On the way back to Ganzhou, a blizzard hit the Hexi Corridor. The blizzard raged violently. Heavy objects were tilted and broken one after another, and everything was bent, curled, trembling, and howling miserably.
Yang Ji and his party, who returned from their inspection, were delayed for two days due to a snowstorm. In the early morning, the sun shone again on the world. They finally returned to Zhangye City, which had become a city of ice and snow. The soldiers all returned to the military camp outside the city to rest.
Since Zhangye City was dilapidated and old before Yang Ji became the governor of Liangzhou, he included it in the re-planning. At this time, the whole city had a completely new look. After Yang Ji entered Zhangye City from the west gate with his soldiers, he could feel overflowing with joy. With a vitality that was unprecedented in the past, teams of soldiers were clearing the snow on the roads and helping snow-covered houses clear the snow on their roofs. Groups of children were happily making snowmen, having snowball fights, chasing and playing in the snow. Waves of joyful laughter echoed in the city.
Arriving at the center of the city, it becomes even more prosperous.
The low-rise mud houses that were being demolished before leaving were all replaced by rows of brand-new new buildings. Although the weather was extremely cold, the noise and hawking on the main street continued, making it extremely lively; people from the Central Plains could be seen in groups everywhere. Merchants, Turks, Tiele people, barbarians from the Western Regions, and Sogdians.
This is because Zhangye has been an important merchant town and chokepoint of the Silk Road since ancient times. To the north, you can follow the Juyanze Trade Road to enter the Turkic grassland, and to the west, you can reach Guazhou. However, due to the constant wars, this transportation linking the east and west has been blocked. The main road was interrupted for hundreds of years. With the acquisition of Yizhou, Tingzhou, and Xizhou, as well as the surrender of the Western Turks, there was no obstacle to restarting the Silk Road. Therefore, these businessmen who were good at seizing business opportunities flocked to Zhangye, a transportation hub, to discuss shop sales and warehouse leasing.
There are also some splendid and exotic buildings on the streets. This is the reopening of the Silk Road, which has brought many businessmen from outside the Great Wall to look for business opportunities. They buy shops and decorate them according to their own customs and culture.
Regarding these, Yang Ji has no objection. Whether it is local schools of thought or foreign cultures, sublimation can only be achieved through competition. Although Confucianism has a respected status, due to hundreds of years of war in the north, civilization has declined. The inheritance was almost broken, which made the northerners pay attention to practical learning. Everyone agreed with everything that was useful and discarded everything that was not practical. They were very open-minded. After the Sui Dynasty unified the world, the Confucianism brought back from the south was closer to orthodoxy, unlike Later generations are so complacent.
As a descendant of China, Yang Ji has special feelings for his own civilization, but he does not want to return to a situation where Confucianism is dominant. Otherwise, decadence will be the inevitable result.
Moreover, Mencius had long said, "Be born in sorrow and die in happiness." Therefore, Yang Ji also felt that any academic, industry, or person would fall behind once they lose their sense of crisis. Only a sense of crisis and competition can lead to success. Move in a positive direction.
Moreover, the Chinese civilization led by Confucianism is like the "Beiming Shen Gong" in martial arts. It has strong compatibility and inclusiveness, and can absorb the advantages of foreign theories for its own use, and react on foreign theories and "niche" It would be good if foreign civilizations were not assimilated to the point of being wiped out. How could they assimilate the Chinese civilization, which has a huge population base and is full of humanity?
As the news of Yang Ji's return spread, the restless atmosphere hanging over Zhangye gradually calmed down.
In the past, when Yang Ji was in Zhangye, he usually didn't do much. Most affairs were jointly managed by the Sixth Cao and the Eleventh Department of the General Administration. Yang Ji's role was to use a strong deterrent force to make all states and counties follow the instructions of the General Administration. When planning and doing things, everyone performs their duties in an orderly manner. When everyone encounters problems that cannot be solved, he steps in and solves them; but when Yang Ji is not in Zhangye, everyone seems to have lost their backbone, and they do not have the confidence to do things as before. The resulting government orders lacked stamina in terms of execution.
Especially when Liangzhou troops were continuously transferred to the border, resulting in a vacancy of troops in the long and narrow north. Although these policies continued to be implemented, due to the departure of a large number of troops and the intimidation of Yang Ji, everyone had not yet been able to plan. The Qiang people began to lose control, and the prisoners also showed signs of uneasiness.
Now that Yang Ji is back, the unruly Qiang tribe suddenly became more docile than rabbits, and order in various places has been restored to stability. The captives also obediently built straight roads in the winter. This made Master Yinshi, Yang Shanhui, and Wei Yunqi and others all breathed a sigh of relief.
