Cui Jing nodded with satisfaction and said: "Yes, the interests are evenly matched, the risks are shared, and there will naturally be fewer enemies if you have multiple friends, you will think like this, the old man is very happy, since you are so sure, then let's talk about this new road." ”

"Father-in-law, now what? It's just an idea now, and I don't have any information at hand. ”

"The old man is the secretary of the Ministry of Industry, and the information on important rivers and official roads in the world has been recorded, you wait a minute, I look for it in my study, I remember that there is such a document."

Cui Jing is also a person who does great things, as soon as he heard such a tempting prospect, he immediately took action, and soon, he came back with a scroll of maps. 、

When the map was spread out, Liu Yuan was taken aback and said curiously: "Hey, isn't it the official road map from Chang'an to Luozhou?" ”

"Well, that's good" Cui Jing nodded and said: "In the fifth year of Zhenguan, someone proposed to rebuild the official road from Chang'an to Luozhou, which caused a lot of controversy at that time, but because the treasury was not full enough, the last thing was not finished. ”

I used to want to repair it, but now I use money in many places, just building the Daming Palace is enough for the treasury to eat a pot, Liu Yuan also knows that if nothing else, the Daming Palace has just been built, and the Emperor Li Yuan has not had time to move in and hangs it, in that case, it is necessary to overhaul the mausoleum, which is a large amount of expenditure, plus this new road has Cui's participation in the investment, hehe, the people of Chang'an and Luozhou and the businessmen want to take a good road, and they have to wait patiently.

Spreading out the map, Cui Jing began to explain: "From Chang'an to Luozhou, the total length of the official road is 786 miles, passing through Shangzhou, the fast horse is about 60 miles per hour, and it can be reached in about ten hours, which is not far away." It's not close. ”

Liu Yuan looked at the map, only to see that the map is still very detailed, when there is a post station, where there is a village, all marked clearly, starting from Chang'an, like a snake, twisting and turning, the most lull after arriving in Luozhou, more than 700 miles, equivalent to more than 300 kilometers. As far as the highway is concerned, it is not short.

"Xiaoyuan, you have read this official map, if you have any ideas, you can just say it." Cui Shang also looked at Liu Yuan, who was frowning. whispered.

"This official road is too crooked, you see. I've been repairing it from here. Save time and distance, why do you have to make a big bend and pass through this Yangjia Village? What is this Yangjia Village? Is it prosperous? Liu Yuan asked a little puzzled when he pointed to the obvious curved official road on the map.

It's an obvious waste of time and distance, and the entire official road seems to be accommodating to that Yangjia Village.

Cui Jing shook his head and said with a wry smile: "Prosperity is not a military location. There are no important big people in Yangjia Village, but the son of Yang Su, a former courtier, built a grange somewhere, and Yang Su sometimes went to live there for a few days, and the officials who presided over the monastic were in order to curry favor with Yang Su. He advocated without authorization, and built the official road through his grange to facilitate his travel, which cost an unknown amount of food. ”

It turned out that this was the case, and Liu Yuan didn't bother to evaluate the merits and demerits of the previous dynasty, so he looked at the map carefully by candlelight.

"Father-in-law, this is called Huang Jiayong, did you deliberately make a big detour for Lu? And what illustrious people are here? ”

"What? Let me see? Cui Jing leaned over, just looked at it, and soon pointed to a place on the map and said: "There is no celebrity here, you see the name of the place, Huangjiayong, I have been to this place, said it is a spring, but it is actually a river, the autumn and winter seasons are acceptable, the river water in spring and summer is a little urgent, the narrowest place is nearly seven zhang wide, the cost of building a bridge is too large, and the life of the wooden bridge is not long. ”

Seven zhang, about 20 meters, this distance, not far, right?

If it is to build a stone bridge, the difficulty is really not small, and it is not the average craftsman can do it, but if you build a cement bridge, it is not difficult to build a few piers and build a bridge.

Liu Yuan nodded, didn't say anything, and continued to discuss the official road with Cui Jing, although he didn't come to the scene in person, but it was not bad to give a rough plan, first determine the plan, and then slowly revise it.

After discussing for about half an hour, Liu Yuan had a general understanding of the official road from Chang'an to Luozhou, as well as the environment and road conditions along the way, and it was difficult for Cui Jing to be embarrassed, as if he was born to engage in engineering, and his heart was like a living map, and many places could be described in detail, which saved Liu Yuan a lot of effort.

