The Yellow River flows through the section of the river outside Bianjing City, and in the early autumn of the seventh year of Taixing (Taixing is the name of the era used by Liang Taizu, the time is equivalent to the seventh year of Tianyou), the surging torrent rushes from the breach to the east of Bianjing, and almost washes away the east wall of Bianjing.

Although the government quickly requisitioned tens of thousands of people to fill the gap, and even built a section of stone embankment to reinforce it, the flooded area washed away the fields and houses, and the river mud silted, leaving behind a series of large and small lakes and ponds.

At that time, Liang Taizu moved the victims to other places to resettle, and divided this area into a royal garden, named Zeyuan, and successively built some pavilions and palaces, raising some moose, foxes, wild boars and other beasts, and occasionally lived to hunt.

After Emperor Zhu Yu of Liang succeeded to the throne, he also liked to go to Zeyuan to act as the state minister, but he mainly used Zeyuan as a garrison for the newly formed forbidden army, and he preferred to personally supervise the drills of the forbidden army in Zeyuan.

In April, it was already the second year that Emperor Zhu Yu of Liang raised troops in Bianjing and ascended the throne, and the fence wall made of willows on the periphery of Zeyuan had grown to some scale.

A large number of watchtower sentry posts were newly set up along the fence, and it was strictly forbidden for nearby villagers to trespass at will.

Through the fence, you can see the open space in the garden, and many new structures like sails have been added.

When you get closer, you can see that each structure has six large sails propped up by vertical poles, and it is spun around in the open space, driving the shaft to make the heavy stone mill below whirring and turning.

If the old man of Yandangji Zhuangyuan was here, he would definitely be able to recognize these structures as the first vertical sail windmill that Han Qian used to cause wind milling rice or mallet hammer forging in Yandangji Manor.

Due to the abundant water in the mountains and streams in Xuzhou, the drop in the terrain ensures that the hydraulic resources are sufficient, and the interior of the valley is blocked by the mountains of Sicai, and the wind is weak.

In the Ze Garden, in the garden around the vertical sail windmill, in the early years, it took a lot of money to collect and plant strange flowers and plants from all over the country, either select some particularly rare ones and transplant them to other places, or directly eradicate them, and at this time they are all planted with a crop with thicker stems, which are developing new leaves vigorously.

This is the cotton formerly known as the white stack.

In the past, cotton was planted in Bianjing, and there was it in Zeyuan, but it was mostly used for ornamentation, and it was rarely planted.

After the cottonseed is ripe, it cracks, like snow wool wool exposed, like a white velvet brocade, which is pleasing to the eye.

Cottonseed shelling and impurities are too complicated, the price is more than silk, but not as exquisite as silk, rich and noble, so there are few spinning cotton households around Bianjing.

However, after the spring, Zeyuan set aside three or four thousand acres of vacant land to plant cotton, which was obviously not planted by Emperor Zhu Yu of Liang to enjoy and play.

Emperor Zhu Yu of Liang even issued an edict requiring counties and prefectures to donate the cotton and seeds planted in their fields to compare the advantages and disadvantages of cotton seeds in various places.

Jing Zhen led people through the gate, galloped into a palace in Zeyuan, and saw the huge open space on the east side of the main hall, building several iron-making furnaces more than a foot high, at this time the hearth was burning a fire, and the black smoke column rose up, and even the east gable of the main hall was smoked black.

Zhu Yu was wearing a short casual clothes, and was squatting in front of the stove with several sweaty craftsmen discussing something, Jing Zhen turned over and jumped off the horse, and couldn't help shaking his head when he saw this scene, thinking that the emperor would not personally rush to Yingzhou to supervise the battle in order to completely annihilate the remnants of Zhu Jue, the king of Bo, and stay in Bianjing to act as the state minister, but he mixed up with the Ministry of Industry and the craftsmen who will be the supervisors all day long, what is the matter?

The tiger lurking beside Han Daoxun, although he felt guilty about Han Daoxun in his heart, and committed suicide in front of Han Qian's eyes soon after escorting Han Daoxun's coffin back to Xuzhou, he still thought of the old country of Daliang and His Majesty's kindness to him, and sent the two volumes of "Heavenly Craftsman Book" to Bianjing through secret channels before returning to Xuzhou.

However, in Jing Zhen's opinion, it is enough for Zhou Daoyuan, Langzhong of the Ministry of Works, Shen Tang, who will be the supervisor of materials, and others to organize craftsmen to verify it, and the emperor must personally intervene in these miscellaneous affairs?

