The Ming Dynasty started with saving the eldest grandson

Chapter 186 Dinghuang

Why are you going on vacation all of a sudden? It lasted for a month.

The construction period of the new capital is already very tight, and 20,000 people will have to take turns every month.

Now that we have a collective holiday for one month, let alone two years to complete the project, it is hard to say whether it can be repaired in three years.

Faced with doubts, Zhu Biao gave an explanation:

"The winter is cold and the construction speed is already slow. If there is another snowfall, the work will be completely stopped."

"Hundreds of thousands of people are doing nothing here. It's easy to cause trouble. It's better to go home for the holidays."

"This is a collective holiday and all future holidays will be cancelled."

"You can seek your opinions on whether we should take turns to take vacations in the future, or go home together to celebrate the New Year."

The result is of course no doubt, go home for the New Year.

Chinese people attach great importance to the New Year. Whenever they have the choice, they will go home to celebrate the New Year.

Seeing this, the officials could only agree to a one-month holiday.

Those who are close to home and have convenient transportation can go home to celebrate the New Year.

If it is far away and transportation is inconvenient, you can stay and guard the construction site.

Anyone who guards the construction site will be given a New Year's subsidy by the court.

As soon as the news came out, the entire construction site was filled with joy.

But Chen Jingke knew that the real reason why Zhu Biao did this was to help him promote hair shaving.

Progress on Zhu's side was slow, and local promotion was in trouble.

As for Luoyang, all 200,000 soldiers have had their heads shaved and received more than a month of epidemic prevention training.

I have mastered the contents of the epidemic prevention manual.

Giving them a holiday at this time is to let them teach epidemic prevention knowledge to their families.

Normally there are very few people-to-people exchanges.

Different pronunciations are different within ten miles, and customs are different within a hundred miles. This is how this proverb comes from.

Exceptions are made for festivals, especially major festivals such as the Chinese New Year.

People generally go to the market to sell their goods and then buy new year goods to prepare for the New Year.

No matter how poor you are, you will still add a little joy to your family.

To put it sadly, during the Chinese New Year, Yang Bailao would buy Xi'er a new headband.

The market is a place that promotes communication.

When these shaved military households appear together in the market, they will bring an unparalleled impact to the place.

The bureaucrats and gentry will no longer be able to prevent the idea of ​​​​shaving hair from entering the people.

However, this kind of thing cannot be done purely by conscious effort. It is best to let them complete it in the form of tasks.

Otherwise, the opportunity that Zhu Biao helped to fight for will be wasted.

So Chen Jingke called the generals together again:

"Tell the soldiers that when they return home, they must tell their families about epidemic prevention."

"After work resumes next year, I will send people to conduct random inspections."

"If any company is found to be unaware, there will be corresponding penalties."

"If possible, I hope you can organize people to promote epidemic prevention and hair shaving at the local market..."

As soon as the last words came out, Chen Jingke knew it was unnecessary.

With the style of these generals, a showdown would certainly be forced.

Sure enough, after the meeting, these generals gave orders to their subordinates:

After returning home, you must tell your family about the epidemic prevention knowledge, and all the men in the family must shave their hair short.

If anyone is found to have failed, they will be severely punished.

Not only do you have to teach your family, but you also have to go to the market to promote it.

However, it is troublesome to go to the market to promote it, and there is a certain degree of danger.

The flag officer will be responsible for organizing the event.

The headquarters has five small banners with a total of fifty people.

Fifty well-trained regular soldiers, even if they are not allowed to wear armor and go back, have only one spear in their hands, which is beyond the reach of the local clan.

Although Chen Jingke didn't like this kind of forced apportionment, he also knew that it was the most efficient method.

Moreover, many times innovation must be implemented forcefully, otherwise it is easy to fall into endless internal friction.

Two hundred thousand soldiers left Luoyang in batches and returned to their new homes.

Then there are some officials and craftsmen.

Soon the entire construction site became empty, leaving only one person from Qianhusuo to guard it.

Zhu Biao was among the last to leave, and Chen Jingke and Xu Yungong also left with him.

They did not respond directly to the sky, but took a boat and entered the new channel of the Yellow River.

As the crown prince, Zhu Biao will take this opportunity to personally inspect the new river channel.

Li Qi and Bai Ying had received the news early and were waiting at the entrance of the new river embankment. Zhu Ru and Fang Xiaoru were also there.

Everyone boarded the ship, and Bai Ying was responsible for the introduction:

"To be on the safe side, only two-thirds of the water is being introduced into the new channel."

"There is still one-third of the water that continues to enter the Huai River along the old river channel."

