Two days later, Taiyuan City mobilized 200,000 young people to participate in digging the river channel. They were responsible for the section of the river channel from Taiyuan City to Baiyadang. There is a section of abandoned river channel that is more than 20 miles long, and the amount of work is not large.
One hundred thousand soldiers were also mobilized. They dug a river to protect the warehouse along the warehouse, and then connected it to the Xiaoqing River three miles to the south. Xiaoqing River is also an artificial river channel, connecting Fenshui and Taiyuan City. Because the river channel is too narrow, once Fenzhou
When the water rises, it will have poor drainage, so the Xiaoqing River needs to be widened.
Two hundred thousand civilians and one hundred thousand troops were working in full swing. The crowd was like ants busy in the river. The soldiers lined up to carry loaders and carried baskets of soil to the shore. The soldiers on the shore quickly packed the soil into bags and sewed it with thick needles.
, made into soil bags, which are placed in the inner circle of the warehouse and become the last waterproof wall of the warehouse.
Guo Song led a group of soldiers to inspect the river in the south. Two hundred thousand civilians stretched for more than ten miles. Almost all officials and generals participated in the labor. Pan Liao was the commander-in-chief of digging the channel. He walked to Guo Song
Song's side smiled and said: "After the completion of this canal, it will also be of great benefit to grain irrigation. It will solve the problem of insufficient irrigation of more than 100,000 acres of fertile land in one fell swoop."
Guo Song smiled slightly and said: "Actually, we can learn from Fengzhou's practice. Fengzhou built several main canals, and then built countless branch canals along the main canals. It looks like the word 'Feng'. Of course, this
We will use the main canal for flood control first, and then we will gradually consider its irrigation function and dig more branch canals."
At this time, Guo Song saw the figure of Zhao Zhi, the water supervisor of the capital, and smiled and said: "Zhao Supervisor is very hardworking!"
"He chose the site for this canal. He cleverly made use of the abandoned old river channel, which greatly reduced the construction workload. This man does have some skills. Do you want to keep him here, Your Highness?"
"Is he willing?" Guo Song asked.
Pan Liao laughed, "If he didn't want to, why would he come to help during the New Year? He still works so hard and uses all his abilities. His attitude is already very clear. His Highness still has questions? Is this intentional?
Ask about the humble job!”
Guo Song knew that there was no capital water supervisor under the Jin Dynasty. The corresponding functions were in the Kaibu Department and the Agriculture Department. The Road and Bridge Department under the Kaibu Department had the function of dredging rivers, and the Water Conservancy Department of the Agriculture Department also dug rivers and built water conservancy projects.
functions, but the flood and drought prevention departments do not. This is why there were basically no droughts or floods in Hexi in the past.
"I didn't mean it on purpose. I don't have time to think about these trivial government affairs at the moment. But since you have brought it up, I really need to make a statement so as not to embarrass you."
Speaking of this, Guo Song thought for a while and said: "Set up a Water Department under the Kaibu Division to put together the functions of dredging, drought relief, flood control, and irrigation. Zhao Zhi can be the director."
"Beizhi has already had this idea. As long as His Highness agrees, Beizhi will start preparations as soon as possible."
Guo Song nodded and asked: "How to calculate the wages of these two hundred thousand people?"
"Based on the payment of a hundred cents a day, it is estimated that the completion of the project will take about half a month. In the end, if we calculate it together, it can be money, grain or sheep. Someone has suggested that the preparation be resumed. What do you think, Your Highness?"
Diao is the tune in renting Yongdiao, that is, legal labor. Dingnan works for about twenty days every year. However, the foundation of the renting Yongdiao system has been destroyed, so a few years ago Prime Minister Yang Yan abolished renting Yongdiao and changed it to the Two Taxes Law.
, that is, the tax is levied based on the actual acres of land of each household, once in summer and autumn, and urban residents pay household tax.
Nowadays, the two-tax law is basically implemented in all places, and the areas under the jurisdiction of the Jin Palace in Guo and Song Dynasties are no exception. It is obviously a bit inappropriate to restore the mediocrity of renting.
Guo Song shook his head decisively, "Don't use modulation, settle accounts directly with the people!"
At this time, he remembered something again and slowly said to Pan Liao: "Whether it is the two tax laws or the tax and tax regulations, the tax laws themselves are not important. The key is the implementation. I dare not say that it must be completely fair, but at least it cannot be too unfair."
Excessive. Except for the tax exemption for the families of fallen soldiers and the 50% reduction for family members of the military, everything else should be taxed according to the two-tax law. Some arrogant manors cannot be exempted from tax, while some farmers who are easy to bully should increase taxes."
Guo Song was referring to everything. He had recently heard some rumors that some civil servants and military generals had expanded the scope of tax reductions without authorization, and counted all the land of relatives and friends as their own, and enjoyed the 50% tax discount together, such as Anjia in Hexi
, the Liang family in Shuofang, all family land is halved or even tax-free, and of course there are other families. These things that everyone hated before, now they have appeared one by one under his hands.
Pan Liao was a little embarrassed and said after a while: "I understand what your highness is referring to. In fact, the civil service is not bad. Many aristocratic families have taken the initiative to pay taxes, mainly military commanders. I suggest that your highness talk to some of the people involved. This may not be their original intention."
