The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror

Huo Jing tried his best to divert the disaster towards Prince Yu.

These nobles couldn't do anything to Huo Jing as he remained unmoved by their threats, and being from North Zhili, there was nowhere they could go to threaten him effectively.

Prince Yu was still the Regent in the Capital, and everyone was looking for a chance for a justified coup, but no opportunity arose.

However, Huo Jing wasn't wrong; as long as they endured until Prince Yu took power, everything would return to a bright and clear state.

The dark era, after all, must first be endured and passed.

The nobles began to conspire privately.

One person's plan is short, but many people's plans are long.

They truly came up with a strategy.

…

…

Xu Qing spent the entire first month of the year busy abolishing slavery.

As for the policy of officials and gentry serving equally and paying taxes, it was simpler; a decree abolished the privileges of officials and gentry directly from a legal standpoint.

The problem was, the ones executing this decree were still members of the officials and gentry!

Even if members of the Recovery Society were sent to execute it, it would make no difference because many members were also stakeholders or potential stakeholders.

So there was no solution.

Anyway, it was better for them to acknowledge it first.

Compared to the policy of officials and gentry serving equally and paying taxes, the abolition of slavery was the main focus.

However, what surprised Xu Qing was that the abolition of slavery progressed very smoothly.

Logically, there should have been significant resistance.

Xu Qing sensed something suspicious about it.

He first sent people to investigate openly and secretly. Soon, he got results and then summoned Xie Quan for a discussion.

After reviewing the results, Xie Quan had to admit that these nobles were indeed adept at misconduct.

The slave status was indeed abolished.

The problem was that they adopted a new scheme.

This new scheme was called "contract labor."

The nobles recruited heads among their former house slaves, and under their leadership, selected a group of young and strong individuals to sign fixed-term contracts.

After signing, these heads could receive a contract fee.

As for these contract laborers, after signing the contract, they could only serve their masters within the contract's time frame.

During the work period, they couldn't return home.

But they had the option not to sign; however, without the slave status, they had no connection with the masters, so starving to death was their fate.

Moreover, these heads took the opportunity to make a fortune, which gave them more motivation to facilitate this.

They cooperated not only with their original masters but also with big workshops in Jiangning Prefecture and Yingtian Prefecture.

Workshops feared losing skilled workers the most. With these contract constraints, it naturally brought many conveniences.

Because the contracts set a time limit, during the time of employment, the workers would be exhausted to their limits.

It's the same as renting oxen or horses; you cherish what you own, but if it's rented, without strong restrictions, you'd use it with excessive force.

As Xu Qing remembered from his previous life, the proverb says that a rented cart is sure to be driven hard.

Xie Quan laughed out loud, knowing how ruthless these people were.

Originally, the house slaves would skive off work, although they had no wages, they weren't as exhausted as they were now.

The key point was, the nobles took the chance to get rid of a large number of elderly and infirm house slaves, thus lightening their burdens.

Most of these elderly and infirm slaves had family members who were young and strong.

Therefore, even if it meant having a meal, they had no choice but to sign the contract.

If they didn't sign, their whole family would truly starve to death.

As house slaves, they certainly had no land.

Landless people, even if free, were forced to work like cattle due to severe dependence.

The key point was, this matter was not only carried out by the Conservative Faction nobles, but also by the ones under Xu Qing who had transformed into workshop owners, who also supported it.

This was called binding interests.

Xu Qing was a master of this path, and it seemed the nobles had now learned it.

A boomerang indeed!

Xie Quan knew the dangers of this tactic, which could cause Xu Qing and the Court to lose the people's support.

He asserted, "Scholar Xu, the most urgent task is to explicitly prohibit and abolish these contracts while rearranging the abolition policies before the situation worsens."

He knew in his heart that this move wasn't favorable.

Changing orders so frequently!

Xu Qing smiled, "Teacher, don't worry. It's not a big deal."

Xie Quan's expression eased, "So you already have a countermeasure, Gongming?"

Indeed, Xu Gongming, ever full of wisdom and tactics.