Back in Zhangye, Yang Ji was busy until late at night every day.
In the past few months after the war, under the rule of Liangzhou, there were not only people's livelihood matters such as immigration, craftsmen's households, military households, land clearing and annexation, government officials, city building, etc. to be arranged, but also schools, workshops, straight roads, mines to be repaired, and Another workshop was opened to cast money and smelt. In addition, troops, money, grain and materials were also mobilized to confront Tuyuhun at the border... Thousands of things were happening at once, and officials throughout Liangzhou were so busy that they couldn't even touch the ground.
Local government affairs in the Sui Dynasty were originally relatively simple. Officials focused on trivial matters such as spring plowing, autumn harvesting, and winter cold. This had not changed for decades. New and old officials were almost accustomed to the slow pace of life. However, Liangzhou was won over by Yang Ji. After the "experimental field" of the official system, military system, and academic system in the Sui Dynasty, big changes began to occur. Not only did the imperial court arrange things to be done, but there were also many new measures implemented by the General Manager's Office in compliance with Yang Ji's orders. Almost everything It must be completed before the end of the year, which will bring about many problems to be solved.
Thousands of trivial matters almost broke the backs of Liangzhou officials, but fortunately, after nearly a year of training, the officials have gradually adapted to Yang Jihe's vigorous and resolute style of doing things.
In the past few days, everyone in the General Manager's Mansion has been busy with a major event, which is the arrival of another three thousand craftsmen.
Craftsmen in the Sui Dynasty were divided into two types: official craftsmen and private craftsmen. The imperial court selected highly skilled craftsmen from folk craftsmen and established special household registrations like military households. Therefore, the level of official craftsmen was generally higher than that of private craftsmen. The Ministry of Industry, Generals as Supervisors, and Shaofu There are more than 100,000 skilled craftsmen under the names of the Supervisor, the Military Supervisor, and the Du Shui Supervisor, and from this, there are more than 100,000 craftsmen households.
Yu Shinan, who was ordered to go to the capital to cry for poverty, even wanted sickles, hatchets, hoes and other farm tools. The court could not give them to him, so he had to give money instead. After this guy received the money from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, he spent it all in the capital and swept away the farm tools in the West Market. Once it was empty, the resulting sensation was that the whole city was saying that Liangzhou was so backward that it didn't even have farm tools. The prince Yang Guang and Shangshu Sheng felt so embarrassed, so they specially approved 3,000 outstanding officials from the "four prisons" The craftsman came over and said, "You have made the imperial court lose face. The imperial court is now giving you top craftsmen. You can build it yourself. Don't embarrass yourself in the capital."
These top craftsmen can be called the technical engineers of the Sui Dynasty. In addition to the 5,000 craftsmen previously approved by Yang Jian, Liangzhou now has 8,000 craftsmen. The presence of these people also means that Liangzhou's production capacity has been greatly improved. Many things no longer depend on the imperial court for supply. Official military tents can be built by oneself, Tingzhou's city can be designed by oneself, straight roads can be planned by oneself, mines can be found and opened by oneself... Silk, cloth, porcelain, wine, farm tools, etc. are closely related to people's livelihood. Closely related items no longer rely on merchants traveling between Guanzhong and Liangzhou. In the future, people can buy local products at low prices from markets in various states and counties. Officials of the General Administration are well aware of this truth, so they attach great importance to these craftsmen.
In order to solve the worries of the craftsmen, not only the confiscated high-quality farmland was distributed to them, but also, at Yang Ji's request, a new area of Zhangye City was specially designated for the craftsmen to live, so that each of their families lived in beautiful houses. Small courtyard.
As for the workshop areas where craftsmen work, they are concentrated on the north bank of Ruoshui and at the southern foot of Ganjun Mountain. It was originally decided to move the workshops there. Firstly, if various workshops were located in the city, the clanking sound of nearly 10,000 craftsmen and many apprentices would be very disturbing to the people. Secondly, if they were built in the city, there would be huge hidden dangers in terms of secrecy. Thirdly, To centrally build weak waterfronts, raw materials can be transported by water, and water is also very convenient.
Nowadays, a workshop city comparable in size to the lower county has been built, and each area is clearly divided. Although many places are still empty, the good treatment of the craftsmen will sooner or later attract more private craftsmen to join.
In the official office, Yang Ji was staring at a piece of paper in a daze. The thin, regular and layered lines on it outlined a three-dimensional figure. Next to it, he outlined the twists and turns of the interior. Next to it, the kang surface, flue, and Chimney and other names.
