The importance of large bridges to the Tang Empire is self-evident, whether it is the normal laying of railways, or the convenient passage of roads, are inseparable from large bridges, and there are many water systems in the Tang Dynasty, which means that there are many places that need to build large bridges, especially where the circulation of people and goods is more frequent, it is most necessary to build bridges. Pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info

In the past, due to the limitations of materials and technology, it was almost impossible to build bridges on a relatively large water system, but now, with the successful development and production of reinforced concrete, this wish has been realized and is being implemented.

Since large bridges can be built successfully and gradually popularized throughout the Tang Dynasty, it is necessary to have a special agency responsible for the work of bridges to promote the rapid and steady development of bridges and reflect the importance of the imperial court to large bridges.

Long before the construction of the Luoshui Railway Bridge, Li An had already considered the importance of establishing a bridge-building yamen, but because there was too much preparation before the bridge, Li An was delayed too much time, so that Li An temporarily gave up this idea, concentrated on thinking about how to build the Luoshui Railway Bridge, and was busy going to the vicinity of Luoshui to guide the bridge-building work.

This time he suddenly returned to Chang'an City, in addition to going to the R&D center to solve various problems encountered by craftsmen in the R&D process, and urging the research and development of bridge construction machinery, there was also a purpose, that is, to make a statement to the emperor and set up a special bridge-building yamen, just like the railway bureau of the Inner Servant Province.

However, what Li An didn't expect was that not only did he think of this problem, but Guo Xuji, the waiter of the Ministry of Works, also thought of it, in order to make the bridge-building yamen subordinate to the Ministry of Industry, he did not hesitate to wait for him at the Chang'an City Railway Station to convince himself to support the bridge-building yamen to belong to the Ministry of Industry.

I have to say that Guo Xuji, an old fox, is still quite discerning, and he can actually see the glory of the Tang Bridge career in the future, and catch it in his hands early, so as to make himself famous in history.

Just imagine, if Guo Xuji can live a few more years, under his personal guidance, the Yellow River and the Yangtze River Bridge have been successfully built one after another, so that the name Guo Xuji will be remembered by history, and the name Guo Xuji will be linked to the first Yellow River Bridge in the Tang Dynasty, so as to continue to circulate.

Li An didn't care which department the bridge-building yamen belonged to, but since Guo Xuji could wait for him at the Chang'ancheng Railway Station against the cold wind, he felt that it was also a good choice to belong to the bridge-building yamen under the Ministry of Industry, after all, when the Railway Bureau was established before, a large number of talents were withdrawn from the Ministry of Industry, which caused heavy losses to the Ministry of Industry.

It's just that Li An is not sure that the emperor thinks the same way, so he can't give Guo Xuji any promises, so as not to fail to fulfill them, let Guo Xuji down, and complain about himself.

"Li Shilang, since the establishment of the Railway Bureau, from the Ministry of Engineering to transfer a large number of talents, our Ministry of Industry has suffered heavy losses, this time the establishment of the bridge-building yamen, is bound to also need the talents of our Ministry of Industry, if the bridge-building Yamen can not belong to the Ministry of Industry, my Ministry of Industry will have no one."

Guo Xuji's face was pitiful, standing in the cold wind like a leaf that was about to fall at any time.

Li An couldn't bear to make Guo Xuji sad, and said: "Guo Shilang doesn't have to worry, this official promised you that he would fight for the Ministry of Industry in front of His Majesty, and I believe Your Majesty will definitely agree." ”

"Oh, so thank you Li Shilang, it's better to choose a day than to hit the day, it's better to enter the palace now to meet Your Majesty, and give the matter of building the bridge and yamen."

Guo Xuji struck while the iron was hot and said with a smile.

"It's getting dark, is that appropriate?"

Li An was shocked by Guo Xuji's positivity, at this time, the emperor may be playing with his concubines in the backyard, and it seems very inappropriate to rush to disturb him.

"Don't hide it from Li Shilang, there are many people staring at the bridge-building yamen now, and even the people of the nine temples and five supervisors are staring at it, saying that they want to organize the construction of the bridge and change it to the nine temples and six prisons, so, if it is not determined as soon as possible, I am afraid that it will have a long night and many dreams!"

Guo Xuji said nervously, he was worried that after Li An returned to the other courtyard, he would be brainwashed by the officials of various departments who came to the door, so as to make a decision that was unfavorable to the Ministry of Industry, so that the chance of the Ministry of Industry getting the bridge building yamen was much lower.

"Okay, well, since Guo Shilang is going to enter the palace so late, this official will accompany him, let's go! Enter the palace. ”

Li An readily agreed to Guo Xuji, and immediately went to Daming Palace together to meet Emperor Li Longji.

