Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 912
The waterways connecting the Huaihe River, Hongze Lake, and the Yangtze River have not yet been named, and they are officially called floodways.

Obviously, for this river, whether it is a private or official, they all want the emperor to name it, so that it can be honored.

Yu Chenglong naturally knew about this, and naturally agreed in his heart.

He even wished that the emperor would go south in person to see this flood discharge river.

Political achievements are what officials value most.

The civil and military officials from Anhui and Jiangsu naturally dispersed, while Yu Chenglong brought his servants and entered Beijing hand in hand with his servant Sun Jiang.

Naturally, it was a merchant ship on the canal,

The two-storey merchant ship can carry dozens of people at a time. It is wide and comfortable, and its load is about two hundred stones.

There are so many products on the ballast, it is dizzying.

Although entering autumn, the water volume of the canal has decreased, but there are still many ships, making the narrow canal even more crowded.

The ships lined up to pass the border stretched for several miles.

Yu Chenglong was rather curious about this. He took a few glances and said, "I heard that the most popular way of transport these years is by sea. It seems that the canals have not diminished, but are increasing day by day."

"You don't know something." The owner of the ship was dressed in silk, but he looked a little rich. He greeted the sailors to row, and said:

"Although sea transportation is convenient, it can't stand the wind and waves. Although there is no one in a hundred, it still has risks in the end, and it can't compare with the canal."

"Besides, sea-going ships range from five to six hundred materials to more than a thousand materials. It costs several thousand to tens of thousands of dollars to build a ship. This is a lot of money, and most people can't afford it."

"The imperial court's 400 million shi was transported by water, and the rest of the positions are occupied by us businessmen? Don't follow the familiar road, but take the new one. This is a big taboo in business."

Hearing this, Yu Chenglong nodded slightly, it was true.

People's inertia is to follow the familiar rather than the unfamiliar. Compared with the sea transportation with high profits and high costs, the canal with fixed profits and fixed routes is naturally more favored by small and medium-sized businessmen.

Without certain family property, it is difficult to go by sea.

At this time, Sun Jiang also walked out of the cabin. He was wearing a long robe, and said lightly: "Besides, Beiming, you overlooked one thing. Not all merchants go to the capital and disembark for transshipment on the way. Not a few."

"Linqing and Tongzhou in Shandong are both transfer stations, and the products of both places are available. Why bother to enter the capital?"

The businessman nodded again and again, expressing his agreement: "Hebei and Shandong can supply the daily food, melons, fruits and vegetables needed in the capital, and what is needed are some luxuries, such as Suzhou embroidery."

"It accounts for less than [-]% of the merchant ships in the canal."

Yu Chenglong came to a sudden.

He looked at the long queue of ships, on both sides of the river, there were all kinds of yelling, the flags were flying, and the fragrance of wine and meat made people intoxicated.

He is from Shanxi, and he has always had a sense of novelty about this kind of busy water transportation. At the same time, as an official, he also understands what it means to have more ships.

Tariffs, massive tariffs on the canal.

Starting from Chongwenmen in the capital city in the north, and arriving in Beixin, Hangzhou in the south, the eight major gates provided money for the imperial court in a steady stream, which can be said to be sitting and collecting money.

For example, he dug the river, and spent the past two years on the customs duties of Huai'an and Yangzhou. It can be said that he is extremely rich, and there is no danger of shortage of money and food.

"Over the past few years, except for the number of people on the official ship, some floating fees and personnel have been reduced a lot. Except for the customs that need to collect money, the rest of the places don't need to pay. This is why the big guys like to take the canal..."

The businessman muttered, his face bursting with longing for the future.

Obviously, this golden waterway is becoming more and more prosperous, and its influence on the people is getting bigger and bigger. The merchants naturally like this kind of stable environment.

In fact, the annual contribution of the canal's tariffs has exceeded 500 million yuan, and more than [-] ships pass through each year. It has driven the development of Shandong, Jiangsu, and Hebei provinces, and it can be described as a golden waterway in the true sense.

Take Linqing as an example. This county, which was prospered because of the canal, is no less prosperous than Jinan in the whole of Shandong. The commercial tax contribution can easily exceed that of one prefecture, or even several prefectures, accounting for [-]% of Shandong's commercial tax.

According to statistics, the thousands of miles of canals, and the resulting villages, towns, and county towns stretch over a hundred, affecting the livelihoods of millions of people.

This spillover effect is stronger than that of customs.

Therefore, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the transportation cost of the 400 million shi quota grain was 800 million shi.

Coupled with the cost of maintaining the transportation channel and controlling the river, it would cost millions or even tens of millions of taels of silver in the Qing Dynasty.

