"Hundreds of feet, even a thousand ships! Today, the first bridge of the Yellow River is not inferior to the Tang Dynasty, right? ”

Outside the west gate of Puzhou City, Shanxi, the Yellow River flows from north to south. A short distance to the south is where the Weishui River joins the Yellow River. From there, further west, you will reach the city of Xi'an.

The name of Xi'an Mansion has only existed since the time of Taizu. Just because of the Mengyuan period, that area was called Fengyuan Road, Taizu renamed it Xi'an.

And now, a few people who have just come from Xi'an have arrived in Xi'an, where Pujin crosses the Yellow River in the west of Puzhou, Shanxi, and saw the Pujin Bridge that has been repaired over the years.

The first bridge over the Yellow River in the world?

In the face of his companion's inquiry, a young man in his twenties smiled: "Molten iron casts cattle for piers, and smelted iron knots for cables." If there is a lot of iron production, how can it be compared with today's when Xuanzong was in the Tang Dynasty in the past? I heard that in the past Kaiyuan years, in order to rebuild the Pujin Bridge, the pig iron consumed took four-fifths of the annual output of the Tang Dynasty. ”

Now, these scholars all looked at the Pujin Bridge in front of them in amazement.

Such a place is naturally the best place to talk about the past and the present.

Showing his knowledge, he told that the earliest bridge here was in the Spring and Autumn Period. At that time, it was a pontoon bridge with bamboo cables. However, the Yellow River has flood peaks in summer and floods in winter, and it has to be repaired every year, which costs the people and money.

During the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty, the real Pujin Bridge was built here.

If you have some experience with Tao Strategy, I will explain here why Tang Xuanzong spent so much money to build the Pujin Bridge. Li Tang prospered from Shanxi, and this Puzhou was also promoted to the central capital in the ninth year of the Kaiyuan Dynasty. If Chang'an changes and retreats to the central capital, then Shanxi can become the foundation for restart.

In addition, the Tang Dynasty has eighteen salt ponds, of which the salt ponds in the Puzhou area are ten thousand years old, which is a strategic place to supply Chang'an. As a major ferry port of the Yellow River, it is necessary to build a bridge in this strategic place, salt producing area and economic circulation area.

"Honestly, I learned that!" A scholar echoed the 20-year-old, looked at the current Pujin Bridge and said, "For more than 2,000 years, even if the Tang Dynasty was in the prosperous Tang Dynasty, the Pujin Bridge was rebuilt and destroyed in the Jinyuan War after the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Now this bridge is hanging over the river, and I really don't know how to build it. Xuefu, you are from Shanxi, can you elaborate? ”

"I'll talk as we go." The so-called Xuefu smiled, "My sister married the Zhang family in Puzhou, and if you want to talk about the reconstruction of the Pujin Bridge, many people in Shanxi have contributed." ”

The group crossed the Yellow River along the newly built Pujin Bridge.

For hundreds of years, the only striking features at each end of the bridge were four giant iron bulls. The iron chain that lies on the water surface of the Yellow River is tied to the iron ox, and some boats are connected all the way under the iron chain, which is the face of the first bridge of the Yellow River in the world.

But now, the iron bull on both sides of the strait is not the point. The iron bull is still there, but there is a towering cement pier next to it, and there are iron pillars inside. The iron chain was hung from the top of the iron pillar to the bridge deck.

And the bridge deck, although there are still iron cables under it, no longer extends all the way to the opposite bank. Often separated by a hundred steps, there is a bridge pier with a radius of several zhang.

In the old days, the pontoon bridge was used as piles, and the bridge deck was erected on it, and it could not be very far from the water. Along the way, there are also iron men, iron pillars, iron mountains, etc. to stabilize the center of gravity.

But now, under the piers of several zhang square, it can be seen that it is an iron boat. Inside and outside, this iron boat is both lacquered and painted with a layer of swarthy things. The iron boat was connected again, and the iron plate was first laid on it, and then there was a cement stone pier mixed with iron bars in the middle, and then there were iron pillars reaching to the sky, and the iron chains were hanging obliquely. On the pier platform formed by the iron boat, there are several thick iron anchors that fall into the river in all directions. In this way, although the piers are still shaking, they are not violent.

