Zhao Yingong showed off a full set of gadgets when he first went to see Zhang Pu. Shen Tingyang has been studying this issue for a long time, and he couldn't help but be impressed by his grand arguments quoted from classics - this Mr. Zhao really has something. The study of "managing the world for practical purposes"!
Water transportation has always been a major event for the imperial court in the past dynasties. It is expensive and inefficient, and is often closely related to water control. Whether it is the transportation of grain from Guandong to the inner pass in the Tang Dynasty, the transportation of grain to Kaifeng through the Yellow River in the Song Dynasty, or the sea transportation in the Yuan Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty's River transportation... Each project is an extremely complex system project, involving all aspects of content, so there has been a specialized knowledge of "Caozheng" since ancient times. Unless you are someone who is capable and willing to study, the average scholar will be very confused. Difficult to master.
This Mr. Zhao is actually able to talk eloquently, and his insight is far beyond what ordinary scholars can see from reading books.
"Sir, you are indeed very insightful." Shen Tingyang stared at him and said, "However, although it is good to convert grain from land to sea, the whole court may not necessarily be happy to see its success."
Zhao Yingong nodded: "Sir, that's right."
Shen Tingyang stroked the armrest of the official hat chair and sighed: "Sea transportation has many advantages, but it has three major difficulties. It is always difficult to speak loudly in the court."
"Please teach me, sir."
Shen Tingyang nodded and raised a finger: "First, waiting for the wind is not easy, and it saves very little time."
Sea transportation is not as good as river transportation. You can paddle and row. Especially large sea-going ships that transport grain must rely on the wind and ocean currents. The ancients' summary of this aspect is limited and basically relies on experience. Therefore, if there is a break in the wind or the wind direction is wrong, You have to wait for the wind. This is not a big deal at first, but the navigation technology in the late Ming Dynasty has deteriorated. Navigation relies on maritime landmarks and cannot sail directly across the sea. It often has to follow zigzag routes along the coastline or island groups. The problem of waiting for the wind is more complicated.
"Secondly, the storms at sea are unpredictable. When there are strong winds and waves, the ships will be damaged and the goods will be lost. Now Denglai and Tianjin are transporting grain and wages to Guanning. The losses in maritime transportation are huge. The court has always criticized it."
Zhao Yingong had a look of disapproval on his face. There were wind and waves on the sea, and the technical level of ships and sailors was backward. Various shipwrecks and cargo damage accidents would always occur in navigation. This is normal, but in a nearly completely closed sea like the Bohai Sea, To cause such a large drift loss in inland waters is to put it bluntly, it is a mischief.
Shen Tingyang noticed his reaction, but he did not discuss this issue further, but directly talked about the third point: "Third, transporting grain by sea, there are many people and ships, and a large number of civilians and athletes gather together, which may cause trouble over time. It's better to have Caoding all be soldiers and have guards to control them."
Zhao Yingong did not directly comment on these three difficulties, but asked: "What do you think of these three points, sir?"
Shen Tingyang smiled slightly: "Exaggeration is nonsense!"
Zhao Yingong didn't expect the other party to speak so straightforwardly, and couldn't help but feel more favorable towards him. He nodded and said, "Sir, that's right." He thought for a moment, originally he was ready to refute it point by point, but now it seems that there is nothing It was necessary. He thought for a while and then said: "The so-called difficulty in shipping is, in the final analysis, nothing more than obstruction by vested interests."
"Vested interests?" This new term aroused Shen Tingyang's interest.
"Yes, those with vested interests." Zhao Yingong nodded and said. "A canal goes from south to north, up to the princes in the court, down to the sluice gatekeepers, people who can take it openly, steal it secretly... those who eat the river along the way There are countless of them, how can they want the imperial court to abolish the canal and change the sea?"
As Zhao Yingong spoke, he began to talk about the various disadvantages of the canal in sections: This was also a collection of background information compiled by the Great Library that he had long memorized. Whether a ship of grain was passing through the customs and locks, "crossing the Huaihe River" ... Every time I went to an official place, there were bad rules as usual, and red envelopes were given out everywhere. When I arrived in Tongzhou to apply for documents, and the rice was brought ashore and put into warehouses, there were countless people asking for money.
These are the various benefits on the surface. In addition to the benefits, Caoding, the leader Qian, the escorting officials, and even the bearers carrying the rice grains all benefit from the rice on the ship - there are benefits. It's due to greed, and you have to gain something out of necessity. The so-called "loss" along the way is even several times the amount.
As for the cost of repairing and dredging canal facilities and building and maintaining water transport vessels in order to maintain river transportation, the costs are countless. This has created a huge vested interest group.
To fight against such a huge interest group, the imperial court would not try it unless it had no choice. However, even in the turbulent twelfth year of Chongzhen, after Shen Tingyang's sea transportation experiment was successful, it still failed to abolish the canal system and reform the sea. Although he Although he achieved great personal development in his official career, it still failed to contribute to the collapse of the entire Ming Dynasty.
At this moment, Shen Tingyang didn't know that his efforts would yield such results. Over the years, he had spent a lot of effort studying Cao Gaohai. He was not completely ignorant of the resistance in the court, but he did not expect that he would have to face it. I couldn't help but feel discouraged by such a huge thing.
