Li Longji rolled up the map again. He didn't need to look at it anymore.
The importance of the Northern Protectorate Manor lay in the fact that as long as the Baggage of the army followed, the Turks wouldn't dare to attack the Great Wu Army.
If the Turks ran to the Great Wu Army, the Northern Protectorate Manor would send troops to cut off the Turks' path of retreat.
In the past, they focused on defense and built a city. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to supply the Baggage.
The local population was small and resources were scarce. Farming was barely enough for them to survive.
If it wasn't for the war, the imperial court wouldn't send supplies to the Northern Protectorate Manor.
The soldiers of the Northern Protectorate Manor could deal with the Turks on their own.
Similarly, the Turks didn't have enough supplies, and a single attack would deplete a lot of their national strength.
Li Longji couldn't wait to go to the Yellow River and open the river.
He had witnessed the power of capital from Li Yi. With money, one could do anything.
Wasn't it just logistics? Send it over, spend a huge sum of money, and after sending it over …
"Brother Yi, do you have a rough estimate of the cost of transporting military supplies to the Northern Protectorate Manor?" Li Longji wasn't sure how much money it would cost.
Li Yi shook his head, "I haven't sent it before. Third Brother, we don't need to send a boat full of things. We can send half a boat full of military supplies and half a boat full of other things. "
"Sell the remaining half of the boat? Unload half of it at the Northwestern Protectorate Manor, load it with local specialties, and continue upstream.
When we reach a place upstream, we can carry whatever the locals lack on the boat. Buy it from the locals and continue upstream? "
Li Longji wasn't a fool anymore. He immediately understood Li Yi's motive.
As long as there were enough boats, the Yellow River could be transported to the sea.
What the upstream lacked or had, they would know by making a trip there.
Not only would the commoners along the way not reduce their wealth by buying things, they would even increase their income by selling things that weren't valuable locally.
"That's right." Li Yi nodded his head. This was what he was thinking as well.
What the Yellow River needed was the government's investment. Preparedness meant success.
"Thinking about it this way, I feel delighted. The inspection at Hukou Waterfall has already been completed. We can travel on the tracks and on land."
Li Longji clenched his fists. He liked Zhuangzi in the Li Family Family.
Whenever they encountered a problem, Li Yi would give them a practical solution.
It gave people hope and something to look forward to. As long as they followed it, they would definitely succeed.
Empress Wang suddenly said, "It's a pity that traveling in the desert is too tiring. Even with camels, people will die in special weather."
Li Yi laughed, "Sister-in-law, as long as you're willing to spend money, it's easy to cross the desert. You don't have to cross the Maowusu Desert directly.
If you want to cross the desert by force, you have to dig a well and build a pond with cement. You have to pour the well water into the pond and cover it.
In the area where the Shatuo Clan was located, there were underground canals and wells, and there were open canals outside.
The area between the Maowusu Desert and the Kubuqi Desert is similar to the soil. It can be dug out to store water for a long period of time. "
Empress Wang thought for a moment. "Dig a well for each section of the road? Plant trees around the area and send people to guard the area. Then, the team would travel through the same route. Won't they go astray and not be able to find the place? "
Li Longji continued, "Use cement to build pillars, bury a section in the sand, and watch the pillars as they walk. Later, we'll find Elder Brother and ask the Workers' Union to fix it. "
Li Longji arranged work for Li Chengqi's Workers' Union, regardless of whether it was the New Year or not.
They would work as if it was the New Year and get five times the pay.
"Third Brother, we can hire the locals, even if it's just to help push the windmill. Give them more benefits."
Li Yi mentioned the matter of hiring local workers.
"Yes, that should be the case." Li Longji reacted.
The locals were familiar with the situation and gave them benefits. Only then would they do their best to help.
When the wells were dug, they would pave the way. The locals would use the path and naturally maintain it.
Perhaps the locals would move to a place with a lot of well water, saving the manpower needed to look after the place.
"That way, we can build a city next to the wells." Empress Wang added, "There are many wild beasts, especially wolves."
…
"Selling newspapers, selling newspapers, the Workers' Union is recruiting workers. From today onwards, you'll get three times the pay for digging wells in the desert. If you don't come back after the New Year, you'll get five times the pay."
"Selling newspapers, lalala, well digging workers in the Workers' Union will have four meals a day. There will be meat for each meal and one tael of wine at night."
The next morning, the paperboys began to shout.
They would get three times the pay before the New Year. The New Year would usually start from the Little New Year and continue until the tenth day of the first lunar month.
The imperial court's annual leave was ten days. Those who worked would get seven days more.
The young and strong people, such as those who worked at the docks when the Yellow River was still passable, were more attentive.
They had the strength and knew how to dig wells. They just had to push them around. They didn't need to worry about their skills.
After three months of work, the Yellow River's Hukou Waterfall would be completely open. Then, they would return to the docks and earn at least ten more months' pay.
In the Political Affairs Hall of Xingqing Palace, Song Jing flipped through the newspaper and shook his head when he saw the description of crossing the desert to build water points.
"It's a waste of manpower and money. There's already a way to cross the Hukou Waterway of the Yellow River. Why do we still need to go by land? If we take the land route to the east bank of the Yellow River and repair the road there, wouldn't it be easier than crossing the desert? "
Song Jing found the root of the problem. He didn't submit a memorial and went straight to look for Li Longji.
Li Longji went through the memorials. The main reason was that the local government wanted to build irrigation works, appease the people living at the border, and request to strengthen the defense at the border.
When Song Jing arrived, Li Longji finished another one. He put down his pen and said, "Official Song, you've worked hard. Take a seat."
Song Jing sat down and stood up before saying, "Your Majesty, I heard that you want to open up the desert road to the Protectorate of the Northwest?"
"Mm! I'll pay for it. "Li Longji replied. He directly talked about the matter of the money. If they didn't go through the Ministry of Revenue, it had nothing to do with them.
Song Jing gulped and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I feel that it's better to build a road by the Yellow River than to build a desert road. We've already gone to the east bank of the Yellow River. The Protectorate of the North is on the other bank of the Yellow River."
He wanted Li Longji to use his own money to build the roads according to his ideas.
"Build it. The roads on the east and west banks of the Yellow River will be rebuilt. The roads that aren't in good condition will be repaired using new technology."
Li Longji nodded his head. You're right. Build it. I have the money.
Song Jing: "…"
He thought for a while, "Your Majesty, since that's the case, why build a bridge? The Pu Jin Bridge is too troublesome to transport troops. "
"Official Song, don't you know that the Pu Jin Bridge is being repaired? It can be repaired before the Yellow River reopens next year. Who knows, it might even be completed after the new year. "
Li Longji was astonished. You, the Prime Minister, don't know about the actions of the Imperial Court?
The new bridge would be a floating bridge made of metal cables. It could be opened and a boat could be placed across. Then, the two sides of the bridge would be filled with large cement blocks to secure the cables.
When more iron was added, more iron could be used to make a huge iron bull. The concrete would be damaged easily after a long time.
"Your Majesty, with the money, why don't you build the roads above the capital?" Song Jing asked.
"The money came from the Li Family Zhuangzi. The men in the family are strong and fit, and are suitable to help in the construction of the floating bridge in winter.
Official Bi will be in charge of the roads above the capital in spring. He's already discussed it with Official Wei. "
Li Longji patiently explained to Song Jing.
Song Jing took a deep breath, "I understand."
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