On the highway, everyone stood, and Li Ming's words were constantly recalled in Li Shimin's mind.

Charges.

This is something Li Shimin has never thought of.

Even when he first heard about it, he subconsciously wanted to deny it, but when he thought about it carefully, Li Shimin found that it was extremely feasible.

As Li Ming said, compared to people, carriages are the easiest to control.

People can go around, but carriages may not be able to go around.

Even if they take a detour, the walking will become more difficult and the wear and tear will be greater. In this case, these people may really be willing to pay the cost.

"Fourteen, three hundred feet per penny is too low. Let's start from here."

"In addition, you can make preparations to build new roads. If you have any needs, you can report to me."

After thinking for a moment, Li Shimin nodded and then spoke.

"No!"

Li Ming was a little stunned, but at this moment he responded directly without refusing.

One hundred feet is worth one cent, and one kilometer is almost three cents. Compared with the expressway in the previous life, this is simply a money grab.

But this is a feudal society, so charging such a fee doesn’t make much difference.

Those who are willing to give one penny are naturally willing to give three pence.

On this point, I will naturally not refute my cheap father.

"By the way, I heard that you are ready to build a straight road to Luoyang."

"When are you going to start?"

As if thinking of something, Li Shimin asked again, walking on the flat cement road, carefully feeling the difference between the cement road and the previous official road.

"Construction should start early next month."

"My father, can you ask the young master to go to Hebei to recruit some people? There was a severe drought in Hebei last year. I'm afraid there are a lot of refugees. Recruiting them to build roads can also give them a bite to eat and make the Tang Dynasty more stable."

Li Ming nodded, and then asked with hesitation.

Nowadays, these farmers in Guanzhong, with the arrival of spring plowing, naturally cannot continue to build roads.

If we want to continue the great cause of road construction, we have to consider other manpower.

Last year, Hebei Dahan was undoubtedly the best source of manpower.

Relief through work was an artifact from his previous life, so Li Ming naturally thought of it.

Work-for-relief refers to a support policy in which the state invests in the construction of infrastructure projects, and the recipients participate in the project construction and receive labor compensation, thereby replacing direct relief.

In previous lives, work-for-relief was a rural poverty alleviation policy.

Over a thousand years ago, relief-for-work was certainly feasible.

After all, the imperial court needs disaster relief, and the work-for-disaster relief method is undoubtedly much better than other methods.

"Hebei?"

"It's natural!"

"However, I'm afraid what they need is not money, but food. Even if they add locusts, it may not be enough."

Li Shimin frowned and spoke.

The severe drought in Hebei is also an issue he is considering.

But even now, he still has no good solution.

Now the imperial court not only has to deal with the locust plague, but also needs to deal with the coming drought.

The food needed is massive.

As for the work-for-relief program, the most important thing in ancient times was food, not money.

In this way, it is actually a bit difficult to complete.

After all, even if locusts join in, it is impossible for locusts to meet the expenses of millions of people for two or three years.

Even if we can survive this year, what about next year?

What about the year after next?

In an agricultural society, it is almost impossible to restore production and life without two or three years.

A complete recovery will take four to five years.

"Father, don't worry, as long as we survive this year, I will have a way to deal with it."

Li Ming smiled and spoke.

Just kidding, with a magical tool like potatoes, if it lasts for a year, it won’t be a big problem.

After harvesting ten pounds of potatoes this year, he will take them to the south for large-scale planting.

If the south can achieve two or even three crops a year, the food problem can be alleviated on a large scale in just one year. In two or three years, I believe that the Tang Dynasty will no longer be short of food.

One aspect of the problem.

"Do you have any idea?"

Li Shimin was startled for a moment, and then a fiery gaze appeared in his eyes at this moment.

"Yes, Father, but it will take some time. It should not be relieved until late next year."

Li Ming nodded and spoke with a confirmation voice.

"Later next year?"

"Hahaha!"

"Okay, I'm waiting for your good news."

"You can do the rest. If there are any problems, I will try my best to help you solve them."

Li Shimin laughed and nodded.

A series of experiences made him convinced enough of his son.

Li Ming said yes, and Li Shimin directly chose to believe it.

At this moment, I didn’t even continue to ask.

Instead, he gave Li Ming a guarantee.

As long as the food problem can be solved, nothing is more important to Datang.

"Thank you, Father!"

Li Ming thanked you.

"You and I, father and son, don't have to be polite. If you do it, your achievements will be reflected in your achievements."

Li Shimin smiled and spoke.

Li Ming smiled and did not refute.

Leave a name for the ages.

He never doubted it.

With a system and an existence that constantly transforms the Tang Dynasty, he will definitely have his own legend for thousands of years to come.

And what he wants is not just this, but also the improvement of national power.

For him, any increase in national power is what he cares about most, and any decrease in national power is something he will not tolerate.

This is true for both killing locusts and providing relief through work.

"Let's go and walk with your father on this straight path of the Tang Dynasty."

Li Shimin spoke again and stepped forward.

"No!"

Li Ming responded and followed him up.

Everyone walked on the straight road like this.

I have to say that for people of this era, cement roads are strange.

It’s also a completely different feeling.

Li Shimin would look at the road from time to time while walking.

The same is true for the guards behind him.

Even horses will stop for a short time.

Several people are walking.

Several miles passed quickly.

I didn’t even feel any rising in the soles of my feet.

Mounting the horse, the feeling of the horse galloping is even more smooth.

The more he looked, the brighter Li Shimin's eyes became.

He could not imagine how smooth the entire imperial court's troop mobilization would be if the road from Chang'an to the border was like this.

How much capital can be saved?

You know, the biggest consumption when transporting to the border is the loss in transit.

Whether it's eating horse chews or bumping into each other on the road, it's a lot of consumption.

On such a road now, these problems obviously don’t exist.
Chapter completed!