In Yuzhou, apart from safety, there were essentially no other resource advantages. While it boasted convenient transportation, neither ships nor trains had been established yet, and the economy was not thriving.
Consequently, many people were desperately seeking employment. To live a better life, the best option was to join the City Lord's Mansion. The City Lord's Mansion was essentially the administrative body responsible for handling official affairs. Its employees enjoyed considerable leisure if there was no work to do, received a fixed salary, and could easily support their families.
However, joining the City Lord's Mansion was not an easy feat, especially in the current era.
To be admitted to the City Lord's Mansion, one first had to pass a written examination, followed by an interview, and then a background check. Only reputable individuals were recruited; those with a criminal record would not be considered. It was said that only one out of a thousand applicants could successfully join the City Lord's Mansion.
Under these circumstances, commoners felt both envy and jealousy towards the people of the City Lord's Mansion. They envied those who had joined Shen Feng early on, experiencing a meteoric rise. Shen Feng became the City Lord of Yuzhou, and those who followed him also ascended. With a wave of Shen Feng's hand, everyone joined the City Lord's Mansion, instantly becoming successful individuals.
Those who joined the City Lord's Mansion were assured of a comfortable life, while those who did not had to find other paths.
Joining the army was a much simpler affair. The written examination was not important; one only needed to be healthy and have no criminal record. This path could also support a family. However, it involved fighting on the battlefield and frequent absences from home, making it a position that few would choose unless they were desperate.
As a result, the commoners lamented their plight, facing starvation if they couldn't find work, yet the City Lord's Mansion offered no solutions.
Professor Chu, addressing this situation, told Shen Feng, "In fact, some of your subordinates have recognized your current predicament, namely Tu Xuhuai. He is very intelligent but morally corrupt. He proposed the 'Tuntian' (agricultural colonization) policy, which can consume a large amount of manpower and thus alleviate unemployment."
Shen Feng suddenly realized that a solution was already available. It was indeed Tu Xuhuai, who, having passed the civil service examination in peacetime, possessed a terrifyingly calm mind. Whenever decisions needed to be made, it was Tu Xuhuai who proposed the appropriate course of action.
Professor Chu continued, "Shen Feng, the reason I asked you to study history extensively is to find solutions from it. Why implement Tuntian? Because there was a shortage of grain, and too many unemployed people. Therefore, these people needed to be settled down to produce grain diligently. How many people can factories absorb? What happens if manufactured products cannot be sold? Thus, Tuntian and building city walls are the most suitable measures!"
Shen Feng nodded, suddenly filled with concern, "Teacher, but we don't have enough grain either. Large-scale Tuntian and the construction of city walls cannot be achieved without grain!"
Professor Chu calmly took a sip of tea and continued, "This is where Tu Xuhuai's brilliance lies. He has already considered this point, so he suggested issuing grain coupons. With grain coupons, wages can be settled without using actual grain. By prohibiting the redemption of grain, grain coupons can be used to mobilize everyone."
Shen Feng nodded, finally understanding how to deal with the current crisis. As the saying goes, an elder at home is a treasure.
Shen Feng immediately made a decision and said to Chang Jianyi, "Quickly gather everyone under your command to discuss Tuntian and the issuance of grain coupons. This is a matter of utmost urgency. If the underlying conflicts are not resolved, these people might overthrow me."
Chang Jianyi pointed to the window. Everyone looked out and saw the dark night sky. It was three in the morning. At this hour, many were likely still asleep. Waking them up seemed inhumane. Even if they were to exploit employees, it shouldn't be done at this time.
Shen Feng shrugged helplessly and said, "Senior sister, you'll have to work a bit harder. I can't help it. The situation in Yuzhou has deteriorated so much. If the grassroots issues are not resolved, gangs will surely proliferate. Treating the symptoms without addressing the root cause is ineffective. We'll have to stay up late; we must finalize the timing and strategy as soon as possible."
Chang Jianyi had no choice but to notify the key management personnel of the City Lord's Mansion for an emergency meeting!
If it weren't for the recent assassination attempt, Shen Feng would not have discovered Yuzhou's crisis so quickly. Unbeknownst to them, the issue of gangs had become so severe, yet few had noticed. It could only be considered a blessing in disguise. Although they had suffered an assassination attempt, they had clarified the situation in Yuzhou and could now formulate corresponding countermeasures.
The City Lord's Mansion was abuzz with discussions throughout the night. Tu Xuhuai, in particular, delivered a passionate speech from the stage. He was the most far-sighted individual in the City Lord's Mansion, having proposed both Tuntian and the issuance of grain coupons, and had been preparing for the longest time. He could easily answer any questions posed to him, thus basking in the limelight.
Zhou Xiaoxiao and Yang Ye were the most envious. They were among the earliest followers of Shen Feng, along with Tu Xuhuai, yet now all the attention was stolen by Tu Xuhuai. It was truly a case of comparing oneself to others and feeling disheartened.
However, Zhou Xiaoxiao and Yang Ye could only admire Tu Xuhuai's superior long-term planning skills.
Zhou Xiaoxiao and Yang Ye exchanged glances, both deciding to let Tu Xuhuai take the spotlight for now, but in the long run, who would have the last laugh remained to be seen.
After an all-night discussion, the City Lord's Mansion formulated a plan: "First west, then east, to retake the entire territory."
Shen Feng's control over Yuzhou was limited to the provincial capital; other towns were not yet under his administration. Tuntian required the recovery of these areas. The plan to kill zombies was essential. It was estimated that Yuzhou still had over three million zombies scattered across various towns.
