Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 28 Confident Li Shanchang
"Haha, thank you fellow villagers for your hard work.

Come on, let’s continue drinking!”

In the Ministry of Works, Li Shanchang, the first meritorious official of the Ming Dynasty, the first of the six founding dukes, and the leader of the Huaixi nobles, personally hosted a banquet to entertain the fellow villagers of Fengyang who came to the capital to participate in the New Year's court meeting and pay New Year's greetings to the emperor.

I asked them in detail about their food, clothing, housing and transportation after arriving in the capital.

He also asked them carefully what the emperor asked them after they met with him and how they answered.

It was confirmed that no trouble had been caused and that the reception they received was better than in previous years.

Li Shanchang finally put his mind at ease and began to warmly invite these fellow villagers to eat and drink.

The food, clothing, housing and transportation of the old folks who come to the capital may seem very ordinary, but in fact they are the most important.

From these things, we can fully see the attitude of the superiors towards their hometown of Fengyang and towards people like them who were born in Huaixi.

Although on the day when the grand court meeting ended, fast horses galloped out of the capital and brought him information about the situation of his fellow villagers in Yingtian, especially their meetings with the superiors.

Although he also knew that the superiors would definitely not change their minds towards him and others.

However, since the matter was of great importance, he still had to ask in person before he could feel at ease.

Li Shanchang personally stood up and raised his glass to toast these people: "We are all old fellow villagers. After the Zhongdu City is built, the emperor will move the capital here, and our place will become the capital.

We all rise with the tide.

Not to mention ourselves, even our descendants can benefit from it.

If you have any difficulties in the future, just come to me.

We are from the same village, I will definitely help if I can!"

After hearing what Li Shanchang said, everyone agreed.

They all say that their lives have become better with the presence of Korean Duke.

Duke Hanguo is their great judge.

When everyone was drunk, the flower drum team that was performing in the Fengtian Temple Square came out again and performed for Duke Han Guo and the nobles in Fengyang.

After the lively opening, the festive Huagu Ci was sung:

"Talk about Fengyang, talk about Fengyang, and beat the flower drum with your hands.

Fengyang is such a wonderful place, where the red dragon ascends to heaven and the golden phoenix soars.

Count the stars in the sky and count the generals in Fengyang!
Talk about Fengyang, talk about Fengyang, and beat the flower drum with your hands.

Fengyang is such a wonderful place, the emperor’s grace is great all year round.

No corvée or taxes, both sides of the Huai River are filled with joy!"

"Hahaha, good! Good! Good singing!"

Li Shanchang's face flushed and he cheered loudly. He felt that he could never get enough of looking at the flower drum.

Others, such as Li Shanchang's younger brother Li Cunyi, son Li Qi, nephew Li You, nephew Ding Bin, Minister of Works Xue Xiang, and other nobles, also cheered.

They felt that this Huagu Ci song touched their hearts!

Here in the Ministry of Industry, the air was filled with the aroma of wine and meat, and people were toasting each other. It was a very lively and festive place.

But in the huge city of Zhongdu, this is the only lively place.

As night fell, the city of Zhongdu, where bricks, tiles, wood, sand, stones and other building materials were piled up, did not rest because of the falling night.

Many torches and braziers were lit.

Many laborers, already extremely exhausted, each ate two black steamed buns that were hard enough to kill a dog, drank a bowl of porridge with no rice grains visible, and had no time to catch their breath.

Under the scolding and beatings of people holding whips in their hands and knives on their waists, they began to work day and night like many industrious ants.

Some people are tired, hungry, and sick, and really can't get up, so they want to take sick leave.

He said he would rest for two more hours tonight and resume work tomorrow morning.

In the bustling Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Ding Bin, who had eaten and drunk for a while and was full of food and wine and had a rosy face, came out to inspect the construction site and happened to hear these words.

Suddenly furious.

He picked up the whip and started whipping him all over the head and face.

After the beating, he picked up a bucket of cold water with ice chips and poured it over the skinny, thinly dressed, shivering laborer.

"Are you sick? Then I will give you a good treatment!

Are you still sick? Do you want to rest?"

"No...no, I'll do it right now..."

The laborer spoke tremblingly, trying to stand up and stagger forward.

"You're all cheapskates! You're just lazy if you don't fight!"

Ding Bin cursed loudly, with a sense of pride in seeing through the cunning and unruly people.

"Master, you have so many ways to heal! Not only whips, but also cold water! There are also knives and fire!
If anyone of you is sick and can’t work, let me treat you well!

Guaranteed to cure the disease!"

He raised his voice and shouted to the people around him!

The many laborers beside him were silent, just lowered their heads, and worked desperately, squeezing out the last potential of their bodies.

I was afraid that I would be noticed by Ding Bin, the living devil.

