Chapter 30: Building Roads, Visiting Li Yuan

A moment later...

Su Liang said nonchalantly: "I plan to build two big roads..."

Before Su Liang could finish, Li Er laughed heartily: "Haha... good son-in-law, build them if you want, I won't stop you."

"I was wondering what big deal it was. The road from Taoyuan City to Changan City is quite good. Don't say two more, you can build as many as you want!!"

Then he waved his hand: "I approve!!"

At this moment, Su Liang was speechless. Li Er had clearly been floating lately.

Can't you just wait quietly for me to finish?

After Li Er finished speaking...

Su Liang had a smile on his lips and looked at Li Er and asked: "Is Your Majesty sure?"

Empress Zhangsun felt something was wrong when she heard this. Since when did Su Liang need to discuss things with His Majesty?

In the past, he would at most send someone to notify His Majesty!

Just as she wanted to speak to stop it, it was too late...

Li Er's words had already fallen: "Sure, I mean what I say!!"

After speaking, he looked at Su Liang with a smile, wanting to hear what kind of road his good son-in-law wanted to build.

Su Liang heard this, then chuckled: "Good, good, good... since Your Majesty agrees, the two roads I plan to build are..."

At this time, Empress Zhangsun was already frowning, but she still listened patiently to Su Liang's next words.

"One road from Changan along the Yellow River to Dengzhou in Shandong, and the other road from Youzhou through Qizhou to Yangzhou."

After Su Liang finished speaking, Li Er's face had already darkened.

The distance from Changan to Dengzhou is a full three thousand li, and from Youzhou to Yangzhou is also a full two thousand li...

At this moment, Li Er was completely dumbfounded...

"This... this..."

Li Er couldn't say a complete sentence for a long time.

Empress Zhangsun's face was no better.

At this time, Changle and Little Sizi were extremely calm, and they didn't discuss it, because Su Liang had told them about a series of future plans long ago.

Until half a quarter of an hour later.

Li Er looked at Su Liang with a deep gaze and asked: "The road you want to build, is it the same as the road from Taoyuan City to Changan City?"

"Six inches thick, four zhang wide?"

"Yes, it must be the same!" Su Liang affirmed immediately.

If you want to get rich, build roads first. If you want to do it, do it well. There is no room for half-heartedness. Moreover, this move is also for the well-being of the common people.

Li Er got the answer from Su Liang and pondered silently.

Although building roads is beneficial to the people, it is so labor-intensive and money-wasting...

After a long time, Li Er said slowly: "Good son-in-law, do you know that these two roads are a full five thousand li... not fifty li!!"

"I naturally know this, but some things must be done, just like Yang Guang building the Grand Canal," Su Liang said with a smile.

The Grand Canal has been flowing for more than a thousand years, benefiting generation after generation of common people, and at the same time witnessing the long and long history of China.

Su Liang also wants to do similar things, and must do them!

Li Er fell into deep thought when he heard this...

I don't know how long it took, Li Er said in a deep voice: "Good son-in-law, do you know how much labor you need to use?"

"When Yang Guang built the Grand Canal, he used more than three million slaves, criminals, and migrant workers."

"Your move is afraid that it will not be much less!"

Su Liang chuckled: "Why, didn't Your Majesty just agree?"

"Moreover, building roads is much easier than digging canals."

"Building roads is a policy that benefits the country and the people. I will naturally agree, but the labor required..." Li Er said half of his words and looked at Su Liang immediately.

He thought to himself: Could it be... could it be that Su Liang has any good strategies?

Empress Zhangsun was also staring at Su Liang at this moment, wanting to see what else Su Liang could say.

Su Liang saw that both of them were staring at him, and then said to himself: "The road built must ensure quality, the same as the previous road."

"Six inches thick, four zhang wide, building a four-lane road."

"The eight-hundred-li official road from Changan to Luoyang is already good. You can first build a two-zhang-wide asphalt road on the official road, and then build the official road to four zhang wide after it is finished."

"This way, it will not hinder traffic, and transportation will be relatively convenient."

Li Er heard this and said immediately: "I remember clearly that the fifty-li road used two thousand people for two months to build."

"That five thousand li... wouldn't it need five million people? This..."

Empress Zhangsun heard this and rolled her eyes at Li Er: "Er Lang, just make the time longer!"

Little Sizi also giggled at this time: "Father, are you in such a hurry? Now the Great Tang only has twenty million people."

"How could Brother Su let five million people go to build roads."

Little Sizi is ten years old and only 1.2 meters tall, a real little loli.

Su Liang hugged Little Sizi dotingly, and then said lightly: "Mother is right, the construction period can be longer... but the construction period can only be given for six months at most, and it must end before the hot summer."

Empress Zhangsun heard this and said: "Even so, it still needs more than 1.6 million people. I wonder how you plan to arrange it, good son-in-law?"

Su Liang waved his hand and said: "No matter... no matter, I have my own plans for this!"

"Weren't there fifty thousand refugees last year? Thirty thousand of them are young and strong, and most of them don't want to return to their hometowns now."

