The waterway connecting the Huaihe River, Hongze Lake and the Yangtze River has not yet been named. Officially, it is called the floodway.
Obviously, for this river, both the people and the officialdom wanted the emperor to name it, so that it would appear glorious.
Yu Chenglong naturally knew about this and naturally agreed in his heart.
He even wished that the emperor would go south in person to see this flood discharge river.
Political performance is what officials value most.
The high-ranking civil and military officials from Anhui and Jiangsu naturally dispersed, while Yu Chenglong took his servants and entered Beijing hand in hand with his minister Sun Jiang.
Naturally, the ship he was traveling on was a merchant ship on the canal.
The two-story merchant ship can carry dozens of people at a time. It is spacious and comfortable, and its load capacity is about two hundred stones.
There are so many products on sale that it’s dizzying to see.
Although autumn has entered and the water volume in the canal has decreased, there are still many ships, making the already narrow canal even more crowded.
The queue of ships to pass the customs stretches for miles.
Yu Chenglong was surprised by this. He took a few glances and said: "I heard that the most popular thing in recent years is shipping. Why does it seem that the number of canals has not diminished, but has become more and more numerous."
"You don't know something." The captain, who was dressed in silk clothes and looked a little rich, greeted the sailors to row the boat and said:
"Although sea transportation is convenient, it cannot withstand wind and waves. Although it is one of the best, it still has risks, and it cannot compare with the canal."
"Besides, seagoing ships require as little as five or six hundred materials, and as many as more than a thousand materials. It costs several thousand or tens of thousands of dollars to build a ship. This is a lot of money, and most people cannot afford it."
"The imperial court's four million stone canal was transported away by sea. The remaining positions are occupied by us merchants, isn't it? It's a taboo in business to stay on the road of survival instead of taking the road that is familiar to you."
After hearing this, Yu Chenglong nodded slightly, what he said was true.
People's inertia is that they are more accustomed to the familiar than the unfamiliar. Compared with sea transportation with high profits and high costs, canals with fixed profits and fixed routes are naturally more favored by small and medium-sized businessmen.
Without a certain amount of property, it is difficult to travel by sea.
At this time, Sun Jiang also walked out of the cabin. He was wearing a robe and said calmly: "Besides, Beiming, you have overlooked one thing. Not all merchants arrive at the capital and disembark from the ship for transfer.
Not a few either."
"Linqing and Tongzhou in Shandong are both transfer stations. The products in both places are available, so why bother to go to the capital city instead of going far away?"
The businessman nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Hebei and Shandong are sufficient to supply the daily food, fruits and vegetables needed by the capital. All that is needed are some luxuries, such as Suzhou embroidery and so on."
"They account for less than 30% of the canal's merchant ships."
Yu Chenglong suddenly realized.
He looked at the long fleet of boats. On both sides of the river, there were various shouts, flags flying, and the aroma of wine and meat, making people intoxicated.
He is from Shanxi and has always been curious about this busy water transport. At the same time, as an official, he also understands what it means to have many ships.
Tariffs, massive tariffs on the canal.
Starting from Chongwenmen in Beijing in the north and ending in Beixin in Hangzhou in the south, there were eight major passes, which continuously supplied money to the imperial court. It can be said that they were just sitting and collecting money.
For example, he dug rivers and spent the past two years using customs duties from Huai'an and Yangzhou Chaoguan. It can be said that he is extremely wealthy and there is no danger of shortage of money and food at all.
"In recent years, in addition to the number of people on official ships, some floating fees and personnel have been reduced a lot. Except for the customs that need to collect money, there is no need to pay in other places. This is why everyone likes to use the canal..."
The businessman was talking, his face bursting with longing for the future.
Obviously, this golden waterway is becoming more and more prosperous and has an increasing influence on the people. Businessmen naturally like this stable environment.
In fact, the canal's annual tax contribution has exceeded 5 million yuan, and more than 50,000 ships pass through it every year. It has driven the development of Shandong, Jiangsu, and Hebei provinces, and it can be said to be a golden waterway in the true sense.
Take Linqing as an example. This county that prospered because of the canal is as prosperous as Jinan in the entire Shandong Province. Its commercial tax contribution can easily exceed that of one or even several prefectures, accounting for 30% of Shandong's commercial tax revenue.
According to statistics, the thousand-mile-long canal has sprung up more than a hundred villages, towns, and counties, affecting the livelihoods of millions of people.
This spillover effect is even stronger than that of customs.
Therefore, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the transportation cost for a quota of four million shi was eight million shi.
Coupled with the costs of maintaining transport routes and regulating rivers, the Qing Dynasty would have needed to spend millions or even tens of millions of taels of silver.
At that time, the Qing Dynasty's annual tax was only 40 million taels.
