dressed as a scholar

The emperor acted vigorously and quickly issued an edict.

As soon as the city gate of Kyoto opened the next day, the officers and soldiers posted a notice on the notice board at the gate that the official road would be closed. Cars and horses, large and small, should only pass by side roads. The government took them away for interrogation and punished them, and many patrolling officers and soldiers suddenly appeared on both sides of the official road to guard them.

The imperial court was the first to get the news of the construction of the official road. For a while, there were different opinions. For the people to actively maintain and cooperate with the road construction, even small newspapers in Kyoto began to report on the construction of the official road in turn. There was a heated discussion about building a flat and solid official road.

After dinner, all the restaurants and theaters talked about it.

Fang Yu selected workers in the workshop to form a construction team for the official road, sent people to survey the terrain, and arranged for people to make materials for the cement road.

In this era, the advantage of using the advanced tricks of later generations is that once it is proposed and implemented, it can easily surprise the heavens and create achievements that others cannot achieve in a lifetime. However, everything has two sides, just because novelty is unprecedented. If you want To put the proposal into reality, you have to do everything by yourself, and patiently explain and guide others.

What is indispensable is training. Fortunately, when making cement first, several adults under Fang Yu's department followed suit. After briefly explaining the theory, they first made a record. Then Yuan Ruiyan went to arrange the implementation.

There were heated discussions in the city these few days, and Fang Yu dared not take a break under the scorching sun.

On the fifth day after the decree came out, the people who relished going out of the city to see the construction of the official road, saw the people from the Ministry of Industry leading the corvee to survey the road, clear the weeds, and level the unevenness of the road with gravel. The edge of the road was inlaid with wood and molded. Finally, a truckload of cement was pushed out, and construction began from the gate of the city.

"I read in the tabloids that the material used for road construction this time is called cement, and the watery and gray thing should be cement."

"It looks nothing special, isn't it just muddy sand and rocks?"

The common people watched the construction on the small road, and saw the truckloads of cement poured on the official road where the mold was installed, and the corvee took shovels or iron plates on both sides to level the road surface.

"It won't fall apart after it's dry?"

"Look, it might as well be done with stones."

"Can there be so many stones to fix it? You can use blue bricks to pave the ground as if you were a palace."

The common people were discussing and pointing, and there were many people watching the excitement. The officers and soldiers could only maintain order and prevent the common people from crowding in to delay the construction of the road by the Ministry of Industry.There were so many people watching that the traffic on the side road was congested, and Fu Yi sent another team of officers and soldiers to clear the road.

Qiao Hezhi stood in the crowd, his frowning never relaxed. Ever since the imperial edict was issued, Fang Yu started to go out early and return late. He actually got up earlier than when he was in the court. When I came back, I didn’t see anyone until dark. If I didn’t come back to see the child, I’m afraid I would have grown up in the workshop.

Others may not recognize Mr. Fang, who is in charge of the construction of the official road, but he saw Fang Yu holding a smooth road slab with his bare feet, wearing a straw hat, and mixing with the corvettes at a glance, guiding the corvettes to pave the road. Master Fang.

The weather was hot, and he talked a lot every day, and the corners of his mouth became peeling after a few days.Originally, he wanted to come out to see him a long time ago, but he was never allowed to come out, either because the workshop road was far away from the dust, or because the child needed someone to look after him, pushing left and right, seeing how tired he was, he didn't Blame him for not wanting to come and see it himself.

Qiao Hezhi stood among the crowd for quite some time, and he felt even more uncomfortable hearing the voices of the people talking. He didn't intend to disturb Fang Yu, but seeing him sweating profusely made his heart ache.Although he was born in a farming family, he studied and took scientific examinations since he was a child, and he has not done such hard work these years. How can he bear it now.

