Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 379 The End of the Canal Transport

Tonghui River, first built in the Yuan Dynasty, is the artery of water transport between Tongzhou and the capital, and is also a silent river that has witnessed many historical events.

In the 28th year of the Yuan Dynasty, in order to solve the problems of grain transport and water sources in Dadu, Guo Shoujing, a famous astronomer, mathematician, water conservancy expert, instrument maker and historian of the Yuan Dynasty, proposed a plan to develop the Dadu Canal to Emperor Kublai Khan.

According to historical records, the emperor read the memorial and was delighted, saying, "It should be carried out quickly."

So the Du Shui Jian was re-established, and Guo Shoujing was ordered to take charge of the Du Shui Jian with the position of Grand Historian.

In the spring of the 29th year of the Zhiyuan reign, construction of the canal began. Under the leadership of Guo Shoujing, more than 20,000 soldiers, laborers, and craftsmen spent more than a year digging a canal from Tongzhou to Jishuitan in Dadu.

In the 30th year of the Zhiyuan Period, Kublai Khan, the dying Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, returned to Dadu from Shangdu. When he passed by Jishuitan, he saw the "boats and ships covering the water" on the pond and was very pleased. He personally named it Tonghui River.

Seventy-four years later, in October of the 27th year of the Zhizheng reign, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang of this dynasty issued the "Edict to the Central Plains" to the world, formally announcing the war against the Yuan Dynasty under the banner of "expelling the barbarians and restoring China."

On the 23rd day of the intercalary seventh month of the 28th year of the Zhizheng reign (also known as the first year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty), the Ming army arrived at Zhigu. On the night of the 28th, Emperor Zhizheng, Toghon Temur, abandoned Dadu and fled to Shangdu with the crown prince, his empress, and over a hundred ministers. On the 2nd day of the eighth month, Dadu fell. Yuan rule in the Central Plains came to an end, and the Northern Yuan era began.

From the year when King Wu proclaimed himself Emperor Ming and the Yuan Dynasty was renamed Northern Yuan, until the decades when Emperor Yongle Zhu Di decided to move the capital to Beijing, the grain transport system was abolished for a time, and the Tonghui River and even the entire Grand Canal were abandoned.

After the Tonghui River was dredged during the Yuan Dynasty, the canal briefly reached the Jishuitan Pond within Dadu. However, in the seventh year of the Xuande reign, Emperor Xuanzong Zhu Zhanji rebuilt the Xingzai City, moving the southern wall of Dadu south to the line between Chongwenmen and Zhengyangmen, and enclosing most of the Jishuitan Pond within the imperial city walls. Navigation within Xingzai City was no longer permitted, and canal boats were no longer allowed to enter the city.

As a result, the end point of Tonghui River or the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was changed from Jishuitan to the "first gate" of Huitong River, which is under Datong Bridge.

In the sixth year of the Jiajing reign, after inspecting Tongcang, Imperial Censor Wu Zhong submitted a memorial proposing the dredging of the Tonghui River and the renovation of the sluice gates. This proposal was approved. In February of the seventh year of the Jiajing reign, the project began. Three months later, the dredging and sluice gate renovations were completed.

Wu Zhong's dredging project perfectly followed the water diversion route devised by Guo Shoujing during the Yuan Dynasty 235 years earlier. It drew in water from the Beishan and Xishan Mountains, diverted the Shahe and Yuhe Rivers, and boosted the Tonghui River's flow, facilitating smooth canal transport. With the exception of canal vessels, which were no longer able to enter Jishuitan and had to anchor under Datong Bridge, the canal's prosperity was largely restored to that of the Yuan Dynasty.

After Wu Zhong's renovation, the Datong Bridge became a three-arch stone bridge with arched archways and pointed piers to facilitate water diversion. Vertical stone troughs were placed in the sidewalls of the four piers, allowing wooden planks to be inserted between them to block water. Once these planks were inserted, the Datong Bridge instantly transformed into a "Datong Gate."

On Datong Bridge, Liu Qiao, a captain of the Eastern Division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, dressed in the uniform of a sixth-rank military officer, stood atop the largest arch of the bridge, gazing out over the canal. Behind him, merchants and porters came and went in an endless stream.

Just as Yaoyang was about to reach its highest point, Liu Qiao accurately found the official ship flying the Jinyiwei flag among several ships that were connected to each other. "Here they come."

There were simply too many ships and boats lining this stretch of the canal. Standing beside Liu Qiao, General Flag, not only couldn't see the official ships in the distance, but with his slightly presbyopic eyes, he couldn't even count how many boats were parked near Datong Bridge. But General Flag didn't question Liu Qiao. Instead, he immediately responded, "I'll go down and clear the area right away."

"No rush, at least another quarter of an hour," Liu Qiao instinctively glanced at the empty space on the shore. Because of the Jinyiwei banner, even a busy port like the Canal Docks, with only a few carriages parked, was largely deserted. "And there's no need to clear the area," Liu Qiao said.

"Yes." When dealing with his superiors, Lao Zongqi always puts in 100% of his energy and gives them 120% respect.

