Chapter 376: A thorough investigation to the end

Zhu Di seemed to hear the strings at once.

He gazed at Liu Guan and said, “Do you mean that Yang Pu is making trouble out of this?”

“Exactly.” Liu Guan, with a look of equanimity, calmly said, “Now the rumors are all over the place, all saying that the railroad in Jiangxi cannot be repaired.”

“Your Majesty, this Jiangxi’s railroad is in full swing, why now, everyone out of this statement? This is not a few good people can make such a boisterous wind?”

With his hands behind his back, Zhu Di paced back and forth, slightly hanging his head down, like he was pondering something.

Liu Guan continued to speak in: “Visible dissemination of these rumors of people, identity is by no means simple, Yang Pu is responsible for the Division of Railroads ……”

Zhu Di but at this time interrupted him: “Yang Pu is responsible for the railroad division, just because of the hatred of the construction of the railroad in Jiangxi, will dare to say such words? According to me, I am afraid that this Yang Pu’s heart may not be so narrow-minded.”

“Your Majesty.” Liu Guan bowed down and said, “Some words, I would not dare to say, but today your majesty asked, I do not dare to deceive the king, I can only …… dare to say as much as I can.”

Zhu Di felt more and more strange, he gazed at Liu Guan, who only pursed his lips at this point and did not say a word.

Liu Guan said, “I have heard that originally Yang Pu was planning to build the world’s railroads, and many merchants and businessmen have sharpened their knives.”

Zhu raised an eyebrow, “Why?”

Liu Guan immediately said: “Taiping province merchants are very much, when the construction of Taiping province railroad, most of the orders are in the Taiping province of the various workshops and business firms, many merchants through this earned a large sum of silver, this is only a district of Taiping province, your majesty think about it, if the world are to build a railroad, the profits of which is very huge! I dare say, this merchants profit, than before ten times, a hundred times more. Such a huge profit has long been coveted by people. And let maester Yang to build, maester Yang and their cooperation has long been practiced for many years, familiar with each other, then many orders, can fall on these merchants.”

“But His Majesty’s saintly, will not let the Yang Bachelor dictate the railroad? So this railroad errand, it fell on my body, I and Jiangxi Buzhengzhi Xu Qi, also had consultations, that instead of letting the merchants in Taiping Province to provide steel and sleepers, it would be better for Jiujiang Province and Nanchang Province to supervise their own construction, on the one hand, you can get the materials from the ground, and on the other hand, it is also to put an end to the profiteering by these merchants, and to save some money for His Majesty.”

“But precisely because of this, those merchants and merchants have gone away with hatred. Your Majesty ah …… merchants profit, dare to take risks, now I and Xu Gong two people, cut off their interests, they will not not harbor a grudge? So between the city, are saying that the railroad in Jiangxi is bound to have an accident, more people secretly in Jiangxi to make trouble, in order to this Jiangxi railroad can not be repaired, then that Yang bachelor and then step in, to save the day, and those merchants and then tailed Yang bachelor, to take advantage of the opportunity to make a big fortune.”

“District railroad, to build how easy, I am concerned about, is the hearts of people, Xu Gong in Jiangxi planning railroads, exhaustive efforts, the real fear is not easy, but some people wait for the opportunity to make a big noise, and everywhere for obstruction, and even …… also in Jiangxi to buy through the thieves to make a mess, I dare to ask, what are they going to do? Jiangxi’s railroad, about the world, if Jiangxi’s railroad can be repaired, that is, the world’s provinces are built on their own, if someone takes the opportunity to nuisance, and make Jiangxi self-supervision of the railroad dead in the womb, your majesty …… this is the blessing of the country?”

Liu Guan said, falling tears, then kowtowed: “Now His Majesty even because of these gossip to cure Xu Gong’s crime, more to cure the crime of the minister, I and Xu Gong ten thousand death is not enough to spare, but once the construction of the railroad is bad a thousand years of great plans, so that the railroad is monopolized by a group of merchants and businessmen headed by Yang Pu’s hand …… ministers to break their bodies to pieces, but also hard to forgive the crime. It is also difficult to forgive.”

Immediately afterward, there was constant kowtowing.

Zhu Di looked at Liu Guan with a strange look.

That said, no one likes Liu Guan.

But Liu Guan’s words sounded quite reasonable.

The most important thing is that Zhu Di does not care whether this person’s words are true or false, but Zhu Di at least believe that this person, and did not form a party.