Xu Qing said, "It's not that I had early countermeasures. After all, without corresponding financial and food preparations, it's like giving birth and not raising. The ultimate aim of abolishing slavery was to free the population from the nobles. Forced to be contract workers because there's no other option, but what if there were other opportunities?"

Although Xu Qing hadn't anticipated the nobles' countermeasures beforehand, he indeed had a plan in preparation.

That was road construction!

Using labor to offset relief aid, massive infrastructure projects have always been great ways to absorb labor.

Moreover, with cement workshops, they could not only construct roads but also build houses, reservoirs, and river embankments...

In short, it's versatile.

But finally, Xu Qing's hidden plan was revealed.

With roads, wouldn't suppressing rebellions become much easier in the future?

Why had the three provinces of the Southwest been hard to pacify? Why could the Central Plains be easily stabilized? The key lay in "roads."

Back in the days of the Qin State, they heavily constructed straight roads, gaining unmatched mobility among the six states. It was one of the reasons for the Qin's unification of the realm.

Because South Zhili had previously succeeded in clearing fields, the Officials had land and yellow books of all places, making road construction easier naturally.

Xu Qing directly took out the details to discuss with Xie Quan.

Road construction was also beneficial for the nobles.

The key was how to establish uniform standards, and more importantly...

Xie Quan couldn't help but admire Xu Qing's genius idea; he actually thought of bidding.

The nobles could gain the right to construct roads through bidding, and within a certain period, the rights would belong to them.

If local nobles were unwilling to participate, then the Officials would fund the construction themselves.

Of course, they were in the negotiation stage, and the implementation required decisions from the Cabinet and Ritual Supervision.

…

…

Yingtian Prefecture, the temporary Cabinet.

Xu Qing even specially invited the retired Elder Liang.

When Elder Liang returned from retirement and heard of Xu Qing's revival, he sat up in shock from his deathbed and had been looking vibrant recently.

Whenever Huo Jing saw old Liang, naturally, he couldn't stand the sight of him.

Additionally, Chen Zhong from Ritual Supervision is also among them.

He mainly represents the opinion of Ritual Supervision.

Xu Qing discussed the general matter.

Huo Jing originally felt secretly pleased upon hearing about the contract workers, thinking Xu Qing was finally being put in an embarrassing situation.

Unexpectedly, Xu Qing had countermeasures.

However, he felt quite delighted when he heard the latter part.

Because Xu Qing planned to allocate ninety percent of the bidding rights to be divided among everyone.

This thing, once sold again, could directly create the wealthiest person in a poor state's capital.

Huo Jing did not expect such a good thing.

He had worked at the Inspection Bureau for so many years, receiving numerous charcoal and ice tributes, but they were merely snacks for his teeth, how could it make him prosperous?

He now utterly despises those conservative faction nobles.

Every time they invite the Pure Stream faction from the Inspection Bureau to fight for them, they only offer such little things.

Look at Xu Liushou, not for nothing is he the saint of the present age; he produces a goose that lays golden eggs with his generosity.

"Xu Gongming surpasses my own grandfather!" Despite Huo Jing's usual upright and just character, at this moment, he couldn't help singing praises for Xu Qing in his heart.

Of course, this is also a benefit for being the Cabinet Chief.

The only discontent Huo Jing had was why even elder Liang, who had just stepped down as Grand Secretary, was included.

But then Huo Jing thought, everyone has their time off the stage.

In this sense, Xu Gongming truly is a generous person.

Huo Jing also considered that if he didn't support this matter, Xu Qing would likely expel him from the Cabinet on the spot!

Such a benevolent policy, only a fool wouldn't support it.

Huo Jing serves as Grand Secretary for the welfare of all living creatures under heaven.

As long as it is a benevolent policy, he would go forth despite having millions against him!

He now has quite the realization of being willing to martyr.

Chen Zhong laughed so wide even his mouth couldn't close.

Look at Xu Liushou; he is a true sage.

Chen Zhong came to this prosperous land of Jiangnan, worried about entering a mountain of gold without finding opportunities to fish out money.

After all, the Emperor is watching over there.

His manner of consuming couldn't be overly offensive.

However, the methods of a eunuch to fish out money are inherently crude; it's impossible without causing widespread public anger.