This is also due to the taller, stronger piers on the sandbar that divides the Yellow River in two, and the bridge deck is pulled to the left and right.

"This bridge is great!"

Walking to the sandbank, everyone couldn't help but sigh.

"Such a huge pillar, how can these many iron cables be transported here, how can they be erected?"

"I heard, it's just an experimental bridge." The one named Xuefu explained, "There is coal and iron in Datong, Huailai is an ordnance park, and Puzhou is a heavy industry park." There are many new railways, and it is not difficult to transport them here. Standing up, there is also a pulley crane for docks. The main thing is these iron cables. ”

He pointed to the iron cable that extended from the top of the iron pillar of the bridge pier to both sides, gradually pulling farther and farther: "I heard that this is a long-term study in the Doctoral Research Institute, and it has the magic of sharing great power. Although this Pujin New Bridge weighs more than 10,000 catties, it has many physical mysteries, but it is more stable than before. Don't you see, the piers of the bridge on the river are iron boats floating in the water? Iron can float in the water, there is an anchor under its position, and the pier platform is pressed but not sinking, and those who see it are surprised. ”

"It's amazing......"

Wood floats on the water, that's normal, how does the iron boat float on the water?

Some people say that it is about the wooden boat covered with iron sheets, so that the wooden boat will not be easily damaged and will often have to be repaired.

Some people paid more attention to some Huangming University and the Doctoral Research Institute, and said that there is research now, and what new words such as density and buoyancy are said.

As a result, the topic changed again, and they began to discuss next year's entrance examination.

These people are all from Shanxi and Shaanxi. Accompanied by a study tour to Beijing, and now I have arrived in Shanxi first.

Puzhou is located at the southwest end of Shanxi, adjacent to Shaanxi. With the establishment of the Hetao border area, tracing the Yellow River from Puzhou to the Hetao, or going to Xuanning on the road, has been the choice of many people in Sichuan, Huguang, and Guanzhong in Shaanxi.

There are both business travelers and common people.

The new development of Puzhou is not only due to the emperor's recognition of the Pujin Bridge experimental transformation project, but also to the support of the Jin merchants in recent years.

From the earliest special treasury bonds, to the later permission of border trade merchants, the reputation of Shanxi merchants gradually grew.

Because Datong began to mine a large amount of coal and iron, Puzhou has the foundation of salt industry and paper industry, and has the transportation and circulation advantages of the ancient ferry port of the Yellow River, so an industrial park has also been formed here.

"At the time of Bize, there are Pu and Lotus. There is a beautiful person, what is the injury? "Pucao is not only beautiful, but also a raw material for high-quality paper. Puzhou is named after the grass, and the paper here has been revitalized due to the prosperity of the printing industry.

And this young man named Xuefu is Wang Chonggu, the heir of the Shanxi Wang family, who was called by Tang Shunzhi to buy special treasury bonds. As the most promising young generation in the Wang family, he first traveled to the Hetao last year and visited Tang Shunzhi. Then I went to Shaanxi, got acquainted with a lot of "quasi-fellow subjects", and then made an appointment to enter Beijing together.

Not only did he study abroad, but he also learned about the Wang family's business in Hetao, Shaanxi and even Xining Border City, Qinggan Border District.

Now in Puzhou, his eldest sister married the Shen family here, and the second sister married the Zhang family here.

The Shen family and the Zhang family in Puzhou are not simple, they have always been salt merchants. Today, the salt business of Daming is in charge of the Treasure Salt Bureau, and they still cooperate with it.

Under the pressure of the construction of the Beijing-Guangzhou Straight Road in the imperial court, the Pujin Bridge was still rebuilt, which was naturally the appeal of these Jin merchant groups.

No, Puzhou City is more prosperous now. Jin merchants went to Guanzhong, Qinggan, Sichuan, Yunnan, and the original Xuanda border trade business, which can become the starting point of a trade route. The Shen family and the Zhang family are now not only engaged in the salt industry, but also papermaking, ironware, grain, cattle and sheep, and fur.

As half of the host, Wang Chonggu took his friends to Zhang's house. They are all future Jinshi seedlings, and it goes without saying that the Zhang family has a good meal, and Wang Chonggu was invited to the backyard by his second sister and second brother-in-law.

"Uncle!" A fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy saluted Wang Chonggu respectfully.

