When Zhao Shan heard the news about Cao An, he said without hesitation: "Pass it on!"
Zhao Shan had a good impression of Cao An.
Cao An is Zhao Shan's father-in-law and a relative. However, as Cao An served as Minister of Industry, he did not rely on his status to act arrogantly, but instead acted in a low-key manner.
After Cao An took charge of the Ministry of Works, he strengthened the smelting of the Ministry of Works, truly improved the Ministry of Works, and achieved fruitful achievements.
Zhao Shan likes this kind of technical officer very much.
After a while, Cao An hurriedly entered. After standing still, he bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty, Cao An, pays homage to your Majesty."
Zhao Shan smiled and said: "Cao Qing comes to the palace, what can I do?"
Cao An quickly said: "Reporting to your Majesty, I have joined forces with many colleagues and craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry to build a high-rotating cart that can fetch water from the river day and night."
"Since the beginning of spring this year, there has been little rain in the area. After summer, there has been even less rain and the drought has become serious. If water can be collected by drum trucks on a large scale, at least the drought in the Guanzhong area can be alleviated a lot."
"According to normal time, there will be a large-scale autumn harvest in one month. Ensuring sufficient water in the last month is very important to ensure the harvest, so that the crops will not die early."
Cao An bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please give me a clear warning."
Zhao Shan's eyes were filled with surprise.
This is a good thing.
Shen Yuanqing has mentioned before that this year's dry weather will reduce food production. With Cao An's barrel cart, the grain harvest will be better.
Zhao Shan asked eagerly: "Where is the barrel cart? Let's go and take a look."
Cao An replied: "Reporting to your majesty, the barrel cart is in Luoshui at the foot of Mang Mountain in the north of Luoyang. I have made it and it is running."
"well!"
Zhao Shan said yes one after another.
At the end of last year, in order to provide relief to the victims, Zhao Shan adopted a work-for-relief strategy, opening warehouses to help people, and also using work-for-relief to allow people to clear ditches in exchange for food.
With the foundation of last year, water is diverted from the river, and the river water can flow to various places along the ditch.
Zhao Shan stood up and said, "Let's go and take a look at Mangshan."
Cao An quickly said: "I will lead the way."
With Zhao Shan's approval, Cao An was extremely excited. Skills like his are considered by many to be obscene techniques, and are scolded as not doing one's job properly.
When he was young, his father also scolded him, but later Cao Tong couldn't control it, so he let it go.
The imperial court also suppressed erotic techniques.
No one takes this seriously.
His Majesty valued him and gave him support and unconditional trust, allowing Cao An to study these things without any distractions.
When the monarch and his ministers were just about to leave, Zhang Xu hurried in and reported: "Your Majesty, Prime Minister Zhuge, Xiao Shangshu, Cao Shangshu and other adults are here to see you."
"pass!"
Zhao Shan gave an order.
These people are here at the right time. If they go to see the high-roller truck together, they can unify the court's thinking and implement the matter of water diversion and irrigation.
Not long after, Zhuge Shang, Xiao Yan, Du Gangfeng, Cao Tong and others came together to ask for a meeting.
Everyone saluted Zhao Shan.
Zhao Shan smiled and said: "So many people are here today, what's the matter?"
Zhuge Shang said: "Your Majesty, the drought continues this summer. Xiao Shangshu believes that your Majesty should personally pray for rain. I can't persuade you, so I can only ask your Majesty to make a judgment."
Zhao Shan understood immediately.
Obviously, most of the officials in the six ministries support praying for rain, otherwise Zhuge Shang, the prime minister, would not be able to withstand Xiao Yan's persuasion.
Zhao Shan looked at Xiao Yan and others and ordered: "Let's all share our opinions."
Xiao Yan stood up and said: "Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven and cares about the safety of the people. Now that the place is dry and the people are in hardship, Your Majesty should personally pray for rain. If God is moved to rain down rain, it will be a blessing to the people and a blessing to the people."
Cao Tong added: "Your Majesty, the emperor has been praying for rain since ancient times, you can try it. Of course, to alleviate drought, we must start from all aspects, and praying for rain is one of them, not the only means."
Shen Yuanqing said: "I agree."
Du Gangfeng, Qi Shanjun and others also agree with praying for rain.
This is a long-established practice.
If a local disaster occurred, the emperor would issue an edict to blame himself or pray to God for mercy. If the place is dry, the emperor will personally pray for rain.
For scholars, they believe in praying for rain even more.
Zhao Shan weighed it in his mind, shook his head and said, "There's no need to pray for rain."
"Your Majesty, no!"
Xiao Yan spoke loudly.
He is already very old and his abilities are not as good as those of Zhuge Shang, but he is sincere and loyal.
Xiao Yan said righteously: "Your Majesty has stabilized the government, punished traitors, defeated Xiliang, and destroyed the Japanese Allied Forces. He is a great strategist and has signs of being a saint. Now your Majesty is unwilling to pray for rain. Is it because he is afraid that if God does not rain, it will affect his reputation?" "
"I think this is inappropriate."
"Your Majesty is a holy king. He should move forward bravely and not be afraid of difficulties. How come he is burdened by a wise king?"
Xiao Yan solemnly said: "If your Majesty is unwilling because of this, what is the difference between you and a faint king? Could it be that your majesty wants to be called a holy king, but is he actually a faint king?"
A pair of eyes looked over, very surprised.
Xiao Yan's advice became more and more direct, and he seemed determined to be a remonstrator.
Cao Tong expressed his position: "Xiao Shangshu has said it. It is just praying for rain, and it does not need to rise to the level of a holy king or a faint king."
Shen Yuanqing thought for a while and added: "Your Majesty, Cao Shangshu's words make sense. The purchase of grain in large quantities is one of the measures to deal with the shortage of drought. Going to the altar to pray for rain now is also one of the measures to deal with it."
Every one of them expressed support for praying for rain.
However, many people cut it and did not agree with Xiao Yan's statement. They just asked Zhao Shan to pray for rain.
Zhao Shan laughed and said, "I once heard a saying, "It's pity that you sit down at the front table in the middle of the night and don't ask the people about ghosts and gods." It means that you listen humbly and ask for advice, but don't ask about the people, but ask about ghosts and gods."
"You care about the people, but you place everything on the ghosts and gods in the sky. You are also putting the cart before the horse."
"Man can conquer nature, he must be self-reliant and self-reliant."
"If you place your hope on the blessing of heaven and the blessing of ancestors, it is vain and unreliable."
"To alleviate the drought, how many wells should be drilled in the local area? How much water should be diverted from rivers? How many canals should be dredged?"
"These are the key!"
Zhao Shan's eyes were sharp and he said in a deep voice: "All of you should have this concept. Don't involve the gods and gods in everything. You must change your mentality."
Xiao Yan still insisted on his opinion.
He held his head high and said loudly: "No matter what concept, practicality is the most important."
"The key now is to solve the drought. We can't keep up with drilling wells, we can't divert water, and dredging canals is even more difficult. Water cannot quench our thirst. Your Majesty, there must be a heavy rain to alleviate the drought."
Xiao Yan bowed and said loudly: "If praying for rain is useful, why not give it a try?"
Zhao Shan looked calm and said with a smile: "I happen to have a powerful tool to alleviate drought."
"ah?"
Xiao Yan opened his mouth wide when he heard this.
There was a puzzled look on his old face, and he asked: "Your Majesty, what kind of sharp weapon do you have?"
