Wei Zheng suddenly thought of something. He turned around and looked at Meton with sharp eyes. "Nephew Mo, I'm afraid you've already thought of this when you were building the brick road!"
The officials suddenly understood. Mo Jiazi first attracted Li Shimin and the officials with the brick road, and then came up with a way that was beneficial to the imperial court. No one would believe that Mo Jiazi didn't have a premeditated plan.
Meton nodded generously and said, "When the Minister came up with the brick road, he wanted to report it to His Majesty. But there was no evidence, and it cost too much to build the brick road. I was afraid that it would be difficult to implement. I had to take the opportunity of serving the corvee to build 50 miles of brick road first, and prove the benefits of brick road with facts."
Li Shimin couldn't help but nod. If Meton had written to the imperial court to spend hundreds of thousands of strings of cash to build the road before, he would have been a joke in front of the officials and become the biggest laughing stock in Chang 'an. It would have been impossible to implement it.
However, at this moment, the benefits of brick road were clearly in front of everyone, and its feasibility was fully proved. The officials no longer resisted the construction of brick road.
Wei Zheng smiled bitterly and said, "It's my duty to persuade His Majesty. I've heard of people who have written to persuade, directly persuade, and even persuade with military force and death. Today, I've opened my eyes. I've actually seen the unprecedented advice. "
"Advice!"
Hearing this word, the officials couldn't help shaking their heads and laughing.
Meton wanted to persuade the imperial court to build a brick road, but he spent more than 20,000 strings of cash to build a section himself. If it wasn't advice, what was it?
Meton said embarrassedly, "I originally planned to write these words to the imperial court after a period of time, when the effect of brick road was shown. I didn't expect that I would say it all today."
Fang Xuanling praised, "Nephew Mo, it's naturally better to implement such a thing that benefits the country and the people as soon as possible."
As the Prime Minister of the Tang dynasty, he could naturally see that the benefits of brick road for the Tang dynasty were too great.
"With just an idea, you spent 20,000 strings of cash. Are you so sure that you can convince me and the officials?" Li Shimin asked.
Meton was silent for a moment and then said, "Actually, it wasn't me who convinced the Emperor, but the building of brick roads was already the general trend."
"The general trend?" Li Shimin frowned slightly, puzzled.
"Although the rammed earth official road is cheap to build, it is not resistant to wear and tear. It is difficult to bear the huge load of four-wheeled carriages. If we don't build a brick road, the wear and tear of the brick road next year will be more serious, and the corvee labor next year will definitely be heavier.
The second is rainy weather. The rammed earth official road is most afraid of rainy weather. Once it rains, the traveling merchants will be cut off, and the goods will be stranded. If the goods are long-lasting, it will be fine. If the goods are fresh-keeping like fruits, they will definitely lose everything. Even the documents of the imperial court may be cut off for more than a month. It can be said that from the imperial court to the common people, they all need a brick road regardless of wind or rain. "
Third, the appearance of horseshoes would prevent the horse's hooves from being worn down by the brick road. It could be said that the time to build a brick road was ripe. Even if I didn't exist today, in the coming years, all of you will definitely take the initiative to build a brick road. "
"The time to build a brick road is ripe.
After Meton finished speaking, all the officials immediately nodded. Whether it was a strategic need or a practical benefit, it was indeed necessary to build a brick road.
Of course, after the brick road was built, the Mo's Village would benefit the most. At that time, the goods of the Mo's Village would definitely be sold in the Tang dynasty. The four-wheeled carriages, which were the backbone of the Mo's Village, would definitely have a qualitative leap. However, compared with the income of the Mo's Village and the income of the entire Tang dynasty, the brick road was simply a drop in the bucket. Moreover, the Mo's Village was not without any contribution. The Mo's Village offered the secret skill of red bricks and various road building crafts, which were enough to satisfy the imperial court.
"What do you think, my dear officials?" Li Shimin turned to look at the officials and asked.
At this point, it was no longer about whether to build a brick road or not, but about how to build it and how long to build it.
Although the investment was huge and the effect was extremely amazing, together with the road maintenance fee, it could last for at least a hundred years. With such a temptation, Li Shimin and the officials had already been convinced.
"As you command, Your Majesty," the officials said in unison.
The benefits of building a brick road were obvious. At this point, the officials naturally no longer objected. Even Wei Zheng remained silent.
Li Shimin nodded and said loudly, "In that case, let's use Chang 'an as the central point. Luoyang in the east and Longyou in the west. Both the east and west lines will be paved with brick roads at the same time."
Meton was shocked. He did not expect Li Shimin to be so bold as to directly lay two lines at the same time.
Chang 'an to Luoyang was a prosperous area. As long as it was built, the effect would be immediate. Chang' an to Longyou was to ensure the victory of the war against the Tuyuhun.
"Your Majesty is wise." The generals were excited. If there was such a brick road as the logistics line, the Tang dynasty would have no future trouble after the war of the Tuyuhun.
Li Shimin continued to order, "Ministry of Civil Affairs prepare to issue road-building bonds. Ministry of Works map out the road and prepare to recruit workers to build a brick road."
Li Shimin was excited. If the brick road was completed, it would definitely not be inferior to the Jinghang Grand Canal project. Although Yang Guang was cursed by later generations as a tyrant, no one could deny the achievements of the Jinghang Grand Canal. At this moment, Li Shimin was able to build a project that was comparable to the Grand Canal, and it did not cost much. Wouldn't it be better than Mo Jiazi?