Zhao Yingong saw that his face was depressed, and knew that his words had had an effect. If Shen Tingyang was full of momentum and confidence, there would be a big question mark whether he would intervene. Now he feels discouraged. Feeling of powerlessness.
If you feel powerless and unwilling to give up your ideals, you will seek help.
"Sir, there is no need to be discouraged. Above the court, there are also people who know what is right and what is wrong." Zhao Yingong said, "As long as we can get their support, although the abolition of the canal and the reform of the sea cannot be implemented immediately, it can always be implemented in stages."
He began to mention Zhang Pu's Taicang white grain shipment to Beijing, which Zhang Pu had been promoting. After having a long beach with Zhao Yingong last time, Zhang Pu also became very interested in abolishing the canal and transforming it into the sea. He talked to Zhao Yingong many times. The exchange of letters discussed the specific implementation methods of this matter. Therefore, Zhao Yiggong knew that Zhang Pu was already using his political power to promote this matter.
When Shen Tingyang heard that Zhang Pu had similar thoughts, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows: "What? Tianru also has this intention?"
"Exactly, if Tianru wants to relieve the people of Taicang from the shortage of grain, the best way is to abolish canal transportation and replace it with sea transportation!" Zhao Yiggong said, "It's just that many people in the court just shake their heads when they mention the word "sea transportation". The good thing is just to be 'cautious'..."
Shen Tingyang also thought about it: many people in the court are just talking about things. They either don't know anything about practical matters or they don't know how to pretend to understand. What they say is absolutely correct nonsense. It is best to keep things unchanged and stick to the old ways. There is no point in it. I felt like I was in an impending crisis. I couldn't help but spread my hands and said, "It's really useless!"
"So for this matter, in addition to Tian Ru running around, we also need Master Shen's help..." Zhao Yingong then talked about the specific plan.
Specifically, Shen Tingyang compiled his research results and sea charts into a book, and then sent a letter to the court through familiar officials, suggesting a trial run of Taicang Bailiang Reform - a small-scale reform is always less resistant than a major reform. Be smaller.
"As long as Taicang's white grain transportation to Beijing is successful, the next step can be to further transport grain and wages to Liaodong - this is the most important matter that the court cares about. If it is done well, the court will naturally look at sea transportation with admiration. Then we will talk about abolishing canal transportation and reforming sea transportation. It’s just a matter of course.”
Historically, it was Shen Tingyang himself who wrote to the emperor asking for a trial of grain shipping. However, he had not yet become secretary of the cabinet. As an imperial eunuch, of course he could write to the emperor, but it would give people the impression of being "wild and rebellious" - ―The bureaucracy hates people who do not follow common sense. If you do this, it is very likely that no one will read the letter carefully at all.
Shen Tingyang naturally understood this truth, and he nodded frequently: "It's just that the person who submitted the letter is quite important."
Shen Tingyang also has many friends in the court, but once this matter is successful, his own shipping company will of course be the carrier of grain transportation to the north, and the interests involved will be huge. It is best for a courtier who has nothing to do with his family to submit a letter. .
However, since Tianru is concerned about this matter, Donglin Fushe has many candidates they can use. In this way, they are more certain of success...
Thinking of this, Shen Tingyang couldn't help but secretly get excited. His eyes touched the smile of the young man in front of him, and he suddenly realized that he was really confused! This Mr. Zhao kept talking about "Tian Ru", and he himself It should be Mr. Xu Ge!
Xu Ge's hometown is in Shanghai. Presumably this Ge family is also interested in shipping grain. If Mr. Xu Ge intervenes in this matter...
Shen Tingyang could no longer hold back the joy in his heart. He immediately ordered: "Take care of the kitchen to prepare a banquet and place it in the flower hall! I want to have a good talk with Mr. Zhao!"
Just as the servant responded and wanted to go, he was stopped again: "Take care of the third concubine and ask her to cook some of her specialty dishes. Then bring some good wine from the outer study."
Zhao Yingong gladly accepted the hospitality - he had a good impression of Shen Yuan, and seeing how generous he was, he felt a sense of friendship.
The two moved to the flower hall, where a banquet had already been set up. The Shen family was a wealthy family, and a banquet was a trivial matter. Cold dishes and dried and fresh fruits to go with the wine were already placed on the table, and the servants placed them on the table. When the wine came, the guests and hosts sat facing each other and toasted each other first.
After a glass of wine, the affection between the two parties became unusual. Zhao Yingong brought the topic to navigation. The Shen family is a wealthy family in the south of the Yangtze River. Shen Tingyang's family runs the sand ship trade in Chongming Island. They specialize in the Beiyang route, transporting southward from the south of the Yangtze River. The goods arrived in Tianjin, and then the goods from the North were transported from Tianjin back to Shanghai. At one time, the business was also extended to Liaodong, and the business was very booming.
However, since the fall of Shenyang, the Shen family's Beiyang trade has also suffered a big blow, especially Nanjing's silk and satin, which used to be a popular product sold to Liaodong, but now its sales have been greatly affected; the source of Liaodong goods has also been cut off. The Shen family's The ships only went to Tianjin for trade.