Chapter 303 There is no such good thing in the world

"Severe drought in Guanzhong?" Su Bucheng's mind moved, and he immediately understood. "Thank you, Special Envoy, for your advice!"

There was a severe drought in Guanzhong, and then a locust plague occurred. No one could do anything about the drought, but I got into trouble by killing the locusts. If I go back because of the locust plague, I am afraid I will have to kill the locusts myself!

It is already June now, and I don’t know if it is still possible to go back in time. It is really urgent and there is no time to delay.

He quickly wrote a letter home and gave it to Lu Zhao, then packed his bags and returned to Beijing with the special envoy.

"Sir, please have someone inform my family members that the construction of the road through Dayuling is a matter of great importance. I'm afraid the higher-ups will withhold it. Please submit a few more petitions! Don't give up so easily!"

Before leaving, Su Bucheng spoke from the bottom of his heart.

He submitted several memorials to Jingzhao Prefecture requesting locust extermination, but all fell on deaf ears. Building a road in Dayuling was just as unthinkable and against the will of heaven as exterminating locusts, so it was normal for his superiors to withhold his proposal.

There is no rush to build a road in Dayuling Mountain. We can only submit petitions multiple times according to the process and cannot skip the superiors, as that would be too embarrassing.

As for the fact that it didn't work out later and you tried to find another way, no one can say anything.

Once a flat road is carved out in Dayuling Mountain, the contribution will be unique and irreplaceable!

"No need! Take care, Wenda!" Lu Zhaoshi and Su Bucheng walked side by side.

I am happy for Su Bucheng. Such an accomplished person should not be buried.

Seeing my friend being favored by the emperor, I would be lying if I didn't feel jealous! When will I be able to catch the emperor's eye?

I'm afraid the emperor doesn't even know who the governor of Wuzhou is.

"Two special envoys, here are some Wuzhou specialties to take with you on the road!" Wang Yannian gave each of the two special envoys a bag.

Although he didn't say a word, the envoy ate up all the winter melon candy and dried tofu, and Wang Yannian knew that he liked them.

All the things left in the provincial capital were packed up and given away, both to let the capital know about Wuzhou and to help his friends.

"Your Excellency Wang, you are too polite!" The two envoys looked kind and knew what was in the bundle.

The things are not expensive, but they are very pleasing to the eye.

"Let's go back, my two lords!" Su Bucheng bowed and said goodbye to Lu Zhaoshi and Wang Yannian, then rode his horse towards the capital.

"Take care! Have a safe journey!" Lu Zhaoshi waved his hand and shouted.

He stared at the backs of the three horses going away for a long time without saying a word. Unconsciously, his eyes became moist.

I have been in Wuzhou for ten years. When will I have the honor of being recalled to Beijing by special envoy?

"Let's go, Old Lu!" After a long silence, Wang Yannian patted his friend on the shoulder.

Wuzhou, which was once in ruins, is now full of vitality. It is worth spending all these years in Wuzhou!

"That's great! That's great! Wen Da has made it! The Su family is no longer exiles! Let's go and have a drink!" Lu Zhaoshi shook his head, getting rid of all the sadness.

Wuzhou has great potential and room for development. How can I just abandon it? Wouldn't that be like planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade?

If we leave, we must make sure that this place is governed well and that the people can live and work in peace and contentment and lead a prosperous life.

Besides, there's still Dayu Ridge to be carved! If I leave, I'll miss the chance to go down in history! Now's not the time to leave!

After returning, Lu Zhaoshi arranged for each Cao to act separately and take the rice seedlings to various counties to supervise the farming season.

He and Wang Yannian took the rice seedlings and horses to Huanggou Village in Wu County to see the cement road.

He also discussed with Su Ying and Su Laoer about road construction in Wuxian and Tongxian after the busy farming season, and had in-depth exchanges on how to dig through Dayuling Mountain.

After passing Heifeng Township, there were many villagers on the road, heading towards Jinfeng Village in groups of three or two.

