Chapter 53 Planning Department
He Xi carefully looked at the city streets above and the gun positions on the city wall, especially many of the gun positions protruding from the wall, giving it a somewhat fortress-like feel.
In fact, the design idea of ancient bastions has been around for a long time. The only problem is that there are ideas and ideas, but they are not implemented in mathematics. Therefore, the effect is not very good. Without rigorous technology, there would still be blind spots for firepower.
Not to mention, when long-range weapons were not too developed, the effect of this convex design was limited, and it was just one of many city defenses. It seems that He Xi's arrival has greatly affected the development of firearms. At least cannons are nothing.
Therefore, the city also needs to be protected from artillery.
And reflected in the design, there is a complete moat, as well as sheep and horse walls, and other defensive fortifications. As a result, the entire city became somewhat unsightly.
This may be the difference between the national temperament of the Tang, Song and Ming and Qing dynasties.
It can be seen from the ancient paintings of the Song Dynasty that when the city gate was wide open, the guard guarding the gate was lazy and drinking. There are no serious guards at all. In the ancient paintings of the Ming Dynasty, even in the prosperous Jiangnan, the gates entering and exiting the city were blocked by things like antlers and horses, and were inspected by soldiers.
The Ming generation is basically like this.
The invasion of the Yuan Dynasty and the destruction of Chinese orthodoxy still left deep cultural traces.
It's just that He Xi feels uncomfortable.
If possible, He Xi wouldn't even want the city. It’s just that he understands very well that when everyone thinks that there should be a city wall, the gain outweighs the gain by challenging everyone’s perceptions. But he didn't want the city wall to look like this. Because he knew that no matter how thick the city wall was, it couldn't stop the artillery.
If all goes well, within a hundred years, the city wall will lose its military value. He didn't want the city wall he built to be demolished just like this. If it can stay, it cannot be a historical site, so it must be magnificent and beautiful.
I don’t want the exterior walls to be zigzag.
He Xi said: "These, these, these, none of them are needed."
Whether it's a gun emplacement protruding from the city wall, a low wall outside the city, or even a small town protruding outside the city. All were denied by He Xi. From a purely military perspective, these facilities are good and serve as military support outside Beijing. And the power of the horns of Beijing city. If we don't lose a day, the enemy will not be able to attack directly under the city of Beijing, let alone the two rivers in Beijing that serve as moats. Only the rivers in the north are easiest to cut off. Easiest to attack.
And this point is the focus of defense.
Although it can't be said that it will last forever, if Kuai Fu's plan is followed, as long as there are enough troops and food, it will be difficult to capture in a few years.
But in He Xi's view, the city of Beijing is not used for fighting at all.
Naturally, none of these are needed.
Kuai Fu was a little at a loss and said: "Sir -----"
He Xi said: "The Xianyang City of the Qin Dynasty did not have city walls. Beijing is the capital of the Ming Dynasty. It cannot be majestic unless it is magnificent. Furthermore, with the imperial army, how can it be allowed for others to attack the city of Beijing? Such military measures , Needless to say. More than a hundred years later, it will no longer be like this. Hasn't Kuai Dagong been to Suzhou City?"
Kuai Fu was still a little reluctant at first. After all, he was a great craftsman who came from the war. He had built many cities, and almost all of them focused on military functions. At this point, he did a pretty good job, so he would Step by step, I have been promoted step by step, and I have reached where I am today.
But he is also a commoner from Jiangnan and has seen Suzhou City.
Before Zhu Yuanzhang went to Jiangnan, Nanjing was not a big city despite its strategic location. But in Suzhou, although Zhang Shicheng expanded the city wall in Suzhou, he thought it was a long-term solution. But when the city wall was expanded, many private houses were demolished. After the city wall was built, there were still many people outside the city wall.
It really left the people outside the city in despair. It was a siege battle in which the Ming army surrounded Suzhou.
But in this dynasty, people outside Suzhou appeared again. The city walls surrounding Suzhou were settled. It can be said that the current Suzhou City Wall is within Suzhou City.
One or two hundred years later, Beijing was also like this.
In his heart, Kuai Fu seemed to have never really thought about what it would be like after the world was at peace.
