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Zhao Yingong showed off a full set of gadgets when he went to see Zhang Pu. Now he brought out a full set of gadgets. Shen Tingyang has been researching this issue for a long time, and he couldn't help but be impressed by his grand arguments quoted from classics - Mr. Zhao really has the knowledge of "managing the world and applying it"!
Water transportation has always been a major event for the imperial court in the past dynasties. It is expensive and inefficient. It is often closely related to flood control. Whether it was the transportation of grain from Guandong to the inner pass in the Tang Dynasty, the transportation of grain to Kaifeng through the Yellow River in the Song Dynasty, or the sea transportation in the Yuan Dynasty, the river transportation in the Ming Dynasty... each project is an extremely complex systematic project involving all aspects, so since ancient times, There is the specialized knowledge of "Caozheng". Unless you are someone who is capable and willing to study, it will be difficult for ordinary scholars to master it.
This Mr. Zhao is actually able to talk eloquently, and his profound knowledge is far beyond what ordinary scholars can see from reading books.
"Sir, you are indeed very insightful." Shen Tingyang stared at him and said, "However, although it is good to convert grain from land to sea, the whole court may not be happy to see it happen."
Zhao Yingong nodded: "Sir, that's right."
Shen Tingyang stroked the armrest of the official hat chair and sighed: "Sea transportation has many advantages, but it has three major difficulties. It is always difficult to speak loudly in the court."
"Please teach me, sir."
Shen Tingyang nodded and raised a finger: "First, waiting for the wind is not easy, and it saves very little time."
Sea transportation is not as good as river transportation. You can paddle and row. Especially large sea-going ships transporting grain must rely on wind and sea currents. The ancients' generalizations in this regard were limited, and they basically relied on experience. So once you encounter a break in the wind or the wind direction is wrong, you have to wait for the wind. This was originally nothing, but the navigation technology of the late Ming Dynasty had deteriorated. Navigation relied on maritime landmarks and could not sail directly across the sea. Instead, it often had to follow zigzag routes along the coastline or island groups. The issue of weather conditions is more complex.
"Secondly, the storms at sea are unpredictable. When there are strong winds and waves, the ships will be damaged and the goods will drift away. Now Denglai and Tianjin are transporting grain and wages to Guanning. The losses in maritime transportation are huge. The imperial court has always criticized it."
Zhao Yingong had a look of disapproval on his face. There were winds and waves on the sea, and the technical level of ships and sailors was backward. Various shipwrecks and cargo damage accidents would always occur in navigation. This is normal, but in a nearly completely closed sea like the Bohai Sea, To cause such a large drift loss in inland waters is to put it bluntly, it is a mischief.
Shen Tingyang noticed his reaction, but he did not continue the discussion on this issue, but directly talked about the third point: "Third. Transporting grain by sea, there are many people and ships, and a large number of civilians and athletes gather together, which may cause trouble over time. It's better that Caoding is all soldiers. They are controlled by guards."
Zhao Yingong did not directly comment on these three difficulties, but asked: "What do you think of these three points, sir?"
Shen Tingyang smiled slightly: "It's exaggeration and nonsense!"
Zhao Yingong did not expect that the other party would speak so straightforwardly, and his favorable impression of him greatly increased. He nodded immediately and said: "Sir, that's right." He thought for a moment. Originally, he had been prepared to refute it point by point, but now it seemed unnecessary. He thought for a while and then said: "The so-called difficulty of shipping is nothing more than It’s just obstruction by those with vested interests.”
"Vested interests?" This new term aroused Shen Tingyang's interest.
"Yes, those with vested interests." Zhao Yingong nodded and said. "A canal runs from south to north, reaching all the princes in the court and going down to the gatekeepers. They can be taken openly and secretly... There are countless people who eat the river along the way. How can they want the imperial court to abolish the canal reform?" ocean?"
As Zhao Yingong spoke, he began to talk about the various shortcomings on the canal in sections: this was also a collection of background information compiled by the Great Library that he had long memorized. Whether a shipload of grain is passing through the customs and locks, "crossing the Huaihe River"...every time it reaches an official place. As usual, there are bad rules, and red envelopes are given out everywhere. When we get to Tongzhou to apply for documents, and the rice is put into the warehouse, there are countless people asking for money.
These are the various benefits on the surface, in addition to the minor officials who are responsible for transporting the chief minister, escorting the small officials, and even the bearers who carry the rice and grain. Everyone wants to get benefits from the rice on the ship - some are motivated by greed, and some are forced to do so. The so-called "loss" along the way is even several times the amount.
As for the costs of repairing and dredging canal facilities and building and repairing water transport vessels in order to maintain river transportation, they are countless. This created a huge vested interest group.
To fight against such a huge interest group, the court would not try it unless it had no choice but to do so. However, even in the turbulent twelfth year of Chongzhen, after Shen Tingyang's sea transportation experiment was successful. He still failed to abolish the canal and reform the sea. Although he achieved significant personal development in his official career, he still failed to make any contribution to the collapse of the entire Ming Dynasty.