"Master Yuefu" Liu Yuan pointed to the map and said: "I mean, abandon the curve and take the straight, the new road does not pass through Shangzhou, from Chang'an to Luoyang, starting from here, not to Yangjia Village, all the way forward, Huangjiayong don't go around, we either don't do it, we have to do it well, here, it is Huangjiayong here, don't detour, build a bridge, so that you can save nearly 20 miles." ”

Cui Jing frowned and said, "The cost is too big, is it necessary to take a few more steps?" ”

"Yes" Liu Yuan nodded and said: "Here is a little closer, then a little closer, in this way, the distance can be cut by about one-third, plus our road is as smooth as a mirror, fast and stable, our goal is to save half of the time, you think, if you can arrive in half a day, not only the horse can eat less fine food, the road condition is good, there is no bump in the pain, just the maintenance of the carriage has saved a lot, those fragile goods are also guaranteed, and most importantly, according to the past, from Chang'an to Luozhou, you have to stay at the post station for one night at night, Room and board here are also a lot of expenses, and if they can save this money, I think, even if the toll is more expensive, they will be willing to give generously. ”

Reducing the distance by a third and saving half the time sounds tempting.

When Cui Jing and Cui Shang heard this, their eyes shot a strange light, obviously, if there is really such a road, then, if it is themselves, no matter how expensive it is, they are willing to spend it, Chang'an and Luozhou have so many dignitaries, rich businessmen and magnates, and the two places travel so frequently, it is estimated that they will have to receive soft hands when they collect money.

"Okay, it's done", Cui Jing slapped his palm on the desk and said excitedly.

Cui Shang nodded and said: "Okay, let's act immediately, we will let the children of the Cui family fully cooperate, but the most important thing for the success of this new road is your cement, Xiaoyuan, you have to make it as soon as possible." ”

"Yes, uncle." Liu Yuan nodded, secretly happy in his heart.

Obviously, with the help of Qinghe Cui's family, there is a chance that this matter can be done.

After negotiating the big thing, Cui Jing suddenly said to Liu Yuan: "By the way, I promise your house to move in on an auspicious day by myself, and I have instructed the house slaves guarding the door, and all the furniture in it will also be given to you, otherwise you will say that the old man is stingy, although it is sold to you, but I have a condition." ”

"Father-in-law, please speak up."

"This house is for you, it's for Meng Yao's marriage, and it's also your marriage room, before my daughter enters, those confidantes of yours can't settle in first, understand?" Cui Jing said seriously.

Liu Yuan knew that this is a habit of the ancients, emphasizing the order of entry, just like a person, they all marry a wife first, and then take a concubine, talking about a first come, first come, first come, Cui Jing gave Liu Yuan the house he carefully built, and he was naturally a little unwilling in his heart, that is, when he handed over the house, he did not forget to make a request.

"Yes, son-in-law obeys." Although this old boy is a little stingy and lustful, he really doesn't have to say anything to Cui Mengyao, this is also a loving father and daughter, Liu Yuan naturally nodded in agreement.

Cui Shang added on the side: "Also, our Qinghe Cui family's marriage is also a big deal, since this matter should go back to Qinghe's hometown to set up a banquet and worship the ancestors, you have to be prepared at that time, you have no opinion on this, right?" ”

"It's all up to the elders." Liu Yuan has no opinions, as long as he hugs the beautiful woman, he will arrange it as he wants.

After chatting for a while, Liu Yuan got up to say goodbye and exited the study.

After talking about the business, the private matter was also finished, the age difference was so far, there was a generation gap in thought, and there was nothing to talk about, Liu Yuan also found an opportunity to slip away, Cui Shang and Cui Jing did not stay, and waved him to retreat.

As soon as he walked a short distance, he saw Chun'er at the corner of the corridor, and as soon as Chun'er saw him, he immediately greeted him, obviously waiting for him.

"Uncle" Chun'er pouted and said, "My young lady invites you to come over and get together." ”

Cui Mengyao looking for herself? Liu Yuan's heart was hot, and he hurriedly asked, "Where is it?"

"On the gazebo in the lotus pond in the back flower courtyard, come with me." After speaking, he said to himself: "Why have you been chatting for so long, what is there to talk about, Miss is in a hurry." ”

Liu Yuan followed Chun'er to the back garden, and saw from a distance that in the pavilion built on the lotus pond, there were several large lanterns hung, brightly lit, and two maids were accompanying him, and Cui Mengyao was now holding a pen and drawing something, and the dim light shone on Cui Mengyao's pretty face that fascinated all living beings, looking so charming and bright.

It looks like he's painting.

It is worthy of everyone's beauty, and she is so leisurely, elegant and calm at all times.

"Liu Yuan, are you done talking to your father and uncle?" Cui Mengyao was not very concentrated enough this time, and as soon as Liu Yuan approached, she noticed it, smiled at Liu Yuan, and casually put the pen on the ink inkstone.

"Good drawing." Looking at the painting, I couldn't help but applaud loudly.

The painting on the paper is a lady, who should have just woken up, wearing a nightdress, combing in front of the mirror, showing the lazy and charming side of the woman to the fullest, Liu Yuan recognized that the woman in the painting was Cui Mengyao, hehe, I didn't expect that I was here in the middle of the night to self-portrait, it seems that many beauties are narcissistic, it seems that Cui Mengyao's little girl is no exception.

"Ah", Cui Mengyao was startled, her face turned red, and then she remembered the portrait she had painted, and quickly rolled it up, and said with a coquettish face: "The painting is ugly and dead, don't look at it." (To be continued......)