From Shanyang, Huai'an Prefecture to Guazhou, Yangzhou Prefecture, this section of the Grand Canal is the famous Hangou.
Hangou connects the Huaihe River and the Yangtze River and has a long history.
During the Spring and Autumn Period, the State of Wu dug Hangou.
Emperor Yang of the Later Sui Dynasty "sent more than 100,000 Huainan people to open Hangou from Shanyang to Yangjiang".
The existence of this river makes Huai'an Prefecture and Yangzhou Prefecture become important military areas where "the south must be conquered and then enterprising and resourceful, and the north must be conquered and then the pay and transportation will be unimpeded". Whether it is the Northern Expedition or the Southern Expedition, this place cannot be bypassed.
Gu Zhengchen stood at the bow of the boat, looking at the ancient river channel and the willow trees of unknown age on the embankment, with a slight smile on his lips.
Liang Jiajun stepped forward, put his hands behind his back, and said with emotion: "Once the long river of thousands of miles opens, the waves of the Sui Dynasty will come for nine days. The golden sail has not left the war, and the melancholy dragon boat will not return! It is a pity that Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty perished because of his tyranny."
Gu Zhengchen glanced at Liang Jiajun and pointed to the river: "In the late Tang Dynasty, there was a poet Pi Rixiu who once stood on the boat and sighed. He wrote, 'This is the river that has led to the death of the Sui Dynasty, and it has never been connected to the waves for thousands of miles. If there is no water palace, Doesn’t Brother Liang think that the poem "On the dragon boat incident, Yu and Yu did not have many merits" is quite reasonable?"
Liang Jiajun waved his hand and said seriously: "I would rather not have this river and thousands of people would be happy."
Gu Zhengchen smiled calmly and did not argue again.
In Liang Jiajun's opinion, saving people's resources and recuperating is the best way. After all, countless people died, countless money was spent, and an entire dynasty was buried with the river construction. It was really not a good thing.
He could not see how much convenience this river had left for future generations, how much wealth it had provided, how many people it had supported, how many dynasties it had supported, how many barriers between the north and the south had been eliminated, etc.
While enjoying the convenience of the Grand Canal, he mocked Emperor Yang of Sui who built the Grand Canal.
There are not a few such people.
At this moment, on the official road behind Liuliu in the east embankment, another group of post envoys rushed past, shouting loudly and raising their whips.
"Which batch of messengers is this?"
Liang Jiajun was a little surprised.
Gu Zhengchen looked at the dust swirling in the distance and said softly: "The second one."
Liang Jiajun said worriedly: "Something big must have happened. When we left Shanyang, there were noises in the city. Could it be related to this matter?"
Gu Zhengchen shook his head and simply replied: "I don't know."
The boat had only been sailing for half an hour when another messenger ran past from behind the embankment. Such frequent messengers made everyone on the boat a little uneasy, and they all discussed and speculated.
"There must be a military situation in the north, so the post messengers are constantly galloping."
"Otherwise, maybe there was a flood somewhere."
"You are all wrong. This should be the one from Zhongdu who delivers the good news..."
"What do you mean, brother?"
"Haven't you heard that after three years of construction in Zhongdu, the imperial city and the walls of the Forbidden City have been completed? The post messengers delivered the good news one after another, including Fengyang guards, Fengyang officials, and construction officials. Who did not need to be dispatched? People are congratulating themselves, but there may be more messengers. You see, that is not the fourth wave of messengers. This should be to celebrate the completion of the Zhongdu Meritorious Minister Temple and the City God Temple..."
Gu Zhengchen looked at the middle-aged man in a loose white robe who was talking eloquently. This man was somewhat wealthy and seemed to know a lot about the affairs of the capital.
But he was wrong, these emissaries were definitely not sent by Zhongdu.
If you are a post envoy from Zhongdu, there is no need to make a big circle and go straight to Chuzhou by land. You can cross the river from Jiangpu to Jinling. There is no need to come near Shanyang.
Obviously, these emissaries came to report about the "salt disciples".
The prefect's Yamen must report, and the Water Transport Office must also report. Dahe Guard has garrison duties and must report. There should also be the Salt Transportation Envoy Department of Lianghuaidu. After all, the salt disciples come from salt households, and the Salt Transportation Envoy of Lianghuaidu You have to make a statement and explain the situation.
