The sun never sets in America

Chapter 162 Things and the Paddock

Xijing paddock......

A hunting ground located on the outskirts of Xijing City. Since the establishment of the Han Dynasty, it has been classified as an exclusive hunting ground for the Han royal family. It is very similar to the Mulan Paddock of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

Spring and summer every year are the peak seasons for hunting outside the Han Dynasty.

Because autumn is the time when all things reproduce, in order to ensure the number of prey in the coming year, hunting is generally prohibited in autumn.

If you want to fight, you can only fight those animals that are not pregnant, even for the royal family.

Just like Liu Peng warned all members of the royal family:
"The establishment of the Han Kingdom was hard-won. The children of the royal family should abide by their duties and keep their duties in order to set an example for all people..."

"If there are those who bully men and women, or are perverse and stubborn, they may be punished in the lightest way, or expelled from the royal family or demoted to civilians in the most serious cases. You must know that you have a precious life, and you must follow the laws of heaven and human affairs. At all times, you must observe the rules calmly. Live up to our ancestors and live up to our subjects..."

In Liu Peng's case, there is no so-called royal ministers, no so-called scholar-bureaucrats who cannot be punished, and no so-called merits and demerits. Wrong is wrong, and merit is merit. They must not be confused.

If they are confused, the Han Kingdom will be in chaos within a hundred years in the future! !

Liu Peng also put forward requirements for the rules of the royal family. One is not to cause chaos, the second is not to use private power for profit, and the third is to act honestly and honestly, and don't give people the impression that the Han royal family and those surnamed Liu are sinister. A cunning figure, this is not good and will do great harm to the reputation of the royal family.

Of course, rules are rules and people are alive. It is easy to get around Liu Peng's so-called rules, but it is precisely this simplicity that makes it difficult to do it, because no matter what you do, there is Liu Peng staring at you. Well, who can bear this?

And Liu Peng doesn't just have so-called rules, he also has benefits.

For example, the annuity for royal members, the tacit permission for their investment and expansion in certain industries in Han Dynasty, and even allowing some people to participate in politics were all within the scope of Liu Peng's permission.

And this group of people refers to Liu Ming. Since Liu Peng ascended the throne, Liu Ming has given up the so-called dream of the King of Han, and instead focused on his official career.

Liu Ming is currently transferred to the post of director of the Han State Railway Bureau. Liu Ming is presiding over the construction of the Ring-Han Railway currently being built by the Han State.

This tens of thousands of kilometers of railway around Han Dynasty is definitely the largest project in history in America today, except for the construction of railways in the United States.

The total cost is 2000 million Chinese yuan. You must know that the current financial resources of Han Dynasty are only [-] million Chinese yuan, which is equivalent to the cost of building a railway. (With the continuous development of Hanzhou gold mines and the development of various industries, Han State’s fiscal revenue in recent years has been almost double the previous year’s fiscal revenue.)
(At the current exchange rate, one year's fiscal revenue is equivalent to 4000 million taels of silver. There is a huge tax gap between industrial and agricultural countries. For the same population, the taxes collected by industrial countries are several times that of agricultural countries. Moreover, this industrial country also has gold mines)
And what can 33 million Chinese dollars be used for in this era? Based on the current calculation of a fully armed Han Weapon Brigade equipped with lightning rifles and heavy rain artillery, this money can arm and equip 7000 fully equipped Han Weapon Brigades. (A Han weapons brigade of 300 people, if not counting later consumption, will cost a total of [-] million Chinese yuan. It will only cost less than one million yuan at the earliest. This is mainly due to the increase in military wages and new weapons after the economic development of the Han Dynasty. Price increased)
In fact, before the construction of this railway around Han Dynasty, there was a lot of quarrel among the Han cabinet.

The opposition and support groups almost came to blows.

The reason for the opposition is that Han needs to build such a long railway at present.

In line with this issue, the opposition put forward the so-called theory that peripheral areas are useless.

What is the theory of useless marginal areas? It has to do with the current economic structure of Han State.

The economic structure of the Han State is a typical one with emphasis on the west and light on the east. Most of the Han State's economy is concentrated in the three coastal provinces of Hanzhou, Xihai and Lingnan. Guangling Province currently only relies on Mexican re-export trade for Hanzhou to eat. Leftovers.

In the north, except for Jiuyuan Province, places like Mobei were considered useless by the Han cabinet ministers.