"Jing Zhen, it's just right that you came here, the double furnace method that came out of Xuzhou, we finally tried it - using this method to smelt iron, it is really wonderful, compared to the old method, only three people need to be invested in it, and the same iron can be smelted, and the quality is even much better!" Zhu Yu saw Jing Zhen coming over with someone, and happily beckoned him over, "I have specially ordered Zhou Daoyuan of the Ministry of Engineering to rush to Los Angeles, select a place in the south stream of Luocheng, and personally preside over the construction of the casting ......."

"Is it really that powerful?" Jing Zhen was no longer dissatisfied with Zhu Yu's lack of business, and when he heard the news, his expression was also shocked, and he asked with suspicion.

Daliang is located in the Central Plains of the four wars, the north can resist the invasion of the Jin army, the northwest still occasionally has the iron hooves of the Mengwu people to step on, the south to suppress the Chu army, the southwest called the Shu army did not dare to act rashly, in addition to the southern expedition and the northern war tempered a large number of elite generals in these years, but also attached great importance to the casting of armor.

The smelting of high-quality iron and the casting of armor will be used as a supervisor to requisition tens of thousands of elite officials, slaves and maids to do their job.

If it is really so convenient to use the double-furnace method and the water forging method to smelt iron and cast armor, it means that without increasing the amount of money and food, they can draw out an extra 20,000 or 30,000 strong men to fight in the army.

"Can I still lie to you?" Zhu Yu deliberately asked rhetorically.

"Wechen is also too happy." Jing Zhen said busily.

"The Chengtian Si Du Governor's Mansion wants to give the tiger Zhao Kuo a meritorious service, a great meritorious service, his person does not exist, and his heirs are attacked!" Zhu Yu said.

"Yes!" Jing Zhen said.

Zhu Yu was quite happy to talk to Jing Zhen about his latest experience in studying the "Heavenly Craftsman Book" during this time, and talked for a while with great interest, and he was not annoyed when he saw that Jing Zhenxing was lacking.

After all, although he had just arrived at the "Heavenly Craftsman Book", although he also attached great importance to it, it was only handed over to the Ministry of Industry and the supervisor for disposal, and he was busy settling the situation in Daliang.

He also returned to Bianjing after the total annihilation of Feng Yanye in Suiyang, Songzhou, and only then did he ask Zhao Shuzhao, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, about the study of the "Book of Heavenly Craftsmen", and found that the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Industry and the general supervisors of more than 100 officials, thousands of craftsmen and craftsmen, only two extremely inconspicuous officials named Zhou Daoyuan and Shen Tang really studied the two "Heavenly Craftsman Books" thoroughly in a few months, and others still regarded the "Heavenly Craftsman Book" as a strange and obscene skill, and did not pay enough attention to it.

Zhu Yu immediately promoted Zhou Daoyuan and Shen Tang to Langzhong and material officials from the fifth grade, but he did not blame others for being illiterate, after all, the thinking inertia formed over thousands of years is extremely difficult to change.

Even he summoned Zhou Daoyuan and Shen Tang to ask for advice, and after listening to their detailed explanations, he realized what kind of changes the two volumes of "Heavenly Craftsman Book" could bring to Daliang.

At this time, he also smiled with Jing Zhen and said, "What are I talking to you about this elm pimple, I will talk to Shen Tang!" By the way, although it is unlikely that he will be sent directly to Han Qian's side at this time, Chengtiansi still has to send people to keep an eye on Xuzhou's every move, especially in terms of people's livelihood, military and politics, if there is anything different from other places, it must be recorded in detail and sent back to Bianjing as soon as possible! If possible, you'd better go to Xuzhou and have a look for yourself......"

Jing Zhen thought to himself, he was so busy in the Chengtian Si Du Governor's Mansion that his butt was smoking, and he had nothing to do in the remote place of Xuzhou?

Jing Zhen wanted to think about it in his heart, but nodded busily.

"After Han Qian returned to Xuzhou, in addition to giving cheap money, setting up two new counties, and setting up township officials, have you made any major moves recently?" Zhu Yu asked.

