It was already the hottest day of the year, and although there was a lot of rain, the sun hanging in the sky was still so blazing that it could tear the ground apart.

The windows on both sides of the cabin are open, and the embankments and plants on both sides of the river are clearly visible, but you can't feel the cool breeze from the water.

The accompanying companion fanned Han Gang, but it was still hot, like a steamer.

Han Gang has already missed the days in the capital, and in the summer, the ice cubes stored in the ice kiln half a year ago can be taken out and used. It's a pity that there is no ice in Xiangzhou in winter, otherwise it would not be difficult to put more than a dozen buckets of ice in the cabin to cool down as Han Gang.

It is not far from Tangzhou, and there are more pedestrians on the embankment, and it can be reached in half a day at most.

Since the start of construction in May, the track of Fangcheng Pass has been almost completed. After a few days of recuperation at home, Han Gang was about to leave Xiangzhou and go to Tangzhou. The completion is imminent, and he, the person in charge, has to go for a trip, and he can't just leave it alone.

However, the supporting facilities have not been repaired. The two ends of the track are connected by canals, and the two ports must have the capacity to transfer 2 million to 3 million stones a year to transfer goods from the water to the land, and the current capacity of the wharves that can only transport raw materials for road construction is of course far from enough.

Before Shen Kuo presided over the completion of the weir dam, lock and other projects, the track of Fangcheng Pass would last for at least four or five years, and the construction on the wharf naturally could not cut corners. Warehouses, trestle bridges, etc., all have to be repaired. If you want to put it into use, you will have to wait until the end of September.

"There are already more boats." Fang Xing said behind Han Gang, and the transfer envoy looked at the water through the open window of the cabin. As far as the eye can see, there are hundreds of large and small ships on the Han River, "I heard that the Xianghan Cao Yun is about to open." ”

"If a businessman is not able to see and hear, how can he do business?" Han Gang chuckled.

His cousin had already hung the signboard of SF Express in Xiangzhou when Li trusted Jingnan. Although there has always been only a small façade outside, when Han Gang said in the letter that he intended to restart the Xianghan Cao Yun, Feng Congyi expected the situation after the Cao Yun was unblocked, so he immediately bought more than a dozen hectares of land by the Han River outside Xiangzhou City and prepared to build a warehouse.

However, this piece of land is a little far away from the location of the dock that was later determined to be expanded, although it is a bit regrettable, but it is also a good thing not to be taboo. And as long as the track is built, it will not be worse than the warehouse by the wharf.

Another thing that made Han Gang very satisfied was that Feng Congyi not only made money as a family, but also brought a group of wealthy businessmen from Longxi to buy land together. Qin Feng and Xihe have them, and there are even a few wealthy and knowledgeable Tibetan tribes, who want to take advantage of the east wind of Xianghan Caoyun to expand their power in the land of Jingchu. Longyou, Beijing, Guangxi and Jingchu, with the pace of Hangang, a group called Yongshang is also gradually forming, and gradually expanding its power.

"Fangcheng Mountain has blocked the transportation of Xianghan for more than 100 years, and everyone sighs with joy. Now there is an unimpeded day, all thanks to Longtu......" Han Gang was thinking about the future development of Yongshang Group, and Fang Xing was on the side with high interest.

"Alright." Han Gang shook his head and interrupted his flattery, "It's not yet time to celebrate, and it will not be until winter when the first shipload of grain arrives in the capital will be regarded as the initial results." ”

Fang Xing bowed down to be taught, and Han Gang pointed to the civilian ships outside, "The opening of Caoyun is the end of September. By mid-November, the rivers in Gyeonggi will be frozen. In 30 to 40 days, how much grain can be transported into Beijing will determine how much credit can be received this time. At present, Xiangzhou has 1.1 million stones, which is to be sent to Yangzhou to go to the Bianhe River. But after the tax is paid in the fall, there will be 600,000 stone in storage. In the old year, it was also to be transported to Yangzhou, and after the resumption of the Bianhe River transportation in the spring of next year, it would be sent to Beijing together. This year is different, with Xianghan Caoyun. How much you can send from these 600,000 stones into Beijing through Xianghan Caoyun depends on your ability. ”

Han Gang handed over the work sent by Caoyun this year to Fang Xing for full disposal, and Fang Xing understood that the opportunity was rare: "Long Tu, rest assured, Xia Guan will definitely do his best." ”

Han Gang nodded, "I'll be relieved to leave this matter to you." If you do it well, it is logical that I recommend you to join the Xianghan Shipping Division next year. ”

Fang Xing nodded vigorously, with excitement and anticipation on his face. For an official like him, who does not have a Jinshi background, it is already extremely difficult to change from an official to an official, and it is even more difficult to be promoted from a Beijing official to a court official. Not to mention Han Gang's staff, even the prime minister's staff, they rarely have a chance to become an official. People who are already in their thirties and almost forty years old, and the opportunity to make a fortune is in front of them, where can they let it go?

It is impossible for Fang Xing to slack off, and Han Gang will not bother to speak. The credit of assisting him Han Gang in opening the Xianghan Cao Canal was enough for Fang Xing to become a court official. In order to preside over the Xianghan Cao Yun, the imperial court must set up a new shipping department yamen, although Fang Xing is far from qualified to serve as a shipping envoy - Shen Kuo must be qualified, I don't know if he is willing or unwilling - but the newly promoted court official as the shipping judge, as long as he adds a prefix of power to dispatch, he can barely reach it.

