After the dog days, the weather became hotter and hotter.

An invisible fireball hung over the zenith, but it felt like there were seven or eight suns radiating heat together. There was a white light between the heavens and the earth, dazzling people's eyes.

Although there was wind, it was still hot and dry. Regardless of people and animals, without exception, they are listless and drooping their heads, and the branches and leaves of the grass and trees on the side of the road are also wilting, only the trees are still singing happily in a hoarse and noisy tune while eating and drinking.

Although he had changed into a tulle robe, the sweat on Han Gang's head was still dripping, and his back was soaked. Squinting his eyes, which were sour from the reflection of the scorching sun, Han Gang regretted a little, if he had a choice, he would never have chosen this time to go out of the city to inspect the construction site of the new workshop on the side of the Bianhe River.

"It's getting hotter and hotter." Although Han Gang said this, he was still walking and watching under the scorching sun.

The walls of the new workshop have been demarcated, and the road leading to the pier has been set aside and is well planned. Han Gang motioned to his companions, picked up the drill that was left in the ground and knocked it hard, only a small handful of broken soil fell, and it seemed that the foundation of the factory was also rammed with heart.

"Zang Zhang." Han Gang called the officer in charge of the Plate Armor Bureau who was presiding over here, "It's really done a good job." ”

The old foreman, who was in charge of the repair of the new workshop, was wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, and when he heard Han Gang praising him, he hurriedly put the handkerchief into his sleeve and trotted up, "Thank you for the compliment." If you want to use a house for decades, how dare the lower officials not care. He peeked at the sweat on Han Gang's head, "Sheren, now is the hottest time, even the small workers have stopped." It's better to wait until Shen, the heat has subsided a little, and it's not too late to see it again. ”

"My body is not so expensive, and the heat is nothing." Han Gang said with a smile, he didn't just come out of the city to inspect the construction site, but there was no need to say to Zang Zhang: "It's much better now than when I was studying." It's not like back then, sitting in the meditation room of the apartment, and you have to stay up hard when it's hot and cold. ”

"The heavens will descend on the people, and they must first work their minds and muscles." Zang Zhangtu sighed, although he was born as a craftsman, he had obviously read for two years, and he put on a smiling face, "But isn't this already a great responsibility?" ”

Han Gang smiled. No wonder he can only do things in the weapons prison, Zang Zhang's sycophant kung fu has yet to be tempered, and the words are right, but they are too rough and less subtle. However, seeing that the old craftsman was also sweating profusely, Han Gang was also sympathetic to his subordinates, and waved his hand, "Okay, let's go back and rest first." ”

The craftsmen who participated in the construction are now hiding under the shade of the trees and enjoying the coolness. The emperor is not hungry soldiers, and Han Gang, the judge of weapons, cannot force his craftsmen to work under the scorching sun that can kill people.

During this period after the summer, this construction site will start on the fourth watch, stop work when it arrives, and restart work in the afternoon when the heat recedes, and work until the first shift. The total working hours remain the same, just to hide from the scorching sun.

Let Zang Zhang go back and look at his men, and Han Gang also took the casual person back to the nearby pavilion and sat down.

As soon as Han Gang sat down, Bandang hurriedly handed over the cold soup he had just bought. The people of the capital can do business, and as long as there are people gathered, you can see the presence of hawkers. Right next to the construction site of the new workshop, during this time, many vendors supported their families with the money they earned from the craftsmen.

Unfolding the folding fan, shaking it, while drinking two sips of the cold soup that had become lukewarm and unworthy of the name, Han Gang looked up at the dazzlingly bright water surface of the Bianhe River outside: "This weather is getting hotter and hotter day by day, and it may be more serious on the Hebei side." The drought on Dingzhou Road, I don't know if it can be alleviated this summer. ”

The one who sat face to face with him was Chong Jianzhong, who had recently returned to the third class courtyard, and he had something to do with Han Gang to go out of the city today.

Chong Jianzhong drank up the cold soup in a big gulp, and exhaled happily, "Anyway, it's much better than last year, I heard that there hasn't been a locust plague on Dingzhou Road yet." ”

"Simply compared to the size of the disaster, it is indeed not as old as last year." Han Gang sighed, "But this is another drought after the six-year and seven-year drought in Xining, and in the first two years, there may be some families who can survive by relying on grain storage, but this year it will be impossible." ”

According to the transshipment route, Hebei is divided into two routes, east and west, but if it is divided according to the Jinglu envoy road, in the words of later generations, that is, the military region, it is divided into four roads: Dingzhou, Gaoyangguan, Zhending and Daimyofu. This is very similar to Shaanxi, there are Xihe, Qinfeng, Jingyuan, Yanyan, and Yongxing Army, and the transfer envoy road, which used to be Shaanxi Road, and now it is divided into two, which are Yongxing Military Road and Qinfeng Road. The division of the two types of roads is completely different from each other.

Following the severe drought last year and last year, the area around Dingzhou Road in northern Hebei Province has encountered a severe drought again this year. The disaster situation in the border area is unbelievable no matter how you look at it. The only thing to be thankful for is that the Nanjing Road of the Liao people is also drought, and it is also a homeless person.

Han Gang had to rejoice that Wang Anshi was a little late when he came back, and no one connected the disaster with him. However, as long as the new law is still in force, the problem of the world attacking the new law with natural disasters cannot be solved.