“Wait until the river bank is soaked with water and all hidden dangers are eliminated, and then all the water will be introduced into the new river channel.”

"In this way, the Yellow River diversion work will be officially completed, and the old river channel can be abandoned."

Li Qi interjected: "The old river channel is not completely useless. It can be narrowed and used as a canal connecting the Yellow River and Huaihe River."

Zhu Biao said approvingly: "Li Duwei and Jing Ke thought of going together."

"When he originally designed the Yellow River diversion plan, he once said that the old river channel could be transformed into a canal."

Hearing this, everyone except Bai Ying, Xu Yungong and Li Qi were shocked.

What's the meaning? Was it Chen Jingke who proposed the Yellow River diversion plan?

Zhu Rui said in shock: "Brother, did you say that the Yellow River diversion plan was proposed by the teacher?"

Zhu Biao smiled and said: "How about it, you didn't expect it, did you?"

"Jing Ke is not only a good doctor, he is also very capable."

"There are some things that are not convenient for you to know now. You just need to know that he is an indispensable minister of my Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Xi said in disbelief: "Teacher, how many secrets do you have?"

Chen Jingke felt proud, pretending to be calm and said:

"It's just a small suggestion, not worth mentioning."

"Thanks to His Majesty and His Highness's trust for giving me such an opportunity."

Fang Xiaoru was surprised at first, and then showed relief.

Indeed, with Chen Jingke's talent, how could he have done nothing in the palace for so long.

Although I don’t know exactly what he did, it was certainly not just a matter of changing the course of the Yellow River.

The reason why there was no news was that Chen Jingke kept a low profile.

And there are answers to several questions that have always puzzled him.

As Chen Jingke's grandson's companion, why can he leave the palace at will?

Can you also form a small circle of arithmetic and form cliques in an open and honest manner?

Why do you dare to shave your hair without the emperor's permission, and promote shaving with great fanfare?

How could he win the favor of Wei Guogong...

To sum it up in one sentence, why do so many people look at him differently?

Is it just because he has good medical skills?

Now I finally know the reason.

He also remembered another thing. He had always tolerated scolding people before.

Afraid of being scolded too much, those civil servants collectively petitioned to remove him from office.

It's not that he doesn't want to give up his official position, but it's inconvenient to do many things without it.

It's okay now. Since my friend's backstage is so tough, what should I be afraid of?

From now on, I will use all my firepower to scold those rotten scholars.

The fleet went down the new river embankment, and many people could be seen digging canals along the way.

And not just one or two places, but everywhere.

Bai Ying said excitedly: "This is the local government organizing people to dig canals." "Now that the canals are repaired, water from the Yellow River can be diverted to irrigate the fields in spring."

“Thousands of acres of dry land along the Yellow River will be turned into high-quality irrigated fields.”

"Next year Henan, Shandong and southern Peiping (Hebei) will be self-sufficient without the need for government relief."

"In three years, the north will become rich again..."

Hearing these words, the accompanying officials all whispered.

The Yellow River's diversion went from initial rumors to final implementation.

In fact, everyone is very worried. They are afraid that the Yellow River will lose control and that their efforts will end up being useless.

Now the plan has been smoothly implemented, and the diversion of the Yellow River has been successfully completed.

You don’t have to wait a few years to know whether it is good or bad. You can know just by looking at the people who are still enthusiastic about building canals despite the severe cold.

This is truly the merit of all generations.

An official was moved in his heart and stood up and said loudly:

“Man-made diversion of the Yellow River will benefit all people. This is something that has never happened before.”

"Such a feat was accomplished in our Ming Dynasty, all thanks to the wisdom of Your Majesty and His Highness..."

"All the people in the world will be grateful to His Majesty and His Highness for their kindness from generation to generation."

Many people regretted that such a good opportunity to flatter them was snatched away by him.

But he didn't dare to speak slowly, and said together:

"Your Majesty, Your Highness is wise."

Zhu Biao smiled and said: "The ones who should really be grateful are Chen Bandu and Bai Langzhong, as well as everyone who has worked hard for this."

Chen Jingke took the opportunity and said: "Your Highness, why not erect a monument to commemorate this feat."

Others echoed.

Zhu Biao was also very moved, looked around and said:

"That's fine, Xi Zhi has the best literary talent, so you can write the inscription."

Fang Xiaoru did not refuse. Although it was none of his business to build the Yellow River, how could he not participate in such a grand event?

Chen Jingke added: "But the words 'Monument to the Diversion of the Yellow River' must be written by His Highness himself."

Others naturally knew what to say, and they all expressed that it must be written by His Highness himself.

Zhu Biao knew what he meant and said with a smile: "You have also learned how to flatter others."

