"Could it be that this method is imitating mud? I've heard that when people build houses, they add straw to the mud. This way, the mud will be exceptionally sturdy, "a master craftsman from the Ministry of Works said doubtfully.
Everyone's eyes lit up. They immediately slapped the table and exclaimed, "Mo Jiazi is indeed different from ordinary people. Straw and mud is a common method used by the people. People use it to build houses. Who would have thought of using it to build roads?
"As for the straw paving method, although it has never been tested before, according to the methods of the people, this method is definitely very good. If Mo Jiazi's method is successful, it will definitely solve a huge problem for the Ministry of Works." Duan Lun nodded.
In truth, straw paving was the most primitive of geotextiles. Compared to the various specialized textiles of the future, its effects were naturally inferior. However, in the Tang dynasty, it was already an advanced method.
The Junior Supervisor's face immediately darkened. He hadn't expected such a reversal.
"As for the lime paving method, it is indeed a good method. As early as the Shang and Zhou dynasties, it was recorded that lime paving with mud could solidify the surface of the road and make it less muddy. However … "Another official from the Ministry of Works said with a bitter smile.
Everyone understood the meaning behind this. This method was indeed good, but it still had the biggest flaw, and that was that it was expensive.
The price of lime wasn't just a matter of one or two carts. The amount of lime needed to build roads was enormous.
"I've heard that Mo Jiazi bought all the lime in Chang 'an to build the official road to the south of the city," the Junior Supervisor said lightly.
The group of officials couldn't help but click their tongues. This was a large sum of money.
Many of the officials from the Ministry of Works thought quickly. Of the six ministries and three provinces, the Ministry of Works had the least power. Moreover, most of the workers were corvee laborers.
Although the Mo family's road building method was expensive, they didn't use their own money to build the roads. They could apply for funds from the imperial court. In this way, the Ministry of Works' financial power would definitely multiply.
The officials from the Ministry of Works thought quickly as they secretly calculated.
"Seeing is believing. The official road to the south of the city isn't far. After Mo Jiazi finishes building the road, it won't be too late for us to check, "Minister of Works Duan Lun said, suppressing his impatience.
If the Mo Family could really build a road that satisfied all the officials, then the Ministry of Works could naturally follow the trend. Otherwise, the Ministry of Works could only rejoice in vain.
Under the attention of the people of Chang 'an, the road construction of the Mo Family was carried out in an orderly manner. They plowed the road, laid the floor with straw, mixed the dust, and flattened the road. When most of the people of Chang' an returned from their corvee labor, the road construction in the Mo Family's village was also coming to an end.
"This is the path of the School of Mo?"
Manor Head He led the He Family Manor's disciples who had just returned from serving the corvee. When they saw eight horses pulling a huge iron cart, they couldn't help but feel shocked.
"How much effort will it take to destroy the Mo Family Village? Manor Head He's son couldn't help but lower his head. He touched the white soil mixed with lime and smacked his lips as he spoke.
"This time we will definitely offend the Mo Family Village!" Manor Head He's face turned pale because he took the lead to sue the Mo Family Village and asked them to build the road. Now the Mo Family Village had to pay such a high price, how could the Mo Family Village not resent him?
Young adults from other villages also came back from serving the corvee one after another. When they saw the road construction in the Mo Family Village, they couldn't help but feel shocked.
Many villages in the south of the city immediately walked around at night and hugged each other to prevent the Mo Family Village from taking revenge.
Outside the South City Gate.
Meton accompanied Minister of Works Duan Lun to walk on the extremely flat road and said proudly, "What do you think of this road, Minister Duan?"
Duan Lun was shocked to see the iron cart that could only be pulled by eight horses. It compacted the road back and forth, and the speed was much faster than pounding the soil.
"Not bad, not bad at all. The craftsmanship of the Mo Family is indeed unique in the world." Duan Lun sighed in admiration.
Before, the road was full of potholes, but it was directly filled with soil and compacted. The whole road was like a patch, which was very unsightly. The newly patched part didn't fit well with the original one, so it was easy for it to be damaged again.
However, after the Mo Family Village renovated the road, not only all the potholes were gone, but the whole road was like a whole, which was extremely beautiful.
"The flower frame is indeed good, but I don't know whether it is useful or not." Junior Supervisor Jiang Zuo said sarcastically.
When Meton saw Junior Supervisor Jiang Zuo, he sneered in his heart. Junior Supervisor Jiang Zuo belonged to the Ministry of Works. During the drought last year, Junior Supervisor Jiang Zuo wanted the secret steel-making method of the Mo Family, but was denied by Meton. Therefore, the Mo Family Village became enemies with Junior Supervisor Jiang Zuo. Meton didn't expect that Junior Supervisor Jiang Zuo was so narrow-minded that he took the opportunity to take revenge.
"Don't worry, Junior Supervisor Jiang Zuo. This road, I have made a military pledge to the county magistrate. In the future, the corvee work will be done every year. If there is any damage, the Mo Family Village will bear all the responsibility." Meton said proudly.
Duan Lun immediately smiled and said, "If you want to be rich, you have to build the road first. I believe that Mo Jiazi, who can shout such a slogan, will definitely not slack off in building the road."
"Thank you, Minister, for your trust." Meton said to Duan Lun in return for his trust.
Duan Lun looked at the official road in the south of the city and couldn't help admiring it. What made Duan Lun most satisfied was that there were mounds of earth along the original official road every one mile. Now, the Mo Family Village had flattened all the earth mounds and replaced them with milestones with words.
"Luoyang in the east, Fufeng in the west! South Mo Family Village. "
"This place is 50 miles away from the Mo Family Village."
The bright signboard was much more beautiful than the original earth mounds. Moreover, it had the function of pointing and reminding. It was much better than the original earth mounds.
Junior Supervisor Jiang Zuo snorted in his heart. He originally wanted to criticize Meton for changing the signboard of the official road of the Tang dynasty without permission. However, when he saw Duan Lun's appreciation of the signboard, he had to give up.
"But … why is the road much lower than the two sides?" Duan Lun hesitated.
No matter how he looked at it, he felt that the embankment of the official road was lower. In this way, if there was rain or snow, the road would be muddy.
"Minister, you have sharp eyes. This road is only one step away from completion." Meton nodded and said.
"Only one step away?" Duan Lun frowned and said. This road was perfect except for the slightly lower embankment. Even if the Ministry of Works checked it now, it would be fine. However, in the eyes of Mo Jiazi, it was only a half-finished product.
Suddenly, many officials of the Ministry of Works looked at him.
Modun smiled and kept them in suspense. "Everyone, we will know tomorrow."
The officials of the Ministry of Works personally tested the strength and hardness of the official road, as well as the road construction tools of the Mo Family Village. They all watched with great interest. It was not until the sun set in the west that they reluctantly returned to Chang 'an.
When the sun set, the city gate of Chang 'an was closed.
"Young master, everything is ready!" Xu Jie whispered behind Meton.
At this time, no one noticed that Meton didn't return to Chang 'an, but stayed outside the city.
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