"The world should first fear my power, and then embrace my virtue."
After hearing what Cui Yuan relayed, Jiang Mian and others were silent.
Cui Yuan added: "You and I both know His Majesty's great ambitions. The discussions and thoughts of the gentry are all blinded by the word "profit". The difficulty of the new law is not the intertwined interests, but the determination. Your Majesty's determination is so strong. In fact, it is the greatest desire to implement new laws in the past and present. Your Majesty is only twenty years old. As long as you live a long life, the new laws will not lead to a hasty end. Conspiracy is a major crime, which is to establish prestige; rooting out floods is a meritorious deed."
The real leaders among the comrades now shouldered the responsibility and said very solemnly: "General Zang Cao, General Ma Bing, water transportation is certainly an important matter for the country, but it has been a hundred years since the Ming Dynasty's water transportation began. You are not responsible for the shortcomings, but you also know it." Very detailed. Floods and water transport are mixed together. If the problems of water transport are not eliminated, floods will be difficult to control easily. You can no longer avoid talking about this matter!"
Under the gazes of Jiang Mian, Yang Tan, Li Hao, Yang Tingyi and others, Zangfeng and Ma Cheng remained silent.
Both of them knew very well that Cui Yuan was reminding them that it was time to take a stand and take sides.
Whether to take the initiative to participate in change, or to become the object of change.
In short, the emperor has already said that he should first establish his power and then show virtue.
After Zangfeng and Ma Cheng looked at each other, they said: "We are not unwilling, but we are helpless. Let's not talk about floods, water transportation is a myriad of things. Construction of canals, dredging of rivers, and collection of grain taxes , escort transportation, porters working hard, wind and floods... With all due respect, not only me in the Ming Dynasty, but also Li Tang, Zhao Song, Meng Yuan, how many people want to solve this problem, there has never been a lack of talented people in hundreds of years, there is no way. "
This is the case with the transportation of materials under this condition of limited technical capabilities.
The transportation of strategic materials such as food has always been carried out regardless of the cost.
Now we are discussing how to control the Huanghuai floods, which will inevitably affect water transportation.
Others were unable to argue with what Zangfeng said.
The change in the water transportation system really involves not only the scheduling and arrangement of how many water ships and how many water troops, but also the issues of where the grain and taxes collected in the southern provinces are transported, how to rearrange the corvee labor in various places, and how to prevent bandits from plundering the new route. , and it is also necessary to break the old interest circle and rebuild a new interest circle.
But the crucial thing is that water transportation needs absolute stability. The food needed by the north is indispensable.
Li Hao finally spoke: "Sea transport will make up for it. The Huanghuai floods are caused by water transport, mainly the Huaiyang section. Zheyang Zongjiu is only responsible for transporting Liaodong. If more than one million dan of grain from Nanzhili can be transported by sea to Tianjin , the room for water transportation will be greatly increased."
After he finished speaking, he reminded Jiang Mian and Cui Yuan: "Your Majesty highly recommends the "Extensions of the University", and Qiu Gong also strongly advocated the attempt to restore maritime transportation. Thinking again about the national policy in the Imperial Study Room that will last forever, this difficult problem, maritime transportation must It’s one of the questions!”
The current situation is: the emperor threw a question to them, and then went to worship their ancestors.
When he comes back, it's time for everyone to answer questions.
How to cure the Huanghuai floods, the first problem to be solved is how to protect water transportation.
Don't even think about transporting by land. The scale is too large and the cost is much higher than water transportation.
Among water transportation, the choice between water transportation and sea transportation is ultimately a technical issue and an implementation issue.
There are often inexplicable capsizing and robberies on canals, but what about at sea? To put it bluntly, how can we ensure that it is not "sinked" or "robbed" due to internal and external collusion?
Yang Tan shook his head and said, "I'm afraid, imitating Huang Ming Ji and integrating it into the new law through purchasing is also one of the problems."
Jiang Mian also added: "The new law requires the gentry to abide by the rules, but in the future everyone in the world must enjoy the benefits of the new law. Using commercial and tax laws as the key to enable merchants to enjoy the benefits of water transportation is probably one of the problems."
They were all people who had spent a lot of time around Zhu Houcong before, and now they gradually figured out the purpose behind this.