"Forget it! I will look for them when I have time."
Guo Song put the matter aside and asked again: "Have you informed the officials that you are ready to move?"
"According to the list given by His Highness, I have sent people to notify my arrival one by one. Many people have come to me in the past two days, and I have answered them one by one."
"What are they most concerned about?" Guo Song interjected and asked.
“Most concerned about the housing issue!”
Pan Liao continued to explain: "The humble position told them that it is basically the same as Chang'an, with official residences, including some low-level officials, and bungalows and small courtyards."
"You are right. Housing is indeed an issue that everyone is concerned about, but bungalows and small courtyards are also a problem at the moment. If you make a careful calculation, how many small courtyards are needed?"
The housing difficulties of lower-level officials in Chang'an have been a problem that has plagued the imperial court for decades. Guo Song witnessed the housing difficulties of Xue Xun's family with his own eyes, so he hoped to solve this big problem for his men.
At first, Guo Song considered dormitories, such as a courtyard with a dozen rooms and one room per person, but Pan Liao told him that more than 60% of the lower-level officials were married and had children, so one room was obviously not enough.
Guo Song had to reconsider. It would be best to buy land in a relatively cheap area to build a yard. A small yard with three or four rooms would be enough for a family to live in.
Guo Song has entrusted Li An and Zhang Lei to do this, but there is no news yet.
Just as he was talking, a cavalryman rushed from a distance, rushed to Guo Song, clasped his fists and said: "Your Highness, urgent news from Chang'an!"
The cavalryman bowed and handed a piece of information to Guo Song. This was not a pigeon letter, but a formal report sent by someone from Chang'an. In fact, Guo Song had known the content for a long time. He got the pigeon letter on the second day of the first lunar month, and there was only one sentence.
Words, 'Chengdu changes!'
He then knew that Ying Caihe would succeed.
Now is the official report. Guo Song opened the report and read it again, and calmly said to Pan Liao next to him: "The emperor of Chengdu passed away, the queen mother came to the court, and the young emperor Li Xiu succeeded to the throne!"
"Ah!" Pan Liao was stunned for a moment.
.........
The news of the emperor's death spread quickly, and Guo Song ordered white flags to be planted on the city top to express condolences. However, neither the army nor the people forced mourning. Everything was voluntary. Guo Song just hung a white flag above Jinyang Palace.
The people in Taiyuan City had no feelings about the emperor's death. The atmosphere of the New Year was still strong, but Guo Song was packing his bags and preparing to return to Chang'an.
Xue Tao was silently packing her husband's luggage, and Guo Song said with a smile: "You are going to Chang'an in March, so you should pack as soon as possible!"
"We have almost finished packing. We are mainly waiting for other family members. Husband, how are we going to Chang'an this time?"
Guo Song thought for a while and said: "You mainly take a boat, starting from Taiyuan to Pujin Pass, taking a carriage for half a day and then continuing by boat. Finally, the boat can go directly to the Ningbi Pond of Xingqing Palace. The journey is not very difficult."
Xue Tao nodded, and she finally couldn't bear her worries any longer, so she asked in a low voice: "Now many people are saying that when the new monarch ascends the throne, your husband will go to Chengdu to pay homage to the new monarch. Is it true?"
Guo Song chuckled, shook his head and said: "The new emperor is only three years old. The empress dowager is currently in the court and the eunuchs are in power. It is impossible for me to come and die. I know that if I don't go to see the new emperor, many court officials will stab me in the back.
Let them do whatever they want, sooner or later they will beg me."
Xue Tao has always been worried about this matter. She dreamed last night that her husband was covered in blood and asked for help in the suburbs of Chengdu. She heard that her husband would not go to Chengdu to meet the new emperor. The big stone that had been weighing heavily on her heart for the past two days was finally lifted.
When she dropped it, she felt relaxed all over.
She put on a smile and gave her husband advice: "My husband can use the excuse of crusade against Zhu Si, unable to escape, and then send someone to send a letter of audience to Chengdu to express his loyalty to the new king, so that others will not be able to accuse him."
What?"
Guo Song laughed loudly, "This is a good idea. I have adopted the good advice of a good wife."
Xue Tao was very happy, and quietly looked around, clasped her husband's hand and whispered coquettishly: "Husband, please leave tomorrow! I want my husband to stay with me tonight."
How dare you disobey Madam's orders? Guo Song nodded repeatedly, making Xue Tao feel elated...
Early the next morning, Guo Song led three thousand cavalry to leave Taiyuan and headed for Chang'an.
At the same time that Guo Song received the news of the emperor's death, Zhu Si also received news of the great changes in Chengdu. At this time, Zhu Si was actively preparing to attack Jianghuai. When the news of the great changes in Chengdu came, it actually somewhat planned Zhu Si's strategic deployment.
.
Zhu Si got the news in the middle of the night. He was so shocked that he got up immediately and summoned his closest officials to the palace for urgent discussions overnight.
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[The year number in Chapter 1 yesterday afternoon was wrong. It should have been changed to the first year of Yongzhen, not Zhenyuan.]