The ministers begged me to ascend the throne

Chapter 209

In the imperial study room of Chengguang Hall, He Xiang and Liu Taishi were reporting the rice situation in various places to Emperor Wu of Zhou.

Now that it has entered summer, the rain in many places is still relatively sufficient, and the growth of rice is still very good.However, some places don't get much rain, so the rice doesn't grow very well.There are also places where there is too much rain, such as Jiangnan.

After the beginning of spring, the rain in the south of the Yangtze River kept falling.Before Qingming, the rain finally stopped.As a result, after the Ching Ming Festival, the rain started to fall again, and the rice fields became pools.

Where there is a lack of rain, they try their best to get water to irrigate the rice fields, while the people in the south of the Yangtze River try their best to drain the water from the rice fields.

"According to Liang Taishou's report, the water level of Yangzhou's river has risen by another inch this month." He Xiang reported, "The water level of rivers in other places in the south of the Yangtze River has also been rising."

Taishi Liu followed He Xiang's words and said, "Since the Duanyang Festival, it has been raining in the south of the Yangtze River." He added, "After summer, there are often heavy rains in the south of the Yangtze River, which is the reason for the rise of the river level."

He Xiang continued: "Fortunately, I listened to the words of Prefect Liang and raised and strengthened the dams of the rivers in the south of the Yangtze River. Otherwise, there may be floods in the south of the Yangtze River."

"Prefect Liang also ordered people to dig a reservoir to store rainwater, which also helped a lot." Taishou Liu heard about the reservoir from Prefect Liang, and Prefect Liang heard about it from Zhao Yao.Before that, Zhao Yao wrote a letter to Liang Taishou, suggesting that he dig a reservoir.When it rains a lot, the reservoir can store rainwater.In times of drought, the water from the reservoir can be used to irrigate rice fields.

The rain in the south of the Yangtze River is much more than that in other places, but sometimes there will be drought in the south of the Yangtze River.In the former dynasty, there were often droughts in the south of the Yangtze River.

"Prefect Liang said a lot about the benefits of building reservoirs in his memorial. I think reservoirs can be built all over the country, especially in the north where there is not much rain. In this way, when the rain is not enough, the water from the reservoirs can be released to irrigate the farmland." Grand Master Liu said, "Just in case."

He Xiang echoed, "I also agree with the construction of the reservoir."

"If you don't tell me, I will also order to build a reservoir." Emperor Wu of Zhou naturally also read the memorial of Liang Taishou and knew the benefits of building a reservoir. "This is a good thing that benefits the country and the people."

"Prefect Liang called on the people of Yangzhou to build reservoirs, and the largest reservoir in Yangzhou has been dug out." He Xiang said, "The new reservoir dug out has stored a lot of rainwater and relieved a lot of burden on the rivers in Yangzhou. He also It is planned to dig a larger reservoir, which can store more rainwater."

Taishi Liu said: "When building the embankment of the river, the prefect Liang also sent people to dredge the river, cleared out a lot of silt, and made the river flow more smoothly."

He Xiang smiled and said, "I didn't expect Liang Taishou to know how to repair rivers. It's really amazing."

Emperor Wu of Zhou smiled proudly: "As expected of my old father-in-law."

Hearing Zhou Wudi's brazen words, He Xiang and Liu Taishi looked at him with disdain.

"Jiangnan is also the most important place for water transportation. If the river is not smooth, it will also affect the water transportation." Emperor Wu of Zhou put away the unscrupulous expression on his face, and his expression became serious, "I have ordered Liang Taishou to continue repairing the river in Yangzhou , and let the prefect of Gusu dredge the river."

When mentioning rivers, He Xiang and Liu Taishi thought of the Yellow River where accidents often occur.

In recent years, due to the drought in the Yellow River, there has been no flood in the Yellow River.If in the future, the rain in the area of ​​the Yellow River suddenly increases, then the Yellow River will be prone to floods.

"Your Majesty, while there is no accident in the Yellow River, hurry up and send people to repair the dredged Yellow River, otherwise..." Once the Yellow River floods, people in many places will suffer.

"That's exactly what I mean." In the past few years, although the embankment of the Yellow River has been raised and strengthened, this is a solution to the symptoms rather than the root cause.If you want to make the Yellow River more honest, you still have to repair it. "By the way, prefect Liang proposed to build a canal, what do you think?"

Some time ago, Liang Taishou submitted a memorial and proposed to build a canal from the south of the Yangtze River to the capital.Of course, this is what Zhao Yao told him.

Taishi Liu and He Xiang glanced at each other, and immediately said: "Your Majesty, it is a good thing that Taishou Liang proposed to build a canal, but it will be a huge project that will cost a lot of manpower and financial resources."

