Liang Menglong accepted Wang Xijue's persuasion and agreed to become an official again.
He arrived at the capital on the fifth day of the third lunar month and was ready to be received by Xiao Ruxun. It seemed that Liang Menglong still struggled in his heart and finally decided to become an official.
He had lived at home for more than ten years. From the glory of Zhang Juzheng's reign to the dire straits of being beaten like a drowning dog, Liang Menglong's heart should have gained a different kind of understanding of the officialdom and the world.
There were not many remnants of Zhang Juzheng still alive in the world. Xiao Ruxun did not find many after asking around. Liang Menglong was the only one who was closest to the capital and was willing to become an official.
To be valued and entrusted with important tasks by Zhang Juzheng, first of all, he must be a capable official. Xiao Ruxun did not want his ability to go into a coffin and never be used again. At this moment, Liaodong really needed a very experienced inspector to stabilize it.
More importantly, when Xiao Ruxun looked through Liang Menglong's files, he found that Liang Menglong had once presided over the trial of sea transportation in Longqingnian and was a strategist who supported the opening of sea transportation to reduce the pressure of the canal transportation, which coincided with his thoughts.
In his view, even if Liang Menglong was not worthy to be the Liaodong Inspector, he could still be used to prepare for the sea transportation.
On the sixth day of the third lunar month, in order to welcome his family, Xiao Ruxun did not have time to receive Liang Menglong. He left him in the courier house for a day, sent a servant to give him meat and tea, and asked him to wait for a while. On the seventh day of the third lunar month, he summoned Liang Menglong.
Liang Menglong was already 71 years old. In this era, he was definitely an old man with a long lifespan. However, he still looked very spirited. It seemed that he had been cultivating his body and mind at home. When Xiao Ruxun received him, she was also very polite.
"This old subject pays respect to Your Majesty."
Liang Menglong was also tactful. He came up to greet the emperor and did not say anything unexpected, which made Xiao Ruxun happy.
It probably had something to do with Wang Xijue's persuasion.
"There's no need to be so courteous, Minister Liang. Please get up. Servants, please have a seat."
Xiao Ruxun asked the eunuchs to give Liang Menglong a seat. Liang Menglong thanked them and slowly sat down.
"The new dynasty has just been established, and there are many things waiting to be done. I really need an old official like Minister Liang to assist me. I'm very happy that Minister Liang is willing to come out of retirement again. Now, there is a vacancy in the imperial court for the position of Liaodong Inspector-General. I wonder if Minister Liang is willing to take this position?"
Liang Menglong slowly said, "If Your Majesty has any requests, this old subject will do his best to fulfill them."
Xiao Ruxun smiled and said, "Alright, then about the governance of Liaodong, what strategy does Minister Liang have to teach me?"
Liang Menglong said with fervor and assurance, "There are Northern Barbarians in the northeast of Liaoning, and Jurchens in the east. We are surrounded by enemies on both sides. In recent years, the Li family has been guarding Liaodong, and the situation in Liaodong is still okay. Once the Li family is gone, who does Your Majesty plan to guard Liaodong?"
"My General Liao Zhong will lead the whole White Tiger Battalion and the whole Wolf Battalion to guard Liaodong and stabilize the situation. Liaodong is the barrier of the capital and must not be lost. The combat effectiveness of the army under my command is definitely not inferior to that of the Li family's Liaodong Army. Minister Liang can rest assured on this point."
Xiao Ruxun made a military guarantee to Liang Menglong.
Liang Menglong nodded and said, "In this case, this old subject can rest assured in governing the place. Liaodong is bitter cold, and the Northern Barbarians and Jurchens have invaded the border. The people live in hardship. If there is a strong army guarding the border, the people can reclaim the wasteland and live in peace and contentment. At that time, Your Majesty, please reduce the exorbitant taxes and let the people rest. Within three years, Liaodong will be under great rule, at least enough to provide the army's provisions."