A team of ox carts loaded with wooden barrels was blocking the way ahead, and the noise was deafening.

Lu Zhaoshi got off the carriage and walked in.

The gray-white road surface is much finer than the mortar road in Huanggou Village, and the templates on both sides of the road have not yet been removed.

The ox cart stopped after going one or two miles, and the villagers walked in carrying wooden barrels.

The road ahead is still wet, so you can only pass from both sides.

There was a construction site on the side of the road. Some people were adding water and mixing materials into a huge barrel. Several strong men surrounded the barrel, pushing the wooden lever to turn it and mix the concrete.

Several groups worked simultaneously, pouring the mixed concrete into the bamboo twigs and smoothing it with tools.

The Han and Li people were working hard, their faces covered in dust, but all of them were smiling.

"Sir!" When Yang Dalang saw Lu Zhao in the crimson official robe, he hurriedly brushed off the dust on his body and stepped forward to greet him.

"Well, is this cement?" Lu Zhaoshi saw that the wooden barrels carried by the villagers were full of gray powder when the lids were opened.

"That's right!" Yang Dalang said happily.

"This thing is really good, it's more solid and durable than the mortar road in our village!" There was a hint of regret in his tone.

"How far can you pave in a day?" Lu Zhaoshi nodded with satisfaction.

"It's quite congested here, and the bamboo twigs are blocking the road, making it difficult to spread the work. We can only lay more than a mile a day.

"In future construction, we'll level the front, tamp the earth, and lay bamboo reinforcements, and then follow up with cement at the back. "However far the road can be built in a day, that's how far the cement can be laid!" Yang Dalang said proudly.

There were a lot of people on the construction site, and people from all over the surrounding area came to watch the fun.

There were Li women, old people, and Han people, all crowded on the hillside, watching with great interest. They could watch all day long without even being bothered by the dust.

It’s amazing that there can be such a magical thing. They had just walked on the dried road surface.

I started very carefully, afraid of breaking it.

Only after seeing the ox cart pulling the cement well did he feel at ease and go ahead.

This kind of road feels hard, not as soft as the soil, and it won't be muddy or slippery on rainy days.

"Sir, when will our village also build such a road?" a bold villager on the hillside asked.

"This is a road built by Jinfengzhai and Huanggou Village through mutual assistance. If you want to have such a road, you have to do it yourself!" Lu Zhaoshi said with a smile.

"Sir, we are willing to help build the road, but where can we find the materials? We don't have the money to buy them!" someone said.

The poor have only a little strength and can only work by labor, but they cannot afford to buy things with money.

"Every village in your province should have learned how to burn stones to build roads. If you can't build a cement road like this, at least you can widen the road, pave it, and compact it! Have you done all these?" Lu Zhaoshi asked.

The villagers were silent.

The mountain road is difficult to walk on, winding and rugged for dozens of miles, making it very inconvenient to go in and out.

Like Huanggou Village, the village has a small population and only a few dozen able-bodied laborers. How much labor would it take to widen and level the mountain road? How long would it take?

I have to work on the farm and also find time to build roads. How can I handle it all?

"Look! You are unwilling to even do the basic widening and leveling, yet you still want to build a cement road! What? Are you waiting for something good to happen?" Lu Zhaoshi shook his head and laughed.

"I want a smooth journey, but I'm reluctant to spend money and effort. Where in the world can such a good thing happen?

Huanggou Village and Jinfeng Village have been busy since late September last year, without a break. You help me finish the work, and I'll help you finish the work! We help each other.

Look at everyone here, who isn't tanned and dirty? Don't they all go back home to harvest, plant rice, and thresh during the busy farming season?

"Can we repair their cement road?" a villager asked.

"Let's widen and level the road first!" Lu Zhaoshi waved his hand.

Wuxian and Tongxian counties plan to build cement roads on all official roads, so village roads can only be built spontaneously by villagers.

Mountain roads are difficult to build, so it is a great achievement to widen and pave the road to the official road entrance.

If there really is such a road, I wouldn't mind helping to build some cement hardened road surface.