At this moment, Shen Tingyang didn't know that his efforts would yield such results. Over the years, he had spent a lot of effort studying Caogaihai. He was not completely ignorant of the resistance in the court, but he did not expect that he would have to face such a behemoth. I couldn't help but feel discouraged.
Zhao Yingong saw that his face was depressed and knew that his words had had an effect. If Shen Tingyang is full of momentum and confidence, there will be a big question mark whether he wants to intervene on his own. Now he feels discouraged and feels powerless.
When you feel powerless and unwilling to give up your ideals, you will seek help.
"Sir, there is no need to be discouraged. Above the court, there are also people who can distinguish between right and wrong." Zhao Yingong said, "As long as we can get their support, although the abolition of the canal and the reform of the sea cannot be implemented immediately, it can always be implemented in stages."
He began to mention Zhang Pu's Taicang white grain shipment to Beijing, which Zhang Pu had been promoting. After having a long beach with Zhao Yingong last time, Zhang Pu also became very interested in abolishing the canal and reforming the sea. I exchanged letters with Zhao Yingong many times to discuss the specific implementation methods of this matter. Therefore, Zhao Yingong knew that Zhang Pu was already using his political power to advocate this matter.
When Shen Tingyang heard that Zhang Pu had similar thoughts, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows: "What? Tianru also has this intention?"
"Exactly, if Tianru wants to relieve the people of Taicang from the shortage of grain, the best way is to abolish the canal system and replace it with the sea!" Zhao Yingong said, "It's just that many people in the court would just shake their heads when the word "sea transportation" is mentioned. The good thing is just to be 'cautious'..."
Shen Tingyang thought the same thing: Many people in the court are just talking about things. They either know nothing about practical matters or pretend to understand. They say absolutely correct nonsense. It is best to keep things unchanged and stick to the old ways. There is no point in it. The feeling of impending crisis. I couldn't help but spread my hands: "It's really useless!"
"So for this matter, in addition to Tian Ru running around, we also need Mr. Shen's help..." Zhao Yingong then talked about the specific plan.
Specifically, Shen Tingyang compiled his research results and sea charts into a book, and then sent a letter to the court through familiar officials, suggesting a trial run of Taicang Bailiang Reform - a small-scale reform is always less resistant than a major reform. Be smaller.
"As long as Taicang's white grain transportation to Beijing is successful, the next step can be to transport grain and wages to Liaodong - this is the most important matter that the court cares about. If it is done well, the court will naturally look at sea transportation with admiration. Then we will talk about abolishing canal transportation and reforming sea transportation. It’s just a matter of course.”
Historically, it was Shen Tingyang himself who wrote to the emperor requesting a trial of grain shipping. But at this moment he has not yet become secretary of the cabinet. Of course, as an Imperial College student, you can submit a letter to the emperor, but it will inevitably give people the impression of being "wild" - the bureaucracy hates people who don't act according to common sense. If you do this, it is likely that no one will read the letter carefully at all.
Shen Tingyang naturally understood this truth, and he nodded frequently: "It's just that the person who submitted the letter is quite important."
Shen Tingyang also has many friends in the court, but once this matter is successful, his own shipping company will of course be the carrier of grain transportation to the north, and the interests involved will be huge. It would be best if a courtier who has nothing to do with his family submits the letter.
However, since Tianru is concerned about this matter, Donglin Fushe has many candidates they can use. In this way, they are more certain of success...
Thinking of this, Shen Tingyang couldn't help but feel secretly excited. His eyes touched the smile of the young man in front of him, and he suddenly realized that he was really confused! This Mr. Zhao keeps talking about "Tian Ru", he should be a talent of Mr. Xu Ge!
Xu Ge's hometown is in Shanghai, and he must be interested in transporting grain by sea. If Mr. Xu Ge intervened in this matter...
Shen Tingyang could no longer hold back the joy in his heart. He immediately ordered: "Take care of the kitchen to prepare a banquet and place it in the flower hall! I want to have a good talk with Mr. Zhao!"
Just as the servant responded and wanted to go, he was stopped again: "Take care of the third concubine and ask her to cook some of her specialty dishes. Then get some good wine from the outer study."
Zhao Yingong gladly accepted the hospitality - he had a good impression of Shen Yuan, and seeing how generous he was, he felt a sense of friendship.
The two of them moved to the flower hall, where a banquet was already held. The Shen family is a wealthy family, and a banquet is a trivial matter. The table was already set with cold dishes and fresh and dried fruits for drinking. The servants placed the wine. The guests and hosts sat facing each other and toasted each other first.
After a glass of wine, the friendship between the two parties is extraordinary. Zhao Yingong then brought up the topic of navigation. The Shen family is a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River, and Shen Tingyang's family operates the sand ship trade on Chongming Island. It specializes in the Beiyang route, transporting southern goods from Jiangnan to Tianjin, and then transporting northern goods from Tianjin back to Shanghai. At one time, the business was carried out in Liaodong, and the business was very prosperous.
However, since the fall of Shenyang, the Shen family's Beiyang trade has also suffered a big blow, especially Nanjing's silk and satin, which used to be a popular product sold to Liaodong, but now its sales have been greatly affected; the source of Liaodong products has also been cut off. The Shen family's ships only went to Tianjin for trade.
