Chapter 1529: High Multiple Budget

"The cost is double the budget! Double!" King Yao slammed the booklet to the side, pounding the table in a furious rage. "My dear You, is this how you oversee things for me?!"

The secret was out: it was all about money, about providing enough funds!

With enough money, it seemed everyone had wheels of fire and wind attached to their feet. How could the project not be built quickly?

King Yao also recalled that the official vouchers issued were redeemable at one and a half times their value after four months.

Two times multiplied by one and a half times meant the construction cost would actually exceed the budget by three times!

His money, the national treasury's money, was flowing out like water!

King Yao clutched his chest, and the old palace servant Qiu Long, standing behind him, rushed forward in alarm to support him. "Your Majesty!"

King Yao waved his hand away, then gritted his teeth and pointed at You Rongzhi. "Speak! Explain yourself clearly!"

When You Rongzhi first received the cost booklet, he, too, felt its weighty, troublesome nature. Thus, King Yao's reaction was entirely within his expectations.

By the way, His Majesty had reviewed and approved every single item of approval when construction began.

Weren't all the prices clearly listed?

Yet, when hundreds or even thousands of items were tallied together at the end, he complained the total price was too high.

Fortunately, You Rongzhi understood the monarch's temperament deeply and had carefully discussed the matter with He Lingchuan before arriving. At this moment, he calmly stated, "Your Majesty, please quell your anger. So far, the Tianshui expansion has only utilized a small portion of the national treasury; most of the funds have been advanced by the work teams."

An advance isn't a gift; the national treasury would eventually have to pay. But since the "knife" hadn't yet cut him personally, King Yao snorted in anger, waiting for his next words.

You Rongzhi indeed continued, "The reason we are working so diligently to expedite construction is so that the residential plots in the new city can be sold sooner. Once the funds are deposited into the treasury, these construction costs will naturally be recouped."

King Yao asked grimly, "Four times the cost, and it can still be recouped?"

It wasn't as if they were building a royal palace or official residence, requiring carved beams and painted pillars. How much could it truly cost to build some simple houses? It was just a bit of materials and a bit of labor, wasn't it?

"Your humble servant has carefully calculated it," You Rongzhi explained. "This four-fold cost is solely to accelerate initial progress. Once the residential plots go on sale, the project will proceed in an orderly fashion, eliminating the need to rush work and deadlines. Based on the overall budget, the sale price of residential plots in just four districts will be sufficient to cover this four-fold expenditure."

Seeing You Rongzhi speak with such confidence, King Yao remained silent for a long time.

Project costs exceeding the budget — what was new about that? King Yao had, in fact, been mentally prepared.

Looking back seventy years, had any major project in Great Yao ever been completed without severe overspending? When the late king was alive, half the palace renovation alone cost ten million taels. Take, for instance, the Clear Sound Wall behind the Hundred Phoenix Hall: when a breeze blew through it, it would naturally produce a clear melody. To achieve this inherent harmony, each sound-transmitting brick, hand-fired by artisans, was priced as high as fifteen taels of silver!

Among common folk, that sum — fifteen thousand cash — could completely renovate an entire courtyard.

Therefore, for a massive undertaking like the capital's eastward expansion, King Yao's true bottom line was simply to consider it a success as long as it didn't deplete the national treasury. However, this absolute secret could not be divulged to anyone else.

Not even Qiu Long, who stood behind him.

He could only say coldly, "If this cannot be accomplished, only the two of you will be held accountable!"

"Yes!" You Rongzhi knew this hurdle had been cleared.

Despite using precious elemental energy and incurring several times the original cost, the monarch had not yet removed him or He Xiao from their positions. He breathed a sigh of relief.

As he exited the Jade Spring Palace, his steps felt lighter.

King Yao sat in the hall for a long time, lost in thought. Qiu Long asked him, "Your Majesty, shall I help you return to rest?"

The monarch, however, murmured, "We can only press on."

So much manpower, material resources, financial capital, and the energy of countless ministers had been invested!

Even his own son was wholeheartedly dedicated to this construction site, setting an example for others.

In just over half a month, the capital's eastward expansion project had already fully taken root. At this point, it was simply unstoppable.

It drove everyone forward; whether willing participants or passively involved, all had to put in their utmost effort.

If they didn't continue and collect the funds, they would never recoup their investment!

At this point, even King Yao himself, if he were to call for a halt, dared not imagine the consequences.

You Rongzhi was about to leave the palace, but as he passed through the corridor, he heard voices from the Pomegranate Flower Pavilion, and his steps involuntarily slowed.

The Pomegranate Flower Pavilion, though called a pavilion, was actually a small kiosk where officials often rested or awaited an audience.

A voice said, "The capital's expansion has mobilized a huge effort, even using elemental energy to clear mountains and build roads. His Majesty has even sent the Crown Prince to the construction site, and the project manager isn't even a Yao native, yet all the officials fawn over him and flatter him. Is it true that no one in our talented Yao court sees that something is amiss?"

The voice sounded somewhat familiar. You Rongzhi thought for a moment and realized it belonged to a recently appointed junior official.

"Are you the only sober one while the whole court is drunk? Brother Zhao, you absolutely must not entertain such thoughts," another person immediately interjected. "Which major undertaking isn't like this? During the late king's reign, the Great Wind and Rain Dam in Mang Province was built, employing over fifty thousand people and costing eighteen million taels over eight years. They even replaced the chief construction official midway. Ten years later, it was revealed that manpower and materials were inflated by more than double. So what? The Great Wind and Rain Dam has functioned perfectly to this day, ensuring safety during every flood season."

Another person added, "For a project of this scale, nothing that happens is truly surprising. As long as it's completed safely in the end, everyone will be pleased."

Brother Zhao, however, remained stubborn. "I only fear it might damage the very foundation of the state..."

Everyone burst into laughter. "Our Great Yao has a stable foundation, prosperous and strong. It's not only renowned as 'Flashing Gold,' but also one of the few powerful nations in the world! Can a mere capital expansion truly harm the very foundation of the state? Brother Zhao, you are overly anxious."

"Furthermore, His Majesty is overseeing it, and the high officials are supervising. The Royal Court operates by its own established procedures. You are new to your post; you should observe more and speak less."

Brother Zhao snorted, seemingly still unconvinced. His companion then challenged him, "You say the new city's eastward expansion isn't progressing well, and that it's wrong to have someone named He lead it. Then why don't you present a plan? How should the new city be built?"

"Well..." Brother Zhao was instantly stumped.

The planning and construction of a new city — what an enormous and complex undertaking! Could he possibly devise such a plan alone?

Everyone chimed in, "Exactly! Don't just complain about it; why don't you devise a strategy and submit it to His Majesty?"

Anyone can complain about this and that. But when asked how to solve it, they fall silent.

"If His Majesty approves it, he might replace He Xiao and put you in charge of the entire operation. At that point, Brother Zhao, you must promote us and let us bask in your glory!"

Another person commented, "Building roads in seven days and houses in fifteen days — such speed is unprecedented. Brother Zhao, if you propose a new plan, it absolutely must be faster than He Xiao's! Otherwise, His Majesty will most likely not adopt it."

"What 'most likely'? It's 'definitely.' Leaders value efficiency above all else."

Brother Zhao fell completely silent.

You Rongzhi, listening from behind the tree wall, silently sighed and turned to leave.

Indeed, just as the junior official surnamed Zhao had said, since He Xiao took over, the new city expansion had been like a furiously accelerating carriage, running faster and charging more aggressively with each passing moment.