dognovel Chapter 14 What a fucking surprise!
Chapter 14 What a fucking surprise!
Lame Wu left quickly and returned quickly.
"Chang Pingzhang said that he asked me to thank you on his behalf, and also to thank the people of Ningyang County for their kind intentions."
Limpy Wu solemnly relayed Chang Yuchun's request: "Chang Pingzhang also said that if Ningyang County could send more fodder, less grain and less fodder could be sent from Jiangnan, and more troops could be mobilized for the Northern Expedition."
"However, next time the county magistrate sends fodder, please send more fodder suitable for packhorses and mules. Warhorses need finer fodder, which should be mixed with bran, beans and eggs. The fodder sent by our county is not very suitable."
Yang Shaofeng hummed in agreement and asked, "And then? What else did Chang Pingzhang say?"
Limpy Wu chuckled, seemingly oblivious to the gleaming copper coin symbols in Yang Shaofeng's eyes: "By the way, Chang Pingzhang also said that it was truly remarkable that the county magistrate was able to organize the people to begin spring plowing so quickly, and he would like to request commendation from the imperial court on your behalf."
Yang Shaofeng hummed in agreement again: "And then?"
Limpy Wu scratched his head: "And that's it. Chang Pingzhang said that you said in your letter that the fodder sent over was the sentiment of the people of Ningyang County, and that after the war is over, you should ask the court for a share of the credit on behalf of the people."
Yang Shaofeng's face immediately darkened.
Is this a case of lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own foot?
No, although I, Yang, didn't mention money in any of my sentences, I didn't say anything that didn't involve money either, did I?
Chang Yuchun, that heartless bastard, actually had the nerve to take so much grain for free?
Yang Shaofeng spun around angrily, cursing himself for being stupid while also cursing Chang Yuchun as a heartless scoundrel.
Seeing Yang Shaofeng's ever-changing expression, Limpy Wu, who had been holding back for a long time, finally couldn't help but chuckle and then took out a small bag from his pocket.
"In fact, Chang Pingzhang also said that the people's wishes are one thing, but the money that should be given must still be given. As long as the fodder in the future is similar to this time, the money will be given in full."
Limpy Wu handed the small bag to Yang Shaofeng: "Your Excellency, please take a look. This is the money for the fodder that was sent this time. It was paid according to the market price for grain and fodder purchased in Jiangnan."
"What I just said was actually specially instructed by Chang Pingzhang. Chang Pingzhang also asked me to tell the county magistrate that the county magistrate cares about the people and is a very good official. He will also ask the emperor to reward the county magistrate on his behalf."
Yang Shaofeng's anger turned to joy, and he thought to himself: As expected of Chang Yuchun, even though he saw through my desire for money, he didn't give me the money directly. Instead, he took the opportunity to make a few jokes to get closer to me. No wonder this guy was able to rise step by step to become the Grand Councilor of the Ming Dynasty. He is indeed no ordinary person.
Just as Yang Shaofeng was secretly praising Chang Yuchun as a good person, Lame Wu chuckled and said, "Besides this bag of copper and iron, Chang Pingzhang also had me bring back dozens of cattle and horses, all seized from the Tartars. He said he wanted the county magistrate to make good use of them so that the people could have an easier time with spring plowing."
Yang Shaofeng's eyes lit up, and he stared intently at the lame man, asking, "How many? What about the cattle and horses?"
Surprise!
What the hell is this "fucking surprise"?
This is the surprise!
Double happiness!
Limpy Wu said, "Chang Pingzhang sent more than forty oxen and a dozen or so steeds. However, the oxen walk slowly, and I have to hurry back to report to the county magistrate. Therefore, I asked the brothers who escorted the grain with me to slowly hurry back."
Yang Shaofeng was even happier and said to Limpy Five, "I'll have to trouble you again, Brother Limpy Five, to send someone to take the heads of the Eighth and Sixteenth Communities and the village chiefs to the fields in the west of the city."
When the heads of the eight communities and sixteen villages arrived at the western edge of the city, they saw Yang Shaofeng, the county magistrate, with a beaming smile.
Yang Shaofeng cut to the chase and asked, "I'm asking you all, do you want to make money? Do you want the people in your villages and communities to make money too?"
The eyes of the group of village heads and elders immediately lit up, and their twenty-four heads nodded like chickens pecking at rice: "Let me think about it, please give me some pointers, Your Excellency."
Seeing the obsequious expressions on the faces of the twenty-four commune leaders and village chiefs, Yang Shaofeng chuckled, took out the money bag containing copper coins from his pocket and tossed it to the commune leader in the west of the city. He then pointed to the busy young men and said, "The grass that I asked you to deliver to the county government a few days ago has now reached the army and become fodder for the warhorses and mules during the campaign against the Tartars."
"This money is the money for fodder that Chang Pingzhang asked Brother Limpy to bring back."
"Chang Pingzhang also said that if more fodder is delivered in the future, there will be additional payment for the fodder."
"If you want to make money, I'll have the people in your villages and communities cut more weeds, just like last time. Pick out the ones that can be used to feed livestock, sort them, and tie them up. Then I'll have Brother Limpy Fifth and the others deliver them to the army."
"Just remember one thing: mowing the grass is one thing, but under no circumstances should it delay spring planting or the crops."
The club presidents looked at each other, then suddenly knelt down together and bowed to Yang Shaofeng, saying, "Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"
Yang Shaofeng stepped aside and reached out to help one of the club presidents up.
"Don't thank me. It was the common people who picked the fodder out of the weeds, it was Brother Limpy Fifth who thought of sending the fodder to the army to exchange for money, and it was Chang Pingzhang and the imperial court who gave the money."
Yang Shaofeng grabbed Limpy Wu and made him stand in front of the group of village chiefs and neighborhood leaders: "If you want to thank someone, thank the people in the west of the city who were the first to pick out fodder, thank Limpy Wu who worked so hard for you, and thank Changpingzhang and the imperial court."
After thinking for a moment, Yang Shaofeng continued, "Also, Chang Pingzhang said that the people of Ningyang County are all kind and honest, so he specially sent dozens of cattle and horses over. When we get to Ningyang County, we'll distribute them to each commune so that the people can have an easier time farming."
For a moment, the atmosphere on the field was somewhat silent.
Whether it was Limpy Five or the twenty-four village chiefs and community leaders, they all felt as if they were in a dream.
Limpy Wu couldn't believe what he was hearing—his own idea, the county magistrate's letter, yet the magistrate was now taking all the credit for it.
Are there really officials in the world who don't crave credit?
The twenty-four village chiefs and community leaders also couldn't believe their ears.
Because we wanted to repay the county magistrate for the kindness of allocating land, we prepared some wild grass to feed the chickens and pigs for him. However, the county magistrate turned the wild grass into fodder and money, and then wanted to distribute it to us peasants.
And that Chang Pingzhang, he actually said that the people of Ningyang County are all good people.
They even specially sent us dozens of cattle and horses so that we could have an easier time plowing the fields.
My goodness, are there really such good officials in this world?
Seeing the dumbfounded looks on Limpy Wu and the other village chiefs and commune leaders, Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but snort and say, "What are you all standing there for? Go do what you're supposed to do, and stop getting in my way."
A village head wiped away his tears and said in a muffled voice, "Your Excellency, we, we..."
Yang Shaofeng snorted and said, "Look at you, so worthless—this is nothing, and you're already crying over such a small amount of money. If things get better in the future, you'll probably cry your eyes out."