Chapter 247: The Excavation of the Grand Canal

Just from the project Liu Zheng has outlined, one can tell how massive it is.

Therefore, it is only natural for these people to be worried.

How long has Yinzhou even been developing?

At present, it has only just achieved financial freedom; it cannot be called the wealthiest in the world by any means. Of course, Liu Zheng has only been managing Yinzhou for two years.

To achieve such success in two years is already a miracle.

However...

Even so, with Yinzhou recently conscripting soldiers and waging war on a large scale, the surplus grain has been almost entirely consumed. Yintan City, as the money-making machine for the Yinzhou army, is already running at full capacity to supply the Western Regions.

Fighting wars requires money and grain, maintaining an army requires money, rewarding soldiers requires money, providing pensions for the families of martyrs requires money... Recently, the silver in Yinzhou has been flowing out like water; as soon as it comes in, whoosh, it flows right back out.

Even if Yintan City is truly a money-making machine, I fear it cannot keep up with this speed at which Liu Zheng is burning through cash.

The Western Regions Protectorate must develop.

Yinzhou must also develop.

Qingyang Shuo was terrified of expenses exceeding income and continued to advise: "Young Master, although this matter is a merit for the present and a benefit for a thousand generations, it is not very appropriate at this time. Shuo believes it is better to stabilize for a period before planning for the Grand Canal. What does the Young Master think?"

Others followed suit with similar advice.

One cannot become a fat man in one bite, right?

Liu Zheng glanced at the "List of Beauties" placed to the side and smiled bitterly: "Sir, can you truly not see it?"

He sighed: "This Emperor, by summoning us back to the capital, has quite the intention of killing the donkey once the grinding is done."

Qingyang Shuo was instantly rendered speechless; he knew Liu Zheng was not fear-mongering.

If Liu Zheng's development to this day could not arouse the old Emperor's vigilance, then Xie Tianyao would not be the most cautious person under heaven... How could he possibly watch idly as Liu Zheng grows so strong, threatening his own sons?

Kill the donkey once the grinding is done!

When the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked!

When the Lantern Festival arrives and we return to Jinghua, there is no telling what might happen.

Therefore, Liu Zheng believes.

Things have reached this point.

His major moves cannot stop!

From the Imperial Examination to the Grand Canal. He must do things that shock the world... There are two reasons: on one hand, the fact that Xie Tianyao went along with the flow regarding the Imperial Examination shows that this old Emperor still has some substance. He also knows that the current Longyan Dynasty needs powerful reforms.

He also knows that the Imperial Examination is absolutely a matter that benefits the country and the people...

But...

His contradiction lies in not wanting Liu Zheng to gain more fame because of it.

On the other hand, since the old Emperor already harbors the intention to destroy him... then Liu Zheng can only rack his brains to ensure he cannot be destroyed! This Grand Canal project is not just his own family's affair; he wants to kidnap all the Feudatory Kings of the world into it!

To bind the entire world together with himself!

In this way, if you, the Emperor, want to kill me, you must weigh the consequences.

This Grand Canal, which can strengthen the Centralization of Power, do you want it, or do you not?

Liu Zheng intends to put Xie Tianyao in check once more.

Because he knows.

Even if the Grand Canal plan is discovered by Xie Tianyao, with the current exhausted state of the Longyan Dynasty, he himself cannot get it started at all... As it stands, only he can!

Only he has this capability!

Qingyang Shuo was filled with anxiety: "Shuo understands the Young Master's concerns, but regarding the money..."

Liu Zheng laughed heartily upon hearing this: "Sir, do not forget, we still have Yinzhou Coin!"

Qingyang Shuo's expression changed drastically: "The Young Master means... to use the gold reserves of the Yinzhou Coin?"

He was indeed shocked.

That gold... is Yinzhou's reserve gold! It is used to cope with various risks, to balance Yinzhou's budget, and to maintain or influence exchange rate levels.

In Qingyang Shuo's understanding, this gold is something that the wealthy merchants of the world have temporarily "stored" in Yinzhou; how could one dare to touch it?

However, Liu Zheng's thinking is different.

He believes that if this money is left unused, it is a waste! As far as the current development of Yinzhou is concerned, as long as Yintan City exists, the Yinzhou Coin cannot collapse.

Since it cannot collapse.

Then why let this gold sit there gathering dust?

Investment!

Leverage!

This time, Liu Zheng is going to play a big game!

Since the old Emperor wants him dead, he will make the whole world jump onto his pirate ship!

By that time, not only will the Emperor have to be wary of many things if he wants to kill him... but also, taking Liangzhou, I fear no one will dare to say anything!

It took a long time for Qingyang Shuo to react, and he smiled bitterly: "The Young Master has grand strategies; Shuo is not his equal."

Yinzhou.

Zheng Yue Ru had been staying behind in Yintan City, responsible for matters of making money.

Military reports arrived from the Western Regions like snowflakes, and upon learning that Liu Zheng's campaign was going smoothly, Zheng Yue Ru's mood was quite good as well.

"General Zheng, it's crazy, it's crazy, it's crazy..."

A subordinate ran in, sweating.

Zheng Yue Ru was calculating accounts and did not even lift her head: "It rose again?"

"Yes, and we haven't even finished breakfast yet!"

"The Yinzhou Coin has skyrocketed to four gold again!"

The subordinates were all terrified.

They were trembling all over with fear.