They disdain the development of various agricultural and animal husbandry industries in Mobei Province, which is mainly animal husbandry. In the view of those ministers who were born in Hanzhou, only developing industry and trade is the right way.

How much money can you make from herding sheep, and how much tax can you collect? ?
Only a place rich in minerals like Jiuyuan can make them take a high look.

Even Western regions, such as Guangling, are disliked by them. If Han Dynasty's current policy is to develop trade with Central America and South America, these people would not even take a look at the Guangling area.

In the eyes of this group of stubborn opponents, the Han Kingdom had only four provinces, Hanzhou, Xihai, Lingnan, and Jiuyuan.

In their eyes, the territory of Han Dynasty only had four provinces. Hanzhou and Xihai formed Greater California, which provided industry and finance, Lingnan provided tea and agricultural products, and Jiuyuan provided minerals.

As for other areas, in their words, they are basically losers. They build railways for losers. In their eyes, this is cutting off the flesh of the wealthy areas of Han and patching up the sores of the weak areas...

But the supporters don't think much of it. In their view, the seven provinces and one city of the Han Dynasty each have their own uses, and they all came from the bloody battles of the Han Dynasty soldiers. How can there be regional differences and regional prejudices.

Isn’t this the self-destruction of the Great Wall? ?
In their eyes, Han's finances were provided by four provinces, which is true, but you can't use this as the other three places are useless.

You have to look at the overall situation of the Han State. Take Mobei as an example. How much finance can this place provide to the Han State? The answer is 400 million per year, a fraction. However, it costs 300 million to garrison and tens of millions to invest. Over and over again, I lost nearly [-] million yuan.

From an economic point of view, Mobei is a typical loser, but from a national security point of view, the thousands of miles of desert in Mobei is the biggest barrier to the core area of ​​Han State. As long as Mobei is there, the enemy cannot reach the core area of ​​Han State.

As long as the core area is preserved, even if the Han State loses several provinces, it will be able to regroup and fight again. However, once the core area is lost, even if the Han State has ten Mobei, it will be of no avail.

From a military point of view, the construction of the Central Han Railway can also mobilize troops faster, integrate resources from various places, and make the six provinces and one city of the Han Kingdom a true whole.

And it can also curb the current economic situation that values ​​the West over the East, and even the people who value the West over the East! !
It should be noted that people's hearts need communication. The main reason why Han Dynasty has regional differences is that communication is difficult. In addition, the economy of the inland is indeed not as good as that of the coast. This has also resulted in the current economic pattern of rich in the west and poor in the east.

As for the economy and the people's hearts, if you want to communicate, the first priority is transportation, the second is the economy, and the third is the people's hearts.

Just like the supporter Lu Ming, the new Minister of Industry and Commerce, said: "Our economy in Han is heavy on the west and light on the east. This is not the fault of the east region, but the terrain. The annual import and export trade of Han mostly gathers in the two ports of Xijing and Jinshan. The two ports are separated inland. In today's world, a country's wealth depends entirely on maritime trade. Strong maritime trade means strong wealth, and strong wealth means a strong country..." Lu Ming pointedly pointed out the economic situation in today's world.

"Although I am a man of thousands of miles, I have collected all my wealth in the four provinces of Hanzhou, Xihai, Lingnan, and Jiuyuan. Except for Jiuyuan, the rest rely on trade, and more on sea trade. However, inland, it is difficult to make a living, and there is little wealth. The crime of not being inland is the lack of economic and cultural integration. If we want to integrate culture and economy, we need railways. Railways, machine roads, steel roads... cannot be compared with human power!!"

"Therefore, it is asserted that the day when the Central Han Railway is completed is the beginning of the economic development of the Han Dynasty!!"

This paragraph is a passage from Lu Ming's memorial to Liu Peng, asking him to open the ring.

On the afternoon of the next day, Liu Peng ordered at the meeting of cabinet ministers: "The Central Han Railway is a major event that benefits our people and benefits the country. Only a virtuous person cannot be responsible for it..."

"Wei Guogong has held many positions in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, and has made many achievements. I have heard from the ancients that he does not avoid relatives when promoting talents..."

"Therefore, Wei Guogong was appointed as the director of the Railway Bureau, and he was given the post of supervising minister to supervise the Central Han Railway."

This is also a symbolic move of Liu Peng's desire to promote members of the royal family.

