Looking at the crooked river, Du Zhongxiao said to Ma Zun: "This is the ancient Caiyang, the hometown of Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, and the place where humanity flourishes. It's long since it withered. Before the camp came, there was only a horse shop not far away, two or three thatched huts, and one or two soldiers. In fact, the two rivers meet here, and the traffic is very convenient. Moreover, the land is flat, and there are many idle fields, and it is a land of ointment when it is reclaimed. And it is on the post road from Xiangzhou to Ezhou, when the road is rushed. If it can be developed, it will benefit from it for dozens of miles around. ”

At this time, the traffic in the Jinghu area is strong, the northernmost is Xiangzhou, the southwest is Jiangling Fu, and the southeast is Ezhou, forming a triangle. The cloth materials from the Sichuan Gorge area, Jinghu South Road and Liangguang were transported to Jiangling Province, or by water or land to Xiangzhou, which was the Jingxiang Ancient Road. It is one of the three most important north-south passages in China for more than 1,000 years, and is located in the middle of the main road connecting the north and south.

Part of the grain and grass in the Jiangnan and Jinghu areas flowed along the Yangtze River and its tributaries to Ezhou. All the way down the Yangtze River to the east, and then take the Bianhe River into Beijing. Another part was divided into land and water, transported to Xiangzhou and then north. The waterway is naturally against the Han River, due to the turbulent current, this road is not very easy to walk, and the big ships of the Yangtze River cannot pass. The land route is to take Anzhou, Suizhou to Xiangzhou, that is, an important traffic channel Suizao corridor. This road is in the middle of two mountains, flat and spacious, is Ezhou, that is, the later Wuhan area, the most convenient land transportation line to Xiangzhou. Later, the Japanese army invaded China, and the battle of Suizao, where General Zhang Zizhong sacrificed, took place on this line of communication.

As a shipping judge, Ma Zun is familiar with the traffic in the region, so he naturally understands Du Zhongxiao's meaning. Xiangzhou is the key point between the north and the south, known as the waist of the world, and its strategic position is needless to say. The status of Xiangzhou was supported by Jiangling and Ezhou in the back, and without those two places, Xiangzhou was not so important. In order to really connect the transportation framework in this area, the three places must be connected together.

The Han River emerges from the mountains and passes through the low hills on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and the current is turbulent, which is not conducive to the navigation of large ships. Even if it does not freeze, it is impossible to sail during the dry winter season. It is common for ships to arrive in Ezhou and backlog for several months, so they have to cooperate by land transportation. In addition, the waterway from Gangneung to Xiangzhou, the artificially dug Jingxiang Canal, after arriving in Fuzhou, also had to borrow the Hanjiang River waterway to go north, and the transportation was greatly restricted.

The ideal way to solve the transportation bottleneck is to build a railway from Xiangzhou to Gangneung Province and another railway to Ezhou. In the past, there was no way to do it, but now the railway is going to be repaired to Xiangzhou, which has become a natural thing. The two railways, together with the main Yangtze River road from Gangneung to Ezhou, form a triangle. Once this triangle is formed, the development of Jinghu Road will be unhindered, and the two lakes will become the new granary of the world.

The shipping department is a powerful yamen, and what the road level can't do, they can. Du Zhongxiao mentioned that as for whether it can be done or not, it is none of his business. With the peace talks in the northwest and the initial decision of the world, the term of office of officials in key areas and key yamen has been significantly extended in recent years. A few days ago, someone in the imperial court proposed to promote Du Zhongxiao, and the final result was that he did a good job in the camp and field, and it was not appropriate to change people frequently. It's not just Du Zhongxiao alone, Zheng Jian is the same on Hedong Road, how can he serve for such a long time as the envoy of the side road. Not to mention Ma Zun's boss Xu Yuan, who has been a shipping envoy for 12 years in history. Now, the better it does, the more reluctant the court is to change people, promote officials and posts, and send them easily.

Du Zhongxiao couldn't tell how many years it would take him to be in charge of the farm. Now that it is booming and the railway is open, depending on the meaning of the imperial court, it is easy not to give yourself a new position. Then look farther, from the Xiangdeng area to the Jinghu area, and lay a foundation first.

When Du Zhongxiao and Ma Zun were discussing the transportation plan in this area, the public officials came and reported that Lou Zhixian had arrived with the big households.