Coincidentally, Li Longji did not rest at this time, nor did he hug left and right, but was thinking about the matter of building a bridge, just in the past few days, many ministers proposed to set up a special bridge-building yamen, mainly responsible for building large bridges, that is, strategic bridges, but the ministers' opinions are not unanimous, the Ministry of Industry, the capital water supervisor, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs are competing for this errand, in addition, some ministers suggested that the bridge construction supervisor should be directly formed, and the six departments of Shangshu and the five supervisors of the nine temples are at the same level, so as to reflect the importance of the imperial court to the bridge-building cause.

Li Longji was very hesitant about how to build the bridge yamen, and all the ministers who made suggestions were very reasonable, which can be described as conclusive, which made him feel that he had to listen to Li An's opinion, after all, the large bridge was designed and built by Li An, and in this regard, Li An would definitely be able to put forward better opinions.

"How long has it been since Li Shilang went to Luoyang City?"

Li Longji looked at Gao Lishi beside him and asked.

"Everyone, Li Shilang has been gone for half a month."

Gao Lishi hurriedly replied, Li Longji could not remember the date of Li An's departure, but as a henchman eunuch who was serving, Gao Lishi had to remember that this was necessary to be a slave.

"Oh, it's been half a month, so long?"

Li Longji frowned, Li An has rarely been able to leave the capital for so long in the past year or so.

"Everyone, do you need to send someone to Luoyang to let Li Shilang come back?"

Li Longji shook his head and said: "No, there is no need, building a bridge is important, and Li Shilang can't be distracted, I still hope to see the bridge earlier?" ”

In Li Longji's view, there is no need to rush the formation of the bridge-building yamen, and it is not possible to interfere with Ang Lee's bridge-building plan because of this trivial matter that is not urgent.

"Everyone, Li Shilang and Guo Shilang ask to see each other outside the palace."

A little eunuch hurried in.

"What, Ang Lee is back?"

Li Longji completely ignored Guo Xuji and asked excitedly.

"Yes, everyone, as soon as Li Shilang got off the train, he accompanied Guo Shilang to the palace and waited outside the main hall?"

"Haha! This Guo Xuji is quite fast, Li Shilang just got off the train, and he was met by him, what a coincidence! ”

Li Longji laughed.

"Everyone, the old slave heard that in recent days, Guo Shilang will go to the train station every evening, and will not leave until the train enters the station, it turns out that he is waiting for Li Shilang!"

Colliers laughed as well.

"Oh, I actually wait at the train station every day, this Guo Xuji is very determined, but it is worth it to convince Li An earlier."

Li Longji smiled and motioned for the little eunuch to announce that the two of them would come to meet him.

"Weichen Li An and Guo Xuji see Your Majesty."

"Hurry up, Li Shilang, why did you suddenly return to the capital, how is the Luoshui Bridge being built?"

Li Longji ignored Guo Xuji and greeted Li An directly.

"Your Majesty, everything is going well with the Luoshui Bridge, it will be completed in a few months, and the canal bridge can be built after completion."

Li An hurriedly replied.

"Okay, Li Shilang, but there is a need, although I proposed to me, these bridges are extremely important to the Tang Empire, and they must definitely be built as a priority."

Li Longji wants to give the green light to Li An'an and fully support Li An, so as to ensure the large-scale popularization of strategic bridges in Datang.

"Your Majesty, Wechen returned to the capital this time, firstly, because the bridge construction has entered a stable stage, and Wechen has nothing to do there, secondly, the R&D center needs Wechen's guidance, and thirdly, it is for the establishment of the bridge yamen."

Li An said the reason for his sudden return to the capital, and subconsciously looked at Guo Xuji beside him.

"Your Majesty, the formation of the bridge-building yamen is imperative, and the ministers have the courage to recommend themselves and are willing to share your Majesty's worries."

Guo Xuji hurriedly agreed.

Li Longji glanced at Guo Xuji and looked back at Li An: "Guo Shilang has been waiting at the train station for so many days, it seems that he has not waited in vain!" Li Shilang was able to enter the palace with Guo Shilang, and it seems that he supported the attribution of the bridge-building yamen to the Ministry of Industry. ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, Wechen was indeed moved by Guo Shilang's sincerity and supported the transfer of the Bridge Yamen to the Ministry of Industry to make up for the losses caused to the Ministry of Industry when the Railway Bureau was formed, and Weichen believes that Guo Shilang will definitely be able to do a good job in building the bridge Yamen."

Li An Zhengse said.