He stretched out his hand to take some of the things he had prepared when he brought them from Siyu, and went forward to negotiate with the officers and soldiers guarding the road. Although the guards had never seen Fang Yu before, they knew the name of the person in charge this time. , Seeing that Qiao Hezhi was dressed in extraordinary clothes, he nodded in agreement and asked him to come closer to call Mrs. Fang.

"Hey, don't go up and watch, it will delay the construction of the official road!"

Seeing that the officers and soldiers with guns surrounded the rebuilt road like an iron barrel, and finally broke a hole, the common people immediately wanted to squeeze in behind Qiao Hezhi's buttocks to watch, but the officers and soldiers pushed the road with guns against it. outside.

"Why can he go in?"

"He has his own reasons for going in. Hurry up and go back, or you will be arrested and sent to prison."

The people poked their necks and said: "Everyone is watching with eyes, why some people can go in and others can't. I think you just let people in because they are good at their parents, so that you can get a closer look."

"Small people! Stop talking nonsense!"

Seeing that there was going to be a commotion here, Fang Yu over there heard Qiao Hezhi's voice and thought that he was dizzy from his work and had an auditory hallucination. He raised his head and saw Qiao Hezhi on the side of the official road, and immediately raised his hand The guys here even gave it to other officials from the Ministry of Industry who came down to repair the land.

"How did you come?"

Qiao Hezhi knelt down and opened the food box, Fang Yu said: "I'm covered in mud, I don't like to eat, so put the food box, and I'll go to the shed set up at the gate of the city to eat later, okay?"

"It's all the common people who are curious. The tea shed and noodle restaurant outside the city has already been filled with people, so where is there any space left?" Qiao Hezhi said, "I know you are too busy to spare your hands, and you didn't bring any food. "

Fang Yu lowered his eyes and realized that there were some ice cubes in the food box. Qiao Hezhi took out a wet handkerchief from it, twisted it slightly, and raised his hand to wipe his face.The veil is white, and when Fang Yu wiped it on his face, it was immediately covered with stains: "Look at the dusty cement on this face, covered with sweat. Although it doesn't do much to wipe it off, it's refreshing for a while."

The veil is cool, and it is really comfortable to wipe the face in summer, and it feels much cooler in an instant, but a veil has been used and turned black by a few degrees.Fang Yu's face was wiped comfortably, and the people from the labor and labor department who were envious of paving the road looked sideways frequently, feeling secretly refreshed, but he still pretended to be reproachful: "I told you not to let you come, Look at me, I look like a countryman, isn't it ruining the glorious image in your heart."

Qiao Hezhi put the handkerchief back into the box, and said angrily: "The high school was so stinking back then. I know that now I'm like a villager, but I still come to do these things. It's possible that you can't do it alone in the workshop."

"It's not like I'm a coolie. A random corvée here can't work faster than me, but they don't know how to build this road. A few days ago, they kept talking with their mouths open, and their mouths were covered with blisters, but they didn't see them." I have to listen to everything and learn it, but it’s better for me to lead them to do it myself, so that I can learn faster. Besides, everyone sees that I work too, so you don’t want to be lazy, and you will be more motivated.”

Qiao Hezhi was so distressed that he couldn't open his mouth. He lightly touched Fang Yu's callused palm from busy work these days. He knew that there was no way to persuade him. The emperor had high hopes, not only the court, but also the people in the capital. He said that he was determined to get things done.

"Okay~ Construction starts today, so don't go back to the workshop later, I'll go home and cook some dishes you like."

Qiao Hezhi said softly, "Then I won't bother you."

If it weren't for the people everywhere, Fang Yu really wanted to kiss his virtuous wife.

He was watching Qiao Hezhi go out, but the officers and soldiers who swept far away seemed to have clashed with the people, so he climbed up from the concrete floor and followed the voice: "What's wrong?"

The officers and soldiers are still entangled with the common people. There are so many people that the officers and soldiers dare not use force to suppress them. Not to mention that today's construction and paving of the road is of high concern, the court attaches great importance to it.