"Ziwei, I haven't congratulated you yet, it's good." Wang Chonggu was only eleven years older than him, but now he was old-fashioned.

"Just a student, uncle don't make fun of it. This time, my uncle entered Beijing to take the exam, and he must be named on the gold list, which is worth congratulating. ”

Wang Chonggu smiled and said nothing, his nephew was famous when he was seven years old, and he was a young man.

This year, at the age of fifteen, he first had the status of a student, and he could be regarded as the first step out of the scientific journey.

Of course, Wang Chonggu himself is already a lifter, and he is also determined to win this time.

At this time, Wang Chonggu's second brother-in-law, Zhang Yunling, said his purpose for inviting Wang Chonggu to the backyard: "Xuefu, among the scholars who came with you this time, are there any scholars who have good family backgrounds and talents and have not yet married?" Siwei's sister is also sixteen, Your Majesty Longen, my Zhang family is no longer a military member now, let's see if I help ......"

Zhang Siwei looked at his father helplessly, was it because of this? So what are you doing by calling yourself too?

“…… Brother-in-law, although I am thin and famous, after all, I was born in a merchant family. Most of the best people on this journey are not official eunuchs. In my opinion, with the Zhang family's current wealth, what should be sought cannot still be after the businessman. ”

Wang Chonggu's background has decided, and most of the friends he can make so far are also from this background.

The real eunuch family and the scholarly family can't be true friends with him, at least the brief contact in the process of this friendship is not enough for them to make a decision and make friends with him.

He knew what his sister and brother-in-law were struggling with, and one or two others from poor backgrounds had talents, but Wang Chonggu felt that it was not suitable.

"Sister, brother-in-law, you don't need to worry. I'm going to enter Beijing, and I'll be careful when I get there. With the current identity of the Zhang family, raised with the appearance of a jade cicada, why worry about not finding a good family? ”

"Just take it to heart." Zhang Yunling was happy, and then said, "Siwei also has a student background, so in the next few days, you have to point out and guide him with your friends." ”

"That's nature."

Wang Chonggu and Zhang Siwei, the two uncles and nephews, then led Wang Chonggu and these friends to travel in Puzhou.

Pufu Temple near Pujin Bridge, which is now more popular because of the deliberate promotion of Qu Yisi, has a scene in which Zhang Sheng met Cui Yingying here.

According to legend, Puzhou was also the capital of Emperor Shun.

Nowadays, Puzhou is also prosperous because of the development of industry and commerce in the Ming Dynasty, and the city is very lively outside the city.

Zhang Siwei is a local, interested in making friends with seniors, and is a well-known local "prodigy", so his deliberate performance was naturally praised by other scholars.

Isn't that the case between Shilin? Fame will gradually be brought to the capital.

At this time, there was also a tall man who also came to Puzhou, where he was going to change the land route to Guihua City.

Before entering Beijing to participate in next year's martial arts examination, he was recommended by the chief military officer of Sichuan to go to Guihua City to visit Ji Weimin, the chief military officer of the Hetao border area and the marquis of Pinghu.

Ji Weimin stayed in Sichuan, and Liu Xian naturally knew him.

Liu Xian, who is also 26 years old, hiked alone from Nanchang, Jiangxi to Sichuan. After so many years, he already has the identity of a martial artist.

But for now, he's still a small man.

Although he served as a small lieutenant under the account of the Sichuan General Army and led a team of 100 people, after the military reform, the hinterland provinces were already very calm, and there was not much possibility of making meritorious contributions.

If you want to make a difference, you can only continue to take the test again. After passing the Wujin Examination and going to the border area, I had a chance.

Liu Xian didn't plan to stay in Puzhou for long, and the next day he arrived at the post office outside the city.

Today, almost every post house in the post office has become a small town.

In addition to hotels, restaurants, tea shops, and carriage and horse shops.

This time, Liu Xian did not have an official mission, he was traveling in a private capacity and preparing to enter Beijing to take the exam, so he had to pay for it himself.

"To the City of Naturalization?" The employee of the Puzhou Station of the Tongyi Bureau raised his head behind the counter, "There is no carriage directly leading to the Naturalization City in Puzhou, so let's take another turn when you get to Shuozhou." ”

"Shuozhou?" Liu Xian thought for a while, "It's okay." ”

The post office also operates a fleet of horse-drawn routes between different stations, which is not expensive, and Liu Xian can afford it.

