It was still breakfast time everywhere, and a piece of news spread all over Dingyuan County, and the Yinghai Division ordered that the officials at all levels in Mingzhou, who were in Dinghai, must rush to the Yinghai Envoy's mansion for a meeting.

Meeting?

It's a new word that's easy to take literally, but it's also unfamiliar.

However, thinking about the dismount at the dock yesterday, no one dared to take it lightly, and some officials with flattering intentions rushed over early.

Tao Qian, the prefect of Mingzhou, did not rush early or be late, and stepped into the mansion in the west of Dingyuan County, where Zhu Yuan was located.

When I entered the door, I happened to meet Xue Shu of Dinghai Zhi County.

Rushed to Dinghai in advance, Tao Qian also heard about some of the things Xue Shu had done recently, and seeing that this colleague who had only Congqipin because Dinghai was designated as a lower county had a tense face and looked like he was going to go to righteousness generously, he just greeted him according to the courtesy, and didn't say anything.

I remembered the letter sent by Zuo Xiang before, as well as the key message: Your Majesty is confused by the people, and you should be cautious about homesickness.

Tao Qian, the word homesickness.

Tao Qian's grandfather moved from the southwest to Jiangsu and Zhejiang and settled in Jinling.

After the red scarf occupied the day, Tao Qian, who participated in the imperial examination of the Yuan Dynasty several times in a row and had nothing to gain, voted for Zhu Yuanzhang, relying on his own knowledge and caution over the years, at the end of last year he was sent to serve as the prefect of Mingzhou, who is currently the fourth grade.

To be able to get this vacancy, it is inseparable from the strong recommendation of the left minister.

It stands to reason that Zuo Xiang has hinted that he should also follow it wholeheartedly. However, thinking about the news from Jinling City, sixty-two heads were cut off in one go for that young man's sake...... Thinking about the Pu knife yesterday and the series of 'cut me down' in the holy decree, Tao Qian didn't want to be the sixty-third.

Fortunately, this envoy who fell from the sky chose the government office in Dinghai, and Tao Qian planned to deal with it for a few days before returning to Fucheng.

For this whole thing, his idea is not to cooperate, not to obstruct, and to maintain a middle way.

This is an explanation for both Zuo Xiang and that person.

Therefore, for Xue Shu's actions, even if it was the other party's direct superior, he didn't see it in the past few days.

Led all the way to a courtyard in the innermost part of the outer courtyard by two servants in green clothes but with a strong temperament, in addition to the guards on both sides of the main hall who stood upright like helmets and armor like javelins, there were also many scribes who came and went.

Looking from the outside to the inside, the main hall of the hall was already crowded with people, and the scene seemed busy but quiet.

Because you have no one to talk to.

Tao Qian was affected by this atmosphere, paused his steps, and raised his eyes to look at the plaque hanging on the grand hall in front of him.

Mingyuan Hall.

The meaning is obvious, Mingzhou, Dingyuan, and, the word 'Mingyuan' itself, has a good meaning.

Tao Qian knew that the former owner of this mansion, a wealthy businessman who was attached to the Fang family, and at the moment, like many of Fang Guozhen's subordinates, the whole family was sent to Haozhou, and all the land and assets were confiscated.

After a short pause, seeing Xue Shu, who came in together, politely stopped and waited, and looked at him suspiciously, Tao Qian made a gesture of invitation and stepped into the main hall first.

Very spacious one lobby.

Five zhang from east to west, more than two zhang deep from north to south, and six Taishi chairs can be placed loosely in the left and right rows of the lobby.

In the lobby, according to the level of official quality, there are standing and sitting.

However, the first thing that attracted Tao Qian's attention was not the first-class naval governor Hua Gao who was sitting on the left side of the main seat holding a cup of tea, but the little boy who wore a white fox fur and was incompatible with the green scarlet.

The young man pulled the chair to the right of the main seat to a square table on the right in the middle of the hall, and was lying on the side of the square table, drawing something with a special pen and various rulers.

Tao Qian knew that this was Na Zhu Yuan.

Bachelor of Hanlin, Zhan Shi of the Prince's Mansion, Right Envoy of Tai Hospital, Yinghai Envoy, Southeast Transfer Envoy, Southeast Inspector Envoy......

Thinking of this series of official positions, Tao Qian's heart inevitably fluctuated.

Over the years, under today's command, he prides himself on being conscientious, and he does not dare to slack off, and it took more than ten years to get a Mingzhou prefect with four products.

Gaze shift.