"Your Majesty, the minister will definitely live up to expectations and do a good job of building the bridge and yamen."

Guo Xuji expressed his eagerness.

Li Longji pondered for a moment, looked at Guo Xuji, and asked, "I want to hear what Guo Shilang has about the bridge-building yamen, and how to promote the development of the bridge-building yamen in the future." ”

"Your Majesty, the minister will personally urge his subordinates to conscientiously repair every bridge, severely punish the corrupt and irresponsible, and the minister will personally go to the place where the bridge was built to deploy the bridge repair ......"

Guo Xuji said a bunch of big words, and there was nothing to say.

Li Longji shook his head, and said: "I don't care which department the bridge-building yamen belongs to, what I care about is how to quickly build enough large bridges to facilitate the lives of the people, in fact, Li Shilang is the most suitable for organizing the construction of the bridge yamen, however, Li Shilang needs to be responsible for too many things, but there are some doppelgangers who lack skills, since Li Shilang supports the construction of the bridge Yamen belongs to the Ministry of Industry, then it belongs to the Ministry of Industry!" What's the name? ”

"Your Majesty, otherwise call it Hashibe! In this way, the four departments under the Ministry of Industry became five. ”

Ang Lee opened his mouth to suggest.

Datang's Ministry of Industry is divided into four departments, namely the Ministry of Industry, Tuntian, Yu and Water, and now there is another bridge department.

"Okay, let's call it Hashibe! However, the position of Hashibe Langzhong is higher than that of the other four, so it will be determined to be the top five ranks! ”

Li Longji made the decision very happily.

The four subordinate institutions of the Ministry of Industry of the Tang Dynasty, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Tuntian, the Ministry of Yu and the Ministry of Water, are all from the five ranks, and the bridge Langzhong is set as the five grades of the upper rank, which is obviously the highest position, and the status in the Ministry of Industry is second only to the Ministry of Industry Shangshu and the Ministry of Industry Shilang, from the grade of this official position, it can be seen that the imperial court attaches great importance to the Ministry of Bridge.

"Your Majesty Xie trusts, Weichen will do his best to complete the formation of the bridge department and build more bridges for Datang."

Guo Xuji knelt down excitedly to thank him, he had waited too long for this day.

Li Longji didn't have time to pay attention to Guo Xuji, and the division of the bridge into the Ministry of Engineering was completely to give Li An's face, after all, all this was created by Li An, and he couldn't refute Li An's face.

"Li Shilang, Luoshui Bridge must be very magnificent! I wonder what it will look like after it is finished? ”

Li Longji asked very curiously, he wanted to know what the Luoshui Bridge would look like after it was built, and he couldn't wait.

"Your Majesty, Weichen has asked the carpenter to carve out the appearance of the Luoshui Bridge, and now it is outside the hall and presents it."

Li An had already prepared, and before he came back, he had already asked the carpenter to carve the Luoshui Bridge according to the drawings to dedicate it to Li Longji, so that Li Longji could enjoy it in advance.

"Oh, it's been carved, Li Shilang is really thoughtful!"

Li Longji stood up happily and looked at the wooden bridge model that was presented to him, and felt greatly surprised.

"Li Shilang, such a big bridge, with only these thin pillars underneath, can it really guarantee safety?"

Li Longji found that the model of the Luoshui Bridge in front of him was different from the Longshouqu Bridge he saw a few days ago, this bridge has more supports, but it is also more loose and thin, and it looks as if it is difficult to support the bridge deck.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Wechen has carefully calculated, these pillars are enough to support the bridge, and even if there are pedestrians standing on it, it will definitely not collapse."

Li An replied confidently, and pointed to the bridge and introduced: "Your Majesty, the bottom layer is a railway lane, after paving the rails, the train can pass freely in it, but pedestrians and carriages and horses must not pass, so as not to interfere with the normal operation of the train, the upper layer is a road, which is specially for pedestrians and carriages and horses, so that the train and pedestrians and horses go separately, there will be no danger, and the two sides of the bend are the approach bridges of the road, in order to reduce the slope, while avoiding interference with the passage of the train track, the maximum distance between the piers of the main bridge." It is three times the width of the boat, and the boat can pass between the two piers, and the distance between the water surface and the bottom of the bridge is much larger than the height of the boat, so the boat will not hit the bottom of the bridge. ”

"The two-story road, the train and the pedestrian carriage walk separately, and the bottom of the bridge does not affect the passage of boats. In the entire Datang, I can't find a second person! ”

After listening to Ang Lee's introduction, Li Longji was amazed by the Luoshui Bridge and praised Ang Lee as a rare talent in the Tang Dynasty.