PNB Chapter 759 1st day traffic.
Chapter 759 1st day traffic.
Ding Ding nodded:
"I think we can learn from the experience of managing Yunnan and Myanmar and relocate small villages with inconvenient transportation. Sometimes, it is not cost-effective to build a road specifically for three or five households in a mountain village."
"If you are willing to relocate, of course you can. I'm just worried that the common people may not be willing to do so."
"You can do some work and give it a try."
"Okay, I will notify the local officials and ask them to cooperate with your work."
Ye Kun agreed to all of Ding Ding's suggestions.
Just when everything was in full swing and busy with immigration and construction, news came from Chang'an that Wen Qi was seriously ill and the situation was not optimistic.
Ye Kun was surprised and immediately called Wen Axiu to discuss the matter.
Wen Axiu said with red eyes:
"Father is already over 60 years old this year. It is not surprising that he has contracted an illness and died. Your Majesty, don't worry. Arrange the affairs in Chang'an first and find someone to replace father. Chang'an is a big city and we must not let it get in chaos."
"That's not a worry..."
Ye Kun pondered for a moment and instructed Huang Ye: "Call Sang Buyi and convene an emergency meeting of the nine ministries to discuss the matter in Chang'an. Send a telegram to Zhuge Hong and Guo Ping to let them be mentally prepared."
Zhuge Hong and Guo Ping were both in the Western Regions, responsible for a vast area from the four Hexi counties to the Western Regions.
The Western Regions and Chang'an have close ties and many businesses, so Zhuge Hong and others need to be notified.
Soon, Sang Buyi and others arrived.
Ye Kun reported the situation and asked, "Lord Wen is indeed old. Who do you think can be in charge of Chang'an affairs?"
Sang asked without hesitation: "Master Wen, do you have any recommendations for a successor?"
"It is the court's business to decide who will take over, not Lord Wen's. Lord Wen wants his son Wen Gaofeng to take over. Do you think that's appropriate?"
Ye Kun's expression was somewhat gloomy.
Wen Qi had indeed said before that he hoped Ye Kun would take care of his son Wenfeng.
Wenfeng is the son of Shangguan Feiyan. He is not yet twenty years old and is deeply loved by Wenqi.
How could a little brat take on such a big responsibility and take over a big city like Chang'an?
Sang Buyi smiled bitterly: "Your Majesty is right. Chang'an City is very important. Only experienced and confident people can control it."
Everyone talked at once and recommended talents.
Ye Kun smiled and said, "Lü Yeliang is a talent I brought back from my tour of Yizhou a few years ago. In the past few years, Lü Yeliang has been training in the Nine Departments. I think he can be used. Why not let Lü Yeliang serve as the governor of Chang'an. He is young and can do the job for ten years."
Everyone was optimistic about Lu Yeliang and agreed unanimously.
Lu Yeliang was also present and clasped his fists and said:
"Thanks to the trust of the emperor and all the lords, I will definitely learn from Lord Wenqi, do my best to govern Chang'an and Guanzhong, and die for the country and the people without regrets."
Ye Kun nodded: "Then you will take the appointment of the Nine Departments and go to Chang'an immediately to replace Master Wenqi."
Lu Yeliang took the order.
After the meeting, Ye Kun said to Wen Axiu: "Axiu, your father is seriously ill, and I should go to visit him. Get ready, we will leave tomorrow."
Wen Axiu was surprised: "Your Majesty, are you going to Chang'an in person? It's a long journey, will Sang Buyi and the others agree to it?"
"We have been building roads for more than ten years. What used to be a long distance is no longer a problem now."
Ye Kun held Wen Axiu's hand and said, "We can take the train and arrive in Luoyang in one day and one night. We can rest on the train. After arriving in Luoyang, we will take a steam car to Chang'an. If the car breaks down, we can take a carriage or ride a horse.
The distance from Luoyang to Chang'an is less than a thousand miles, and it will take two days at most. In total, it will take three days to reach Chang'an."
Wen Axiu thought for a moment and said seriously, "Your Majesty, please focus on state affairs. Although my father is seriously ill, he may not die. If he survives, you can let him come to Zhuo County to live in retirement."
"A Xiu, there is something I have been hiding from you."
Ye Kun sighed: "Your father has been in charge of Chang'an and Guanzhong for more than ten years and has amassed countless wealth. The Ministry of Justice and the Mohist secret investigation team have already obtained all the evidence. Ma Zhao has suggested several times to investigate your father, but I have always suppressed it.
Now, this matter should be concluded.”
"Ah, my father is actually... corrupt?"
Wen Axiu was so frightened that her face changed and she fell to the ground. "Your Majesty, are you planning to...investigate my father?"
"If I were investigating him, I wouldn't have waited until today."
Ye Kun sighed, "I know he doesn't have much time left, so I've been waiting for this day. Come with me and settle your father's property. Confiscate all the illegal gains, and forget about the rest.
However, there are a group of villains under your father's command, and I will definitely investigate and deal with them."
Wen Qi kept six hundred retainers in Chang'an!
This was all done secretly, but Ye Kun had the Mohist Alliance's surveillance and everything was clear.
At the beginning, Vinci's quality was pretty good.
It was later when it arrived in Chang'an that it gradually deteriorated because the economy and commerce developed too quickly.
Wen Ah Xiu shed tears: "My father's behavior makes me ashamed to face the emperor."
"He is him, and you are you. Would I vent my anger on you?"
Ye Kun comforted him gently: "Don't worry, I will protect your father's reputation and your family's future life. Your brothers are all young, and I will arrange a place for them when they grow up."
Wen Axiu wiped her tears and bowed to express her gratitude.
The next morning, Ye Kun took Wen Axiu and took a train south to Luoyang.
Lu Yeliang accompanied him.
A day later, he took a bus from Luoyang and headed straight to Chang'an.
The road from Luoyang to Chang'an is now open to cars and is a gravel road.
There are some complex sections of the road, interspersed with cement roads.
Steam cars are on the road, making a lot of noise.
The speed is not fast, about 40 miles per hour.
Lu Yeliang smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I think a steam car is not as good as a horse-drawn carriage... A horse-drawn carriage can also run at this speed."
"However, the speed of a horse-drawn carriage has a limit, while the speed of a car can be further improved."
Ye Kun rolled his eyes: "This is the first generation of cars we put into use, and there are still many shortcomings. Ten years later, with the upgrading of technology, cars will be faster and more comfortable. You must firmly believe in the power of technology, otherwise, you will not be a good official."
Lu Yeliang nodded: "I will remember it."
When passing Tongguan, some sections of the road are difficult to travel on.
For safety reasons, Ye Kun got off the car and took a horse carriage instead.
It took a total of three days, and we arrived in Chang'an City.
Lu Yeliang was somewhat impressed and clasped his fists and said:
"The railways and highways built under the emperor's supervision have indeed achieved a speed of a thousand miles a day. I heard that in the past, even with express horses, it took four or five days to get an expedited document from Zhuo County to Chang'an. But we arrived in three days without any rush."
Ye Kun nodded and looked around at everyone:
"In my lifetime, I want to realize one-day transportation from Zhuojun to Chang'an. In other words, within one day and one night, you can go from Zhuojun to Chang'an, and from Chang'an to Zhuojun!"
The chief guard smiled and said, "Once the western railway is completed, it will almost be possible."
Ye Kun nodded: "Once the western railway is completed, it will take two days to travel from Zhuojun to Chang'an. However, the railway and trains will be upgraded and the speed will be increased. In ten years at most, the speed increase will be completed and fast transportation between Chang'an and Zhuojun can be realized."