Chapter 30

Tokyo, Bianliang,

Riverside port, large ships docked, laborers constantly moving supplies.

Looking at the hardworking commoners, light constantly flashed in Zhang Cheng's eyes.

Once upon a time, he was also a "hardworking" person, believing that he could support himself with his own hands.

However, after graduating from university, he miscalculated.

Because that summer, university graduates were as common as dogs, and masters were everywhere.

The country's popularization of education had reached an unprecedented peak.

After working in mud for two months at a construction site, Zhang Cheng finally understood one thing: that one must choose their own path!

He couldn't control life and death, but the thin line between life and death was in his grasp!

So he chose to cross the ocean to Florida to make it big.

But he never expected that before he could even start, he would be sent here by "Great Luck" first!

Rubbing his chin, Zhang Cheng fell into thought; after all, he truly had died before achieving his goal!

"Cousin, what are you thinking about?"

Leaning forward curiously, Situ Yaozu looked at Zhang Cheng, who had been staring at the port, and couldn't help but ask.

"Thinking about the reasons for my past failures!"

Turning back with a smile, Zhang Cheng explained.

"What did you fail at?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng curiously, Situ Yaozu asked in surprise.

"Some unimportant things!"

Answering indifferently, Zhang Cheng pointed to a location not far away and said, "How is the recruitment of laborers going?"

"It has been initially completed; after all, our wages here are more generous!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with a face full of smiles, Situ Yaozu laughed.

"Those snakeheads didn't cause any trouble, did they?"

Hearing Situ Yaozu's words, Zhang Cheng inquired.

"They didn't dare, because the Chai family's signboard is still very effective!"

Explaining to Zhang Cheng, a smile appeared on Situ Yaozu's face.

Looking at Situ Yaozu before him, Zhang Cheng nodded with a smile and said, "Not bad! Cooperating with Chai Wenyi is still somewhat useful!"

Mixing in ancient times, the most important thing isn't how smart you are, but how you choose to hug a big thigh and drag others into the water.

However, this trick doesn't work in the Great Ming Dynasty; after all, those who travel through time often know that even if Zhang Cheng bound all the civil and military officials, Zhu Yuanzhang could slaughter them all together.

Counting the ruthlessness of emperors throughout history, Old Zhu could definitely rank first.

After all, even if you committed a crime, you still had to work in shackles until your successor arrived; only then could you die!

But the Song Dynasty is different; as long as he drags people into the water, naturally there will be someone "covering" him from behind!

Looking at his cousin beside him, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but sigh.

Because back then, Huang Chao proved one thing to the world: that breaking into Chang'an is far simpler than passing the exams into Chang'an!

It doesn't matter if the status of military generals is low; as long as he can win over the military generals, this Song Dynasty, even if it doesn't change dynasties, will sooner or later have someone drape the yellow robe over him!

Zhang Cheng: Back then Zhao Kuangyin could play the Chenqiao Mutiny; I, Zhang Mouren, can learn from Chen Youliang just the same!

Chen Youliang: Oh my, you have harmed me greatly!

Situ Yaozu: Cousin, the weather is cold, add a dragon robe!

"Distribute this item; the speed of transporting goods is still too slow!"

Handing over a blueprint of a pulley, Zhang Cheng turned around and said, "Have the craftsmen build it as soon as possible!"

"What is this, Cousin?"

Looking at the pulley design curiously, Situ Yaozu couldn't help but ask.

"This thing is called a pulley; it reduces effort and speeds things up!"

As he spoke, Zhang Cheng explained the design principle of the pulley.

Looking at Zhang Cheng in shock, Situ Yaozu exclaimed, "Doesn't that mean that as long as it's a person, they can lift a hundred jin?"

"A hundred jin? Add a few more pulleys, and even a thousand jin is not a problem!"

Speaking indifferently, Zhang Cheng turned his head and said, "How is the contact with the Xiang Army going?"