"With Jiming Village as the center, in the upper reaches of Chenshui on both sides of the new Chenzhong County, the original subordinate to the Chenzhou Xi clan was almost expelled during the war to eliminate the domain, even if some of the people were left behind, there was no young and strong labor at home, which made Xuzhou operate Chenzhong has no resistance. In mid-to-early March, Han Qian successively resettled eight or nine thousand households and more than four thousand people who had moved west from Guangde Mansion to Chenzhong County, plus the previous three or four hundred Xi clansmen, Han Qian could be regarded as consolidating his control over Chenzhong County. Chenzhou assassin Shi Xiying should also accept his fate - and after Yang Yuanpu successfully won the throne of Jinling, completely mastered the prefectures and counties of Jiangnan East and Jiangnan West Dao, and named Han Qian Qianyang Marquis, the forces on the periphery of Xuzhou also thought that Han Qian would become peaceful and self-conscious after swallowing the land in the upper reaches of Chenshui, and his vigilance against Xuzhou would be alleviated. With the capture of the last village of the Wu people on both sides of the Qianjiang River by Wang Yong of Yuzhou, opening the last obstacle to the south of Sizhou, Sichuan salt and other goods produced in Shu were able to enter Sizhou, and Yang Xingfeng, the assassin of Sizhou, sent his son Yang Hu to Xuzhou to see Han Qian, on the one hand, he wanted to transfer the salt goods of Sichuan and Shu to Xuzhou through Sizhou, and on the other hand, he wanted to send a group of slaves who had been interrupted before to work in Xuzhou in exchange for money and grain......"

Jing Zhen is not very interested in the "Heavenly Craftsman Book", mainly because the Heavenly Craftsman Book contains content that he is unfamiliar with, and he has a headache when he reads it twice, but he is not sloppy about Han Qian and the collection of information about Xuzhou, and immediately talks about the information about Xuzhou that Chengtiansi has summarized in the past few days.

"Han Qian seems to be more concerned about the smoother flow of goods and goods in Xuzhou through Chenzhou, Yezhou, Sizhou and other places to the outer states and counties or Fanyi land, and more concerned about the smoothness of the trade routes, if there are any big moves, it is mainly along the canal to the south to conquer Shengfan, intended to strengthen his control over the interior of Xuzhou, two skirmishes broke out in mid to early March, and almost thousands of Shengfan were ordered to move from the deep mountains and old forests to the river valley area to reclaim wasteland......

"What a complicated person."

Zhu Yu said with a slight sigh.

Jing Zhen was slightly stunned, secretly wondering what His Majesty said that Han Qian was complicated, what was the difference.

At this time, Zhu Yu seemed to remember that Jing Zhen rushed over, and it was not he who sent someone to summon him, and asked, "By the way, what is the important matter for you to go out of the city and run to Zeyuan at this time?" ”

Jing Zhen thought to himself, Master, you really have something serious to ask, and hurriedly said:

"Jinling has just been reported back by wire - when Han Qian left Fanchang, he left a book to Emperor Chu Yang Yuanpu Yan Shen Yang and Wang Lin may be the secret spies of Chu Xin Wang Yang Yuanyan faction. Later, Emperor Yang Yuanpu of Chu said that he would not pursue the matter, but Shen Yang and Wang Lin resigned due to illness in order to avoid suspicion, and the last one went to Jiangzhou to serve as the governor, and the other went to Guangde Mansion to serve as the governor. The latest news said that Wang Lin committed suicide in Jiangzhou, and left a book to bear the fact that Wang Wenqian sent to lurk beside Emperor Yang Yuanpu of Chu, deeply felt the kindness and righteousness of Emperor Yang Yuanpu of Chu, and blamed Shen Yang for being involved by him and not being innocent, and he was ashamed of himself every day, but he was ashamed of his death - after getting Wang Lin's suicide note, Emperor Yang Yuanpu of Chu couldn't wait to summon Shen Yang back to the center of Chu and grant Zhongshu Pingzhang to preside over state affairs. In addition, in addition to appointing Han Qian as the Marquis of Qianyang, Emperor Yang Yuanpu of Chu will also choose the daughter of Han Daoming, the sister of Zheng Hui, and the daughter of Huanghua of Huzhou Thorn Shi to enter the palace, and the lord of Shu Wang Jiannu Qingyang County Lord will be listed as the same concubine. ”

Lei Jiuyuan walked out of the main hall at this time, and listened to Jing Zhen talk about the many things that had happened in Jinling recently, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "The new emperor of Chu State, but he is a powerful person-I was still thinking about how he would use Shen Yang again, but I didn't expect that there was a plan to 'kill himself and leave a book' available." ”

"He's in a hurry, he's only nineteen years old, he has more time than anyone else, if he can survive two years and then transfer Shen Yang back to the center, I have to admit that he is not a weak opponent. Now, he's still a little hot. Zhu Yu did not agree with Lei Jiuyuan's opinion, and said with his hand.