Tao Qian quickly noticed the Pu knife resting on the mahogany bracket under the landscape painting in the middle hall.

Chop first, then play!

At present, this hall is full of civil and military affairs, except for Hua Gao, most of them can't escape the knife's 'first cut and then play'. Even, even if it was Hua Gao, the little boy was ruthless and cut it, after all, the will of the day is ahead, and it is difficult to say what will happen in the end.

It's really ...... these days

How so?!

His eyes just swept, and the servant led him to the position of Hua Gao's lower head, Tao Qian first saluted Hua Gao, said a few words, looked at the other side, there was no movement, and he didn't say hello, Gu Zi sat down.

Immediately noticed that the lower right row, from the Mingzhou Wei commander of the three products, next to the Tongzhi Changduan, was the chief officer of the Mingzhou Branch under the Liangzhejiang Salt Envoy Division, and the salt transport was Tongzhi Xingji.

Although they are all the same knowledge, the salt transport is one level lower than the command and the same knowledge, and like Tao Qian, they are all the four products.

Minnesh is an important salt town.

Although he is of the same level, Xing Ji's position is to some extent more important than that of him, the prefect of Mingzhou, so Xing Ji, who is from Chuzhou, does not belong to Zuo Xiangmen, but a close confidant appointed by His Majesty the Emperor.

However, yesterday, the wharf received the wind, and some officials from the Mingzhou Mansion, the Mingzhou Judge, the Mingzhou Guard, and even some officials from the subordinate states and counties came to meet the two officials, but Xing Ji, the salt transport fellow, did not appear.

Unexpectedly, the other party will appear here again today.

Think about whether Xing Ji is not a person like Xue Shu, after taking it, he probably regretted it, or heard about the 'dismounting' that read the holy decree in public on the dock yesterday, and ran to make up for it?

Noticing Tao Qian's look, Xing Ji, who had a square face, arched his hand towards him unnaturally, and then turned his eyes to his nose and his nose to his heart.

As soon as Tao Qian retracted his gaze and planned to settle down, he heard someone say loudly in a non-standard Jinling accent: "I don't know that person is the envoy of the camp, and the official has something to say." ”

Tao Qian looked over with everyone.

It was Xue Shu who spoke.

Tao Qian turned to the fox fur boy who was drawing things next to the square table.

Zhu Yuan looked up and saw that it was a good-looking and polite blue-robed official, but he was not polite at all, and he responded: "I am, what's wrong?" ”

Xue Shu turned to Zhu Yuan, retracted his gesture of arching his hand towards the main hall, and asked with some questions: "Since you are a naval envoy, why don't you wear official uniforms?" ”

Zhu Yuan smiled and said: "Well, my battalion was sent to work as soon as it was established, and I don't have an official uniform yet." ”

Xue Shu was stunned, and continued to ask: "I heard that Shangguan is still a bachelor of Hanlin, why don't you wear this official uniform?" ”

Zhu Yuan thought it was a nonsense, so he simply lowered his head and continued to trace the last few strokes, while saying, "If it's okay, just be quiet, don't talk nonsense." ”

Everyone: "......"

This...... ?!

Vulgar!

Then there was laughter.

Everyone saw that it was a certain naval governor who was supposed to be the first in the hall.

Yo!

I don't know if I don't laugh, there seems to be a bigger official here than the camp sea envoy!

Xue Shu was said like this, his face turned pale in an instant, and he took out a booklet from his sleeve: "Xia Guan Ding Haizhi County Xue Shu, in accordance with His Majesty's edict, this is the list of fishermen in my county, a total of 1,346 households, a population of 6,779 people, 1,799 men over the age of 16, other female dependents of fishermen and children over 8 years old, since the Tang Dynasty, there has been no levy for hundreds of years, and the officials cannot record it according to their orders." ”

Speaking of this, Xue Shu paused and added: "Shangguan, due to His Majesty's chaotic life, nearly half of the fishermen in our county have fled to the far sea, and Xiaguan cannot be recovered. ”

After saying this, Xue Shu took a few steps forward, sent the roster to the square table, and took out a page of documents from his sleeve: "This is the resignation of the lower official, I am afraid that I will not be able to hold this position, so I am willing to go back to my hometown to cultivate and study." ”

Xue Shu's voice fell, and the hall was silent.

There are also people who subconsciously aim at the Pu knife in the middle of the hall.

Are you so afraid of death?

