The waterway connecting the Huaihe River, Hongze Lake and the Yangtze River has not yet been named. Officially, it is called the floodway.
Obviously, for this river, both the people and the officialdom wanted the emperor to name it, so that it would appear glorious.
Yu Chenglong naturally knew about this and naturally agreed in his heart.
He even wished that the emperor would go south in person to see this flood discharge river.
Political performance is what officials value most.
The civil and military leaders of Anhui and Jiangsu naturally dispersed, and Yu Chenglong took his servants with him and entered the capital hand in hand with the minister Sun Jiang.
Naturally, the ship he was traveling on was a merchant ship on the canal.
The two-story merchant ship can carry dozens of people at a time. It is spacious and comfortable, and its load capacity is about two hundred stones.
There are so many products on sale that it’s dizzying to see.
Although autumn has entered and the water volume in the canal has decreased, there are still many ships, making the already narrow canal more and more crowded.
The ships queuing up to cross the border stretch for miles.
Yu Chenglong was surprised by this. He took a few glances and said: "I heard that the most popular thing in recent years is shipping. Why does it seem that the number of canals has not diminished, but has become more and more numerous."
"You don't know something." The captain, who was dressed in silk clothes and looked a bit rich, greeted the sailors to row the boat and said:
"Although sea transportation is convenient, it cannot withstand wind and waves. Although it is one of the best, it still has risks, and it cannot compare with the canal."
"Besides, seagoing ships require as little as five or six hundred materials, and as many as more than a thousand. It costs several thousand or tens of thousands to build a ship. This is a lot of money, and most people cannot afford it."
"The imperial court's four million stone canal was transported away to the sea, and the remaining positions are occupied by us merchants, isn't it? It's a taboo in business to stay on the road of survival instead of taking the road that is familiar to you."
Hearing this, Yu Chenglong nodded slightly, what he said was true.
People's inertia is that they are more familiar than unfamiliar. Compared with sea transportation with high profits and high costs, canals with fixed profits and fixed routes are naturally more favored by small and medium-sized businessmen.
Without a certain amount of property, it is difficult to travel by sea.
At this time, Sun Jiang also walked out of the cabin. He was wearing a long robe and said calmly: "Besides, Beiming, you have overlooked one thing. Not all merchants arrive in the capital and disembark from the ship midway. Not a few either.”
"Linqing and Tongzhou in Shandong are both transfer stations. The products in both places are available. Why bother to go to the capital city instead of going far away?"
The businessman nodded his head in agreement: "Hebei and Shandong are sufficient to supply the grain, fruits and vegetables that the capital needs daily. All that is needed are some luxuries, such as Suzhou embroidery and so on."
"They account for less than 30% of the canal's merchant ships."
Yu Chenglong suddenly realized.
He looked at the long fleet of boats. On both sides of the river, there were various shouts, flags flying, and the aroma of wine and meat, making people intoxicated.
He is from Shanxi and has always been curious about this busy water transport. At the same time, as an official, he also understands what it means to have many ships.
Tariffs, massive tariffs on the canal.
Starting from Chongwenmen in Beijing in the north to Beixin in Hangzhou in the south, the eight major gates continuously provided money to the imperial court. It can be said that they were sitting and collecting money.
For example, he dug rivers and spent the past two years using customs duties from Huai'an and Yangzhou Chaoguan. It can be said that he is extremely wealthy and there is no danger of shortage of money and food at all.
"In recent years, apart from the fact that the number of people on official ships has decreased a lot, some fees and personnel have also decreased a lot. Except for the customs that need to collect money, there is no need to pay in other places. This is why people like to use the canal..."
The businessman was talking, his face bursting with longing for the future.
Obviously, this golden waterway is becoming more and more prosperous and has an increasing influence on the people. Businessmen naturally like this stable environment.
In fact, the canal's annual tax contribution has exceeded 5 million yuan, and more than 50,000 ships pass through it every year. It has driven the development of Shandong, Jiangsu, and Hebei provinces, and it can be said to be a golden waterway in the true sense.
Take Linqing, for example, a county that prospered because of the canal.
, in the whole of Shandong, it is no less prosperous than Jinan, and the commercial tax contributed can easily exceed one, or even several, accounting for 30% of Shandong's commercial tax.
According to statistics, the thousand-mile-long canal has sprung up more than a hundred villages, towns, and counties, affecting the livelihoods of millions of people.
This spillover effect is even stronger than customs.
Therefore, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the transportation cost for a quota of four million shi was eight million shi.
Coupled with the costs of maintaining transport routes and regulating rivers, the Qing Dynasty would have needed to spend millions or even tens of millions of taels of silver.
At that time, the Qing Dynasty's annual tax was only 40 million taels.
