The fool has become a spirit, and she can speak

Hong Zhekai's only bargaining chip was that he could build water conservancy projects for Wan Lianxing, but he was not only using him but also threatening him. It was as if he, Hong Zhekai, was the only one who was putting on such a high profile and asking others to do things for him. Hong Zhekai really wanted to tear the drawings in his hand into pieces. He most wanted to work for Wan Lianxing. He hated and despised Wan Lianxing from the bottom of his heart, but considering his eldest son who was like a hostage, he had to compromise again and again.

Soon the room was filled with people, all of whom were involved in the water conservancy project and those related to it.

Hong Zhekai expressed his thoughts, and Wan Lianxing was very satisfied. However, as an outsider, he did not trust Hong Zhekai. He wanted to hear Shang Xi's thoughts. "Shang Xi, what do you think?"

Shang Xi said: "Although Mr. Hong's plan is very difficult, it is feasible."

With Shang Xi's words, Wan Lianxing knew that Hong Zhekai did not just pick up a few pieces of paper to deceive him.

Afterwards, he listened to many people's opinions. Hong Zhekai could see that Wan Lianxing had hired many people to build the water conservancy here, and he was the one who knew the most. So Wan Lianxing made the decision on the spot and said, "Hong Zhekai, go back and make it more detailed. We will start the construction in three days."

When you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. Hong Zhekai agreed and asked Wan Lianxing, "My Lord, can I see my son now?"

Wan Lianxing said to the people around him, "Go and call Yunrang."

Shang Xi said, "Stop yelling. The kids pestered Cheng Feng to go hunting in the mountains early in the morning. They left a long time ago and I don't know when they will be back."

Wan Lianxing asked knowingly, "Why didn't you tell me when you left?"

"My Lord, they left early and did not dare to disturb your sweet dreams."

Wan Lianxing raised his hand and said, "What a coincidence. Why don't you just stay here with me and draw the blueprint while waiting for Yunrang?"

Wan Lianxing's words were beautiful, but Hong Zhekai knew in his heart that nothing could be so coincidental. This was why Wan Lianxing deliberately prevented them from meeting each other. Knowing this, he had no way to deal with Wan Lianxing.

At this time, Ge Dongqing came out to smooth things over, "Zhe Kai, your son Yunrang has made a lot of progress recently. He caught a big and fat rabbit yesterday, but no one else ate it, so I left it for you. I think I can catch one for you tonight as a gift."

Hong Zhe was holding his breath. With his ability, he could have taken Wan Lianxing away, but in the end, it was Wan Lianxing who took it away. However, he still endured it. In the past, when he was an official in the same court as Wan Lianxing, he was no match for Wan Lianxing. Now that he was guilty, he was even less of a match for Wan Lianxing. What's more, he had accepted Wan Lianxing's benefits. He was destined to not be able to raise his head in front of Wan Lianxing in the future.

Wan Lianxing and Ge Dongqing knew all the changes in Hong Zhekai's heart. Ge Dongqing took Hong Zhekai's hand and said, "Come on, I'll take you to see where your son lives."

Hong Zhekaizhen followed him there. He wanted to know his son's situation. He wanted to see whether Wan Lianxing treated his son as a servant or as his real grandson. The supplies in the house were complete and of the best quality. The expenses far exceeded those of Hong Yunrang's home in Bian Jing.

Hong Zhekai flipped through the books on the table and asked, "Who taught this?"

"The monk sitting next to Wan Lianxing, Huang Chenming, is the teacher of the monk. He is Wan Lianxing's great-nephew Cheng Youning. They have classes together every day, and the content of the classes is exactly the same."

Hong Zhekai asked, "Is his nephew-sun the same age as Yunrang?"

Ge Dongqing said: "The child is only five years old, but he has grown up."

"No matter how old he is, he is still a five-year-old child. Can he understand the contents of this book? This is not what a five-year-old child should learn."

Ge Dongqing said: "There is always someone better than you. That kid is smart. Although he is only five years old, he already understands a lot of things."

Looking at the swords and sabers hanging on the wall, Hong Zhe asked, "Yun Rang has learned swordsmanship?"

Ge Dongqing said: "The Marquis said that your son has no talent for wielding a sword. The skills he learned are only enough for self-defense."

Ge Dongqing coaxed Hong Zhekai back with just a few words. When he returned to Wan Lianxing, Wan Lianxing and Chen Gongxiang were discussing recruiting people. The population of Mochun County was extremely limited. Apart from those who were exiled, there were less than two thousand men, women, old and young. So, at the end of the day, all the men had signed up, but there were less than a thousand people. Among them were some elderly and frail people and some children of thirteen or fourteen. Only half of the population were able to work.

If this project is to be built according to Hong Zhekai's idea, it would require tens of thousands of workers.

Chen Gongxiang did set his sights on other nearby counties. There were definitely people willing to come, but the manpower was far from enough.

Ge Dongqing said, "Lord, do you still remember Erli, the son of the village chief, Brother Li, whom we met yesterday?"

"How could I forget what happened yesterday? Did you think of something, brother?"

"I can find someone for Big Brother."

"Please speak, my dear brother."

Ge Dongqing said: "It was my elder brother who paid for Sha Guanghan to send the soldiers away. How much taels did my elder brother pay at that time?"

"Thirty thousand taels."

Ge Dongqing said: "Even if Sha Guanghan pocketed some of the thirty thousand taels, there must be ten thousand people who benefited from the Marquis."

Wan Lianxing didn't know whether to approve or not. He agreed with Ge Dongqing's statement and said, "Brother, please continue."

"Brother, why don't you gather these people together to build a dam and dike."

Wan Lianxing closed the fan in his hand and said happily, "Why didn't I think of such a good idea? But these people come from all over Fengying. How can we convince them to come here?"

Ge Dongqing said: "Brother, if you are willing to spend money and give me a few days, I can quickly get these people to come here to work."

"Oh? Brother, you already have a solution?"

"Yes, it depends on big brother."

Wan Lianxing said, "You can use the money as you like, just get the person here."

"Then please have someone prepare a carriage for me, and I will go out and lobby for you."

Wan Lianxing thought Ge Dongqing's idea was very brilliant and immediately sent people to Ge Dongqing. Within a stick of incense's time, Ge Dongqing was out.

Relying on his eloquent tongue, he traveled around various places in Fengying, and then went to the nearby Shuangfeng County and Chaizhou to lobby, which took quite a while.

However, as soon as Ge Dongqing left, someone came to the government office to sign up the next day. Chen Gongxiang was ready to receive him. "Are you recruiting here? I'm Da Zhuang under Sha Guanghan."

"Recruiting workers."

"Is that threat true?"

"What threat?"

"Three copper coins a day, with food and drink, and an additional two taels of silver for a full year's work, is that true?"

"It's true. You have to stay."