"Zhang Zhong, what you drew is a pit, right?" Yang Ji looked at the young craftsman standing in front of him: "Is this your handiwork?"
Kangs appeared in the Northeast as early as the late Shang Dynasty. The earliest Kangs were underground Kangs. Later, nomads added beds, so the Northeastern people changed the ground Kangs into high-rise Kangs. There were many Kangs in Guanzhong, but at this time, the fire Kangs It is very different from the fire kang in later generations. The ventilation condition is not very good. One accidentally filled the room with smoke, and the burning rate of firewood is not good. The smoke alone does not heat the kang, so people use braziers in the room to keep warm at night, and the palace Rich and wealthy families use fireplaces that were also invented in the Shang Dynasty and can conduct smoke and charcoal poison.
"Go back to the chief manager!" The young craftsman named Zhang Zhong said with his hands: "When the common people saw the firewood stove in the workshop, they thought of the kang at home. Later, they worked with several seniors to build this kind of kang. They did not dare to lead this alone. achievement."
But the engineer Wang Cong standing aside shook his head and said: "General manager, Zhang Zhong provided the idea, and the other people just built it based on his idea. Without him, no one else would be able to build this kind of stove-like stove. kang."
"Have you tried it? How's the effect?"
"I tried it, and the fuel used was poisonous charcoal, and the effect was quite good." Wang Cong said excitedly: "General Manager, at this time of year, the north is full of ice and snow, and many old, weak, sick and disabled people freeze to death every year. , if this new kang that can burn charcoal is extended to the entire north, the future situation will definitely be greatly improved."
"What Wang Gongcao said is absolutely true." Yang Ji nodded and said to Zhang Zhong: "Our Sui Dynasty has always rewarded meritorious service. I wonder if you would like to become an official?"
"Become an official?" Zhang Zhong and Wang Cong were both shocked at the same time and looked at Yang Ji in disbelief. Although the Sui Dynasty valued craftsmen and established the Ministry of Works, Taifu Temple and the Fourth Supervisor specifically in charge of forging and construction, all officials were selected When Yang Ji said that he was a scholar, not a craftsman, it meant that craftsmen could also be officials?
"Don't be too excited. Although you are said to be an official, you don't have much rights." Yang Ji said with a smile: "I plan to set up a Tiangong Office in Workshop City to specialize in the research and development of armaments and technology that benefits the people. All research will benefit the military and people's livelihood. Those who improve existing technologies will receive corresponding rewards. However, this Tiangong Department is directly subordinate to the General Administration and does not have any political rights. Zhang Zhong has a flexible mind, understands writing, and can draw drawings. He is temporarily appointed as the director of the Department. For this position, the salary is comparable to that of a county magistrate, two hundred dan per year."
Although he had no real rights, and his salary of two hundred dan was nothing in front of the court officials, Yang Ji's attitude of approving the craftsmen made Zhang Zhong excited. He bowed and saluted: "Thank you, Chief Manager, the common people will work hard." Research more items to come out.”
"A single tree cannot make a forest. After all, a person's energy is limited. Even if he spends his whole life, he may not be able to create a decent good item. Your mission is mainly to gather everyone's wisdom. If you meet craftsmen with ideas, you can recruit them. Enter the Tiange Department and encourage everyone to improve existing technologies to make various technologies better, more sophisticated, more time-saving, and more labor-saving." Yang Ji thought for a while and then ordered: "As for the Kaitian Department, just Established within Workshop City."
"The common people understand." Although the Tiangong Bureau was not an official of the imperial court and was even a private soldier, even this was enough to make Zhang Zhong excited and dedicated his life to Yang Ji.
"Do a good job!" Yang Ji patted Zhang Zhong on the shoulder and said to Wang Cong: "Since you said this new kang is effective, first organize a group of craftsmen to help build it for the people who need to keep out the cold."
Wang Cong smiled and said: "To be honest with the chief manager, I have already done this in my humble position. So far, I have built more than 300 new kangs, which are well received."
"That's good!" Yang Ji nodded, pondered for a while, and then said: "Relying on official power alone is still too slow; after we go down, we will immediately recruit private craftsmen to participate, and let them learn new kang technology while helping. As long as there are more craftsmen who understand the new Kang technology, it will spread faster. One more bed built this year can save a family from the cold."
"Yes!" The two of them bowed their hands to Yang Ji with serious faces and left.
"The general manager plans to activate the Mo family?" Yu Shinan, who had returned, sat silently at the bottom. When the two left, he asked aloud.
