Zhu Yuanzhang Returns from Modern Times

Chapter 30: I will take responsibility for the abuse

"boom!"

Li Shanchang slapped the table hard.

His face was as black as the bottom of a pot.

Where is the smiling and smug look he had before?

He really wanted to tear the letter in front of him into pieces.

Unwilling to accept the facts written above.

However, in the end, I didn't really do it and do this self-deceiving thing.

He just crumpled it into a ball in annoyance and threw it to the ground.

After walking around the room a few times, he walked over, picked it up, stretched it out, and looked at it carefully in his hand.

He read the letter for almost half an hour and memorized all its contents before putting it down.

Sitting on the chair, with a gloomy face, he fell into deep thought...

It was not until dusk that Li Shanchang stood up.

Without looking at the crumpled paper again, he walked out of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

Obviously, he has made some kind of decision!

……

"Starting tomorrow, each of these laborers will work for an extra hour!"

Li Shanchang found Xue Xiang, Ding Bin and Li You and announced the news to them.

Xue Xiang's expression changed when he heard this.

"Prime Minister, this... we've already been working for eight hours a day, and everyone is stressed to the limit. If we add another hour...

I’m afraid... I’m afraid the number of casualties will be even greater.

There will be more people causing trouble.

Moreover, the deadline given by His Majesty is June of next year.

It’s only the first month of the year.

According to the current progress, it will be completed by the end of the year.

It's already six months ahead of the deadline His Majesty gave us, which is quite good."

He hesitated for a moment, but still spoke to Li Shanchang to dissuade him.

On the one hand, it was because he couldn't bear to see so many people die because of this.

On the other hand, he was the Minister of Works, and was responsible for many specific matters in the construction of Zhongdu.

If something goes wrong, His Majesty will investigate and he might be the one to take the blame.

Li Shanchang shook his head and said, "The plan has changed now and we have to move it forward four months.

It needs to be completely repaired and ready for occupancy before August! ”

"Is this a decree from His Majesty?"

Xue Xiang asked.

If the emperor gave the order, he could do anything no matter how outrageous it was.

After all, the emperor had personally spoken and ordered it, so you wouldn't be blamed if you did it yourself.

If nothing else, His Majesty at least has the necessary responsibilities.

"No."

Li Shanchang shook his head again.

"This……"

Xue Xiang was completely confused and had no idea what was wrong with Li Shanchang.

"Liu Bowen and his superiors finally put aside their past grudges and all their grudges were gone.

This guy Liu Bowen is really surprising!"

He said this with emotion and some other complicated emotions.

"Liu Bowen held a very important position in his heart, and the Zhejiang Party stood behind him.

They have always been against us in Huaixi.

Liu Bowen was against moving the capital, and now that something unexpected has happened, I have to be careful!"

"This... isn't Liu Bowen waiting to die in the capital?

Why did you turn over again? "

The person who spoke this time was Li Shanchang's nephew Li You.

Li Shanchang smiled with some sarcasm in his eyes.

"Some people are so clever that they want to kill Liu Bowen and keep me in the countryside forever, not wanting me to return to the Secretariat and become the Prime Minister.

But it ended up being a mess.

Not only did Liu Bowen not die, but he also had a second life."

Xue Xiang's expression changed, and he already had an idea in his mind.

Li You and Ding Bin didn't realize who it was.

"Who is so bold as to kill Liu Bowen and plot against my uncle?"

Li You asked with some shock and anger.

Ding Bin also pricked up his ears.

"Who else could it be? Our Right Prime Minister Hu Weiyong!"

The sarcasm on Li Shanchang's face became even more intense.

"What a jerk named Hu! If he didn't have his uncle, would he still be the Right Prime Minister? He's nothing!
Now you actually dare to plot against my uncle!
I will definitely make it look good in the future!"

Ding Bin was full of murderous intent.

Li Shanchang waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about these things for now. The most important thing now is to repair Zhongdu City as soon as possible and let His Majesty move the capital quickly.

This is a top-notch event.

The sooner this is completed, the sooner I can put down this heavy burden in my heart." 'Yes, it must be repaired sooner and beautifully, so that you, Li Shanchang, can use this achievement to return to the Secretariat and become the Left Prime Minister of the Secretariat!'

Xue Xiang complained in his heart.

Zhongdu City has been built so much and so much manpower and material resources have been mobilized. How could Your Majesty have the idea of ​​not moving the capital?

