Yandi, the big river canal in Longxi.

Liu Jinyu, the head of the county, was patrolling here with some officials, and he was naturally followed by many soldiers from the city captain's mansion, and his Longxi city captain also personally ran over to accompany him to protect.

The local chief executive inspected, and the people naturally wanted to see the excitement, but due to the obstruction of the soldiers, people could not come forward.

At this time, although the entire large river canal in Longxi Dalin'an has not been completed, Longxi is almost dealing with the follow-up work here, and many young and strong laborers have also rushed to Leizhou, Cangzhou and other places.

The big river canal is built on the old river channel outside the city, connected to the Huanjiang River dam, of course, the Huanjiang River has not opened the gate now, but due to the summer rain, the newly built big river canal, there is already part of the water.

The width of the canal is very staggering, and on the original river channel, it has expanded several times, enough to drive a dozen large ships side by side.

Looking at the canal where there was already stagnant water, Liu Jinyu pointed to the water surface and said, "How deep is the water here?" ”

Hearing this, a sergeant immediately jumped down, and then turned around and shouted at Liu Jinyu: "Go back to your lordship, it's not as good as your knees." ”

"Alright, come on." Liu Jinyu said a word, then took two steps forward, and said at the same time: "This official has an idea, say it, you can discuss it together and see if it is feasible." ”

He said this to a group of officials, and the officials who followed him were also under the jurisdiction of the county government, and they were his subordinates. ”

"En......" Liu Jinyu pondered for a moment, then stretched out his hand and pointed to the surface of the water, and said: "Look, the width of the big river canal is enough to drive merchant ships, and after the canal project is completely completed, the Huanjiang River will open the gates, and the waters here will also have enough depth." Wouldn't it be a pity if such a large project was just for farmland irrigation. ”

"What do you mean ......," an official asked.

Liu Jinyu said: "This big canal, enough to become a canal, in the case of the main line of Cangzhou, Lin'an and other counties farmland irrigation, can also form a waterway, in order to pass through commerce, the meaning of the official, is to build a freight terminal in Longxi, when the canal is completed, heavy and huge goods, can also be directly transported by merchant ships along the canal to the downstream counties......"

His words, to put it simply, are to use this large river canal to form a commercial waterway.

And once this is the case, the traffic of Longxi to Lin'an will undoubtedly be more convenient! Commerce and trade will also be more developed! And this waterway passes through several counties.

After hearing this, the officials couldn't help but widen their eyes, and some people couldn't help but say: "My lord's idea, it can be described as ingenious, if it can really be like this, it will undoubtedly make my Longxi more prosperous." ”

"But although the canal in Longxi is wide, it is because it is expanded on the original ancient river channel, but the canal built by Cangzhou and other counties is probably not as good as Longxi." Some officials said.

"Well, you're right, so in this matter, this official still has to play the king." Liu Jinyu nodded.

After inspecting the county on the same day, after Liu Jinyu returned to the county government, he immediately wrote a letter to the royal court.

He was the head of a county, so his recitals could go straight to the king, and it didn't take long for Lu Chen to receive his letter.

In the palace study, Lu Chen was reviewing all kinds of music as always, and when he saw Liu Jinyu's book, he was also very serious, and couldn't help but put down the teacup in his hand and walked slowly in the study with a bamboo slip.

In the recital, Liu Jinyu wrote a lot, but he elaborated on his views and opinions, and explained the advantages, of course, the disadvantage is that it costs gold and silver in the treasury.

Lu Chen paced back and forth, looking at the bamboo slips, and after a while, he shook his head slightly and muttered to himself: "Xu Huanzhi and Liu Jinyu, the two Jing officials, are really good at spending money." ”

He said so, but he immediately agreed with Liu Jinyu's opinion in his heart, and immediately felt that this was definitely a thing worth spending gold and silver! Because once it is as Liu Jinyu said, the Yandi county will not only be treated with farmland irrigation, but also the economy will be qualitatively changed!

After thinking that Liu Jinyu's proposal was feasible, Lu Chen also discussed the matter with the ministers in the early court of the next day.

After the ministers bowed, he also went straight to the point and raised the matter on the spot, and after listening to him, the ministers in the palace couldn't help but start talking in whispers.

Lu Chen didn't bother the ministers to discuss, and it wasn't until a while later that Wang Song, the head of the household department, was the first to stand up and said: "King, Longxi is supported by ancient river channels, and the canals can be used by boats, but Cangzhou and other counties, if this is the case, will cost countless gold and silver." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Chen asked, "You mean, Liu Jinyu's proposal is not feasible?" ”

Wang Song said: "No, no, no, Weichen didn't mean that, just ......"

"It's just that the treasury is empty, right?" Lu Chen spoke up for him, then looked at Wu Fang, the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and asked, "Lord Wu, does the Ministry still have money?" ”

"Back to the king, no...... No more......" Wu Fang hurriedly stepped out of the queue and stammered.

"Why did you run out of money so quickly?" Lu Chen frowned.

Wu Fang hurriedly explained: "To build the canal, the people have requisitioned too much, the project is huge, and the king ordered the people to pay a high salary and provide three meals, so it ......"

"That's it!" Lu Chen interrupted him impatiently, then looked at Xue Huairen again, and said, "Lord Xue, the treasury can still be dispatched." ”

Xue Huairen is the right minister, the entire Fengguo, whether it is the collection of money and grain, or the scattering of gold and silver, he knows everything in his chest, and when he saw Lu Chen asking, he also hurriedly came out and said: "Back to the king, except for the needs of our country's central army, there is not much gold and silver left in the treasury, even if it is withdrawn, it cannot exceed 50 million taels of silver." ”

Hearing this, Lu Chen said unhappily: "Didn't the Chu State lose all the silver in the previous time, why can it only be transferred 50 million taels?" ”

Xue Huairen explained: "The part of the gold and silver in the treasury must provide follow-up protection for the army, so the huge amount cannot be moved. ”

His explanation was very clear, that is, the treasury still had some money, but it could only move 50 million taels of silver, after Lu Chen listened, he couldn't help but look at Wu Fang again, and said: "Lord Wu, if the imperial court accepts Liu Jinyu's proposal, what is the budget of the Ministry of Industry?" ”

"This ...... Wechen still needs to consult with the officials of the Ministry of Industry before he can come to a conclusion. Wu Fang said truthfully.

"Then give this king an answer as soon as possible." Lu Chen said directly.

"Yes." Wu Fang hurriedly replied.

Hearing Lu Chen say this, he undoubtedly had decided to accept Liu Jinyu's proposal, and the ministers couldn't help but glance at each other, and Wang Song came out again: "The king can first connect the water conservancy, and then make plans when my country's treasury is full." ”

"No." Lu Chen waved his hand and said: "If you want to implement it, you should complete it while the canal is built, otherwise, if you start construction at that time, it will undoubtedly be more troublesome and costly." ”