() Zhong Jinwei thought for a moment and did not immediately answer Emperor Chongzhen's question. Instead, he asked: "Your Majesty, I would like to ask a question, how many official roads in the country need to be rebuilt with cement?"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard Zhong Jinwei's unanswered question, he turned to Bi Ziyan, the Minister of Household Affairs: "Bi Qing, please answer Master Zhong's question."
"Yes, Your Majesty." After Bi Ziyan finished speaking, he looked at Zhong Jinwei and said: "In the Ming Dynasty, except for the towns with a larger population, the rest of the roads are suffering from muddy weather in rainy days. In addition, even if there are stone slabs paving the road, there are also uneven roads.
Any uneven areas should be repaired."
Zhong Jinwei didn't need to think about it. He actually knew that it was almost like this. But in order to emphasize what he was going to say next, he asked once.
After Bi Ziyan finished speaking, Zhong Jinwei smiled and lowered his head, and then said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, there is a saying in my hometown: if you want to be rich, build roads first. If the roads are not good, the circulation of goods is not smooth, and the court wants to collect taxes.
There are only a few; it is difficult for people to sell something for money; it is also difficult for people to buy something for use."
Emperor Chongzhen didn't quite understand how Zhong Jinwei's words related to the question he asked before, so he asked: "What does Master Zhong mean?"
"Set up a special agency to build roads full-time, and you can also collect money on the way." Zhong Jinwei stated his purpose, and then explained: "I think it is inappropriate to rely on the original governments of various places to build roads across the country. There are two reasons.
First, the manpower of local government agencies is not large, and one person can hold several positions. There are many things to do. Let them be responsible for this matter, which will delay the original work in their hands; second, let professional people do the road construction.
If people do it and manage it, they will get twice the result with half the effort.”
Wen Tiren listened to Zhong Jinwei's words, thought for a while, and said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the road construction matter will affect the affairs of various parts of the Ming Dynasty for decades or even longer. I think what Zhongxing Bo said is reasonable, and the imperial court can set up the Hedao Yamen.
Establish a special road office to take charge of road construction and cement operations in various places."
Emperor Chongzhen nodded. If he really wanted to start a huge road construction project across the country, he really should set up a special agency. So he asked: "I think it's okay. The cabinet will issue a specific memorial first, and then in
We will discuss it at the court meeting. But I am worried that the road yamen does not have enough manpower. Scholars are needed for handymen, material registration, and affairs coordination."
"Your Majesty, you can allocate some from the six ministries, and the officials who work below can be scholars or squires from various places, and the allocated officials can be hired by themselves." Wen Tiren suggested.
"Such a huge new yamen is much busier than the Hedao yamen. Will there be enough scholars to do the work?" Emperor Chongzhen was still a little worried.
"It should be enough for the time being. If there are not enough scholars in the northwest provinces, we can transfer them from the southeast. There are many scholars there." Wen Tiren suggested.
"Okay, then Wen Qing will first sort out all the matters of the Luyamen in the memorial. Responsibilities, officials, etc. need to be specified in detail." Emperor Chongzhen ordered Wen Tiren.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Oh, by the way, after you finish writing your memorial, show it to Uncle Zhongxing first. If you have anything to add, you can let those people find less trouble when the formal discussion is held. Get this one-stop big thing done as soon as possible.
Get up!" Emperor Chongzhen solemnly ordered.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
While eating and talking, about an hour passed before I knew it.
Emperor Chongzhen looked at the sky and said to several ministers: "It's getting late. Do you have anything else to do?"
When Wen Tiren and Bi Ziyan heard this, they stood up and said goodbye to Emperor Chongzhen.
Zhong Jinwei also stood up, but he said to Emperor Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, I want to know about the Fushe. I don't know if there is any information."
"Fushe?" Emperor Chongzhen didn't understand and repeated.
Wen Tiren listened and explained: "Your Majesty, this Fushe is the name of a group of Confucian scholars who formed a society to take the imperial examination."
Emperor Chongzhen didn't know Zhong Jinwei's intention for this so-called restoration of society, but he knew that Zhong Jinwei had intentions, so he turned around and asked Wang Cheng'en, who was standing aside, "Is there any information that Master Zhong needs over there in the East Factory?"
Wang Chengen bowed and said: "Your Majesty, please go back and check."
Fushe was just established in the second year of Chongzhen. Although it gained momentum, Dongchang had been banned and was only released not long ago, so Wang Chengen had never heard of Fushe.
Wen Tiren had already heard some of it, so he explained it just now.
Emperor Chongzhen looked at Zhong Jinwei: "Master Zhong, is there anything else you can do?"
Zhong Jinwei shook his head and said: "No more for now."
