Great Qing Dynasty talker

Chapter 415 The two enemies joined forces!
The future vision described by Li Yu is like a bombshell.
The civil and military officials attending the meeting were talking about it for a long time.

"My dear ministers, if you have any concerns, please feel free to speak up."

Hu Xueyu asked:
"Your Majesty, this move will surely benefit the people and will be a great achievement for generations to come. However, the scale of this move is rare in the world. I am afraid that it will cost too much and hinder the military operations at the front. After all, our army's current goal is to expand its territory."

Fan Jing immediately agreed.

The two directors of the Agriculture Department and the Water Resources Department were torn.
Such a large-scale investment will benefit the relevant institutions, and as the director, of course I want to applaud.

However, Fan and Huang were a little embarrassed because of their identities, so they didn't dare to say much and simply remained silent.

……

Only Wang Liu, director of the Coal Bureau, had shining eyes and his whole body was shining.

He never thought about it.

The king would spend so much money on people's livelihood~
There have been many large-scale projects in history, and most of them revolve around only two points:

Military, palace.

There are very few cities that can take into account both military and people's livelihood, such as Dujiangyan.

And now,
Your Majesty wants to build Jiangnan into an agricultural paradise with "no flooding during heavy rains, no drought, and a criss-cross network of rivers throughout the region". I should respond without hesitation.

He just raised his head.

I happened to see Li Yu's meaningful look from afar.

Wang Liu's blood boiled, and he stood up:

"I am willing to serve the king."

Everyone's eyes were turned to him with complicated expressions.

……

Li Yu sat back in the high-back chair.
He smiled and said:

"My dear ministers, don't worry too much. Such a grand project cannot be completed in one go. However, whether it takes three years, five years, or twenty years, it will be completed one day."

"I will first allocate 50 taels to dig the first-level river in Suzhou and Songjiang. It will be divided into three directions and eventually flow into the Yangtze River, the East China Sea, and Taihu Lake. The court will only be responsible for the first-level river. After the river network is connected, if the villages want to use water, they can organize their own people to dig the second-level river. Whoever digs will benefit, and the county government can organize and coordinate. However, the direction, width, and depth of the second-level river are all designated by the government, and the people are not allowed to change it without authorization."

Everyone was relieved.

In this way, at least half of the wages can be saved, and when spread over each year, the pressure will be greatly reduced.

Most of the important officials present here are from Jiangsu and Zhejiang and are familiar with the local customs and practices.

If the primary river channels were connected to the network, the naturally hardworking people of Jiangsu and Zhejiang would definitely dig secondary river channels to bring river water to the village entrances.

Then, there is the tertiary river network (capillaries).

Farmers dig by themselves or with the help of neighbors to divert water to the ridges of the fields.

……

Hu Xueyu praised it highly.

He can be sure that the people of Jiangsu and Zhejiang will definitely act according to His Majesty's ideas.

No need for deception, no need for instructions, but true voluntary participation!
Hard work is ingrained in our bones.

As the saying goes:
"As long as the mountains are green, I will not be idle. When I have free time, I will sleep with the mountains."

A good policy should take into account "input-output, feasibility, reciprocity, and foresight", otherwise it will be a castle in the air.

The magnificent scene is meaningless and can only remain on paper and eventually be covered by dust.

It is clear,
Considering the geographical conditions of Jiangsu and Zhejiang and the character of the people, this project will surely succeed.

……

Li Yu knew very well that
The vast empire needs a core area without any shortcomings - Jiangnan.

Agriculture must increase production steadily, industry must cover all sectors, and the people must be absolutely loyal.

In this way, he can free up his hands to expand his territory and kill all the enemies.

Even if there are setbacks and failures, we can make a comeback quickly and let the whole world know the mobilization strength of an industrial country with a population of 3 million.

There are many factors that affect agriculture, but water conservancy is the only factor that cannot be intervened by individual farmers. It must be coordinated and intervened at the court level.

If water conservancy is stable, agriculture will be stable.

If agriculture is stable, industry will be stable.

