Listening to Zhang Yaofang's investigation and understanding of the two rivers in Yishu in Shandong, Zhu Youzhen finally confirmed that perhaps the right Changshi of the king of Lusu did not complete the entire basin of the two rivers in Yishu, and there was no reliable instrument for scientific observation, but he did have a deep understanding of how to govern the river.

Zhu Youzhen suddenly clapped his hands and interrupted Zhang Yaofang's speech, which made Zhang Yaofang, who was originally in a good situation, pause in some astonishment, he was thinking about whether he had something wrong, but he heard the emperor say to him.

"It's you, I don't think you have to go back to Shandong Luwangfu, I will ask the cabinet to order you to be transferred to the Ministry of Industry, before the order is made, you must first familiarize yourself with Jiang Shilang of the Ministry of Industry.

Jiang Shilang has been mainly responsible for the Haihe River control project this year, and you can discuss with him the gains and losses in water control. Then select personnel from the Ministry of Industry and the Haihe River Control Project Department to assist you in the management of the Yishusi River Basin after the beginning of spring next year.

As for Governor Shen, you can start preparing personnel and materials after you go back, and when the Ministry of Industry establishes the Yishusi River Basin Water Control Headquarters, you can start to carry out project management. ”

Although this was the answer that Shen Hong was expecting, he was also very surprised by Chongzhen's quick decision, and he quickly responded to the emperor's request.

As for Zhang Yaofang, he still didn't react a little, he felt that he still had a lot to say, how could the emperor make such a rash decision. Although it was the opportunity he had always dreamed of, he felt that he was being somewhat underestimated.

Although he was born in the deputy list, as a member of the Shanyin clan and Zhong Ming Dingshi's family background, he still has a few proud bones on his body.

He didn't want to run from Shandong to the capital like this, but he was sent away by Chongzhen in a few words. He did not accept Chongzhen's order, but said with some excitement: "Your Majesty, the Yishusi River Basin is spread over the three provinces, and if you want to govern the entire river basin, it will not be done overnight.

In particular, the project requested by His Majesty to guide the Shu River into the sea through the sand is to split the Maling Mountain on the left bank of the Shu River in Daguanzhuang in Linshu County, discharge part of the flood water of the Shu River into the Sha River, and use the Sha River to discharge it into the sea.

And this project is just one of the many problems in the project of diverting water into the sea through sand. In the whole water conservancy control project, the control of Yi must first lead Shu and then Siyun, and Yishu and Si divide and govern, and finally the Yishu River diverges into the sea, so as to do its best.

The first phase of the project, according to the calculation of the minister, at least 4 million labor, according to each artificial 2 catties of millet, is 8 million catties of millet, according to the price of millet in Shandong, is 40,000 yuan.

If you want to complete the entire diversion project, you need at least 10 phases of the project, and if you give up halfway in the middle, you will lose all your efforts.

The minister hopes that His Majesty should still consider it carefully, and if the imperial court does not allocate funds in time, which makes it difficult to maintain the project, it is better to take a symptomatic measure first. When the treasury is sufficient, we will plan to cure the root cause of the Yishusi River Basin. ”

When Zhang Yaofang advised Chongzhen, Shen Hongsuo frequently glanced at him, hoping that this old friend would not anger Chongzhen because of this.

As a deputy list of King Lu's long history, even if Zhang Yaofang's family background is prominent, no matter how prominent he is, his career is equivalent to the end.

It is very difficult for a scholar who becomes a vassal official to return to the normal system of civil official promotion. This is also why, when the scholars who have won the Jinshi are assigned by the emperor to serve in the vassal palace, they have to cry bitterly.

The reason why Shen Hong recommended Zhang Yaofang to control the water is that the two have a good personal relationship, secondly, because they value Zhang Yaofang's family background behind him, and thirdly, because Zhang Yaofang does have the talent for economic development.

If other people are allowed to control the water in Shandong, there may be a popular uprising. After all, there are two palaces in Shandong, two sage families, and the land of Denglai has been cut off, and the power of the Shandong gentry is strong, and the wealth of Shandong has fallen into the hands of these people above.

According to the past practice, the task of water control assigned by the imperial court was often borne by the local finance. For example, the maintenance of the canal section in Shandong falls on the heads of the people on both sides of the canal.

If it weren't for the fact that this year, the emperor removed Shandong's salary, and instead of exempting it from taxation and returning it to the local government for subsidizing the victims and controlling the canal, the Shandong feudal treasury could be said to be poor enough to starve to death rats and dare to think about water control.

It was precisely because the emperor stopped the payment of Shandong Liaoyu that Shen Hong reluctantly agreed to the emperor's request for the Yishusi River Basin control project.

But he also knows very well that since ancient times, governing the river has been a chore, and Dayuan didn't even lose the country in order to control the Yellow River.

There is a Grand Canal passing through Shandong, so the usual labor is already quite heavy. If you want to requisition the people to control the water, at least you have to allocate rations. Otherwise, if the people are forced to control the waters, the people will lack labor to cultivate their homes, and the fields will not be harvested, and there will definitely be chaos.

