In the Fengtian Palace.
Zhu Yuanzhang was so perceptive that he revealed the inner thoughts of all the civil and military officials in one sentence. He was so frightened that the officials lowered their heads and did not dare to speak anymore.
But Zhu Yuanzhang did not intend to let them go like this, and said coldly to the head of the household department who had just stood up:
"Zhao Lin, why did we hear yesterday that you wrote to your family and asked them to quickly go to Yingtian with a lot of money?"
"As far as we know, aren't you from Shanxi? Your family is also a famous family in Taiyuan, Shanxi."
"What? Could it be that the gentry in Yingtian Mansion you mentioned also includes your family?"
Zhao Lin, the head of the Household Department, was so frightened that she quickly knelt on the ground and said in horror:
"Your Majesty, I asked them to come to Yingtian for other reasons, not for the expressway."
"Yeah?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes became colder and colder, and he said calmly:
"Then what you said to your wife when you went to bed yesterday, why is it different from what you say now?"
"We heard that you told your wife that you must participate in this highway project this time to make a good fortune for future generations."
"Are we right or wrong?"
At this moment, Zhao Lin was so frightened that her forehead was covered with cold sweat, and her back was completely wet. She looked as if she had just been fished out of the water.
"Chen Zhao Lin...Chen Zhao Lin..."
Zhao Lin stuttered for a long time and didn't know how to defend herself. She just kept repeating her name.
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly and shouted:
"Humph, we just see that you have bad intentions and evil intentions."
"Come here, take Zhao Lin down, put her in jail, and interrogate her strictly."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, spare my life!"
Zhao Lin was so frightened that she no longer stuttered. Instead, she began to beg Zhu Yuanzhang frantically for mercy, hoping that Zhu Yuanzhang could spare her life.
At that time, Zhu Yuanzhang had an indifferent expression and just watched Zhao Lin being pulled down by two guards in front of the palace.
It was not until Zhao Lin completely disappeared in the hall that Zhu Yuanzhang slowly spoke:
"Now, who else among you is against it?"
The people who originally stood up to second the proposal slowly returned to the queue without Zhu Yuanzhang paying attention.
After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, all the civil and military officials were all silent. Who dares to offend Zhu Yuanzhang at this time? Isn't this just seeking death?
Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with satisfaction and said:
"Since no one objects, then where is the Minister of Household Affairs?"
"Immediately draw up a decree to raise money to build the highway and notify the whole country immediately, without any mistakes."
The Minister of Hubu hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to receive the order.
After receiving Zhu Yuanzhang's affirmation, Hu Weiyong was in a good mood. He also raised his hands to Zhu Yuanzhang and said:
"Your Majesty, I still need the assistance of the Minister of Industry."
"After all, only the Minister of Industry knows best about building official roads."
"If assistance is not announced, I am afraid it will be difficult to complete the construction of such an expressway."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, looked at the Minister of Industry, and asked:
"Zeng Jian, your Ministry of Industry has been assisting Hu Weiyong in the recent period and getting the expressway done first."
The Minister of Industry did not dare to disobey, so he stood up and said to Zhu Yuanzhang:
"According to the order."
With the support of Zhu Yuanzhang, Hu Weiyong later received support from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works. Although he had not yet confirmed what to do, Hu Weiyong already had a case in mind.
After the next court, a decree regarding the construction of highways was sent from Yingtian Mansion to thirteen provinces across the country.
....
Beiping Mansion, at the city gate.
"It is destined to be carried by heaven, the emperor decreed."
A place where notices were posted is now crowded with people.
There was a person at the front, dressed like a scholar, who was reading the emperor's decree loudly and explaining the meaning of this imperial decree to everyone.
"Now, in order to benefit the people, the imperial court plans to build a highway. This kind of road will greatly increase the speed of businessmen."
"In the future, merchants will greatly increase the weight and efficiency of transporting goods via highways. As a result, prices of goods across the country will surely gradually decrease."
"As for the construction of the expressway this time, the court plans to raise money from the gentry, and then after making money, return the money to the gentry according to the shares."
"As for how to make money, it is to collect tolls. This kind of highway is specially built for businessmen, but if businessmen want to pass this kind of highway, they need to pay tolls."
As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar. After all, whether it was the common people or the businessmen, this was the first time they had heard of a road that required tolls.
