12. Xu Yuan Roasted Boat I

Great people are those who contribute wealth!

In the eventful autumn of May, the grain and grass in the capital is in urgent need. The remaining grain is only enough for three months. The private grain storage is also on the verge of danger, and the rice jars in many people's homes have bottomed out.

Seeing that the people's hearts were unstable, the members of the Caoyun Department were blackened and couldn't think of half a way. Emperor Renzong was angry that he dismissed Lord Ji, the chief officer in charge of Caoyun, and ordered Zhongshu to appoint suitable candidates as soon as possible to innovate the Caoyun system to ensure that there is sufficient food and fodder in Beijing and stabilize the hearts of the people.

When it comes to transportation, the people of the Song Dynasty all know that it is to transport grain from the waterway to Beijing for court consumption, salaries, salaries, military salaries and people's food adjustment. This is a lifeblood of the Song Dynasty. Unless the waterway is not connected, it is supplemented by land transportation, and more vehicles, human and animal transportation are used, so it is also known as 'turning the canal' or 'water transport'.

The grain of the Northern Song Dynasty is transported in four ways to Beijing Bianliang:

The first road: the millet of Huai Bian enters Huaishui from the south of the Yangtze River and enters Beijing through Bianshui;

The second road: Shaanxi's millet turns from the Yellow River near Sanmenxia to 'Bianshui' Dajing;

The third road: the millet of Shaanxi Cai turns from the 'Huimin River' to the Cai River and enters Bianshui Dajing;

The fourth road: Jingdong's millet enters Wuzhanghe Dajing from the land of Qilu.

Among them, the millet of Huai Bian from Southeast Sixth Road occupies the main position. Yao Zhongsun, the chief of the three divisions of the Central Committee, is responsible for the collection, and the 'Shipping Department' is responsible for transportation.

Transshipment and shipping are two links connected back and forth. One of the errors in one link will affect the fate of the whole empire. Another point is the grain and fodder system of the Song Dynasty. Every summer and autumn, all the grain and fodder collected from various places should be shipped to Beijing, and then be uniformly distributed by the three departments of the empire's financial institutions, although this practice is conducive to The stability of the empire effectively limited the scale of the riot team and increased a lot of employment opportunities. However, in that era, when transportation was extremely inconvenient, this huge transportation was difficult to manage. As the chief officer of the transportation department, once he neglected his duties, it would cause a shortage of food and fodder supply in the imperial capital. Of course, it was important. It is still a problem of the system itself, which requires timely reform and adjustment.

And the grain shortage in May is an opportunity and a signal for the reform of transportation.

On May 14th, the sun rose, and another new morning came.

The unprecedented reform of the Caoyun was officially put on the agenda. Under the strong recommendation of Ouyang Xiu, Yao Zhongsun, the three divisions recommended Dr. Xu Yuan to Zhongshu Province, believing that Xu Yuan was competent for the reform of the capital.

Since the three envoys have put forward their ultimate candidate, Lv Yijian can't sit back and watch the power being robbed. He recommended Zhao Ze as the deputy shipping envoy to be responsible for the shipbuilding of Xiangfu Shipyard. The job of this foreman seems simple, but it is also very critical. Lv Yijian intends to get a piece of the pie in this power struggle.

Only Zhao Ze was still in the dark. When the eunuch in the palace came to Zhao's house with the imperial edict of Emperor Renzong, he was still fishing with Shangguan Mei at home.

Outside Wangchun Gate, Danyue Building.

Ouyang Xiu and Xu Yuan sat opposite each other in front of a window with excellent scenery, listening to the quiet sound of the piano and chatting about the news in Beijing.

"Come on, brother Zichun, let's drink this cup and wish my brother a victory." Ouyang Xiu happily raised the wine glass and touched Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan drank it happily, put down the wine cup, looked up at Ouyang Xiu, who was a little fat, and said, "Zichun can have today, thanks to Uncle Yong's recommendation. I really don't know how to repay Uncle Yong..."