Zhu Yuan paused the depiction, looked at Xue Shu and said, "You have resigned, please ask for your life for the people, and leave your name in history." I will change someone to sit in your seat, and catch those escaped fishermen back, fight those who should be beaten, kill those who should be killed, and fill the army who should be confiscated, which is also famous in history, but unfortunately it is notorious. That's the logic, right? ”

Xue Shu's expression changed, and he was silent for a while.

Zhu Yuan said: "Or, you continue to stay in your position and protect the fishermen who escaped, without your assistance, I can't arrest people, right?" Or do you just care about your reputation and don't really care about the lives of the fishermen? ”

After Xue Shu heard what Zhu Yuan said, he stepped forward silently without hesitation and put away the resignation.

Zhu Yuan looked at the household book again and said, "This time to transport grain for the Northern Expedition army, we must recruit fishermen who are good at boating. Because shipping was too risky, the result of my discussion with my ancestor was that the requisitioned ones were exempted from taxes and forced labor for the fishermen's entire family. If there is an accident, compensation will also be given. However, I felt that this was not enough, so I planned to open some schools, as long as the participants in the sea, their children will be given priority in enrollment, and in the future, they will be able to be selected to enter the Guozi School and Houhu Medical College in Jinling, which is why I asked you to count the children who have reached the age of eight. ”

When Xue Shu heard this, he stepped forward again, put away the household book again and put it in his arms, and then waved at Zhu Yuanchang: "Xiaguan Meng Lang, please...... Make atonement for the king's sins. ”

Zhu Yuan waved his hand: "Go to the side and stand, don't block the middle." ”

Xue Shu froze, but still got up and silently retreated to the side.

Zhu Yuan drew a few strokes at the end, and summoned Yao Feng, who was in charge of the craftsman in charge of the last position, to explain a few words to the completed drawing, and then took him through the hall again, and said: "This long table in the middle is two zhang long and six feet wide. Chair...... Let's make more, make a hundred first, and use it for entertaining guests. The long tables on both sides of the lobby are three feet wide and one foot long. There is also an east wing, two bays, one on the left and one on the right, two long tables, which are also one zhang long and three feet wide. Sent before sunset, is there a problem? ”

Yao Feng thought for a moment and said, "My lord, before sunset...... I can't paint it. ”

"You don't need to paint, just smooth it out."

Yao Feng nodded: "Then there will be no problem with the lower officials." ”

"Go and command, come back quickly."

Waiting for Yao Feng to leave, Zhu Yuan returned to his seat on the right hand side of the middle hall, and was just about to pick up the cup, Hua Gao had already rushed to get up and snatch it: "Liangli, change the heat." ”

In the strange eyes of everyone in the hall, the Governor of the First Rank Navy diligently changed the hot tea for the sea envoy of the Zhengsanpin Battalion, and carefully delivered it to someone, and then signaled to Yao Feng in the direction of leaving, and asked, "Fang Cai, what are you doing?" ”

Zhu Yuan gestured around: "Even if you are a Yamen of the Camp Sea Division here, make a few sets of tables and chairs, both as a conference room and as an office, I don't have to run around, I can't run." ”

Hua Gao had never heard of the new words 'conference room' and 'office', but he probably understood it, and nodded: "Then Lao Hua's Navy Governor's Mansion is also set up in his own house, let's be neighbors." ”

The house where Hua Gao settled is next door to Zhu Yuan.

Well.

Next door...... Why do these words sound so dirty?

Abominable modern man.

Zhu Yuan didn't say much, just smiled and clapped his hands: "Everyone, ......" just opened his mouth and gestured to the square table in front of him, and said to the family members on the periphery of the crowd: "...... This, move to Lord Liu's side," he said and pointed at Liu Lian: "Liu Langzhong, you are in charge of meeting minutes, or vernacular, and you are not allowed to use classical Chinese." I remember to write down the list of all of you who will attend today, and I will send a letter to my ancestors later, and the minutes of this meeting happened to be sent to Jinling together. ”

The two housekeepers stepped forward, lifted the square table in front of Liu Lian, and helped lay out the paper and pen.

Zhu Yuan didn't care about the image just now, and Liu Lian didn't care, he picked up the pen in a broken jar, stretched the paper, and waited to write.

moved the table and laid the paper here, but most of the people's minds on the scene were on Zhu Yuan's words just now.

A letter is to be sent to His Majesty the Emperor.

And what are the minutes of today's meeting, and ...... List.

Yanyun Tongzhi Xing Ji quietly breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately, on the dock yesterday, a little adult did not come forward, fortunately...... He couldn't hold back in the end, and rushed over overnight.