The officers and soldiers heard that although the speaker was wearing casual clothes and wearing a straw hat, he had a handsome and young face. Fu Lang, who had just entered, followed him, and even connected with Fang Yu, who was in charge: "Master Fang, these people want to Watch closely and don’t listen to advice.”

The aggrieved ordinary people thought they were right, but they were not deaf. When they heard the officers and soldiers call the disgraced road paving "corvette" an adult, they immediately fell in love, lowered their heads and looked away, and dared not open their mouths to argue.

Fang Yu immediately knew what was going on, and he said patiently: "Everyone is concerned about the construction of the official road, and I understand. Don't worry, everyone. The official road will be paved quickly. The road paved early will be ready by tomorrow evening. Tongtong, when the time comes, there will be a section of the road for everyone to try and experience.”

Seeing that Fang Yu spoke softly, the common people boldly asked some doubts: "Can, can it be so fast?"

"The weather is hot in June, and the cement dries quickly. It's ok. But I can only try a section of the road, because it's still under construction, so the official road still can't be used."

"My lord, I heard that the official road will not slip after it is built. Is it true or not?"

Fang Yu said with a smile: "Everyone's experience is different, and I can't say that now, right? Everyone will experience it by themselves."

After picking out a few topics that the common people were most interested in answering one by one, he patted Qiao Hezhi's waist lightly: "Go back first."

Qiao Hezhi nodded, afraid of being crowded by spectators, Fang Yu even called an officer to clear the way for him.

"Okay, everyone, this is the end of today's question. The most important thing right now is to build the road. After the road is built, all your questions will be answered."

After saying that, Fang Yu went back to the cement road, and the people stopped clamoring to squeeze in to see it.

The people's discussion suddenly shifted from the construction of the road to the master in charge. For a while, the topic in the city became Master Fang's urgent officials, slow down the people, approachable, high-spirited, and so on. Shaping others and so on.

Even the iron-faced Yushitai also spoke kindly to the emperor, saying that Fang Yu, who built the official road this time, did it himself and practiced it himself. Although it is not as exaggerated as the common people said, it is also very pertinent. Fang Yu was upset for a while and wanted to find fault with Fang Yu, and it was hard to say a few sarcastic words.

On the contrary, the emperor was cheerful, with a sense of pride that he had a vicious and clear vision, and that he recommended both character and ability.

.......

On the fourth day of the cement road construction, a mile of cement was built on the official road. He ordered people to pull the wire to separate a distance of 200 meters for people to walk and experience.

After the construction people watched the excitement on the first day, some people went to watch it one after another in the following days, but it's nothing unusual to get used to it, so it's not as lively as it was at the beginning.But when I got the news that I could go to experience the cement road, it attracted a large number of people to go.

It just happened to catch up with the imperial court to rest, not only the common people, but also many court officials came to watch and experience the road built with the approval of the emperor.

"Yes, yes. It is, as the tabloids say."

"If the construction is completed, wouldn't it be a thousand miles in a day?"

"I am not afraid of muddy mud covering my feet when it rains."

The officials of the imperial court talked a lot, and there was such a long distance between them. People who dared to squeeze with the officials, even if they set foot on the official road, they would still be far away from them.

Fang Yu stayed on the front line for ten consecutive days. He was relieved when he saw that the construction speed varied from ten meters in half an hour to 15 meters to 20 meters in the next half an hour.

These days he is almost on the official road, every day at two o'clock and one line, he goes out from the mansion directly to the official road of the workshop, and returns directly to the house at night, all the affairs in the court are people from the Ministry of Industry Run down the belt with the message.

"Since the road section for experience was marked out, the court has supported the construction of the official road very much. At the court meeting, adults have been concerned about the progress of road construction."

Suozheng, who stayed in the Ministry of Industry to listen to the news, brought a lot of news, and concluded that the situation is very good. Fang Yu knew the temper of those people in the court. If you work hard, you won't lose any meat on your body. In fact, you don't do it anyway.