Han Gang looked at the sparkling water outside the porthole, "With the passage of Xianghan Caoyun, the number of households in Jinghu and Jingxi has increased since the day, and the two Guangxi can also be more closely connected with the Central Plains." It looks like it is just a canal to supplement the water transportation of the Bianhe River, but in fact, it is a century-old plan related to the world, and we have to be cautious. ”

Han Gang's long-term vision had already convinced Fang Xing, and he saluted again solemnly: "Xia Guan understands, he will definitely be cautious and do his best." ”

It didn't take long to get hot in the cabin, and the official boat that Han Gang was taking arrived at the dock outside Tangzhou City, and was informed in advance that Shen Kuo had already gone out of the city to greet him and was standing on the trestle.

"I've been waiting for a long time."

Han Gang got off the boat and stepped forward to salute and bow together, but he turned a blind eye to the new injury on Shen Kuo's face. Thinking about it, Shen Kuo also hoped that everyone would not pay attention to the matter of the grape trellis in his backyard.

"Yukun, Xianghan Caoqu is such a big thing, you can let it go!" Shen Kuo complained with a smile, "It's okay to wait for you on this trestle, I want to help you run Fangcheng County every few days, but the horses have lost weight." ”

"Those who can work harder." Han Gang smiled, and asked suspiciously, "The track in Fangcheng Mountain is just a step-by-step order, and there is no major event, why does Brother Cun go to Fangcheng in a few days?" ”

"Isn't a flash flood a big deal?" Shen Kuo asked rhetorically.

"Did it break the embankment, or did it destroy the road?" Han Gang asked casually. In fact, seeing the expression on Shen Kuo's face, it was clear, if such a situation really happened, Shen Kuo would not be so relaxed.

"Seven days ago, it rained heavily in Tangzhou for two days, and the flash flood in Fangcheng Mountain went straight down. The water in the stream at Fangcheng Pass swelled so much that it almost flooded the embankment, but fortunately, the two wooden bridges were built sturdily and did not move in the water. A few days after the rain stopped, the flood water was raging under the bridge, but the wheels on the bridge were still rolling, and it was not affected at all. This is the credit of Li Jie......"

Han Gang listened to Shen Kuo's introduction and nodded with satisfaction. Tangzhou is close to Xiangzhou, and the news of heavy rain and flash floods has long been received. At that time, Han Gang was still thinking about it, but now it seems that he is still worried too much.

Of course, what withstood the test was not the stone arch bridge that Han Gang and Li Jie agreed at the beginning. Quarrying from the mountains and then transporting it to be repaired, even if it is only a small bridge with a span of several zhang, it will take a year and a half to improve the level of engineering technology at this time.

The track was originally a temporary substitute for Xianghan Caoyun, and eventually a waterway was built so that ships could reach the capital from Xiangyang. In Hangang's plan, it is only to let the track enter the scope of road traffic from the mine and wharf, and at the same time open up the Xianghan Cao transportation as soon as possible.

Therefore, in the end, it was decided to use a wooden bridge. Li Jie took several craftsmen to rack their brains to design, the most built wooden bridge, although it is the shape of an arch bridge, but the slope of the bridge deck is gentle enough, compared with the common high arch like a rainbow on the Bianhe River, more suitable for the passage of railcars.

The two newly built wooden arch bridges passed the test of flooding, and during this time, a large amount of raw materials passed through the bridge every day, and the maximum weight was almost 30,000 catties of railcars, and the wooden bridge also withstood it. In the future, there will be nothing to worry about.

Han Gang listened to Shen Kuo talk about the flash flood a few days ago, and went to the city together.

Entering the city, Han Gang suddenly remembered something: "By the way, the port of Xiangzhou is about to be expanded, and Cao Si also needs to send someone to cooperate with the state." It's just that Han Gang's side is short of manpower, and I don't know what Brother Cun can recommend. Without waiting for Shen Kuo's nomination, Han Gang followed, "Saving the family history of the middle brother, presumably Bo Yi's management materials are also excellent." ”

Shen Kuo's face was a little embarrassed, his eldest son Bo Yi was kicked out of the house by the Zhang family a few days ago, and he had to arrange to live outside the house, and from time to time he also sent some money over. But after this incident was learned to Zhang, he didn't give up, and scolded Shen Kuo in front of his children.

Han Gang is now appointing his eldest son Bo Yi as his staff to go to Xiangzhou, and he must have done him a favor after knowing about this matter. He immediately saluted Han Gang, but didn't say anything more.

Han Gang nodded indifferently and didn't mention this matter anymore. Although he is in Xiangzhou, his eyes and ears are still in Tangzhou, and he will never be ignorant of such a big incident.

His own private affairs are known far and wide, and Shen Kuo is inevitably a little embarrassed. Quietly accompanied Han Gang for a while, and then suddenly pointed to a row of pavilions in front of him - it was the post house in Tangzhou City, "Fan Yaofu, who has recently taken up the Xinyang Army, has just arrived in Tangzhou and is in the post house, I don't know if you see Yukun?" ”

"Brother Cun is joking, how could the Xinyang Army come to Tangzhou? Could it be that Fan Yaofu is lost? Although Han Gang said this, he also understood that Shen Kuo was joking, and he would not joke with the irrelevant Fan Chunren.

But if Fan Chunren wants to take office, he can go directly south from Yingchang Mansion [now Xuchang], passing through Caizhou is the Xinyang Army, this road is almost a straight road to the south, it is necessary to take Tang Deng, a few hundred more ...... No, Han Gang shook his head, this thousand miles are here.

Han Gang couldn't figure out what was there that was worth Fan Chunren's detour?