gnovel Chapter 13 To get rich, build roads first
Chapter 13 To get rich, build roads first
Liu Bowen paused for a moment, then said, "This old minister does not know what Your Majesty means..."
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately rolled his eyes at Liu Bowen and said directly:
"Of Yang Xian, Wang Guangyang, and Hu Weiyong, who do you think is capable of taking on this role?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Bowen realized he couldn't avoid it, so he composed himself, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "Yang Xian has the talent of a prime minister, but lacks the ability to act as one."
"Although he has the ability to handle government affairs, is quick-witted, and efficient, he is too narrow-minded, jealous of the virtuous and capable, and intolerant of others. He is simply not up to the job of prime minister who coordinates the officials and assists the monarch."
Zhu Yuanzhang: "What about Wang Guangyang?"
Liu Bowen shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a hint of disdain: "Compared to Yang Xian, Wang Guangyang is even more narrow-minded, hesitant and timid in the face of matters, lacks his own opinions, and is slightly less capable, making him even less suitable for important tasks."
"Yang Xian won't do, Wang Guangyang won't do either, so you mean Hu Weiyong?" Zhu Yuanzhang continued to ask.
When Hu Weiyong was mentioned, Liu Bowen's tone became extremely stern, and his eyes were full of fear: "As for Hu Weiyong, this man is ambitious and cunning, just like a bad horse."
"It is like driving a carriage; you fear that the axle will break. If you appoint him as prime minister, it is like letting an inferior horse pull the carriage. Sooner or later, the axle will break. In the future, he will surely become arrogant because of his favor, form cliques for personal gain, and disrupt the government."
After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a moment, then his gaze fell on Liu Bowen, and his tone was somewhat probing: "According to you, Yang Xian, Wang Guangyang, and Hu Weiyong are all unfit to be prime ministers?"
"In your opinion, among those in the court, you are the most suitable for this position."
Upon hearing this, Liu Bowen immediately bowed and declined, his tone resolute and without the slightest hesitation: "Your Majesty, you absolutely cannot! This old minister is utterly unfit for the position of Prime Minister!"
"This old minister is a man who hates evil and cannot tolerate the slightest injustice. He is prone to impulsiveness and is not good at diplomacy. He is unable to handle the complicated affairs of the court and is also unable to coordinate the various forces."
"If I were to become the prime minister, I would surely fail Your Majesty's trust and imperial favor, and delay important matters of the court. I beg Your Majesty to choose another capable person."
His words clearly rejected the position of prime minister and indicated that he did not support any of the three candidates: Yang Xian, Wang Guangyang, or Hu Weiyong. His attitude was very firm.
Seeing Liu Bowen's resolute expression, Zhu Yuanzhang did not press the matter further. He nodded gently, then changed the subject, his tone softening, "Since you insist on declining, we will not force you."
He muttered to himself, "I'll find an opportunity to ask Yao'er what her opinion is!"
"Let me ask you again, what do you think of Yao'er?"
When Zhu Yao was mentioned, Liu Bowen's face showed admiration, and his tone was full of praise. Even his cough became lighter: "Young Master Zhu is a genius, intelligent and insightful, with sharp eyes, courage and resourcefulness. He is truly rare."
"He was not only proficient in business, but also understood the hardships of the people. He was able to build roads and schools to benefit the local area. Moreover, he had unique insights into the political situation of the court and the emperor's mind, even more so than many ministers in the court."
"What is even more remarkable is that he is calm and composed, not vain, and values loyalty and righteousness. Although he is a merchant, he has a strong sense of national responsibility. If he can be employed by the court, it will surely be a blessing for the Ming Dynasty."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang burst into laughter, his tone filled with satisfaction and pride: "I never expected you to praise someone so highly. This is the first time I've ever seen you give such a high evaluation to anyone."
"This child is truly destined for us. Although he is not our biological son, we like him from the bottom of our hearts and plan to adopt him as our godson."
Even though he liked Zhu Yao very much, Zhu Yuanzhang knew it wasn't the right time to acknowledge him.
"As for our true identity, we can't tell him yet, lest we scare him and disrupt our plans. We'll tell him slowly when the time is right."
As the laughter subsided, Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes sharpened, and his tone became firm: "However, there is still one thing to do."
"Yao'er's road construction techniques are a great way to build a prosperous and peaceful country. They will make travel more convenient for people all over the world and strengthen connections between different regions. Next, we need to find an opportunity to acquire these road construction techniques and promote them throughout the country!"
"That's what I think too!" Liu Bowen said, bowing.
......
The next day, just as dawn broke and the first light of day appeared, Zhu Yao personally came to the backyard and woke up Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Bowen.
"Dad, Mr. Liu, the weather is lovely today. Weren't you curious about the road?"
"I'll take you to see the road construction site so you can see how this road is actually built."
Upon hearing this, a glint of anticipation flashed in Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes, and he quickly nodded in agreement: "Good! Good! Just what I wanted!"
Although Liu Bowen was still weak and coughing, he was curious about this amazing road-driving technique, so he forced himself to get up and followed the group to the construction site.
Before long, the group arrived at the construction site. From a distance, they could see dozens of craftsmen working busily, some compacting the road surface, others carrying materials. The scene was orderly and bustling with activity.
Zhu Yao pointed to the construction site in front of him, his tone filled with pride, and slowly said, "Dad, look, this is the road construction site. Every step is meticulous, and we can't be careless in the slightest."
He walked to a section of newly compacted road, stomped his foot lightly on it, and continued, "If you want to get rich, build roads first. With these roads built, it will be convenient for merchants and travelers, smooth for goods transportation, and easy for people to travel. Only then can Chenzhou's life get better and better, and truly become rich."
The seven words, "To get rich, build roads first," exploded in Zhu Yuanzhang's ears like a thunderclap.
Yes, convenient transportation is essential for the people of the world to live in peace and prosperity. If this road construction technology can be implemented throughout the country, it will surely benefit all people and stabilize the Ming Dynasty.
Zhu Yuanzhang snapped out of his reverie, his gaze fixed intently on Zhu Yao, his tone tinged with urgency: "Yao'er, you're absolutely right! These roads are so beneficial, why don't you promote this technology and have every prefecture and county in the land build roads like these?"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yao shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with helplessness: "Dad, it's not that I don't want to promote it, it's just that road construction is too expensive."
"The lime, gravel, clay, and labor costs for road construction all add up to a huge expense. Aside from wealthy local gentry who might buy materials to repair their own homes, who would be willing to spend so much money to build a road for everyone to use?"
After listening, Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, secretly agreeing in his heart.
As the emperor, he was naturally aware of the state of the treasury and understood the cost of large-scale road construction. Zhu Yao was right; ordinary people and officials simply did not have the financial resources or the vision to undertake such a project.
After a moment's thought, Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head, looked at Zhu Yao with a firm gaze, and said solemnly, "Yao'er, since that's the case, how about I pay for your road-building skills?"