Taishi Liu followed He Xiang's words and said: "Building a canal from the south of the Yangtze River to the capital is a matter of benefiting the country and the people, but as He Xiang said, it will cost too much manpower and financial resources. In the current situation of Dazhou From the looks of it, the cost of building a canal simply cannot be afforded."

"The most important thing is to build a canal, which requires a large number of people. I'm afraid the number will be tens of thousands. This is not a good thing for the people." He Xiang said, "The people will complain."

"Nowadays, the common people have managed to live a stable and good life for several years. If the canal is built, the common people will have to be recruited, and the common people will not be willing." Taishi Liu said with a serious expression, "Now the population of Dazhou has not completely recovered from the previous dynasty. The number in the heyday, I suggest to wait a few more years, when the population and financial resources have risen, it will not be too late to build the canal."

He Xiang nodded and said: "The construction of the canal must be built. After the construction is completed, it will not only benefit the people along the way from Jiangnan to the capital, but also benefit future generations." build. "However, given the current situation in Dazhou, it cannot be built. We have to wait a few more years, or ten years."

"Building a canal should be done sooner rather than later." Emperor Wu of Zhou frowned, "However, as you said, Da Zhou does not have the ability to build canals at present." In fact, judging from Da Zhou's current situation, It is capable of building canals, but once the construction of canals starts, the situation that has been hard to recuperate in the past few years will be destroyed.Furthermore, once the canal is built, the treasury, which has finally improved a bit, will become poor and empty.

"It's still too poor after all."

"Your Majesty, there is nothing to do about it. After all, the Great Zhou was not established for a long time." He Xiang comforted Emperor Wu of Zhou, "For now, the development of the Great Zhou is still good."

"Da Zhou as a whole is now in a thriving state. After a few more years, the treasury will be filled, and it will not be too late to build a canal by then."

"The construction of the canal can only be put on hold temporarily, but during the past few years, we have to make all preparations for the construction of the canal." Emperor Wu of Zhou tapped the imperial table lightly with his right index finger, "Conscripting the people to build the canal can exempt them from taxes and taxes. Corvée, you can also reward them with something."

"The emperor said so."

"In this regard, the two of you should draw up a charter." Although the canal has not yet started construction, everything must be prepared in advance so that the people will not be so resistant or repulsed by the construction of the canal. "Also, you two calculate the manpower and financial resources needed to build the canal."

He Xiang and Liu Taishi said in unison: "Yes, Your Majesty."

"I will let the officials from the south of the Yangtze River to the capital inspect the terrain." Emperor Wu of Zhou thought for a while, and then said, "There are also materials needed for the construction of the canal, and you should make statistics in advance..."

Building a canal is not a trivial matter, but the biggest thing since the founding of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it can even be said to be the biggest thing in the past few hundred years. After all, no canals were built in the previous dynasties.

After talking about building the canal, He Xiang talked about Zheng Xilin's three sons.

Zheng Xilin's three sons had been in the capital for some time, after He Xiang's investigation, He Xiang already knew how to arrange them.

"Your Majesty, Lao Zheng's eldest son does have a bit of Lao Zheng's true biography, and has a mature and stable temperament. I want him to be the prime minister."

"Prime Minister Zheng Shi?" Emperor Wu of Zhou raised his eyebrows in surprise, "You value Lao Zheng's eldest son so much?" Prime Minister Zheng Shi is a subordinate official of the Prime Minister.Although the official position is only five ranks, not everyone can be a prime minister.

"Old Zheng's eldest son still has some abilities. If he cultivates them well, he will come in handy in the future." He Xiangzheng was very satisfied with this period of contact.

"Aren't you in trouble?"

"Not many more."

Grand Master Liu said from the side: "Your Majesty, He Xiang intends to train Lao Zheng's eldest son, and wants Lao Zheng's eldest son to take over his class in the future."

When Emperor Wu of Zhou heard the words, he showed a look of astonishment on his face: "Oh, why are you training Lao Zheng's eldest son as his successor?"

"That's the plan at the moment, but whether he is qualified or not still needs to be investigated." He Xiang stroked his beard and said with a smile, "This kid has good aptitude, but he needs to work hard."

"I didn't expect you to have such a high opinion of Lao Zheng's eldest son."

"This kid is a good kid." He Xiang liked and admired Zheng Rang very much.

"How do you plan to arrange for his second son and youngest son?" Emperor Wu of Zhou asked.

"The second son is infatuated with the Mohists. It is most appropriate to arrange for him to enter Shangfangling to be a craftsman." He Xiang said, "He himself is willing to enter Shangfangling to be a craftsman."

