I clearly wanted to be a tyrant, but how did I become the greatest emperor of all time?

There are two transportation routes.

One is to use river transportation.

It was also the canal between Kyoto and Yuhang that met the food needs of Kyoto's million-person population.

But the disadvantage of river transportation is also obvious, that is, the cost is too high.

The loss rate in river transport is extremely high.

The main reason is that after a river trip, the government offices along the way will intervene.

Officials, canal workers, pirates, local tyrants along the way, and so on.

With layer upon layer of exploitation, it is common practice for several grain ships to be damaged during transportation.

It would be good if six out of ten ships of food could arrive safely in Kyoto.

River transportation has always been a concern for the imperial court and one of the long-standing problems of the Zhou Dynasty.

But how can rail solve the problem of river transport?

Do we have to build a road from Yuhang to Kyoto?

No way, the cost is too high.

Zhang Yuchai said, "Master Prime Minister, have you ever heard of sea transportation?"

"Sea freight?"

Zhang Yuchai said: "I have read the data and found that the ships built in the south can now sail to the port safely, and the speed is twice that of sea transportation."

"Seagoing vessels have a larger draft and can carry dozens of times more cargo than seaborne vessels."

"If river transport is changed to sea transport, one million dan of grain can be saved every year."

“Speed and efficiency will also be greatly improved.”

Tang Xiaoren asked in confusion: "Since sea transportation is so good, why don't you use sea transportation?"

Tang Yan immediately said, "Father, although sea transportation is cheaper, it is still a hundred miles from the port to Kyoto. Land transportation for this section is too slow and consumes a lot of manpower."

Now Tang Xiaoren understood that Zhang Yingchai wanted to build railways between the port and Kyoto!

River transportation was changed to sea transportation, and then railways were laid to transport grain from the port to Kyoto.

This can greatly reduce transportation losses.

River transportation has always been a chronic problem of the Zhou Dynasty.

The constant consumption along the way caused the price of food in Kyoto to rise again and again.

The entire river transport department can be said to be rotten to the core.

Tang Xiaoren wanted to reform the law, and of course he also wanted to take action against the river transport department.

However, the river transport department itself is very large, and when the late emperor was alive, the prime minister wanted to reform the river transport department.

But before the inspector arrived, the river transport department was shut down for several months.

Finally, the price of grain in Kyoto soared, and the late emperor had to depose the prime minister at the time.

River transport was then restored.

If the river transport department could be bypassed, Yuhang's grain could really be transported to Kyoto by sea.

Then Tang Xiaoren can take good care of the river transport department!

"Okay, is this really possible?"

When faced with a professional question, Zhang Yingchai immediately said:

"Maritime transportation is actually mature enough. There are many ships going from the port to Yuhang now, but they basically transport goods such as brocade and silk."

"As long as these sea vessels are slightly modified, they can be used to transport grain."

"The Huajiangkou is now able to accommodate seagoing vessels, and Yuhang's grain can be loaded onto ships at the Huajiangkou."

"I plan to build a railway from Kyoto to the port."

"It's all plains in between, so construction is less difficult."

"If it is successfully built, the food in the port can be transported to Kyoto unimpeded."

"Even if we add in the cost of ships, the cost of sea transportation is less than 20%!"

Tang Xiaoren’s eyes widened even further.

If we can safely transport 80% of the food, that would be a huge improvement!

This is much more than the 60% of river transportation!

Moreover, sea transportation is more stable than river transportation and delays rarely occur.

What’s more important is that the maintenance cost of river transportation is high!

River transportation requires dredging. If the dredging is not done, the river will easily be blocked.

Every year, the imperial court spent more than several million taels of silver on river transportation.

It is impossible to calculate how much of this silver was used for river transport management and how much was embezzled by the officials who handled it.

But the maintenance costs of river transport are rising every year.

If we can really switch to sea shipping, we can save this cost!

Tang Xiaoren asked, "How much silver will it cost to build the track?"

Zhang Yingchai stretched out a finger.

"Ten million taels? That's too much!"

"One million taels is enough!"

"Only one million taels? Then I'll approve it!"

The Jiabu Division is originally in charge of road construction, and this is also the responsibility of the Division Chief.

Tang Xiaoren did not forget to remind him: "Changing river transportation to sea transportation involves a lot of things."

"Don't reveal it until it's built successfully."

Zhang Yuchai also understood that the river transport department had great power, and if the news leaked out, it would cause food shortages in Kyoto.

Then Tang Xiaoren will be in trouble.

Therefore, this news can only be announced when sea transportation can truly replace river transportation and Kyoto is no longer threatened by river transportation.

Tang Xiaoren added: "Master Zhang, my son is not good at the imperial examinations."

"He is very interested in your skills. Can you let him work in the Department of Driving?"

Zhang Yingchai immediately said, "Mr. Tang is willing to stay at the Jiabu Division, and I am naturally very welcome to do so!"

Here, Tang Xiaoren and Zhang Chai finalized a plan to "stab" Li Tian in the back.

Here, on the northern grassland.

The Lone Wolf Tribe is one of the eight tribes of Northern Mang.

There are not only eight tribes in Beimang, but these eight are the most powerful.

The Lone Wolf Tribe is the most powerful tribe on the northern grasslands.

However, in recent years, the first tribe in Beimang, the Lion and Tiger Tribe where the Khan of Beimang is located, has risen.

The other seven tribes were all suppressed by the Lion and Tiger Tribe.

The Great Zhou Dynasty increased pressure from the north.

One of the reasons is that Beimang gradually transformed from a fragmented tribal alliance into a centralized nomadic kingdom.

If the Lion-Tiger Tribe could really unify the northern grasslands, the northern border of the Great Zhou would be even more restless.

The Lone Wolf Tribe is the second most powerful tribe after the Lion and Tiger Tribe, so it has always been the most severely suppressed.

The Khan of the Lone Wolf Tribe is called Hot.

At this time, he was in the tent, talking with a Han strategist who had just cut his hair into a braid.

This Han strategist was named Fang Cheng. He was the head of the Fang family who violently resisted the levy of commercial taxes in Luzhou.

After the Fang family was overthrown by thundering means, Fang Cheng fled to the northern grasslands.

Became a "glorious" traitor.

Because of personal vendetta, Fangcheng has been instigating Hao Te to invade Luzhou.

"Great Khan, Luzhou is the face of the Great Zhou. If we can occupy Luzhou, we can go south to plunder at any time!"

"By then, our Lone Wolf Tribe will be number one on the grassland!"

Hao Te was also a little moved by what Fang Cheng said.

If they can occupy Luzhou, the Lone Wolf Tribe will be able to counterattack the Lion and Tiger Tribe.

But how to occupy Luzhou?

Fang Cheng continued, "Our Fang family still has some roots in Luzhou, so we can instigate them to revolt together!"

"Luzhou's gateway is Guangyuan City. As long as Guangyuan City is captured, Luzhou will fall without a fight."

"Great Khan, the new Chief Censor of Luzhou is the uncle of the Great Zhou. He is a complete idiot."

"Moreover, the troops in Luzhou have not participated in combat for many years, and their training has been slack, so their combat effectiveness is weak."

"It's a perfect time to invade!"

Although Hout was tempted, he was also a little hesitant.