At that time, the annual tax of the Qing Dynasty was only 4000 million taels.

A group of people took the boat and passed one gate after another. At the beginning of October, the whole north was bleak, and the cold wind gradually picked up, making people shivering uncontrollably.

After Chongwenmen got off the boat, the two hurried to the inner city.

After freshening up, he didn't dare to delay, so he hurriedly went to see the emperor.

After waiting for two hours, it was the eunuch's turn to notify.

When Zhu Yixi saw the two of them, he was quite emotional.

Sun Jiang is the minister of the Ministry of Industry. He stayed in Huai'an for a long time, presided over the dredging of the Yellow River, and the construction of the polder pond. He basically didn't stay in the capital.

Not to mention Yu Chenglong, he is a doctor, and he is responsible for the construction of the spillway. He has been working hard for several years without stopping.

This year, he is only in his fifties, but his temples are already gray, and under his dark skin is skinny, but his eyes are piercing, showing his extraordinary personality.

The emperor valued such people who were willing to do practical things very much: "Sit down, sit down quickly."

"Last year, the water canal in Xishan was also repaired. One light and one dark. There is a river on the ground and a dark canal on the bottom. Although it is a bit troublesome, it can ensure the safety of the water source."

"Beijing City, since then there is no shortage of water."

Zhu Yixi said with emotion.

This ditch also cost tens of thousands of yuan, and it can be said to be carefully built, which has a profound impact on the prosperity of Beijing.

This is also one of the few major projects in the Shaowu Dynasty.

However, compared to the flood discharge river, this is nothing.

"My ministers and others said that the flood discharge river is more than three hundred miles long, the river is ten feet short, and thirty feet wide. There are three gates built on it. Once the river is raging, it can also stop it..."

"Under the penetration of the water source, the benefits spread across both sides..."

"In addition, hundreds of small rivers are connected to it, and nearby villages, towns, and counties no longer have to worry about flooding..."

"I estimate that at least 300 million people will benefit from this, and the indirect beneficiaries will exceed tens of millions."

Sun Jiang reported in detail, his expression was inexplicably excited.

Who wouldn't be excited to hang this great achievement on his body like this?
"From then on, the flood problem after the Yellow River seized the Huaihe River will be initially resolved. At least for 50 years, Jiangbei will not have to worry about flooding..."

"You really did a good deed."

Zhu Yixi praised without hesitation: "It is inevitable to be listed in the history."

"Decree that the Hanlin Academy send a special person to erect a monument on both sides of the river."

"At the same time, in order to reduce the corvee burden of the people on both sides of the strait, the government and county taxes on both sides of the strait will be reduced or exempted as appropriate."

"Also, three years of corvee labor will be reduced or exempted for the local people."

The living man on the side wrote like a god.

The eunuchs took notes to prevent forgetting.

After finishing speaking, the emperor looked at the two of them and held them up with both hands, making them very excited.

"Give a seat."

"The two Qings have worked hard, sit down quickly, wouldn't it be tiring to bend over?"

Hearing this, Yu Chenglong felt warm in his heart, as if drinking a cup of hot tea, it was warm from the back of his head to his heels.

The emperor and his ministers talked about the interesting story of repairing the river. The eunuch at the side had been watching for too long and urged him a little bit. Then the emperor got to the point:
"Sun Jiang, you have made great achievements and have to be rewarded. Go to the Ministry of Punishment today. There is a lack of a minister there. Although it is different from the Ministry of Industry, you have to show that spirit—"

Sun Jiang was overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed.

Yu Chenglong on the side also received a verbal order: "You have made great achievements and are extremely outstanding, so you should be promoted to the magistrate!"

The doctor is the fifth rank, and the magistrate is the fourth rank. In previous years, only the first rank of Jingcha would be like this, but it was very rare.

But for Jackie Chan, this grace was beyond expectation.

If nothing unexpected, Yu Chenglong will never be able to get the first class of Jingcha in his whole life.

Because Yu Chenglong was born as a scholar.

He passed the provincial examination before he was sent to the county magistrate, and then he was in the officialdom for many years. The fifth-rank doctor almost exhausted all his strength. Now he can become the magistrate. It can be said that the ancestral grave is smoking.

Seeing his appearance, Zhu Yixi's heart skipped a beat.

Nowadays, with the stability of the world, it is difficult for people who are not born as Jinshi to get ahead in officialdom.

The title of Jinshi is like the academic qualifications in the 21st century. It is not necessary for promotion, but it cannot be without it.

Obviously, for Jackie Chan, there is no doubt about his ability to be promoted, but the future is foreseeable.

"Well, give Jackie Chan the status of fellow Jinshi—"

This time, Yu Chenglong was stunned.

