Dad, don't be greedy! My brother climbed into the emperor's bed, and I became famous overn

This area is rarely visited because it is located in a buffer zone between two countries that have been at war for many years.

The patrols of Dayong and the fierce cavalry of the Northern Di often met here.

Small-scale skirmishes and bloody clashes are commonplace on this barren slope.

Gu Mingyue frowned slightly.

"The common people are unarmed. If they gather in large numbers at the border to dig for grain, the consequences would be unimaginable if they were to encounter the Northern Di army..."

"What's so difficult about that?"

Xiao Ye responded calmly.

"I will immediately dispatch the northern border troops to set up camps and defenses."

"Moreover,"

Xiao Ye leaned over and used his finger to measure the distance on the geomantic map.

"The barren slopes in the north are a full ten miles from Anyang City, and a round trip would be twenty miles."

"These disaster victims are already short of food and can't bear to eat their fill, how can they endure such a long journey?"

"If we really let them walk there on their own, they'll probably collapse on the road before they even touch the sweet potato vines."

Gu Mingyue was taken aback: "Then what does the Emperor mean?"

"I ordered the Northern Army to bring out all the mules, horses, and donkey carts that are usually used for transporting grain and supplies, specifically to transport these people who are going to work."

Gu Mingli nodded in agreement.

"Great idea! Let's get started!"

That's how the matter was settled.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Zhao Pucheng, the magistrate of Anyang County, personally led dozens of yamen runners to post a huge red notice on the most conspicuous bulletin board at the gate of Anyang City.

Pujitang Anyang Branch is urgently hiring!

[Recruiting laborers to dig potatoes and sweet potatoes on the barren slopes outside the city! Men, women, young and old are all welcome; for every pound dug up, you will be paid five copper coins on the spot!]

[Limited to 2,000 people per hour, weighing and payment on-site!]

The notice had been posted for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn when the entire city gate erupted in chaos.

The desperate disaster victims surrounded the notice board in layers, making it impossible to move.

"Potatoes? Sweet potatoes? What are those?"

"Five coins a pound? I'm just a farmer; I have nothing but my strength. I can dig up dozens, even hundreds, of pounds a day!"

"That's several hundred coins! That's enough to buy half a bag of old rice and save the whole family!"

"But... that work site is on the border! I heard the Northern Barbarian army often comes here to kill people, isn't it dangerous? We might earn the money but not live to spend it..."

The people were initially skeptical and dared not approach.

After all, during those years of famine, they were terrified of being harmed by those despicable corrupt officials.

Nobody believed that real gold and silver could fall from the sky.

Until Zhao Pucheng held up a scroll bearing the imperial seal, a document from the court authorizing disaster relief.

"Fellow villagers! This is a way of life that the imperial court has created for us! His Majesty has not forgotten us!"

"That work area is guarded by the most elite troops from the North! Anyone who wants a decent meal, come and sign up!"

This shout ignited the survivors' will to survive.

A long queue instantly formed at the registration desk.

That afternoon, the first batch of two thousand people who applied for work boarded the mule and donkey caravan that the army had arranged, and the caravan left the city in a grand procession.

Real money is always the best clarion call in the world.

By the third day, not only did all the people of Anyang arrive, but disaster victims from several surrounding counties that had also been affected by the disaster also rushed over with their families, frantically joining this army of diggers.

The number of people coming to work every day has also increased dramatically from more than 3,000 at the beginning to tens of thousands!

In order to ensure that every household could earn money, Zhao Pucheng, in accordance with the requirements of his employer, began issuing appointment numbers to the people.

Meanwhile, on the other side, General Zhong Yi, the commander of the Northern Frontier, led an army of ten thousand men to guard the front line in the wilderness.

He was originally a fierce general under the command of the King of Qi, who had fought in many battles. After the second prince ascended the throne, he was good at recognizing and appointing people, and entrusted him with the important task of guarding the border.

Upon receiving the imperial edict, he immediately broke camp and led his troops to personally guard the area.

At this moment, the barren slope was bustling with activity, and dust was flying everywhere.

Those who missed the first batch of entry crowded outside the military camp's sturdy fence, anxiously counting the hourglasses, waiting for their turn to change shifts.

The more than two thousand people who had already entered the venue were squatting on the ground in groups of three or five, their buttocks sticking out.

Not enough hoes? Use a stick to pry them open! The stick breaks? Use your calloused hands to dig with all your might!