Four gold...

If the Yinzhou Coin he had been paid as his monthly salary over the past few months had already quadrupled in value, then good heavens! Did this not mean that everyone in Yinzhou City had followed suit and gotten rich? Had they all become wealthy? In this era, he simply could not understand why those wealthy merchants from other regions were coming one after another, hauling cart after cart of gold to Yinzhou, just to exchange it for these little scraps of paper...

Could this generate value?

Why would it be like this?

They could not figure it out.

During the time Liu Zheng was conquering the Western Regions, the gold in Yintan was increasing more and more...

This had entered a virtuous cycle.

The more gold Yintan City had, the more at ease people felt. They felt this matter was reliable, so they continued to speculate! Consequently, Yinzhou became increasingly frantic; because a large number of outsiders flooded in, the once barren land became incomparably prosperous, directly promoting the local catering industry, tourism industry, and various other industries...

Zheng Yue Ru chuckled and said, "Ignore them. We must issue the currency according to the Viscount's settings, understand? You must absolutely not print extra without authorization!"

"Yes!"

The shipment volume and gold reserves of Yintan City were the backing for the Yinzhou Coin; the trade surplus, trade deficit, profits, and all that messy stuff—Liu Zheng had actually calculated it all long ago.

The issuance volume must be controlled.

One cannot be blinded by greed.

The consequence of being blinded by greed would be inflation, which would bring a huge disaster to Yinzhou.

Zheng Yue Ru finally finished her work, let out a long sigh, and looked toward the beautiful sunset in the west.

A marriage decree...

The Emperor granting a marriage to the Governor Liu was a matter that had already spread throughout the world.

Young Master...

What would he do?

Zheng Yue Ru knew that she could never become Liu Zheng's legal wife—she simply could not keep up with the pace of Liu Zheng's growth, but she still hoped that Liu Zheng could maintain his own character regarding the major life event of marriage.

As for what psychology this stemmed from, even she herself did not know.

Just at this moment.

A message sent by carrier pigeon arrived in Zheng Yue Ru's hands.

She happily opened it and took a look, and the next moment her expression changed drastically: "What?"

The great construction of the Western Regions Protectorate.

Under the direction of Ling Chen, it had already fully commenced.

After choosing an auspicious day, the Yinzhou Grand Canal also officially began construction.

Since Liu Zheng had already set the tone, the two hundred thousand people of the Western Regions Construction Corps, as well as the one hundred thousand slaves just bestowed by the old Emperor, would have plenty to do.

The Grand Canal was no simple matter.

Qingyang Shuo's worry was not without reason.

This was absolutely a project even more massive than the construction of the Changcheng in ancient times, and it could be called a waste of manpower and money. Liu Zheng gathered several hundred craftsmen in the Western Regions Protectorate, and just for the planning map, they designed for over ten days!

Different from the historical Grand Canal, Liu Zheng's Yinzhou Grand Canal had its starting point at the source of the Yellow River, the Guzonglie Basin.

Then it connected to the Datong River, and the Datong River being diverted to Cheshi was the section requiring the longest distance of man-made excavation.

Various machinery, various stones, and the Cement produced in Yinzhou would begin to be transported in an endless stream.

This was a section of the river that these people of the Western Regions Protectorate would work with all their might to excavate over the next few years.

If this line were opened, it would basically be possible to realize the most basic "South-to-North Water Diversion," and by that time, the water shortage problem in the Western Regions would be improved to a great extent.

And only then would the Yellow River water go through Yinzhou, enter the Han River, and converge with the Yangtze River, connecting the north and the south!

In the days that followed.

Batch after batch of laborers began to rush to the desert.

Work!

The great construction of the Western Regions began in full swing just like that.

And next.

Liu Zheng knew.

The biggest problem he was about to face was already imminent and urgently needed to be solved.

Liangzhou!

Dunhuang in Liangzhou!

He had to take it down, and then excavate from both directions between Dunhuang and Cheshi; if that were the case, not only could the time be cut in half, but Dunhuang could then go through Yinzhou to realize it.

"Zheng, Zheng, come quickly, come quickly! Father thinks this daughter of the Prince of Yue is not bad! It can work, it can work, she is worthy of my son by half!"

At the bustling site, Liu Zheng was supervising the work. Liu Dahao came running over happily.

Liu Zheng gave a bitter smile: "Father, can you let me have some peace for a while? If you like her, you go marry her."

Liu Dahao was shocked: "Zheng, watch your words, Zheng, watch your words! Be careful your mother kills me!"

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

Liu Dahao laughed: "Zheng, isn't this a matter of time? Father will help you weigh it up, so I can hold a grandson sooner!"

Liu Zheng shook his head: "If you really want to choose, Father, then let us set off and return to Yinzhou..."

Liu Dahao was overjoyed: "Are we finally going back? Good, good, good! I don't want to stay in this godforsaken place at all! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

Liu Zheng smiled helplessly.

Yes.

It is time for them to return.

This Western Regions Protectorate has already been rebuilt, so the old emperor's mission can be considered complete. If this Grand Canal is to be excavated, the supplies from the Yinzhou side must arrive in a timely manner... This is a matter of food and drink for three hundred thousand people; only when they are well-fed can they work properly, right?

Furthermore.

Liangzhou...

Liu Zheng took a deep breath, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

Chen Ping...

I am coming back.

Are you ready?