Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 294 - 292

Chapter 294: Chapter 292

This year, only a few winter snowfalls have fallen, the snow is not heavy, the accumulated snow is not thick! It is said that timely snow promises a good harvest, but the autumn drought and scarce winter snowfall this year have really worried the people!

The new year has passed, and it is time to plow the fields after the new year’s feast.

Many people look to the sky every day, hoping for dark clouds overhead and pouring rain!

One night, a thunderbolt shatters the sleep of countless people.

The gentle cascading spring rain finally comes after the people’s daily ritual of burning incense and worshiping Buddha.

Xiao’er breathes a sigh of relief. The drought is so serious that even drinking water is a problem. People are fleeing in droves. It’s enough.

The next day, the pouring rain continues outside the window, Shangguan Xuanyi waits in the imperial study room for the emperor’s approval.

"To repair dikes, dredge ditches, directriver flows, and establish reservoirs, so that even in a disastrous year, people still have crops to cultivate," the emperor murmurs while looking at the water conservancy project plan for ten thousand acres of fertile land in Taiping County handed over by Shangguan Xuanyi.

"This plan is good, have you shown it to Officer Li of the Ministry of Works?" The emperor raises his head and asks Shangguan Xuanyi after reading it.

"No, this is a water conservancy plan designed by Marquis Shengping’s family when they bought some fertile land in Taiping County. It is specifically tailored to local conditions. Seeing the ingenious design and leveraging its strengths and weaknesses for potential maximization in agricultural matters, my son thought he would show it to my father."

This water conservancy plan by Xiao’er naturally isn’t limited to their six hundred acres of land, but it also plans for the entirety of the fertile farmland.

Di Shaowei also sent people to buy three hundred acres. In the not-so-distant future, he claimed that he bought too little and missed out big time! Missing out on great deals is considered a loss!

Once this water conservancy project is completed, not only can it improve water and soil conservation, prevent floods, and ensure the safety of people’s lives and property, but it can also provide more reasonable and timely irrigation for crops.

In her previous life, Xiao’er had seen such a water conservancy plan in a southern town. The reservoir would release water when it was time to sow in the spring and when the rice was ready to head, feeding water to the flat fields through an artificially dug canal more than a meter wide and countless smaller canals. The population of the town was large, and even when the land was divided among households, those with fewer family members didn’t have enough farmland for the newborns. A family of four only had just over an acre of land, but they did not go hungry and even had surplus grains to raise poultry. This clearly shows how high-yielding that piece of farmland was!

Now, what Xiao’er is replicating is such a water conservancy plan. The project is of great scale and high cost, it is a good opportunity to put the silver obtained from the pirate ship into this project that benefits both the country and the people.

This not only provides employment for the people of Taiping County but also improves the water problems of their own farms and brings good news to landlords of this flat farmland. It really is a triple win.

"Show it to the ministers of the Ministry of Works tomorrow to learn, then see if other counties and towns can bring convenience to the people by tailoring this method to local conditions."

"Yes. The tenure of the county magistrate of Taiping County has expired. I heard Officer Fang from the Ministry of Personnel is sending a newly minted scholar named Chen Jin to take over."

Upon hearing this, the emperor thought of who Chen Jin is, then recalled that he is a staff member of Prime Minister Li. Prime Minister Li’s faction is already large, Chen Jin cannot go.

"Chen Jin is not suitable, send Shen Zixuan."

Shen Zixuan is currently serving in the Hanlin Academy. It would be just right to perform well after being assigned to the countryside for a few years, and then be called back directly to the cabinet! The emperor thought to himself.

Shangguan Xuanyi nodded after hearing this. Without this water conservancy plan, Chen Jin would be the right choice, but now he is not. He originally planned to send Lai Zhewei, because it is an opportunity to deliver political achievements, but Shen Zixuan is also okay.

He recalls the familiarity that existed between him and her, the care that Shen Zixuan had for her. A wave of sour feelings rose in his heart. That person watched her grow up, probably had held her close since she was a child! He absolutely has to be sent away! Far away and after a few years, by then, she would be his wife.

The next morning, Prime Minister Li indeed brought up the appointment of the county magistrate of Taiping County, alluding to the inappropriateness of sending Chen Jin there.

Taiping County suffers from water disasters every year, and thousands of acres of fertile land are tax-exempt! Chen Jin is his proud student, he definitely can’t be ruined in such a barren place!

The emperor nodded and conveniently asked Prime Minister Li who would be the best candidate to go to.

"Your Majesty, I believe it would be more appropriate to send Scholar Shen from the emperor’s personal secretariat. He comes from an agricultural background and has a better understanding of promoting agricultural knowledge. At the time of the Imperial Examination, he had scored a place higher than Chen Jin, which demonstrates his outstanding capabilities. He will definitely do well as the county magistrate of Taiping County and bring blessings to the people. In comparison, Chen Jin is more mediocre in talent and learning, and I do not believe he is fit for the job!"

The emperor nodded: "The Prime Minister’s words are very true. Then let’s send Scholar Shen!"

The Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Works, and the Minister of Revenue were all stunned when they heard the Emperor’s words.

Even Prime Minister Li felt that the Emperor agreed too readily.

Then the emperor appointed Officer Li of the Ministry of Works as the prime minister of the right, the vice minister of the Ministry of Works was promoted to Officer of the Ministry of Works, and Shen Chengyao was to continue serving as the Minister of Agriculture while also serving as the vice minister of the Ministry of Works!

Once the emperor’s words came out, the entire Imperial Court was in an uproar!

While they had no objections to the Minister of Works being the Prime Minister, and the vice minister could be a Minister. But for Marquis Shengping to be the vice minister of the Ministry of Works? Was the Emperor favoring Marquis Shengping too much!

What kind of virtue or ability does Shen Chengyao, a farmer who came halfway, have to hold two positions!

None of them, who were known for their academic background, received such treatment.

There was a chorus of voices urging the Emperor to reconsider.

The emperor had anticipated this situation and had the eunuch pass around the water conservancy plan that they had with them last night.

The ministers admired the water conservancy plan and praised it.

The Officer of the Ministry of Works kept praising it as "excellent".

Upon reading this water conservancy plan, Prime Minister Li felt a pang of regret in his heart.

No wonder the Emperor agreed so readily earlier! There must be a ghost if something is unusual indeed!

"The contribution of Marquis Shengping’s family to the construction of the four bridges over the Huai River is known to all. Without the Marquis Mansion, there would be no bridges! Now this water conservancy plan is also from the Marquis Mansion. I always use the right person for the right job, whoever could produce such a water conservancy plan or a better one, they are welcome to come and serve as the vice minister of the Ministry of Works, I have no objections whatsoever! What do you think, my ministers?"

"May the emperor be wise, I have no objection!"

"The emperor’s wisdom! I think Marquis Shengping is truly deserving of being the vice minister of the Ministry of Works!"

...

Shen Chengyao would never have imagined that he was promoted again! From now on, he will have to attend early court! He was nervous! He knows what he is capable of!

"Can I decline this position?" After receiving the imperial edict and sending away the eunuch, Shen Chengyao asked Xiao’er in distress.

"Are you thinking of defying the imperial edict, father?" Xiao’er’s one sentence completely deflated Shen Chengyao!

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