Infrastructure Throne

Before the dawn of the new year, Yuanliu City already has a bit of atmosphere for celebrating the new year.

It was rare for Shen Qingze and Yan Zui to escape from their heavy official duties. Together with several chief officials, they took a carriage to the city's east market fair, and took a look at the changes in the city along the way.

Unexpectedly, today's grand occasion was far beyond Shen Qingze's expectations, the carriage was blocked on the road before it arrived at the square.The group had no choice but to abandon their carriages and horses and walk to the square.

The clothes of the two were too conspicuous, and as soon as they appeared, they immediately ignited the enthusiasm of the people.

Everyone gathered around and brought fresh vegetables, homemade pastries and various handicrafts to the officiant and the city lord, just to express their gratitude and love.

If it wasn't for Xiao Meng and his timely accompanying guards to form a human wall to separate the excited crowd, Shen Qingze and Yan Zui would probably be overwhelmed by countless gifts tonight.

Even so, Jin Da, who was protecting Shen Qingze's side, had already been hung up as a Christmas tree by presents, holding vegetables and fruits in his arms, frowning on the spot, neither throwing it away nor not throwing it away.

Luo Xin held a pack of snacks with a smile, and filled his mouth mouthful, his cheeks were full.

Fan Mizhou was a step behind Yan Zui, observing the red lanterns all over the street with great interest.

Teng Changqing's straightforward face was filled with a proud smile, and even Xiao Meng, who was always serious, couldn't help but stretch his eyebrows and eyes in the face of the crowd's laughter.

Sera, who came from Pearl City, and the goblin orc brothers are now the backbone of the newly established technology research and development department.

Tonight was the first time they participated in such a lively gathering, the three of them followed behind Shen Qingze, looking around curiously.

Sera used to be the groom of the great alchemist of Pearl City, and has seen many big scenes, but only today, as Sera, the only alchemist of Abyss City, he appeared in the public, not a servant that no one paid attention to.

It was the first time for the three of them to be surrounded by the respectful and eager eyes of the people. They were short of breath and didn't know where to move their hands and feet.

Sierra was frantically arranging her messy curly hair, her cheeks were tense, and her tense heart was filled with great satisfaction at the same time. Wasn't it what he longed for to be admired and respected by people?

The Lance brothers were a little worried about whether their orc status would arouse people's hostility.

Fortunately, they are mixed blood, their appearance is close to that of humans, and they follow closely behind Shen Qingze, so they are naturally regarded by the people as their own. Occasionally, some people ask questions, but they are also drowned in the cheers of the crowd, and they pass by calmly up.

After the death of the former salt and iron officer Berg, his position was changed to workers and peasants, who promoted talents with both ability and political integrity from the production and construction teams respectively.

Shen Qingze plans to carry out an annual job report and talent selection assessment at the beginning of the new year. Currently, there are still too few high-attribute talents available.

Using probing skills is like finding needles in a haystack, looking for them one by one, the efficiency is too low.Only by making the name of Yuanliu City popular in the Northland can we continuously attract outstanding talents to join us.

In the product exhibition area, the three Uncle Lu who had placed a large order squeezed out the crowd contentedly.

Third Uncle Lu managed to find the young master, and was attracted by the huge commotion. Several people rushed to the side of the street, like the two rulers of Yuanliu City.

Especially for the newly-appointed chief priest, at the exhibition, among the people around, Shen Qingze's name was mentioned the most.

It is said that he is the descendant of the mysterious Great Xia Emperor Master in the legend. He has incredible divine power, the ability to move mountains and fill seas, and pour the sun and the moon.Uncle Lu sneered at this, who doesn't know if two eyes and one nose can still be a fairy?

However, it is an irrefutable fact that the poor and backward agricultural and mining town in the memory of the merchants has become the prosperous one it is today.

Uncle Lu admired such a character very much.

While counting the remaining gold coins in his pocket, he complained sourly: It would be great if the Lu family also had property in Yuanliu City.I don't know if it's too late to invest now.

Now this place is a paradise for businessmen. Compared with the flashy and expensive luxury goods in Pearl City, the cheap and big bowls of goods here are still easy to use. Everyone can't wait to empty out every brick in the exhibition.

As for those colleagues who didn't come here because they didn't look down on this small city, hey, it's a good time not to come, and there will be times when they regret it.

On the side of the street, the young master Lu Xin stretched his neck and looked out. He thought that the one who made Yuanliu City prosperous today would be a wise old man, but he did not expect that the new chief priest and the master of Yuanliu City beside him were both so young. , not a few years older than myself.

Young Master Lu watched from afar, and the two walked side by side amidst the cheers of the crowd, chatting with each other and nodding to the excited people on both sides. They had a great reputation at a young age, one handsome and the other handsome, just like a pair of lovers .

A trace of envy could not help but grow in his heart, and the honey in his hand suddenly became less sweet.

"Third Uncle." Lu Xin tugged on Third Uncle's sleeve, and said crisply, "I want to stay in Yuanliu City and do some business!"