"The eight-hundred-li road from Changan to Luoyang can be handed over to them, and the road can be built in more than two months."

Li Er recalled it carefully and it was indeed the case. It was really because the welfare of Su Liang's Taoyuan County was too good, and the refugees didn't want to go back, and Li Er couldn't drive people away.

Just as Li Er was thinking to himself, Su Liang's voice came.

"As for the road sections from Luoyang to Dengzhou and Qizhou to Chuzhou, let the common people of Henan Province build them. As for the rest of the roads from Youzhou to Yangzhou, let the common people of Hebei Province and Huainan Province build them."

"Good son-in-law, even if these thirty thousand people are busy and go to help elsewhere, there are still 1.3 million people missing..."

Li Er was puzzled, not knowing how Su Liang arranged it.

Su Liang frowned slightly, and then said: "Isn't this year's spring plowing not started yet? Let the common people in Hebei and Shandong not farm this year."

"Let them all go to build roads."

"This... this..." Li Er was completely dumbfounded.

After thinking slightly, he said slowly: "Although the Great Tang now has the curved plow invented by you, good son-in-law, and the cultivated area has greatly increased, it is really unreasonable not to let the common people farm..."

"Good son-in-law, you have to give me a reason, otherwise I can't explain it to the court ministers."

Su Liang said lightly: "There will be a severe drought in Hebei and Shandong this year, so why farm."

"Your Majesty should let people dig new branch canals around the Yongji Canal earlier."

Li Er asked immediately: "How do you know there will be a severe drought in Hebei and Shandong this year, good son-in-law?"

Empress Zhangsun also followed the sound and said: "Yes, good son-in-law knows astronomy and geography, we all know this."

"Could it be that you even know things a few months later, good son-in-law?"

"Cuiwei Palace, Hanfeng Hall." Su Liang spat out a few words slowly.

No way, I can only use the big move.

Li Er and Empress Zhangsun were both shocked when they heard this.

Li Er broke out in a cold sweat behind his back, and Empress Zhangsun pulled her clothes and clenched her little fists.

In the eighth year of Wude, when the Taihe Palace on Mount Zhongnan was built, Li Er, who was then the Prince of Qin, and Princess Qin Zhangsun Wugou traveled together. The two discussed building a palace on Mount Zhongnan in the future. The palace name was Cuiwei Palace, and the bedroom name was Hanfeng Hall.

Only the two of them knew about this, and there was absolutely no third person who knew, but now this...

Both of them were silent for a long time...

"Hehe..." Su Liang smiled lightly, and then said: "Is this enough?"

"Father... Mother, you should believe Brother Su." Little Sizi also helped out at this time.

Dozens of breaths later...

Li Er had calmed down and said: "I believe!!"

"It's just that I still can't explain this to the court ministers."

"If I tell the truth, the court ministers will inevitably think that this is something you and I, father-in-law and son-in-law, discussed."

Empress Zhangsun also spoke at this moment: "Yes... good son-in-law, you have to think of a proper way."

"Not only to make it easier for His Majesty to explain to the court ministers, but also to block the mouths of the people in the world."

Hehe...

Li Er is passing the buck, clearly wanting to let himself handle it.

Su Liang also knew that although the road construction project was huge, if it was properly arranged, no one would have any opinions, and the time could be longer.

But not letting the common people farm, as the Empress said, was really difficult to handle.

After deep thought, Su Liang said: "Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng are now living in seclusion on Mount Zhongnan outside Changan City. Why don't you send someone to ask them? Listen to what they mean?"

These two can even tinker with ***, and they can't figure out a mere drought. Su Liang doesn't believe it.

After Su Liang finished speaking, he stopped paying attention to the two and played with Little Sizi by himself.

No matter how Li Er asked, Su Liang just didn't pay attention.

Another quarter of an hour later, they had arrived at Da'an Palace.

Just entering the bedroom of Da'an Palace, I saw Li Yuan playing chess with Wu Shiyue.

Su Liang couldn't help but think to himself: Li Yuan's closest person is indeed Wu Shiyue, who sponsored Li Yuan's rebellion, not a group of old ministers like Xiao Yu, Pei Ji, and Dai Zhou.

The Wu family has been officials for generations and businessmen for generations. Wu Shiyue also inherited the family's business genes and brains, and made a fortune in the timber business.

When participating in the construction of the Eastern Capital Luoyang, he offended the project general manager and powerful official Yang Su, and almost suffered an innocent disaster.

After this incident, Wu Shiyue realized that money is not omnipotent.

Then he abandoned business for the military and became a good friend of Li Yuan, who was then the Duke of Tang. With the unique investment vision of a businessman, he recognized Li Yuan's political prospects and firmly invested under Li Yuan's command.

With his high business wisdom, Wu Shiyue continuously transported weapons and equipment to Li Yuan, helping him recruit soldiers and horses to cover up.

As the Great Sui fell apart, Wu Shiyue donated all his property to support Li Yuan's uprising. Li Yuan did not live up to this intention in the end, and really succeeded in rebelling.