If the workers and peasants are stable, the army will be stable, and the empire will be stable.

……

"Huang Wenyun."

"The minister is here."

"Survey as soon as possible and come up with a feasible first-class river route."

"Yes. I would like to ask Your Majesty, what should we do if there are farmlands, houses, cemeteries, or even government offices along the route?"

"Compensate according to the price! Tear down everything that's blocking the road!"

"According to the order."

……

"Fan Zhongmo."

"The minister is here."

"Go back and take your people to figure out how to use this project to turn as many lower fields into upper fields as possible and dry land into irrigated land. The planning of the secondary river network is now up to you."

"According to the order."

……

"Wang Liu."

"The minister is here."

"You should also take charge of the Labor Bureau. The work of the Coal Bureau is currently mature and stable, so there is no need to worry too much. Don't go back to Tongling for the time being, and work with Director Huang to manage the river dredging site here."

Wang Liu was stunned for a moment and asked:

"Your Majesty, the Pingxiang coal mine is under construction~"

Li Yu thought for a moment:

"Send a few capable assistants over there, and start work immediately after Pingxiang has cleared out the remaining White Lotus bandits. Ask the Transportation Bureau to cooperate and give priority to building a road from the mining area to Yuanhe. The court is in urgent need of high-quality coking coal. Pingxiang coking coal must arrive in Jiangnan between the turn of spring and summer next year!"

"According to the order."

Pingxiang Anyuan Coal Mine is very famous.

The coking coal here is the high-quality blood of industry.

The transportation conditions are also good. After about ten miles of land transportation, we can use the large water transportation cycle of Yuanhe River - Ganjiang River - Poyang Lake - Yangtze River.

Theoretically, Pingxiang's coking coal can reach any factory in Jiangnan.

……

Suddenly talking about coal mines, Li Yu asked casually:

“What is the supply and demand situation of honeycomb briquettes?”

Wang Liu immediately replied:

"I have calculated that an average family needs 600 to 900 pieces of coal per year. The Coal Bureau has already allowed private merchants to enter this industry, and notified the people in the city to stock up on honeycomb coal in advance every autumn. After following the imperial decree to give priority to metallurgical related industries, the gap is still large, perhaps 4%."

Li Yu was silent for a while:
"Then announce to the Wu Kingdom that starting today, rural farmers are no longer forced to use coal. They can burn dead branches and firewood with honeycomb briquettes. But all cities and towns must burn coal. In addition, the price of honeycomb briquettes will be increased by 2 coins per piece."

"Your Majesty is holy."

The Jiangnan region had abolished corvée labor long ago, and the people living in the city were clearly outside the taxation system.

It is an indisputable fact that the prosperity of commerce and industry has led to a general increase in the income of urban residents.

Commercial taxes are not levied on them.

They won’t be able to harvest the autumn crops.

There is nothing wrong with adding 2 cents to the price of honeycomb briquettes.

Hu Xueyu, who was born as a lawyer in Shaoxing, suddenly felt that he seemed to have touched something extraordinary, but there was just a layer of paper missing that he couldn't break through.

He stared at the table, lost in thought.

……

After the meeting,
Li Yu suddenly thought of someone and asked:
"What is Sima Shang doing recently?"

Minister of Industry Du Ren couldn't help but laugh:

"Your Majesty, this person has been quite diligent recently. It is said that he has done a good job."

"Let's go and have a look together."

The security department prepared the carriage and escort team, and the emperor set off from Daoqian Street~
A team of patrol police led the way, 1 guards were distributed in front and back, and 300 cavalrymen guarded the carriage on the flanks.

As the war progressed,
Li Yu's travels became larger and larger, and he became more and more cautious.

The convoy would not easily drive into the alleys of the city, because the houses were densely packed and the streets were narrow, which was not conducive to security. Generally, they only drove along the wide main roads.

The spies in the Sticking Rod Department scolded Li Yu countless times for being as cowardly as a rat and for making such a big fuss in his old nest.

There is no chance of success in an assassination by force, there is no chance of success in a brothel assassination, and there is no suitable location for arson.