The group of people took the boat and passed through one gate after another. By the beginning of October, the whole north was desolate, and the cold wind was gradually picking up, making people shiver uncontrollably.
After Chongwenmen got off the boat, the two hurried to the inner city.
After freshening up, I didn't dare to delay and hurriedly went to see the emperor.
After waiting for two hours, it was the eunuch's turn to inform.
When Zhu Yixi saw the two of them, she was quite emotional.
Sun Jiang was the minister of the Ministry of Industry. He stayed in Huai'an for a long time and took charge of the dredging of the Yellow River and the construction of polders. He basically didn't spend much time in the capital.
Not to mention Yu Chenglong, he is a doctor who is responsible for building the floodway. He has been working hard for several years without stopping.
He is only in his fifties this year, but his temples are already gray, and under his dark skin, he is skin and bones, but his eyes are piercing and bright, showing that he is extraordinary.
The emperor valued people who were willing to do practical things like this: "Sit down, sit down quickly."
"Last year, the water canal in Xishan was also repaired. It is light and dark. There is a river channel above the ground and a culvert below. Although it is a little troublesome, it can ensure the safety of the water source."
"The city of Beijing will no longer be short of water from now on."
Zhu Yixi sighed.
Hundreds of thousands of pieces were used to build this ditch, which can be said to have been carefully crafted and had a profound impact on the prosperity of Beijing.
This is also one of the few major projects of the Shaowu Dynasty.
However, compared to the flood discharge river, this is nothing.
"I would like to say that the flood discharge river is more than three hundred miles long. The river surface is as short as ten feet and as wide as thirty feet. Three gates have been built on it. Once the river surges, it can block it..."
"With the water source connected, benefits can be felt on both sides of the bank..."
"In addition, hundreds of small rivers are connected to it, and nearby villages, towns, and prefectures no longer have to worry about floods..."
"I estimate that at least three million people will benefit from this, and the number of indirect beneficiaries will exceed tens of millions."
Sun Jiang reported in detail, looking inexplicably excited.
Who wouldn't be excited to have this great political achievement hang on him like this?
"From now on, the flood problem caused by the Yellow River's capture of the Huaihe River will be initially resolved. For at least fifty years, Jiangbei will not have to worry about floods..."
"You have actually done a good thing."
Zhu Yixi praised without hesitation: "It is inevitable to be listed in the history."
"Send an order for the Hanlin Academy to send special personnel to erect monuments on both sides of the river to commemorate this."
"At the same time, in order to reduce the corvee burden on people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, taxes on governments and counties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will be reduced or exempted as appropriate."
"Also, the people in the area will be exempted from three years of corvee service."
The man sitting next to him wrote as if he was inspired.
The eunuchs took notes to prevent them from being forgotten.
After saying that, the emperor looked at the two of them and held them up with both hands, making them excited.
"Give me a seat."
"Thank you for your hard work, sir. Please sit down quickly. Isn't it tiring to bend over?"
When Yu Chenglong heard this, his heart suddenly felt warm, as if he had drank a cup of hot tea, and it was warm from the back of his head to his heels.
The emperor and his ministers started talking about interesting things about building the river. The eunuch on the side saw that it took too long and urged him a little. Then the emperor got down to the topic:
"Sun Jiang, you have made great achievements and you have to give a reward. Now go to the Ministry of Punishment. There is a shortage of ministers there. Although you have to work with Gongshu
They are different, but you also have to bring out that spirit——"
Sun Jiang was overjoyed and kowtowed hurriedly.
Yu Chenglong on the side also received the instruction: "You have made great achievements and are extremely outstanding, so you can be promoted to the prefect!"
Doctors are of the fifth rank, while magistrates are of the fourth rank. In the past, only the first rank in the imperial examination were like this, but they were rare.
But for Jackie Chan, this grace is beyond expectation.
If nothing unexpected happens, Yu Chenglong will never be able to get the first rank in Jingcha in his whole life.
Because Yu Chenglong was born as a scholar.
He passed the provincial examination and then was sent to the county magistrate. After that, he worked in the officialdom for many years. He almost exhausted all his energy as a fifth-grade doctor. Now that he can become a magistrate, it can really be said that there is smoke coming out of the ancestral grave.
Seeing his appearance, Zhu Yixi's heart moved.
Nowadays, with the stability of the world, it is difficult for people who are not Jinshi to get ahead in the officialdom.
The title of Jinshi is just like academic qualifications in the 21st century. This is not a factor in promotion, but it cannot be lived without.
Obviously, for Jackie Chan, there is no doubt that he will be promoted based on his ability, but the future is foreseeable.
"Here, grant Jackie Chan the status of fellow Jinshi——"
At this time, Yu Chenglong was stunned.
