The super copper mine mentioned by Chen Ke is Dongchuan District, Kunming City, which was later known as the Tiannan Copper Capital. Dongchuan is known as the place where horses tread on exposed copper. As early as the Western Han Dynasty, ancestors used the word
The 'fire-water-splashing method' was used to mine copper ore, and charcoal was used to smelt copper ingots and mint coins. However, later, as the copper mines on the surface were exhausted, the mining industry in Dongchuan also disappeared.
But Chen Ke knew that in his original period of history, starting from the Southern Song Dynasty, a large number of easily mined copper mines were discovered one after another. By the Yuan Dynasty, Dongchuan became the only copper producing area in the country. After that, it continued for hundreds of years.
Until the Qing Dynasty, more than 70% of the country's coins were still cast from Dongchuan bronze drums.
It is no exaggeration to say that the copper mines in this place alone were enough to last the Song Dynasty for a hundred years.
Moreover, Dongchuan Copper Mine also has an incomparable advantage - the Pearl River system with excellent water transportation conditions, which connects it with Guangdong and Guangxi, allows Yunnan copper to be transported in large quantities to Beijing and other places at a reasonable cost.
The biggest difficulty in making use of the Pearl River water system is the Hongshui River. Chen Ke is not a water conservancy expert, but he has more than a thousand years of experience than contemporary people. He knows that the Hongshui River and the South and Beipan Rivers form the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau.
Water transport channel to the sea. In its original history, starting from the Southern Song Dynasty, this waterway was the main transportation lifeline in the areas along the Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi rivers, which greatly promoted the connection between Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi. However, it is huge and heavy to travel
To build a copper boat, a large number of civilians must be recruited to renovate the river, such as clearing reefs, widening the river, diverting water and reducing water, building locks and other measures...
"This is a systematic and large-scale project. We already have a preliminary plan, but I plan to ask experts to demonstrate it." The clipper was floating on the blood-red rough waves like leaves. Hou Yi had already vomited out his gall.
.Chen Ke still talked to Zhang Yu as if nothing had happened: "This waterway has extremely profound significance to the Song Dynasty. No matter how much money we spend, we must penetrate it."
"This is really a big project." Zhang Yu was much better than Hou Yi, but his face was a little pale.
"Yes, but this is still several times simpler than the Jinsha River." Chen Ke nodded and said: "Although it is thousands of miles long, most waterways are suitable for navigation. The places that really need surgery are those in the twenties.
As long as you are willing to spend the money, the construction period will not be too long."
"How could an adult know that this river can lead to Guangzhou?" Zhang Yu finally couldn't hold himself back and asked the question he had always had: "Ignorant people often come and go in Dali, but they don't know about such a waterway."
"So you need to study." Of course Chen Ke would not say that I had seen a large freighter on the Pearl River in my previous life. He said calmly: "As early as the early Western Han Dynasty, the King of Nanyue lured Yelang with his wealth. The Konjac sauce produced in Shu County
.It used to be transported to Panyu by the Zangqi River. The Zangqiu River is now Beipanjiang and Hongshui River; Panyu is now Guangzhou."
"Sure enough, a scholar can know the affairs of the world without going out." Zhang Yu praised sincerely.
"As you can tell, Mr. Chen is the number one scholar. How can he be compared to a mere scholar?" Even when Hou Yi was dying, he did not forget to flatter him.
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The whole journey from Sanchan to Guangzhou was 2,600 miles. If they traveled by land, it would take a month at the fastest. But Chen Ke and the others traveled all the way down the river and arrived at the foot of Guangzhou City in less than four days.
When he arrived in Guangzhou City, Chen Ke showed the envoy's seal and reported the situation in Dali to the court in a hurry for 800 miles. At the same time, he picked up the post horse and rushed to the capital day and night. It only took five days to arrive outside Nanxun Gate.
Three miles away is the Spring Street Pavilion. This is the place where officials say farewell when they leave Beijing, and it is also the place where officials are welcomed back to Beijing.
At this time, in the Spring Street Pavilion, there was a group of imperial guards, headed by an official and a palace eunuch, looking up at them. There was also a blue woolen sedan parked beside them.
After waiting and waiting, I finally saw a horse team appearing not far away, raising smoke and dust.
The cavalry was approaching gradually. Zhang Cheng led the four riders in front, followed by Chen Ke, followed closely by Liu Yue'e. Behind them were Zhang Yu and Hou Cheng, and at the end were Zhang and Hou Er.
He has eight bodyguards and four attendants.
"Here we come." The eunuch's sharp eyes caught sight of Chen Ke on the horse, and the official beside him quickly shouted: "Stop them."
The jailers hurriedly blocked the road and returned to the house with both hands.
"Huh..." Chen Ke pulled the reins of the horse and looked past the jailer at the official and the eunuch. The official was in his thirties or forties, with a beautiful beard and a handsome appearance. The eunuch had dealt with Chen Ke several times.
Li Xian.
Seeing that he was an acquaintance, Chen Ke didn't say much, got off his horse, threw away the reins, and walked towards Li Xian and another official who were welcoming them.
Liu Yue'e also dismounted, but Hou Yi and Zhang Yu were still sitting on the horse, still panting. Several attendants helped them down with great effort, but they still couldn't move their legs... Although they both
The fight had gone through their muscles and bones, but the five consecutive days of non-stop horseback racing still caused their bodies to fall apart.