After much thought, the only two possibilities are poisoning and bombardment.

……

"Aren, industry is the key. You have to pay attention to it."

"Your Majesty, rest assured. I have taken care of all the six major categories and 6 minor categories to ensure that there are no shortcomings. I have also introduced a reward system for recruiting technicians and promoting machines."

"Talent is the key! We must attach importance to inventions. We can give them money and official titles to set an example for the world to follow." Du Ren nodded and suddenly said:
"Your Majesty, I have an idea."

"speak."

"The court has now won over some skilled craftsmen, but I am worried that these craftsmen will not be able to integrate into the mainstream of civil servants, or will be excluded and assimilated and polluted."

"what do you mean?"

"I want to set up a separate academy of science. If there are people who don't want to join the civil service and are clumsy and honest, they can study in the academy with official treatment. Maybe it will be good for both sides."

Li Yu smiled:

"I agree, go ahead and do it."

……

Du Ren heaved a sigh of relief, then thought of another person and said:

"Your Majesty, please allow me to report that there is a young doctor with a little reputation. He is famous for his cheap ready-made medicines, which skip the steps of prescribing, picking and decocting medicines. The rich families look down on him, but he is highly respected by the small and medium-sized households."

"Oh? What's his name? What's his background?"

"Wu Ao, native of Jiangsu, is the grandson of an unknown impoverished scholar named Wu Jingzi. He has a unique philosophy of diagnosis and treatment, and is an outlier in the Wu School of Medicine."

"What is this person's temperament like?"

"I see that this person is eager to enter the government."

"I'm not afraid of his ambition, I'm just afraid that he doesn't have the strength to match it." Li Yu was quite excited, "You make arrangements and have him come to see me in two days."

"Yes."

Du Ren still understands Your Majesty very well.

He had long guessed that this man's diagnostic and treatment philosophy was in line with His Majesty's.

……

18st century,

Being able to eat enough food is a happy life.

If one can get proper medicine and treatment when he is sick, he is definitely from a wealthy family.

Famous doctors only sit in the clinic and rarely see patients.

The quack doctors who walk the streets are all general practitioners who can treat people, livestock, and even feng shui.

I also work part-time writing family letters, reading school letters, and taking names.

The business is very extensive.

It is no exaggeration to say that quack doctors and witches account for most of the folk medical treatment, and plasters and incense ash are the best placebos.

Li Yu wanted to make a small change to the current situation.

……

Eunuch played.

It got its name because eunuchs from the Ming Dynasty lived here and collected taxes.

Li Yu immediately saw the newly built toilet at the end of the alley. A thick layer of coal slag was laid at the door to prevent water from passing through.

The left one is male and the right one is female.

After a while, Sima Shang came.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. Long live His Majesty."

Du Ren quickly stated his purpose:

"Sima Shang, His Majesty is here to inspect your work."

"Yes."

Sima Shang calmed himself down and began to report on his work.

As expected of a double-listed Jinshi, he speaks very logically.

"I have adopted a two-pronged approach, preaching and enacting laws at the same time."

"Every morning, the toilets of each household were removed from the city and the government hired migrant workers to remove them and clean them."

"The government office reached an agreement with dozens of farmers outside the city. They paddled into the city every three days to clean toilets and make farm fertilizer. The government office did not charge them a penny, but it also did not give them a penny."

"I have people post a joint notice signed by famous doctors of the Wumen School of Medicine at the entrances of alleys, informing the people that flushing toilets into the river is the source of all diseases. Flushing toilets in the river is not only harmful to oneself, but also to the entire city."

"Anyone who violates the order will be punished with hard labor for six months and the entire family will have to clean toilets."

……

Sima Shang continued carefully:
"It is difficult to control the issue of not drinking raw water. I have thought about it, Your Majesty, please take a look."

After walking a few steps,

On one wall, a slogan was painted with white lime water:
"Drinking boiled water can prolong life, and drinking boiled water can strengthen the poplar."