Du Zhongxiao said to Ma Zun: "Issue, if there is nothing left and right, let's go over and sit together." In the future, it is good to cooperate with the shipping department and the locality. ”

While walking, Du Zhongxiao introduced the case of Shi Yuanwai and Xie Qing to Ma Zun.

Ma Zun smiled when he heard this: "What does the judgment mean is to let them pay for the tickets that will come to Kaifeng Mansion?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "The road is pointed to them, whether they can go or not, it depends on each person." ”

After a short time, when they arrived at the yamen, everyone saluted. Du Zhongxiao and Ma Zun sat at the top, Lou Zhixian sat at the bottom, and more than a dozen big households stood in front of the steps.

Du Zhongxiao said: "Yesterday, Lou Zhixian had already told me that you and the historians were in the same breath, for fear that if you disposed of Shi Daqing, you would not be able to control the villagers, and you wanted the county to spare Shi Daqing." He has violated the law of the land, how can he be indulgent! If you rely on you, there is no need for the county government! ”

Hearing this, Ruan Degong was the first to stand up, crossed his hands and said: "Judge Yun, Shi Xiaoyuan has violated the law and should be punished." However, Xie Qinghun's family has nothing serious, the injury is not serious, and it is just a matter of paying two yuan. The dealer does not listen to the control, the host beats and scolds, how to manage the house without this? If you miss it for a while, it's just an angry attack, not an intentional evil. Forget about the punishment. ”

Du Zhongxiao looked at Ruan Degong and shook his head: "The country is the law of the country, it's not that you just say it." Forget it this time, you outsiders will definitely be more strict with the banker, this time no one died, next time it will be bad. If it is not punished severely, the staff will treat the dealer as a person in the future! You don't need to say it, I have ordered Lou Zhi County, and Shi Daqing must be severely punished according to the law! ”

Seeing that the rest of the staff also stood up, Du Zhongxiao waved his hand: "There is no need to discuss the Shi family's case, and there is no need to waste words." Now the most important thing is what you are worried about, the villagers have left, and when they arrive at the camp field, what will happen to the rice in the field after autumn. ”

Hearing this, Ruan Degong immediately shut up and asked, "This is a difficult matter!" It's not that we deliberately make things difficult for the villagers, but now that the day of harvesting rice is not far away, they are gone, where can we hire people again? At that time, the rice will rot in the ground, and the year of hard work will be in vain, not to mention that we have no food and clothing, and we will not be able to pay the money and grain of the imperial court. May the officials be in trouble with the small. ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "I am looking for you today, just for this matter." This year, the camp did not open the field, and all the grain and rice were transferred from the surrounding states and counties by the Transshipment Division. Zaoyang County's autumn tax, the grain is for the camp and field affairs, and the money is sent to the capital, so you don't have to worry too much. Moreover, this year's camp did not open the field to grow grain, and some of them had manpower in the autumn. When the time comes, if you are willing to pay some wages, you can harvest the rice in the field for you. ”

Ruan Degong hurriedly asked, "Official, I don't know how wages are calculated?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "According to the price of previous years, I will not charge you more." If you don't have cash, you can divide the rice. ”

Ruan Degong breathed a sigh of relief and bowed his hand to Du Zhongxiao: "Thank you, you have solved the problem for the little ones." ”

After speaking, he went back and discussed in a low voice with several other big households. The historian at the back of the crowd was full of anger and said sharply: "Ruan Yuanwai, you only care about the grain and rice in your own field, and don't care about my son?" Decades of friendship are not worth a few catties of rice! ”

How many pounds of rice? A few of the staff members did not answer, only a few of them had a good relationship with the historian and comforted him in a low voice. As long as the grain can be collected, which one will oppose the yamen, and how can the people fight for the office? Not to mention, Du Zhongxiao's camp and field work, but there are thousands of people, and the army is practicing every day.

Shi Yuanwai only felt that his head was about to explode, the world was spinning, he couldn't help it anymore, and said in a loud voice: "The people's hearts are really unreliable, do you think that if you don't care about me now, it will be good?" I have harvested the grain and rice in the field this year, what will I do next year? If there is no one to cultivate, how can the money and grain be paid! ”

Du Zhongxiao coughed: "I called you here today, the second year, there is no Zhuangke, you can't plant so much land, your way out." The camp and field affairs have been built, and there will be no shortage of money and food in the future, as long as you do not make trouble, there will always be a way out for you. ”