Liu Qiao's timing was impeccable. Exactly a quarter of an hour later, Lu Wenzhao, standing at the bow with his saber in hand, could clearly see the military officers on the bridge. Liu Qiao had been waiting for this moment. He was the first to release his saber and, from a distance, bowed to Lu Wenzhao on the bow.

Although he was a superior, Lu Wenzhao was not arrogant. While breathing a sigh of relief, he also hurriedly returned the greeting to Liu Qiao.

A moment later, the official ship from Hangzhou, which had sailed through the entire canal, stopped steadily at the empty space specially opened by the Jinyiwei.

This was the best mooring spot before Datong Bridge. When Liu Qiao arrived that morning, there were quite a few merchant ships docked nearby. Even the most powerful merchants were helpless before the Jinyiwei. When the Jinyiwei ordered the merchant ships to move, the shipowners instinctively pulled out a few taels of silver, ready to buy their safety. After all, it was they who had blocked the Jinyiwei's path, forcing their chief to waste precious saliva ordering them to leave.

When the shipowners handed over the money, Liu Qiao's subordinates were envious. After all, if they took the money, they would at least share some of it with the people below them; they wouldn't just take it all themselves. But the Jinyiwei had been getting stricter lately, and Liu Qiao didn't want to embarrass himself or his father, so he confiscated it. If he didn't accept it, his subordinates would just watch and imitate his pretentious demeanor.

The gangway lowered, and Lu Wenzhao and the accompanying general and small flag officers disembarked along the gangway one after another.

"Your humble servant greets Deputy Captain Lu. Deputy Captain Lu must have had a hard time on the journey." Liu Qiao was the first to salute.

"Captain Liu, you're too polite." Lu Wenzhao returned the greeting.

Liu Qiao stood up and looked towards the official ship. "Are all the prisoners on this ship?"

"Yes, it's just this one boat. There are men, women, young and old, including the main culprit, a total of twenty-seven people." Lu Wenzhao nodded.

"General Song." Liu Qiao turned to look at the old general. "Go and get all the prisoners into the car."

"Yes." General Song responded first, and then he led his men onto the gangway after no one else got off the boat.

"Deputy Captain Lu and the brothers have come all this way back, so I'm sure they haven't had lunch yet. I've set up a few tables of light drinks at the tavern over there to welcome you. Please come and have some." Liu Qiao waved his hand towards a small tavern with street vendors nearby. Lu Wenzhao followed the direction and saw the tavern's owner and a group of employees standing in a line at the door, heads bowed and waiting for the Jinyiwei to arrive.

Lu Wenzhao bowed his head in thanks and changed his name. "My foolish brother and I haven't had lunch yet. Captain Liu is so thoughtful."

"please."

"It's not too late to eat after all the prisoners are on the bus." Lu Wenzhao hesitated, "We've been hungry all the way here, there's no need to rush."

"Just leave the matter to General Song. He is also an old man in the East Office, he wouldn't be unable to do even such a small thing." Liu Qiao said.

"Then I would be disrespectful to refuse it." Lu Wenzhao responded.

"Please." Liu Qiao smiled brightly and then led Lu Wenzhao to the tavern.

"I'm Ma Ping, an old man. I want to thank you, Master Baizai, for your presence. May you have good luck." Before the Jinyiwei could even get close, the owner of the tavern came up to greet them. Ma Ping bowed and kowtowed, but the Jinyiwei ignored him.

"Please take a seat." Liu Qiao, Lu Wenzhao, and the other general and minor flag officers sat at the same table. The captains who were accompanying them on their business trip filed into the secondary seats.

The main course and wine had already been laid out, with only a few hot dishes, which would lose their flavor if they got cold, still being kept warm in the steamer in the kitchen. But once they were seated, no one touched their chopsticks until Liu Qiao raised his glass and urged Lu Wenzhao to take his first sip. Only then did everyone begin to feast.

"Deputy Captain Lu, please toast again." Liu Qiao toasted again.

Lu Wenzhao accepted the toast first, then said precautionarily, "Captain Liu, drink this cup, and I won't drink any more. After dinner, I have to return to the yamen to report. I don't want to be disrespectful in front of the admiral with a drunken mouth."

When Lu Jianxing returned to Tianjin to report to Lu Wenzhao, Luo Yangxing was still acting as the head of the Eastern Office. Although Lu Wenzhao hadn't received any updates on the personnel changes during his journey, he still refrained from using a specific designation before the title "Admiral" out of caution and respect. Unlike Lu Jianxing, Lu Wenzhao had long known that Hai Zhentao would be transferred to the Southern Pacification Office, and Luo Sigong's recommendation for Liu Chengxi as the likely successor to the Eastern Office was highly likely.

Liu Qiao drank the wine in the cup, put down the cup, and said with a smile: "Deputy Captain Lu, it is my fault for not thinking it through." After hearing this conversation, the chief flag, small flags, and even the captains at other tables also put down their glasses.

Lu Wenzhao quickly said, "No, no, that's not true! After a few days, when things have calmed down a bit, I'll treat Captain Liu to a night of drinking."

