An auspicious day was chosen with the sun shining brightly, and the Shaofu's household official went to the palace to meet the emperor.
These days, you have to choose a date to enter the palace, sob…
Survival is hard!
Before he reached Xingqing Palace, he was stopped by someone.
"Is the Lord Housekeeper going to see the Emperor? Perfect, we can go together."
The Minister of the Central Secretariat, Lord Li, was very familiar and extended a warm invitation.
The Shaofu Household Officer hesitated for a moment and asked whether he should postpone it to another day.
I looked up at the sky, then looked down to think about the next auspicious day on the lunar calendar. It seemed to be next month.
Forget it, forget it, I’ll just put up with it for now, Lord Li.
"Master Li, please!"
"Master, please come in!"
The two men exchanged politeness and finally walked side by side to Xingqing Palace to meet the emperor.
"Do you two have anything important to do?"
It just so happened that Emperor Wende was tired from dealing with memorials, so he talked with the two court officials as a way to relax.
The Shaofu Household Manager secretly glanced at Lord Li.
Lord Li smiled and indicated that Lord Housekeeper should be given priority.
The Shaofu Household Manager had no scruples.
"Your Majesty, I have good news to report."
"What good news?"
Emperor Wende immediately became interested.
I've been so frustrated by all the bad news lately that I'm in dire need of some good news to break the bad luck.
"Your Majesty, a new silver mine has been discovered in the northwest."
"Is this true?"
"This is absolutely true. This is a sample of silver ore, and there is also a map..."
The Minister of the Imperial Household presented samples and a map.
Emperor Wende was very excited and ordered Chang En to present it quickly.
Emperor Wende held the unrefined silver ore sample in his hand, as if trying to draw strength from it.
The map is a bit simple, but it is enough to see the location of the silver mine.
"The silver mine is located deep in the mountains?"
"Exactly!"
Lord Li took the opportunity to interject, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Your Majesty! The Ministry of Revenue has opened a new silver mine. However, the mine is located in the northwest, deep in the mountains, making it difficult to mine or transport. This is indeed a bit troublesome. We also have to consider the Northwest Army. If we don't handle it properly, I'm afraid conflicts will arise."
The Shaofu Household Manager glanced at Lord Li with a strange look.
Lord Li looked calm.
Emperor Wende nodded repeatedly, "Lord Li, what you say makes sense. Lord Household Commander, what are your thoughts on this matter?"
The Minister of the Imperial Household immediately said, "This old minister believes that the road should be built."
Emperor Wende frowned slightly, "Build a road?"
The Minister of the Imperial Household continued, "I believe the official road from the capital to the northwest should be renovated, preferably paved with cement. A road also needs to be built from the northwest to the silver mines to ensure the smooth transportation of the silver ore out of the mountains and back to the capital."
Lord Li was anxious about His Majesty's situation. "Master Household Secretary, it's easy for you to say that. Building a road from the capital to the northwest, and then from the northwest to the silver mine, is a distance of thousands of miles. How can the court afford such a large amount of money to build a road now, especially a cement road? Spending a large amount of money to build a road just for a silver mine is simply putting the cart before the horse."
Your Majesty, I oppose the road construction, as it will only increase the burden on the people. The silver mines are there, they won't disappear, and they can be mined at any time. But building a road is absolutely not an option now. The Ministry of Revenue has accumulated a little money and grain, and there are more important uses for it."
The Shaofu's eyebrows twitched. Lord Li seemed a little strange today.
Although Lord Li spoke eloquently, every word he said seemed to make sense.
However, the Shaofu's household steward had a sharp eye and had seen through Lord Li.
This person seemed to be deliberately waiting for him halfway and deliberately coming with him to meet the emperor.
It is difficult to tell whether Lord Li is loyal or treacherous, and his purpose is unclear.
The Shaofu Household Manager decided to wait and see what happened.
Emperor Wende tapped the table. "Minister Li's words are not without reason. Building a road is no small undertaking. The court initially oversaw the construction of the cement road from the capital to Hedong. It was time-consuming, labor-intensive, and costly, with numerous setbacks. The project took nearly two years to complete. Setting up toll booths wasn't smooth sailing either. The tolls collected weren't as high as one might imagine."
The Minister of the Imperial Household was anxious and said, "Your Majesty, the cement road from the capital to Hedong is actually very busy. The tolls collected far exceed the amount paid by the people below. The reason why tolls are decreasing is entirely due to rampant corruption. The toll booth staff are almost always controlled by various relatives and friends, which breeds all kinds of problems."
