Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

The people became more and more excited, and subconsciously pushed their way into the dam. The guards at the gate immediately stepped forward, holding their spears horizontally to block their way.

The tip of the gun gleamed coldly, making people feel cold at first sight.

"What are you doing?" The people immediately screamed, "We didn't do anything, you can't just kill us!"

The guard's eyes were stern. "This is a key fortification area. No outsiders are allowed to enter. If you have anything to say, please speak outside!"

"We are just seeking justice! What's wrong with that!" The people retreated and shouted at the top of their lungs, "If the cement is non-toxic, the court should just say it directly. Why hesitate and arouse speculation?"

"Isn't justice on the notice?" Shen Zheng walked over from the dam. "Whether cement is toxic or not is clearly written in black on the white cloth."

The common people subconsciously glanced at the white cloth, and after realizing what was happening, they said, "But, but we can't read... and this gentleman won't read to us, isn't that making us anxious?"

Shen Zheng stood with her hands behind her back, "Did you give the master a chance to speak? You kept talking, and by the time you finished talking it was already dark, and the master didn't even open his mouth. Are you here to seek justice, or to cause trouble?"

The people looked at each other, not knowing how to answer.

Shen Zheng walked to Zeng Tongshi's side, pulled the notice on the pole and said, "I understand that you are worried about the toxicity of cement. But I want to say something off topic."

The people waited quietly for her to speak.

"As I have said, the justice you want is clearly written on the notice, sentence by sentence. Because you are illiterate, you are making a scene here and ignoring the justice you are seeking. Is this behavior appropriate?"

Many people blushed and were speechless.

It's not that they don't want to be literate...

Shen Zheng looked at them, his voice sincere and powerful: "Everyone, I don't mean to look down on you at all. I also know that it is not easy to learn to read, so I have started to build a printing house in Shangjing. The enlightenment book of just a few dozen coins can solve your confusion today and avoid a lot of groundless suspicion. If there is a similar situation next time, you can check it yourself, why not?"

Zeng Tongshi turned around and looked over, stunned.

As expected of Lord Shen... While arguing, he never forgets to analyze the facts and guide the people to take the initiative to enlighten themselves.

The people's attention was also attracted.

"The printing house? The Tong'an printing house that only sells cheap books?"

"Sir Shen, can I buy cheap books in Beijing from now on?"

Shen Zheng nodded, "I'm sure you all know that literacy has more benefits than this. It is necessary for all the people to learn to read. I hope you can support Tong'an Bookstore when it opens."

"If it's really that cheap, buy a copy and the whole family can learn to read."

"There are more than a dozen people in my family, and we can all read it if we buy one copy... I feel like I made a good deal."

The people were unconsciously led by Shen Zheng.

Shen Zheng raised the notice and brought the topic back.

"Regarding the cement issue, I can assure you that cement is non-toxic. The water flowing through the dam is also non-toxic. It is fine for people to drink it, and it is even fine for irrigating crops."

The people breathed a sigh of relief subconsciously.

Lord Shen’s promise...should be trustworthy, right?

But the next moment someone asked, "Then Lord Shen, why did the flowers and plants wither after being contaminated by those things?"

Shen Zheng took a half step forward and asked, "The homemade farm manure at home is mostly made from a mixture of animal manure, crop straw, etc., and the composting process is relatively complicated. If the fertilizer is not composted well, it will burn the roots of the crops. Is this true?"

The people nodded in unison.

"If the fertilizer is not fully decomposed or too much fertilizer is applied, it will burn the roots."

Some smart people immediately realized: "Master Shen means that the raw materials of cement are similar to uncomposted fertilizer, so the flowers and plants on the roadside are rotting and withering?"

Shen Zheng nodded, "That's right."

The people looked thoughtful and were about to speak, but Shen Zheng said, "But that is only the case before the raw materials meet water. After the raw materials meet water, they solidify into cement and lose their properties. You can think of it as stone. Will stone poison crops?"

The people all shook their heads, but doubts still remained in their hearts.

It can burn crops before they meet water, but not after they meet water?

It's a bit mysterious...

Shen Zheng was well prepared.

In front of everyone, Huaduo dragged a huge wooden barrel from the dam, and in the barrel was a piece of cement as big as a head.

"This is the finished cement." Shen Zheng motioned Hua Duo to show the cement to everyone.

Huaduo picked up the cement with one hand and handed it to the people outside the dam.

The people all took a step back.

Gray and white, weird shapes...it looks a bit scary.

"Don't dare to touch it?" Shen Zheng smiled and stepped forward to touch it. "Since you don't believe that cement is non-toxic and harmless, let's do a test. I will put this piece of cement in a wooden barrel, fill the barrel with river water, and soak it in it every day. The water in this barrel will be used to water the flowers and plants on the roadside, and secondly, when I am on the dam, I will only drink the water in the barrel."

Everyone gasped.

Lord Shen drank cement water himself?

If something goes wrong after drinking, can they take responsibility?

If other officials wanted them to pay with their lives...

Zeng Tongshi was slightly surprised when he heard this. After thinking quickly, he added, "The river water is not very clean. If you want to drink it, you must boil it. I will drink it with Lord Shen. Do you have any objections?"

The people thought about it.

River water...not to mention the officials, even they don’t drink it often.

The only source of water that can be drunk directly, apart from well water, is probably mountain spring water.

"We have no objection." The people paused and said hesitantly: "Since Lord Shen said so, we believe that cement is non-toxic. In fact, there is no need..."

"Yes." Shen Zheng interrupted them and said, "Everyone said before that the news that cement is poisonous has spread outside the capital. Although I don't know who spread this rumor, I still ask you to be witnesses to help the court dispel the rumor and clear the name of cement."

With just a few words, she placed the people in the important position of "helpers of the court". While they were secretly happy, a sense of responsibility arose in their hearts.

The people raised their arms and shouted, "Okay! Anyway, we believe it! We will help you bear witness!"

Then, in front of everyone, Huaduo went to the river and fetched a full bucket of river water.

Zeng Tongshi used local materials and fenced off a piece of grassland inside the dam for daily watering.

After everything was ready, Shen Zheng said, "Put this bucket of water ten steps inside the dam and assign someone to guard it. People passing by can also see it at a glance. If you are worried about the change of positions on the dam, you can take turns guarding it."

She knew that the people would not really send anyone to guard, but she had to make her attitude clear.

Because the more upright she is, the more the people's hearts will lean towards Ba Shang.

When fighting a war of public opinion, attitude is sometimes more important than the truth.