Emperor Wu of Zhou showed astonishment on his face and said: "A craftsman has no official position, and his salary is not high. He really wants to?"

"Yes, very willing." He Xiangshi was also frightened by Zheng Cheng's words, "He said that he didn't want to be an official, but only wanted to be a craftsman and do what he likes to make. He also said that the craftsmen in Shangfangling are big The best craftsmen in Zhou, with them, he can learn a lot."

"I just want to do what I like, which is a bit like Old Zheng." Emperor Wu of Zhou complained sharply, "Sure enough, Old Zheng and his son are both weirdos."

He Xiang and Grand Master Liu agreed with what Emperor Wu of Zhou said.

Emperor Wu of Zhou asked, "Where's his youngest son?"

When Zheng Qian was mentioned, He Xiang's expression became complicated in an instant.

He sighed faintly and said, "Old Zheng's youngest son is indeed as rebellious as he said."

Seeing He Xiang's headache, Emperor Wu of Zhou asked with great interest, "What did Old Zheng's youngest son do?"

"This kid originally planned to visit one academy after another to see if the scholars in the capital are smart." He Xiang was dumbfounded when he heard Zheng let them tell them what Zheng Qian did in his hometown a few days ago. "He still wants to go to Taixue to kick the gym. If there is no one smarter than him in Taixue, he will never go to Taixue to study."

"Is Lao Zheng's youngest son so rampant?" Zhou Wudi smiled playfully, "It's not like Lao Zheng at all."

Zheng Xilin is a very humble person. He never underestimates others because of his intelligence, nor does he look down upon others because of his popularity.He is very polite and friendly to the ministers in the court, which is why the ministers in the court like and respect him.

"His youngest son is not only arrogant, but also arrogant, and looks down on people who are stupid than him." As an elder, He Xiang naturally wouldn't care about a child. "This kid is not only extremely smart, but also good at divination. It is said that he has no plans."

"Divination?" Emperor Wu of Zhou said in surprise, "Old Zheng doesn't seem to be good at divination."

"Old Zheng's youngest son is self-taught."

"Self-taught?" Emperor Wu of Zhou said in surprise, "That's really amazing."

"This kid is really smart, and he is proficient in many things. It is said that he learned it by himself. Lao Zheng and the others didn't teach him anything." He Xiang sighed, "This kid is a genius!"

Hearing He Xiang praise Zheng Xilin's youngest son so much, Emperor Wu of Zhou became a little curious about Zheng Qian.

"Then how do you plan to arrange Lao Zheng, a genius son?"

"He doesn't need my minister's arrangement." He Xiangyan said, "He said he came to the capital to find the lord."

"Looking for the lord?" Emperor Wu of Zhou asked in surprise, "Who is his lord?"

"I don't know. Before he came to the capital, he made a fortune for himself, and learned that the master he wanted to serve was in the capital, so he came to the capital with his two brothers." He Xiang continued, "At present, he plans to take the imperial examination, and then Challenge the students of Taixue."

"Is he planning to go to Taixue to kick the gym?"

"That's right, otherwise he will challenge all the academies in the capital." He Xiang said with a smile, "When this kid was in his hometown, he often went to the academies to kick the hall..."

He Xiang told Zhou Wudi what Zheng asked them to tell him.

After hearing this, Emperor Wu of Zhou showed a shocked look on his face.

"I didn't expect Lao Zheng's youngest son to be so arrogant."

Taishi Liu frowned, and said with a somewhat unsightly expression: "Lao Zheng's youngest son is a troublemaker. If you don't take good care of him, I'm afraid he will disturb the peace of the capital."

Emperor Wu of Zhou raised his brow on the right side and said: "Old Zheng did it on purpose. He deliberately sent his careless young son to the capital to harm us."

He Xiang agreed with Emperor Wu of Zhou's statement: "I guessed that Lao Zheng couldn't control his youngest son, so he let his youngest son harm the capital."

Emperor Wu of Zhou snorted coldly: "Old Zheng is still as old and cunning as ever, but isn't he afraid that something will happen to his youngest son?"

"Old Zheng probably hopes that his youngest son will have an accident, so that his youngest son will become honest." He Xiang said, with a look of regret on his face, "I feel that I was tricked by Lao Zheng, and Lao Zheng deliberately put him on the ground." This youngest son of a hot potato was thrown to the minister." Although Zheng Xilin told He Xiang that he should not care about his three sons, but as a good friend, He Xiang could really ignore his three sons.