If you have a lot of money, the best way is to rent a horse and walk along the post road by yourself. But Liu Xian didn't know how to grow up in Sichuan, and he was recruited into the Sichuan army after winning the martial arts, and now he doesn't save much money.

Valued by the chief, although he was given thirty silver dollars as a subsidy, this money will be used at least until next year's martial arts examination, and Liu Xian naturally does not dare to waste it.

I went to the capital, and it cost more.

The "shuttle" to Shuozhou is not immediately available. Luck is not good, Liu Xian has to wait for two days for the three-day horse convoy.

There was nothing to do, just like when he was a child, he went to the pier of Pujindu, ready to do two days of labor.

The boats on the Yellow River are not large, and this Pujin ferry is not like the wharves in Guangzhou, Ningbo or the canal, where pulley cranes have been used on a large scale.

Ligong still has a job to do here.

In addition to carrying goods, you can also hear some things in the conversations of others.

"I heard that the Zhang family, the Shen family, and many owners who have a lot of goods at the wharf are now persuading the government to use pulley cranes." In the middle of his busy work, there was a laborer sitting there with his arms crossed, and his mouth said, "With that thing, we only need to leave 20% of these laborers." On one side on the shore, on the other side on the boat. I don't know how long I can eat this mouthful. ”

"No, I can't go to Hetao, the owner has also bought a lot of fields over there, and the Tartars only know how to herd sheep, not plough the fields."

"Speaking of the Hetao, I heard that there are many more Tartar women than men there now, and maybe you can get a Tartar wife."

"You're not afraid of soiling your ancestors' seeds!"

"Scholars have said that there are three unfilial pieties, and no queen is the greatest, it is better than being a single person for a lifetime, right?"

"You kid, if you keep more of the money you have saved and go to the theater less to listen to the play, you will already beg your mother-in-law!"

"Hey! As soon as you say that, let me tell you, the figure of the little Cui lady of Puyun Society ......"

Liu Xian listened to their conversation silently, thinking about the situation in Sichuan.

Your Majesty has implemented the new law for so many years, and the life of ordinary people is indeed better than what I had in my impression when I was a child.

But he who plows the field still ploughs the field, and he who begs for a living still begs for a living. Although there are many more outlets for ordinary people's families, how can they enjoy more benefits than the original gentry and wealthy households?

On the one hand, the wealthy gentry also had to pay the service tax. But on the other hand, because they have a wider range of channels, they can also earn more.

Buying land, hiring people to farm, and evading servitude are really nothing compared to the profits from taking the provincial government to procure them now, not to mention that the things of buying land and land can still be done, as long as the taxes are paid in accordance with the rules and regulations, and the taxes are not evaded every year in the future.

Now, "Ming Pao" has taught agricultural experience and skills for many years, iron farming tools, fertilizers, improved seeds, and many other measures, and the crops that can be harvested in the fields have risen, but the fixed amount of taxes has not risen with it, and the accounts can be calculated.

On the other hand, since six years ago, the Ministry of Rites and Communications set up the Quyi Division, there are more miscellaneous books in various places, more theaters and theaters, and more storytellers in teahouses. Ordinary people have a slightly better life, but they will spend more money on these aspects.

Although more and more primary schools are being built in each county, and they can drink milk and eat meat once every three to five days, and the tuition fees are not expensive, the private schools run by some officials and gentry are still better. Even if ordinary people have good seedlings, after they have achieved success in primary and secondary schools, they still need ordinary people to prepare a lot of money, after all, they have to concentrate on studying.

However, the family background is a little rich, and the dazzling clothes and clever utensils in the city, as well as listening to books, operas, and music, really make many people who have given birth to good seedlings regret not saving more money.

It's really good that students can also make a bowl of rice in the government, but with Liu Xian's current experience, he can naturally see the hidden worries.