Chen Jingke said seriously: "This is the intention of all the ministers and ministers. Your Highness, please comply with public opinion and don't upset people's hearts."

Others said: "Yes, yes."

Zhu Biao said helplessly: "I really can't do anything to you. Don't do this again."

Chen Jingke smiled and said: "It's...then who is doing it in a daze? Come and get the pen and ink."

Immediately, a chamberlain brought pen and ink, and Zhu Biao waved his hand and wrote a few big characters.

But it's not a 'Yellow River Diversion Monument', but the words 'Dinghuang Monument'.

"Although I know it is an extravagant hope, I still pray to the sky that the Yellow River will never be in trouble again."

Naturally, everyone was flattering again, His Highness has a kind heart and so on.

After that, Fang Xiaoru finished it in one go and wrote an inscription.

He told what happened, praised Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, and commended Chen Jingke, Bai Ying, Li Qi and others for their contributions.

Naturally, they don't need to worry about erecting the monument. Li Qi, the nominal person in charge, will take care of it.

Follow the new river all the way eastward and enter the boundary of Shandong.

Zhu Biao did not stay, but entered the Grand Canal directly, preparing to return south to Yingtian.

Previously, the Shandong section of the Grand Canal had been partially impassable. The reason was the lack of water in the north.

Without the Yellow River as the main water source, sporadic rivers are simply not enough to support the Grand Canal.

This situation lasted until the Yongle period in the previous life.

Zhu Di sent people to repair the Shandong section.

It was at that time that Bai Ying became an official and helped the court successfully build the Grand Canal.

As a result, I was exhausted.

But this time the Grand Canal was repaired, it was done at the expense of the entire Shandong’s water resources.

The already scarce and precious water resources flow into the Huai River along the Grand Canal, and then flow to the sea.

This has intensified the drought in Shandong.

The Yellow River was successfully diverted in this life, perfectly resolving all problems.

Although the annual flow of the Yellow River is not particularly large, it can meet current social needs.

It can not only irrigate the land, but also support shipping.

Although many years later, the Yellow River will still face sedimentation.

People living on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are always worried about the Yellow River bursting its banks.

But compared to not having water, all disasters are more bearable.

What's more, the next step is to plant grass and trees in the upper reaches of the Yellow River.

Reduce sedimentation as much as possible and control the number of bank breaks.

Therefore, for the people living here, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

After traveling through so many years and planning for so long, we finally got a glimmer of hope for the North.

Looking at the new Yellow River, Chen Jingke was filled with a sense of accomplishment.

When they got here, Bai Ying and Li Qi got off the boat together.

They still have a lot of work to do, and now is not the time to return to Beijing.

Zhu Rui will go back to Beijing with him to celebrate the New Year.

Fang Xiaoru also decided to go and have a look at Yiyingtian. In his words, go and meet the ‘old friends’ for a while.

Chen Jingke knew that he felt uncomfortable writing articles and wanted to criticize people in person.

Chen Jingke originally decided to stay in Henan, and he wanted to personally monitor the epidemic prevention and promotion work.

But Zhu Biao persuaded him:

"When things have reached this point, you have done all you can do. Leave the rest to the soldiers."

Xu Yungong also advised: "Yes, there are 200,000 soldiers, plus their families, there are one million people."

"If so many people can't do it, it's useless for you to stay."

Chen Jingke knew what they said was right, so he put away his worries and returned to Yingtian with the fleet.
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In fact, things went much smoother than he imagined.

And the task was completed very dramatically.

After hundreds of years of turmoil, the North was decimated.

In the 14th year of Hongwu's reign, Henan had only 310,000 households and 1.8 million people. It could be said to be a vast land with a sparse population.

Therefore, it is very easy to settle 200,000 military households and over one million people here.

There will never be a shortage of land.

Because this is the future land of Gyeonggi, the Ministry of Revenue and the Fifth Army Governor's Office are very attentive.

I didn't dare to move my hands or feet when mixing the sand.

It was really a village composed of military households placed next to every ordinary village.

Although the military households are from outside, they have all experienced military training, are stronger in combat effectiveness, and are more united.

If a fight really breaks out, ordinary villages are no match for them.

After these soldiers returned home, they first ran to check the land assigned to them.

Each household has a full quota of 350 acres.

It's all good land, but it's just deserted because no one is cultivating it.

As long as you work harder, you can become a well-off family in the local area within a few years.

Seeing the real land, the soldiers were immediately motivated and their loyalty to the court was also directly increased.

Then I became enthusiastic and devoted myself to epidemic prevention propaganda.

(End of this chapter)