The most arrogant in history

Chapter 214: Taking too big a step!

The coalition forces of the princes have become a loose group and can do nothing here except drinking and bragging.

Wei Caiqin nodded: "My father also said that the troops will be withdrawn in the next few days. By the way, Brother Ye, you can go to Jingzhou and rest there. I will be able to rush back soon."

"I still have these refugees to take with me. It's not convenient to go to Jingzhou."

Ye Kun smiled bitterly: "I will come to visit you when I am free when I return to Dongba County."

"I'm afraid you won't keep your word and make me wait for nothing again." Wei Caiqin's eyes turned red.

"My heart is like yours, I will never let you down."

Ye Kun squeezed Wei Caiqin's hand and said, "One day, we will be together."

"Who wants to be with you?"

Wei Caiqin blushed, pulled her hand away and said with a smile: "Take care on the way, and remember to write a letter to Jingzhou."

"remember!"

Ye Kun nodded, waved goodbye, and set off with the army and refugees.

Along the way, more refugees came to seek refuge.

The team grew like a snowball and now numbered nearly 25,000 people.

Fortunately, there is still food and grass in Turtle Mountain, which can sustain for seven or eight days.

On the fifth day of November, Ye Kun finally returned to Dongba County with his troops and a large group of refugees.

Guan Yafu and Qin Erwu had received messages sent by carrier pigeons long ago, and they built temporary military camps in many places and vacated some houses to accommodate the refugees.

Ye Kun distributed the 20,000 refugees to various counties and established new villages of 100 households, providing them with food, clothing, land and some farm tools.

All those who have skills and techniques will be retained and sent to various workshops.

All the young people who are willing to learn the craft also stay.

On the eighth day of November, Ye Kun took the last batch of refugees to Xiping Mountain and Pingye County for resettlement.

Outside the city gate, Miss Yuejuan, Dai Xijiaojiao and others were waiting.

Ye Kun got off his horse and said with a smile, "It's cold, why did you come to pick me up? Especially Dai Xi and Jiao Jiao, they are both pregnant, why bother with so much trouble?"

Yuejuan held Ye Kun's hand and said, "Kunlang, Sister Yourong wanted to bring the children to pick you up, but I didn't let her. Come into the city quickly, Sister Yourong is waiting for you at home."

Ye Kun nodded and led everyone into the carriage.

Jiang Yourong held her son in her arms, waiting eagerly at the door.

Ye Kun jumped off the carriage, took his son Ye Feng, and said with a smile: "Yourong, I was gone for two months and made you worry. Now I'm back safely, don't worry."

Jiang Yourong smiled and said, "If you don't come back, your son won't recognize you anymore."

Ye Kun laughed and led everyone into the house.

The son was only two months old. Even if Ye Kun was with him every day, he might not recognize his father.

I greeted my mother and said hello.

Then everyone gathered together to chat and eat.

Ye Kun showed concern for everyone and asked about their situation.

Dai Xi and Jiao Jiao are also about to give birth and are receiving special care.

After dinner, Ye Kun accompanied Jiang Yourong and shared their farewell feelings.

Jiang Yourong's body had recovered, so she was inevitably affectionate with Ye Kun. Then she hugged Ye Kun's neck and whispered, "Husband, we won't fight anymore, right?"

"I don't want to fight either, but I'm afraid I can't."

Ye Kun told Jiang Yourong what he had seen and heard during his trip to Luoyang, and sighed, "In this chaotic world, the people of the world are living worse than pigs and dogs. I want the people to live a peaceful life, and the only way to do that is to eliminate those princes."

Jiang Yourong smiled: "I am a woman, I don't understand these things, I can only support my mother-in-law and take care of my son. Whatever my husband wants me to do, I will do it."

Ye Kun hugged Jiang Yourong and said, "Don't worry, one day, the world will be at peace."

Ye Kun stayed in Pingye County for several days.

While arranging the housing problems of the refugees, he checked on the production and accompanied Yuejuan and others.

Within a few days, Dai Xi and Jiao Jiao gave birth to daughters.

