Chaos of the Three Kingdoms Summons

Chapter 2667 Opening the Canal, Connecting the North and South
April of the second year of the Qianyuan era.

Inside the Linde Hall, all the officials stood solemnly.

Emperor Li Xiang, now middle-aged, sat upright on the dragon throne. His gaze, behind the crown, slowly swept over the assembled officials below, carrying with it the vigor of someone who had conquered new territories, as well as a hint of barely perceptible weariness.

He didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly, his voice not loud but clearly suppressing the subtle sounds in the hall.

"My dear ministers, the world is now unified, and only foreign enemies remain to be dealt with slowly. However, in the south, Jiaozhi, Rinan, and Xianglin, and further down to the South Seas, the dragon flag of our Great Jin has also been planted. Our territory is as vast as ever before, which is a good thing, but it is also a great trouble."

Li Xiang leaned forward slightly, glanced around at the senior officials, and then continued, "What's the biggest problem in Southeast Asia right now? Transporting grain! Transporting troops! Transporting people!"

"Starting from Luoyang, how long would it take to send a ship full of grain to Jiaozhi?"

"By sea, the winds and waves are unpredictable. If six out of ten ships manage to get through, that's considered a stroke of luck! By land, crossing mountains and valleys? Hmph, people and horses will be eating and feeding themselves. By the time the goods arrive, it'll be a miracle if one or two out of ten bushels of grain are left!"

"Not to mention bringing back any good stuff from over there—gold, spices, rice—that would rot on the road or sink in the sea. Wouldn't you feel the pain?"

"This is only Jiaozhi; further south, it will take several more months!"

His gaze swept over Zhuge Liang, the Minister of Works: "Kongming, read aloud the key points of the memorial that Yang Su submitted a few days ago, the one about the 'Grand Canal'!"

"Let all my ministers hear Chu Dao's opinion. Everyone, speak freely and see if this matter is feasible!"

The development of the south during this period, as well as the issue of rule over Southeast Asia, were always a major concern for Li Xiang.

As someone from a later era, he was naturally very clear about the potential of the South.

If it's about conquering the world, then it's naturally easier to conquer from north to south. But if it's about wealth, if the south is truly developed, then the north can't compare.

He had been considering the canal option for a long time.

However, I haven't made up my mind yet.

After all, such a massive project could easily bring down a dynasty.

Don't forget how much wealth Emperor Wen of Sui left to Yang Guang, but he squandered it all! In terms of population alone, he lost twenty to thirty million.

Despite the fierce fighting during the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, the foundation left to the early Sui Dynasty was stronger than that of the early Tang Dynasty.

Although the Grand Canal was not the only project that squandered Yang Guang's wealth, it was definitely one of the most important among his many extravagant endeavors.

As for the idea that the sins are committed in this generation but the merits are made for future generations, isn't that just nonsense?

The people are the subjects you rule now. You let your own subjects lie dead and suffer unspeakable pain, and then you shamelessly claim to have made great contributions for generations to come. It's nothing but a fig leaf!

While it's true that being an emperor requires a thick skin, being thick-skinned and being shameless are two different things!

Therefore, although Li Xiang was well aware of the benefits the canal project would bring to the development of the south and the domination of Southeast Asia.

However, it has always been just an idea; I haven't made up my mind to do it.

After all, Da Jin has more than just this one project in the south.

Currently, the Great Jin Dynasty faces a massive road construction problem in the southern provinces of Jiaozhou, Nanzhou, and the newly established Qiongzhou. Moreover, this isn't limited to these three provinces; large-scale road construction is also underway in southern Jingzhou and parts of western Yizhou.

As the old saying goes, if you want to get rich, build roads first.

Only by prioritizing transportation in these areas, ensuring that these three provinces can be connected with Yizhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou, can we guarantee the future development of these regions.

He had been hesitant about the canal project because he already had a huge project in mind.

It wasn't until Yang Su also submitted a memorial regarding the canal project that he finally decided to launch the project.

He could learn from the lessons of Emperor Yang of Sui: such a massive project cannot be rushed, nor can it be forced upon one generation. If it cannot be completed in this generation, then the project should be left to the next. He should strive to achieve a balance between the project's scale and the resources available to the people.

However, this project still needs to be started eventually.

Only by connecting the north and south through canals can the southern region be developed as quickly as possible, and after the south comes Southeast Asia. The development of canals will also directly affect the stability of the rule over Southeast Asia.

Therefore, during the Qian Yuan reign, although the project could not be completed, it was essential to start it so that the next emperor could continue in the same direction.

The founding heroes of the Sui Dynasty were indeed of high quality. Gao Jiong and Yang Su, who were representative figures, were both versatile individuals who served as both generals and ministers. They were capable of being both military strategists and politicians.

Yang Su, who personally participated in the Southeast Asian wars and was then transferred to Nanjing as the Vice Minister of War, clearly had unique insights into governing the south and Southeast Asia.

First, a year ago, before the Southeast Asian conflict had even ended, he proposed a temporary transition to a system of vassal kings instead of prefectures and counties. After officially assuming the position of Vice Minister of War at the beginning of this year, he submitted another memorial proposing the opening of the Grand Canal.

Yang Su has been working incredibly hard in the last two years.

After all, Yang Su had his own political aspirations and was a typical figure who wanted to pursue a career in both military and civil service like Wu Qi.

Yang Su first participated in the Southern Campaign and then in the Southeast Asian Campaign. Although he was not a candidate for the main general, he still undertook important combat missions during this process, and his appointment as a general can be considered a barely acceptable one.

Now, he has been transferred to the Nanjing court as the Vice Minister of War.

With the prime ministership abolished, the six ministers are all considered prime ministers. He is currently a vice minister, and if he rises any higher, he will become a minister.

By then, his political ambition of becoming both a general and a prime minister will have been fulfilled.

Therefore, Yang Su was so eager to make political achievements. It is said that he returned to Nanjing in January, but he was not in a hurry to take office.

Instead, it took three or four months to investigate the water systems of the Central Plains and the South. After revising it several times, it was finally submitted in April.

This ambition is quite remarkable among the civil and military officials of the imperial court.

However, what Li Xiang admires most are his loyal and dedicated subordinates.

Currently, the country has just been reunified, and everything is in need of rebuilding; it is a time when everyone needs to work hard.

If everyone had Jia Xu's personality, he would be driven crazy.

(End of this chapter)