Seven days had passed since the day of the sacrifice to heaven, and news spread like wildfire that the Chu State had announced its promotion to a first-class empire. The world was shocked and all countries were terrified.
Especially the kings of the four kingdoms of Longtang, Great Khan, Great Qin, and Great Han, Emperor Chu promoted the Chu State to a second-level empire. In less than half a year, it was once again promoted to a first-level empire.
His ambition and determination to dominate were already obvious, and the kings of the four kingdoms felt a huge threat. In fact, this impact had always existed since the rise of Chu.
It's just that under the circumstances at that time, hundreds of countries were competing for power, and the poor were fighting for the throne. The kings of the four countries never took Emperor Chu to heart. Unfortunately, today is different from the past. While they were developing rapidly, Emperor Chu was obviously moving faster than them.
The defeat of the Heaven-Eating Empire, coupled with the treatment of the eight ancient tribes before the New Year, and the news sent back by spies, all indicate that Emperor Chu is powerful and domineering.
He didn't put anyone in his eyes at all, and while he quickly made the Chu country strong, he also had an eye on the world, and if he let it go, it would be unstoppable, because the Chu country was no longer an empire that had to survive in the cracks.
The four giants Li Shimin, Ying Zheng, Liu Bang, and Temujin are already restless now, and there is no doubt that they will fight against Chu.
The Emperor of Chu was unaware of the reactions of other countries. The time for the annual holiday had passed, officials began to go to court, and the new year began, and everything was renewed.
Officials from various counties returned to their posts one after another. When they left, they brought many times more things than they had brought to celebrate the New Year. They wished they could empty out the city of Chang'an.
Emperor Chu gave very strong support to county officials when they returned. The Academy of Life Sciences gave them the latest agricultural tools and seeds to take back. In addition, he issued an edict that in the new year, all prefectures must comply with national regulations.
Vigorously develop industry and agriculture.
It is necessary to make the people of Chu State more prosperous in the new year and all counties and counties to be self-sufficient.
At dawn.
After the morning dynasty ended, Emperor Chu deliberately left officials from the Zhongshu Ling, the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Household Affairs, and the Ministry of Industry to discuss the construction of roads, the operation of trains, and when the treasure ships would launch into the sea.
These three things are the first problems to bear in the beginning of the year. The construction of trains and tracks has been unknowingly taking two years. I believe there should be no problems in the first operation.
After some discussion, the officials within the Academy of Sciences finally decided that the train would officially start operating three months later, but the Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Household Affairs proposed to take the lead in building Jingzhao Mansion and Zhaixing Pavilion.
However, their proposal was rejected by Emperor Chu. Jingzhao Mansion could speed up the construction. As for the construction of Zhaixing Pavilion, there was no rush. Emperor Chu still hoped that the officials of the two ministries could focus on road improvement.
Once the road construction plan is formulated, the great undertaking of South-to-North Water Diversion can be put on the agenda. In the past, at the Tianhe Port, the Chu Emperor wanted to introduce the water of the Tianhe River into the Chu Kingdom. It was not just a bold idea on a whim.
The Minister of Industry felt the affirmation of the Chu Emperor's words, so the idea of building the Zhaixing Pavilion could only be postponed. However, when he thought of drawing roads from Chang'an to various counties, Yang Feng frowned because the amount of work was too large.
In the imperial study that day, he asked for half a year, but Emperor Chu unexpectedly gave him half a year. After returning home, he summoned the Minister of Industry and other subordinate officials to discuss it, and then he realized that let alone half a year, even if there were sufficient personnel,
It cannot be completed within a year.
It's basically shooting himself in the foot. He has already said what he said. If he fails to complete the task as scheduled, he will be punished for dereliction of duty and deceiving the king. Yang Feng is worried that Xiang Shang's head will be lost.
"Yang Aiqing, I know that drawing road maps is a heavy workload, so I specially invited an expert to help you. It may be completed within three months."
"real!"
Yang Feng was overjoyed. If the master mentioned by Emperor Chu could really complete the painting within three months, it would be equivalent to saving his life.
After only a short period of joy, Yang Feng's expression turned gloomy again. There really is such a master in the world. The Ministry of Industry recruited map-drawing documents and posted them on the streets of Chang'an for nearly ten days, but as of today, there are still very few people who have come.
Seeing Yang Feng's dubious look, Emperor Chu said to Xiao Guizi: "Xuan Xu Xiake comes in and asks him to meet Yang Aiqing!"
"Xu Xiake?"
Yang Feng murmured to himself and looked outside the palace. All the ministers turned around one after another, very curious about the master who the Emperor of Chu said could shorten the surveying and mapping time by two months.
Xu Xiake was summoned by Emperor Chu through a luxury gift package. When checking his information, Emperor Chu found that his currently implanted identity was very interesting.
Historically, he was a geographer, traveler and writer in the Ming Dynasty. After ten years of investigation, he created Xu Xiake's Travels. He spent his life observing various phenomena, humanities, geography, and the conditions of animals and plants.
Returning to the War Continent, Xu Xiake is still a geographer and traveler. He has traveled to all the countries in the world and has already written down the topography of Chu State and the overview of the Eastern Continent.
It can be said that since the rise of the Chu State, Xu Xiake has followed the footsteps of the Chu State. This Chu State Geography records all the geography and humanities of the Chu State.
This is why Emperor Chu said that he was an expert. With him helping Yang Feng draw road drawings, he could definitely get twice the result with half the effort.
"Your Majesty, Xu Xiake has brought you!"
"Xu Aiqing, come up quickly and get to know Yang Aiqing. The two of you will have to complete the painting work together."
Emperor Chu raised his hand to signal Xu Xiake to stand down, and glanced sideways at Yang Feng, only to see Yang Feng suddenly stand up and quickly walk forward to Xu Xiake's side.
"Yang Feng, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, will rely on Mr. Xu's support when we work together in the future!"
"You're welcome, Mr. Yang. It is our duty to be loyal to His Majesty. I will definitely support the road drawing!"
Xu Xiake's face was calm, and he nodded lightly at Yang Feng. His attitude was obviously a bit indifferent. Yang Feng knew that all talented people have eccentric personalities, so he was not unhappy at all.
"Your Majesty, Weichen looked through the old documents again last night, as well as the total topographic maps drawn by various countries. Weichen feels that it only takes one month to complete the road survey."
"Nonsense!"
"You think it's a joke to draw roads in one month. Not to mention mapping, you can't even complete the territory of the empire in one month."
Yang Feng originally thought that Xu Xiake was a capable person, but he didn't expect that he would dare to talk nonsense in front of Emperor Chu and complete the painting in a month. Isn't this asking for death?
Xu Xiake wanted to deceive the emperor, but he couldn't involve the Ministry of Industry. In an instant, Yang Feng was sure that the person in front of him was not an expert at all, but a complete lunatic.
"Your Majesty, it is impossible to complete the survey and mapping in one month. This person is trying to deceive the emperor. I am afraid he is deceiving the world and stealing his reputation."
Yang Feng bowed and saluted, with disgust on his face. He glanced at Xu Xiake and made a sonorous sound.
"Yang Aiqing, since Mr. Xu has proposed that the painting can be completed in one month, we might as well listen to what he has to say. I believe that all the ministers are as curious as I am."
Zhang Liang, Liu Bowen, Zhuge Liang, Jiang Shang and others were also familiar with the geography of Chu. It was indeed difficult to complete the drawing in one month. This shows that the Emperor of Chu seemed to have full confidence in Xu Xiake, and everyone was curious about how he would complete it within one month.