The Nuan Pavilion suddenly became quiet, as if there was only the sound of the crystal hourglass passing by.
Everyone lowered their heads, but secretly opened their ears, hoping to hear something from Deng Ping. Curiosity is human nature.
But the strange thing was that Deng Ping was clearly talking, and the emperor was clearly listening, and he was very close to them, but they couldn't hear anything at all.
"How did Ya do it?" Zhu Gaochi, who was closest to the emperor, was a little curious. "How did he manage that when he spoke, only he and Xizi could hear it, and no one else could hear a sound?"
Just as he was thinking about it, he quickly lowered his head.
Because after Deng Ping finished speaking, he lowered his hands and stepped aside, while the emperor's expression was...complex.
"Don't let anything happen again. I was so busy today that the back of my head hit the ground..."
Zhu Gaochi was praying in his heart, while Zhu Yunxi on the throne shook his head slightly, sighed, and then looked at the ministers, "Let's talk about the work-for-relief thing! Lian Aiqing, you are in charge of the Ministry of Works, let's talk about it!"
Lian Zining immediately stood up and replied, "I also agree with the use of work as a means of relief, but just now His Highness the Crown Prince said that using work as a means of relief should not be limited to one place, let alone one thing. I have a slight difference. Your Highness's idea is good, but that's not the case.
Since then, I’m afraid that good things will turn into bad things again!”
"First of all, work-for-relief is to solve the problem of victims in Huaibei. As His Highness has mentioned, I am afraid that the current youth in Huaibei is not enough. Furthermore, there is a process for disaster relief, and there is also a process for building bridges and paving roads, and the construction period will only be
Longer than disaster relief.”
"Let's not talk about the hidden dangers of hundreds of thousands of people gathering together. They just know that the floods have subsided and it is time to return to their hometowns to build houses and farm, but they have homes and cannot go back..."
Hearing this, Zhu Gaochi glanced at Lian Zining.
The ministers in Nuan Pavilion and Zhu Yunxi couldn't help but nod.
Relief for work is a good thing, but the more such a good thing is, the more important it is to distinguish priorities, adapt measures to local conditions, and clarify the order and priorities.
"You fucking think I don't know these things?" Zhu Gaochi cursed in his heart, "I have said everything clearly, how can I show the wisdom and martial prowess of your family! I said it wrong, so that your family can
Youzi comments, and then you kowtow and call the emperor sage!"
At this time, Lian Zining continued, "So I believe that the work-for-relief program will focus on the disaster-stricken areas in Huaibei. First, the people do not need to travel thousands of miles away from home. Second, they work to benefit their hometowns.
, naturally willing to do so. Three, easy to manage, watch, and mobilize."
Zhu Yunxi couldn't help but nod, "It's a wise idea to plan for the country!" He said with a smile, "Then tell me, where exactly will this work-for-relief program be used?"
"In my opinion, it is divided into three points!"
Lian Zining said, "The first is to build river defenses to prevent floods in Sizhou and Huaibei. The third is to reclaim silt fields and resettle the people..."
"Wait a minute!" Zhu Gaochi turned around and said, "What about the second one?"
"Second!" Lian Zining looked around and said loudly, "You may all think that we should clean up the canals, right?"
Everyone nodded frequently.
Lian Zining, on the other hand, smiled and said to Zhu Yunxi, "I think that since major repairs are needed, then let's build roads!"
Suddenly, everyone looked sideways, and everyone was puzzled.
Only Zhu Yunxi looked encouraging and said with a smile, "Keep talking!"
~~
"Since the preparation and implementation of the postal service in the 25th year of Hongwu's reign, commerce between the north and the south has become increasingly prosperous. Commerce is inseparable from roads, both water and land."
Lian Zining cleared his throat and continued, "Of the two, the Grand Canal connecting the north and the south is particularly important, and because of the prosperity of the canal, the cities along the canal are becoming richer and richer!"
"Isn't it more important to build the canal?" Zhu Gaochi asked again.
