The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 171 Making Dumplings for a Bit of Vinegar

The Imperial Study Office would carry out the emperor's orders without fail.

Of course, if the safety of the imperial court is involved, some Grand Secretaries will still fight for it.

However, the governor's office now sees this fast track as entirely beneficial.

What is the biggest loss during road construction?
It involves human resources, material resources, and financial resources!
These things all need to be handled by the imperial court, which inevitably leads to problems.

However, adopting a model where investors invest, hire people to work, and the majority of the profits go to the investors, seems to have nothing to do with the imperial court.

But in the end, the imperial court was able to get a way out for free.

Although there was little income, this road was essentially a lifeline for the imperial court.

After learning that this was the Crown Prince's suggestion, Tong Guowei was filled with countless emotions.

Although he supported the Eighth Prince in his heart, he had to admit that the Crown Prince was exceptionally intelligent.

If I were to become emperor, then...

The several Grand Secretaries left Emperor Qianxi's study with deep feelings, their hearts filled with countless thoughts.

Some were thinking about what role the road would play once it was completed; others were wondering if Emperor Qianxi would change the crown prince since the prince was so intelligent.

Some people have already made sinister speculations that such an intelligent crown prince might be a little impatient, like Li Erfeng, and directly let his father become the retired emperor.

Emperor Qianxi agreed, and the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet did not object. The matter concerning the Governor-General's Office for the Fast Track was quickly implemented.

Thus, the news spread throughout the entire capital city in just half a day.

"What? Instead of letting the Imperial Household Department manage it, they've established a Governor's Office for the Expressway. Is it really necessary to establish a Governor's Office for this 40-mile-long stone-paved road?"

"Hehe, you don't know this, do you? Let me tell you, the Governor's Office isn't building this road to Tongzhou, but rather a road to Yingtian Prefecture."

"It's thousands of miles to Yingtian Prefecture. If we build it like this, won't the imperial court have to impose a huge amount of corvée labor?"

"You're overthinking it. I've heard that the Imperial Court's Governor's Office only manages how roads are built and sets standards. As for road construction itself, it's done section by section."

"Just like the road to Tongzhou, whoever invests benefits!"

"really?"

"I heard that the Emperor is going to issue a decree specifically regarding road construction, and the Crown Prince will even sign it!"

"The imperial court is really going all the way to Yingtian Prefecture! They've really gone all out!"

……

In the teahouses of the capital, all sorts of discussions arose one after another.

Having already received the news, Tuoheqi was holed up at home, feeling sullen.

When he heard that a road was to be built directly to Yingtian Prefecture, he knew that his defeat was not unjust.

Although he is somewhat greedy, he is not incompetent.

On the contrary, he was quite capable; otherwise, Emperor Qianxi would not have kept valuing him so highly.

It was precisely because he had foresight that he saw the enormous potential profit in this stone-paved road, which is why he...

But now, it's all too late!
When the Crown Prince proposed building this fast route to Yingtianfu, he had already lost everything.

Sigh, if I had known this would happen, I...

Although he was annoyed, there's no going back, so he could only put his worries aside for the time being.

However, he grew increasingly wary of the Crown Prince.

He felt that he and the Crown Prince were not even in the same league. He even thought that the Crown Prince had created this fast route directly to Yingtian Prefecture to deal with him just to get rid of him!
Besides Tuoheqi, the person most concerned about this matter was undoubtedly Yu Chenglong. As the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, he had contributed a great deal to the construction of the stone-paved road.

He would be reluctant to let the Imperial Household Department take away this stone-paved road.

But now that this road belongs to the newly established Expressway Governor's Office, he feels incredibly relieved.

However, just when he thought he could relax and no longer worry about the fast track, an imperial edict interrupted his leisurely mood.

He got promoted, from Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture to Governor of the Expressway!

Abbreviation: Expressway Governor!

Upon hearing this title, Yu Chenglong felt like he was about to vomit blood.

However, although the title itself was not very prestigious, the rank that Emperor Qianxi assigned to this governor-general was quite high, namely the second rank!

He was originally just the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, a third-rank official, but this time he was promoted two ranks.

Although in terms of authority, he may not seem to have as much power as the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, Emperor Qianxi placed high hopes on this expressway, just like the waterway.

If you can do it well, it will definitely be a promising career.

But to repair roads without a single penny, trying to get something for nothing, doesn't seem like something a human would do!

Yu Chenglong has always been fearless and courageous, but this time, seeing his mission, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.

After a brief moment of thought, he decided to visit Yuqing Palace.

After all, he was just someone who did the work; the one truly in charge of this matter was the Crown Prince.

Yu Chenglong had visited Yuqing Palace several times, but this time he felt that the palace was somewhat different.

The once magnificent Yuqing Palace is now covered with "double happiness" characters in many places, giving people a joyful feeling.

What's going on at Yuqing Palace?
Could it be that the Crown Prince is about to have a happy occasion?

Although Yu Chenglong wasn't one to pry into other people's business, he couldn't help but ask Zhou Bao, who was there to greet him.

"Lord Yu, the day after tomorrow is the day the Crown Prince will marry his concubine, so Yuqing Palace will naturally be more festive." Zhou Bao said with a smile, "If you have time then, Lord Yu, please come and have a drink at the wedding."

Upon hearing his guess, Yu Chenglong decided to visit the Crown Prince's Yuqing Palace more often in the future, so that the Crown Prince would have fewer opportunities to visit his home.

In just two minutes, Yu Chenglong saw Shen Ye leisurely drinking tea in the study.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Yu Chenglong felt immense respect for Crown Prince Shen Ye. Putting aside the Crown Prince's astonishing talent, his unexpected yet brilliant suggestion made Yu Chenglong realize from the bottom of his heart that he was far inferior to him.

Shen Ye smiled and said, "Lord Yu, congratulations on your promotion!"

"I have to thank His Highness for this favor. If it weren't for His Highness's influence, I wouldn't have been promoted to this position," Yu Chenglong said honestly.

Shen Ye looked at the solemn Yu Chenglong and smiled, saying, "The governor of this fast track and the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture each have their advantages and disadvantages, so please don't worry, Lord Yu!"

In Shen Ye's view, Emperor Qianxi's appointment of Yu Chenglong as the governor of the expressway was a triple win: firstly, it provided him with a capable minister as an assistant; secondly, it allowed him to leverage the reputation of a renowned minister like Yu Chenglong to promote the expressway's governorship; as for the third...

Shen Ye secretly felt that as Yu Chenglong and he spent more time together, Emperor Qianxi was no longer too keen for Yu Chenglong to continue serving as the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

After all, the position of Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture was extremely important.

Yu Chenglong seemed unaware of all this. He solemnly declared, "I have reviewed the plan for the fast track. If I can realize this plan in my lifetime, then I will die without regret!"

"I have come to see Your Highness today to ask you for advice on where our Governor's Office should begin with the first task."

　The second update for today is here! Dear readers, please support me, recommend me, and do whatever you want!
　　

(End of this chapter)