On the dock, a group of brightly dressed men came over. The owner who hired Liu Xian today hurriedly greeted him, bending down to curry favor: "Young master, prince Wang, the boat is ready." ”

"Okay." The leader of them smiled and said to the others, "Now that the post road extends in all directions, everyone is interested, so they will go up the river together, go to the south of the Yangtze River to see the border situation, and then go to Datong." Tang Dutai has always been willing to promote the backwards, and I have taken the liberty to write and introduce you. It's a pity that there is something at home, and I need to go back to Taiyuan first, so I will ask you to take care of Ziwei first. In the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, Datong reunited. ”

"It's a pity that the students can't go along."

"My father has a call, and I dare not return. Have a good trip, Ziwei, you ask the elders for advice along the way. ”

"Uncle, don't worry."

On the pier, the men boarded the passenger boat. Liu Xian saw many servants, men and women, either carrying burdens or carrying boxes, and went on the boat to serve together.

On this boat, Liu Xian also moved a lot of goods on it before. There is wine, there is grain, there are fresh vegetables, dried meat, and pen, ink, paper and inkstone.

It turned out to be for these readers to play all the way.

He knew that behind his host's house was the Zhang family in Puzhou, and silently watched the boat leave the dock of Pujindu.

After sending them away, his host went to the side of the laborers: "Get up, get up." Wait a minute, there is a shipload of goods, which are all high-quality pu paper that the Zhang family in Zhangqiu, Shandong wants. Be careful not to scratch the tung oil paper. ”

As he spoke, there was already a commotion of a convoy outside.

The proprietor greeted him and greeted the other shopkeeper who had gotten out of the car.

"Shopkeeper Peng, you went to the paper factory to see it in person, now you can rest assured."

The shopkeeper nodded a little arrogantly: "If your Zhang's Pu paper is easy to use, since it is the same sect, it will be used more in the future." ”

"Shopkeeper Peng, rest assured, it will be easy to use!" Liu Xian's proprietor bowed again and again, "At this year's longevity ceremony, your aunt also has a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, right?" If there is anything you need our lord's help with, just ask. ”

"That's not necessary." Shopkeeper Peng chuckled, "Qu Yisi naturally has a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, but what a big deal is the Majesty's Longevity Ceremony?" Although my uncle is trusted by His Majesty, this matter is handled by Yan Guolao himself, why do you and I need to bother? ”

"Shopkeeper Peng's words are out of sight. Elder Yan and General Secretary Li are naturally busy with big things, but there are always some small things that we can help with......"

The two walked to the shop on the dock as they spoke, and Liu Xian only carried the leather boxes filled with paper. In order to be waterproof, the outside is also sealed with a layer of tung oil paper.

When he heard Yan Guolao and General Secretary Li in his heart, his heart sank.

That is naturally Yan Song, as well as Li Kaixian, who has been a bachelor in the imperial study and is now the head of the Quyi Division.

That shopkeeper Peng, is Li Kaixian's father-in-law's family?

The prince in the mouth of the Zhangjia family in Puzhou is the uncle of the young master of their family, and he has dealings with Tang Shunzhi, the Marquis of Jingbian. The business of the Zhang family also has dealings with the father-in-law's family of the general director of the Quyi Department.

Officials and businessmen...... Liu Xian silently sold coolies.

Da Ming is really very different from the past, ordinary people's lives are better, but some things have never changed.

Even, businessmen are no longer as despised as in the past, and the contacts between officials and businessmen have become closer.

Liu Xian is just a martial artist, he doesn't have to worry about this.

He couldn't figure it out either.

Carrying his goods, suddenly someone ran to the dock and shouted in panic: "Oh no! Oh no! The iron ship on one of the piers of the Pujin Bridge has been broken, and three iron cables have been torn off! If the bridge collapses, I'm afraid there will be a catastrophe! Zhizhou has a life, and the dock workers are all going to help! ”

Liu Xian looked over there in amazement.

With such a big project, don't you think about these eventualities? Or did the people who supervised and built it cut corners in the first place?

He didn't have much to think about it, and soon an officer rode over and urgently requisitioned the dock workers to rush to repair it.

When he arrived in front of Liu Xian, Liu Xian stepped forward and said, "Lieutenant Liu Xian, the chief officer of the Sichuan Army, I will lead them to contribute together with these laborers on the dock." ”

The officer looked at his dress as a fellow dock laborer, and seeing that he was calm, he hesitated for a moment and nodded: "Okay!" Hurry up and rush to the bridge! ”

(End of chapter)