The group of people took the boat and passed through one gate after another. By the beginning of October, the whole north was desolate, and the cold wind was gradually rising, making people shiver uncontrollably.
After Chongwenmen got off the boat, the two of them hurried to the inner city.
After freshening up, I didn't dare to delay and hurriedly went to see the emperor.
After waiting for two hours, it was the eunuch's turn to inform.
When Zhu Yixi saw the two of them, she was quite emotional.
Sun Jiang was the minister of the Ministry of Industry. He stayed in Huai'an for a long time, taking charge of the dredging of the Yellow River and the construction of polders. He basically didn't spend much time in the capital.
Not to mention Yu Chenglong, he is a doctor and is responsible for building the floodway. He has been working hard for several years without stopping, so he is dedicated to his life.
He is only about fifty years old this year, but his temples are already gray, and under his dark skin, he is skin and bones, but his eyes are bright and bright, showing his extraordinary personality.
The emperor valued people who were willing to do practical things like this: "Sit down, sit down quickly."
"Last year, the water canal in Xishan was also repaired. It is light and dark, with one layer of rivers above ground and one layer of culverts below. Although it is a little troublesome, it can ensure the safety of the water source."
"The city of Beijing will no longer be short of water from now on."
Zhu Yixi said with emotion.
This ditch, which also cost hundreds of thousands of pieces, was carefully built and had a profound impact on the prosperity of Beijing.
This was also one of the few major projects of the Shaowu Dynasty.
However, compared to the flood discharge river, this is nothing.
"I would like to reiterate that the flood discharge river is more than three hundred miles long. The river surface is as short as ten feet and as wide as thirty feet. Three gates have been built on it. Once the river surges, it can block it..."
"With the water source connected, benefits will spread to both sides of the Taiwan Strait..."
"In addition, hundreds of small rivers are connected to it, and nearby villages, towns, and prefectures no longer have to worry about floods..."
"I estimate that at least three million people will benefit from this, and the number of indirect beneficiaries will exceed tens of millions."
Sun Jiang reported in detail, his expression inexplicably excited.
Who wouldn't be excited to have this great political achievement hang on him like this?
"From now on, the flood problem caused by the Yellow River's capture of the Huaihe River will be initially resolved. For at least fifty years, Jiangbei will not have to worry about floods..."
"Your Majesty, you have actually done a good deed."
Zhu Yixi praised without hesitation: "It is inevitable to be listed in the history of history."
"Send an order for the Hanlin Academy to send special personnel to erect monuments on both sides of the river to commemorate this."
"At the same time, in order to reduce the corvee burden on people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, taxes on governments and counties on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will be reduced or reduced as appropriate."
"In addition, the people in the area will be exempted from three years of corvee service."
The man sitting next to him wrote with great energy.
The eunuchs took notes to prevent them from being forgotten.
After saying that, the emperor looked at the two of them and held them up with both hands, making them excited.
"Give me a seat."
"Thank you for your hard work, sir. Please sit down quickly. Isn't it tiring to bend over?"
When Yu Chenglong heard this, his heart suddenly felt warm, as if he had drank a cup of hot tea, and it felt warm from the back of his head to his heels.
The emperor and his ministers started talking about interesting things about building the river. The eunuch on the side saw that it took too long and urged him a little, and then the emperor got to the point:
"Sun Jiang, you have made great achievements and must be rewarded. Now go to the Ministry of Punishment. There is a lack of a minister there. Although it is different from the Ministry of Industry, you must also show that spirit-"
Sun Jiang was overjoyed and kowtowed hurriedly.
Yu Chenglong, who was on the side, also received an oral instruction: "You have made great achievements and are extremely outstanding, so you can be promoted to the prefect!"
Doctors are of the fifth rank, while magistrates are of the fourth rank. In the past, only the first rank in the imperial examination were like this, but they were rare.
But for Jackie Chan, this grace was truly beyond expectation.
If nothing unexpected happens, Yu Chenglong will never be able to get a first-class title from the Beijing Police Department.
Because, Yu Chenglong was born as a scholar.
He passed the provincial examination and was appointed as a county magistrate. After that, he worked in the officialdom for many years. He almost exhausted all his energy as a fifth-grade doctor. Now that he can become a magistrate, it can really be said that there is smoke coming out of the ancestral grave.
Seeing his appearance, Zhu Yixi's heart moved.
Nowadays, with the stability of the world, it is difficult for people who are not Jinshi to get ahead in the officialdom.
The title of Jinshi is just like academic qualifications in the 21st century. It is not considered for promotion, but it cannot be without it.
Obviously, for Jackie Chan, there is no doubt that he will be promoted based on his ability, but the future is foreseeable.
"Here, give Jackie Chan the status of a fellow Jinshi——"
At this time, Yu Chenglong was stunned.