"The imperial court has money to build the canal!" Lian Zining said solemnly, "Every year, money will be set aside from the commercial taxes on the canal and the various benefits brought about by the station being transformed into a postal service, and each merchant ship will charge a certain river crossing fee.
These funds are all earmarked for special use!" As he said that, he looked at Zhang Yan and said, "Yes, Zhang Shangshu!"
"Yes!" Zhang Yan said, "This money cannot be touched at any time or for anything. So far, there are 3.82 million silver dollars!" As he said, he added in a more serious tone, "Cash silver!"
As he said that, he thought again, "The canal is our north-south artery of the Ming Dynasty. There must be no mistakes! This flood in Huaibei has greatly reduced the transportation capacity of the Xuzhou-Huai'an section of the canal. This money will be used to manage this section of the canal next."
This is also the original decree issued by the emperor Jinkou, and the funds are earmarked for this purpose!"
Everyone became more and more confused after hearing this. According to their logic, since the imperial court had special funds to maintain the canal, there was no need for civilians to provide work in exchange for relief?
It seems right, but it doesn’t seem right either!
Zhu Gaochi pondered for a moment and then said, "In addition to canals, there are also sea routes in the north and south of the Ming Dynasty?"
"His Royal Highness has only just entered the center, and there may be some things that are not clear yet!" Lian Zining secretly criticized Zhu Gaochi and said with a smile, "I also know that the sea route is easier and faster than the canal. But the reason why merchants from the north and south still choose the canal
, Firstly, shipping by sea is expensive, and secondly, it’s inconvenient!”
"There are cities along the canals, but what about the seaports? There are only a few, right? Be it grain ships or merchant ships, they still have to be divided into two types of aquatic routes when they arrive. Furthermore, building a seaport is not a day's work. It took several years for the court to
Down here, the north is just Jiaodong, Liaodong, Dengzhou and other places."
"Although the Zhigu area was a seaport for maintaining military supplies in Youyan during the Tang Dynasty, it became an inland port after the Yellow River seized the sea in the eighth year of Qingli in the Northern Song Dynasty. And after the Meng Yuan Dynasty opened the Tonghui River, it became an inland port.
The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal connects the north and the south smoothly, and there is no need to carry out large-scale construction and build a seaport for the time being!"
"This still involves an internal and an external issue... His Highness was born in the North, so it is understandable that he does not understand these things..."
After a pause, Zhu Gaochi became furious and cursed in his heart, "You're not done with it, are you? I complimented you a few times, but you still slapped your nose in your face?"
"Domestically, we still have to rely on the canal! Sea transportation is fast and convenient, but the benefits brought by the canal are the livelihoods of millions of people along the canal. Wherever the canal passes, there are thousands of lights. People along the way have money.
They can do business and provide food and drink, and those who have no money can contribute their efforts to support their families. They can also exchange letters, ride on pedestrians and tourists, and mail goods from Ming Dynasty, etc. The benefits are countless."
"For external affairs, the only way to use the sea is to use the sea. For example, if there is a war or a foreign vassal comes to court..."
"Ahem!" Zhu Yunxi coughed inadvertently, "Tell me to fix it!"
These civil servants should not be given the opportunity to speak at length, otherwise they could talk from day to night, quoting scriptures and drawing analogies without repeating the same thing.
"Why is Huaibei poor? It's because the roads are not good!"
Lian Zining continued, "On the canal generation, only Huai'an is rich, and Sizhou is pretty good. The rest are poor! The roads are not good, the people can't get out, and the merchants can't get in."
"Just imagine, if the roads in Huaibei were good and could be connected to canal transit places such as Sizhou and Huai'an, people's livelihood would be greatly improved!"
"Can the landless people go to the docks to work? The women can help wash and mend the merchant ships and make some hot soup and noodles! Can the merchants take the goods from the merchant ships in the canal and sell them in various places in Huaibei?
?Can the output from the Huaibei hinterland also be recycled through the canal?"
As he said that, Lian Zining's face turned red and he slapped his thigh, "If you want to be rich, raise more pigs and build more roads!"