Grand Master Liu gloated from the side and said, "I told you that Lao Zheng has no good intentions in letting his three sons come to the capital."

"If Lao Zheng's youngest son really did something that violated the law, I will never forgive you lightly." He Xiang said, sighing slightly, "I hope that there are students in Taixue who are smarter than Lao Zheng's youngest son. , poke his spirit."

Grand Master Liu has met Lao Zheng's youngest son and also inspected him, he is indeed a genius.

"Not too possible."

Emperor Wu of Zhou said sarcastically, "Old He, just ask for blessings."

He Xiang didn't want to talk about Zheng Xilin's youngest son anymore, so he changed the subject and got back to business.

After finishing the business, He Xiang and Grand Master Liu returned to Lanyuan Pavilion.

When he returned to the mansion in the evening, He Xiang asked Zheng to invite them over.

He Xiang handed Zheng Rang's letter of appointment to him, and said in a gentle voice, "From today onwards, you will be the prime minister's conscript. Starting tomorrow, come to court with me."

Zheng Rang hurriedly stood up, and solemnly saluted He Xiang: "Uncle, thank you!"

"You are the best thank you to me for doing a good job."

"Don't worry, my nephew will work hard and never disappoint your expectations." Zheng Rang's face was calm, but his heart was full of excitement.The prime minister's conquest is the first step for him to display his ambition, and he will definitely perform well.

"I'll wait." He Xiang looked at Zheng Cheng again and said, "The emperor has agreed for you to work in Shangfangling, and you can go to Shangfangling to work tomorrow."

Zheng Cheng's face was full of joy.He also made a big gift to He Xiang: "Thank you uncle."

"Shangfang Ling has recruited the best craftsmen in the world, and you will definitely learn a lot when you go there."

"That's exactly what my nephew is looking for." Zheng Cheng is not interested in being an official, nor in reading, he just wants to be a craftsman.

"Brother Qian, do you have confidence in taking the imperial examination tomorrow?"

"Yes." Zheng Qian was a bit polite to an elder like He Xiang.

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in Taixue, you will not be disappointed." Let him harm Taixue.

Zheng Qian said lightly: "I hope."

He Xiang began to tell Zheng Rang about the rules in the palace.Although I said it before, they will all enter the palace tomorrow, so he has to say it again.

After talking about the rules, He Xiang inspected the etiquette they had learned in the past few days.

After arriving in the capital, Zheng asked the three brothers to learn etiquette.They have always lived in the country, used to being idle and free, and have never learned the etiquette and rules of court and palace.

Before they came to the capital, He Xiang invited a well-mannered gentleman for them.

If you don't learn etiquette well, you are not qualified to be an official in the court.Furthermore, it will cause trouble or danger to yourself.

Zheng let them understand the importance of etiquette and rules, and they have learned it very seriously in the past few days.

Although Zheng Qian was dismissive of etiquette and rules, he was forced to learn by his two elder brothers.

Early the next morning, Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng followed He Xiang to the palace.As for Zheng Qian, other members of the He family accompanied him to the Taixue to participate in the assessment.

At the gate of the palace, many ministers had already arrived.

When the ministers saw He Xiang appearing with two strange young men, they all curiously asked He Xiang who these two young men were.

He Xiang introduced to the ministers that they were Zheng Xilin's eldest son and second son.

When the ministers heard that it was Zheng Taiwei's son, they all showed surprise expressions.

Seeing the ministers staring at them, Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng couldn't help feeling a little panicked, but they were very calm in front of them.

Under He Xiang's introduction, they saluted and greeted the ministers obediently and politely.

The ministers were very curious about Zheng Rang and the two of them, but even more curious about their father.They asked a lot about Zheng Taiwei, such as Zheng Taiwei's health?When will Taiwei Zheng come back...

Seeing that the ministers cared so much about their father, Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng sighed in their hearts: It seems that their father is very respected in the court.

The arrival of Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng caused quite a stir among the ministers.

Both the crown prince and Dai Wang put their ideas on Zheng Rang and his brothers, trying to win them over.

Of course, what they fancy is not Zheng Rang and Zheng Cheng, but Zheng Xilin behind them.

Zheng Xilin was not only respected and reused by Emperor Wu of Zhou, but also supported by ministers, and even had a very high reputation among the people.

Leaving aside these things, let's talk about Zheng Xilin's ability.

If he can get Zheng Xilin's guidance, then the throne will be in his pocket.

　There is one more tonight.

　　Zheng Xilin: Without my youngest son by my side, life is really comfortable.

　　He Xiang: (╯‵ ′)╯︵┻━┻ You old fox, you actually let your youngest son harm me!
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(End of this chapter)