Because Liu Guan is a person that Zhu Di knows, no one wants to be in a party with him.

Zhu Di mused, “In this matter, I will order the factory guards to continue verifying.”

“Your Majesty.” Liu Guan said, “I would have thought that there is no need for factory guards, I can just go myself.”

Zhu frowned at him, puzzled, “You?”

Liu Guan board straightened his waist, righteousness said: “I was ordered to supervise the railroad matters, Jiangxi is the first railroad outside the capital, the relationship is significant, how dare I stand by and watch?”

Zhu paced back and forth a few more times before saying, “That’s fine.”

So Liu Guan said, “I do it tomorrow, Your Majesty …… I ask Your Majesty …… no matter what you hear any gossip, never have any doubts, this Jiangxi railroad … . will be successful ……”

Zhu Di heart hate hate, into his mother, I have smashed into two million two silver, are I one or two one or two saved out, right now …… seems to be only a tentative letter.

Liu Guan added: “As for that Yang maester …… how does His Majesty deal with it?”

Zhu Di glanced sideways, his eyes like sharp blades skimming over Liu Guan’s body.

Liu Guan was shocked, busy bowing down to kowtow: “I have spoken too much, the crime of ten thousand deaths.”

Zhu Di waved his hand: “I only need the railroad to be completed, other things, I do not ask.”

“Yes.”

Liu Guan out of the temple, cold or else wiped the cold sweat on his head, the heart can not help but bitterly curse: “good end, how can make a thief?”

Although he thought so, Liu Guan still looked big and uncaring.

He is a natural optimist, there is nothing in the world that can not be passed, I Liu, lying can be a lifetime of wealth and prosperity.

This trip to Jiangxi …… is just the right time to take a break, right?

It’s just a pity that it didn’t fix that kid Yang Pu.

He was a little sorry in his heart.

If anyone else goes to fix Yang Pu, I am afraid that they have to weigh their own weight.

But Liu Guan is different, Liu Guan belongs to the kind of person who cares who you are, I dare to touch.

Anyone who offends anyone can get a promotion anyway.

Based on years of experience, the more people he offended, the more he could hope to level the playing field.

Not many days later, Liu Guan happily arrived in Nanchang Province.

Here, Xu Qi heard, there dare to delay, panicked, leading the upper and lower officials to welcome.

Liu Guan pleasantly shook Xu Qi’s wrist and said, “There is no need to be polite, there is no need to be polite …… His Majesty ordered me to come, it is to supervise the railroad matters, how is it, how is it, I heard that the station has been repaired …… may as well take the old man to take a look? ”

Xu Qi, however, had a green and black face and stammered.

Based on Liu Guan’s many years of experience in deception and corruption, he immediately sensed that something was wrong.

So his face pulled down and he then said, “What’s wrong?”

Xu Qi said with a hesitant face, “Liu Gong …… Station is fixed.”

“Why don’t you go see it when it’s fixed?”

“It’s just that the tracks are not laid.”

“Where are the tracks?”

“The iron is not yet refined.”

“Then hurry up and build the workshop.”

“The workshop has not yet been repaired.”

“Since it has not been repaired, some steel may be purchased from the outside world first, to be used in case of emergency; His Majesty is pressing for it, and it must not be neglected.”

“How do you acquire it without silver?”

The smile on Liu Guan’s face disappeared.

He paused and looked at Xu Qi calmly, “What about the silver? His Majesty allocated two million taels, and didn’t you raise three million taels of grain silver by issuing public bonds?”

Xu Qi raised his head and looked at Liu Guan with a strange look, “It’s gone, it’s all gone.”

Liu Guan felt his heart skipping a beat and almost fainted, he was shocked and said, “This official has not yet coveted a penny and a half, how come this silver is gone?”

This statement was a slip of the tongue.

At that moment, he said angrily, “Why is this?”

Xu Qi said, “My humble servant has prepared a thin drink, and I would like to invite Lord Liu into the light house for a detailed discussion.”

Liu Guan shivered with anger: “you can harm me, I also a few days ago for you to guarantee, not, I immediately return to the capital to resume.”

Xu Qi was busy pulling Liu Guan in alarm and said, “If Lord Liu goes back to resume his orders like this, I’m afraid that something big is going to happen.”

The look in Xu Qi’s eyes was strange.

Liu Guan seemed to understand something all of a sudden as he snapped to attention and said, “Go inside and talk.”

Saying so, he dismissed his left and right and had a secret talk with Xu Qi.