Indeed, Xu Liushou flips clouds and rains with ease.

He helped everyone make money without causing public outrage.

The major matters are simplified; now the giants in South Zhili have reached a consensus, and the remaining task is to show it to the Emperor. Once the Emperor nods, everyone can boldly proceed to make money.

Of course, the matter of selling the bidding rights is a tacit affair. Such trivial matters aren't necessary to disturb the Emperor's peaceful cultivation.

What in the world is larger than Your Majesty's cultivation?

…

…

Yingtian Prefecture Palace—Yannian Palace.

The old Emperor looked at the memorial brought by Xu Qing and nodded: "These scoundrels only know how to make trouble; still, you lad handle things reliably. Do it as mentioned in the memorial."

"As you command."

The old Emperor continued: "But temporarily allowing nobles to have these road rights, could there be hidden dangers?"

Xu Qing: "There is indeed a significant hidden danger."

The old Emperor: "What solution do you propose?"

Xu Qing: "Minister believes that the roads of the world are like human blood vessels; as long as blood vessels exist, if they fall ill, following the prescription to treat will naturally result in a cure."

The old Emperor satisfactorily nodded and waved: "Go ahead."

Actually, the construction of roads would facilitate the Court's army in suppressing rebellions; intelligent nobles could see it, but the road rights held by them have too many advantages.

The simplest method is charging others' goods for road fees while letting own goods pass for free, directly monopolizing the local lucrative business from the source...

Such a thing, if you don't strive for it, others will, and then ruin your family.

After all, nobles are not a monolithic force; internal conflicts are no less than those in the Court.

…

…

After the big shots discussed, the Emperor agreed, and the new policy was swiftly disseminated.

To put it bluntly, while the Court previously didn't regulate the private road construction, it now clearly states that privately constructing roads among nobles isn't appropriate.

Firstly, these roads might not all lie within their own lands; secondly, the Court can't control its construction, but destroying it is just a word away.

By then, even if your road is built, smashing it outright would leave you with nowhere to cry.

Moreover, the Court, having succeeded in clearing fields in South Zhili, can strategize from the whole picture. Cooperation in constructing roads brings in a mountain of gold and silver.

This is an opportunity to make a fortune.

Besides, Xu Qing fiercely criticized the contract worker system in the Great Ming Newspaper and other publications, proposing road construction, river embankments, reservoirs, and other works requiring a vast labor force.

These are all beneficial to the local town and can support a family through earnings.

The newspapers are straightforward; even if common folks can't understand them, there's always someone literate in a village who reads aloud to others; moreover, Xu Qing has organized storytellers from the Embroidered Guard to promote in rural areas.

These individuals carry the Embroidered Guard token, and generally, no one dares to obstruct them.

If someone does not fear death, naturally, the knives of the Embroidered Guard and Inner Factory are ready.

Because of the substantial benefits Chen Zhong had, he issued strict orders for the Embroidered Guard and the Inner Factory agents to ensure good cooperation on this matter in South Zhili.

This pressure prevented the subordinates from being negligent.

Despite expecting exceptional results, certainly, none were achieved, but it at least reached a foundational effect.

This is sufficient.

Moreover, once the news of the bid spread, rumors flew everywhere.

Those with connections naturally looked for their paths, those without tried hard to find ways, hoping for some benefits. If they couldn't, they deserved poverty.

But the black curtain this time exceeded the expectations of many nobles.

Though Xu Qing deliberately set aside ten percent of the bidding rights, claiming to provide a fair competition chance, in reality, the rules were set by Xu Qing.

Then Xu Qing used this ten percent interest to conduct a unique training course for Jiangning Prefecture nobles.

Only through training would they have the chance for special favors.

Simply put, it was an internal rectification.

Through this purge, unqualified nobles naturally fell behind, while some originally lagging nobles got a growth opportunity.

All in all, it's for the revival of the lively source.

If no struggle occurs, how can others rise?

If others can't rise, wouldn't it result in everyone losing the motivation to advance?

An eternal dynasty is inherently against human nature.

Xu Tiaomo, oh no… Xu Liushou merely follows human nature.