Now that Uncle Zhongxing, who is the most troublesome, is fine, everyone is really fine and everyone can go home.
After discussing things for a day, Wang Chengen also stayed with him for a whole day. Finally he was free, so he went down to eat and rest.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he left Emperor Chongzhen's side, he was stopped by a chamberlain outside.
When Wang Chengen saw that it was his godson An Guiyi, he frowned and asked what was going on.
An Guiyi looked around to make sure no one could hear, and then briefly reported to Wang Chengen the results of Wang Peng and his team in a low voice.
When Wang Chengen heard this, he immediately asked: "Where are they now?"
"Waiting for godfather in Neidong Factory."
"Hurry up and lead the way."
At that moment, Wang Chengen didn't even bother to eat, and the two of them hurried to the Neidong Factory.
After arriving at Dongchang, he met Wang Peng's group of people who had been waiting for a long time. They asked in detail what happened and some of Wang Peng's doubts, and then interrogated the horse thief again. Wang Chengen fell into deep thought.
After a while, he said: "You have done a good job in this matter. This prisoner cannot be handed over to the Jinyi Guards. He will be temporarily detained in Dongchang. You all wait here. We will go to the emperor to request an order and come back."
I’ll tell you to do things again.”
Wang Peng had not slept all day and was already a little tired, but he did not dare to disobey the factory owner's instructions and quickly agreed.
Wang Chengen felt hungry at this time, but he didn't have time to eat dinner slowly, so he asked someone to prepare pastries and make do with some on the way.
Just when Emperor Chongzhen was in a happy mood to create a pre-event atmosphere with Concubine Tian, he was interrupted by Wang Chengen.
However, he was not upset. He knew that his eldest companion was a steady person and that he must have something important to do when he came to see him. He calmed Concubine Tian who was a bit out of temper and went out to see Wang Chengen.
When Emperor Chongzhen heard that Wang Chengen reported that all the signs pointing to the assassination of Zhong Xingbo pointed to the Jingying camp, he couldn't help being shocked and angry. He was so shocked that Zhong Jinwei had offended the Jingying camp to the point of wanting his death; he was so angry that the Jingying camp defended the capital.
It should be the most trustworthy army, but now it secretly assassinates Uncle Zhongxing, whom he trusts and relies on the most.
Emperor Chongzhen ordered Wang Chengen without hesitation that the matter must be investigated strictly and the truth should be found out as soon as possible.
With the authorization from Emperor Chongzhen, Wang Chengen had no worries and immediately returned to Dongchang to arrange relevant matters.
He remembered that Gu Baichuan was a meticulous person, even Uncle Zhongxing had praised him several times. This time he was one of the parties involved, and his injured arm did not affect his brain, so he had Gu Baichuan called over overnight and asked him to take the lead in solving the case.
.Because the matter was of great importance, Wang Chengen repeatedly asked the matter to be kept confidential.
After Gu Baichuan took over, it was already midnight. When everyone went to rest, Gu Baichuan was also thinking about solving the case.
In Gu Baichuan's view, it is not difficult to solve this case. There are several clues that can be followed.
First, the group of horse thieves were rounded up and released by the Beijing camp. We can investigate what happened when the Beijing camp was dispatched. The person involved must be related to the horse thieves.
Secondly, how the people from the Beijing camp got involved in rounding up the horse thieves from behind is also a clue.
Thirdly, those people in the Beijing camp mentioned by Wang Peng are the most important clues. If necessary, arrest them and interrogate who ordered them. This is direct, but it concerns the Beijing camp. If there is no further evidence, it is better to proceed temporarily.
It is better not to move.
After Gu Baichuan straightened out his thoughts, he lamented that he would still have to work hard tomorrow on New Year's Eve, and went to rest.
Besides, Zhong Jinwei did not rest after returning to his Earl's Mansion from the Forbidden City.
First, all the men, women, and children in the house came to see the ceremony, and then Yu Haining came to report on tomorrow's arrangements and highlight the main things that Zhong Jinwei's family should do.
After finishing all this, Zhong Jinwei came to the study and began to think about the things discussed today. Everything that has been discussed should have come to a conclusion, but some things brought out during the discussion need to be carefully considered and discussed later.
Emperor Chongzhen proposed.
Zhong Jinwei's night owl habit has not changed, so he doesn't feel uncomfortable staying up late.
It was just a bitter experience for Li Simin, one of the three maids who stayed to serve Zhong Jinwei. Late at night in the cold winter, she had to cook tea, water and grind ink for Zhong Jin. But despite this, she still felt much better than before. Besides, Zhong Jinwei was also her
She was her savior, so she had no intention of complaining at all.
Now for this book, collection is the most important thing. If you think this book is still interesting, please click the mouse to collect it. Thank you for your support!