Zhu Ying's order to arrest and interrogate Shanxi merchants on a large scale would naturally be met with counterattacks from the Shanxi merchants.

However, in the capital, the forces organized by the Shanxi merchants had no chance of taking any action and were directly suppressed.

The next best option is to set up operations outside the capital.

It is nonsense to say that a business organization should have a certain number of people. All actions can only be carried out in secret.

For them, the only way to effectively strike the current crown prince, apart from supporting the rebel forces, is to use their reputation and righteousness to attract them.

This is also their only advantage.

Therefore, he secretly continued to spread rumors that the crown prince was a tyrant, without regard for the lives of the people, and wantonly allowed his subordinates to arrest, confiscate properties, and punish others.

If this continues, the people will suffer, the country's strength will be exhausted, and everyone will be in danger.

No one knows whether this collective punishment will come upon them tomorrow.

Local forces, in particular, are vaguely competing with the government.

After all, the Shanxi merchants had a very wide range of business. The merchants from this province were spread all over China and abroad. They were extremely united and had good relations with many forces.

Some of those who were implicated naturally returned to their clans to seek refuge.

According to the current Ming Dynasty, laws do not apply to rural areas.

The saying "every country has its own laws and every family has its own rules" is the most true portrayal.

In other words, in the countryside, the family rules set by the clan elders and patriarchs are above the law.

It sounds unbelievable, but that's how the world is.

The government searched for the suspect according to the law, but was strongly blocked by the villagers led by the clan elders.

Some powerful villages have no fear of the government at all. On normal days, they keep their distance from the government. But now that they come to arrest people without evidence, they won't give them any face at all.

Besides, powerful villages usually have clan members serving as officials in the capital or other places.

Even if you force your way in today, don't blame me for being rude if you find fault with me later.

For this reason, Shanxi merchants began to spread rumors about the crown prince's tyranny and bloodlust among the middle and lower levels in an effort to ruin his reputation.

Including doubts about the authenticity of the crown prince's identity.

Just as the message was spreading wider and wider and the effect was getting better and better, this wave of land expropriation broke out.

This will have a devastating blow to the actions of Shanxi merchants.

Within half a day, the reputation of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince for his benevolence and righteousness will spread throughout the capital, and then quickly expand outward.

In the Ming Dynasty Palace.

"Grandson, this is a good move. A few days ago, we were planning to have the Royal Guards take action and execute anyone who spreads rumors or slanders. Now it seems that this is no longer necessary."

Zhu Yuanzhang said with a laugh.

As for the current situation in the Ming Dynasty, after experiencing the three major cases and the recent rumor case, the impact has been very wide.

Zhu Yuanzhang was unwilling to start a war unless it was necessary.

It's just because it involves the eldest grandson, so this action was taken.

"Grandpa, the compensation has been paid in full. Within three days, the houses on both sides of Zhengyang Avenue will be demolished, and then Zhengyang Avenue will be paved."

"All of this is in the plan. Grandson has good news to tell Grandpa."

Zhu Ying said in a mysterious tone.

"What's the good news?" Zhu Yuanzhang asked.

He knew that his eldest grandson was extremely capable, so if it was good news, it must be very good news.

Zhu Ying did not hesitate and continued, "My grandson bought a lot of craftsmen from Obaro some time ago. Do you still remember them?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and said, "Of course there are. Why, could it be that they have something unique?"

Zhu Ying praised: "Grandpa is really amazing, it is true."

"In the Obarro countries, their buildings are mostly made of stone, unlike the wood in our Ming Dynasty. Therefore, we have spent many years studying and researching stone."

"During the paving of Zhengyang Avenue, my grandson has been thinking about whether there are any materials that can replace bluestone bricks. Zhengyang Avenue is the face of our Ming Dynasty, so we naturally cannot be careless."

"The craftsmen of Obarro and my Daming craftsmen have jointly developed a new material. Because it is mainly made of stone and water, it is like mud before use. My grandson calls it cement."

"This cement is laid on top of the compacted ground. It is extremely solid. Even if a thousand-pound carriage rolled over it for a month, it would not move at all. If it was hit hard with a hammer, it would only leave a small gap, which could then be filled up with cement."

"In this case, my grandson will decide to use this cement to repair Zhengyang Avenue."

Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but ask: "Is it really that useful?"

Zhu Ying affirmed, "My grandson has already checked it out, and it is indeed very useful."

