Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 210 You actually used it?

Shaanxi City.

The fleet sailed westward along the Yellow River from Luoyang and stopped at Shancheng.

Su Chuo stood on the dock, feeling a bit of a headache.

The grain, fodder, timber, and other supplies unloaded from these ships were piled up all over the ground. Meanwhile, transport ships from Luoyang continued to arrive in droves.

Su Chuo was born into the Su family, a martial arts clan with a stipend of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), but by his generation, the family was already impoverished.

Previously, he had always been troubled by a shortage of supplies at home. He never imagined that one day he would be troubled by not being able to deal with too many supplies.

When the Yellow River extends to the vicinity of Shancheng, it flows through canyons, forming three dangerous currents: "Human Gate," "God Gate," and "Ghost Gate." In addition, the riverbed is full of hidden reefs, making it difficult for large ships to pass.

There are three solutions:

The options were: first, to force the passage by small boat; second, to set up warehouses at both ends of Sanmenxia for segmented transshipment; and third, to simply transport the goods by land.

However, both options are time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Xue Xiuyi ran over. As the town's commander, he wasn't wearing armor, but had changed into a short-sleeved shirt, and was covered in sweat.

"The warehouses in the city are already full, and there's no time to build temporary sheds outside. All the local people have been conscripted, so there's no one left to find boatmen."

After the Northern Wei Dynasty unified the Northern Dynasties, it focused on developing this section of the waterway in order to strengthen the connection between Guanzhong and Luoyang.

Although it wasn't as exaggerated as "millions of canal workers, whose livelihood depended on them," there were indeed quite a few hired laborers near Shancheng who made a living this way.

However, the entire canal transport system is already at full capacity and still cannot transfer the massive amount of goods transported from Luoyang in the east in a timely manner.

Su Chuo listened and said:

"As instructed by our lord, we should first transport the seeds, brocade, gold and silver artifacts and other precious items to Guanzhong. Other items such as grain and building materials should be put aside for the time being. In addition, our lord also said that we should not be stingy with money and grain for the people. The important thing is to be fast."

"it is good!"

Just then, a young man dressed in brocade robes was brought down from the ship.

"Bandit, Da Yeshuang is a bandit!"

Looking at the situation, Xue Xiuyi asked the boatman who was escorting him:
"Who is this kid?"

"We don't know either!"

The man straightened his clothes, though he still looked disheveled.

"My name is Yang Yin, and I am a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate. When I was conveying His Majesty's decree, I was unjustly detained by Da Yeshuang!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Xiuyi asked:

"The Yang family of Hongnong?"

"Exactly!"

"Then why weren't you killed by Erzhu Rong?"

After saying this, Yang Yin's face turned red.

"At that time, I did not hold any official rank!"

Xue Xiuyi laughed and said:
"The imperial court in Luoyang is in ruins; even a mere lad like him has been promoted!"

Yang Yin was very dissatisfied upon hearing this.

"My father, Yang Jin, is the Minister of Works of the Great Wei Dynasty, my elder brother, Yang Kan, is an important official of the court, and I am also well-read. Do not underestimate me!"

Xue Xiuyi was a little impatient and waved his hand.

"Alright, since he was sent by the Duke, send him to Chang'an."

"and many more!"

Just as the boatmen were about to make their move, Yang Yin stopped them:
"I don't want to go to Chang'an, I want to go back to Luoyang!"

What's so great about Luoyang?

"As long as the emperor is in Luoyang, Luoyang is a good place!"

Yang Yin's answer was irrefutable, but Xue Xiuyi was not a reasonable person either.

"Well said, send it to Chang'an!"

"You're all the same!"

Xue Xiuyi smiled, a smile that Yang Yin seemed to recognize. It was the same smile Li Shuang had given him when he tried to tie him up.

Yang Yin panicked and quickly said:
Are you worried that there are too many supplies coming from Luoyang and that you can't transport them in time?

"Nonsense, can't you see how many ships there are outside?"

Xue Xiuyi assumed Yang Yin was stalling for time and was about to have him dragged away when Su Chuo stopped him. "Does Your Excellency have a solution?"

"I am from the Yang family of Hongnong. I can gather people from the surrounding counties and prefectures to come and transport the goods!"

Xue Xiuyi asked with a suspicious look:
"You're not trying to sneak away under some pretext, are you?"

"Don't underestimate me. A gentleman keeps his word! But it's settled then, you have to let me go after this is done!"

Xue Xiuyi waved his hand and agreed:
"can!"

Yang Yin nodded, and then said:
"The people I have gathered, the oxen, horses, carts, and boats they brought, you shall pay three times the rental fee. If any of the boatmen die, you shall pay twice the compensation for their resettlement!"

Boatmen had to carry tow ropes on boardwalks built on the cliffs along the river, pulling the boats with their feet on the rocks and their hands gripping the cliff face, which was extremely dangerous.

Throughout history, countless boatmen have fallen to their deaths on the turbulent Yellow River.

"can!"

Seeing Xue Xiuyi's straightforwardness, Yang Yin became suspicious.

"Don't you need to ask Ohno Sō first?"

"No need to ask, the Duke said he'll pay five times the rent and three times the settlement fee. You're actually saving money!"

"..."
-
Luoyang.

Xianyang Hall.

Yuan Ziyou sat on the throne, looking at the people on his left and right.

The atmosphere was a little awkward.

On one side was a group led by Erzhu Rong, and on the other side were only Li Shuang and Hou Jing.

Yuan Ziyou initially disliked Li Shuang, until Erzhu Rong entered Luoyang.

By the standards of the Celestial Dragons, Li Shuang was just a country bumpkin.

But at least he's still a human being!

As for Erzhu Rong...

Yuan Ziyou suppressed his anger and calmed himself down.

Erzhu Rong remained silent, his face cold. His mouth spoke for Erzhu Zhao:

"Da Ye Shuang, the total grain reserves in and around Luoyang are only 12 million shi, and you alone want to transport 8 million shi. Isn't that a bit excessive?"

Li Shuang ignored him and didn't bother to pay him any attention.

His words spoke for Hou Jing:
"Where is this going too far? Hasn't it been like this all these years? If you think Luoyang's reserves are too low, can't you reflect on your own actions? Why did the rebels in the six towns of Hebei surrender and then rise again? Why is Xing Gao in the Three Qi regions so arrogant? Why did the prefectural and county officials in Henan collectively defect to Liang?"

Erzhu Zhao, upon hearing this, angrily said:

"Who do you think you are, kid?!"

"I am Hou Jing!"

"I'm talking to Da Ye Shuang, what are you interrupting for!"

"You dare to speak to my lord!"

Since its completion, the Xianyang Palace in Luoyang has never witnessed a scene like this, with two hooligans causing a ruckus and fighting.

The imperial court had lost all its authority, and while Yuan Ziyou felt a pang of regret, he was actually quite pleased.

It would be best if both sides fought to the death, resulting in mutual destruction.

Just as the two were about to fight, Erzhu Rong finally spoke up.

"stop!"

Although Gao Huan, Heba Yue and others were with Erzhu Rong, they all kept silent at this moment, afraid of getting themselves involved.

Erzhu Rong spoke:

"What do you say about what Erzhu Zhaogang said?"

Li Shuang also spoke up.

"Is it true, Second Brother, that I have complete control over the treasury in Luoyang?"

Erzhu Rong's face was gloomy as he asked:

"Don't you think you've done anything wrong at all?"

……

(End of this chapter)