When agriculture dominates, the importance of water conservancy construction becomes particularly prominent. Because manpower is limited, farmland irrigation can only rely on canals. After all, there are not even water pipes. Even if there is a big river, but there are no canals to circulate it, irrigating the farmland is also very labor-intensive.
This is an objective fact, so Zhu Houzhao must respect it. All dynasties have also placed agriculture in a very important position. The topic after the complex is river engineering, which also has this meaning.
Civil servants also liked this trick, and the second day of the court meeting was much more lively and exciting than the first day. Zhu Houzhao does not find it boring, because this is related to the real interests of many farmers.
Not only that, he would also ask Wang Qiong with great interest. In the ninth year of Hongzhi's reign, Wang Qiong managed the river as a doctor from the Ministry of Industry, which was quite effective.
It's a pity that in this matter, apart from giving a little money, all he can do is continue to give money.
And if the emperor is willing to give money, the atmosphere of the court meeting will be quite good.
The only problem was that only Shandong picked the peaches, because the emperor finally allocated the money to Shandong.
Zhu Houzhao's considerations were not complicated. Both Zhejiang and Yingtianfu were needed, but these places were wealthy. And Liu Jian looks like someone who can make good use of these coins.
In addition, Liu Jian is the former chief minister after all, and he is extremely senior. He is given the respect of the emperor, and at the same time, he can silence many people to the greatest extent.
As an emperor, the stability and balance of the court must also be one of the important factors he considers.
There were hundreds of officials at the court meeting. Liu Jian was able to win these 400,000 taels of silver. He did not expect it. He had mixed feelings in his heart and was unwilling to leave for a long time at the end of the court meeting on the second day.
Zhu Houzhao looked at the old man's figure, sighed slightly, temporarily put aside the beauty of Yongshou Palace, and ordered his surroundings: "Invite him in."
Jin Gui was still there at this time, so he took the order, "obey the order."
It is getting late, the setting sun is like blood, and the edge of the Forbidden City merges with the sky, depicting a different scenery. The shadow of the old man in front of the palace stretched extremely long, and the figure of the middle-aged man slowly approached.
"Mr. Xixian, your Majesty invites you."
Liu Jian raised his head slightly. Because of his age, the bags under his eyes were swollen, but Shuangtong was still spirited, "...Thank you very much."
The old man raised his hands to straighten his official hat, and then took a step forward.
Jin Gui also admires Liu Jian from the bottom of his heart. After all, from the first assistant to the chief envoy, most people cannot accept such a change. They will either continue to be the first assistant or I will quit.
But Liu Jian didn't. Official circles have always known that when Liu Jian entered the Hanlin Academy, he didn't care about the relationship between people and did what he should do every day seriously, so he was called Liu Shitou.
For decades, he still did what an official should do after being demoted.
In today's world, it is quite difficult.
"Mr. Xixian,"
Liu Jian stopped and glanced sideways at the man walking up, "Attendant Jin,"
"Mr. Xixian is in Shandong to protect the people, protect the fields, and educate the countryside. The people depend on this for their safety. Your Majesty is fully aware of it. A wise king and a wise minister are a story that will last forever. Why doesn't Mr. Xixian fulfill this story?"
This is an expression of goodwill. It's a story that will last forever, why not? It's because they have different personalities. Jin Gui wanted Liu Jian to let go of his temper.
"Everyone says it's a pity, but how can one explain things in this world? I don't want fame, fortune, or fortune, that's all."
After all, Liu Jian was about to be buried, and it was not anyone else's turn to advise him on what to do. He does not regret what he has done, and he will not go before the emperor to overturn his past decisions just to get promoted.
One thing is one thing.
He came today just because of the river labor payment.
"Weak minister, Liu Jian, the governor of Shandong, comes to pay homage to Your Majesty. Long live, long live, long live!"
Zhu Houzhao turned around and said, "Everyone has left, why did you stay?"
"For the people of Shandong, thank God for the grace!"
The people of Shandong are also the emperor's people, why should he come to thank him, but Zhu Houzhao can understand his intention.
"Give me a seat."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
If I remember correctly, Liu Jian lived to be ninety years old and lived until the Jiajing period. So although he is now seventy-three or four years old, he still has more than ten years of political life.
But Zhu Houzhao never thought about calling him back to the cabinet again.
First of all, once such an old man who has been a veteran of four dynasties returns to the cabinet, he will be worshiped as an 'ancestor', and he will be given face in everything. Why bother driving everyone out?
Secondly, it is extremely difficult for a person to change his personality when he is over 70 years old. If there is any conflict then, what will he do as the emperor and get rid of it? It is really inappropriate to change orders in the morning and at night.
Therefore, Liu Jian may always be in Shandong. Shandong does not need a governor for the time being, so the governor is the end of Liu Jian.
Because he did not change, it can be interpreted as a good job and recognition of him, so he was kept at the helm.
If such an important minister is replaced, he will not be transferred from the local area to the capital, but will be transferred to another level...or not to join the cabinet. This will show that the emperor is not broad-minded enough.
