Chapter 149: Protecting the River and Transporting Money

Yu Qian and Zhang Jing once again measured the embankment with the soles of their feet to analyze the local geology of the Hutuo River.

The geology of this generation is similar to the soil on the Loess Plateau, and even looser than the soil of the Loess Plateau, which seems to be intact land. But under the impact of the current, it can be detached layer by layer. It's like a mille-feuille peeled off layer by layer.

After Zhang Jing broke the embankment for the first time, he had already weighted the rammed earth layer and laid wooden stakes under the rammed earth layer. The inside of the embankment is covered with wooden frames and stones as a buffer. There are also layers of straw mats on top of the embankment. However, they are all more than ten zhang wide. The huge silica was put down.

Secured with an iron anchor.

In this way, the flood water does not rush directly on the levee.

This technique was already developed and perfected in the Song Dynasty.

It can be said that Zhang Jing has done everything he can. Let Yu Qian look at it, and he can't see any flaws. But in the face of the special geological structure here, it cannot withstand it.

Zhang Jing's face was heavy, and he said: "My lord, if you want to come, there is only one way, replace the embankment with a stone embankment, and use more iron to lay the foundation." ”

Yu Qian said: "Stone embankment, iron. ”

Everything Zhang Jing said was automatically converted into money in Yu Qian's ears.

Iron is not cheap, two cents of silver per catty, and the price fluctuates according to different places. And if it really wants to be used in engineering, it is ten thousand catties, one hundred thousand catties, and even not enough.

After all, it depends on the unit, but it is a catty, not a ton.

Not to mention anything else, the price of iron alone is more than 10,000 taels.

Although the imperial court smashed the gold and silver mountains into Hebei, the amount of engineering in various places was too large, and even if the people were servant, rations, tools, materials, etc., all needed to be prepared.

In the six years of orthodoxy, nearly eight million taels of money seems to be a lot, but after being distributed to each place, it is not much.

Throwing hundreds of thousands of taels on this Hutuo River will greatly exceed the budget.

Money is always not enough to spend.

Zhang Jing looked at Yu Qian's face cautiously, and Yu Qian pondered for a moment and said, "I want to find a way to make iron." You can do things with peace of mind. Yu Qian seemed to remember that the Ministry of Industry had stored a considerable amount of iron. If you can get some from the Ministry of Industry, you don't have to buy them from the private sector.

Hebei successfully passed the flood season, and the news reached Beijing.

Zhu Qizhen finally breathed a sigh of relief. I felt that my heart was hanging, and I finally let go. For Baoding, Wen'an, surrounded by heavy water, has already broken the Hutuo River, Zhu Qizhen has felt extremely relieved.

Although in later generations, the accident is still very serious. But in this day and age, it's already quite good, at least better than last year, within the expected range.

However, for the Hutuo River bursting its banks. Zhu Qizhen is still relatively uncomfortable.

but

It is since Yu Qian protected Zhang Jing. Based on his trust in Qian, Zhu Qizhen naturally still has to be against Qian.

It's just that in this way, it's not very easy to do.

Faced with the gossip of many officials.

Zhu Qizhen had no choice but to summon Yang Pu and Cao Nai. Wang Zhi. Specifically solve all kinds of problems about Yu Qian.

The first thing to talk about is the matter of Zhang Jing Hutuo River.

Zhu Qizhen said to the two: "Zhang Jing's resume, I have also seen it, he is a capable minister, since this is the case, it is better to use life than to be familiar, Yu Qian looks at people, I still believe it." ”

Yang Pu said: "Your Majesty is wise, after the minister goes back, he will tell the ministers and let the ministers know His Majesty's heart." ”

Zhu Qizhen saw that Yang Pu was so good at talking. I was relieved.

It's just that he doesn't know that such an old and cunning person, he wants to engage someone, and he has always been very patient. Today, the emperor speaks and suppresses the speaker, is it a good thing for Qian?

No. It can only make many officials' grievances against Qian deeper and deeper.

Yang Pu knew that whether it was the imperial court or His Majesty, it was inseparable from Yu Qian now. But there is always a time to leave.

What Yang Pu has to do now is to hold it, hold it all the time, and hold it until one day, Yu Qian's great merit is in his body, but the hundred officials are excited.

Let Zhu Qizhen make a choice.

At that time, Zhu Qizhen may not be able to keep Yu Qian.

