bullyxtreme Chapter 008 One Person Attains Enlightenment, and Even His Chickens and Dogs Rise to Heaven
Chapter 008 One Person Attains Enlightenment, and Even His Chickens and Dogs Rise to Heaven
Chapter 008
Early the next morning, Chen Ying arrived at the Yongcheng County government office.
"Stop!"
"I am Chen Boying, and I request an audience with Your Excellency!"
Sun Jian came out from inside: "Come in!"
Led by Sun Jian, Chen Ying passed through the main hall of the yamen and entered the backyard through the hanging flower gate.
"Greetings, Your Excellency!"
"No need for formalities, Boying, please have a seat!"
Sun Chuanting looked at Chen Ying and said, "This county has prepared 100,000 catties of raw iron, 20,000 catties of coke, and 600 men for you. Can you forge 1,000 iron plowshares within ten days?"
"Yes, Boying will definitely handle this matter well!"
Last night, after learning that Sun Chuanting was going to establish the Yongcheng Agricultural Implements Manufacturing Bureau, Chen Ying felt as if he had returned to the time before the college entrance examination. He spent the entire night breaking down the process of making iron plows into four important links and twenty-eight steps, and adopted assembly line production.
The time spent on each process and the cost of each step are calculated clearly.
Of course, with the breakdown of the process, even migrants with absolutely no prior experience can learn to operate it in a short time and ensure quality.
Theoretically speaking, if he wanted to build a thousand iron plows within ten days, he actually only had five days of production time, meaning he would theoretically need to produce at least two hundred iron plows per day.
With Chen Ying's prior preparations, the high-temperature furnace linings for the five smelting furnaces are basically sufficient to meet production needs.
The problem is that the number of 1,000 is only the amount that Yongcheng County can currently produce from its reserves of raw iron. Calculated at 85 kilograms of pig iron per unit, it is not the actual amount that Yongcheng needs.
Because of the flourishing literary culture in Yongcheng, this city, located within Guide Prefecture, was not actually poor. The reason why tax revenue was low was because there were too many gentry families.
Let alone the Minister level, even high-ranking officials like governors and vice ministers would be considered top families in their respective counties. However, in Yongcheng, even though the Ding Kuichu and Ding Qirui family, uncle and nephew, had two members who both passed the imperial examinations, they were only considered a large family in Yongcheng, yet they became top families.
A thousand iron plows were far from enough. As the fame of the iron plows spread, various families would also contribute their private iron reserves. The entire Yongcheng would need at least tens of thousands of new plows.
In everything you do, you should allow for some advance planning so that you can be prepared for any eventuality.
Chen Ying explained his production plan to Sun Chuanting in detail, and also mentioned that in addition to the 600 ordinary craftsmen and refugees, at least 50 more military households from the Ma Mu Bai Hu Suo (horse-breeding Hundred-Household Office) were needed.
Chen Ying didn't know the working ability and character of these refugees, but he was familiar with the entire Ma Mu Hundred Household Garrison, almost all of the military households. If the military households of Ma Mu Hundred Household Garrison were to fight, they would definitely be sent to their deaths.
Let them act as foremen and lead the work; they'll have no problem doing it.
After listening to Chen Ying's request, Sun Chuanting pondered for a moment and said, "Zilan!"
"Students are here!"
"Draft a court order and submit it to the Prefectural Government of Guide Prefecture, requesting Your Excellency's assistance in coordinating the affairs of the military households at the horse ranch!"
"yes!"
"Secretary Li!"
"I'm on duty!"
"You are responsible for allocating the iron, funds, and manpower needed by the Construction Bureau!"
"Yes, sir!"
"All iron, manpower, and supplies must be in place by sunset today at the latest!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Du Changshun!"
"Yes, sir!"
"You will lead a group of constables and are responsible for maintaining order!"
"Yes, sir!"
Chen Ying came out of the county government office with a waist token in his hand.
The front reads: "Chen Boying, Chief Consul of the Yongcheng Agricultural Implements Manufacturing Bureau," while the back reads: "Issued by the Yongcheng County Government of Guide Prefecture, Henan Provincial Administration Commission, made in May of the third year of the Tianqi reign (1623). Forgers will be executed, and those who borrow or impersonate will be severely punished!"
Led by Sun Jian, Chen Ying arrived at Zhangjia Warehouse, located beside the official road west of Yongcheng County. Zhangjia Warehouse covers an area of about ten acres and is one of the largest warehouses in Yongcheng.
However, the warehouse has been requisitioned, and a new plaque has been hung on it with the seven large characters "Yongcheng Agricultural Implements Manufacturing Bureau".
This warehouse was built along the Xiaohong River and was actually a castle-like complex. It was surrounded by thick blue brick walls that were three zhang high. The interior was divided into eight main courtyards: livestock area, hay area, vehicle repair area, grain storage area, medicinal herb storage area, cloth storage area, timber storage area, and living area.