"Recruit workers?" Wei Zheng hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please reconsider. The people have just finished serving the corvee. If you recruit them again, it will definitely arouse public resentment!"
Li Shimin's excited expression suddenly froze, and he could not help but hesitate.
The Minister of Works, Duan Lun, immediately agreed with Li Shimin and said, "Your Majesty, the corvee labor is recruited from the nearby villages to build the brick road. As Marquis Merton said, they will not be far away from their hometown. How can there be public resentment? Besides, these people will not work for free. Those who serve the corvee labor and build the road will be exempted from corvee labor next year."
Hearing Duan Lun's words, everyone immediately nodded. In this way, it was also a solution.
Li Shimin was about to nod and agree, but he heard Merton say, "The time of corvee labor each year is set by the Empire. How can it be changed easily? It is taboo to recruit corvee labor next year."
In later generations, a certain bald man was best at this trick. He collected taxes in advance, and some even collected taxes for 20 years in advance, causing public resentment. Merton did not want to set a bad precedent in the Tang dynasty.
"Corvee labor next year." Li Shimin and the officials suddenly looked bad. Although it was the first time they heard this word, they immediately understood the meaning.
Li Shimin nodded slowly and said, "Recruiting corvee labor next year is absolutely not allowed."
Corvee labor could not be recruited easily. The example of Emperor Yang of Sui was not far away. Of course, Li Shimin was very vigilant.
Duan Lun was immediately unhappy. His idea could be said to be very suitable for Li Shimin. If nothing unexpected happened, it would definitely be adopted by Li Shimin. However, it was ruined by Meton and made him lose face in front of Li Shimin.
"Then what does Marquis Merton think should be done?" Duan Lun said in an unfriendly tone.
Meton did not care at all and said, "The people are dissatisfied with corvee labor because corvee labor is free. If the Imperial Court hires people from the official roads and pays them daily, the Imperial Court builds roads, and the people benefit. Isn't it the best of both worlds?"
Duan Lun smiled coldly and said, "Do you know how much money the Imperial Court will have to spend?"
Meton said proudly, "A problem that can be solved with money is not a problem."
Li Shimin and the officials could not help but look over. Meton's words were really overbearing and reasonable.
"Of course, this money will be collected from the toll in the future." Meton quickly explained.
Dai Zhou could not help but lower his head and smile bitterly. This way, the bonds issued would definitely increase.
Li Shimin took a deep breath and said, "The matter of building brick roads, the three provinces and six ministries will come up with a plan. In three days, the Imperial Court will discuss it."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" the officials replied.
However, everyone knew that if nothing unexpected happened, it would definitely be according to Mo Jiazi's plan.
"Farewell, Emperor!"
After Li Shimin and the officials left, Meton invited the people sent by Xu Jie over.
"Has the He Village and the other villages settled the price of the bricks?" Meton asked.
Xu Jie's face suddenly showed a trace of excitement and said, "Don't worry, boss. All the villages agreed to use the red brick secret technique to offset part of the price of the bricks. In addition, the Mo Family Village has also purchased the tools specially made for the red bricks. This time, the Mo Family Village almost did not have to pay for the brick roads."
With his strong sales ability, Xu Jie could sell the red brick secret technique for 20,000 strings of cash. Naturally, he was very proud.
"I have already offered the red brick secret technique to the Imperial Court and will promote it to the world for free. Later, you can transfer the price of the bricks to all the villages." Meton told him about the red brick secret technique and the Imperial Court's decision to build the brick roads.
Although Xu Jie understood, he was still unwilling to accept it and said, "Dong Weng is dedicated to the country, but the Mo Family Village has to pay 20,000 strings of cash. Isn't this price too heavy?"
20,000 strings of cash was not a small amount of money. There were many people in Chang 'an who had 20,000 strings of cash, but there were only a few who could pay 10,000 strings of cash.
Even if the brick roads were built and the four-wheeled carriage sales of the Mo Family Village increased, it was still not easy to earn 20,000 strings of cash.
Hearing this, Meton immediately laughed and said, "Mr. Xu, compared with the brick roads built by the Imperial Court, the 20,000 strings of cash spent by the Mo Family Village is nothing. Even if the Imperial Court spends 2 million strings of cash to connect the ten brick roads of the Tang dynasty, what about later? What about the counties of the Tang dynasty? Don't they need brick roads? What about the counties? What about the villages and townships? By then, the Tang dynasty will need to spend more than hundreds of millions of strings of cash! "
"Hundreds of millions of strings of cash!" Xu Jie suddenly became tongue-tied.
Meton looked at Xu Jie with a mysterious smile and said, "Even if the Imperial Court builds all the roads into brick roads, who knows if there will be a road ten times better than a brick road?"
Xu Jie was suddenly shocked. He was afraid that by then, the Tang dynasty would start a new round of road construction.
"How can we support such a large project just by relying on the land? The more the imperial court needs money, the more they will pay attention to merchants who can generate profits and pay taxes. The status of the merchants will be rewritten from now on. The more the imperial court needs money, the higher the status of the merchants will be. The rise of the merchants will start from the brick road under our feet."
Meton's tone was flat, but his words revealed an ambition that shocked the world.
Xu Jie was suddenly in a trance. He could not help but recall that when he was drunk, he had asked Meton how to improve the status of the businessmen. At this moment, Meton proved to him that it was not impossible to change the status of the businessmen, and it was within reach.
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