"Why did Your Majesty say that?" Jing Zhen asked.

"Emperor Chu is so anxious to summon Shen Yang back to his side to lead the state affairs, firstly, because his untrusted people can use it, and secondly, it is probably because he can't stand it anymore, and someone bypasses him at every turn to report to the Empress Dowager Liang and interfere in political affairs, right?" Zhu Yu frowned slightly, and guessed.

"Emperor Chu used Shen Yang to lead the group and preside over state affairs, so he concentrated the power of discussion and politics other than him and the Empress Dowager Chu into Shen Yang's hands, no matter how bad it was, it also blocked the possibility of other ministers bypassing Shen Yang at will to find the Empress Dowager Chu to pass on the news; Emperor Chu also selected the daughter of Han Daoming, the sister of Zheng Hui, and the daughter of Huanghua into the harem as concubines, and used them to divide the Zheng family and the Han-Li alliance. Jing Zhen said.

"You can do it but not do it, it's called powerful,"

Zhu Yu said with a smile,

"Emperor Chu seized Jinling and succeeded to the throne, before Han Qian and Mou Mou retreated from Liang and cut the feudal domain, the weight of prestige in Chu can also be said to be beyond the three or five ministers can question, so why worry about a woman can tie his hands and feet? Emperor Chu seized Jinling, from the counties of the requisitioned soldiers, there are a large number of generals are the family lords sent in to fill the number of slaves, he can be rewarded for military merits, give the cheap for good, but use a large number of fields near Jinling to place those slaves and maids who have been given good, and after these things have been done in two or three years, and then transfer Shen Yang back to the center, please let the woman keep to herself and stay in the Cishou Palace to enjoy the blessings, that can really be called a solid foundation! He was in a hurry to summon Shen Yang back to lead the group at this time, although he could formally prevent other ministers from running to report to the woman at will, which would also force Li Pu, Zheng Yu, Yang Zhitang and others to compromise on other matters easily! He chose Han Daoming's daughter, Zheng Hui's sister, and Huanghua's daughter as his concubines, and asked the Han family, the Zheng family, and the Huang family to be loyal to him, but if he wanted the Zheng family, the Huang family, and the Han family to hand over their slaves and maids and the small and medium-sized family clans that were vassals to them, probably no one would really be willing, right? At this time, Emperor Chu desperately wanted the woman to settle in Cishou Palace, and everything would always have to be compromised, and Shen Yang was not in Guangde Mansion, so no one else could cure Guangde Mansion, and many hidden dangers would soon be exposed. Of course, Emperor Chu may not have thought of these at all, after all, Han Qian probably didn't pass on the true technique of applying the world to him! And others see Han Qian making good use of power and scheming, but they don't know the business ...... under power and scheming."

Lei Jiuyuan and Jing Zhen pondered for a long time before asking:

"In response to the latest changes in the Chu State, how should we respond, or will we sit back and watch the changes?"

"Emperor Chu is an anxious person, he wants that woman to be in Cishou Palace, and he will definitely want to further establish great martial arts and show that he has the ability to dominate the military and politics, then he may not be able to wait for autumn, and he will probably arrange soldiers and horses to clear the Anning Palace and the remnants of Empress Xu, right?" Zhu Yu said, "Even if we want to sit and watch the changes, we should recover Yingzhou before this autumn to have the qualifications to sit and watch the changes." ”

After Feng Yanye was annihilated in the Battle of Songzhou, the remnants of Bowang Zhu Jue did not dare to hold Chenzhou, but fled to Yingzhou, which was across the Huai River from Huozhou, which was under the jurisdiction of the Shouzhou Jiedu Embassy.

At this time, it was decided to completely recover Yingzhou, that is, to annihilate the remnants of Bowang Zhu Jue, and then the soldiers and horses of Daliang would be able to directly drink the north bank of Ma Huaishui......

Jing Zhen was most concerned about this matter, and said excitedly:

"Yes, it's time to capture King Bo back to Bianjing."

"King Bo, he, it's like if you can't go back to Bianjing." Zhu Yu's voice became extremely cold again.

Jing Zhen and Lei Jiuyuan were slightly stunned, and then responded with understanding: "Yes, the ministers understand what to do." ”