Even after experiencing a rare flood, the warehouse did not collapse or get flooded; only watermarks more than ten feet high were left on the outer wall.
Zhang Family Goods Store belongs to the Zhang family, one of the four major families in Yongcheng. Its ancestor was Zhang Chang, the brother of Empress Zhang during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Ming, and the former brother-in-law of the emperor. The current head of the Zhang family is Zhang Xin, who is the hereditary Earl of Pengcheng.
Logically speaking, even if the Zhang family hadn't donated the warehouse and its contents, Sun Chuanting wouldn't have dared to do anything to them. However, the Zhang family had an excellent reputation.
After the flood, six soup kitchens were set up in front of the warehouse, and soup was distributed every day, saving countless lives. Although the Zhang family had long since fallen on hard times, they were still wealthy. They not only supported Zuo Siming in establishing the Taiqiu Academy, but also repaired bridges and paved roads, earning them an excellent reputation.
If Sun Chuanting really dared to forcibly seal the Zhang family's warehouse, he would definitely be impeached to the point of being riddled with holes. In fact, this warehouse was donated by the Earl of Pengcheng after the disaster.
The warehouse that Chen Ying took over was actually almost empty, with very little grain and goods left. The warehouse's accounting office had been converted into the supervisory office of the manufacturing bureau.
Chen Ying entered the three-room, five-chambered deacon's office and was immediately dumbfounded.
He spent over sixty taels of silver to barely build a new house, and was still feeling smug. But looking at this accounting office, he had to admit that comparisons are odious.
The room was spacious and elegantly decorated, especially the furniture, which was all made of mahogany, and the desk in particular was made of huanghuali wood.
It's a pity this isn't the future; otherwise, this desk alone would be worth a small fortune.
The six official hat chairs were also made of huanghuali wood. The porcelain on the antique shelf made Chen Ying's eyes light up. All of these porcelain pieces were produced by the imperial kiln. Any one of them would be worth hundreds of thousands or millions in later generations.
The furniture and porcelain in this room alone would be enough to make him feel incredibly wealthy in later generations. Unfortunately, he can't go back now and can only drool over these things.
"Director Chen's office!"
Sun Jian came in from outside, carrying a list.
"Brother Sun, just call me Xiao Chen or Boying. There's no need for all this bureau-level stuff. It's too formal."
"Very well, Boying."
Sun Jian smiled and said, "The warehouse here has 305.4 shi of wheat, 92 shi of rice, 15 shi of soybeans, 37 shi of mung beans, 8 shi of salt, 15 barrels of vinegar, 3 vats of soy sauce, and some other supplies. Please take stock of them."
"Brother Sun, there's no need to count them. How could I not trust you?"
Chen Ying said there was no need to count, but he counted very carefully and found that the quantity of supplies stored in the warehouse was correct.
"Du Ban Tou!"
Du Changshun bowed and said, "Director Chen, what can I do for you?"
The head of the third shift was responsible for maintaining order, investigating cases, and carrying out arrests. Their position was that of a clerk rather than a formal official, without rank, although the Yongcheng Agricultural Implements Manufacturing Bureau also lacked ranks.
However, Li Xiaojie, the clerk of the workshop, was assisting Chen Boying. The clerk of the workshop had a higher status than the head of the workshop, so Du Changshun naturally assumed that Chen Boying's status was actually higher than his, so he adopted a very humble attitude.
"Please have Chief Du send two men to Ma Mu to inform Song Kangnian, Song Yanniang, Shen Keqin, Wang Baishun, Chen Jide, Wang Xuefu, and others to come to the Construction Bureau to assist with the work!"
"yes!"
Chen Ying handed the list of eight people to Du Changshun.
Chen Ying was not without capable people. He believed that among the six hundred civilians and disaster victims, there must be many outstanding talents. However, the problem was that Song Xianze and Song Yanniang had helped Chen Ying a lot.
Now that he has some power, he naturally wants to give Song Yanniang and Song Xianze some benefits. No matter who he uses, it's all about work relief, and Chen Ying can only benefit those he knows.
Chen Ying perfectly exemplified the saying "when one attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven."
Chen Ying had completed the preliminary production plan. He adopted a simple and crude approach to the conscripted people and disaster victims, directly dividing them into skilled worker teams and laborer teams based on their skills.
Each skilled worker receives three liters of grain per day, while the laborers receive two liters of grain per day. Ten people form a group with one group leader, and fifty people form a team with one team leader.
The team leader of the migrant workers' team receives three liters of grain per day, while the team leader of the skilled workers' group receives the same treatment as the team leader of the migrant workers' team, receiving five liters of grain per day, and the team leader of the skilled workers' group receives six liters of grain per day.
Each work section has a detailed workload and a quality inspection team. If the inspection team successfully inspects the work, both skilled workers and laborers can get extra food.
If a spot check reveals a defect, the inspection team can be rewarded with extra food and receive a daily wage of three liters of grain.
