Anti-Qing: Starting from the Jintian Uprising

Chapter 421 Immigrants and Bicycles

Chapter 421 Immigrants and Bicycles
Li Yi issued the order, and soon all the ministers in the cabinet received the order.

They all rushed to the Old Summer Palace, ready to participate in the meeting.

After everyone arrived, Li Yi spoke.

"Good news has just been sent from the grassland and Liaodong."

"The Tang Dynasty's Northern Expedition Army has successfully annihilated the main force of the Qing army, destroyed the Eastern and Western Qing, and successfully recovered Liaodong, as well as Chengde and other places outside the Great Wall."

"At present, our army is still advancing and preparing to retake the two provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang in the northeast."

"As for the Jirim League, Zhaowuda League, Xilin Gol League and other places in the grassland direction, I believe it won't be long before we can get more good news."

Upon hearing this, all the ministers in the cabinet could not help but bow in unison.

"God bless the Tang Dynasty, our emperor is wise!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Li Yi remained expressionless and just waved his hand.

"Haha, no need to be polite, everyone. Please stand up quickly."

After he finished speaking, he ordered people to give seats to the cabinet ministers.

After everyone was seated, Li Yi continued speaking.

"And I summoned you all here today to discuss matters concerning the development of Liaodong."

"If you have anything to say, please speak freely!"

As soon as Li Yi said this, everyone started talking.

"Your Majesty, I think if the Tang Dynasty wants to develop Liaodong, it should focus on immigration."

"Today, the number of registered residents in Liaodong is not as high as it was at the end of the Ming Dynasty."

"With such a small population, it is just a drop in the bucket to try to cultivate the land of Liaodong."

"Therefore, in my humble opinion, if the imperial court wants to develop Liaodong, it must first settle the border with immigrants before it can start development."

Zhao Ke was the first to speak.

Hearing this, Li Yi stroked his chin and thought.

"Minister Zhao is right."

"Where do you think the immigrants should move from?"

As soon as Li Yi said this, Ye Zhisheng also spoke.

"In reply to your Majesty, I think if the court wants to migrate people outside the Great Wall, it can start from Shandong."

"In Shandong, there are already many refugees due to the Yellow River bursting a few years ago. Many people do not have a stable livelihood, so the situation in Shandong is unstable."

"If we move these refugees to the outside of the Great Wall, we can stabilize the situation in Shandong and develop Liaodong, killing two birds with one stone."

"Moreover, immigration from Shandong to the outside of the Great Wall can be carried out by sea, and the time and loss required on the road are less than that of immigration by land."

Ye Zhisheng's words can actually be regarded as repeating what others have said.

Because, as early as when the Yellow River burst its banks and the Tang Dynasty court was providing disaster relief in Shandong, the court had already decided to migrate people from Shandong to southern Liaoning outside the Great Wall.

And the preparations have already begun!
However, as the situation changed, the Tang Dynasty shifted its focus to the Northern Expedition.

That's why the matter was delayed.

But now, with the end of the war of unification within the Great Wall and Liaodong being pacified, it is time to start immigration.

And it’s a large-scale immigration!

Afterwards, the court began to discuss the specific direction of immigration.

Well, the area of Liaodong outside the Great Wall is very large.

There is a lot to say about where to move first and where to move later.

Li Yi thought for a moment and then made a decision.

The first immigration focus of the Tang Dynasty was southern Liaoning.

Next is the Liao River and the banks of the Daliao River.

The reason why we give priority to immigrating to these places is very simple.

Because, in this era without railways, the biggest obstacle to immigration is transportation.

The best way to solve this problem is to take the water route.

Southern Liaoning, as well as the banks of the Liao River and the Daliao River, are all places that can be reached by water.

In this way, it will not only facilitate the transportation of immigrants, but also facilitate the subsequent transportation of supplies after the immigrants arrive.

In addition to the official organization of immigration, Li Yi also issued orders to allow and encourage the people of the Tang Dynasty to immigrate spontaneously, to go to Guandong, Xikou, and Southeast Asia to make a living outside the Great Wall.

The population inside the Great Wall is simply too large.

If some of it is not moved out, the entire pass will be like a balloon filled with air, and it will explode sooner or later.

……

After finishing his shift, Song Kangnian, who had recently been promoted to the position of county lieutenant of Qufu County, said goodbye to his colleagues in the yamen and prepared to go home.

He came to the parking lot outside the government office, found his bicycle, took out the key, unlocked it, and pushed it out.

This is a bicycle that uses a chain drive, is equipped with brakes, rubber tires, and a steel pipe frame, and is not much different from the 28-inch bicycle of later generations.

The entire body of the car is painted black, the paint is shiny, and it looks very high-end at first glance.

This bicycle is a new gadget that has only recently appeared.

It is said that this new means of transportation was designed and developed by His Majesty the Emperor himself. After riding a bicycle, people can even travel hundreds of miles a day at a speed comparable to that of a galloping horse.

Although this thing has just come out, the price is ridiculously high, one costs one hundred silver dollars.