The reason is because of the current power structure in the Han Dynasty. Most of them are controlled by the Liujiabao faction, that is, the Xungui faction, and then those who came up through the imperial examination later. This group of people is still in a low position and has not achieved much credit. I think. There is no reason for promotion.

But if you promote a member of the royal family, there is no need for a reason, and the promotion is fair and aboveboard. Looking around the entire Han royal family, only Liu Ming is worthy of great use. Liu Tian, ​​don't mention it! !
In fact, after Liu Ming was promoted, Zhao Wei also officially stepped down from his position, and his replacement was Yan Jun.Hu Junding, the former Minister of Immigration of Han Dynasty, was also transferred back to China and served as governor of Hanzhou Province and was granted the title of Viscount.

These two things may seem unrelated, but in the eyes of knowledgeable people, this is a landmark event for Liu Peng to adjust the power of the Han Dynasty.

For a time, the entire Han officialdom was filled with dark clouds. After all, no one wanted to be the one who was beaten down! !

.............................................

boom……

With the sound of a gunshot, a hunting puma fell to the ground. The surrounding sika deer that were kept in the paddock fled in all directions after hearing the gunshot, like frightened birds...

"Your Majesty is so good at marksmanship that he can kill an enemy with a hundred steps..."

"Yes, your majesty's shooting skills make me terrified when I see it..."

.........

Liu Peng was riding on a handsome sweat horse, surrounded by flattering voices, as if Liu Peng was not fighting a puma, but some mythical beast. He could be as exaggerated as he wanted.

(The Blood Horse was a national gift given to the Han Dynasty by the Ottomans and was circulated from Central Asia)

Liu Peng listened to the voices around him and just nodded slightly. There was no such thing as reprimanding the ministers not to flatter him.

Because Liu Peng knows that this is all human nature, and human nature can only guide it, and it is impossible to stop it.

"In the past years when I was practicing hunting, I would always give my advice. Anyone who is in the top three will also be rewarded. It should be the same today..." Liu Peng put away the gold-plated shotgun in his hand, turned around and gave instructions to the princes and ministers behind him who were hunting with him. , "My lords, within one hour, the one with the most prey will win!!" Liu Peng said the last thing and returned to the camp under the escort of the guards.

"Brother Li is good at shooting. Why don't you go first?" Tang Wuwei looked at Li Zhaowu and stretched out his hand to indicate.

"Brother Tang is a cavalryman. I can't compare to my riding and hunting skills. Brother Tang, you should go first..." Li Zhaowu did not fall for this trick, but also extended his hand to let Tang Wuwei go first.

"You two, mother-in-law, mother-in-law, and grandpa are tired of looking at it, so let me come first." Xu Zhi couldn't stand it anymore, so he rushed into the forest with a single gun, while his entourage hurriedly followed. After all, there are pumas, gray wolves and other ferocious beasts in the forest. If you miss it for a moment, you will be doomed.

"Alas..." Seeing Xu Zhi's unchanging rudeness, Li Zhaowu could only wave his whip and follow him.

Tang Wuwei saw this and followed closely behind.

The generals were fine, but they just declined on purpose, but the civil servants were in trouble. They were making a big fuss over who should go first.

"I think Minister Lu should come first..." Long Yunding, Minister of Health and former director of Xijing Hospital of Hanzhou Province, said to the new Finance Minister Lu Lin, who had been transferred from Hanzhou Province to the cabinet.

"No, the so-called elders are respected, I think Prime Minister Yan should come first..." After Lu Lin heard that he was called, he immediately shied away and focused on Yan Jun, who had been the prime minister for half a month, "Yan Jun When a new minister is appointed, there are so-called three fires when a new official takes office. I think this first fire will burn in the Xijing paddock. What do you think?" After Lu Lin finished speaking, he looked at other officials around him, It seemed like he was asking for advice, but in fact everyone was forcing Yan Jun to come first.

The so-called first fire was not Yan Jun's fire, but the anger he vented after Lu Lin lost his phase! !
You must know that before Liu Peng selected Yan Jun, Lu Lin and Yan Jun both had the opportunity to compete for the position of the second prime minister of Han Dynasty. Unfortunately, after all, they missed a move and gave up their position to Yan Jun.

It seems a pity to outsiders, but to Lu Lin himself, it is a complete shame. Lu Lin asked himself that when he was in Jinshan City, he developed Jinshan City, which was a small fishing village, into a city second only to Xijing in terms of trade throughput, and even The number one city in Han Dynasty, it also developed the light industry that Han Dynasty is currently famous in Central and South America.