Third Uncle Lu was stunned for a moment, and opened his mouth wide, almost dropping his jaw in fright.

※※※

Shen Qingze was wearing the emperor's sacrificial robe, and walked beside Yan Zui calmly. He was indifferent by nature and liked to be alone, so he was not good at dealing with such situations.

On the other hand, Yan Zui, who grew up under the eyes of everyone, smiled all the way, waved to the people on both sides very naturally, and the inspiring words from his mouth seemed to be particularly trustworthy and reassuring.

The people of this city lived too hard in the past, and needed a lively celebration to drive away the severe winter cold.

"My lord!" Jin Da finally finished handling those gifts, and rushed back to Shen Qingze to report.

"The statistical results from the exhibition area are out. All the products we had backlogged before are out of stock! Textile factories, iron factories, glass factories, and porcelain kiln factories have all received a lot of orders. The supply of briquettes is almost out of supply, and the demand is too great!"

Jin Da smirked while making a distressed expression, and his winking was very funny.

Luo Xin's chubby face immediately came closer, rubbed his hands, and said excitedly:

"Master Officiant, today's daily transaction volume is terrifyingly equivalent to half a year's tax revenue in previous years! Look, next year, shall we continue to expand the scale, reclaim more fertile land, and build more workshops?"

Fan Mizhou glanced at him, shook his head and poured a basin of cold water:

"Officer Luo, our City Lord's Mansion has already been short of recruits. In order to satisfy your workshop, even women have been mobilized to work. The current scale is already at the limit. No matter how many people there are, where can I get people?"

Xiao Meng interjected, "That's right, our guard also needs additional soldiers."

Several people fell into the trouble of happiness and began to worry about the restriction of population.

Jin Da said again: "By the way, my lord, we have also received news from the exhibition area that the Lu's business in Beiji City next door wants to invest in our workshop."

Shen Qingze let out a soft "Oh", and his dark eyes showed a meaningful expression: "This attracts 'foreign capital'? These businessmen are very sharp."

Shen Qingze thought for a while, then nodded: "This matter can be discussed, let them provide money and skilled workers, but the proportion of foreign businessmen's investment must not exceed that of our local people, and the management must also be done by our people. We will pay them at the end of the year. Dividends will do.”

Yan Zui turned his head and frowned slightly: "Did their skilled workers steal our skills?"

Shen Qingze's eyes were deep, and he glanced at the faces of the crowd around him, and said lightly: "Do you still remember the words I analyzed for you at the night market that day?"

Yan Zui looked at his side face and smiled lightly, raised his eyebrows: "You have been holding my hand, how could I forget?"

Shen Qingze pursed her lips, ignored his teasing, and continued: "Those out-of-town businessmen may have plans to learn crafts secretly, but they can only see the layer of things floating on the surface."

"On the surface, we have advanced technology, developed hydraulic machinery, improved many processes, and increased production efficiency. If foreign businessmen have learned it, will they be able to be like us?"

Yan Zui and several other officials listened quietly, thoughtful.

Shen Qingze: "They are profit-seeking businessmen. In order to maximize profits, they will definitely find ways to reduce workers' treatment, reduce labor costs, or simply use slaves. Think about the scene you saw in the smelting workshop in Pearl City."

Lance and Els' pointed ears immediately trembled, showing displeasure.

Shen Qingze said again: "For a typical aristocratic family business group like Lu's, the managers must be the children of the family, and those workers and slaves at the bottom will never be able to get ahead and have no room for promotion. Their labor enthusiasm is destined to be Frustrated."

"Think about raw materials. They are in the textile business. In addition to growing cotton and linen in their own fields, they also buy from other farmers."

"They don't have our fertile land, and they don't have a lot of cheap iron farm tools, and they don't have fertilizers. Farmers have to pay heavy taxes. The output of raw materials is limited, and the prices will be more expensive."

The more officials listened, the more shocked they became. This was the first time they had heard such a thorough analysis.

Shen Qingze's prediction is not yet over: "The efficiency of raw materials and workers will affect the output and price of commodities. In order to grab profits, they will definitely set prices at a low level. But how rich are Beiji City and Nanji City? What about your family?"

"The people there have been exploited by heavy taxes and rents all year round. It is not easy to fill their stomachs. How much money can they have to buy goods? The market is doomed to be limited."

"Even if they have mastered advanced technology and machinery, so what? When they earn money, they have to pay taxes to the rulers of the city. It's okay to earn less, but suddenly they earn more. The nobles are watching."

"Huge profits are not terrible, but the terrible thing is that they still eat alone. Think about what happened to the iron factory in the past. Is it only in Yuanliu City that there are nobles like Yan En? No matter which city there are, there will be no fewer."

"These businessmen may not be escorted by our power and force. The more profits they gain, the more people will be jealous. The greater the profits, the faster they will die."

Speaking of this, several officials, including Yan Zui, all looked awe-inspiring, frowned and remained silent.

Shen Qingze glanced at all kinds of people in the square, including housewives bargaining, farmers selling fruits and vegetables, parents buying books for their children, and couples shopping hand in hand with lanterns...