Xiao Ruxun nodded slowly and then said, "I want to repair the Dazhi Road from the capital to Shenyang. Now the construction has begun. Minister Liang, pay attention to this aspect. If necessary, enlist the people of Liaodong to help repair the Dazhi Road. If this Dazhi Road is completed, it will be much easier to transfer materials from the capital or march into Liaodong."
"Great Chi Dao …"
Liang Menglong's eyes lit up. "If we have the Dazhi Path, the road to Liaodong will be even more convenient. If that's the case, we will be able to achieve great things in Liaodong."
"It's not just a Dazhi Highway. After the Dazhi Highway is built in Shenyang, several important cities in Liaodong will be connected through the Dazhi Highway to form a transportation network to facilitate the communication and defense between cities. I will build such a Dazhi Highway all over the country, but Liaodong will be the first."
Xiao Ruxun said seriously, "My request for Liaodong is not only to keep the current situation, but also more. I want to restore the situation in the period of Hongwu and Yongle. At least, I want to recover all the territories that were once under the jurisdiction of Nuergan, and set up provinces, counties, and townships to rule and incorporate them into the territory."
Liang Menglong suddenly remembered what Wang Xijue had said in his letter about the Emperor's strategy of setting up townships in counties.
There was no doubt that the new emperor had made up his mind to establish a government similar to the pre-Qin dynasty. Everything, big and small, would be managed by the government. It would be an unprecedentedly powerful government.
What will this government bring to this country?
Liang Menglong didn't dare to think about it. At least, he didn't want to encounter what Wang Xijue had encountered.
"In the past, the situation in Liaodong was chaotic. This time, we need to straighten out the civil affairs of Liaodong, set up provinces, counties, and townships, and conduct a census of Liaodong. No one is allowed to hide his or her household registration. Anyone who hides his or her household registration will be arrested and punished. Naturally, someone will do this, but you, the inspector, must support it."
Xiao Ruxun looked at Liang Menglong.
Liang Menglong hurriedly expressed that he understood.
After the matter in Liaodong was finished, Xiao Ruxun could ask about the sea transportation.
"Previously, when I was looking up the files of the previous dynasty, I found that Minister Liang had been in charge of the sea transportation of grain, right?"
Liang Menglong was stunned and then nodded. "It was true, but he was attacked by his political enemies and had to stop."
Xiao Ruxun said again, "I know that because of the strong wind, seven ships capsized, thousands of tons of rice floated, and 15 soldiers drowned. Then, they were attacked by the imperial censor, so the sea transportation was stopped and returned to river transportation."
Liang Menglong sighed and said with some resentment, "Only seven ships capsized, and the sea transportation was stopped. But every time something happened to the river transportation, more than seven ships capsized. More than seven hundred ships!
I hate those powerful officials at that time. All of them had connections in the canal and had black money to take. They desperately attacked and stopped the sea transportation, for fear that their money bags would be taken away by the sea transportation. They were too powerful, and we really couldn't do anything about it. "
Xiao Ruxun nodded. He also hated those connections in the canal and was determined to eradicate them.
"I know all these, so I decided to reopen the sea transportation to reduce the pressure on the canal. The canal will only be used to transport military supplies, and the sea transportation will be responsible for civilian supplies. The army and central officials will be sent to manage and unblock the canal, and the local authorities will not be allowed to intervene. The sea transportation will allow private merchants to participate."
Liang Menglong looked at Xiao Ruxun with some surprise. "Your Majesty, you really decided to open the sea transportation?"
"Yes."
Xiao Ruxun said, "Now I have ordered the cabinet to study it. If Minister Liang has any strategy, you can also write it down and give it to me. I will give it to the cabinet to study."
Liang Menglong was overwhelmed with emotions.
He had longed for this for decades. He longed to solve the northern food problem and the canal's excessive consumption for the Daming. But after many years of hard work, he still failed at the hands of the canal. Now, all his dreams were about to be realized by the new emperor who overthrew the Daming.
So at this moment, his heart was very complicated.
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