Therefore, against Liu Jian, it is not wise to move but not move, move but not move.
Liu Jian might have thought of it, might not have thought of it, or might not have cared about it. Zhu Houzhao couldn't confirm this, and he didn't know if the old man had any complaints against him.
Saying yes seems a bit dismissive, saying no seems a bit untrue.
He may never figure this out.
"Shandong governs the six prefectures of Jinan, Yanzhou, Dongchang, Dengzhou, Qingzhou and Laizhou. There are millions of people living under it. This time you are promoted to governor, and I will entrust all these people to you. Mr. Liu, Shandong This is the place where the Confucius Temple is located, so I hope you will be more attentive. In addition, I can rest assured that the money from Hegong is in your hands."
"The three western prefectures of Jinan, Yanzhou, and Dongchang are adjacent to the canal and are relatively wealthy. The three eastern prefectures of Dengzhou, Qingzhou, and Laizhou must not forget it. Since returning to office in the first year of Zhengde, Mr. Liu must deeply understand the people's concerns, Effectively relieve the suffering of the people and turn Shandong into a paradise on earth!"
"Your Majesty asked me, how dare I look away for a moment? I just have a suggestion, and I hope your Majesty will allow it."
"you say."
"The three eastern prefectures are hilly and the terrain is undulating, so land transportation remains unchanged. Especially in the east, Deng and Lai Erfu are facing the sea on three sides. Although it is connected to Qingzhou in the west, it is blocked by mountains and ridges. Birds pass through sheep's intestines, and cars cannot accommodate rails. People can't travel. Then trade is blocked, and merchants rarely come. Even if there is surplus food, it cannot be sold to other territories, and the funds are expensive. I believe that in order to relieve the poverty of the three prefectures in the East, trade must be unblocked, and to unblock trade, one must open the sea. , and the second is to open a canal.”
"Canal? What canal?"
"Jiao Lai Canal."
It's not possible to open a canal. It's all mountains. How much money would it cost to open a canal? Zhu Houzhao did not want to be Yang Guang.
"Oh... So Mr. Liu's intention is to open ports in Dengzhou and Laizhou."
"Your Majesty is holy."
“After the opening of the port, where will we trade with you?”
"The land traffic between Deng and Liao will remain unchanged, but once the sea ban is lifted, both Deng and Liao can be connected. If Deng and Liao are not restricted, there will be an endless flow of merchants. Not only between Deng and Liao, but also between Deng and Liao. By conquering the high and low, people can become rich. That is to say, people from Qing Dynasty to Huai and Si can trade with Deng Liao. Then Dengzhou will become a big city...why bother with the lack of Yin family registration and insufficient Fang Yu? ?”
The so-called Deng and Liao actually refer to today's Yantai and Dalian areas. When land transportation remains unchanged, if there is an opening at sea, it will actually work.
Because the transportation conditions in ancient times were limited and waterways were important transportation channels, large cities in ancient times were built on canals, such as Yangzhou and Huai'an.
After entering modern times, human transportation methods underwent a huge revolution, so canal cities declined.
"Dengzhou is as big as an urn, and the common people are at the bottom of the cauldron. The price of millet is worth a gold, but the price of millet is fed to dogs and hogs. The mature people escape because of food, and the wasteland starves to death." Liu Jian read it as a ballad.
"Mr. Liu, don't worry too much. Since we have allowed the opening of ports in Ningbo, Fuzhou and Quanzhou, there is no reason why we should not allow the opening of ports in Dengzhou and Liaodong. I also often tell the governors of various places that as long as they are beneficial to the people's livelihood, all measures will be You can mention it. You said that you want to open a sea route to make up for the lack of land access in the three prefectures of the East. I think it can be done."
Liu Jianxing knelt down and saluted, "Your Majesty is truly my wise and benevolent king!"
Zhu Houzhao went to help him up. After all, there were more than seventy people.
"Mr. Liu, Shandong is entrusted to you. I have always hoped that the people of the Ming Dynasty will become rich. They say that I am rich from all over the world. The Ming Dynasty is a country in the middle, but the people in the country in the middle have no clothes to wear and no food to eat. I am a common citizen, but I don’t want to be a common citizen in such a country. Shandong has a large land and a large number of people, and there is still no shortage of arable land. When Mr. Liu governs Shandong, he must put the people first, encourage farming and business, promote education, and punish corruption. After a hundred years, there was Confucius first and then Liu in Shandong, and Mr. Liu did not disgrace the reputation of a disciple of Confucius."
Liu Jian didn't dare to think too much about Confucius first, but when Zhu Houzhao said it, he was a little tempted. He doesn't care about glory and wealth, but he does care about this.
"In just eight words, serving as an official will benefit the whole country."
Liu Jian looked at the emperor. He seemed to be hallucinating. These words seemed to be said to him by the young prince. At the beginning, the young prince often said that he would ask for orders for the people.
"Your Majesty, you deserve the name of a wise king."
…
Liu Jian was satisfied with this, because the emperor really cared about the people.