As for the direction of recovery, it had to be west first, then east. The reason was simple: the west had plains that connected with Jiangyang, making it convenient for planting crops. The east, on the other hand, was entirely mountainous and rugged, making recovery difficult and offering little arable land.
By the time the discussions concluded, the sky in the east had already brightened.
As Tu Xuhuai emerged from the conference room with dark circles under his eyes, many City Lord's Mansion staff approached him for a chat. No one was foolish; the fact that Tu Xuhuai's plan was discussed all night indicated the City Lord's attention. Such a person was destined for greatness, and establishing good relations now would lead to future interactions.
Tu Xuhuai remained humble in the face of their flattery, a skill he had learned from years of navigating the system. He knew not to be arrogant towards anyone, as it could easily provoke them. When interacting with others, it was best to adopt a humble posture. Those who casually told others to "scram" would eventually be dealt with.
Tu Xuhuai was chatting and laughing with everyone when Zhang Xiaoqiang found him with a message.
"Tu Xuhuai, the City Lord wants to see you. Please go over," Zhang Xiaoqiang said to Tu Xuhuai.
Everyone looked at Tu Xuhuai with envy. They knew this was Tu Xuhuai's opportunity. The City Lord had adopted such an important plan, and as its architect, Tu Xuhuai was bound to be valued. Tu Xuhuai was about to be promoted.
Indeed, Shen Feng decided to appoint Tu Xuhuai as the Minister of Personnel, equivalent to the Minister of Civil Appointments.
The City Lord's Mansion promptly notified the entire city of Yuzhou and also sent a telegram to Li Xiang in Jiangyang. Yuzhou and Jiangyang would begin Tuntian. Anyone who applied would be accepted. While Tuntian might not offer high income, it would be enough to support a family, and avoiding starvation was the most important thing.
Shen Feng had several cities under his command, but only Jiangyang and Yuzhou were relatively good, both located on the Yangtze River with convenient transportation and concentrated populations. By implementing the Tuntian plan in these two cities, he was reaching a majority of the people.
In an instant, the number of people signing up for Tuntian was boundless. Within just a few days, over thirty thousand people had registered for Tuntian, and another twenty thousand participated in the construction of Yuzhou's city walls.
The issuance of grain coupons also began simultaneously, and the plan proceeded much more smoothly than Shen Feng had anticipated. Almost everyone approved of issuing grain coupons. Although the survivors were mostly young, they had heard about grain coupons from their parents. Settling wages with actual grain was too troublesome, and it was difficult to store, making it prone to theft.
Incidents of burglary were common, and the stolen grain was countless.
If grain coupons were issued, settling grain would be much simpler. Whether hidden in a cloth doll or the sole of a shoe, they were less likely to be stolen.
Under these circumstances, everyone had a demand for grain coupons, and thus the plan was naturally approved. Grain stores were opened in Yuzhou and Jiangyang, where grain coupons could be exchanged for grain. However, the exchange of grain was on a real-name basis, with a limit on the amount each person could redeem.
The limit on redemption was to prevent a run on grain. If all the grain in the stores were redeemed, the value of the grain coupons would inevitably decrease.
With the commencement of the Tuntian plan, Yuzhou and Jiangyang quickly became busy. The crops planted were simple, primarily staple foods. Vegetables were not as important; sufficient staple foods were crucial. One could survive without vegetables, but not without staple foods.
The primary energy source for humans was carbohydrates, meaning starchy crops. Rice and corn were the main crops planted. In more remote areas, potatoes were planted. If the land was too remote, the Tuntian participants did not mind. Tuntian locations were always prioritized for plains.
Shen Feng spent his days at his desk, with stacks of documents arriving. Even if Shen Feng only needed to sign them, it was mentally taxing.
Furthermore, Shen Feng had become Professor Chu's disciple and had to attend special lessons after work every day. Professor Chu was not only knowledgeable about history but also about politics. He often explained political matters through historical events. Shen Feng found it difficult to stay awake; as a science student, learning these subjects was torture.
However, Shen Feng had no choice but to persevere. Professor Chu's health was deteriorating, and he might not last much longer. Given his age and poor health, he could not use evolution potions. Therefore, he had to ensure Shen Feng grew rapidly before his death, so that not all decisions would be made by others.
One evening, Shen Feng was listening to Professor Chu lecture in his study. Professor Chu was explaining the history of land on a small blackboard. "Shen Feng, you must remember that when rewarding your subordinates, you must not casually bestow land. Land policy has been central to China for thousands of years. If you do not treat it seriously, you will perish without a burial place."
Shen Feng nodded quickly and said, "Yes, yes, I understand. Everything you say, teacher, is correct."
Professor Chu continued, "Precisely because of this, Tuntian is only a temporary policy. Once the world is peaceful, Tuntian will no longer be suitable. Tuntian is for times of chaos, while the distribution of land is for prosperous times. As for how to distribute land, I will give you a book to read carefully."
Saying this, Professor Chu took a worn, red-covered book from the bookshelf. Its pages were yellowed and creased, clearly having endured the passage of time. However, the fact that this book received Professor Chu's attention clearly indicated its significance.
Professor Chu solemnly handed the book to Shen Feng and said in a deep voice, "Read this collection of sayings often. The more chaotic the times, the more you need to learn these. It can teach you how to manage and help you see the essence of things. I have written many notes in it; pick it up and read it when you have time."
Shen Feng took the book and frowned, saying to the professor, "Teacher, I've already learned this in school. There's no need to give me a special copy, is there?"
Professor Chu smiled and continued, "Have you learned it?"
"No," Shen Feng replied honestly.
"Then study it," Professor Chu smiled. If learning could be achieved simply by reading, then there would be no saying that practice is the sole criterion for testing truth.