Although Wu Shiyue did not participate in the fighting on the battlefield, his fame was no lower than the title of any founding general of the Great Tang.

During the Wude period, Wu Shiyue was already Li Yuan's Minister of Works, later promoted to the Duke of Ying, and later served as the governor of various places, equivalent to the current provincial governor!!

In May of the ninth year of Zhenguan, the Retired Emperor Li Yuan passed away.

After Wu Shiyue, who was serving as the governor of Jingzhou, learned the news, he was sick with grief.

Li Er also sent famous doctors to treat him many times, but Wu Shiyue still died due to ineffective treatment at the age of fifty-nine.

After Wu Shiyue passed away, Li Er ordered Li Ji, the governor of Bingzhou who was serving in Wu Shiyue's hometown at the time, to host the funeral for him. The coffin and funeral expenses were all paid by the national treasury. Wu Shiyue's spirit was transported back to his hometown in Bingzhou for burial, and he was posthumously awarded the Minister of Rites, with the posthumous title "Ding."

This undoubtedly also recognized Wu Shiyue's huge contribution to the Great Tang!!

It must be said that Wu Shiyue is worthy of being the number one investor in the Great Tang, and even indirectly created a generation of female emperors.

However, this cannot be blamed on Wu Zetian.

There was the first female emperor of the Wa country, Empress Suiko; and the first queen of Silla, Queen Seondeok.

Neighboring countries already had precedents, and the descendants of the Tang Emperor Li Zhi were so cowardly that Wu Zetian had to take on the heavy responsibility.

Everyone was about to salute...

Li Yuan put down the chess pieces and waved his hand to interrupt: "No need for courtesy, now I am just a leisurely old man."

"Today there is an old friend here, just like you were in Furong Garden, no need to be restrained."

Then he looked at Su Liang and chuckled: "Hehe... Su kid, didn't you also call Li Er an old man? Just call me Grandpa Li from now on!"

Li Er was also surprised when he heard this. Didn't the Retired Emperor always show grief? Didn't he ask about world affairs?

How could he have such leisure, and even manage the affairs in Furong Garden.

Su Liang can be said to be high in power, and Li Yuan, as the Retired Emperor, naturally would not be at ease. It is normal to arrange people in Furong Garden.

Su Liang was not surprised by this, and turned a blind eye.

What surprised Su Liang was the Grandpa Li in Li Yuan's mouth... Grandpa Li!!

In an instant, Su Liang smiled awkwardly: "Hehe... Retired Emperor jokes, how can there be such a lack of respect."

"Oh... could it be that you dislike me, this old man?" Li Yuan chuckled, his eyes narrowing into slits.

"I don't dislike... I don't dislike... Retired Emperor jokes." Su Liang said immediately.

"Alright, if there are no outsiders in the future, just call me Grandpa Li. I can be considered your grandfather's generation."

"I plan to move to Furong Garden, and it's not good to break your rules."

"It's not comfortable to call me Retired Emperor." Li Yuan said word by word.

No one disturbed, and no one dared to disturb.

At this moment, Li Er had another thought. His father... this is clearly complaining that the construction of Daming Palace is slow.

When Li Er rewarded Furong Garden to Su Liang, he had already started building a palace for Li Yuan. At first, it was named "Yong'an Palace," seeking the Retired Emperor Li Yuan to be long and peaceful. Later, under Su Liang's suggestion, it was renamed Daming Palace.

What Su Liang heard from Li Yuan's words was another layer of meaning. It is inevitable that the current Retired Emperor and the Great Tang's General of Heaven's Strategy live together, which will be misunderstood.

This... this is clearly beating himself!!

Just as Su Liang was thinking to himself, Li Yuan's words came again...

"Su kid, don't think too much... don't think too much, what gift did you bring today." Li Yuan chuckled.

"Take it out quickly and let me see!"

After Su Liang came back to his senses, he immediately took out several sets of gold playing cards exchanged from the system.

Then he respectfully handed them to Li Yuan and said: "This thing is called poker, it's more interesting than mahjong."

"Not only are there many ways to play, but it also allows many people to play together."

Following Su Liang's voice, there were more and more people around...

Not only Li Er, Empress Zhangsun, Changle, Little Sizi, but also Wu Shiyue and others on the side gathered around.

Su Liang promised Li Er yesterday that he had good things to honor the Retired Emperor. Before this, Li Er had not seen it, and was looking at Su Liang with expectation.

Yesterday Su Liang sent many gifts to the girls, and the girls were also immersed in the ocean of joy, and didn't have time to ask in detail.

At this moment, everyone gathered around Su Liang, wanting to see how fun it was.

Then Su Liang introduced it to everyone unhurriedly...

Many ways to play such as fighting the landlord, fried golden flowers, and Guan Dan were also explained by Su Liang in detail, and even the little cat fishing for children was introduced by Su Liang.

Less than half an hour.

Da'an Palace became completely lively... ===== CHAPTER 31 =====