Lao Zhu, the salt disciples who do all kinds of evil have provoked the majesty of the imperial court. Should you issue an edict to strictly investigate the salt disciples and bring peace to the canal? Should we send a few censors to see the lives of salt households and find ways to prevent them from becoming salt disciples?
Like a barbaric chess spectator, Gu Zhengchen suddenly threw a chess piece on the chessboard in the Ming Dynasty officialdom.
Inconspicuous, but deadly.
Two days later, Jinling, Zhongshu Province.
Hu Weiyong closed a memorial, picked up the cold tea cup, took a sip, and said lightly: "The tea is cool when people are gone, but the tea will be cold when people are here."
After hearing this, Feng Mian, the political counselor, was immediately startled. He quickly sent someone to make a pot of tea again. After taking it, he personally brought it to Hu Weiyong's desk: "Prime Minister Hu, the heat has not completely faded. Drinking cold tea is not good for you." Your health is always not good.”
Hu Weiyong took a deep look at Feng Mian and took the tea bowl: "I heard that Uncle Chengyi has left and is coming to Jinling to plead guilty. Feng Shenzheng, do you think the emperor will forgive him?"
Feng Mian put away the cold tea bowl and said humbly: "The emperor has decreed that taking away Chengyi Bo's salary is equivalent to taking away his title. It can be seen that talking about foreign kingship angered the emperor, even if Chengyi Bo came It’s hard to escape Jinling’s confession. It’s just..."
"Just what?"
Hu Weiyong's face darkened.
Feng Mian quickly said: "It's just that he has high sincerity, has many connections in the court, and has followed the emperor for many years. Thinking of his old friendship, he may be open to the public."
"Yeah?"
Hu Weiyong frowned slightly.
Feng Mian said cautiously: "Prime Minister Hu, the emperor is leaving Huaiyou..."
Hu Weiyong stared at Feng Mian.
What this person said makes sense. The emperor was born in Huaiyou, in the old Zhu family. Even a piece of land was not named Zhu, let alone any royal aura or dragon vein. Yet he could become the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the most respected person in the Nine-Five-Year Plan. , in his heart, does he really believe in Wang Qi?
Attacking Liu Bowen by talking about foreign kingship made the emperor angry, but he only took away his salary. This was equivalent to giving a warning, which was far from achieving the result he wanted.
Thinking about it this way, the emperor was just taking advantage of the situation and had no intention of getting rid of Liu Bowen.
Once Liu Bowen enters Beijing, he may not be able to escape intact.
"Prime Minister Hu, there is an urgent report from Huai'an Mansion!"
Chen Ning, the censor Zhongcheng, took the document and started shouting as soon as he arrived in the palace.
"What's the matter?"
Hu Weiyong asked majestically.
Chen Ning handed over the paperwork, wiped the sweat from his forehead, cursed the hot weather, and then said: "The Salt Disciples plotted rebellion and attacked the Huai'an Magistrate's Yamen and the Water Transport Office! They threatened that if Zhang Sanxiu, the leader of the Salt Disciples, was not released, We will riot on the canal and cut off the north-south water transportation!"
Hu Weiyong read the document and smiled at the corner of his majestic mouth: "Salt disciples, haha, these little thieves dare to threaten the imperial water transportation. They really don't know how to live or die! Even if they have a hundred courages, do they dare to attack the water transportation ships?"
Chen Ning fanned the wind with his hand and said with some urgency: "Prime Minister Hu, they have already attacked the prefect's Yamen and the Water Transportation Office, and they used firearms! These guys must be the remnants of Zhang Shicheng's army. We should not take it lightly. If If Huai'an Mansion is in chaos, the whole world will be shaken."
Hu Weiyong took a deep breath and began to seriously consider the seriousness of this matter.
Chen Ning's words are not without reason. When Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhang Shicheng fought for the world, they suffered a lot from Zhang Shicheng's firearms. When they finally defeated Jiangcheng (Suzhou), they concentrated all their main forces and fought for ten months. One of the reasons was Zhang Shicheng's. The army is equipped with many firearms.
