[I couldn't update something yesterday, three more tonight, and three more tomorrow.] The first update. 】

The Hall of Politics.

After returning to the government hall every day, it is the time for the deacons to hold a collegiate meeting in the main hall.

In the collegiate discussion, the prime minister and the governor will discuss several major matters to be dealt with today, and even if the parties and political views are different, they will also communicate with each other to save the trouble from being too ugly.

Unless there is any irreconcilable contradiction that must be separated, it will be resolved as much as possible in collegial discussion, even when Wang Anshi, Feng Jing, and Wang Qi were all in the political hall, they did not say that they fought every day.

After the autumn, there was nothing important to discuss in the collegiate meeting—several matters that really related to the overall situation of the world had to be discussed with the Privy Council in the west before a decision could be made—that is, the annual autumn tax could attract the attention of the deacons.

may really be because of the change of the year name, relying on a good eloquence, the vast majority of the roads in the world in the first year of Yuanfeng have achieved a bumper harvest. The summer grain tax was paid early, and the autumn tax was also very gratifying. The green seedling loan, the free money, and the interest of the city and the city office all made several governors breathe a sigh of relief.

However, in addition to the autumn tax, there is another incident that worries the prime minister and political participation in the Eastern Mansion.

Lu Huiqing took a copy of the book approved by the Son of Heaven, shook his head, and raised it to Wang Qi and Yuan Jiang: "Han Gang is confident that he will transport 600,000 Shigang grain to the capital before the Gyeonggi waterway is frozen in the winter moon. The Son of Heaven gave him a hard time. Yesterday, I sent it directly to the Imperial Palace, and I didn't ask a word in the Chongzheng Palace, so I approved it directly. ”

Wang Jue said with a smile: "Han Gang is a stable person, and he can say it, most of them can do it." That's why the Son of Heaven believed in him. Houzhi, don't you say? ”

Yuan Jiang was the oldest among the several governors, but he had the shortest time in the political hall, and he didn't know much about Han Gang, and he didn't say deeply, "Since the Son of Heaven has approved it, I will just wait for the countersignature." If it is done, it will have its own reward, but if it can't be done, it will inevitably be accused of bullying the king. Thinking so much about what you're doing? ”

"It's not that I don't believe Han Gang, I also know that he has always been true to his word. It's just that I can't think of any way to bring 600,000 Shigang grain into Beijing. I just want to guess what means Han Yukun wants to use this time. Lu Huiqing looked very curious, "Plate armor and spaceships, but they are all whimsical ideas that people can't catch up with, and they were made for him quietly." This time, I don't know what surprise he intends to bring to people. ”

"It's only 600,000 stones, it shouldn't be difficult, right?" Wang Jue looked a little puzzled, "The one that was transported to the capital from Bianshui is six million stones." ”

Yuan Jiang stroked his well-maintained beard and said slowly: "The six million stones that have been extended for a hundred years, and the six hundred thousand stones that have just arrived, it must be the latter that is more difficult. No manpower, no rules, no story, everything starts from scratch, and it all has to be founded by Han Gang. In other words, if you are doing it down, you will never dare to issue a military order in front of the Son of Heaven before it is done. ”

"Atsuyuki is right." Lu Huiqing smiled at Yuan Jiang and nodded, then turned his head and said to Wang Qi: "Xianggong doesn't know, how can 600,000 Shigang grain be transported to the capital so easily?" Just like the grain of the Southeast Sixth Road must be replaced with a gang ship in Yangzhou. The ships that transported the autumn grain to Xiangzhou along the Han River were different in size and shape, and it was necessary to change the ship of 700 stones in Xiangzhou to facilitate the north to go north to the foot of Fangcheng Mountain. ”

He sneered: "Do you really think that with tracks and waterways, you can see success?" It takes a lot of manpower to carry the grain. An ordinary coolie can carry up to 200 catties at a time, and there are more than 3,000 laborers in Yangzhou alone, so that 6 million stone of grain can be sent to the capital in nine months. Counting the number of porters required for 600,000 stones, we know that the road is by no means a success after repairing the track and opening up the waterway. ”

Wang Jue frowned, not for Han Gang, but for Lu Huiqing's attitude. When it comes to doing things, he really can't be regarded as an expert, but when it comes to how to gain the trust of the Son of Heaven, he won't lose to anyone. Otherwise, he would not have taken the position of prime minister.

Seeing that Wang Jue couldn't answer, Lu Huiqing smiled slightly: "Within a month, 600,000 stones will be moved onto and off the ship in three different ports, and it is also a newly expanded and newly built port." Even with his financial calculations and transfer skills, Xue Xiang, who is famous in the country, can't pat his chest and say that he has no problem at all. ”

He asked the two colleagues, "Lack of sufficient manpower, Han Gang can't always transfer the van army, or requisition the people to do labor--the handling work on the dock is also skillful, not to say that with brute force, you can safely send the rice bag to the boat, maybe there will be tens of thousands of catties and people falling into the water together-Han Gang, what does he want to do?" ”

"It seems that Jifu, you still think Han Gang can't do it......" Wang Qi smiled,

"I just feel like I can't do it. And Han Yukun is most likely ......" Lu Huiqing considered his words: "With his talent, he will definitely be able to do it." I'm just wondering what he's going to do. ”

Wang Qi and Yuan Jiang groaned, and Lu Huiqing's words also made them curious, how did Han Gang plan to prove the correctness of what he said to the Son of Heaven before the time limit.

