Read Novel Full Chapter 833 - 9: The Best of Both Worlds
Chapter 833: Chapter 9: The Best of Both Worlds
Although Swamp Prefecture is coastal, it’s merely an impoverished and backward provincial region. However, in Lingnan, Swamp Prefecture is not the worst, its level is considered average. If compared to the capital city, then Swamp Prefecture is just a broken and poor little fishing village.
Although Swamp Prefecture is broken and poor, its officials are extremely wealthy. Normally, these wealthy officials should spend money to build Swamp Prefecture for their own enjoyment, but they do not. On the surface, the residences of these officials look ordinary, apart from being somewhat larger, they are not luxurious at all, but the interior is lavishly decorated.
When Zhao Yao sent people to raid the residences, they were startled to find the decorations inside were more opulent than those of the Imperial Palace.
Though Swamp Prefecture’s officials are unwilling to spend money on constructing Swamp Prefecture, they are willing to invest in other areas, like shipbuilding.
These officials spend large amounts of money to build ships as grand as a floating Royal Garden. Their ships are immense, with several decks. The interiors are more luxurious and comfortable than their homes. In a way, they have moved their homes onto these ships. They spend most of their days on the ships.
They also invest in building "brothel ships," equipped with everything. The women on these ships are bought from inland and abroad or kidnapped. Most of them are very beautiful and have been trained to be "obedient and understanding."
"Brothel ships" are divided into several levels. The green ship is the best level, everything on the ship and the women are excellent. Next is the Red Boat, slightly inferior to the green ship. The worst is the blue ship, where the women are not very attractive.
Swamp Prefecture has more than a dozen such "brothel ships." These ships seldom dock at Swamp Prefecture’s coast, mostly they float on the sea or dock at coastal regions of foreign countries such as Annan and Siam.
Besides Swamp Prefecture, other prefectures like Taichuan Prefecture also have "brothel ships." Lingnan’s brothel ships are famous in foreign countries. Wealthy merchants, officials, and even Royal Family members from abroad often visit.
When Zhao Yao arrived at Swamp Prefecture, he seized all the brothel ships there. The wealth discovered was astonishing.
More than a dozen brothel ships, counting all the people aboard, amount to one or two thousand individuals.
Zhao Yao ordered that those with parents and family could return home. If they truly have no family or friends to rely on, they stay in Swamp Prefecture. Of course, if they wish to go to foreign countries they could.
Half of the one or two thousand left, the remaining half temporarily stayed at brothels in Swamp Prefecture. These people face an issue, which is their identity. Since they were bought, tricked, or kidnapped, they are all without any "official passes," meaning identification cards.
In Swamp Prefecture, there is a large number of people without identification cards, and other prefectures too. Throughout Lingnan, those clearly registered in the population census are few. Conversely, exiled criminals in Lingnan are clearly registered.
Even Zhao Yao, and Lingnan’s officials, do not know the total population of Lingnan. Thus, Zhao Yao issued a command to register them in the census. However, the process of registering is not going smoothly.
Zheng Qian sent people everywhere to announce the census registration and posted the benefits of registering but very few people came forward. Most people are unwilling to register.
Those who did come forward to register were mostly exiled criminals in Lingnan. They registered to ensure their descendants became citizens.
Seeing that the locals of Swamp Prefecture are indifferent to the benefits offered, Zheng Qian considered using force to compel them to register but was stopped by Wen Daoji. Wen Daoji feels that since they just arrived in Swamp Prefecture, forcing people right away would make locals think they are as harsh as previous officials. Besides, census registration was Zhao Yao’s first task for Zheng Qian as Minister of Revenue; failing would betray the trust of their leader.
Wen Daoji couldn’t devise a good solution, as their recent arrival in Swamp Prefecture means it’s normal for locals not to trust them. In his opinion, this matter can only proceed gradually, without rushing. Once locals realize the genuine benefits for them, they will voluntarily register.
Zheng Qian has a rather impatient nature; he feels this matter cannot be delayed. He knows Zhao Yao wants the locals of Swamp Prefecture to register in the census to ascertain its current population. Thus, he and Wen Daoji have differing opinions.