"However, this kind of toll is very small, and after collecting this toll, there will be no tolls on the entire highway. In total, it is not even as high as the taxes paid along the way."
The scholar is the person behind him, constantly explaining the contents of the imperial edict.
After hearing the scholar's explanation, many businessmen were already ready to take action. If it is true as the scholar said, then this highway will be really something incredible in the future.
The gentry began to make calculations in their hearts, wondering whether they could make a lot of money by making this thing.
Similar scenes in Beiping Prefecture occurred all over the country, and there was a wave of discussion about highways in all places.
Some people are still waiting and watching, while some are already on their way to the capital of Ming Dynasty, Yingtian Mansion.
"Old Liang, why are you here?"
On the pipeline from Gansu to Yingtian Mansion, a short, fat, middle-aged man dressed as a gentleman greeted him enthusiastically.
"Of course it's for the highway."
The man named Lao Liang was also mostly a gentleman. He was similar in age to the former and looked like he might be an acquaintance.
"Isn't it the same for you?"
"That's natural, but I didn't expect that there are people like me who really believe in this highway."
"Believe it, why don't you believe it? This is our Emperor Hongwu's personal decree. I must go and take a look."
"I know it's the emperor's will, but I know nothing about this highway, and I always feel unsure."
"Don't be afraid, the emperor will never cheat us. This time I brought a lot of money, just to get the shares of this expressway."
"Hahaha, if that's the case, then let's go together?"
"Let's go together!"
....
Yingtian Mansion has become more and more lively recently, all the inns are almost full, and most of these people are gentry.
Since the last time Hu Weiyong requested an edict, he asked Zhu Yuanzhang to issue an edict to publicize the construction of highways throughout the country.
Gentlemen from all over the country began to gather in Yingtian Mansion in an endless stream, and their conversations were all about the highway.
Otherwise, just ask what the highway is like.
Although these people have not started bidding yet, their contribution to Yingtian Mansion is very large.
These people gathered in Yingtian Mansion, which indeed stimulated a wave of consumption in Yingtian Mansion, especially on the Qinhuai River, which is now hard to find.
After Zhu Yuanzhang got the news, he called Hu Weiyong to the study room.
A month and a half has passed since he was last kicked out of the study room by Zhu Yuanzhang. This time, Hu Weiyong was called to the study room again by Zhu Yuanzhang, and he was still a little uneasy.
"Weiyong, how is your highway doing?"
When Zhu Yuanzhang saw Hu Weiyong, he asked straight to the point:
"Now that so many gentry have gathered in Yingtian, over time, prices in Yingtian Mansion will skyrocket."
"This is not the way to go. You have to finalize the matter as soon as possible."
"Your Majesty, the highway is almost ready."
Hu Weiyong gave Zhu Yuanzhang the preparations for this period, explained them in detail, and then said:
"There are still a few questions."
"The first one is the issue of materials. For the materials of the highway, I have not found the black materials like the emperor said."
"The second issue is the worker issue. Building highways requires a large number of workers, but it is the farming season and it is difficult for people to mobilize them."
"The third issue is how to sell the shares. I want to use an auction house to auction, but I haven't found a suitable auction house yet."
After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he thought for a moment and said:
"The first and third questions are easy to solve."
"Biao'er, go and ask your mother to come over."
Zhu Biao turned around and headed to Kunning Palace to invite Queen Ma.
Hu Weiyong was a little puzzled and didn't understand why Queen Ma was invited. After all, the emperor once said that people in the harem were not allowed to interfere in politics.
But now we are discussing national affairs, why should we invite Queen Ma?
Zhu Yuanzhang ignored the confused Hu Weiyong and continued:
"Second question, isn't it possible to first allocate some manpower from some prefectures and counties?"
Hu Weiyong said:
"It's the farming season now. If we rashly allocate manpower, I'm afraid the land in these people's homes will be uncultivated, and a year of farming will be wasted."
"The farming season generally lasts three months, which means that even if the construction of the highway is to start, it will be at least three months later."
Zhu Yuanzhang looked a little ugly. He didn't expect that the Ming Dynasty, a huge country, even built a highway, lacked manpower.
While the two were discussing, Queen Ma and Zhu Biao slowly walked into the study room.
"Chongba, you called me here so urgently, what happened?"
Zhu Yuanzhang said:
"Sister, you came just in time."