Liu Guan’s entire body was in pain, things were clearly beyond his expectations, and most importantly, he hadn’t even had a chance to take advantage of it yet!

But still have to follow this Xu Qi to bear such a big stem.

The night passed, and the next day, a fast horse went straight to the capital.

Zhang Anshi is quite free these days.

Now the Governor’s Office is also considered to be a wealth of talent, of course, these talents if placed outside of Zhili, may not be considered a talent, but these people he cultivated, and now in their own positions, but have been able to handle.

They were certainly no jinshi, no lifer, yet most of them, after sharpening their skills, were already able to handle unexpected situations within their duties with ease.

Zhang Anshi does not love to take power, after seeing the situation, naturally, things will be handed over to the people up and down the Governor’s Office, they are happy to be free.

As far as any railroads are concerned, there is the New Deal being implemented.

Although these tight, but and he Zhang Anshi has what to do? A group of people who rely on the New Deal to profit has been cultivated, people will naturally go to defend their own vested interests, even if the strength of these people is still very weak, but Zhang Anshi is not going to always take them as unweaned children, day and night worry.

Might as well be comfortable fooling around with a couple of brothers.

But that Yang Pu was looking for the door.

“Governor Zhang.” Yang Pu saluted Zhang Anshi first.

Only, his brow was gently furrowed, looking worried.

Zhang Anshi then said, “What’s wrong? You look sad.”

Yang Pu sighed.

Zhang Anshi sat down and smiled slightly, “I heard that you are now being attacked in the court, and many people say that you are colluding with merchants?”

Yang Pu said, “Some gossip, and nothing, just …… what the next official is worried about, is because the next official, and implicated His Highness the Crown Prince and Zhang Dudu.”

Zhang Anshi, on the other hand, smiled without much concern and said, “Implicated is implicated, anyway, I have a lot of debt, as for brother …… in law, being said to collude with merchants is always not a bad thing.”

Yang Pu: “……”

Zhang Anshi continued with a smile, “In fact, you don’t have to look sad, the ship will naturally straighten out when it comes to the bridge. If you are not confident in your own affairs, how can you assist your brother-in-law in the future?”

The so-called bystander clear, Yang Pu heard, but is a little peace of mind, so he said: “Governor also think, Jiangxi’s railroad can not be repaired?”

Zhang Anshi spoke with certainty, “Categorically it cannot be repaired.”

Yang Pu said, “The governor has such a grasp, then it should be ……”

Zhang Anshi said with a calm face: ”I am certain, but I can’t yell it out to the whole world. Otherwise, those who don’t know, would think that I, Zhang Anshi, colluded with merchants and wanted to profiteer. However …… since predicting that this matter will not work, this should do the preparation, but still have to do. You don’t worry, I have already laid out, then …… just wait and see the fun.”

When Yang Pu heard this, his heart just sighed, but he sighed long and hard.

Zhang Anshi then said, “Maester Yang is still worried about his own fate? ”

Yang Pu shook his head and said quietly, “What my official is worried about is not himself, but ……”

His eyes reddened slightly as he looked away from his words.

For a moment, there are some weeping: “The next official is also a reader, hard reading, the next official origin, is also a plow reading family, read the book, set down the ambition to help the gods and goddesses of life. But now the real eunuchs floating, seen is the original teacher, the same year, fellow students, although they have set up to help the world’s aspirations, now they are sticking to the old ways, do not know how to change, where there is a half for the people for the people for the idea of the heart? I think, in the end, is everyone reading reading crooked, or after entering the dynasty, interest smoked heart.”

Zhang Anshi couldn’t understand his feelings because of the Four Books and Five Classics, he had only read Spring and Autumn.

The reason why I read Spring and Autumn is because among the Four Books and Five Classics, Spring and Autumn consists of many short stories, unlike the Analects, the Poetry Scriptures, the Shangshu, and the Book of Rites, which are raw and difficult to understand or full of sermons.

Zhang Anshi even suspected that the reason why Guan Erge held the Spring and Autumn Annals to read every day instead of the Book of Rites and the Book of Shang was probably for the same reason as him.

Zhang Anshi looked at Yang Pu’s grief, collected his thoughts and advised, “Well, you don’t have to be sad, every person has his own choice, just like me, obviously I have a lifetime of wealth and can be clothed and fed all my life, but have I ever played with things and lost my mind? My heart and mind, are the living people, visible people of good or bad, does not depend on reading or not reading, or read what books.”