Dai Xi was very sad, and Jiaojiao was also unhappy.

Ye Kun didn't care at all and comforted Dai Xi and Jiao Jiao:

"Daughters are great, why are you unhappy? Sons are naughty and playful, daughters are caring. Relatively speaking, I like daughters more. Our daughter doesn't have to worry about not having enough food and water to grow up, so why are you worried?"

After two days of coaxing, Daixi and Jiaojiao's mood finally improved.

After pacifying Pingye County, Ye Kun had to go back to deal with the political and military affairs of Dongba County.

During this expedition, one hundred brothers died in battle. Ye Kun gave generous pensions to the families of the victims, set up a cemetery, and personally paid tribute to them.

We also incorporated some rebellious troops who needed training.

Lao He and his daughter, together with their two fathers-in-law and other craftsmen, have made more sophisticated bronze cannons. After many tests, they have begun mass production.

All other production items are developing steadily.

Ye Kun was very satisfied with the management team's operating efficiency and gave them rewards.

Guan Yafu reported with a bitter face: "Master Ye, we are out of money... We had money, but you brought back 20,000 refugees..."

Dongba County is a small place with a weak foundation.

Ye Kun vigorously developed manufacturing, handicrafts, commerce, and firearms, and the initial basic investment was too much.

The step was too big and it hurt.

Most of the money earned from selling porcelain was exchanged for food and steel, which was then piled up in storehouses and warehouses.

Ye Kun took inventory of the treasury and the inventory of the major workshops, and said thoughtfully:

"The purchase of ore, steel and grain will be temporarily suspended. Then, a batch of grain will be released from the government warehouse and sold to the market for money. I have some private money, so I will use it to deal with it. There is a lot of porcelain in stock, so I will sell it at a reduced price."

Although he had no money, Ye Kun was not worried.

I have everything here except money.

Ye Kun had previously saved several thousand taels of gold in Pingye County, Miss Yuejuan's dowry, and tens of thousands of taels of silver, which were enough to deal with.

In addition, Ye Kun also received a lot of rewards from the 18 vassal states for his military merits during this expedition. Zhou Xuanwu of Wugui Mountain also collected several thousand taels of silver and gave them all to Ye Kun.

Guan Yafu said: "How about this, we can restore the head tax. Dongba County now has more than 200,000 people, and we can collect a lot."

"Nonsense! I promised my fellow villagers that I would never collect head taxes even if I starved to death. I will never collect head taxes. Thirty percent agricultural tax is already very heavy."

Ye Kun shook his head: "I'll give you two thousand taels of gold and ten thousand taels of silver first, to hold you over for a while. By the way, these are all my private money, so you have to keep an account of them, because I will take them back later."

Guan Yafu grinned and said, "Then just keep a record and calculate the interest."

Ye Kun nodded: "Yes, if you count the interest, I only want 20% interest!"

The interest rate in Dading State is very high.

For private lending, the annual interest rate is 60%, and the monthly interest rate is 5%.

The 2% interest rate that Ye Kun mentioned is an annual interest rate of 24%, which is definitely a golden investment!

The next day, at the county magistrate's office, Ye Kun collected two thousand taels of gold and ten thousand taels of silver and recorded them in public.

The military officer reported: "Sir Ye, the military pay is gone. In a few days, it will be the day to pay the pay..."

Soldiers do not receive any salary, only a small amount of pocket money.

However, officers at all levels receive military pay.

Ye Kun sighed and looked at the officials: "My Lords, please all collect some money and loan it to the County Magistrate's Office. The interest rate will be calculated at 20% and I will return it to you next year."

The officials looked left and right and didn't want to step forward.

The interest rate for private loans is 5%, but I’m only giving you 2%. That’s not a good deal!

However, there were a few good officials who signed up on the spot and collected two thousand taels of silver.

But two thousand taels are of no use. For Ye Kun, who has always been arrogant, it is not enough to spend, not enough at all!

Just as he was getting annoyed, someone outside the door reported: "Wei Ning, the eldest son of Jingzhou, urgently wants to see Lord Ye!"