Alternate Dimension Game: Happiness is all that matters!
Chapter 404 - 291: To Get Rich, First Build Roads!_3

Chapter 404: Chapter 291: To Get Rich, First Build Roads!_3

This type of death that deprives one of all senses and gradually drains one’s vitality is truly...

chilling.

"Our world has been in the age of civilization for a long time, to the point that seeing these objects of deteriorated ritual and music is somewhat unimaginable."

Lu Tianming, with a stalk of grass in his mouth, sighed, "The indigenous people here are all talking and laughing."

"After a great victory, how could they not be happy? As for human pigs and such, that’s nothing strange. After all, there are people here who eat human flesh."

"Yeah, that’s true."

Old Lu continued, "Since the Industrial Revolution, the level of civilization in the Earth World has been continuously rising. The arch-criminals of World War II were only hanged. If it were in the past, they would have been dismembered over three days and nights, and being turned into a human pig would not have been unusual."

"During the Cold War, they actually stopped fighting wars, competing instead over whose system was more advanced and whose technology was more developed. Competing over who would enter space first, who would land on the moon first!"

"Do you think this counts as a manifestation of civilization?"

"Of course it does." Pan Hao also laughed, "If Confucius were resurrected and saw the world now competing in technology and even accommodating something like LGBT, he would certainly lament that the world had finally become harmonized. Isn’t the desire of ’Heavenly Gate’ to elevate the level of civilization here?"

"Maybe it is, but the level of civilization is directly proportional to economic development. Without enough to eat, there can be no so-called civilization."

"Yes, productivity is key, otherwise even a world where one can cultivate Taoist skills would remain impoverished and deprived of so-called civilization."

The large crowd returned to the town, having heard of the great victory and the plunder of the bandits’ stockpile, every face beaming with joy.

"Folks, as you can see, each household will get 10 jin of grain." Pan Hao just loudly announced this, and the town erupted in cheers.

Just yesterday, they divided horse meat, and now they were distributing grain.

Grain is everything!

Pan Hao knew the principle of the "united front" well; by distributing most of this grain, even if the court wanted to pursue the matter, it would provoke public wrath.

He didn’t want to get rich by hoarding grain. Qingshi Town’s development couldn’t be separated from the support of the people.

"But these treasures can’t just be divided among everyone. Because these are the Great Witch’s treasures, the Great Witch only distributes her wealth to those who contribute to Qingshi Town."

"The Great Witch just told me, all those who participated in the bandit-suppression campaign will get a reward, half a Silver Tael each!"

The militia were elated, half a Silver Tael was equal to five hundred wen, not a small amount!

A bun costs only two wen!

Silver, a naturally precious metal, retains its purchasing power even through dynastic changes.

Thus, the local people naturally prefer to reserve some gold and silver.

"The remaining Silver Taels will become the development fund for Qingshi Town." Pan Hao cleared his throat and shouted, "The houses and lands left by the bandits at Lake Entrance technically belong to the Great Witch, not to me, Pan Hao."

"Great Witch...what chicken? Chicken essence?" blurted an old man in a rush.

Pan Hao quickly explained in a few words, "Simply put, the development of Qingshi Town costs money!"

"The Great Witch wishes for a better development of Qingshi Town, more population growth, this silver will be awarded to those who make contributions."

Anyway, anything unclear was conveniently attributed to the local deity "Great Witch."

That old turtle went back to its temple to rest; these complex matters it completely didn’t understand, naturally it also didn’t know it had been saddled with this huge responsibility.

"I understand, it’s essentially Scholarly Manor!" Scholar Ding Zhijing’s eyes lit up, Scholarly Manor, a type of educational organization set up to sponsor students.

Yet, he was immensely shocked.

This was no "Scholarly Manor", but rather...the Government!

Employing labor in lieu of relief, grand construction projects, setting up militias, leasing farmlands, even the militias’ pay was disbursed by the Taoist Temple, though lacking the name of a government office, it still undertook the responsibilities of one!

Isn’t this the Government?

Ding Zhijing’s forehead began to sweat profusely, increasingly sensing that these people, organized and premeditated, had come with grand plans.

As though a dense network enveloped Qingshi Town, plotting each step ahead.

The thought of "Heavenly Gate" eventually upending the Great Qian Dynasty, if ever exposed, such calamities of decimation hanging over their heads, the fear pierced deeply.

Ding Zhijing, should he follow or not?

Gradually, he made up his mind...

...

...

"Cough cough, dear fellow villagers, did you understand?" Pan Hao explained a whole lot in one breath, nearly parched.

"Understood, I’ll work for the Taoist Temple, and you Great Witch can pay me."

"That’s roughly it. But everyone should understand one thing, this work is not for me, Pan Hao, but for Qingshi Town, for everyone. Building walls, reclaiming wasteland, constructing roads, these are all urgent matters. I suppose none of you want the town flattened by bandits, right?"

"Understood, Great Witch, we’re not fools!"

Many people burst into hearty laughter.

Simply put, these new policies were "work-for-relief." Local peasants, mostly illiterate, unable to do other work, only had their physical strength.

And Qingshi Town, with everything in ruins and even the roads uneven.

Foreseeably, in the future, this place would continue to take in endless refugees, potentially upgrading Qingshi Town into a large city of tens of thousands.

Firstly getting the basic road infrastructures in order, reclaiming more farmland, was definitely correct.

After Pan Hao explained all this, the peasants had already started cheering loudly.

What could be more important than the hope for the future?

What could be more important than confidence?

Pan Hao waved his hand grandly, "Lock up these captives, tomorrow we’ll escort them to the court, and still receive some Merit and reward money!"

...

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