“You readers, even read the four books and five sutras as a sign of a person’s virtue and behavior, really read the reading of their own brains are bad! If not for the fact that there are fewer people in the world who can read, and that the people of the world can only be deceived by you readers, who the hell cares about this nonsense of yours?”

Zhang Anshi said this to the end, obviously a little tasteless, Yang Pu did not get comfort, but was Zhang Anshi yin and yang even together with him, scolded a pass.

So more seem to be lost in thought, usually he is calm and collected people, the mind is also very firm, but perhaps because of being secretly attacked, make him at this time the psychological more fragile, a moment of mixed feelings, the heart touched greatly.

At that moment, he laughed bitterly, “Hey …… good is good in reading, bad is also bad in reading ……”

When he said that, he shook his head and didn’t continue.

By the end of the month, Zhang Anshi was ordered to enter the palace for an audience.

It was early summer.

At this time, the weather is already hot, Zhang Anshi designed a short-sleeved sweatshirt for himself, quite cool, but unfortunately into the palace but can not wear, to be fully clothed, they feel dry and hot.

By the time he had walked from the palace gates to the Mandarin’s House, he was already covered in sweat.

But this just walked in, but saw Zhu Di’s face was quite unhappy.

I even saw that a lot of ministers had come, and everyone looked like they didn’t dare to utter a word in the air.

Zhang Anshi saluted, “I have met Your Majesty.”

Zhu Di looked straight at Zhang Anshi said: “Jiangxi side, the progress of the railroad, and is God speed, has built various sites, the roadbed paved almost, but …… this Liu Qingjia and Xu Qingjia up, and want silver, they are open mouth, Jiujiang to Nanchang Palace of the railroad, but district Hundreds of miles, now before and after, spent how much silver?”

Zhang Anshi this hearing, immediately shocked, and then said: “Your Majesty, I have had a quote in mind, according to the reason, three to four million taels of silver, can be completed, but they have issued so many silver debt, according to the reason, it is already enough, Your Majesty’s internal funds, and allocated two million taels of grain silver over, the funds are already sufficiently abundant, how to have silver?”

“This is the reason why I’m looking for you to inquire.” Zhu Di said with a heartbroken expression, “This railroad, how come it is so expensive to build?”

“This ……” Zhang Anshi felt that this question was really difficult for him, so he smiled bitterly and said, “How can I say that I understand?”

Zhu Di then looked at Xia Yuanji: “Xia Qing, you are the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, why don’t you say something?”

Xia Yuanji is also confused at this time, he is only the Secretary of the Ministry of households, regardless of this ah.

But when His Majesty asked, he couldn’t say nothing, so after thinking for a while, he said, “Could it be because of the rushed schedule ……”

“It’s not as bad as rushing the schedule.” Zhu Di was obviously not satisfied with this answer, so his eyes fell on another person and said, “Secretary Wu, you speak.”

This was named, stood out, is the Ministry of Public Works Secretary Wu Zhong, Wu Zhong, after all, is responsible for repairing the palace and also the imperial mausoleum, there is the experience of the project, just at this time, he is also a little bit confused: “Your Majesty, I’m just the Ministry of Public Works Secretary ……”

Zhu Di suddenly angry, huffed: “This up and down, no one for me to share my worries?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty, do not be anxious, I see …… not as …… well as appoint an imperial envoy, and make a good inquiry.”

Zhu Di frowned and said, “Who is the best person to appoint? I have already sent the Minister of Rites, what would be useful to send again?”

Zhang Anshi pondered for a moment, then said, “Cheng Guo Gong Zhu Neng, perhaps.”

Zhu Di listened and came to be a little interested.

This guy would fit right in!

Zhu Neng was a military minister and had no connection with the court or the local community.

The most important thing is that this old thing usually calculates well, don’t look at the surface of the big grin, in fact, shrewd, calculating things, he is more than clear.

So Zhu Di’s face eased some, then said: “allocate another half a million taels of grain silver, and then there is no more, in any case, can not be delayed, Cheng Guo Gong Zhu Neng …… tomorrow to draw up a decree him, so that he quickly went to Nanchang Province …… ”

After Zhu was angry over a meal, but gradually calmed down, he guessed a lot of possibilities.

But on second thought, he, the emperor, valued this so much, although there might be some accidents, but there should not be any major mistakes.

The reason why he was furious, after all, is because the cost is really huge, and spend his own silver just.