"If you drink boiled water, you have to pay an extra penny a day to buy coal. If you drink raw water, you have to pay an extra 1 pennies a year to buy medicine."

"Drinking boiled water means being rich, while drinking raw water means being poor."

Sima Shang quickly introduced:
"There are more than 100 wall-painting propaganda sites like this in the city, and it didn't cost a penny."

Everyone present laughed.

Li Yu couldn't help laughing:
"This is white-intentioned deception, and there is nothing wrong with it."

……

Li Yu suddenly asked:

"I heard from the people in the secretariat that you hired a few more old men?"

"Yes. They are all native people with longevity, about 70 years old. I gave them some money and asked them to say that the secret of longevity is to drink boiled water. One of them made his concubine give birth to a healthy baby at the age of 60, which shocked the whole city at that time. This can also be attributed to drinking boiled water."

Sima Shang secretly observed His Majesty's reaction.

Looks normal~
Neither praise nor criticize, that is what works.

He suddenly felt relieved and became more and more aware of His Majesty's pulse.

Working in the Qing court always made the people suffer.

Wu Ting's side is trying to deceive the people again.

Compare the two and make a judgment!
……

Li Yu glanced at the crowded and narrow alley, but ultimately did not go in.

The son of a rich man cannot sit down in the hall.

As the carriage turned away,
He happened to see a low-lying area where sewage had gathered and the water was yellow-green in color.

asked:

"Nowadays, every household in the city burns honeycomb coal. Where do all those coal slags go?"

Sima Shang quickly replied:
"Some were piled outside the doors of houses at the alley entrances, and some were secretly dumped into the river."

"Coal slag is a free paving material. How can we waste it like this?" Li Yu was a little annoyed. For a moment, he actually forgot about this matter. "Announce to all counties and prefectures that muddy and low-lying areas in front of and behind people's houses can be filled with coal slag."

"Your Majesty is holy."

……

Wugong Mountain, Pingxiang County, Yuanzhou Prefecture, Jiangxi Province.

There was a light snowfall and the temperature dropped to freezing point.

4 days ago,

After receiving winter supplies such as cotton-padded clothes, thick military boots, and hats with earmuffs, the 5th Corps of the Wu Army began a planned encirclement and suppression campaign in the mountains with the strength of three battalions.

They went up the mountain from Shenzi Village and fought fiercely with the remnants of Zhang Liyong's Bailian troops at Jinding.

In order to defend the mountain stronghold, Zhang Liyong's troops fought to the death, suffering more than 1400 casualties. This was even though the Wu army had no artillery and the strong wind affected the accuracy of the rifled rifles.

The weather was not good that night and heavy snow suddenly fell.

The Wu army's tents could not withstand the severe cold, so they could only temporarily retreat to Shenzi Village in the valley the next day and continue the encirclement and suppression after the weather cleared.

There were only more than 30 casualties on the battlefield, but more than a hundred people were injured by frostbite and falls.

……

The remnants of the Bai Lian army, feeling deeply terrified, decisively abandoned the mountain stronghold and retreated southwest into the Luoxiao Mountains.

In winter, if you lose your base and warm house, the consequences can be imagined.
We lost countless people along the way.

The two sides of the mountain stand upright,

In the middle of the valley, there are a lot of shabby tents and low huts.

It was a temporary winter campsite built by Zhang Liyong's troops.

This place can avoid the cold wind and just barely avoid freezing to death.

But the ground was covered with snow and food was hard to find.

The ordinary soldiers were numb and desperate. They picked up dead branches to make fires, waded through the snow to hunt in the woods, and struggled to survive.

I dare not leave the mountain, fearing that the Wu army will besiege me.
……

When you are almost in despair,
An unexpected guest arrived.

"A stranger from southern Jiangxi, I come uninvited to meet General Zhang."

"Who are you?"

The man took off his hat, revealing a long, sleek braid.
Smiled:
"I am here on the orders of Ma Zhongyi, the governor of Jiangxi and the general of Nangan Town, to contact the anti-Wu heroes from all sides and join us in this great cause."

(End of this chapter)