"There is a shipping department in Guangdong, and there is a Linqing chaoguan in Shandong. Based on your majesty's grand plan, this canal cannot only become a source of suffering for the people in the provinces along the river, but cannot nourish the provinces along the river. The new law requires corvee labor, which is the source of transportation. We must rely on merchants to make the system." Jiang Mian looked at Zangfeng and said, "Mr. Zangcao, Mr. Ma, you must be prepared."
Afterwards, everyone began to talk enthusiastically about the possible future direction of water transportation. After all, this is the formulation of new rules for the water transportation system, which affects huge interests. For them, it also contains many opportunities.
Cui Yuan pulled them back: "If there is a solution to water transportation, then we have to think about what to do about the Huanghuai floods."
There was silence in the room for a moment, and Li Hao was quite confused in the eyes of everyone.
"This problem has always been nothing more than the six words of storing the Qing, brushing the Yellow, and saving the Cao." Li Hao still had to speak, who asked him to be the Minister of the Ministry of Industry.
Canals need water, and they need it as smooth as possible.
But where the Huanghuai River meets Huai'an, there is too much water.
Everyone knows that sediment in the Yellow River will accumulate. The current solution is to block the water of the Huaihe River to prevent it from converging with the water of the Yellow River and causing disasters in heavy rain years.
Instead, for water transportation, the water from the flood lake formed after blocking should be used to at least repaint the river channel near the throat of the Huai'an canal at the intersection of the Yellow and Huaihe Rivers, so that it will not silt up and ensure water transportation.
Due to the siltation of the Yellow River, the riverbed in the lower reaches of the Huanghuai River after the merger is getting higher and higher. The water in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River flows into Hongze Lake. The water level of this lake is getting higher and higher because it cannot be easily drained out.
What it threatens is the ancestral mausoleum that is related to the "fundamental national destiny" of the Ming Dynasty.
The ancestral mausoleum cannot be moved because the ancestral mausoleum is where the "dragon energy" is located. If it moves, the Ming Dynasty will be unstable.
It's a very simple issue that everyone agrees with and won't touch subconsciously.
The Yellow River is not allowed to overflow, the canals are not allowed to run out of water, the ancestral mausoleums are not allowed to suffer disasters, and the Huaihe River is not allowed to flood.
what to do?
Difficult to handle.
It can't be done.
Then Li Hao said: "Liu Tianhe, the young minister of Taichang in Nanjing, was talented in general and liked to delve into miscellaneous studies. When he was appointed as the magistrate of Huzhou, he tried to convert official and private fields into silver and unify the official and private fields. It is a pity to be idle now."
Jiang Mian was startled when he heard this: But he has never controlled water before.
…
The urgent letter traveled from Huai'an to Nanjing in no time.
Taichang Temple is mainly responsible for offering sacrifices. They all say that the great affairs of the country lie in military service and sacrifice. But Taichang Temple in Nanjing is no better than Taichang Temple in Beijing. The boss of Taichang Temple is only one of the Xiaojiu Qings.
Although Taichang Shaoqing, who assists the Minister of Taichang Temple, is of the fourth rank, the Minister of Taichang Temple in Nanjing is even more marginal.
Liu Tianhe was a Jinshi in the third year of Zhengde. After becoming an official, he offended Liu Jin and was demoted to the county magistrate. Step by step, he was promoted to the county magistrate, the magistrate of Huzhou, and the deputy envoy of Shanxi Tixue. These are all powerful figures in one party.
Later he was renamed Taichang Shaoqing of Nanjing.
His rank has not changed. From a powerful official in charge of academic affairs in a province to an idle official in Nanjing who assists in worship, he is quite happy now.
"I have gained quite a lot during these five years as a teacher. Look at the "Experiential Prescriptions of Baoshou Tang", the first volume has been written!"
There was a little bit of pride on his face, and the person talking in front of him was a young man.
The young man took a book handed to him by Liu Tianhe, flipped through it and said with a smile: "Sir, this book will be remembered forever, and the students will be inexplicably impressed by it."
Liu Tianhe narrowed his eyes a little and smiled, then looked at him: "Did you get anything out of your personal trip to Guangdong this time?"