On the other hand, the cement road from Beijing to Luozhou is regularly audited, staffed, and inspected at each toll station. All toll booths with connections are rejected, or those with connections are relocated elsewhere. Combined with various institutional safeguards, the cement road from Beijing to Luozhou has been able to develop healthily and generate substantial profits every year.
Emperor Wende frowned.
Lord Li echoed, "I've also heard some of what Lord Housekeeper has said. It's said that in the capital, Hedong, and even in government offices along the way, many families with connections have placed their unsuccessful children at toll booths. It's normal for corruption to flourish."
As for the cement road from the capital to Luozhou, because it is managed on a commercial basis, all the systems are designed to prevent corruption, and it has become better and better. Even if the people below have the guts to commit corruption, they have no chance to do anything."
Emperor Wende looked at the two ministers and said, "You two are saying that the imperial system is actually inferior to a trading company."
Lord Li said frankly, "Your Majesty has misunderstood. My point is, since the purpose of building a cement road is to make money, then it should be run with a profit-making mindset. The people below have turned the toll booth into a government office; losses are inevitable sooner or later."
Emperor Wende hummed a sound and did not comment.
He then looked at the Minister of the Imperial Household and asked, "We want to build a cement road from the capital to the northwest. Has the Minister of the Imperial Household calculated how much money and grain will be needed? How can we make a profit?"
The Minister of the Imperial Household said after careful consideration, "Your Majesty, I have carefully considered this issue. I suggest that we let the four seas provide funds to build a cement road from the capital to the northwest, granting them management rights for thirty to forty years, with the court holding a stake in the project."
This way, we can save money and grain, and build a cement road without spending a penny on the court. Secondly, with Sihai's management methods, the revenue generated by this road will probably exceed the revenue generated by the cement road from the capital to Hedong."
Lord Li added, "Let Sihai pay for the construction of a cement road leading northwest to the silver mine. This way, the court can mine silver smoothly and transport the ore to the capital."
The Minister of the Imperial Household said, "Sihai won't do anything that doesn't benefit them. For the cement road from the capital to the northwest, Sihai can get the operating rights and collect tolls. But for the section of cement road from the northwest to the mine, Sihai will get nothing."
"Then find a way to give them some benefits." Lord Li said indifferently.
Emperor Wende coughed lightly.
Lord Li and the Minister of the Imperial Household shut their mouths and waited for Emperor Wende's next words.
Emperor Wende asked, "From what I've heard, both of you agree that the Four Seas should pay for the road construction?"
"Thirty to forty years of operating rights in exchange for a cement road is worth it."
"The imperial court can also take a portion of the shares and profit together."
Lord Li and the Minister of the Imperial Household agreed that Sihai should be the one to build the road.
Emperor Wende tapped the table lightly and looked around.
The Shaofu Household Manager was also secretly looking at Lord Li.
So weird!
Lord Li seemed to be helping him on purpose!
Is it his illusion?
"Master Housekeeper, please withdraw first. I want to speak to Lord Li alone."
The Shaofu Household Manager was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and quickly bowed and retreated.
The hall fell silent.
Emperor Wende bluntly asked, "What do you think of having Sihai take charge of building a cement road from the capital to the northwest?"
Lord Li said in a resounding voice, "Your Majesty, the court needs this road. As far as I know, the official road from the capital to the northwest has long been trampled by carriages carrying food and supplies, and has long been in ruins. Once the war breaks out, this road will seriously hinder the transportation of food and supplies.
Since Sihai wants to build a road, let them do it. Pave the entire route with cement. This will save at least ten days of transporting food and fodder. Ten days is enough to decide victory or defeat on the battlefield.
It's clear that the Sihai are better at business than the imperial court. The cement road from the capital to Hedong is a clear example. The imperial court could invest in the road and share in the toll revenue. Without any investment, they could own a cement road and reap the benefits. Why not?
Emperor Wende nodded repeatedly. Building cement roads was indeed not a bad thing for the court.
He said firmly, "If we want to build a road, we can't just build an official road from the capital to the northwest. We also need to build a cement official road from the capital to Hexi. If Beirong goes south, the northwest and Hexi may become battlefields."
"Your Majesty is far-sighted, and I am far inferior to him. Should we let the Lord Housekeeper discuss this matter?"
Emperor Wende hummed a sigh of approval and said, "My dear minister, please explain my request to the Lord Jialing. There is no need to reveal the details."
"I understand. After I go down, I will find the Lord of the Household and explain everything clearly. I just don't know what benefits I should promise to Sihai so that he will agree to build two cement roads at the same time."
Emperor Wende snorted coldly, "The court promised Sihai the right to operate for forty years, what else can you ask for? If it were anyone else, they would never dare to interfere with the official road, let alone set up toll booths and rest stops on it."
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