And what Yan Jun has? His best achievement is that he served as the mayor of Xijing, and then went to Jiuyuan to mine, and developed the so-called Tongshan City with the mining money. In Lu Lin's view, this is nothing. The big deal is that there is no way to compare it with the achievements he has done.

Because Lu Lin is engaged in industry, this is also a common problem in the officialdom of the Han Dynasty at present, which focuses on industry and light on agriculture and animal husbandry.

It’s funny to say that a nation that has been farming since ancient times was suddenly transformed by Liu Peng into a country that likes industrial expansion. I don’t know if it is a good or bad thing? ?
"Yes, yes... Prime Minister Yan comes first. After all, Prime Minister Yan is the head of the cabinet, and Prime Minister Yan should make the decision."

"Yes, we are all cabinet ministers, and we should act with strict leadership!!"

"Prime Minister Yan, please first..."

"Prime Minister Yan, please first..."

.........

As soon as Lu Lin finished speaking, the officials around him praised Yan Jun, as if he would break the rules and hurt everyone's hearts if he didn't come first! !
"Since you all love me so much, Jun, how dare you disobey me..." Although Yan Jun was very angry at what Lu Lin had just done, on the surface, he still expressed his agreement to his colleagues.

"Drive..." Yan Jun gave Lu Lin one last meaningful look, and then he quickly accelerated and led the people into the forest.

After Yan Jun left, everyone entered the forest together in twos and threes.

"Mr. Lu Ge, if we hate him so much, nothing will happen, right?" Lu Ming, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, asked Lu Lin, who was walking with him.

(In addition to calling ministers, Han cabinet officials also called each other cabinet elders among themselves)
"It's disgusting. He also knows how disgusting it is. It's the most disgusting thing for a person like him to become the prime minister!!" Lu Lin heard this and replied sarcastically to Lu Ming beside him, "Your Majesty doesn't know what's wrong. , why choose such a flattering person to take over the position??" Lu Lin continued to complain to Lu Ming with a calm expression.

"Brother Lu, be careful..." Lu Ming was immediately startled when he heard what Lu Lin just said, and even looked around reflexively, "Brother Lu, please note that His Majesty is the Son of Heaven, God's heart is God's will, and God's will is unpredictable!! Lu Ming lowered his voice and warned Lu Lin, who was also riding on the horse. (Although Liu Peng did not proclaim himself emperor, everyone in the government and the public said that Liu Peng was the emperor, and his meaning is self-evident)

"I know what Mr. Lu Ge said, and I won't cause trouble for everyone." Lu Lin knew what Lu Ming meant, "But in my opinion, his surname is Yan, and he doesn't have much ability. In Liujiabao At that time, he only worked as a minor official for ten years. However, Brother Lu came from a scholarly family. He first worked as an errand under Prime Minister Zhao and was later transferred to another place. He was really from a famous family. On the other hand, Yan Jun and Yan Zilin were just relying on In his early years, he served as the mayor of Xijing and won a fortune by doing things in front of His Majesty... In my opinion, he is completely inferior to Lu..." Lu Lin praised Lu Ming and at the same time belittled Yan Jun. (Yan Jun's courtesy name is Zilin)
"Brother Lu, thank you. I was just doing my job. I can't be as good as what Brother Lu said!!" After hearing what Lu Lin said, Lu Ming agreed in his heart, but on the surface he was evasive. A humble expression.

"Brother Lu is too modest..." After hearing this, Lu Lin waved his hand to Lu Ming and said, "In my opinion, with Brother Lu's talents and achievements, it is more than enough to be the prime minister of my Han cabinet, and Lu Brother has done it, who dares to say something bad??" Lu Lin almost nakedly praised Lu Ming.

"Brother Lu, it's better not to say this, be careful that walls have ears!!" After hearing this, Lu Ming was so frightened that he waved his hands to refuse. It seemed that he was refusing, but in his heart he was wondering whether he really should be the prime minister, and whether Yan Jun was not worthy of the position. idea.

Lu Lin on the side didn't say anything, just smiled, and then started shooting with a gun.

In the camp, Liu Peng looked at the information sent to him, frowned, and then relaxed:

"Texas, the timeline has indeed changed. Since the Americans are here, let's make the situation a little crazier!!"

Liu Peng looked at the map of America hanging in the camp and muttered to himself.

　Ask for a monthly ticket, ask for a reward
　　
　
(End of this chapter)