Can I get to the other side?.

Chapter 272 Are you the only loyal, good, and wise minister?
Although Liu Xie was quite surprised that Shi Delu's grandson was Shi Bao, he did not care too much about it. After all, the other party was only a ten-year-old child and it would take him a few more years to grow up.

So he just remembered the name, then praised Shi Delu a few words and let him leave.

Looking at Shi Delu's old, hunched back disappearing outside the palace, Liu Xie couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "It is urgent to improve productivity."

The tragedy of cannibalism was too horrifying.

Moreover, the subsequent unification of the world will require a large amount of money and food support.

He had a deep sense of urgency.

He has already entrusted the research and manufacture of the curved plow and textile machine to the craftsmen of the Zhen family. These things are not considered high-tech and can be made in a short time.

Of course this does not fundamentally improve the problem.

Improving productivity and improving overall national strength cannot be achieved overnight.

There is a long way to go.

……

As the days passed, the top of the daily donation list remained high, but the enthusiasm for donations gradually declined, with fewer and fewer people participating in donations every day and less and less donated materials.

Those who should donate have already donated, and the rest are either unwilling to donate or are unable to do so.

And just like that, the fifteenth day soon arrived.

That is the deadline for donations.

Today, Fan the Butcher came to the imperial notice as usual to take a look and take a look at his name written at the top of the donation list on the first day.

There were many people gathered around the imperial edict, either to watch the excitement or to make donations. When they saw him, they all greeted him.

"Hey, isn't this Fan the Butcher?"

"The good man is coming!"

"He's the one who donated twenty strings of cash and half a pig on the first day?"

"Yes, and he was even summoned by the Emperor!"

"It is a great honor to be able to see the emperor."

"You can do it if you donate that much."

"Come on, I can't afford it."

"That is to say, not many people donated on the first day, so he got a big bargain. Later, a wealthy businessman donated 500 shi of rice and grabbed the top spot on the donation list on the seventh day."

"You can't say that. If they are willing to donate, they are doing good deeds. If you have the ability, you can donate too."

"Fan the butcher is a man of honor."

……

Under the imperial edict, the people watching were talking about it.

When the notice was issued on the first day, it was afternoon and the news was not widely spread, so the butcher Fan, who donated 20 strings of money and half a pig, became the top of the list that day and was summoned by the emperor.

But starting from the second day, the number of donors and the amount of donations began to increase sharply, so it can be said that Butcher Fan got a great bargain.

Of course, such weird people are a minority after all. Most people still admire Fan the butcher, because not everyone can come up with even twenty strings of cash.

"Thank you very much, thank you very much."

Hearing the compliments and greetings, Fan the Butcher kept bowing in return, even straightening his back a little, and was extremely happy.

He donated the money out of a momentary impulse, but when he got home that night he regretted it so much that he slapped himself a few times.

But what happened next was beyond his expectations.

The next day he was summoned by the emperor, who praised him personally. In addition, the pork shop's business became several times better than before.

What’s more important is to save face!
In the past, neighbors either avoided him or cursed him behind his back;

But now, wherever he goes, he is praised and everyone knows that he is a kind man.

This kind of satisfaction can't be bought with money!

Thinking of this, Fan the butcher hesitated for a moment, gritted his teeth and said to the official: "I want to donate another ten strings of money!"

The people exclaimed again when they heard this.

Someone asked, "Butcher Fan, you have already donated before, why do you want to donate again? You have too much money and don't know where to spend it."

Adding the previous donations, it’s now thirty strings of cash!

An ordinary family doesn’t spend that much money in a year!
Butcher Fan shook his head and said, "I don't have much money. These ten strings of cash are my last savings. But as long as I can save a few more people, it will be worth it!"

"Your Majesty talked to me a lot that day. Your Majesty is a benevolent monarch. You have put a lot of effort into settling those refugees. It is not easy."

"Of course I have to share some of the burden for Your Majesty."

Fan the Butcher's words sounded righteous, but in fact he barely spoke a few words to the emperor that day. He kept his head down and trembled the entire time.

But of course he has to brag in front of outsiders.

As expected, after these words were spoken, the people around were immediately impressed and began to praise him.

"Fan the Butcher is truly a man of honor!"

"Then I'll do my part and donate a coin!"

"I'll donate too!"

"It seems that those who donated money are ordinary people like us. It seems that none of the wealthy families donated."

