Lin Beifan did not stay for the entire lesson, as he had to return to the palace to attend to official duties.
After a few days, Heshen arrived to see Lin Beifan with a face full of joy.
“Report to Your Majesty, the team we sent out to recruit shipbuilders has returned! On this trip, we have recruited a total of 1,241 experienced shipbuilding masters and successfully completed the task you entrusted to us!”
Lin Beifan was overjoyed: “Excellent! These are all talented individuals. Bring me to see them at once!”
“Your Majesty, please follow me!”
In about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Lin Beifan arrived at the city gate and saw the grand return of the shipbuilding team.
It looked to be about five or six thousand people, many more than what Heshen had reported.
Because most of them had come with their families in tow. It was quite normal for a master craftsman to bring several family members along.
They had arrived in a new land to make a living, and they seemed somewhat timid…
For Lin Beifan, these were all talents! If used well, the shipbuilding industry of Great Xia could take off rapidly!
“His Majesty has arrived, why have you not come forward to pay your respects?” someone shouted.
They hurriedly knelt down and said in unison, “We pay our respects to His Majesty, long live the emperor!”
Lin Beifan smiled, “Please rise, everyone! We warmly welcome the shipbuilding masters who have come from afar, as well as your families! Your willingness to come such a long distance to support Great Xia fills me with great comfort and joy! I hereby solemnly promise…”
Lin Beifan’s expression turned serious: “Every shipbuilding master will be awarded a concrete house! In addition, each shipbuilding master present will receive ten taels of silver as a settling-in allowance!”
“In addition, the wages for your work here are 500 wen per month! If a large ship is built, I will also have rewards for you! In short, the more you work, the more you earn, I will definitely not treat you unfairly!”
The group of people thanked him with joy on their faces: “Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Lin Beifan laughed heartily: “No need to thank me, this is what you deserve. From now on, just focus on building ships for me!”
“Heshen, it’s up to you to settle them in next. Do not neglect them, understand?” Lin Beifan instructed seriously.
Heshen bowed with a smile: “Your Majesty, rest assured, I have already made arrangements! The cement houses are ready, and the tables, beds, and cotton quilts inside are also prepared. They can move in immediately!”
“Good! Minister, I have always been confident in your work!���
Subsequently, these shipbuilders who had traveled from afar settled down in Great Xia.
After three days of acclimatization, they began to build ships.
If all went well, the first batch of ships made by Great Xia could be launched in three months.
…….
The entire Great Xia was developing in an orderly manner under the planning of Lin Beifan.
At this time, a woman dressed in a simple blue outfit arrived at the capital city of Great Xia.
She wore a light gauze hat to shield herself from the sun, and her face was also covered with a thin veil, concealing her features.
However, from her graceful figure, it was evident that she was a woman of stunning beauty.
At this moment, she was walking on the streets of the Great Xia capital city while observing the endless stream of people and murmuring to herself.
“I’ve chased that little enchantress several times now; why does she keep coming here? Is there some mystery to this place? Or does she have some arrangements here? Well, today this lady will thoroughly investigate!”
As she walked, she surveyed the various parts of the capital city.
But the more she looked, the more perplexed she became.
“Rumors say that this is the land ruled by that foolish Emperor Lin Beifan! Under his reign, the people are said to live in hardship, numb and indifferent. Why does this place look… completely different from the tales told outside?”
She had been to many capital cities of dynasties and to many bustling metropolises, but none of the citizens in those cities seemed as serene and happy, as full of vitality and hope as the people here.
Moreover, what surprised her even more was that almost everyone here was wearing new clothes and new shoes, with very few garments bearing patches.
Looking around, it seemed as if the streets were filled with affluent people; it was hard to spot a single poor person.
Even in the capital city of an empire, among ten citizens, there would typically be four who were poor.
But here, it was difficult to find even one poor person!
Even the beggars and those asking for food were nowhere to be seen after she had walked several streets, a total of 2.4 kilometers!
Logically speaking, the citizens were bound to live poorly in a city ruled by a foolish emperor, but this place was completely different, overturning her understanding and truly baffling.
“Indeed, this Great Xia is mysterious!”
She decided to thoroughly explore this place.
She observed that the local court had nearly employed all the able-bodied men in the city to mine, build houses, and construct roads, and a look of displeasure crossed her face.
Such a massive mobilization, indeed the act of a foolish emperor!
With such exploitation of the people and squandering of wealth, how could the citizens speak of happiness?
To play the game this way, it would be strange if the nation did not perish!
However, seeing the expressions of the common people, she became perplexed.
Why do they look so content?
Don’t they know how to resist?
Could it be that the foolish emperor has fed them some sort of enchanting drug?
She also saw that the women here actually had jobs organized to weave.
She was furious. Even the delicate women were not spared, even they were exploited. Is he still human?
Foolish emperor! A great big foolish emperor!
Worse than a beast!
However, seeing the happy smiles on the women’s faces, she became perplexed again.
“Why are you so happy when the foolish emperor exploits you so?”
“Could it be that you are truly willing?”
Unknowingly, evening came, and she discovered that there was no curfew here; it became even livelier than during the day!
Various stalls and vendors filled the streets.
The lights were brilliant, illuminating the marketplace, so bustling and beautiful.
Another family, holding hands, came out and then strolled along, chasing and frolicking, their laughter filling the streets.
Some fireworks were set off, blossoming in the sky, exceptionally beautiful.
She watched the bustling and lively scene and once again felt bewildered!
How closely this bustling scene resembled the magnificent empire from her dreams!
Yet the ruler of this scene was not the wise monarch of her imagination but rather the notoriously foolish emperor spoken of by others!
“Is Heaven playing a joke on me…?”
***
*Edited
TLN: Didn’t see the comment, sorry!
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