"Then I thank you in advance." Liu Qiao smiled brightly and turned to look at the waiter. "Bring the tea."

"Hey! Please wait a moment, I'll be right there!" The servant hurriedly called his servants to join him and poured the tea that had been prepared long ago for the gentlemen.

"I'll use tea instead of wine to congratulate Brother Liu on his promotion to a centurion." Lu Wenzhao picked up the tea and offered it to Liu Qiao.

"It's just the protection of my ancestors and my father's favoritism." Liu Qiao said modestly.

After Liu Qiao said this, Lu Wenzhao suddenly felt relieved.

The ancestor Liu Qiao mentioned was Liu Tianhe, a Jinshi in the Zhengde period and the governor of the three border areas in the Jiajing period.

In the 15th year of the Jiajing reign, Emperor Shizong issued an imperial decree promoting Liu Tianhe to the positions of Left Vice Minister of War and Right Vice-Chief Censor of the Censorate, placing him in charge of military affairs on the three frontiers of Shaanxi. Between the 15th and 17th years of the Jiajing reign, Liu Tianhe repeatedly repelled the Tatar leader Jinang's Right Wing army of 30,000 households, even killing Jinang's son, Xiao Shiwang, and preventing the Tatars from advancing into the interior. In recognition of his merits, Emperor Shizong promoted Liu Tianhe to the position of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and appointed one of his sons as a thousand-household officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

At that time, Liu Tianhe's sons had either achieved official success through the imperial examinations or died. Therefore, the position of Jinyiwei Qianhu fell to his grandchildren. The first person considered was Liu Tianhe's eldest grandson, Liu Shoumeng. However, Liu Shoumeng was devoted to Neo-Confucianism and did not want to be promoted to a military position. So, the position was given to his younger brother, Liu Shouyou. Liu Shouyou had a son named Liu Chengxi, and Liu Qiao was Liu Chengxi's son.

If Liu Chengxi died or retired, Liu Qiao could directly inherit the salary of a thousand households, but because Liu Chengxi was still alive, Liu Qiao could only take the path of military examination like Luo Yangxing or most of the hereditary Jinyiwei, and then accumulate merits and experience step by step to slowly climb up.

After the Jiajing reign, the Jinyiwei's promotion path remained consistent. Unless one caught the right opportunity and aligned themselves with the right side, a sudden jump in promotion was practically impossible. Last year, Liu Qiao and Lu Wenzhao were both on trial as centurions. Lu Wenzhao, relying on luck and a speculation that nearly got him hanged, jumped two levels. Liu Qiao, on the other hand, likely rode on the momentum of his father's ascension to the throne, advancing even further.

After figuring this out, Lu Wenzhao continued. "If Captain Liu says so, then I, your foolish brother, am utterly ashamed." Lu Wenzhao was implying that his promotion wasn't due to his own abilities, but rather to the support of his two fathers-in-law.

Liu Qiao understood, and instinctively wanted to laugh, but he felt it was inappropriate. This conflict was reflected in his face, with the corners of his eyes twitching constantly.

Finally, Lu Wenzhao straightened his expression and changed the subject. "Will the Tianjin case still be handled by our East Office?"

In fact, when Lu Wenzhao saw Liu Qiao at the bow, his anxiety was largely relieved. As long as it wasn't a civil servant wearing a flying bird robe coming to receive the prisoner, it meant that the court hadn't been able to take the case away during his time in Hangzhou. However, when he was actually asked about this matter, Lu Wenzhao still felt a little nervous.

"Of course." Liu Qiao narrowed his eyes. "Since there's no order to transfer the case, it's natural that the case will still be handled by our East Office."

"Has the prisoner been pre-trialed?" Lu Wenzhao asked. His deskmate Lu Jianxing also became nervous.

"We've interrogated them. I was the one who did it." Liu Qiao nodded calmly, picking up the teapot and refilling Lu Wenzhao's cup. "But those people are desperate and are making random accusations, saying all sorts of crazy things. Even now, they haven't been able to write a true confession. What a waste of time."

"Yes." Lu Wenzhao raised his teacup and clinked it with Liu Qiao's.

After eating for a while, General Song came over to report, "Sir, all 27 prisoners have been transferred. Several of them don't look well. They seem to be sick."

Liu Qiao didn't respond, so Lu Wenzhao took the initiative and said, "I've seen a doctor, and he said it's due to acclimatization. I've taken a few medicines, but they don't seem to be working."

"Is there a main culprit among them?" Liu Qiao then turned his head to look at Lu Wenzhao.

"No." Lu Wenzhao shook his head. "Shen Caiyu is fine."

"Then there's no problem." Liu Qiao smiled slightly.

"Now that the transfer is complete, let's go." Lu Wenzhao let out a breath.

"Eat first, then leave. There's no need to rush." ​​Liu Qiao gave Song Zongqi a glare. "Look at how little you've done. Why rush me?"

"It was my fault for not considering it carefully." General Song immediately bowed his head and admitted his mistake.

"It's okay. I've finished eating." Lu Wenzhao stood up, and the other Jinyiwei also put down their chopsticks.

(End of this chapter)