"As long as there are people, there will be all kinds of disputes. The Mohists' ideas of universal love and non-aggression, and no king breaking the rules are really too idealistic. This world lacks the soil for their survival."
In modern terms, Mohism advocates truth, goodness and beauty, which have many overlaps with Confucianism. However, human nature is selfish, how can everyone become a moral saint? Therefore, although the rule of virtue advocated by Mohism and Confucianism is good, it still requires laws to restrain people's behavior.
Although "Mo workers" were famous all over the world at the time, it would be nonsense to classify all craftsmen as Mohists. After all, most of the crafts of this era originated from daily life and were passed down from generation to generation by craftsmen through word of mouth. They can't even read a few Chinese characters, how can they be expected to inherit Mohist teachings?
"Besides, how can there be any real Confucians, Mohists, Legalists, or military strategists nowadays?" Yang Ji smiled and said to Yu Shinan, "Take me for example. I am not only literate and knowledgeable about law, but I also know some military arts, martial arts, and political skills. I know a little bit about Taoism, crafts and music. What kind of family do you think I am? And you, what kind of family do you think you are?"
"If you think about it carefully, it's really hard to tell the difference." Yu Shinan smiled.
"By the way, Bo Shi!" Yang Ji said to Yu Shinan again: "Tuyuhun will soon realize the dangers of long-term confrontation and will definitely not follow our routine. Maybe there will be a war. At the strategic point of the confrontation, Prepare more supplies in case of emergencies."
Gao Jiong Lao'er held the post of chief historian, but his main job was to be the envoy to the Western Regions, and he did not do what the governor of Liang should do. Therefore, Yu Shinan, the leader of the six Cao Cao, naturally shouldered the responsibility of the chief historian, and was involved in everything related to government affairs and military affairs. He has to take care of all logistics-related matters. As for Sima Yinshishi, he is only responsible for leading troops, training troops, and fighting. But when Yang Ji said this, Yu Shinan was angered.
"General Manager, you are kidding. We fought in Liangzhou in the first half of the year and resettled the immigrants in the second half. The food and tents provided by the court were all taken to the resettlement sites in Tingzhou, Yizhou, Hehuang and other places. There was not even one or two Years have passed, and there is simply no way to collect them; there are still nearly 100,000 prisoners, and they consume countless amounts every day. I don’t have a single grain of rice to spare. How can I have any food supplies?”
"Are you out of food again?" Yang Ji scratched his head in annoyance. It seemed that he had not had enough food and grass since he took over as the governor and general manager of Liangzhou. He asked, "The food and materials provided by the imperial court have not been used up yet, right?"
"It has not been used up now, but we must reserve it. If this batch of materials is used for military purposes, hundreds of thousands of immigrants and nearly 100,000 prisoners will have no food to eat. Without food, they will riot." Yu Shinan said. He looked at Yang Ji with a sad face, thinking that Yu Shinan, who had always been known as a gentleman, had become a well-known and hated "beggar" in the capital because he was ordered to cry for poverty once. Yang Ji had lost his reputation all his life. It was destroyed, and if he wanted supplies now, he would have no choice but to sell himself.
Yang Ji said: "The two million stones provided by the imperial court are only emergency supplies this year. When spring comes, we will move to Guangtongcang and Taicang."
Yang Ji could also understand Yu Shinan's difficulties. The two million shi of food aided by the imperial court seemed like a lot, but based on the calculation of more than 200,000 households and one million immigrants, it was only one shi per capita; one shi was one hundred in the Sui Dynasty. Twenty kilograms is one hundred and sixty kilograms in later generations. If the daily consumption is calculated one by one, the pressure on people's livelihood in Liangzhou can be said to be as heavy as Mount Tai. This is also the reason why Yang Jian promised to "move if it is not enough".
The officials of Liangzhou, large and small, kept the various resettlement places from major chaos. This was already a remarkable achievement that amazed the whole court. How could Yang Ji ask for more? Hoping for more?
But if Yang Jian's idea of relocating 40 to 50 households is completed in recent years, Liangzhou may have to be a poor man for a few more years.
"So?" Yu Shinan breathed a sigh of relief.
"No matter how poor you are, you can't starve the army. No matter how hungry you are, you can't starve the army. You first give some food to the army on the border as a reserve food." When Yang Ji said this, he said to Yu Shinan with ill intentions: "You can't do it again after the new year." Lead a team to the capital to cry poverty, and then move food from Guanzhong."
Yu Shinan's face was as black as ink, he cupped his hands angrily and said: "Here!"
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