For others, Shen Hong is not at ease. But for Zhang Yaofang, he still has some confidence, at least this person will not deduct the rations of the plumber to fatten himself.

He came to the capital, firstly, to accompany his old friend to meet Chongzhen, and secondly, to get some funds from the imperial court to go back, so as to subsidize the deficit of water control.

In addition, Wang Chengen, the chief eunuch in the palace, also sent someone to contact him, saying that the inner government wanted to build a railway from Qingdao and Jiaozhou to Jinan, hoping that he would be able to facilitate it at that time.

Shen Hong felt that the future of Shandong seemed to be showing a little light, so he naturally didn't want Zhang Yaofang to anger Chongzhen at this time, which made him lose a boost.

When he was about to speak out for his old friend, Zhu Youzhen looked at Zhang Yaofang seriously and said: "Zhang Changshi thinks that the people in the Yishusi River Basin are willing to repair the river and control the water?" ”

Zhang Yaofang said without hesitation: "In previous years, the Yi and Shu rivers often flooded in the plains of southern Lunan and northern Jiangsu as soon as the rainy season came. When the Yi River floods, the Tan, Cang, and Pi areas become Ze countries.

Lanshan County can accumulate water on the flat ground more than half a person, and boats have to walk around the streets during the flood season. As soon as the flood season arrives in Pi County, the city gate is blocked to prevent the flood from entering the city, and the people can even sit on the city wall to wash their feet.

In the southern part of Tancheng, a large area of land has been barren due to floods, and the local people have to leave their homes, and in the basins of these two rivers, even the gentry and landlords who have extensive land are often unable to make ends meet.

The minister thought that as long as effective people were selected to preside over the overall situation, the people of the three provinces would definitely be willing to participate in the imperial court's plan to control the water. ”

Zhu Youzhen nodded at him and said, "Yes, since we have the support of the people, what else can't we do?" Of course, the imperial court will give you support, but the local government cannot be completely counted on to bear the burden.

For you, the improvement of the Yishusi River Basin is the overall situation of the local people, but in front of the imperial court, this is only a small part of the countless rivers that should be governed in the Ming Dynasty.

So, I can tell you that the court will support you in controlling the waters, but you also need to mobilize the local people to understand that the water is not only for the sake of the court, but also for themselves.

As long as the top and bottom are concentric, then not to mention the 10-phase project, it is a 100-phase project, and we will definitely be able to complete it. But if you are centrifugal up and down, and you haven't started to do things yet, and you just wait for pie to fall from the sky, then even the most simple things will not be completed.

You see, the ancients said that the fool moves mountains, but if there is no action of the fool, how can there be the appearance and help of the gods? Therefore, you must first find a way to solve it yourself, and if you can't solve it, you will ask the imperial court.

Of course, I can also promise you that as long as the situation of the court is maintained, I will not cut off your water control funds. When Governor Shen returns, he can bring 30,000 yuan with him as a fund for preparing materials and requisitioning manpower..."

Zhang Yaofang's argument with the emperor instead won a start-up fee for Shandong first, and Shen Hongsuo hurriedly and quietly pulled the corner of Zhang Yaofang's clothes, signaling him to accept it when he saw it, and there was no need to entangle with the emperor anymore.

Being able to obtain Chongzhen's guarantee, Zhang Yaofang was already quite satisfied. Of course, he has no extravagant hopes, all the expenses are borne by the imperial court independently, he is just worried that the little emperor will only be hot for three minutes, and the water control project will be abandoned halfway.

When Wang Chengen came back after sending Shen Hongsuo and Zhang Yaofang away, he couldn't help but ask Chongzhen with some curiosity: "Your Majesty, didn't you already plan to take over the funds for the entire water control project before, why did you change your mind today?" ”

Zhu Youzhen sat in his place and took a sip of fragrant tea before he said to him casually: "I haven't changed my mind, but if I told them so at the beginning and let them do it, the imperial court will bear all the water control expenses."

Do you think they will solve the problem of water control by themselves? Although I have set aside 1.5 million yuan for this project, if they spend it without moderation, the project will definitely be overspent.

If we have to overrun every water control project below, then I won't have enough money to fill these holes..."

Before Zhu Youzhen's words were finished, there was a knock on the door outside, and then the voice of Lu Qi asking to see him came in.

Zhu Youzhen immediately stopped and ordered Lu Qi to come in and speak. He was a little surprised in his heart, he didn't know what was going on, if it was okay, Lu Qi shouldn't have come to see him in such a hurry.

Sure enough, Lu Qi did not bring him good news, "Your Majesty, the Southwest Governor's Mansion has sent an urgent delivery of military information. Hou Liangzhu, the general soldier of Sichuan, and Liu Kexun, the deputy envoy of Xulu, sent troops from Yongning to attack Chishuiwei, first won and then lost, losing 356 soldiers, and one deputy general.

The Governor of the Southwest Governor's Mansion was loyal to Mrs. Hou Qin, and impeached Hou Liangzhu and Liu Kexun for not obeying the order to enter the army without authorization, and asked His Majesty to punish him..."