Seeing this, Ding Bin left with more than 20 fully armed guards and continued to inspect the construction site.

On the way, he also dealt with a few troublemakers who wanted to slack off. Three of them were whipped, and one was beheaded...

After doing all this, he returned to continue the banquet.

"You've worked so hard. You can't even have a peaceful banquet, and you still have to go out for inspection."

Li Shanchang spoke to his nephew sincerely.

He ignored the whip on his waist and the blood splattered on his body. Or rather, he had already become accustomed to these bloodstains.

"We are all working for the Ming Dynasty, for His Majesty, and for Huaixi. How can a nephew not risk his life?

It’s not hard work, it’s just fulfilling one’s duty.”

Ding Bin shook his head and said with a smile.

Li Shanchang was very satisfied with his nephew's reaction.

I think it was a wise decision to let Ding Bin lead people to monitor the progress of projects in various parts of Zhongdu City, as it ensured that everyone was put to their best use.

"The commander works tirelessly, wholeheartedly for His Majesty and the Ming Dynasty. I admire you so much! I offer a toast to you, commander!"

Zhu Gui, the paunchy Fengyang prefect, stood up and toasted Ding Bin.

He was a relative of Zhu Yuanzhang within the fifth degree of kinship.

He has some talent, and now he has become the prefect of Fengyang...

……

"Uncle, what day is today?"

While working, his clothes were dirty and tattered, and his hands and face were cracked due to the cold, dryness, and continuous heavy work. He lowered his voice and asked.

Under the dim light, he looked to be at least thirty years old.

But when he opened his mouth, one felt that he was probably only fifteen or sixteen years old.

"It's the fourth day of the New Year, and it will be the fifth day soon."

A man carrying a hammer and a chisel, chiseling the stone, responded.

"The New Year has just passed like this? The government didn't even say anything?

Let alone eating dumplings to improve life, at least let them rest for half a day!"

"Ergou, what are you thinking about? It's good enough that you don't have to do extra work during the New Year, and you're still thinking about those nonsense?

Now that we have arrived in Zhongdu, all festivals have nothing to do with us..."

This man obviously came early and knew more information.

"This……"

Li Ergou wanted to say something, but he couldn't say it for a moment.

After a moment of silence, he began to cry, "I...I miss my mother. She would make me dumplings stuffed with radish during the Chinese New Year..."

Uncle, do you think we can still go back alive?"

The stonemason's numb expression became much more vivid.

The words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back when he met those eyes that looked uneasy yet expectant, with tears in their eyes.

"Yes, of course! As long as we work hard and don't let the supervisors catch us, we can all go back after we finish building Zhongdu City!"

"Really?"

"real!"

……

A wall divides Zhongdu City into two worlds.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce is full of joy, celebrating the prosperity together and having a bright future.

Outside the Ministry of Industry and Trade, hundreds of thousands of ragged laborers worked day and night in the cold wind during the New Year holidays.

Someone was working when he suddenly fell to the ground and couldn't get up again.

The people around didn't react at all, and continued to do their work mechanically and numbly.

Suffering has tortured them to the point where they are no longer human...

The banquet lasted until a sickle-like crescent moon rose into the sky and ended.

And many laborers, under the watchful eyes of the fierce overseers, continued to work and build the magnificent Zhongdu City...

"It's so beautiful! If the superior sees Zhongdu City, he will definitely be unable to take his eyes off it!"

Li Shanchang, wrapped in fox fur and reeking of alcohol, looked at the roughly completed imperial palace and the tall city walls with a hint of intoxication in his eyes.

"The Highness will surely be pleased. The Central Capital City was built so well and so quickly. You, the Prime Minister, have made a great contribution!

The higher-ups will definitely not forget your contribution!"

The Minister of Industry Xue Xiang was standing next to him to support the actor.

Li Shanchang smiled and slowly shook his head: "It doesn't matter whether it's merit or not. The main thing is that I want to contribute to the promotion and to Huaixi."

"You are a man of high character, my Lord!"

After Xue Xiang finished praising him, he looked at Li Shanchang and asked tentatively, "Today is a good day. How about...letting these laborers go home an hour earlier?"

Li Shanchang shook his head: "Zhongdu City is not yet completed. We cannot be complacent just because we have achieved a little victory.

This is not a long-term solution.

Let them continue. These people are used to hardship and are not afraid of fatigue! They won't die from exhaustion.

Even if some die from exhaustion, it doesn't matter. It's their honor to die for the construction of Zhongdu!"

……

Outside Zhongdu City, in the shadows, several pairs of eyes had been staring at Zhongdu City for a while.

Suddenly, one of them smiled.

The cold moonlight illuminated White Fang, making him look evil and strange...

(End of this chapter)