Zhang Shicheng, the leader of the old salt gang, has only been dead for six years. Are these people starting to stir up trouble again?
Firearms?
This matter cannot be underestimated.
Huagai Palace.
Yan Xizhe, the Minister of Household Affairs, knelt down and reported: "The prefectures of Hejian, Kaifeng, Yan'an, and Peiping suffered from locust plagues in the summer. Fenzhou, Shanxi Province encountered drought again, and the production in various places was reduced, and the fields were not able to be harvested. I sincerely request your majesty to exempt them from the land tax."
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded majestically and dipped the brush in his hand into ink: "All places are suffering from disasters, and my heart is burning. According to your words, the people in these places will be exempted from taxes. Order the localities to report the disaster truthfully, if the people have nothing to eat , we should open warehouses to put food in, provide relief to the people, and provide compensation, and we must not become refugees and starve to death on the road!"
Yan Xizhe thanked him: "Your Majesty loves the people like a son, which is the blessing of the people."
Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his head, wrote a few words on the memorial, closed it and said: "They are all my people, how can we not show mercy. Now that you are here, there is another matter that needs to be coordinated by the Ministry of Household Affairs."
Yan Xizhe carefully raised his head and looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang put the memorial aside: "It is now August, and the guards of Henan and Shenwu are still short of winter clothing. The Ministry of Household Affairs should allocate 20,000 sets of cotton-padded clothes and other items."
"I accept the decree."
Yan Xizhe did not hesitate.
Zhu Yuanzhang raised his hand: "Go down."
As soon as Yan Xizhe walked out of the Huagai Hall, he ran into Hu Weiyong and Chen Ning and bowed.
Hu Weiyong looked at Yan Xizhe Gujing Wubo's face and asked, "How is your Majesty's mood today?"
"Back to Prime Minister Hu, I don't dare to look at His Majesty's face. I don't know how he feels."
Yan Xizhe had a cold face.
Hu Weiyong's eyes froze slightly. Others call him Hu Xiang, and he is the prime minister. But you, Yan Xizhe, call me Hu Right Xiang. Is this a reminder to me that there is a left prime minister above me, Xu Da?
Although Xu Da is the left prime minister, so what, he is not in Jinling now, but in Peiping!
And you, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, why do you go to the Huagai Hall when you have nothing to do? When you have something to do, go to the Zhongshu Province to discuss matters. How can you bypass me, the right minister, and go directly to the emperor? Liu Bowen looks down on me because of his merits. Who do you Yan Xizhe look down on me?
Throw your sleeves away.
Hu Weiyong and Chen Ning entered the palace.
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard that the salt disciples were causing trouble, he was so bold that he blew up the walls of the prefect's Yamen and the Water Transport Office. He slammed the case on the table angrily and said: "This matter must be investigated strictly! Zhang Sanxiu was tortured and asked to reveal his accomplices. He ordered the prefect of Huai'an, Ren Guangzu, to unite Dahe. Commander Wei, go all out to suppress the salt disciples! Once confirmed, we will never tolerate it!"
"I accept the decree."
Hu Weiyong agreed.
Zhu Yuanzhang's anger was hard to get rid of, and these days were really unstable. First, there was a rebellion by the sergeants in Qingtian County, then there was a rebellion by bandits in Danzhou, Guangdong, and now there is the incident of the salt disciples!
"Anything else?"
Seeing that Hu Weiyong was not leaving, Zhu Yuanzhang asked.
Hu Weiyong solemnly said: "Your Majesty, does the case of the Salt Disciples need to be expanded? I speculate that the Salt Disciples are most likely the remnants of Zhang Shicheng who caused the rebellion. If this is true, should Suzhou also investigate?"
Zhu Yuanzhang stared at the profound and experienced Hu Weiyong, then picked up the document and took a look at it: "This matter happened in Huai'an Prefecture, so there is no need to check Suzhou Prefecture."
Hu Weiyong responded, bowed and exited.
Zhu Yuanzhang threw the document to the ground and said coldly: "I just have some quarrel with Wei Guan, the prefect of Suzhou, so I want to take action. Hu Weiyong, you are still too impatient!"
