Duan Lun hesitated for a moment, then asked:
"Mr. Qin County, why is the cost of this cement road so high?"
Qin Ming thought for a while and said:
"In addition to building roads, we also need to build and dig half-foot-wide sewers on both sides of the road to prevent water accumulation on the road in rainy days. And this is only the money for road construction. If the road needs to occupy people's farmland, the occupied land must be used. It’s a big expense to buy the land.”
"Wouldn't it be more expensive to build this road? Is anyone really willing to pay to build it?"
Fang Xuanling said with a smile:
"You don't know something, Mr. Ji Guo. The cement road is flat and strong. If it is really built, the time from Lantian to Chang'an will be shortened by one to two times."
"With such convenience, those merchants are naturally willing to spend some money to buy this toll. If our Qin County man is more sinister, maybe he can earn back the money for road construction in three or four years!"
Duan Lun couldn't help being surprised when he heard this. The time was shortened by half. Doesn't this mean that with this cement road, it can be reached from Lantian County to Chang'an in less than half an hour by horseback?
So Luoyang is 800 miles from Chang'an. Doesn't it mean that after the Jingluo Road is repaired, it is expected to be possible to travel back and forth in one day?
Oh my God!
What does this concrete road look like?
"Mr. Qin County, can I go to your house and take a look at the cement road?"
Qin Ming nodded and said:
"Of course it's possible."
At this time, Li Er, who had been silent all the time, suddenly said:
"Qin Aiqing! How about this? Tomorrow, you send someone to deliver a batch of cement to the palace. I will replace the stone road from Zhuque Gate to the palace city with a cement road. In this way, the ministers will naturally know about the cement The road is better."
When Qin Ming heard this, he cupped his hands and said:
"promise."
After speaking, Li Er turned to Duan Lun and said:
"Duan Qing's family, after the morning court tomorrow, take a few craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry who are proficient in building roads and bridges to the Qin Ming Mansion. Ask him to arrange for someone to tell the craftsmen how to build cement roads."
"promise."
"Okay, now let's talk about business."
The expressions of everyone in the hall immediately became solemn after hearing this.
Li Shimin glanced at everyone in the hall, cleared his throat and said:
"After the cement road in the palace is repaired, I will announce the establishment of a new department called the Road and Bridge Department on the first day of next month."
"The Roads and Bridges Department is responsible for the bidding of cement roads and bridges across Datang (Qin Ming has already explained this term to everyone in the plan), supervision, and various later supervisions."
"The Roads and Bridges Department was placed under the Ministry of Industry, with one fifth-rank director and two fifth-rank deputy directors. I believe you already know the importance of cement roads to Datang, so the functions of the Roads and Bridges Department are particularly important.
Next, I need you to work together with me to work out the specific functions and some detailed rules of the Roads and Bridges Department. "
Everyone said: "No."
...
Xu Shi two quarters
When Queen Changsun led a group of palace maids to the Manlu Palace, Li Er and others were still discussing enthusiastically.
As for his two sons, they knelt down and carefully recorded the words of several people.
Seeing this scene, Queen Changsun smiled happily.
At the end of the Youshi period, Queen Changsun saw that His Majesty did not return to the Li Zheng Palace, so she sent her personal maid Yue Chan to the Ganlu Palace to inquire whether His Majesty had gone to other concubines.
As a result, Yuechan came back and told her that His Majesty was discussing matters with the ministers.
So Empress Changsun immediately arranged for the Shang Food Bureau to cook some food and bring it over.
"I have met your Majesty."
Li Shimin smiled and said:
"Hey, Queen, why are you here?"
Empress Changsun smiled sweetly and said:
"I heard that Your Majesty and several ministers have been discussing state affairs since Shen Shi, and they haven't eaten yet, so I asked the Shangshi Bureau to make some food."
It was okay if the eldest grandson didn't say it, but Li Shimin really felt a little hungry when he did.
He smiled and said:
"The Queen is interested."
Everyone in the hall stood up and saluted the eldest grandson to say hello.
Soon, due to the busy work of all the palace maids and eunuchs, the scene in the Manna Palace quickly changed.
Everyone sat down one after another. Qin Ming had the lowest status in the room, so he was the farthest away from Li Er and the Queen.
Li Er raised his glass and smiled:
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work. I'd like to give you a toast."
After hearing this, everyone raised their glasses and said:
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
After saying this, everyone drank it all.
Qin Ming was very hungry for a long time. After everyone started using their chopsticks, he immersed himself in eating.
At this moment, Li Chengqian, who was sitting under Li Shimin, stood up, saluted Li Er and said:
"Father, I want to go to the male residence in Qin County tomorrow to see the cement road and the rice that was planted a few days ago. I hope my father will give me permission."
Upon hearing this, Li Tai quickly put down the leg of lamb in his hand, stood up and bowed:
"Father, mother, queen, and sons and ministers also want to take a look."
Li Shimin nodded slightly when he heard this.
"Yes, I'm sure."
Li Chengqian and Li Tai were delighted when they heard this and said with a smile:
"Thank you, Father."
After saying that, the two of them smiled at each other and sat down.
Empress Changsun is very supportive of the idea of two sons. In her opinion, Qin Ming is the best choice in terms of talent and ability.
She even decided to marry Yu Zhang to Qin Ming because she was optimistic about Qin Ming's talents and wanted to win over Qin Ming through marriage.
At the same time, I also hope that through this relationship, Qin Ming can assist the prince well in the future.
So now that she saw the prince and the king of Yue taking the initiative to get close to Qin Ming, she was very happy.
[It’s such a pity that Chong’er kid, why did he have a conflict with Qin Ming? For nothing, the Changsun family has lost a helping hand! No, we have to find a way to ease the relationship between the two families. 】
Thinking of this, Queen Changsun put down her chopsticks and said to Qin Ming who was immersed in eating in the distance:
"Good nephew."
As soon as he said this, the hall suddenly became quiet. You must know that Queen Changsun usually pays the most attention to palace etiquette.
To be able to call her "nephew" on such an occasion shows Qin Ming's status in her heart.
Upon hearing this, Qin Ming quickly stood up, bowed and said:
"I'm here."
Empress Changsun pressed her hands towards Qin Ming and said:
"My dear nephew, there is no need to be so formal. Sit down quickly."
Qin Ming sat down as he was told, with his head lowered, neither talking nor eating.
Queen Changsun sighed inwardly when she saw this. Sure enough, the child still had complaints in her heart.
[Also, if it were someone who was almost assassinated, it would be impossible for anyone not to complain in their heart! After all, I was also at fault for this matter. If I hadn't promised Yuzhang to Qin Ming in advance, maybe something like that wouldn't have happened. 】
Queen Changsun thought for a moment, then stood up and walked to Qin Ming. In front of everyone, she wanted to salute and apologize to Qin Ming.
Qin Ming had been paying attention to the movements of his eldest grandson. When he saw her coming down to salute him, he quickly stood up and said to himself:
"The Queen, you have defeated a humble minister!"
.......
