My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Although there are only two words in the name of water transportation, it is connected with all the yamen in the capital, both inside and outside.

From the cabinet to the six ministries, then to the General Affairs Department, the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and even to Dongchang, Jinyiwei, and the twenty-four yamen in the palace.

Among the many imperial yamen, there are few who are not involved, and some are just superficial issues.

Although the reform of water transportation seemed to have been discussed by the cabinet, it was reported to the emperor and received imperial approval.

But in essence, Xu Guangqi, as the Minister of Industry, is just an actor.

The real director is still the emperor.

With a script in hand, Xu Guangqi began his performance.

The first place where he took action on water transport was in Tongzhou.

Two thousand soldiers were borrowed from the urban construction camp in Nanhaizi and sent to Tongzhou, and the director of the Ministry of Industry was asked to take over the Tonghui River Wharf.

Tonghui River, known as Jinshui River in Yuan Dynasty and Yuhe River in Ming Dynasty, was excavated by Guo Shoujing and Guo Shenxian.

It starts from Kunming Lake in Changping, passes through Jishuitan, passes Chongwenmen to the east, turns southeast at Yangzha Village in Chaoyang District, and enters Luhe River after arriving at Zhangjiawan Village in Tongzhou.

This is the main channel connecting Beijing and Tongzhou Granary.

After the soldiers arrived, Xu Guangqi had people impound all passing ships at Tongzhou Pier.

According to the emperor's script, this is to first find out how many ships are floating on the canal.

Small folk sailboards are not counted, only large boats with more than 100 materials are counted.

One material is one stone, one hundred and twenty kilograms, and one hundred materials is a ship with a carrying capacity of more than twelve thousand kilograms.

In the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry, Xu Guangqi held a tea cup in his hand and looked at the many officials sitting below with strange eyes.

The fourth division of the Ministry of Industry is Yingzhuan, Yuheng, Dushui, and Tuntian.

At this moment, all the officials, big and small, including the lieutenant, the lieutenant, the chief of each department, and even the servants are all there.

"Sir, do you really want to do this?"

Looking at Xu Guangqi sitting at the top, the doctor from the Dushui Qingli Division calmly looked at the people around him and was the first to ask.

"It cannot be said that nine out of ten boats on the Tonghui River are privately built. At least half of them are privately built. If they are all registered, it will be evidence of our Ministry of Industry's crimes."

"Yes, Master Yao is right."

As soon as Yao Jianyu finished speaking, another person spoke.

"If the registered number is different from what is reported by the local health stations, I will be held responsible."

As the two spoke, a group of people echoed behind them.

Water transportation is a piece of meat, and there are few people in the entire Ministry of Industry who have not been involved.

"What are you afraid of?"

Hearing this, Xu Guangqi put down the tea cup in his hand.

"You will all be transferred to the Ministry of Industry later this year. What does the previous accounts have to do with you?"

With that said, Xu Guangqi looked at the crowd and said.

"The Dushui Cleaning Department will check all the account books, official documents, and letters of the Ministry of Industry related to water transportation and river yamen. If there are any flaws, they will write them immediately and make a new calculation."

"Yes!"

The chief official of Dushui Qing Dynasty immediately responded loudly.

"Those who manage the Qing Dynasty Bureau should go to the wharf of Tonghui River to inspect all passing ships, register them, and issue certificates of compliance. If there is any disobedience, the ships will be impounded!"

"Yes!"

Yu Weicheng, the doctor of the camp and repair department, stepped forward and agreed.

Putting down the tea cup in his hand, Xu Guangqi stood up and said.

"Everyone, I have the trust of Your Majesty and I am in charge of rectifying the water transportation. If any problems arise, they must be reported immediately and you are not allowed to make decisions without authorization. This matter is important. I hope that all my colleagues can work together and avoid causing trouble!"

"Yes!"

For more than half a year, Xu Guangqi's control over the Ministry of Industry has been fairly good, and no one has publicly come out to oppose him. Immediately, the Ministry of Industry mobilized as a whole, put aside all other tasks, and regarded water transportation as a top priority. The business and seriousness were unprecedented.

The Ministry of Industry has made a big move, coupled with various rumors about water transportation in Beijing recently.

In an instant, the news that Xu Guangqi had seized the ship spread throughout the capital.

Naturally, those who will be most affected are the major owners of ships on the canal.

Jingdong, inside a rather impressive teahouse.

On a tea table, a group of luxuriously dressed people were gathered around the table.

"Have you heard? The Ministry of Industry wants to register all shipping ships!"

"Then Xu Guangqi has obeyed the imperial decree to rectify water transportation and allow private merchants to participate in water transportation, but what does he mean by detaining our ship?"

"Nowadays, every wharf and water horse station in the capital is full of people from the Ministry of Industry's Yamen. As long as the ship is not suitable, the goods and people will be detained immediately, and the ship will not be allowed to leave the wharf!"

"My boat has also been impounded. It's no use asking many people to explain it. I have to wait for time to register it."

A group of small merchants who depended on the canal for food had no power to resist the Ministry of Industry's actions.

At the same time, at Han Xu's mansion.

Zhao Nanxing and Han Xu were sitting in front of the desk, frowning.

"Mr. Han, what is Xu Guangqi planning to do? If he doesn't say he wants to allow private merchants to participate in water transportation, why should the court give him money? Why is he detaining all the ships now?"

Looking at Han Xu in front of him, Zhao Nanxing asked in confusion.

"Water transportation will begin this year. If we let him continue like this, it will be difficult to transport grain from the south to the north, and there will be chaos in the capital, Liaodong, and Jiubian."

Hearing this, Han Xu silently shook his head.

"do not know."

Whenever he thought of the cabinet meeting that day, a sense of discord swirled around his head.

“The explanation given by the Ministry of Industry is that each company must register the number of ships and carrying capacity with the Ministry of Industry, so that the Ministry of Industry can coordinate which companies will transport grain this year.”

With a slight movement of his fingers, Han Xu revealed the news he had received.

"And from now on, ships with more than 100 materials on the canal must be registered before they can sail."

"But I think there's something fishy about it."

"Don't worry about whether it's fishy or not."

Seeing that Han Xu still didn't speak, Zhao Nanxing dropped a bombshell.

"I heard that Wu Liangsi has contacted many people and wants to write to His Majesty to order the Household and Labor Department to investigate all money and grain transactions in the past."

"He deserves to die!"

Hearing Zhao Nanxing's words, Han Xu's eyes widened instantly.

Donglin was composed of Shanxi merchants and some soldiers from the southeast.

They have controlled water transportation for more than 20 years and have made money from this for more than 20 years.

The other parties such as the Zhejiang Party, the Soviet Party, the Anhui Party, and the Zhejiang Party have been thinking about how to snatch this piece of cake.

If this was opened for investigation, their losses would be too great.

"You're right, don't worry about the naughty things for now."

After thinking for a while, Han Xu just spoke.

"Tell those people to take advantage of this opportunity to register as soon as possible and register all those ships under various shipping companies."

"Send a letter to the state capitals below and ask them to smooth out the shipbuilding accounts of various shipyards as soon as possible."

As he said that, Han Xu looked at Zhao Nanxing and said with a hint.

"Even if they want to investigate then, they won't be able to find anything." (End of Chapter)