Chapter 57
Hearing what Li Hong said, Xiao Chen realized that it was really not easy.
Tens of thousands of catties of wood can't be loaded into any cart, and all have to be transported by manpower. Does it take hundreds of people to transport just this piece of wood?
Labor costs are not counted, just the food, drink and laxation during transportation is a huge expense, and this alone probably costs tens of thousands of taels of silver.
Those city bricks weigh forty to fifty catties a piece, as well as wood, sand and other building materials, all need migrant workers to carry in from outside the city, new ones are brought in, and the burnt ones have to be transported out...
Not only is it time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it is also quite expensive.
So how good would it be if there was a train?
"Actually, we can think of other ways..." Xiao Chen suddenly remembered that he had read a book, but he forgot the name, but it seemed to record some such things in it, and he was searching for his memories.
"It's hard for a clever woman to cook without rice, and without money, can there be a way?" Li Hong was extremely depressed.
"Now that the weather has eased and the ground has thawed, it can be dug up. You can dig a temporary canal in the city and use a flat-bottomed boat to transport those materials in. This will save time, effort and money." Xiao Chen suddenly had a whim.
ah? The big guys were all stunned when they heard the words, digging a canal in the city?
Boss, what are you kidding!
"In my opinion, we dug from the west gate of Fengyang City to the Xiping Gate of the imperial city. The terrain of this section is high in the west and low in the east, so it is very easy to draw in the river water from outside the city." Xiao Chen seemed not aware of the big guy's surprise, Keep talking on your own.
"What about the excavated soil? And how will the canal water be diverted in the future?" Li Hong, as a master craftsman of the Ministry of Industry and an expert in ancient engineering, was particularly angry at Xiao Chen's nonsense.
People are going to be annoyed to death, Brother Xiao, are you still joking?
"You don't need soil for your reconstruction project? You can save it by transporting it from outside the city. Besides, you also need water for your project? The rest can be poured into the palace reservoir, the Huaqing Lake in the imperial garden, and you can dredge it by the way. Fangcheng River..."
"The scorched earth and rubble brought out from the burned ruins of the palace are all placed in the river ditch, and it only needs to be covered with a layer of loess?"
Ok? Li Hong originally had disdain on his face, but gradually his expression became solemn, replaced by deep admiration.
It turned out that Xiao Chen didn't joke with him, but taught him a series of tricks seriously!
Among other things, if there is a canal, a piece of wood weighing tens of thousands of catties can be drifted along the river. This alone saves thousands of taels of silver!
"Let me teach you one more thing. You don't have to rebuild the large stone bricks in front of the Rende Temple. How can a stone be old? Just chisel off the burnt outer skin and carve it out again, so it will be new?"
"In this way, a large amount of money can be saved. Now that the national treasury is tight, if you can save it, try to save it for the emperor!"
"This is all my personal suggestion. Whether it is feasible or not is up to you, an expert master, to decide..."
Xiao Chen knows everything to say, and he can't stop talking.
Li Hong didn't say a word, and suddenly turned around and ran away.
He ran so fast that he tripped over the threshold when he was going out, fell to the ground with a plop, and the black hat flew far away.
Without waiting for the crowd to get involved, a tall boy jumped up, picked up his hat and flew away.
The rest of the people looked at each other in blank dismay.
Said that you should say goodbye to the big guy anyway?
"Hahaha, Mr. Xiao, you have solved Mr. Li's troubles for more than a month with just a few words. I think he will make a big splash in front of the emperor and all the officials this time!" Liu Wenzheng laughed loudly.
"Brother Xiao, how did you grow your brain? It's too smart, I must be good at digging out your brain to study after you die."
Ye Baiqing got up and stood behind Xiao Chen, looking up and down his head, obviously harboring malicious intentions.
"It's not smart, it's wisdom." Zhuge Xiaosheng laughed.
"Great wisdom." Wen Shanchang added.
"I think the boss is a god descending to earth." Wei Yuntian was even more exaggerated.
Anyway, flattery doesn't require money, just shoot casually.
"It's good to say that, brother, I also think that Mr. Xiao is wise and brave, he is a genius of heaven and a pillar of the country..." Liu Wenzheng said.
"Wenzheng, if you have something to say, just say it, don't mess around with them, if you have nothing to do, please go ahead, I'm busy here!" Xiao Chen said with a smile.
"Look at what your lord said! It's not you who are busy, but us! I am also a member of Concubine Liu Gui's home visitation team, did you forget? Just now I arranged something in the ministry, so I came here to report to my lord! "Liu Wen respectfully bowed to Xiao Chen.
Oh, isn't that right, Xiao Chen just remembered that now this Hubu doctor is also his temporary subordinate.
"Then let's discuss it together, it's really a hard job for us two brothers..." Xiao Chen shook his head and sighed.
"Huh? Your Excellency thinks this is hard work?" Liu Wenzheng was shocked by this remark, and was instantly stunned.
"Then why not? Is it still a good job?" Xiao Chen was more surprised than him.
"Of course it's a good job, and it's still a big good job! If your lord is not the emperor's confidant, how can it be your turn?" Liu Wenzheng said loudly.
So where does beauty come from?
In fact, although this trip is hard, it is really a great job. Think about it, how many officials will fawn on the way home with the emperor's most beloved concubine?
They couldn't reach the imperial concubine, so they could only flatter Xiao Chen and Liu Wenzheng.
As for the way of flattering, it's not as simple as a few words of obedience, but real money!
Although he is only a fifth-rank doctor, he is an official of the capital, or an official of the Ministry of Household Affairs. Which of the officials below would not want to take this opportunity to get acquainted with him?
With his help, it will be very convenient to come to the capital to do business in the future.
Not to mention our Xiao Chen, a world-renowned talent, a celebrity in front of emperors, empresses and concubines, and the eunuch who is the supervisor of ceremonies and Bingbi!
"This, this, you're not very embarrassed, are you?" After hearing Liu Wenzheng's cryptic explanation, Xiao Chen could not help but smile shyly.
"My lord, our two brothers are greedy for money according to the order. If you don't want to be greedy, you can't do it. That's called disrespect!" Liu Wenzheng laughed.
It’s really not good to be greedy.
Because everyone knows that you, Liu Wenzheng, have got such a good job, and you will surely make a lot of money once you come down. Your mouth is full of oil, so we big guys can share a mouthful of soup, right?
As a veteran in the officialdom, Liu Wenzheng is naturally well versed in this.
If he doesn't spend a penny on the way to pretend to be an upright official, and if he has no money to honor these uncles in the capital when he comes back, believe it or not, he will be demoted the next day?
This is the unspoken rule of officialdom, no matter who it is, it must be followed.
There are those who don't abide by it, Chen Jisheng, but please look at what is going on with him now?
Wenzheng, you see, you didn't say it earlier, so that the big guy will be motivated to do things!
Liu Wenzheng said very modestly that I thought you, my lord, knew all about it.
Although he is a bit tactful, he has a strong ability to handle affairs. Otherwise, can he be a household doctor?
With his joining, all matters will be handled more smoothly.