Li Yuan was also curious. He walked out from his seat and stopped in front of Du Qi. He lowered his head and looked at the stone slab on the ground. He looked at the stone slab and said, "Erlang, is this a stone slab?"
Du Qi said, "Your Majesty, of course this is not a stone slab. If it is to mine mountain rocks to pave the road, then it will be too difficult to repair the road. Not to mention 1.5 million strings of cash, even if it is 3 million strings of cash, it will be repaired. "
"This stone slab is the result of the painstaking research of the craftsmen in my residence. It was mixed with sand, stones, and so on, and then poured into a concrete slab."
"Everyone knows the situation of the stones."
"This concrete slab is incomparably hard. It is difficult for ordinary swords to cut it."
Du Qi said, "This kind of stone slab paving can ensure the stability of the road from Chang 'an to Lantian County. It is not necessary to repair the road every year. Moreover, it is poured. The road on the official road is not paved with stone slabs like this. It is poured. This way, the road will be more stable and the ground will be stable. When the time comes, the carriages will be able to move quickly and will not be affected by the weather. The journey will be faster. "
Li Yuan said, "Really?"
Du Qi said, "Of course it is true."
After a pause, Du Qi continued, "How would I dare to deceive Your Majesty about this kind of thing? After all, the road construction is open and aboveboard. When the time comes, thousands of people will be able to see it. Your Majesty can also check it at any time. It cannot be hidden from others. "
Li Shentong snorted and said, "Du Qi, the surface of your stone slab is very smooth. I am afraid that when people walk on it, they might slip. When the time comes, the carriages will slip even more. "
Du Qi sighed and said, "Duke Huai An, if you don't speak, no one will treat you as a mute. When you speak, it will only show your shallowness in the end. "
"You …"
Li Shentong was very indignant.
Li Yuan saw this in his eyes. A trace of a smile flashed across the depths of his eyes.
It was true that he thought highly of Li Shentong.
During this period of time, Li Shentong was rather domineering. Such an outcome was something Li Yuan was unwilling to see. It just so happened that Du Qi and Li Shentong had a conflict. He could borrow Du Qi to knock Li Shentong down a bit.
Du Qi continued, "The surface of this kind of concrete slab made from cement can be rougher or smoother. It's all up to me. I can determine it during the production process. This stone slab was only a sample. On the surface of the real road, there must be scratches. With the scratches, the carriages won't slip. "
Li Yuan nodded.
He stroked his beard and a look of approval appeared on his face.
Li Shiming's eyes flashed. He had a general understanding of the benefits of these stone slabs. Even Li Shiming himself was extremely proficient in governing a country. Seeing the benefits of road construction, he took the opportunity to say, "Erlang, it is indeed convenient for you to pour stone slabs to build roads. However, compared to the original road construction method, what is the advantage of this method of road construction? After all, you're the one paying for it. "
Li Yuan nodded and said, "Correct. What is the advantage of this road construction method of yours?"
Du Qi knew that Li Shiming was deliberately paving the way for him to speak. Du Qi opened his mouth and said, "Your Majesty, Qin Wang, I won't talk about the money I need to earn from building roads. I'll just talk about what benefits there will be if you let me build roads."
"First, it will achieve the effect of providing relief through work."
"Under normal circumstances, corvee laborers will be recruited to build roads. Countless common people will come from their homes to build roads. Not to mention the problem of people dying or not, at the very least, because the common people's families will have their sons taken away, their families will have some difficulties. "
"My method of building roads is to pay and recruit common people to work. In this way, the common people can earn money to support their families. This method guarantees that although they will work, the money they earn will be enough to support their families. "
"It will be of great help to some families who have difficulties, have sons, and have little land and nothing to do."
"It will give them the opportunity and ability to support their families."
Du Qi looked around. His gaze finally fell on Li Yuan's body. He said, "Your Majesty, what do you think?"
Li Yuan said, "Erlang's plan can indeed achieve the effect of providing relief through work. Especially this road, from Chang 'an to Lantian County, needs a lot of manpower. When the time comes, the common people will be able to earn money. Not to mention how much they will earn, but at least they will be able to support their families in the process of building roads. "
Du Qi said, "Your Majesty is wise!"
After a pause, Du Qi continued, "The second benefit is that it will make transportation more convenient and promote the commercial development of Chang 'an, Lantian County, and the surrounding areas."
"The original mud road, although the road is open, in fact, it is still not easy to travel."
"The carriage is too bumpy, but after the road is built, the carriage can move smoothly, and it will be easier to come and go. Many merchants, and even common people, can easily come and go to Chang 'an, can sell goods, can promote the development of commerce, make the place more prosperous, and make it easier for the common people to earn money. "
Du Qi said seriously, "This is the second benefit. What does Your Majesty think?"
Li Yuan said, "It can indeed be achieved."
Du Qi continued, "The third benefit is the convenience of military operations."
"Today, there is no war around Chang 'an. But no one can guarantee that there will be some sudden incident. Once such an incident happens, regardless of wind or rain, regardless of the weather, the troops can quickly travel along the official road, can save a lot of time. Once there is a war, time is life. "
"A little more time means more opportunities."
"The convenience of the carriage running can also make the transportation of supplies more convenient."
Du Qi said, "Besides the third benefit, in fact, there are many other benefits. They are all small aspects, I will not elaborate on them one by one. Just these three benefits are already very good. Especially since the imperial court does not need to conscript corvee labor, will not increase the burden of the common people, the imperial court has no pressure, this is the most important. "
Li Yuan nodded.
At this time, he was already moved.
Because to Li Yuan, he does not need to care about anything, does not need to pay anything, and can get things done well. This is beneficial to the imperial court and has no harm.
Li Shentong stood to the side, gritted his teeth and said, "Du Qi, you say it nicely, but it may not be done well. Especially when you come to collect money, when the time comes, it may increase the burden of the imperial court. "
Du Qi laughed and said, "Duke Huai An, I already said that it is better if you don't speak. Once you speak, you expose your ignorant nature. What I do is beneficial to the imperial court and has no harm. The most important thing is that I promised this in front of His Majesty, how can I not do it well. Moreover, what I do is also your suggestion. Now, you are nitpicking, thinking that I can't do it well. How about this, I don't care, you still do it. "
Li Shentong gritted his teeth and said, "I'll do it, I'll do it. What cement slab of yours, then give it to me."
"Shut up!"
Hearing Li Shentong's words, Li Yuan looked at Li Shentong and said, "This concrete slab made of cement was researched by Du Qi, it belongs to the Du family, what do you mean give it to me. This matter, Erlang is willing to accept, it has already saved a lot of money for the imperial court. "
Li Shentong's face was filled with helplessness.
He was scolded again.
However, Du Qi said, "Your Majesty is wise, when it comes to the issue of collecting money, Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will not kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. I, Du Qi, am not a short-sighted person when doing things, collecting road tolls will definitely be within a reasonable range. "
"After collecting road tolls, after collecting money, you will also have to pay taxes to the imperial court."
"From the beginning of building roads to letting the people participate in making money, to finally collecting road tolls and paying taxes, it is all beneficial to the imperial court. Of course, I will also earn some money from it, after all, this matter, I cannot do things at a loss. "
Du Qi appeared very relaxed and said, "In any case, many of the Du family's craftsmen, as well as many workers, all need to eat, they can't do things on an empty stomach."
Li Yuan said, "Erlang, We understand you."
Du Qi smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
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