'er, speak freely, you haven't been in Chang'an for many days, unaware of the court's criticisms."
"Today, say it all, let my Great Qian's impeaching ministers hear it well."
Gao Yang looked at Gao Tianlong, understanding the underlying meaning.
Face-slapping, give them a good face-slapping.
Today, with Gao Tianlong here, he was the greatest support.
Gao Yang bowed to Gao Tianlong and smiled, "Grandson understands!"
Then, his eyes sharply turned to Wang Zhong, "General Wang, having disaster victims renovate the office could indeed pay thirty coins a day, even fifty, but have you considered whether the local gentry would follow suit with high wages?"
For a moment, Wang Zhong was speechless.
He suddenly realized this serious issue.
If the office paid high wages for renovations, and the gentry saw no profit, why would they follow suit?
Rely on these gentry to sympathize with the people?
Wu Zhao's smile grew more apparent.
Gao Yang continued, "The gentry repair their houses during a disaster year and hire disaster victims because it's cheap!"
"The office must exploit, only by letting the local gentry see that the disaster victims are willing to work cheaply for survival, will they hire."
"Moreover, only by making the office the villain, causing the disaster victims to complain, will the local gentry slightly raise wages and gain a good reputation."
"For the gentry, they gain reputation and save on wages, cheaper than in peaceful years, only then will they be willing!"
Gao Yang looked at Wang Zhong, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's: "If the office's wages are fair, with no profit or fame for the gentry, would they bother to get involved?"
With those words, Wang Zhong's face turned pale.
The entire Jinluan Hall fell silent.
In that moment, Gao Yang became the absolute center of Jinluan Hall.
Yan Zheng stood speechless.
What he saw as exploitation was actually a lifeline for the people...
The impact on his heart was like a stormy sea.
Wu Zhao's gaze was filled with admiration. Get faster updates on g.com.
The office being the villain, giving the gentry fame and profit, left them no reason to refuse.
Wu Zhao asked, "Gao Yang, when you went to the temple, it wasn't just to pray, was it?"
Gao Yang, a manipulator of hearts, didn't seem like a devout believer.
Gao Yang looked at Wu Zhao, his gaze subtly sweeping over the jade legs beneath the dragon robe, then said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
"Our Great Qian believes in Buddhism, the conflict between Buddhism and Daoism has a long history. I went to the temple to observe the dilapidation of various temples, using my status to build a rapport with the abbots, posing as a believer."
"Before leaving, I wrote a letter, informing the temple that it was too old and would need renovation sooner or later. Better to renovate during the disaster years, or else wages will be much higher later, and I invoked the compassion of Buddha to save the people!"
"The temple is already old, renovating now saves money and can be done under the guise of Buddha's compassion, winning over the people's hearts, they have no reason to refuse."
"In this way, the gentry and temples gain profit and reputation, the people earn money with their own hands, all three parties get what they need, and with stable grain prices, the people naturally have a way to survive."
Cui Xinghe closed his eyes, realizing he had underestimated Gao Yang.
Using profit as a lever and reputation as bait, willingly making the gentry and temples work for him!
The three parties achieved a win-win situation, all were willing.
Thus, the disaster in Linjiang City would surely be greatly alleviated.
He lost.
Completely lost!
Gao Yang's methods surpassed Cui Xinghe tenfold, a hundredfold!
Thinking of how he had been complacent over reducing grain prices by a few coins, Cui Xinghe wished he could dig his toes into the floor of Jinluan Hall!
Wu Zhao's eyes were full of appreciation, she continued to ask, "What is the purpose of holding a large Dragon Boat Race?"
The officials' eyes also focused on Gao Yang, curious about this question.
Holding a large event during a disaster year, could this also alleviate the disaster?
Gao Yang looked at the officials, hands behind his back, and said calmly in Jinluan Hall, "Our Great Qian values agriculture over commerce, with heavy commercial taxes. If the winner is exempt from taxes for three years, the local and even foreign gentry will be tempted!"
"Under a large event, people naturally love excitement, not only the locals but also people from nearby Linjiang City will flock here, and with more people, consumption will increase."
"Whether it's food or inns, vendors' businesses will thrive, this is inevitable!"
"As long as the competition is extended and multiple stalls are provided, this disaster period will pass."
With those words, it was like a giant stone was thrown into a calm lake, shocking the officials' gaze.
Using the gentry and temples' greed for profit and fame, making the county office the villain, giving them a reason to act.
Then holding a large event to boost consumption.
In this way, the disaster could be greatly alleviated!
Such strategy, such insight into human nature, was simply terrifying!