"After reading "Lingnan Travels", I know that Guangdong is trying out new laws, so I have to take a look." The young man replied respectfully, "Guangdong is indeed quite different from other provinces now. Although the administration of officials and people's livelihood have been greatly improved, But I am afraid that the students can achieve this feat only because His Majesty has devoted the power of the country and used the country's ministers. It remains to be seen whether there are any shortcomings after the various methods have been tried for many years."
Liu Tianhe nodded: "That makes sense. But His Majesty is very determined to reform this time. I'm afraid you don't know that the prefects of Huizhou, Chizhou, Luzhou, and Songjiang took the lead in clarifying taxes because they disobeyed orders." His majesty has charged his majesty with the crime of treason for obstructing the new law."
"Conspiracy?" The young man was shocked, "How dare you accuse him like this?"
Liu Tianhe sighed: "You are not allowed to be hasty, and you are not allowed to violate the law. Your Majesty made many changes when Xingjia discussed the Xining Reform and pushed it to the local government. This time, he really wants to order the local government to obey the orders. Mr. Yang Ge After proposing various methods, I have been studying them for more than two years, and I have many doubts. However, you are very fond of the affairs of the world. You not only read thousands of books, but also traveled thousands of miles to various places, and encountered dangerous mountains and rivers. , you know it like the back of your hand. When you come back from Guangdong, our teachers and students can confirm it."
After saying that, he laughed and said, "With your talent, you will be admitted to high school in the Rites Examination in the fifth year of Jiajing. There is no need to rush back to Huzhou. When you go to high school next year, His Majesty is determined to reform and enrich the country, and you will definitely have the opportunity to show your ambitions."
The man he called Weizhong was named Tang Shu, a native of Huzhou Prefecture's Guiju County, and he was now twenty-seven years old.
His character is the same as Yan Song.
When Liu Tianhe served as the magistrate of Huzhou, Tang Shu was elected, and the two also developed a teacher-student friendship.
In addition to admiring each other's talent and character, they also share some common hobbies: being pragmatic and liking miscellaneous knowledge.
Just like when Liu Tianhe was idle, he even tinkered with medical books.
What he didn't know was that the medical books he tinkered with were also very powerful, and were later cited in Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica", in which many prescriptions were included.
After hearing Liu Tianhe's words, Tang Shu was humble for a moment, and then said: "Sir, he was actually idle here because of the Chenhao Rebellion. With his knowledge and his prime years, why do you want to retire?"
Liu Tianhe was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and said: "Do you know that I am not good at management, and how dangerous the officialdom will be if I implement new laws in the future? I now feel that if I finish writing these four volumes of "Baoshoutang Experience Prescriptions", I will have nothing to lose in this life. Sorry."
The resoluteness of Zhu Houcong's methods still made some people fearful. After all, the "crime of treason" was no joke.
However, an official document came later, and the Prime Minister of Taichang Temple came in person: "Liu Shaoqing, the governor-general has issued a document, asking you to set off for Huai'an as soon as possible, in case your Majesty can inquire about the Huanghuai River."
Liu Tianhe was a little confused: "Me? Huanghuai flood?"
"That's what the official document says. Mr. Li Ge recommended him." Taichang Temple Prime Minister said enviously, "Congratulations to Liu Shaoqing."
After five years of idleness, I now have the opportunity to meet with you, and it was recommended by Li Hao.
Liu Tianhe stayed for a moment, and then he could only shake his head: "It's difficult..."
It’s really difficult.
Why are you looking for him when there is a flood in the Huanghuai River?
After saying that, he pulled Tang Shu and said, "I will go with you as my master. I must help you come up with ideas!"
Two people who were not very famous in history were just put on the shelf. Neither of them had seriously studied any floods.
However, Li Wei and Jiang Mian's behavior of indiscriminately seizing a dead horse and treating it as a living horse in the face of big problems did lead to the arrest of some people.
At this moment, there is a three-year-old baby playing in the mud in Huzhou Prefecture. In the original historical trajectory, he would later become Tang Shu's student, and would also have many contacts with Liu Tianhe, who would later serve as the governor of the river. Leave an indelible mark on history.