Sun Jiang, who had just become a minister, also felt incredible.

He glanced at the subordinate with mixed feelings in his heart.

With this title of Jinshi, it can be said to be even more powerful, and his future achievements are limitless.

The two left the palace, speechless along the way.

In the end, when parting, Sun Jiang folded his hands and sighed: "Beiming, you are the real Jane Zaidixin!"

After saying that, his mouth was full of bitterness, and the official position of Shangshu was tasteless for a while, and a feeling of jealousy went straight to his brain.

After turning around, Yu Jackie felt a sense of bleakness when he saw it.

He shook his head and said with a broken smile, "I'm really in a daze. It should be a happy time."

Go back to the courtyard arranged by the Ministry of Industry and live there.

The next day, the colleagues in the courtyard got up early and rushed to the bed, but Yu Chenglong had a rare rest and slept until the middle of the day.

"Master, what do you eat? I'll prepare it."

"Prepare what, go out and eat directly!"

After washing, there is no firewood or salt in the house.There was no way to start a fire to cook, and the capital simply didn't lack anything. As soon as I left the courtyard, there were cake sellers or wonton sellers along the street.

The master and servant ordered two bowls of Chaos.

A bowl of chaotic meat, sprinkled with small garlic leaves, roughly counted, there were about twenty of them, and the bowl was half the size of a head.

"Yo, this meat is delicious!"

Yu Jackie took a bite, and his mouth was full of meaty aroma.

"Are you always a foreigner?" The man said softly, although his tone was still respectful, there was a trace of pride in his words.

"Why?" Yu Chenglong is old and sophisticated, and he can't see their demeanor clearly, but he doesn't care much.

"Look, this minced meat is the best mutton. It came all the way from Suiyuan, and it costs about ten yuan a catty on the market!"

"That's why it tastes so delicious, which is different from the pork in previous years."

Hearing this, Yu Chenglong smiled slightly and continued to eat.

After eating a bowl, Yu Chenglong was barely half full, and the master and servant each added three vegetable cakes to make it complete.

The clerk smiled and said, "One bowl of wontons costs three big coins, your two bowls, one cake and a half, your six, the total is nine big coins."

The big money here refers to copper coins.

The specific exchange rate is that one silver dollar is equal to ten silver cents and one hundred copper dollars.

A copper round is worth ten copper coins.

In other words, the master and servant are worth ninety Wen.

The price looks expensive, but it is a normal price in Beijing.

The imperial court only controls the price of food, and whether it is rent or labor, it is extremely expensive in the capital.

Take ordinary coolies as an example. Carrying burdens in Chongwenmen can earn a hundred wen a day, but in Tianjin not far away, at most eighty wen.

In Baoding, Hebei, it dropped to thirty or fifty liters.

Besides, food is not expensive, but non-staple food is as expensive as ever. Vegetables, fruits, wine and meat are all the most expensive in the world.

With a huge population of one million, there is a strong demand.

Just after eating, the newspaper boy waiting for an opportunity, carrying a cloth bag, took out a stack of newspapers:
"My lord, I have more than a dozen kinds here, including "Da Ming Gong Pao", "Dog Fighting News", "Wen Zhai News", "Oiran News", etc. Which one do you want?"

"Looking at your gentle appearance, you must be a scholar. How about this "Wen Zhai Bao"? How about this "Reader"? It contains stories just made up by the Imperial College students, which are touching—"

"Give me a copy of the Daming Gazette!"

Yu Chenglong smiled.

The servant on the side asked about the price, and when he learned about ten Wen, he reluctantly gave it up: "Why is it so expensive? Jiangsu only has eight Wen!"

"Forgive me, it just came out this morning. It will be Jiuwen in three days, and Bawen in seven days!"

The newsboy said with a smile, and then jumped away.

Just as the master and servant were about to leave, the waiter at the side said respectfully: "If you still want to eat, just send a message to this newsboy, and they will deliver it to your door directly."

"At that time, just give them the money."

Yu Chenglong glanced at the newsboy who was leaving, and nodded slightly.

After eating, Yu Jackie went to another restaurant to listen to the sound, and the afternoon's drama audio-visual ended.

In the evening, the master and servant began to find a bathhouse to take a bath.

After the massage, the clerk said nonchalantly: "Your old clothes are worn out, do you want to have custom-made clothes? The clothes at Shengde Tailor Shop are cheap, and the tailor will come directly to you..."

"Look at your shoes. I have new ones. Would you like to try them?"

After refusing a large number of services, before leaving, the master and servant were in a daze.

In the huge capital city, they lost their way.

"Guest officer, I have a carriage here, and I only need ten big coins to deliver it directly to your door—"

(End of this chapter)