Chapter 376

Bian River

Starting from River Yin County, the banks of the river extending southward for nearly a hundred li are busier than when the Crown Prince inspected it a month ago.

Tens of thousands of laborers, like diligent ants, under the direction of officials and foremen, are dredging this artery of the empire.

But unlike the past, when reliance was purely on manual digging and shoulder‑back carrying, this dredging effort presents a scene never seen before.

Ministry of Works

Massive wooden wheels were installed on both sides of the hull, their rims fitted with peculiarly curved blades.

Works Ministry clerk

At this moment, under the command of several Ministry of Works clerks, the craftsmen on the ship are chanting a work song and jointly turning the huge handle.

Through an ingenious gear transmission, the wooden wheels on the hull begin to turn slowly, at first gradually, then ever faster.

Minister

The blades of the wooden wheels stir the river water, forming visible, rapidly swirling vortices ahead of the bow.

The silt deposited on the riverbed is churned and lifted by this powerful vortex, then swept downstream by the rushing water.

Revenue Ministry clerk

False Song

On a "Jiaolong Ship", the young Ministry of Works clerk in charge of recording shouted excitedly and quickly noted the figures in his ledger.

"In this river stretch, the silt is five chi deep; by manual labor, a hundred workers can clear at most ten zhang in a day."

"Using this boat, only twenty operators are needed, and in half a day they can clear fifteen zhang—and more thoroughly!"

In the reed pavilion on the high bank, Zhang Cheng and Crown Prince Chen Hong stood side by side, watching the operation of the "Jiaolong Ship" through the opened curtain.

Chen Hong's small face was full of wonder.

"Master Zhang, this boat…… really doesn't need manual labor to dredge the river?"

He looked at the river water made turbid by the whirlpool, and the clearly deepening channel, feeling incredulous.

Zhang Cheng stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes also showing relief.

"Your Highness, this is the marvel of investigating things, the painstaking effort of Minister of Works Zhao."

"The power of the 'whirlpool' comes from the water flow itself; we merely borrow force to strike force, skillfully guiding it."

"In the past, His Majesty at Xiongzhou stirred the grand momentum, shattered the enemy and razed the city; that is great use;"

"Today the Ministry of Works built this device, borrowing the trickle of water flow to dredge the channel; that is small use."

"But regardless of big or small, its core lies in 'borrowing momentum' and 'enhancing effect'."

"Governing the state is the same; those who skillfully borrow force save time and effort, achieving twice the result with half the work."

Chen Hong nodded, as if in thought.

"I understand. Just as Father Emperor taught, a ruler need not personally do everything; one must know how to employ people and how to make use of tools and rules."

"Your Highness has excellent comprehension."

Zhang Cheng praised.

"Promoting this boat is also the key to this new grain transport strategy."

"It can not only greatly increase dredging efficiency and shorten the work period, but also reduce the number of conscripted laborers, allowing them to return home to farm without missing the agricultural season."

"This is storing wealth among the people, a measure to consolidate the foundation of the state."

He led the Crown Prince to the other side of the reed shed, where a huge grain transport route map hung.

On the map, several newly proposed branch channel dredging plans were marked in vermilion, along with several sites planned for new transfer depots.

"Dredging and reinforcing embankments merely treat the symptoms."

Zhang Cheng pointed at the paper, his tone calm and steady.

"This new strategy focuses more on ordering the grain transport network and boosting transfer efficiency."

"In the past, northern grain transport relied mainly on the Bian River trunk line; once a point became blocked, the whole line was endangered."

"I, together with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, have agreed to select key nodes between the major waterways such as the Bian, Yellow, Hui-min, and Guangji Rivers, dredge the original abandoned tributaries or dig short new channels, so that they support each other and complement one another."

"At the same time, we will establish large transfer depots at these nodes, storing grain in bumper years and allocating it in lean years to stabilize grain prices and also respond to occasional needs."

His finger pointed to a spot near the confluence of the Bian and Yellow Rivers.

"For example, He Yin County, its location is crucial."

"Besides dredging the main river channel, we also need to clear the ancient waterway on its west side that connects to Zhengzhou, so that when the Bian River is blocked, part of the grain ships can be diverted, detouring through Zheng and Hua prefectures; although the route is somewhat longer, it can keep grain transport uninterrupted."