The topsoil was peeled away one handful at a time, and round, heavy sweet potatoes and potatoes, still carrying the fresh scent of soil, finally saw the light of day again.

A gaunt old man held up a sweet potato, twice the size of his fist, and brought it to his nose to smell it.

"What kind of magical treasure is this? Why would Pujitang accept this mud ball?"

The man next to him wiped away the sweat mixed with dirt and grinned happily.

"Who cares about him! I heard from the old soldier that this is a foreign variety that the imperial court secretly planted here! We have no idea what it's for."

"Stop dawdling, old man! It's five coins a pound! Hurry up and dig up more so you can buy rice at the newly opened rice shop in Puji Hall and cook a pot of thick rice porridge that won't fall over even if you stick chopsticks in it!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Dig!"

In front of the tents at the temporary camp, Gu Mingyue quietly watched the people working hard all over the mountains and fields.

I opened my system panel and took a look.

Today's wages: 4000 taels of silver

[Task Balance: 196000 taels]

[Remaining time limit for the task: 25 days]

Two days later.

On the barren slopes outside Anyang City, a well-organized production line has been established.

The people spontaneously divided themselves into four shifts to take turns.

The mule and horse caravans shuttled back and forth on the official road.

The elite accounting team sent by Pujitang frantically weighed and paid wages in a row of temporary purchasing sheds set up on site.

The line to collect wages stretched for half a mile.

With their pockets full of wages, and with the newly opened Pujitang grain shop in Anyang City supplying them with affordable rice every day, the people finally felt more secure.

No longer will a farmer who is struggling to survive line up at the entrance of the Cui family manor to sell the land that has been passed down from generation to generation at a low price.

Meanwhile, the warehouses heavily guarded by the imperial army were piled high with potatoes and sweet potatoes.

This is the ultimate trump card that can significantly impact grain prices throughout Jizhou.

Cui Zhe, the steward of the Cui family manor, could no longer sit still.

He was Cui Ming's confidant in Jizhou and also a distant relative of the Cui family.

In the past few days, I have watched helplessly as the manor gates went from being packed with people to being deserted.

One by one, the farmers who were about to sign the contracts disappeared.

That afternoon, Cui Zhe, accompanied by two attendants, rode to the back gate of the Jizhou governor's mansion.

Jia Zhengjing had lost the composure he had shown a few days ago.

He sat in his study, his eyes dark and his lips covered in blisters.

On the table lay the summary of the disaster situation, which the emperor had given him three days to submit; it contained only a few lines.

He simply didn't dare to fill in the form truthfully.

When Cui Zhe entered, he didn't even drink any tea; he simply slammed a piece of paper on the table.

"Lord Jia, we've only collected four hundred mu of land deeds this month."

"In previous years, we would have earned at least three thousand mu of income. If this continues, I won't be able to explain it to Master Cui."

Jia Zhengjing rubbed his hands together with a bitter expression.

"You think I'm not worried? The emperor is living in the imperial residence, watching me closely!"

"Now that Zhao Pucheng has received the imperial decree for disaster relief, he posts notices at the city gate every day asking people to work and buy grain, and all the people have gone there."

Cui Zhe paced back and forth in the study with a gloomy face.

"The emperor is clearly suspicious of us; he's not only checking the granaries but also the land deeds. If this continues, we'll be doomed once he has the time to investigate!"

"Then... what should we do?"

Jia Zhengjing was so anxious that sweat was pouring down his forehead.

Cui Zhe stopped in his tracks, a crazed killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"If we're going to do it, we might as well go all the way!"

"Master Cui secretly sent us a letter, instructing us to deliver it to the Northern Barbarian camp at the appropriate time."

"Once this letter is sent, a surprise attack will inevitably erupt on the border!"

If they were lucky, they could even use the Northern Di people's swords amidst the chaos of battle to eliminate that meddlesome emperor!

Even if we take a step back and assume that the emperor cannot be eliminated, once war breaks out, the borders will be in chaos.

In order to preserve his empire, the emperor had no time to investigate the Cui family's land acquisitions, corruption, and bribery.

Jia Zhengjing and Cui Zhe exchanged a glance; both of them exuded the madness of gamblers.

This is already a heinous crime punishable by death, but if they succeed, they can retain their current wealth and status and have a chance to save their lives.

"Alright! People will die for money, so let's do it!"