Pan Jixun hasn't grown up yet, but his masters can only set off for Huai'an anxiously.
Now, Gong Hong is also on the way.
After entering Yangzhou Prefecture, it is not far from Huai'an.
As the boat sailed on the canal, Gong Hong looked at everything familiar.
He was once the governor of the river, and he was familiar with every section of the canal.
Staring at the river with his old eyes, Gong Hong didn't understand why the emperor had such great ambitions.
There has already been a rebellion, but we still have to unswervingly implement the new law that most people cannot understand and that has changed so much. Now we have to face the eternal problem of the Huanghuai Flood.
The emperor behaved so recklessly, and Yang Ting and the others still followed him firmly one by one?
Now, the emperor in Gong Hong's impression had just arrived at Sizhou's ancestral mausoleum.
For the sacrificial ceremony, Zhu Houcong did not ask Fengyang Mansion to make any exaggerated preparations.
What mattered was that he arrived in person.
After the Sizhou Ancestral Mausoleum was built, Zhu Yuanzhang himself never came to pay homage in person.
Since the founding of the Ming Dynasty, except for the prince Zhu Biao who was responsible for supervising construction matters, and except for Zhu Di who came here when he was the prince, actually no emperor has come here to worship when he was in power.
The greatest function of this ancestral mausoleum, which enshrines the clothes and crowns of Zhu Yuanzhang's grandfather, great-grandfather and great ancestor, is the "dragon energy".
After all, it must not be easy for future generations to find the tomb of the founding emperor.
Dragon veins.
Zhu Houcong's body is their descendant, but his mind does not care about this.
Therefore, although his coming to worship in person would be interpreted by his courtiers as a symbolic act of "strengthening the legal system", Zhu Houcong had another reason to come to worship in person.
Zhu Yuanzhang's great-grandfather Zhu Bailiu, great-grandfather Zhu Sijiu, and grandfather Zhu Chuyi.
The name on the god master shows that Zhu Yuanzhang came from a very poor background, and his family has not had an educated name for several generations.
Therefore, in front of the Lord of God, Zhu Houcong said solemnly: "The people of the Zhu family of the Ming Dynasty were born. Since they control the world, the people of the world are all one family. The unfilial descendants Houcong paid tribute to their ancestors. By leaving today, they have made a decision to disobey their ancestors."
Floods in the Huanghuai River cannot avoid one point: the ancestral mausoleums are not allowed to suffer disasters.
The land of the Dragon Veins of the Ancestral Mausoleum is related to the fundamental national destiny of the Ming Dynasty, and the Ancestral Mausoleum cannot be moved.
Even if Zhu Houcong doesn't care about moving the ancestral mausoleum, the officials of the new party will be shocked.
There is no way, they believe this.
But in the end of the Ming Dynasty, although the ancestral mausoleum was indeed untouched, the Ming Dynasty still perished and was later flooded.
Now Zhu Houcong has to face the problem of Huanghuai floods, and he cannot make it more difficult or have too many worries.
So he has one more place to go: Fengyang.
There is also an imperial mausoleum there, which was built by Zhu Yuanzhang for his parents, brother and sister-in-law.
In Fengyang, there are still six high walls that have been built to guard many guilty "common people" in the clan.
The feudal king is currently in rebellion, and Zhu Houcong's move will also be interpreted by his subordinates.
At this moment, the Battle of Hengyang has been going on for many days. During this time, Xia was feeling relieved, fearful, and expecting.
Because I don’t know what will happen after the city is broken.
Because...she hugged the young Prince Rui and said, "It doesn't matter if it's within the high wall..."
It is good to be within high walls, with servants to serve you, and you will not be short of food and clothing, except that you have no freedom.
So much so that by the end of the Ming Dynasty, there were still a large number of lower-level clan members who deliberately broke the law just to get into the high wall and have a good meal.
Yan Chunsheng was still waiting. After the defenders outside the city walls in the west and north of the city resisted for nearly ten days and suffered heavy casualties, Pu Zitong finally released the remaining people back into the city - he could not chill the hearts of the defenders inside the city.
Gu Shilong can no longer fill the holes for storming the city wall just to train his troops and take more lives, right?
That time should be near, it is already the winter moon.
(End of chapter)