He said lightly: "Behind our workshop is a complete system from top to bottom. It's not as simple as just a few blueprints. Look at those common people—"

He pointed to a pair of father and son in front of the bookstore: "I remember this person. He was one of the first craftsmen recruited by the production and construction team. The family was originally a poor household with only a few acres of Susukida. Weaving at home to barely survive."

"That person's salary in the production and construction team is enough to support a family. He doesn't need to work hard to take care of the crops that can't grow a few catties. If he sells Susukida, he will be freed from the land."

"Cloth and meat can be bought at a low price in the market. There is no need for his wife to weave cloth day and night, and he does not need to raise poultry in free range. His wife can then go to the textile factory to work as a weaver, which is another income."

"Family income has increased and the cost of living has decreased. They have extra money to go to the market to buy other products. When they are sick, they have money to see a doctor. When their children reach school age, they have money to buy paper and pens and books for them to study."

The chief officials smiled proudly and said, "The life in our city is getting better and better."

Shen Qingze said leisurely: "If you think about it further, there are many families like this. It is their consumption in the market that makes the products of our workshop continuously sold."

"The efficiency of the workshop is getting better and better, more jobs are provided, and the rewards are higher, which can drive more people to become rich."

As a financial officer, Luo Xin's words were like enlightenment, and many economic phenomena that were half-understood before finally had explanations:

"It turns out that without relying on mining and selling mines, without relying on increasing taxes, we can make ourselves rich..."

Shen Qingze looked at the foreign businessmen gathered together and whispering in the distance:

"They don't understand the system that supports the operation behind them, and they don't change the social environment, but only stare at our technology and craftsmanship, so what if they learn it?"

A cold smile appeared on his lips: "They will never be able to compete with us!"

There was a kind of lofty pity on his expression, and the few people watching him suddenly felt a bone-chilling chill.

Some things, when seen from a distance, have the hazy beauty of seeing flowers in the fog, but once they get close, they feel the horror of an abyss.

Several people have been officials for more than ten years, but they seem to know this city for the first time.

The cobbled together parts were put together by Shen Qingze into a perfectly fit gear, and loaded into the small carriage of Yuanliu City, but he didn't know where it would go in the future?

Yan Zui recovered from his contemplation, stared at Shen Qingze for a moment, then suddenly flicked his wrist, and the horsewhip wrapped around Shen Qingze's arm like a dexterous thin snake.

He said quietly: "Fortunately, I was the one who met you first..."

Shen Qingze tugged at the whip, and glanced at him helplessly: "Okay, it's getting late, the City Lord's Mansion has prepared a small dinner for the end of the year today, let's go back and have a reunion dinner together."

※※※

In the City Lord's Mansion, red wrought-iron candles hanging from the ceiling illuminated the banquet hall like daylight.

Tonight is not a dinner among the nobles, but an ordinary family dinner.

There was a large round table in the main hall, on one side were several main officials of the City Lord's Mansion, and on the other side were Yan Zui, Shen Qingze, and people close to them.

Mrs. Yan and Mrs. Li, who were in wheelchairs, were helped to the main seat by the attendants.

It was the first time for Old Man Li to attend such an occasion, and he was both honored and nervous. The glass filled with fine wine was carefully held by Old Man Li with both hands, sipping in small sips, for fear of breaking it and embarrassing Shen Qingze .

Grandma Yan noticed his embarrassment, and she chatted with him kindly, picked up some interesting stories about the younger generation, and gradually, Father Li let go of him, and immediately started talking non-stop.

The banquet was full of familiar people, without red tape, Luo Xin and Jin Da used to gag, everyone talked and laughed at the table, chatted, and after a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere became more and more harmonious, with constant laughter.

Shen Qingze usually doesn't drink alcohol, but tonight he was in a happy mood, so he took a few sips in response to the occasion.

Yan Zui, who was sitting next to him, had drunk a lot in one night, his bright face was covered with clouds, with one hand resting on his cheek, and the corners of his smoky eyes were raised, staring deeply at him.

Shen Qingze really couldn't ignore this scorching gaze, and unconsciously tugged on his collar - the emperor's sacrificial robe was buttoned too tightly.

Suddenly, Yan Zui leaned close to his ear, and his gentle breath brushed over the earlobe, bringing up a little warmth and itching: "I have a New Year's gift for you."

Shen Qingze was taken aback, only to see a cloth bag handed to him, and he opened it - there were two off-white woolen gloves inside.

The knitter was obviously a novice, and the stitches were extremely rough, making several mistakes.

Shen Qingze looked at it in her hands, and found out with amused laughter that the words "drunk" and "Ze" were crookedly embroidered on the corners of the two gloves.

Yan Zui leaned on the high-backed chair, tilted his head to look at him, stretched out a foot, lightly kicked Shen Qingze's calf, and said with a long ending: "Master, where is the city lord's New Year's gift? "

Shen Qingze stroked the soft gloves, silently put them into her arms, covered her lips and coughed lightly, and said in a low voice: "Come with me."