Your Majesty is the most stingy person.

How could he bear to waste so much money?

Not to mention Liu Bowen regaining favor, even if the emperor's biological father came back to life, opened his coffin, and told His Majesty that the capital could not be moved, His Majesty would never listen!

So, after all, it is your selfishness, Li Shanchang, that is at work!
Of course, Xue Xiang would never say these words.

"Don't think that I'm in such a hurry to return to the Secretariat and become the Left Prime Minister.

This is too much of an underestimation of me, Li Shanchang!

I have been the top leader of the central government for more than ten years, and have been in charge of government affairs for a long time.

He had already reached the highest position among the officials.

I have enjoyed everything I should have enjoyed.

Now, I am considering the entire Huaixi area.

Have you ever wondered why the Song Dynasty had such strong military commanders at the beginning, but was immediately dominated by civil officials?

"I know, it's all because of that guy Zhao Kuangyin who's just ungrateful and ungrateful!
Why do we have to use a cup of wine to release military power and control the military with civil power? "

Ding Bin spoke angrily.

As a military general who had served under Chang Yuchun, he was most disgusted by this matter.

The other two nodded, obviously agreeing with this.

Li Shanchang shook his head: "That's true, but it doesn't get to the point."

Any fundamental ideas?
Several people were puzzled and couldn't imagine that there could be anything more fundamental than this.

"Imperial Examination!"

Li Shanchang clenched his fists.

“The most glorious moment for military commanders was when they founded a nation, when war was paramount.

There are many rough and tumble guys who dare to fight and fight hard, and they can use their skills to fight for wealth and glory with the swords in their hands!
Kill and gain a prominent position.

But there is only one chance for a country to be founded, and it can only produce so many meritorious families.

But the imperial examinations were different. They recruited candidates frequently, and the number of civil servants continued to increase.

Moreover, the selection is made from across the country, which means that the top talents in the world are covered.

Let the descendants of military generals compete with the top talents selected from all over the world?

How can it be compared?

Therefore, as time goes by, culture becomes more valued and martial arts become less important.

Our Ming Dynasty cannot escape such a fate either!"

Xue Xiang suddenly realized that Li Shanchang's point of view was indeed novel.

After thinking about it carefully, I felt that it made sense and it seemed like he had really hit the nail on the head.

"But... Uncle, our Ming Dynasty has stopped the imperial examinations..."

Li Shanchang glanced at Li You and was very disappointed with his nephew.

If he were not around, it would be hard to say whether his nephew, who was of average ability, could take care of his own life, let alone become an official.

"This is only temporary. I'm sure there will be more imperial examinations in the future!"

"Then... even if the imperial examination is held, our children and nephews can still study and participate..."

Before Li You could finish his words, Li Shanchang, who couldn't help himself, cast a caring look at the mentally retarded person.

"How many of the nobles' nephews and nieces do you think are good at studying?
Even if a few really appear, can they compare with the talents gathered from all over the country?
madness! "

Li You was so shocked by Li Shanchang that he dared not speak.

“So, the best way is to make Huaixi the capital.

Huaixi is our territory, which is equivalent to the future capital, and is our territory.

When you come here, you should be like a dragon coiled up, or a tiger lying down!"

Li Shanchang raised his voice.

Several people came to their senses and felt that what Li Shanchang said made sense.

"This matter concerns the future of our descendants in Huaixi, so we must succeed and cannot fail!
No mistakes are allowed!
Do you understand now why I was so anxious?"

"Understood!"

The three of them responded in unison.

"Then... Lord Prime Minister, can you give these civilians another meal?

This way, we can work more vigorously.”

Xue Xiang once again sought benefits for the people.

Li Shanchang flatly refused: "No, two meals a day are enough for them.

Another meal is a waste.

Instead of wasting food on them, it would be better to use the money saved on construction.

Money must be spent wisely!

Don't worry about them suffering casualties.

The least valuable thing is the lives of these untouchables!

What the Ming Dynasty lacks the least is these peasants!
They were very lucky to die for the construction of Zhongdu City, and their ancestral graves must be smoking!

Starting tomorrow, we will recruit civilians from all around to come to Zhongdu, at least another 200,000!

Zhongdu City must be completely built for me before August!"

He issued a death order.

After saying that, he patted Xue Xiang on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, nothing will happen. If the people suffer any more, I will bear the blame!"

(End of this chapter)