"I noticed that too. I didn't see any trace of them. They are so stingy that they are reluctant to donate even a little bit even though they have so much money."

"A famous family, huh."

"That's right, even Fan the Butcher can't compare to him!"

"Don't even mention Fan the Butcher. Even Wu Dalang who sells sesame cakes is better than them. At least he donated three sesame cakes!"

"Be careful, your mouth can cause trouble."

"Why should I be afraid of them? I've said it, so what can I do about it?"

……

While Fan the Butcher's act of donating money again attracted praise, it also caused many people to talk about the major families in the city.

Because they haven't seen the names of those aristocratic families on the list in these days, it's as if they have disappeared one by one.

The people have been talking about this for days. Now when they see Fan the butcher donating money again, they can't help but think of the behavior of those noble families who turned a deaf ear to it.

"What's so strange about this?" Hearing this, Butcher Fan sneered, "Those noble families are so high and mighty, why would they care about the lives of ordinary people? Even if someone starves to death in front of them, they won't even look at them!"

"Our Majesty is kind and caring about the people."

Everyone agreed.

However, at this moment, a gorgeous carriage came driving down the road. The onlookers were shocked and made way for it.

The carriage stopped in front of the imperial edict.

Then the curtain was lifted, Yang Biao got off the carriage, and walked straight to the official in charge of counting donations. He said calmly: "I am the Loyalty Marquis Yang Biao, and on behalf of my Hongnong Yang family, I am donating 20,000 shi of grain."

A few words shocked everyone in the room!

"Twenty, twenty thousand shi?!" The official was also shocked when he heard this. He bowed to Yang Biao first, then asked carefully, "Are you sure, Lord? Donate twenty thousand shi of grain?"

Twenty thousand shi of grain is enough to feed forty thousand people for a month!

The amount Yang Biao donated at once was more than all the donations they received in the previous fourteen days!

"Of course." Yang Biao nodded slightly and said solemnly, "The country is in crisis and the people are suffering. Our Hongnong Yang family has received the kindness of the Han Dynasty for generations. How can we not think of repaying the Han Dynasty?"

"I have been collecting grain for some time. Now we have collected all the grain, a total of 20,000 shi, and donated it all for the resettlement of refugees."

The people around were all shocked when they heard this.

This is a full 20,000 shi of grain!
Just donate it as you say?
"It turns out that Yang didn't want to donate, but just kept raising funds. It was us who misunderstood."

"As expected of the Marquis of Loyalty!"

"How much is 20,000 shi of grain worth?"

"That's a very generous offer!"

"The most virtuous family in the Han Dynasty must be the Yang family!"

"These big families are so rich. With so much food, my family can't finish it in ten lifetimes!"

……

The people were extremely amazed. 20,000 shi of grain was beyond their imagination. They had previously been wondering why the aristocratic families did not donate.

As a result, Yang Biao gave away 20,000 shi of grain in one go!

Butcher Fan swallowed his saliva, carefully took a few steps back, hid himself in the crowd, and tried not to attract attention.

The official also reacted at this time, and hurriedly wrote down the name and amount on the donation list, and shouted loudly: "The Hongnong Yang family donated 20,000 shi of grain! This is a great act of kindness, and your good name will be included in the imperial list!"

This voice attracted many passers-by.

They all ran over to watch.

Yang Biao smiled slightly, but he did not leave immediately. Instead, he stood there waiting.

He came here on time. Now there was less than half an hour left until sunset, and he had to make sure that no one donated more than him before the donation was over.

He is determined to make this the best man in the world!

Just as Yang Biao was thinking this, another carriage drove up and stopped in front of the imperial edict, and then a white-haired old man got off the carriage.

It’s Fu Wan!

Yang Biao's expression suddenly changed.

Why is this old guy here?

Fu Wan also noticed Yang Biao standing in front of the imperial edict. He was stunned for a moment and asked in surprise: "Mr. Yang? Why are you here?"

He deliberately chose this point to donate.

How come I met Yang Biao here?
Yang Biao felt extremely embarrassed and forced a smile, saying, "Didn't I say before that I would donate my salary? I just happened to pass by today and decided to donate."

As he spoke, he tried to use his body to block Fu Wan's sight, so that he could not see the name written on the imperial edict and the amount of donation.