After saying that, he opened the cloth bag around him and took out a bag of things from inside, which was wrapped in high-quality Suhu silk.

"Brother Zichun, what are you?" Ouyang Xiu quickly put down his chopsticks and reached out to stop it, but the silk package had been opened, and Ouyang Xiu's eyes lit up.

"Zichun, this..."

"A little gift is not a respect. Zichun knows that Uncle Yong likes to collect books, so he ordered a few new editions of ancient books from Qingfeng Bookstore. Please ask Uncle Yong to have a look. Is it okay?"

Ouyang Xiu excitedly took over the package of beautifully printed ancient books and smelled a faint bamboo fragrance. Then he weighed the weight of the book. When he opened it, his eyes were even brighter. He really answered that sentence. Half a mu of square pond opened, and the sky, clouds and shadows wandered together.

"Bianliang paper is expensive..." Ouyang Xiu said with emotion.

When Xu Yuan saw his look, he knew that he had bet on the right treasure. Ouyang Xiu would definitely remember this big gift in his heart.

"Hey, the ancient books printed by Qingfeng Bookstore are different." Ouyang Xiu drank by himself, opened a complete collection of Li Taibai, and read it depressingly:

"May pomegranate flowers are enchanting. The green poplar is drooping heavily in the rain. Five-color new silk wrapped horn dumplings. Gold plate delivery. Raw silk painting fan plate double phoenix. It's the time of Yulan. Acorus wine is beautiful and clear. The oligos in the leaves. It's so loose. Waiting for the dream of breaking the screen window."

Xu Yuan was fascinated by the wine cup and felt a little fluttering. Suddenly, he sang and said:

May Tianshan snow, no flowers but cold.

I smelled the broken willows in the flute, but I have never seen the spring.

Xiao Zhan follows the golden drum, and Xiao Mian holds the jade saddle.

I am willing to put the sword down my waist and go straight to behead Loulan.

Ouyang Xiu slowly put down the book in his hand, looked at Xu Yuan with a smile and asked, "Brother Zichun, do you know what is the most car in Bianliang at present?"

Xu Yuan came to his senses, thought for a moment, and replied, "Of course it's an ox cart!"

"Feye, last year was the ox cart." Ouyang Xiu looked out of the window like a torch and happened to see a scholar pushing a bicycle.

"That's..." Xu Yuan followed Ouyang Xiu's eyes and happened to see an old man pushing a tricycle coming. Then he suddenly realized, "Uncle Yong, I guessed it was a tricycle"

Ouyang Xiu suddenly laughed, filled a cup of wine for Xu Yuan, and told him, "Almost, anyway, it's all bikes"

Xu Yuan felt that there seemed to be something in Ouyang Xiu's words. After taking a bite of the food, he asked, "Uncle Yong, why did Lv Xiang persuade the officials to appoint Zhao Ze as the deputy shipping envoy? Is it monitoring me? I guess Zhao Ze doesn't know anything about the shipment of grain. Lv Xiang's move is superfluous."

Ouyang Xiu took a bite of the West Lake carp and said leisurely, "Zichun, you don't know the depth of your heart before you enter the court. Lv Xiang wants to get something for nothing. If something happens, you can carry it alone, and then pull down Lord Yao by the way."

"Well, isn't it a joke? It's too much for Lv Xiang to do this. Does the official really believe in Lv Yijian so much!"

"Shh!" Ouyang Xiu made a silent gesture and told Xu Yuan in a low voice, "You have just taken office and don't be arrogant. Don't call your name directly. Otherwise, you will be blocked by people with intentions before the beginning of luck. You are so cowardly. Zichun, remember that there are still many people in Beijing staring at this position and waiting to see. What about your good show? Once you smash it, they will fall into the well, and the officials will not protect you, because you still don't know the preferences of the officials!"