"Here, we will also construct a large granary capable of storing five hundred thousand shi of grain."

Chen Hong gazed at the intricate yet clearly organized river network, his little head straining to comprehend this grand plan.

"Master Zhang, this…… this will cost a lot of money, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng's eyes flashed with a hint of admiration.

"Your Highness being able to consider this is truly a blessing for all the people."

"Indeed, it requires huge investment."

"But this is a work that benefits the present and brings advantage for a thousand years."

"If grain transport runs smoothly, then the capital's grain prices will be stable and the people's hearts at peace;"

"once the transfer depots are built, there will be provisions in famine years, capable of saving countless lives;"

"when the water network is perfected, merchant and travel passage becomes more convenient, allowing increased tax revenue."

"In the long run, its benefits far outweigh the drawbacks."

"Moreover, His Majesty has already approved; we can allocate special funds from last year's surplus in trade with the False Song, to be used for this, without touching regular taxes or increasing the people's burden."

As they were speaking, a clerk from the Ministry of Revenue hurried into the reed shed, clutching several volumes of accounts.

"Reporting to Minister Zhang, Your Highness the Crown Prince, the detailed expenditures of funds and grain for each project segment, as well as the payment of laborers' wages, have been preliminarily calculated; please review."

Zhang Cheng took it, did not look at it himself first, but directly handed it to Chen Hong.

"Your Highness, the study of practical affairs begins here."

"Look at this ledger; can you see how much it costs daily to sustain these tens of thousands of laborers and over a thousand artisans?"

"Do you know that if the Dragon‑stirring Boat's efficiency improves by ten percent, how much silver could the Imperial Court save, and how much labor could be saved for the populace?"

Chen Hong drew a deep breath, solemnly received the heavy ledger, and, under the guidance of the Revenue Ministry clerk, began to flip through it page by page.

The densely packed numbers above record grain, salt and vegetables, tool wear and tear, wage payments…

Each item is linked to the vivid scene he had just seen on the riverbank.

He saw that because the Dragon‑stirring Boat was used, the number of laborers decreased, and correspondingly the grain and wage expenditures also dropped;

He also saw that because the diversion canals needed dredging, extra artisans and materials had to be conscripted, creating new expenses.

This is no longer an empty principle from the classics and histories, but a concrete weighing and calculation.

Zhang Cheng stood beside him, silently watching, occasionally offering a few pointers to guide the Crown Prince in understanding the connections.

"Your Highness, look at these wage expenditures; can you see why I insist on paying them in full and on time, even if it means the court has to subsidize, rather than easily deducting?"

Chen Hong thought for a moment, recalling the scene a few days earlier when laborers surrounded the foreman.

"Because… the gain or loss of the people's hearts relates to the success or failure of the project, and even more to the court's reputation?"

"Exactly."

Zhang Cheng nodded.

"Losses of grain and supplies can still be made up; if the people's hearts are lost, they are beyond recall."

"Treat the laborers well, freeing them of worries, and the project will proceed smoothly, efficiency will rise on its own."

"This may seem to spend more money, but in fact it saves money, and moreover wins the people's hearts and buys peace."

The spring breeze swept over the river surface, bringing moist vapor and the fragrance of earth.

Inside the reed shelter, the empire's heir apparent is, amidst these dull figures and the grand construction site, receiving a most vivid lesson in governance.

He saw the power of technology, and also understood the complexity of management;

He felt the hardship of the people's labor, and initially grasped the subtlety of balancing considerations.

The new grain‑transport strategy dredges not only the waterways.

Moreover, it is clearing the future vitality of this nascent dynasty, and for the young heir apparent, clearing the pathways of governance thought.

Far away in the Bian Liang palace city, Chen Wen soon received the memorial submitted by Zhang Cheng regarding the progress of the new grain‑transport strategy and the Crown Prince's studies.

After reading it carefully, especially upon seeing the Crown Prince begin to engage with concrete accounts and show some thought, a hint of relief appeared on his weary face.

He picked up his brush to comment:

"Let all matters proceed as discussed. The Crown Prince's training, Minister Zhang has expended much effort. The Works Ministry's new device, having already shown effect, ought to be rewarded."

The foundation of the empire lies in the flow and silt of the Bian River, in these seemingly tedious daily affairs, drop by drop, growing ever more solid.