If the inspection team finds a quality problem, the inspection team will be punished by not being allowed to eat the first time, and by twenty strokes of the cane for each person the second time. Each team leader will be responsible for their own work.
Around noon, the second batch of two hundred laborers arrived at the construction bureau. Chen Ying immediately put his plan into action: select those laborers with blacksmithing skills and incorporate the rest into the laborer teams.
Chen Ying didn't preach any grand principles to everyone. He directly announced the treatment and punishment standards, and then led everyone to start cooking. After eating, they started cleaning up the place.
The warehouse functioned as a warehouse, and the factory functioned as a factory. Chen Ying directly demolished the walls around each area and transformed the largest grain warehouse into a production workshop.
In the afternoon, more laborers arrived one after another. However, Chen Ying did not cause any chaos. Some were renovating the production workshop, while skilled craftsmen were assigned different tasks according to their skills.
"Bo Ying!"
Chen Ying turned around and found that Song Xianze, Song Yanniang, and Shen Keqin had already arrived at the Construction Bureau.
Song Xianze was alright, but people like Shen Keqin had deliberately ingratiating expressions on their faces. They had already learned from the yamen runners that Chen Ying had been appointed by Sun Chuanting as the chief supervisor of the Yongcheng Agricultural Implements Manufacturing Bureau.
Don't underestimate this job that has no official rank; it represents a different kind of status. Just like yamen runners, although they are unranked and unofficial, and are mostly street ruffians, ordinary people dare not offend them.
Even if they are exploited and bullied, they can only swallow their anger. Moreover, the fact that Chen Ying, the bureau chief, and Du Changshun, the squad leader, both have to be by his side to take orders shows Chen Ying's attitude.
"Commander Chen..."
Shen Keqin's dark face was all smiles, but his eyes kept glancing at the badge on Chen Ying's waist. The badge signified a difference in status.
"Greetings, Commander-in-Chief!"
"Uncle Shen, Uncle Wang, Bo'an, you must be tired from your journey. The bureau is short-staffed, so it's good that you've come."
Wang Baishun and the others also gathered around, chattering amongst themselves:
"Commander Chen, you've really made something of yourself this time..."
"From now on, we'll work for you!"
Qin Siming was most shocked. Just half a month ago, Chen Boying was a poor soldier living in a dilapidated shed and starving. In the blink of an eye, he became a general manager with an official title.
The world is changing too fast, as fast as a dream.
Song Xianze didn't get close; he stood three steps away, looking at Chen Ying with a complicated expression.
Song Yanniang was overjoyed: "Chen Lang... am I dreaming?"
"This is the county magistrate's great favor."
Chen Ying smiled and said, "Let's go inside and talk."
Chen Ying led the group through the front yard. Wherever they passed, the craftsmen and refugees stopped what they were doing and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Commander Chen."
Upon arriving at the office, Chen Ying said, "Da Niu, bring it here!"
Chen Daniu came out of the office, holding dozens of armbands in his hands. These armbands were sewn together in bright colors, with yellow ones saying "Group Leader" and red ones saying "Team Leader".
Chen Ying picked up a yellow armband and said, "Uncle Wang, you understand the technology and are in charge of quality inspection. You will be the leader of the inspection team..."
Wang Baishun excitedly accepted the armband: "Thank you for your kind offer, Commander-in-Chief!"
"Uncle Shen, you built the smelting furnace, now you're the team leader. I'll give you five teams; lead them to build the smelting furnace!"
"Mission accomplished!"
"Bo'an, you know accounting. You'll be in charge of the bureau's material inflows and outflows, as well as the distribution of workers' meals."
Chen Ying continued, "As for the others, I will make arrangements according to their respective strengths."
Wang Jian observed Chen Ying's every move at the Bureau of Construction, but instead of interfering, he reported everything to Sun Chuanting.
……
In the backyard of Yongcheng County Government Office, Sun Chuanting's face darkened upon hearing Sun Jian's report.
"What?"
Li Yuanzhen's expression changed drastically: "Chen Boying actually transferred more than a dozen people from Songjiazhuang and Mamu Centurion's Office, appointing them all as group leaders and captains? And he even entrusted the general ledger to a dwarf? Isn't this nepotism?"
Li Xiaojie, the workshop clerk, immediately followed up: "Your Excellency, it is unwise to dismiss Chen Boying from his position as general manager and hand over the construction bureau to him!"
Li Xiaojie, the workshop clerk, had finally encountered the flood and could have made a fortune, but Chen Boying was too quick and arranged people from top to bottom, so he couldn't get involved at all.
How could Li Xiaojie swallow this insult of being merely a tool?
Li Xiaojie hurriedly gave the clerk in the Revenue Department a wink, and the clerk stood up and said, "Your Excellency, Chen Boying is just a down-on-his-luck military household member, truly incapable of shouldering such a great responsibility. In just one day, his true colors have been revealed..."
"We request Your Excellency to dismiss Chen Boying from his post as commander-in-chief and appoint a more capable replacement!"