After receiving a positive answer, Zhu Yuanzhang did not show any expression of surprise, but instead fell into deep thought.

Naturally, he had no doubt about what his eldest grandson said, but at this moment he was thinking about another possibility.

After a while, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "How much does this cement cost? Can you give an estimate?"

Zhu Ying replied, "It's not easy to estimate. The main source of cement is a special kind of limestone. This kind of stone will have a violent reaction when it comes into contact with water."

"Then it is refined coal and calcined at high temperature, and then mixed with sand and gravel to produce the product."

What Zhu Ying talked about in terms of refining coal is actually coke.

In order to calcine limestone at high temperature, it is not enough to rely solely on coal, and bituminous coal must be used for high-temperature coking.

This also includes the cooperation of blast furnace.

The so-called traditional blast furnace had actually been used as early as the Song Dynasty. The shape of the iron-smelting vertical furnace was very similar to the blast furnace of later generations, and the appearance was not much different.

Combined with coke to raise the temperature, it is not much different from a blast furnace.

Of course, there was no need for Zhu Ying to tell the old man about these specific things in too much detail.

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the hall, obviously in deep thought.

Zhu Ying waited quietly without disturbing him.

After a long while, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly asked again: "How long can the road paved in this way be used?"

Zhu Ying calculated in his mind and said, "There is no specific service life at present, but according to current estimates, it will last at least three years, or even about five years, and basically there will not be much damage."

"Even if there is some damage, it is not difficult to repair it."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded heavily: "Okay!!!"

Then he said, "Grandson, if we want to build a cement road from the capital to Peking, is it possible?"

Hearing this, Zhu Ying's pupils trembled.

In fact, the reason he came to discuss with the old man this time was to open up a new path.

The Ming Dynasty has a better material than the current cement, which is mortar.

After the mortar is formed, it is extremely hard. It can not only withstand tremendous pressure, but also prevent wind and water erosion and last for a long time.

However, the production cost of cement mortar is not low, the process is long and extremely troublesome.

At present, the main use of Ming Dynasty's Sanhe soil is in city defense.

Take the Nanjing city wall for example. Even if artillery bombarded it back and forth for two days, at most only a layer of skin would be lost.

In addition to city defense, coffins will also be used.

For example, the gaps in Zhu Ying’s coffin were filled and covered with the best cement mortar.

In some later movies and TV shows, when it comes to tomb robbing, some large tombs are opened by just pushing the coffin. It's all nonsense.

Seven or eight tomb robbers, without tools like a sledgehammer, could only sigh at the coffin.

Under such circumstances, it is impossible to use expensive cement even for official roads.

The current official roads of the Ming Dynasty can also be called post roads.

The standard post road is about ten feet wide and the road surface is paved with similar stone slabs.

The gaps between the stone slabs are not filled with clay, which causes them to appear bumpy over time, and make banging noises when the wheels run over them.

On both sides of this post road, there are small paths about two feet wide, usually paved with pebbles and sand.

The roads on both sides are several inches lower than the central post road.

This is also a legal road for traveling people and merchants.

If ordinary people occupy the stone road and walk on it when officials are traveling, it is illegal and they will be punished to varying degrees depending on the circumstances.

Serious incidents like delaying military plans would result in direct execution or even being killed on the spot.

Of course, if no one noticed, the people would still go up, which would be much easier.

However, when walking on the official road, one cannot help but feel nervous and trembling, and one must prick up one's ears to listen to the shouts and look back at any time to be ready to avoid.

"Grandpa, it's feasible." Zhu Ying said affirmatively.

Zhu Yuanzhang asked again: "Can the production of cement keep up?"

Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely concerned about this. After all, it was a new thing. Although he knew from what his eldest grandson said that cement was basically worthless.

All you have to pay is some labor.

For the Ming Dynasty, especially Zhu Yuanzhang, labor was worthless.

The only concern now is how long it will take to build a wide concrete road directly to Peking.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. The blast furnace has already been built. Graystone's grandson has sent people to consider it. We have blast furnaces all over the Ming Dynasty. If we put them into operation at full capacity, the output will naturally keep up."

Zhu Ying replied.

If it is other minerals, there is nothing we can do.

This limestone was really abundant for the Ming Dynasty. It could be said that it was present in all the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang said with some satisfaction: "If we can build a cement road directly to Peking, then Liaodong and Nurgan will be right under our noses."