The calculations under Yang Puci's eyebrows may only be detected by Yang Shiqi.

Zhu Qizhen felt that Yang Pu was concerned about the overall situation, and the relationship between Yang Pu and Yu Qian was awkward, Zhu Qizhen knew it, and he had no intention of mediating for them, because he didn't need it.

There is a little discord among the people below, which is not too bad for Zhu Qizhen.

Zhu Qizhen immediately said: "Wu Xing, the governor of Caoyun, impeached Yu Qian, saying that Yu Qian wantonly discharged floods and washed away the canal, resulting in the canal being impassable. What should I do about this matter? ”

This is not the first of its kind.

It can be said that since the beginning of Hebei's water control, there has been no shortage of contradictions between the water control project and the canal system.

Wu Xing can also be regarded as a veteran of the Ming Dynasty and a person trusted by the Empress Dowager. He also knows the general situation, and he suppressed many conflicts, at least there was no mutual conflict between the chief military officer of Caoyun and the governor of Zhili.

After all, it was the emperor who single-handedly promoted the project. On the contrary, for Qian, it is to have a conflict with the emperor. But Wuxing has no choice.

If you look closely at the canals of the Ming Dynasty, you will find that the canals perfectly bypass the lake, not directly through the lake to the north, but to build a river next to the lake.

It's not just Triangle Lake here. This is the case with many lakes in Shandong.

This is the embodiment of the general principle of protecting the river and transporting it.

Why not go directly through the lake, first of all, it is all lakes, and it may not be a suitable voyage

Dao, don't say anything else, just the triangle lake, a piece of ** in the rainy season, and a dry season, it will become a muddy field.

Such a lake, how to pass the boats.

Secondly, it is to walk by the lake, which is to use the lake to regulate the water volume of the canal.

You know, the Grand Canal is a very complex system, in which the flow of water is not imaginary, from south to north, or from north to south. The water flow is very complicated.

Moreover, the canal has to pass through ships, and it is necessary to ensure a certain water level, and the water is too waterlogged, and the water is too little to float the boats. Think about it, this has to be manually adjusted.

But no matter how manual it is, it needs to use water. Whether it is because the lake water is injected into the canal, the excess canal water is discharged.

This is an irresolvable contradiction.

For Wuxing, Hebei is completely flooded, and there is nothing to do. His task was to transport the grain to Beijing on time and in the right amount.

As for Qian, what Cao Yun has to do with him, he only needs to be responsible for the people of Hebei.

This was the case this time, and the canal was suspended for a month. If Wu Xing preemptively impeached Yu Qian, this unfavorable crime would be smashed on him.

Therefore, he knew that Yu Qian's holy family was there. But I still wrote this impeachment note.

However, Zhu Qizhen looked at Wuxing's twists and turns, but he saw the two words of grievances between the lines of Wuxing, and the focus was on exonerating himself, not saying how Yu Qian was not. excused Yu Qian everywhere, but implied everywhere that the court knew the general situation, while Yu Qian did not understand the general situation.

When Zhu Qizhen saw it at that time, he had a feeling in his heart: "This Wuxing has found a good master, this kind of writing that is clearly praised and depreciated, and there is a needle hidden in the cotton, may not be written by Wuxing." ”

However, it is normal for Wu Xing, as a general in the army, to have several staff.

Yang Pu said: "According to the old practice, when Yu Qian is reprimanded, let him restore the canal and let the grain arrive in Beijing on time. ”

Zhu Qizhen also knew that this was because the grain was too important. It is so important that as long as the grain is cut off for three months, the rations of the people in Beijing cannot be maintained.

Therefore, everything must be conceded for Cao Yun.

However, Yang Pu's words are very interesting, and he emphasizes the old examples. knew that it was impossible for Zhu Qizhen to come according to this method.

Zhu Qizhen said: "Then what should I do now? ”

Yang Pu said: "Now most of the granaries of the household department are full, although it has not yet reached 10 million stones, but it is enough to support the people of Beijing. It's just such a thing, but it is the responsibility of Wu Xing and Yu Qian. As a magistrate, Yu Qian also has the responsibility of guarding the grain. However, both sides are on official business, and after the reprimand, the two sides will be relieved, so that they can cooperate sincerely to protect the grain to Beijing without delay. ”

Zhu Qizhen secretly said in his heart: "It's really a good job." It's just not what I want. ”