……………………

Han Gang naturally wouldn't satisfy the curiosity of the Zaizhi, and he didn't have that obligation, but as long as people arrived at the port outside Xiangzhou City, they would naturally understand Han Gang's means of transporting grain.

Xiangyang City does not have the status of protecting a country for decades in later generations, let alone a solid city defense that allows an army that can go on an expedition of tens of thousands of miles to return many times without success.

However, at present, Xiangzhou still has a moat that is famous for its width, and just looking at the river surface that is as wide as 100 steps, you can see how difficult it is for Lu Dao to capture the city.

A large number of businessmen came to Xiangzhou, all of whom had heard about the plan of the Xianghan Cao Canal, and rushed over to see with their own eyes to see to what extent this channel could replace the Bianhe waterway, so that they could also have a plan to deal with it.

Fang Xing's gaze returned to the tall and broad back in front of him. His benefactor is now looking up at the masterpiece that has been built to survive this difficult time.

The transfer of grain is not more difficult than building roads and opening canals, but if both sides have not yet started, many smart people would rather sink than take over the transfer.

Ports and wharves are only one aspect, they are just preparations to achieve the goal, and the workers are the main force. The old port of Xiangzhou is underwhelmed, and the two new ports to the north, which are also newly completed, have only a few principals, and none of the people below, let alone porters who will never be missing in the port.

At first, Shen Kuo, Fang Xing, and Li Jie were all happy about the track and port that were about to be completed, but when they came out of their illusions, their faces changed color at the thought of the severe test they were about to face.

At this time, Han Gang's ability was revealed.

Difficulties are like roadblocks, and you have to be careful to bypass and step over, let alone face the opposite. But Han Gang has enough confidence in this, so there is a novelty that now makes people who come and go in the port outside Xiangzhou City look up and watch.

A three-foot gantry crane spans the pier. The hook that hangs from the beam can easily lift the grain, pull the sling through the winch, and send it to another ship.

"Li Mingzhong [Li Jie] does have a hand!" Han Gang tilted his head and looked at the behemoth standing tall in the harbor. thing, sincerely admired.

"Longtu should be the first credit." Fang Xing followed behind him, "If it weren't for the dragon diagram giving the pattern, Li Jie wouldn't have been able to build a gantry crane." ”

"Nope." Han Gang didn't take credit, and shook his head, "A pen and a piece of paper are just credits." The headless and brainless pattern is also thanks to Li Mingzhong's ability to understand it. These are his hard work, I spend a little ink and a little saliva here, but I don't have the face to take advantage of him. ”

Han Gang and Fang Xing both stared at the very dilapidated ship, using this ship to transport food, and it could even be said that it was an adventure. However, the current situation makes them quite satisfied.

The winch turned, and the gantry crane, which had just put down the goods, turned back again. First three hundred pounds, then another three hundred pounds, the sailors on board sorted out the grain bags and put them on the slings. The gantry crane always transports the grain to the gang ship not far away, and every lifting is smooth so that the visitors nod their heads again and again.

The wooden gantry crane can directly lift three to five hundred catties of goods from the ship, move it to the railroad carriage on the shore, and can also move it to another boat. The wood consumed by such a huge gantry crane is enough to build a restaurant of the same height.

"How much cargo can be transported." Han Gang asked Fang Xing, "Have you ever let people try it?" ”

"If you go back to Longtu, Xia Guan has already let people try it in the past two days, and the maximum has been six or seven hundred catties, and no matter how heavy the rope is, it may not be able to withstand it. However, it is still 300 to 400 catties is the most stable. ”

Han Gang nodded with satisfaction, Fang Xing's old man was serious, he had always known the Tao. Being able to pass multiple tests first and learn some key data that you must know will be able to prepare in advance for future shipments.

Fang Xing explained to Han Gang in detail: "It is only transported from ship to ship, as long as the two ships are together, it is not difficult to transport the goods in the cabin. But with gantry cranes, the difficulty is lower. In an hour's time, a boatload of grain can be sent out. 600,000 stones looks like a lot, but it doesn't take much effort at all. It took more than a month to transport it all. ”

"That's a good point." Han Gang's head kept nodding, it was indeed not wrong to hand over this matter to Fang Xing, "When Li Mingzhong arrives, you can tell him what you plan." ”

"I still have to ask Long Tu to mention something." Fang Xing said respectfully.

As he spoke, a small boat went down the river and soon arrived in port. The flag on the bow of the ship makes people know that this is an official ship at a glance. There was no need to report it, Han Gang and Fang Xing knew that Li Jie had arrived.