"Isn't Hu Weiyong going to sell the shares of the expressway? Since there is no auction house, I was wondering if you could lend your Xingyue Auction House to Hu Weiyong?"
When Hu Weiyong heard this, he was stunned.
Star and Moon Auction House?
This is the largest auction house in Yingtian Mansion, bar none.
Hu Weiyong originally wanted to rent this auction house to auction shares of the expressway.
But the price charged by this auction house was too high, and he had not yet made up his mind whether to use this auction house.
Unexpectedly, this auction house actually belongs to the Queen.
Queen Ma glanced at Hu Weiyong, then smiled and said:
"Since it's for the imperial court, it's okay."
"I will tell the director of the auction house later, and Mr. Hu can go and arrange it."
"Thank you, Queen!"
Hu Weiyong was a little excited at the moment. He didn't expect that the problem that was causing him a lot of headaches would be solved.
Zhu Yuanzhang then continued:
"Sister, you also saw the expressway back then. It seems that the material came from Li Jin's factory. It just so happens that you also have shares."
"Why don't you go discuss with Li Jin and finalize the materials?"
"It just so happens that he is sending some professional construction talents and teaching people from the Ministry of Works. This will also save trouble in the future."
Empress Ma rolled her eyes at Zhu Yuanzhang. Why didn't he do this himself? He had to ask Li Jin to discuss it.
This is clearly because he regards himself as a tool, thinking that he and Li Jin are partners, and Li Jin will be easy to talk to.
As for why Hu Weiyong was not allowed to go? This person who had impeached Li Jin had already given him a lot of face by not being beaten out by Li Jin when he went to Shanghu County.
Although Queen Ma was unhappy, she also knew that this was a matter for the country and the people, so she could only nod her head in agreement.
Zhu Yuanzhang solved two problems at once and was very satisfied.
Then, regardless of whether the harem was involved in politics or not, he directly asked the second question to Queen Ma and the others.
At this moment, Zhu Biao suddenly said:
“Why not provide relief through work?”
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up, he clapped his hands and praised:
"Biao'er is smart and reminded us with just one sentence."
"Your work-for-relief scheme is really great. We can completely follow Li Jin's plan and recruit refugees."
Li Jin, Li Jin again!
Hu Weiyong felt like he was going numb. Unexpectedly, the name he heard the most during this meeting was Li Jin's.
It seems that Li Jin is already a Jian in the Sacred Heart, and it is really difficult to bring him down.
But what is this work-for-relief policy?
Seeing the emperor's excited look, Hu Weiyong couldn't help but secretly wonder, is this another outrageous policy?
“May I ask Your Majesty, what is the meaning of work-for-relief?”
Zhu Yuanzhang explained Li Jin's theory to Hu Weiyong in detail.
After Hu Weiyong heard this, he was deeply shocked. This Li Jin was really a genius in the world, and he could even think of such a method.
Hu Weiyong thought about the prosperity of Shanghu County again, and was full of jealousy towards Li Jin.
This man is truly a genius, he can't help but manage the place with extraordinary talent, and even when he provides relief to the victims, he is unconventional and unique.
But the more this happened, the more wary Hu Weiyong became of Li Jin.
If such a person enters the court in the future, where will he be able to stand out?
Hu Weiyong, who was thinking about how to kill Li Jin, heard Zhu Yuanzhang ask:
"Wei Yong, what do you think of this method?"
"There are still many refugees in the north and south of the country. We can take advantage of this opportunity to help more victims."
"Absorb these refugees and let them make a living by working."
"After the highway construction in Yingtianfu is completed in the future, they can also go to other prefectures and counties to help other counties continue to build highways."
Zhu Yuanzhang thought this method was very good, although these people did not make a living from the land.
But being able to sell your labor and earn enough money to survive is also a way of survival.
And in the future, if these people save enough money, they can also buy a piece of land to provide for themselves until they retire.
Hu Weiyong quickly came to his senses and said to Zhu Yuanzhang:
"Reporting to your Majesty, I think this matter is feasible."
"It's just that this may drag on for a long time. After all, recruiting refugees takes time."
Zhu Yuanzhang was like a bucket of cold water poured on his head. Although the policy was good, it was still a bit slow for Zhu Yuanzhang who wanted to meet the deadline.
But Queen Ma next to her spoke softly and helped Zhu Yuanzhang solve his dilemma.