Sun Jiang, who had just become minister, also felt incredible.
He glanced at this subordinate and had mixed feelings in his heart.
With the title of Tongjinshi, it can be said to be even more powerful for him, and his future achievements are limitless.
The two left the palace, speechless along the way.
Finally, when they parted, Sun Jiang cupped his hands and sighed: "Beiming, you are the real Jian Zai Di Xin!"
After saying this, his mouth was filled with bitterness. For a moment, he no longer felt the taste of being a minister, and a feeling of jealousy rushed into his brain.
After turning around, Yu Chenglong felt a sense of desolation when he saw it.
He shook his head and said with a smile: "I'm really dizzy. This should be a festive time."
Return to live in the courtyard arranged by the Ministry of Industry.
The next day, colleagues in the hospital got up early and rushed to order Mao, but Yu Chenglong rarely got a rest and slept until the middle of the day.
"Master, what do you want to eat? I'll prepare it."
"What are you preparing? Let's go out to eat!"
After washing up, there is no firewood, salt or rice at home. There was no way to light a fire to cook, and there was simply no shortage of anything in the capital. Just outside the courtyard, there were cake sellers and wonton sellers along the streets.
The master and servant ordered two bowls of chaos.
A bowl of mixed meat, sprinkled with small garlic leaves, a rough count, there are about twenty, filled in a bowl half the size of a head.
"Oh, this meat is delicious!"
Yu Chenglong took a bite and his mouth was filled with the aroma of meat.
"You are always a foreigner, right?" the boy said softly. Although his tone was still respectful, there was a hint of pride in his words.
"What?" Yu Chenglong is an old man and can't see clearly what they are doing, but he doesn't care much.
"Look, this stuffed meat is high-quality mutton. It comes all the way from Suiyuan, and it costs ten yuan a pound to put it on the market!"
"That's why it tastes so delicious. It's different from the pork in previous years."
Hearing this, Yu Chenglong smiled slightly and continued to eat.
After finishing one bowl, Yu Chenglong barely ate half full. The master and servant each added three more vegetable cakes to complete the meal.
The waiter smiled and said, "A bowl of wontons costs three cents. Your two bowls and a pancake are half a cent. The six of them make a total of nine cents."
The big money here refers to copper coins.
The specific exchange rate is that one silver dollar is equal to ten silver cents equal to one hundred copper dollars.
One copper round is worth ten copper coins.
In other words, the master and the servant are worth ninety cents.
The price seems expensive, but it is a normal price in Beijing.
The imperial court only controls food prices, and both rent and labor are extremely expensive in the capital.
Take ordinary coolies as an example.
Carrying baggage in Chongwenmen can earn a hundred coins a day, while in Tianjin, which is not far away, you can get at most 80 coins.
In Baoding, Hebei, the price dropped to thirty or fifty cents.
Moreover, food is not expensive, but non-staple food is as expensive as ever. Vegetables, fruits, wine and meat are all the most expensive in the world.
A huge population of one million has strong demand.
Just after finishing eating, the newsboy waiting for an opportunity on the side, carrying a cloth bag, took out a stack of newspapers:
"Sir, I have more than ten kinds of newspapers such as "Da Ming Gong Bao", "Dougou Bao", "Wen Zhai Bao", and "Oiran Bao". Which one do you want?"
"Looking at your gentle manner, you must be a scholar. How about this "Wen Zhai Bao"? How about this "Reader"? It's full of stories just compiled by Imperial College Scholars. It's so touching——"
"Bring me a copy of the Ming Dynasty Gazette!"
Yu Chenglong smiled casually.
The servant on the side asked about the price. When he learned that it was ten cents, he reluctantly gave it up: "Why is it so expensive? It's only eight cents in Jiangsu!"
"Forgive me, it just came out this morning. Three days later it will be nine cents, and seven days later it will be eight cents!"
The newsboy said with a smile before jumping away.
Just as the master and servant were about to leave, the waiter on the side said respectfully: "If you still want to eat, just ask the newsboy to send a message and they will deliver it directly to your door."
"When the time comes, just give them the money."
Yu Chenglong glanced at the walking newsboy and nodded slightly.
After eating, Yu Chenglong went to a restaurant to listen to the music, and the afternoon's audio-visual drama was over.
In the evening, the master and servant began to find a bathhouse to take a bath.
After the massage, the waiter said casually: "Your clothes are old, do you want custom clothes? The clothes at Shengde Clothing Store are cheap, and the tailors come directly to your door..."
"Look at the size of your shoes. I have a new one. Can you try it?"
After refusing a large number of services, the master and servant were confused before leaving.
In the huge capital city, they were lost.
"Sir, I have a carriage here. For only ten coins, I can deliver it directly to your doorstep——"
