Chapter 101: Repairing the Riverbank Embankment

"Oh? And what is it that you wish for me to do?" Wei Renshi asked.

The Luozhou Administrator sighed and said, "In truth, the section of the levee along the Luo River near Luoyang City has been in a state of disrepair for years and is in urgent need of restoration. The prefecture has repeatedly levied forced labor and dispatched criminals to work on it, but that has only provided minor repairs. Now, that same section is crumbling once more. Luoyang City lies to the north of the Luo River; if the river remained calm, all would be well. But should the Luo River flood, it would inevitably breach the levee and inundate the city. By then, it would not merely be the heads of us officials at stake; the common people within Luoyang would suffer untold misery, and the city’s prosperity would be no more."

"I understand," Wei Renshi replied with a nod. "The Administrator intends for the Yimeng Pavilion to take on the task of repairing the levee?"

"Manager Wei is sharp," the Administrator nodded. "This is properly the duty of the prefecture, but at the moment, the treasury is empty. Yet, we dare not delay, so we must ask for your assistance. I hope, Manager Wei, that you will not refuse."

"This..." Wei Renshi feigned hesitation, secretly observing the Administrator’s reaction.

Seeing his hesitation, the Administrator gave a thin, insincere smile. "Manager Wei, business in Luoyang is not always easy to conduct. You should consider this carefully."

The threat was thinly veiled. The implication was clear: if Wei Renshi refused, he would find it impossible to continue his business in Luoyang.

Seeing that Wei Renshi remained silent, the Administrator added, "Manager Wei, as the Yimeng Pavilion serves as the head of the merchant guild, it should lead by example. If even the head refuses to support the prefecture in serving the people, other merchants will certainly follow suit. Think it over carefully."

"This... with all due respect, Administrator, the Yimeng Pavilion is merely a restaurant. If it were a matter of money, we might scrape some together, but this is a levee repair. It requires not just funds, but manpower. The Yimeng Pavilion has no way to gather such a workforce!"

"Rest assured, Manager Wei, the prefecture can provide the laborers. Given our current state, that is all we can offer," the Administrator said. "Well? Have you considered it? You are new to Luozhou and surely have yet to find your footing. By performing such a virtuous act, you not only aid the prefecture and win favor with the authorities, but you also solve a problem for the people and earn a sterling reputation. The alternative, however, would be quite different."

A sterling reputation—and then, bankruptcy and ruin?

Wei Renshi sneered inwardly, though his face remained composed. After a calculated moment of hesitation, he shifted from reluctance to a display of fear, finally settling into a look of grim determination. He gritted his teeth and said, "Very well! I shall share the burden of the prefecture and work for the welfare of the people. As long as the prefecture provides the labor, I accept the task of repairing the levee!"

"Ha, ha, ha! A decisive man, Manager Wei! I have always admired such straightforward people. We shall have many opportunities to interact in the future," the Administrator laughed. "In that case, you must ensure the work is done well. The prefecture will provide the men, but once they are handed over, they are yours to command as you see fit."

Excellent! To command as I see fit—that is perfect! Wei Renshi felt a spark of secret delight, though he maintained a troubled expression. "Administrator, repairing a levee is no small feat. If the Yimeng Pavilion is to take this on, might I ask for certain conveniences to ensure the work proceeds smoothly?"

"Oh? What kind of conveniences do you seek?" The Administrator frowned, his voice tinged with displeasure.

"Administrator, please do not misunderstand! I would never dare ask for favors from the prefecture! I am speaking of the levee itself," Wei Renshi explained. "I wish to build some structures of my own upon the embankment—perhaps pavilions, towers, or even a few wine shops. I ask for your permission."

"Build wine shops on the levee?" The Administrator looked as if he had heard a joke, wearing an amused expression. "One only ever sees pavilions there, never wine shops. Hmph, very well, I grant you this."

"My thanks, Administrator!" Wei Renshi bowed. "In that case, allow me to return and make preparations."

"Prepare as you will, but work must commence within a month," the Administrator warned.

"Understood." Wei Renshi bowed again. "I shall take my leave."

"Go then, and do not disappoint me," the Administrator nodded.

As Wei Renshi turned to leave, a smile broke across his face.

*Heh, thinking that repairing a levee would break the Yimeng Pavilion—how naive.*

This time, I shall reap both fame and profit!

Repairing the levee with free labor that only requires room and board, and having the right to build my own structures on the site?

I can design and develop this stretch of the embankment into a park combined with a marketplace, or perhaps a park with a food street!

Luoyang is a prosperous city; it never lacks for wealthy patrons. If I build it well enough, I need not worry about a lack of visitors.

Furthermore, if the prefecture provides a large number of laborers, I can find ways to utilize them elsewhere. While using forced labor for private gain is technically against the law, there is always room to maneuver if the justification is sound.

There are so many loopholes to exploit for personal gain.

Moreover, if the public relations are handled correctly, I can use this restoration project to build an impeccable reputation for the Yimeng Pavilion.

In this era, no one understood the importance of a brand's reputation better than Wei Renshi.

Why did the massive corporations of the future pour so much into charity and public works?

It was all for the sake of reputation.

A good reputation can be converted into immense profit and create tremendous value—value far exceeding the costs of building that reputation in the first place.

Naturally, the premise is that I have enough capital to sustain the project until the levee is restored, operational, and generating revenue.

It seems it is time to prepare for the large-scale rollout of the white spirits market.

Upon returning to the Yimeng Pavilion, Wei Renshi summoned Sun Peng and informed him of the levee project. Sun Peng was understandably shocked; the cost of repairing a levee was astronomical. Even if the labor was provided by the prefecture for free, the cost of feeding and housing so many workers would be a heavy burden, not to mention the construction costs themselves.

"Do not panic. The white spirits business in Luoyang is enough to sustain us for a time, and there will be new revenue streams later," Wei Renshi told him. "However, you must spend these coming days recruiting people who are eloquent and persuasive. Their integrity must be beyond reproach; whether or not they are literate matters little. I need them to start sweeping the streets of the Five Capitals and every major city."

"Sweeping the streets?" Sun Peng asked, confused.