Chapter 1096: Success in the East and Success in the West (Eighty-Nine)

Since the founding of the Han Dynasty, the biggest project was not Jishi City, nor Dayan City or other newly built cities, but a wide highway that runs across Jishi County and Jicheng. This road is a thousand miles long, spanning several states and counties, and has become a major artery connecting the north and the south. At least now, this road is the undisputed number one. A larger transportation lifeline that runs from the three counties of Liaodong to Yuyang, but this road is still under construction, and it starts from the most difficult three counties of Liaodong. The Minister of Works Guo Quan personally took charge and directed the construction. Letting the project start from the three counties of Liaodong was also the central government of the Han Dynasty to boost the economy of the three counties of Liaodong. Considerations from this aspect, during the Donghu people's rule over Liaodong, the backward nomadic concept made Liaodong, which should have been rich, extremely poor. Such a huge project invested and built by the central government will surely play an incomparable role in boosting the local economy.

If you want to get rich, you must first build roads. Gao Yuan firmly believes in this concept. Building roads can help the unemployed local people get jobs. With roads, the rich mineral resources and special products of the Liaodong Peninsula will be able to be transported along this road to the central city of the Han Dynasty. With roads, the exchanges between the East and the West will be smoother. More importantly, with such a major transportation artery, the central government can provide more information to the local areas. The control is more effective.

For example, with the North-South Grand Passage, it only took a dozen days for a cavalry team to reach Jishi County, thousands of miles away, from Jicheng. The North-South Grand Passage is still extending southward and has now been built to the former Qi State, but the East-West Grand Artery is not so smooth. The construction is too difficult. There are mountains, rivers and lakes along the way, which are obstacles that need to be overcome. To quote the words of Guo Quan, the Minister of Works, he may not see this artery truly connected in his lifetime.

Wu Kai, the governor of Jishi County and one of the founders of the Han Dynasty, is now sitting on a four-wheeled carriage, galloping on this grand passage that runs through the north and south.

Wu Kai had just been conferred the title of Fufeng Hou by the imperial court. But Wu Kai was not happy at all after receiving the title. Instead, he was very frightened. The first army of Gao Yuan, the founder of the Han Dynasty, was called Fufeng Army. Gao Yuan's hometown was in Fufeng, and the place where he started his career was also in Fufeng. How could Wu Kai not be frightened when he was conferred the title of Fufeng Hou? Now, he regretted very much that he had instigated Cao Tianci to do that. He was also a little annoyed that he was just a soft-hearted person. How could he lose his mind after listening to Zheng Xiaoyang's words?

Fufeng, Fufeng? Wu Kai patted his forehead. He was really going backwards! Before leaving, his daughter Wu Xinlian sent someone to send him back on horseback. A letter came. It was written by his daughter, but the content was obviously what Helan Xiong said. Xinlian is a little girl, what does she know? The meaning between the lines made Wu Kai very embarrassed and angry. He estimated that if he was not Helan Xiong's father-in-law, the big bear would probably scold him.

What a mistake, an eighty-year-old mother is dying, and this time he let Zheng Xiaoyang fall into trouble. In the eyes of those who don't know the inside story, the mastermind of this incident is either himself or Cao Tiancheng, because among those who came from Fufeng, apart from Sun Xiao, he and Cao Tiancheng have the oldest qualifications, and Sun Xiao is also Cao Tiancheng's son-in-law.

From the king, Judging from his reaction, he was really furious. Even Cao Tianci was punished so severely, not to mention himself.

He was nervous and fidgety. He even felt uncomfortable sitting in the latest carriage. As the governor of Jishi City, the developed industry of Jishi City allowed him to be the first to taste any new invention. This carriage with the latest rubber tires was running on the road, and it was almost unbumping.

This tire was one of the results brought back by Kou Shuguang from his voyage. Because of Gao Yuan's special instructions, Kou Shuguang brought back a whole ship of these things that looked soft at first glance, but with the king's With the advice of the master craftsmen in the workshop of Jishi City, they made this thing called tire in a very short time. It is really useful. In the past, whether it was made of wood or iron, if you were not in good shape, you would be shaken to pieces after sitting on it for a whole day.

Not only the adoption of a series of new technologies such as tires, axles, and ball bearings, but also the carriage has become an extremely comfortable means of transportation. From Jishi City to Jicheng, the speed of the carriage he is sitting in now is almost the same as the speed of a war horse. The imperial post stations along the way will also prepare replacement horses for him in advance, so that he will not be delayed because of the tired horse. Itinerary.

Now Wu Kai just wanted to rush to Jicheng and explain the cause and effect of this incident to Gao Yuan in person.

However, after Wu Kai hurried to Jicheng, he still did not see Gao Yuan, because Gao Yuan had already left Jicheng at this time.

"Old Wu, you are late. The king and Li Can and Li Yizheng have already gone to Cangzhou. Kou Shuguang's long-distance fleet is about to set sail in this cool autumn season. This cannot be delayed. Once the time is missed, it will be delayed for a whole year. However, the king left a message before leaving, saying that after you arrive, you should go directly to Cangzhou to meet him!" Jiang Jiaquan, who was already white-haired and white-bearded, came forward to receive this important minister who returned from abroad.