It's okay, it's okay.

Church.

Zhu Yuan had already clapped his palms again, attracting everyone's attention: "Name of the meeting: Open up the sea grain route and transport the grain of the Northern Expedition." ”

After saying that, I waited.

No one applauded.

The ancients are the ancients, and they don't understand the rules.

No politeness!

Zhu Yuan could only continue on his own: "Three things, first, about the people, second, about the ships, and third, about the grain. I already knew about these things before, and I called everyone here to brainstorm ideas, improve the plan, and avoid omissions. ”

"Okay, let's talk about the people first," Zhu Yuan said: "Your Majesty has ordered Wu Zhen, the deputy general of Zhengnan, to lead 20,000 people to Mingzhou, as well as 15,000 Fujian township soldiers who commanded Zhang Cundao, but most of these people are just ordinary soldiers, and most of them are not good at boating, so it is necessary to recruit people who are good at boating." ”

Speaking of this, Zhu Yuan sighed again about Lao Zhu's transformation.

Hua Gao, Chaohu Lake Sailor Born.

Wu Zhen, a native of Dingyuan.

Zhang Cundao, the eldest son of Zhang Yi, one of the four gentlemen in eastern Zhejiang, who is tied with Liu Ji, Song Lian and Ye Chen.

Although the three of them have different grades, they are all in power, and they are no longer the dominant family of Huaixi Xungui.

Thinking so, Zhu Yuan continued: "I have already discussed with you on the way here that in order to avoid risks at sea, I plan to transport grain to the north in batches, 200,000 stone each time, and I will transport it several times this year. However, according to the calculation that six batches of grain can be sent in the first half of the year, because it is impossible to return immediately when they arrive in Shandong, they do not consider the escort and the handling after leaving the port and arriving at the port, but the person who operates the boat, the minimum condition is to have 20,000 standing guards, in order to ensure the smooth transportation of grain, there must be guards and preparations, so add another 10,000 to count 30,000 people. ”

Speaking of this, Zhu Yuan paused again and said, "General Wu and Commander Zhang can probably give 10,000 people, and there is still a shortage of 20,000 people. ”

This figure is not obtained by Zhu Yuan patting his head.

At present, the grain ships are basically loaded with 500 stone of grain with 500 materials, 1,000 stone of grain with 1,000 materials, and so on. Of course, Zhu Yuan's previous 5,000-material boat was more than enough to hold 20,000 stone of grain at a time, so this is not a problem of displacement, but a problem of risk avoidance.

It is not impossible for a sea ship with 500 materials to force 1,000 stones.

The problem is that this way the safety will be reduced, and once the ship sinks, the one-time loss will be greater.

Therefore, even if Zhu Yuan's boat was used to transport grain before, it was carefully considered, and it only loaded 10,000 stones at a time.

Let's talk about manpower.

To meet the most basic conditions, 500 materials for sea ships, 15 people, 1,000 materials, 30 people. As for the large and improper size of a certain 5,000 material, it takes 300 people to ensure the basic operation. In short, 200,000 stone at a time, how many people are needed, this is a fairly easy math problem, the answer is 6,000 people.

According to the overall round-trip calculation of the three batches sent in half a year, it is 18,000 people, rounded up, and counted 20,000.

However, this is not enough.

After all, there are too many temporary problems that may be encountered at sea, and it is more secure to have only the most basic manpower, and a redundant 20 or 30 percent of manpower.

Not to mention, it is planned to have a naval escort as well.

Not to mention the soldiers who live on the grain ships, in order to ensure the convenience of movement in case of emergency, some military ships do not intend to load food, but only transport troops.

Among them, the boat part needs a group of people.

Therefore, 30,000 is more appropriate.

And that's not even counting the surrounding teams that served for the 30,000 people who transported food.

Lao Zhu transferred a total of 35,000 people from the Southern Expeditionary Army, including the officers and soldiers of the Mingzhou Guard and other coastal guard posts, these people were not only soldiers, but also served as laborers, responsible for shipbuilding, transporting grain on the road, building ports and other infrastructure, and so on.

In short, around the entire maritime grain route, the line from Mingzhou to Jiaozhou, the relevant manpower will not be less than 100,000.

Zhu Yuan already had a preliminary idea of these, and after speaking, he glanced at everyone, and his eyes first fell on Fang Guozhen's eldest son, Fang Li: "Fang Langzhong, 20,000 people, you are responsible for raising 10,000, is there a problem?" ”