Sun Jiang, who had just become a minister, also felt incredible.
He glanced at this subordinate and had mixed feelings in his heart.
With this title of Tongjinshi, it can be said to be even more powerful for him, and his future achievements will be limitless.
The two left the palace, speechless along the way.
Finally, when they parted, Sun Jiang cupped his hands and sighed: "Beiming, you are the real Jian Zai Di Xin!"
After saying this, his mouth was filled with bitterness. For a moment, he no longer felt the taste of being a minister, and a feeling of jealousy rushed into his brain.
After turning around, Yu Chenglong felt a sense of desolation when he saw it.
He shook his head and said with a smile: "I'm really dizzy. It should be a festive time."
Return to live in the courtyard arranged by the Ministry of Industry.
The next day, the colleagues in the hospital got up early and rushed to order Mao, but Yu Chenglong rarely got a rest and slept until the middle of the day.
"Master, what do you want to eat? I'll prepare it."
"What are you preparing? Let's go out to eat!"
After washing up, there was no firewood, salt or rice at home. It was impossible to light a fire for cooking. There was no shortage of anything in the capital. Just outside the courtyard, there were cake sellers and wonton sellers along the street.
The master and servant ordered two bowls of Chaos.
There was a bowl of mixed meat, sprinkled with small garlic leaves, and at a rough count, there were about twenty of them, filled in a bowl half the size of a head.
"Oh, this meat is delicious!"
Yu Chenglong took a bite and his mouth was filled with the aroma of meat.
"You are always a foreigner, right?" the waiter said softly. Although his tone was still respectful, there was a hint of pride in his words.
"What?" Yu Chenglong is an old man and can't see clearly what they are doing, but he doesn't care much.
"Look, this stuffed meat is really good quality mutton. It comes all the way from Suiyuan, but when it's put on the market, it costs ten yuan per pound!"
"That's why it tastes so delicious. It's different from the pork in previous years."
Hearing this, Yu Chenglong smiled slightly and continued to eat.
After finishing one bowl, Yu Chenglong barely ate half full, and the master and servant each added three vegetable cakes to complete the meal.
The waiter smiled and said: "A bowl of wontons costs three coins. Your two bowls and a pancake are half a coin. Your six wontons, the total is nine coins."
The big money here refers to copper coins.
The specific exchange rate is that one silver dollar is equal to ten silver cents equal to one hundred copper dollars.
One copper round is worth ten copper coins.
In other words, the master and the servant are worth ninety cents.
The price seems expensive, but it is normal price in Beijing.
The imperial court only controls food prices, and both rent and labor are extremely expensive in the capital.
Take ordinary coolies as an example. Carrying baggage in Chongwenmen can earn a hundred coins a day, but in Tianjin, which is not far away, they can earn at most 80 coins.
In Baoding, Hebei, the price dropped to thirty or fifty cents.
Moreover, food is not expensive, but non-staple food is as expensive as ever. Vegetables, fruits, wine and meat are all the most expensive in the world.
A huge population of one million has strong demand.
Just after finishing eating, the newsboy waiting for an opportunity on the side, carrying a cloth bag, took out a stack of newspapers:
"Sir, I have more than ten kinds of newspapers such as "Da Ming Gong Bao", "Dougou Bao", "Wen Zhai Bao", and "Oiran Bao". Which one do you want?"
"Looking at your gentle manner, you must be a scholar. How about this "Wen Zhai Bao"? How about this "Reader"? It's full of stories just compiled by Imperial College Master Jian Sheng. It's so touching——"
"Bring me a copy of the Ming Dynasty Gazette!"
Yu Chenglong smiled casually.
The servant on the side asked about the price. When he learned that it was ten cents, he reluctantly gave it up: "Why is it so expensive? It's only eight cents in Jiangsu!"
"Excuse me, it just came out this morning. Three days later it will be nine cents, and seven days later it will be eight cents!"
The newsboy said with a smile before jumping away.
Just as the master and servant were about to leave, the waiter on the side said respectfully: "If you still want to eat, just ask the newsboy to send a message and they will deliver it directly to your door."
"When the time comes, just give them the money."
Yu Chenglong glanced at the walking newsboy and nodded slightly.
After eating, Yu Chenglong went to a restaurant to have a listen, and the afternoon's viewing and viewing of the drama was over.
In the evening, the master and servant began to find a bathhouse to take a bath.
After the massage, the waiter said: "Your clothes are old, do you want custom clothes? The clothes at Shengde Clothing Store are cheap, and the tailor comes directly to your door..."
"Look at the size of your shoes. I have a new one. Can you try it?"
After refusing a large number of services, the master and servant were confused before leaving.
In the huge capital city, they were lost.
"Sir, I have a carriage here. For only ten big coins, I can deliver it directly to your doorstep -"