"Among the Xiang Army, quite a few are willing to leave, but we still need to greet them more!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng suddenly ask about the Xiang Army, Situ Yaozu explained.

Because in the Song Dynasty, the Xiang Army were the "soldiers" with the lowest status.

And the composition of the Xiang Army was relatively magical; they were called the "Standing Army"!

But what did the Standing Army do? Open roads through mountains, build bridges over water, construct roads, and serve as forced labor.

But the problem is, the Xiang Army is numerous and can only serve as labor; they can't fight. So why doesn't the Song Dynasty disband them?

Because once the Xiang Army is disbanded, they will completely become bandits.

After all, a large part of the Xiang Army consists of "fierce bandits" recruited by the imperial court, as well as young men after disasters!

And the Xiang Army, although one of the "Three Redundancies," would cause even more serious consequences if disbanded!

Looking at the Song Dynasty until its end, the Three Redundancies have always been a problem that cannot be ignored.

After all, when Zhao Kuangyin established the country, he had already set the problem of the Three Redundancies!

With generous rewards and gifts, redundant officials, redundant soldiers, and redundant expenses gradually became a major problem.

And Zhao Renzong also understood these problems and wanted to reform, but unfortunately, the conservative faction was powerful, causing the new policies that had just begun to die out in less than a year.

Fan Zhongyan even wandered on the road to being demoted, all the way to an even more distant road of demotion!

But speaking of the upcoming Qingli New Policies, Zhang Cheng also felt a bit anxious.

After all, with just a few of them, wanting to rely on passion to completely reverse the "Ancestral Laws" of the Song Dynasty for nearly a hundred years is truly underestimating the "conservative faction."

And speaking of this, Fan Zhongyan would definitely say that having a pig-teammate like Ouyang Xiu is simply their honor!

After all, Ouyang Xiu, as a literary master, had already gone red-eyed during the most dangerous time of political debate, slapping an article "On Factions" onto Zhao Zhen's face, and even handing a knife to the conservative faction.

Under these circumstances, what could Zhao Zhen do? The consequence was naturally the failure of the reform faction!

If they wanted the new policies to be maintained, besides appeasing the conservative faction and re-dividing the cake, they had to shut Ouyang Xiu's mouth.

This loudmouth must not speak; once he opens his mouth, he completely offends people!

And Fan Zhongyan, who could say "Be the first to worry about the world's troubles, and the last to enjoy the world's joys," was undoubtedly a person to be admired in every aspect.

But now it's different, because he, Zhang Mouren, is the biggest "conservative"!

Borrowing the system of the Song Dynasty, he is constantly strengthening his power until he finally reaches the top!

"How much money? Let the Xiang Army commander give a number. Money is not the problem; the problem is the problem that money can't solve!"

Looking at Situ Yaozu with a smile, Zhang Cheng laughed.

"I understand, Cousin!"

Hearing Zhang Cheng say this, Situ Yaozu hurriedly nodded.

Because recently, he has been re-planning his official career.

The path Zhang Cheng arranged for Situ Yaozu was to go to the south to serve as a commander of the Xiang Army in one region.

Which is to control about 4,500 people!

But this number is on the surface; as long as he can arrange everything well, Li Yunlong could expand a regiment into a division, so why couldn't Zhang Cheng use a Xiang Army as a hundred-thousand-strong army!

Li Yunlong: Hey, you kid have learned some knowledge!

Walking down from upstairs, Zhang Cheng looked at the laborers squatting by the roadside eating, a smile appearing on the corners of his mouth.

If he hadn't come, everything in the Great Song would have continued along the path of history.

But since he appeared here, the future is uncertain.

"Hitting the jackpot is truly a good thing!"

Smiling, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but laugh loudly.

And looking at Zhang Cheng's back, Situ Yaozu couldn't help but rub his head, his face full of confusion as he said, "What's wrong with Cousin?"

(End of chapter)