But it was still very popular.

The first batch of one thousand bicycles released by the Datang Royal Bicycle Factory were sold out before they were officially released.

The reason is very simple. After all, it is a new thing created by the emperor. No matter whether it is worth the price or not, it is always a good idea for everyone to go and show their support.

Li Yi may not be able to remember who bought it, but he might remember who didn't.

Given Song Kangnian's family financial situation, he naturally could not afford a bicycle that cost one hundred silver dollars.

This bicycle of his was a year-end reward given to him by the imperial court.

In the past year, Song Kangnian made outstanding contributions to government affairs. After his merits were reported, the court not only promoted him, but the emperor even gave him a bicycle as a commendation.

After that, Song Kangnian started riding a bicycle to and from get off work every day.

Although he was a county lieutenant, it was somewhat unrespectable for him to ride a bicycle in public, but when he thought that the bicycle was a gift from the emperor, he no longer thought it was unrespectable.

This car was bestowed by the emperor, and others don’t have it yet if they want it!
How majestic it is to ride on it yourself?
I got on my bike and went home.

At this time, the Song family no longer lived in the shack they had before, but had moved into a large house with two entrances.

The blue bricks and gray tiles are very impressive.

Song Kangnian is now a county lieutenant, an official appointed by the imperial court. Naturally, he put a lot of thought into renovating the house.

As soon as he returned home and entered the courtyard, Song Kangnian saw his niece coming to greet him.

Song Shi spoke.

"Is my uncle back?"

"Has uncle ever eaten at the government office?"

Song Kangnian shook his head.

"There were a lot of things to do in the government office today. I came back without having time to eat."

Seeing this, Song Shi immediately asked her maid to heat up the meal for Song Kangnian.

Song Kangnian parked the car and did not enter the main room, but went to the study first.

Halfway through the journey, Song Kangnian couldn't help but ask.

"Shi'er, how is your brother doing with his schoolwork lately?"

Song Kangnian was busy with government affairs and had no time to take care of his son's schoolwork.

Therefore, he entrusted the matter to his niece Song Shi, asking Song Shi to help tutor him.

When Song Shi heard this, her expression froze, but she still spoke.

"My brother has a lot of room for improvement."

When Song Kangnian heard this, how could he not understand what Song Shi meant.

He couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, picked up a stick beside him, and walked towards the study.

With a bang, the study door was pushed open.

Song Kangnian saw that his little boy was reading a picture book. When he saw him come in, he hurriedly hid the book behind him.

Song Kangnian strode forward.

"What are you looking at?"

"Have you finished your homework and are you just reading a comic book?"

Song Ci heard this and said with a panicked look on his face.

"Dad... Dad, I didn't see anything, I didn't see anything..."

Song Kangnian stepped forward, swung the stick in his hand, and hit his own kid on the butt.

Outside the study, listening to the screams coming from the study, Song Shi couldn't help but cover his face.

It's so cruel!
Soon, Song Kangnian walked out of the study room with a stick in his hand, looking refreshed.

Following behind him was Song Ci, who was covering her butt, sobbing, and looking as aggrieved as a little wife.

After beating up his own brat, Song Kangnian finally released the work pressure that had accumulated in the yamen throughout the day.

At the dinner table, the three members of the Song family sat on their own sides.

After the meal, Song Kangnian picked up a piece of food for his son and niece respectively, and then said.

"Let me tell you something."

"I will be transferred to Liaodong in a short while. Do you two want to accompany me? Make your own decision!"

"If you want to go, follow me to Liaodong."

"If you don't want to go, you can stay in Qufu. I'll ask my colleagues in the government to take care of you."

The children have grown up, and Song Kangnian doesn't want to decide everything for them.

So, be prepared to ask for their advice.

Upon hearing this, Song Shi and Song Ci stopped eating and looked at each other.

Song Shi asked.

"My uncle was doing well in Qufu, why was he transferred to Liaodong?"

Song Ci also looked at his father eagerly, as if waiting for his father's answer.

Song Kangnian cleared his throat and then spoke.

"The court wants to migrate people to develop Liaodong, and officials are needed to accompany them and manage them."

"Uncle, I took the initiative to sign up."

"Nowadays, official positions in the interior are all assigned to specific positions. It is not easy for a county lieutenant like me to move up to become a county magistrate."

"But now the land outside the Great Wall is a wasteland, lacking everything."

"If I go outside the Great Wall, I can directly take the step from county lieutenant to county magistrate."

Song Kangnian really wants to make progress!

The Tang Dynasty has just changed its dynasty and is now full of vitality.

Although the interior of the country is not completely dead.

But it is never easier to develop and progress than in the vast wasteland outside the Great Wall.

Hearing this, Song Shi pursed her lips and said.

"My uncle and I are going outside the Great Wall."

Upon hearing this, Song Kangnian nodded slightly.

Song Ci on the side said.

"Father, I want to stay in Qufu!"

Song Kangnian immediately turned around and glared at him.