Kuai Fu said: "I understand, little one."
He Xi nodded and said nothing more. He asked Kuai Fu to bring over other drawings.
He Xi reviewed them one by one.
Still quite satisfied.
He Xi said: "Even if the imperial court approves my memorial, starting from today, I will establish three departments in Beijing, the Construction Department, the Planning Department, and the Banking Department. Among them, I have already asked the imperial court for orders from the lieutenants of each department. But before you Before the waiting boss arrives, all kinds of things must be done first. Kuai Dagong."
Kuai Fu said: "The little one is here."
He Xi said: "You are listed as a member of the Planning Department, and you are in charge of the affairs of the Planning Department. The design, planning and budget of the entire Beijing city must come from your hands. You must know that if something goes wrong on paper, it only takes one stroke." But when it falls on the earth, it is not easy to change it. Master Kuai, be careful about it, be careful about it."
Kuai Fu couldn't believe his ears for a moment.
In fact, after the arrival of He Xi, Ming Dynasty's treatment of craftsmen improved a lot. But even so, there are still very few craftsmen who can become officials. And with just one word, He Xi made things happen that he had never dared to think about before.
Why isn't Kuai Fu excited?
This can be a foreigner.
He is regarded as the doctor's subordinate and deputy.
Among the six departments, he is no longer considered a minor official. From the fifth rank, in later generations, they would be the deputy ministers of the major departments and the ministers of the minor departments. Or a central leader who enjoys the treatment of a deputy department.
It’s just one step to reach the sky.
Kuai Fu's nostrils kept shrinking and widening several times before finally calming down. His white hair was gray, but his blood seemed to be welling up, and he said: "Please don't worry, sir. If there is any problem in Beijing, please behead me." Even if you are young, you must do this well even if you die."
He Xi said: "There is one thing you said wrong."
Kuai Fu was stunned and didn't know where he said the wrong thing.
He Xi continued to say slowly: "It's time for you to call yourself a subordinate."
Kuai Fu immediately said: "I know I'm wrong. I know I'm wrong."
Small and so on are all called by ordinary people, while subordinates are officials.
He Xi was very used to Kuai Fu's behavior. Without him, no matter how He Xi changed, being an official in the Ming Dynasty was still the best way out. Just like Kuai Fu, he can only secure this position. If nothing else, in the future, his Kuai family will no longer be considered a family of craftsmen, and they will have just one foot in the ranks of the official family. Only some of the descendants can live up to their expectations and enter the officialdom. In the future, you will be able to consider yourself an official.
That is the true transformation of the family.
He Xi said: "The drawings still need to be revised, but whatever is needed must be put forward as soon as possible. I also need to prepare it here."
Kuai Fu said: "I understand, I will revise it now until you are satisfied."
He Xi said: "Tie Xuan."
Tie Xuan immediately stepped out and said, "My subordinate is here."
He Xi said: "You are Wailang, a member of the Construction Department. What we have to do now is to mine the previously explored minerals, place the people brought from Liaodong, and start production immediately. Before this winter, all preparations will be completed. It needs to be finished. You know that."
Tie Xuan said: "I have been waiting for this day for a long time. Please rest assured, sir, I will do a good job. It's just ------"
He Xi said: "Just what?"
Tie Xuan said: "What should I do if it's just money? There isn't much money in the account."
He Xi said: "It doesn't matter, the money from the court is coming soon. There are still hundreds of thousands of taels of silver notes in the accounts of Beijing and Liaodong, which is enough for you. Moreover, I have informed the court that Beijing, Liaodong, Hebei, Shanxi, Guanwai and other places, It is allowed to use silver notes to replace taxes and labor. Therefore, if it really doesn't work, there is a way."
If that doesn't work, just print more money.
It was a capitalless transaction anyway, and He Xi was confident that he could digest all these banknotes.
Tie Xuan felt a little uneasy in his heart, but after He Xi said this, he could only do this.
But that's what it says. But He Xi was still a little worried in his heart. He really didn't know how much support there was in Nanjing. He Xi secretly thought: "I can't either, just rely on the court. The court's resources are limited after all. You have to find a way on your own."