Floods, droughts, locust plagues, earthquakes, speaking of which have indeed been a little bad in the past few years, these disasters have been experienced by the Great Song Dynasty. Although theoretically speaking, this is due to the country's vast territory and climatic accidents, the new party cannot recover the people's support that has been lost because of this.

It's just that there is not so much emotion in the construction of the plant, "In the drought in Dingzhou, there are displaced people again...... Yukun, blessings and misfortunes depend on each other, and the Yellow River Golden Embankment can now start to build with all its might. Attacking the sand can also be completed earlier. ”

"Who knows?" Han Gang shook his head helplessly, "If you don't see the Yellow River breaking the embankment, and you don't see the displaced people in the road, no one is in a hurry about this matter." The imperial court has not decided that anyone will raise the Yellow River to serve as a laborer, and there will be ghosts if the progress can be fast. ”

After being reminded of the construction of the plant, Han Gang remembered the Yellow River embankment reconstruction project that had not yet been completed.

After a winter last year, Hebei only strengthened the outer embankment on the north bank of the Yellow River, and it was not fully completed. I don't know how long it will take to start building the inner embankment. Han Gang is not anxious about this, it is not a bad thing to take his time, anyway, it is none of his business. Some people also told Han Gang that this was Uncle Dushui Cheng who was making trouble in the case.

Dushui Chenghou Shuxian, who was in charge of supervising this matter, did have a grudge against Han Gang - to be more precise, he resented Han Gang, and as for Han Gang, he didn't have much time to get along with him.

Two years ago, in order to transport grain from the Bianhe River into Beijing in winter, Hou Shuxian was ordered by Wang Anshi. However, the ice boat he offered at the beginning became the laughing stock of the world, and the sleigh car recommended by Han Gang was already very common in the north in winter. Therefore, Hou Shuxian is biased against the strategy of controlling rivers and attacking sand, which is also human nature. I've met a few times in the past, but I've only maintained superficial etiquette. But no one dares to do anything about the control of the river, saying that he deliberately delays is slander, and Han Gang will not be stupid enough to believe it.

After sitting in the pavilion for a while, watching the sun shadow move westward, Chong Jianzhong said to Han Gang: "Yukun, it's almost time." ”

Han Gang nodded, he came out not only for, but also to greet Zhang Zai and his party.

Fifty miles out of the city to greet Zhang Zai, Han Gang's mood was sincere, but he didn't want to attract attention, so he found an excuse to inspect the construction site and went out of the city. And the middle of the construction is low-ranking and lowly, but no one cares about his actions, and it is also convenient to ask for leave.

Han Gang summoned Zang Zhang and gave him an order, and then got on the horse with Chong Jianzhong. Zhang Zai's students in the capital, the main ones are Han Gang and Chong Jianzhong. Most of the rest have only listened to lectures for a period of time, and they are not really disciples. It is because of this that Zhang Zai must go out of the customs line.

Along the official road, Han and Chong went west.

Chong Jianzhong looked up at the sky: "This weather is not suitable for travel, Mr. has always been in poor health, and I don't know if I can afford to eat after a tiring ride and horses." ”

"Blame me for being too anxious."

"Don't do your business with Yukun." Chong Jianzhong hurriedly shook his head, "If you don't hand this matter to the desk of the Son of Heaven before Ling Yue enters the capital, even if it is autumn and winter, Mr. will not be able to enter the capital." ”

Han Gang didn't intend to criticize his father-in-law with Chong Jianzhong, and in this matter, Wang Anshi could be regarded as a concession. "Thanks to Lu Weizhong, if he hadn't come forward, it would be difficult to say that Wang Jue would have come forward."

Chong Jianzhong smiled when he heard this, understood the meaning of Han Gang's words, and said, "Lu Weizhong went to Qinzhou two days ago. He guards Qinzhou and passes through Qin Feng, I don't know if he will make any moves? ”

In terms of character, Lu Weizhong will not take the initiative to attack, and in the few years he has been in Hedong, he has not seen him take the initiative to deal with party members. What's more, now that Lord Xia is the son-in-law of Liao, if he wants to fight a dog, he has to take care of the master behind him. "That's right." Chong Jianzhong sighed when he heard this, "Now that you want to deal with the western thief, there is another layer of things that need to be considered." ”

The two rode westward, and there were countless carriages and horses passing by them, and there were many of them belonging to the post house system, but none of them were Zhang Zai and his party. After going forward for more than ten miles, a team of chariots and horses appeared in front of them.

Han Gang's eyes were sharp, and he noticed at a glance that the family member he sent to greet Zhang Zai a few days ago was riding a horse in front of him, mixed in with a team of servants. And among the chariots and horses that followed, there were many familiar faces with him.

"Yes sir!" Chong Jianzhong said excitedly, "Even Uncle Lu and Su Jiming are here!" ”

"Don't get off the horse yet!" Han Gang, who had already returned to the ground, reminded.

The two hurriedly took the servants to the side of the road, and the oncoming group stopped not far in front of them. In several cars, as well as horses, many scholars of different ages came down one after another, looking at Han Gang and Breeder Dao, with joy in their eyes.

The curtain of a carriage in the middle moved at this time, and a thin and old figure walked out, and when Han Gang and Chong Jianzhong saw it, they bowed down together on the side of the road: "Student meet sir!" ”