But his action was too late after all. Fu Wan had already seen the words on the imperial edict and was immediately furious!
"Yang Biao, you are shameless!" Fu Wan yelled at Yang Biao, "Donating your salary? When did your salary increase to 20,000 shi of grain? What kind of official are you?"

"You filthy old thief!"

Seeing that Yang Biao donated 20,000 shi of grain, how could Fu Wan not understand his intention? This old guy was clearly trying to compete for the title of the most philanthropic person in the Han Dynasty!

Yang Biao knew he was in the wrong, so he could only bite the bullet and say, "My salary alone is not enough, so after thinking it over, I decided to notify the family to help raise a little bit."

"Your Majesty needs to resettle the people and they are short of food. My Yang family has been blessed by the Han Dynasty for generations. Can we just ignore it?"

This reason was barely tenable. But Fu Wan didn't buy it and angrily said, "Why are you hiding it? You lied to me before and said you wouldn't donate. How can you be so shameless!"

"Now, all the civil and military officials in the court have not donated, only you have donated. Are you the only loyal, good, and wise minister? Where do you put us? You are just afraid that someone will steal the title of the best man in the Han Dynasty from you!"

Yang Biao's thoughts were exposed and he was unable to refute for a moment.

But he suddenly realized something, and looked at Fu Wan with sharp eyes, asking: "Then why are you here?"

He came here to donate food.

Why did Fu Wan come here?
The imperial edict is at the city gate, which is not on the way to Fu Wan’s home. Why did this old guy come all the way here?

"I want to leave the city, is it your business?"

Fu Wan was on the moral high ground at this time, and he said confidently: "But since I have seen your shameless behavior, I can't remain indifferent!"

After that, he said directly to the official: "I am the father-in-law of the emperor, Fu Wan, and I am donating 100,000 strings of cash on behalf of the Fu family!"

"Someone, take all the boxes down!"

At Fu Wan's command, several servants carried seven or eight boxes down from the carriage and opened them in public.

There are actually golden cakes all over it!
Although Yang Biao's donation of 20,000 dan of grain was surprising, it was just a number after all, and they did not have a clear concept of it. But the money donated by Fu Wan was there!
Gold is extremely precious. A gold cake worth one hundred thousand strings of cash has an incomparable visual impact!
Everyone around the imperial edict was stunned. For a moment, various gasps were heard one after another.

"Oh my God! So much gold!"

"One hundred thousand strings of cash!"

"How many houses, beauties, and clothes can this buy?"

"I've never seen so much gold in my life!"

"All donated?"

Usually, to describe a rich person we say he is wealthy, but Fu Wan donated 100,000 strings of cash in one go!

I wouldn't even dream of doing this!
Yang Biao's expression changed drastically, and he angrily said to Fu Wan: "Fu Wan! Didn't you say you have no money? How can you get so much gold without money!"

Even Yang couldn't come up with so much gold all at once. It would take a long time to raise the money, and he might even have to sell some of the family's property.

Fu Wan took out so much gold in one breath, which obviously showed that he had prepared it in advance, but this old guy was crying poor and saying he had no money before!

Fu Wan snorted coldly and was about to retort to Yang Biao when another carriage drove over and attracted the attention of both of them.

The person who came was none other than Cui Yan!

Cui Yan obviously did not expect to run into the two here, and asked in surprise: "Father-in-law, Lord Yang? Why are you here?"

Fu Wan was the first to complain: "It's just right that Tiger Guard Zhonglang has come. That old man Yang Biao came here secretly without our knowledge and donated 20,000 shi of grain!"

"He wants to seize the title of the best man in the Han Dynasty!"

Cui Yan's face suddenly changed.

Yang Biao was anxious and shouted angrily: "You old thief, you still have the nerve to criticize me? Why don't you tell me why you donated so much gold?!"

He ruthlessly exposed Fu Wan's past.

Cui Yan looked at the two people arguing, then looked at the boxes of gold on the ground. The corners of his mouth could not help but twitch, and he clenched his teeth.

"These two cunning old foxes!"

He originally thought that Yang Biao and Fu Wan would not participate in the competition for the top position of the Han Dynasty, but who knew that these two guys were actually making preparations secretly!

And they all wait until the last minute to donate!

However, just when Cui Yan had finally suppressed the urge to curse, several carriages drove up one after another and stopped outside the imperial edict notice area.

They are the carriages of the Zhen, Dong, Shen, Ju and other aristocratic families!
(End of this chapter)