Wu Kai felt so cold in his heart. The king had made it clear that he wanted to give him some color. He swallowed a cup of the best tea that Jiang Jiaquan personally brewed for him. He didn't bother to burn his mouth and didn't have time to taste it. , I just felt that my mouth was full of bitterness. I looked at Jiang Jiaquan for a long time and then said: "Old Jiang, we are old acquaintances and old friends. I will not beat around the bush. This time, I was fooled by others, but I'm just telling you this. I can't say it in front of the king. Anyway, I just do it. It's not my nature, Old Wu, to make excuses. You just tell me how the king plans to punish me this time. ?”

"Condemned you?" Jiang Jiaquan chuckled and said, "Where are you thinking? The king has just promoted you as a candidate, how could he convict you!"

"Fufeng Marquis!" Wu Kai became anxious and approached Jiang Jiaquan, "Do you think I am qualified to be Fufeng Marquis?"

Jiang Jiaquan smiled and said nothing. When Gao Yuan decided to designate Wu Kai as Fufeng Hou, Jiang Jiaquan also felt it was inappropriate. However, Gao Yuan emphasized that it was just a name. There was nothing special about it. Seeing what the king meant, he really had no other ideas. But not only himself, Wu Kai himself now feels very bad.

"Forget it, if you don't tell me, I will go and tell the king myself, what happened to Lao Cao? I sent someone to send him a greeting note, but he drove him back and said he didn't have time to see me! Even if we did something wrong It’s all over, but when my old brother comes back, is it okay to meet and have a drink?” Wu Kai sighed.

"Tiancheng really doesn't have time. Sihai Trading is undergoing a large-scale reorganization and reconstruction." Jiang Jiaquan said: "You have been on the road for the past ten days and have not received any notification from the court?"

Wu Kai was stunned, "I'm so busy with lawsuits during this period, how can I have time to read the notice on the restructuring of Sihai Commerce?"

"Yes, Your Majesty has established the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Accounts has been reorganized into the Ministry of Finance. Tiancheng has to serve as the minister of the Ministry of Commerce, and he has to work with Wang Wucheng to prepare the establishment of the Central Bank of the Han Dynasty. He is so busy that he has no time to talk. Chapter?" Jiang Jiaquan said with a smile, "He can't wait to break himself into two people!"

"The Military Justice Department has been separated from the Supervisory Yuan, and now Sihai Trading has to be reorganized and restructured. Your Majesty wants this, this wants..." Wu Kai was dejected. "This time the Fufeng people stole the chicken but lost the rice, damn it. Zheng Xiaoyang, I will skin him when he comes back!"

"Don't think too much. The reason why Sihai Trading is reorganized is because his current plate is too big and his body is too bloated. Not only is it not conducive to development, but it will also delay progress. The king has no intention of punishing Tiancheng. Doesn't Tiancheng still hold the post? As the Minister of Commerce, is he even involved in such a big thing as the establishment of the Central Bank? You know, according to the king, the Central Bank is a major event related to the economic lifeline of our entire country. I am not very familiar with this, but People like Wang Wuyi and Mei Yipo talk to me every day, and I only get a rough idea."

"Who is Mei Yipo?"

"Mei Yipo is a businessman in Hejian. He has great ideas about the circulation of bills. After the king called him to inquire about it, he was very impressed. He is probably the first president after the establishment of the Central Bank. , Speaking of which, you may know that he has a son, Mei Hua, who is nicknamed Mei Hua by others. He is now a division commander of the Young Guards and a famous warrior under Yang Dasha."

"I have some impressions of this." Wu Kai felt a little relieved when he heard what Jiang Jiaquan said, "Since Tiancheng can't be seen, and you, Lao Jiang, are not willing to give me a break, then I can only go after the king to apologize." Come on, Lao Jiang, this time, not only do I have to resign from my position as Fufeng County Sheriff, but I also quit my job as the Sheriff of Jishi County. I have returned to Jicheng to provide for my retirement. I have worked hard for most of my life, and it’s time for me to enjoy the blessings. It’s time.”

Looking at Wu Kai, Jiang Jiaquan laughed: "If you want to enjoy happiness, you have to see whether the king is willing or not? Old Wu, if you really get tired and tired of staying in Jishi County, the grassland scenery will look boring. , returning to Jicheng is also a good choice. With your qualifications, you are fully qualified to come to the Political Affairs Hall. You must know that now there are four political affairs in our Political Affairs Hall. I, Yan Shenghao, Li Can, and Wu Qi vote on some things. , maybe it will be a deadlock of two to two, and the king has been thinking about promoting another person, so it would be best to make it an odd number."

Listening to Jiang Jiaquan's words, Wu Kai thought thoughtfully, "If the king is willing to promote me, I will naturally be willing to come back and accompany you again. Let's see if I have such luck?"

Jiang Jiaquan said meaningfully: "As long as you are willing, you can naturally do it!" (To be continued)