Li Xian smiled and sang fat to Chen Ke, and introduced: "Master Zhuangyuan, this is compiled by Chongwen Guan, written by fellow practitioners Living Notes, and written by Lu Xiu."
"I'm here, Mr. Lu." Without waiting for Chen Ke to salute, Lu Xiuzhuan smiled and clasped his fists and said, "Zhong Fang doesn't know me, but I have admired you for a long time." Mr. Lu is the son of the famous power minister Lu Yijian, and also
The most outstanding of his sons.
"How can you not know Lu Shouzhou?" Chen Ke quickly returned the courtesy and said: "Brother Lu comes from a famous family and has both political integrity and talent. He is really a role model for my younger brother."
"You two, please don't feel sorry for each other." Li Xian opened the sedan curtain and said with a smile, "Master Zhuangyuan, please get on the sedan."
Chen Ke was about to give in, but Li Xian said: "This is the official's intention." He had no choice but to nod, looked back at Hou Yi and Zhang Yu and said: "Time is tight and the tasks are heavy, so let's go work separately."
"Here." The two of them clasped their fists and sang, and when they were about to leave, they heard Li Xian whisper: "Master Zhuangyuan, please invite them to join us." Then he lowered his voice and said, "Don't let the news leak out."
Chen Ke had no choice but to remain silent, then looked at Liu Yue'e, who was silently following him along the way, and said, "It seems you can't go home either."
"Worry about yourself." Liu Yue'e rolled her eyes at him, showing no intention of leaving. In fact, as long as she wanted to leave, no one here could stop her.
"Yeah, I'd better worry about myself," Chen Ke said with a wry smile on his lips: "Get in the sedan." After saying that, he lowered his head and got into the sedan. The sedan was immediately lifted, surrounded by a group of guards.
, go to Nanxunmen.
In the fifth month of the lunar calendar, the sun is still very high. It shines slantingly on the towering tower of Nanxun Gate, and the reflected light is still dazzling. It was still spring in March when I left Beijing, and it was already midsummer when I came back. I opened the sedan curtain and looked out.
Amid the bustling crowds, Bianjing was still prosperous, but Chen Ke felt as if he was in another world.
Listening to the noise outside, Chen Ke felt cold in his heart... He was quarantined as soon as he returned to Beijing, and no news was allowed to leak out. This was definitely not a good sign!
Because, in a country with a good reputation like the Song Dynasty, if there is a foreign land offering, it must be publicized, lest the world does not know about it. But now it is hidden like a thief, obviously it is the officials and the princes, I am still full of doubts about whether to accept the fat meat offered to my mouth.
But this is normal. After the failure of the Qingli New Deal, the country's court and high-level leaders slowly but surely slid into a rut and were unwilling to make progress. All they were thinking about was how to maintain this broken ship that was leaking everywhere. As for riding the wind and waves and making great achievements, that is beyond the imagination.
Can he really convince these sluggish guys? The closer he gets to the palace, the less sure Chen Ke feels.
Full of worries, he and several companions were sent straight into the palace and rested temporarily in a heavily guarded courtyard.
After Chen Ke washed his face, changed his clothes and came out to meet him, Lu Gongzhu told him the current situation.
In fact, three days ago, the officials and the princes had received Chen Ke's report. But it can only be said that it was an unfortunate incident. During the period when Chen Ke left Beijing, the situation in the northwest became increasingly intense...
After the Battle of Quyehe, the Song Dynasty banned mutual trade, which dealt a heavy blow to Xixia. The Prime Minister sent troops to attack Yanyan Road without hiding his favor, in an attempt to force the Song Dynasty to open the border. The Song Dynasty dispatched troops and generals to the northwest to transport grain and fodder, and a war was imminent. .
For the Song Dynasty, threats from the northwest and north were major issues related to the country's survival. Apart from that, all foreign affairs could be postponed. Even if Dali was already imminent.
However, the temptation to donate four thousand miles of land was too great for the officials and the princes to say no easily. What's more, there was also a copper mine that could solve the financial crisis of the Song Dynasty, which they could not refuse. In order to avoid Passively, the officials and ministers decided to wait until Chen Ke came to Beijing to discuss the matter secretly before making a decision.
"This is the specific situation." Lu Gong was an official of Xiu Ji Zhu and was a close minister of the emperor. His words naturally represented the official's meaning: "How to respond to Dali's request depends to a large extent. I will give you a memorial tomorrow. The officials and princes will only give you one chance to convince them. If you can't do it, don't mention Dali again."
"Let me ask more," Chen Ke listened and thought for a moment: "Does Northwest really know how to fight?"
"This is probably impossible to fight." Lu Gongzhu thought for a moment and said truthfully: "Our spies brought back news from Xixia that Wu Zang's blackmailed sister and Wu Zang's Queen Mother had been assassinated. Wu Zang The status of the blackmailer is no longer as strong as before, and several major clans are not convinced by him. And there is also a very important point. It turns out that farming in the forbidden land of Quye River is not the decision of the Xixia court, but the behavior of the individual who did not hide the blackmail. Naturally, all the proceeds belong to the Wu Zang family, Xixia and other families, and receive no benefit at all. However, they have been cut off from mutual trade because of this, so naturally they are full of complaints about Wu Zang's extortion and pampering, let alone expecting them to help him start a war." He said at once: "I'm thinking that since the two sides have been in a stalemate for a year and a half, they still have to sit down and talk."