"Not only in Liaodong, but also in the border military towns, cement roads can be built. With the cooperation of all parties, those grassland barbarians will never dare to provoke the tiger whiskers of the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Yuanzhang attached great importance to official road post stations and was well aware of their profound role.

Anyone who touches the post station or the post road will be shown no mercy.

At present, the Ming Dynasty post stations, whether it is the postmen or other aspects, are all very honest and upright. After all, Zhu Yuanzhang sacrificed his son-in-law.

If anyone wants to do something or seek personal gain in this regard, he must first compare his own status with that of the prince consort.

Zhu Yuanzhang, who had fought for many years, immediately turned his attention to the official road as soon as his eldest grandson mentioned the function of cement, without Zhu Ying saying much.

"Grandpa, from Nanjing to Beijing, it's about two thousand miles. If we take the detour and bypass the mountains, it's probably hundreds of miles longer."

"If we want to complete it quickly, we need to build at least ten factories along this road to ensure a faster completion."

More than two thousand miles, according to Zhu Ying's calculations, that means a cement plant must be built every two hundred miles.

The process starts with simultaneous paving and then the roads are connected.

The only convenient thing is that there is an official road now, so there is no need to survey the road. We just need to widen the main official road.

After this year, you can set a location and start directly.

The expansion and compaction of the ground also requires a certain amount of time, and at the same time, the cement factory must be opened and production must be started quickly.

After listening to this, Zhu Yuanzhang shook his head and said, "Ten factories are not enough. The fertile land in Liaodong and Nurgan is extremely important. The sooner we open it up, the sooner we can get food. Our army can also gather and arrive faster."

"It's not just about food. It's also very important for the soldiers at the border. It can also deter the grassland tribes, including those Mongols and Jurchens in Liaodong and Nurgan, so that they can behave themselves a little more."

"After the morning court tomorrow, you stay here, Grandson, and gather all the officials from the Ministry of Works to discuss a charter and see if it's possible to build this official road this year."

"As long as it can be achieved, no matter how much money or effort it costs, it is worth it."

"If ten cement plants are not enough, then we can have twenty, or thirty. If there are not enough people, we can hire them or conscript them for labor service. No matter how great the difficulties are, we have to go."

"If we can complete it this year, we can just plant seeds in the spring of next year, and harvest in the summer. It will be completely different for us in the Ming Dynasty."

"Let's see who dares to attack the Ming Dynasty at that time. Those grassland barbarians, huh!"

Zhu Ying didn't expect that the old man was so courageous.

In fact, Zhu Ying felt that even if it took two years to complete, it would be considered very fast.

After all, this is the Ming Dynasty, not later times. Without mechanical equipment, we can only rely on manpower, and the efficiency will naturally be much slower.

As for conscription for corvée labor, it is certainly unavoidable. With such a large project volume, it is estimated that we will not be able to recruit enough people.

However, even if it is corvée labor, although the law does not require the government to pay any money, Zhu Ying will still pay the same wages as other laborers.

The simplest fact is that once the number of people is too large, it will definitely affect the income from farmland. Even if there is a tax reduction policy, it will make things worse for many families who are already struggling to make ends meet.

However, if the Chamber of Commerce were to bear all this money, it would be too huge.

There are also a series of expenses such as cement plants, building blast furnaces, hiring craftsmen, digging limestone, and transportation.

It can be said that the construction of this official road is enough to directly bring down the now prosperous Qunying Chamber of Commerce.

However, Zhu Ying has many tricks to make money, and you have to learn a few by following his examples.

"Grandpa, the faster the official road is built, the better. But I have considered that if the laborers are not working hard, ten of them are not as good as one recruited one."

"If there is a subsidy for the same salary, then people will naturally work harder."

"As for the money required, my grandson has some ideas."

Zhu Ying spoke up.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang asked, "Grandson, tell me what you have to say."

Zhu Ying said: "It is said that building a bridge helps people cross the water, and paving a road is the foundation for a great road. If kindness comes from the heart, paving a road will bring great merit, and building a bridge will bring immeasurable merit."

"Since this official road has great merit, it naturally cannot be enjoyed by the court alone. It should be shared with some local landlords and gentry."

"My grandson will build a monument every twenty miles to record those who have donated to the official road."

"And if there is a donation, and it does not affect the official travel or the march of the army, within the three generations and five blessings, the right to travel on the official road can be enjoyed."