He didn't intend to listen to these unimportant remarks, and asked Suozheng straight to the point: "Then the road construction funds requested by the Ministry of Industry have been approved?"

Half of the existing construction materials in the workshop have been used up, and they must be replenished before the materials are used up. This is no different from a war. It is impossible to wait for the food to be eaten before sending it up, and it must be continuous.However, the materials used in mining have to be done with people asking for money.

Speaking of this, Suo's positive expression was slightly stagnant: "The approval is approved. It's just...the matter was discussed at the court meeting today, and His Majesty naturally agreed, but now the treasury is empty, and the grain and grass in the northwest are urgent..."

Fang Yu took a long breath: "The food and grass in the war in the northwest must not be cut off. Most of them have to go to the northwest, and when there are floods, they will help the people."

How could he not know the difficulties of the court.

"Your Majesty still supports the Ministry of Industry, but it's really difficult. The money allocated to the Ministry of Industry for road repairs is only 1 taels."

"Ten thousand!" Fang Yu exhaled.

It should be noted that Fang Yu expected to ask for 3 taels first.

He still spoke conservatively, but he didn't expect it to be so much less than expected. If 3 taels can't be built far away, where can the 1 taels be built.He felt a headache when he thought about the funding. It was really not good to start with an unfinished project.

Concrete roads are good, it is obvious to all, and the officials of the poisonous snakes in the court also unanimously approved, but how much can be repaired depends on the ability to do things. Road construction is of course important, but it can be slowed down.But Fang Yu didn't want to slow down, since the matter started, it's best to go all out.

Yuan Ruiyan said: "The lower officials speak lightly, and failed to win more funds to build the official road. Mr. Fang works day and night for the official road. The lower official is really ashamed."

Fang Yu took a breather: "I can't blame you for this matter. People in the court know what's going on in the treasury. It's impossible to ask officials to raise funds to build official roads. Even if I go to find His Majesty in person, it's just to embarrass him. "

Yuan Ruiyan looked back at the dark concrete road. From the beginning, he could see the starting point at a glance, but now he could not see the city gate. He could only see the concrete road winding and crawling in the forest, like a long dragon. It's a pity: "It's better to raise money for roads from the common people. The road construction is so hot, and there must be people who are willing to raise money."

Fang Yu sighed slightly. Given the attention paid by the common people to the cement roads, some people would be willing to pay for it. After all, it is a construction that is beneficial to them.

"After the official road is repaired, there will be a fee to pass it. When it is built, it will be charged. If it will be charged later, it may cause resentment among the people, and it is unknown if there will be a riot at that time."

Suozheng spoke out Fang Yu's worries.

Fang Yu's brows were tightly furrowed, and after thinking for a while, he said, "Master Yuan, it's possible to raise donations. Just make a note of it and do it this way."

Yuan Ruiyan and Suozheng looked at each other, and quickly took out a pen and paper to prepare to record. Under the influence of Fang Yu, the officials of the Ministry of Industry who build roads now carry booklets and portable pencils with them. It is convenient to take notes at any time.

After Fang Yu finished explaining the matter, it was already rare, and the officials under him never complained. It would be the best to solve the current predicament.

After being busy for so many days, Fang Yu went back to prepare for a day off today. After he returned home to wash up, he didn't have to worry about getting up early to go to the workshop tomorrow. After relaxing physically and mentally, he slept until almost noon the next day.

When I got up, my mind was groggy, and I ate some porridge to fill my stomach, and I was waiting for lunch.

Qiao Hezhi went out, but he didn't come back, and Fang Yu didn't send anyone to call him, he just went to the west wing to see his little boy.

When he entered the wing room, the maidservant was playing with Xiao Qingyan's puppet and tiger head doll. There was a thick blanket on the floor. Since the little guy learned to crawl, he couldn't stay idle, and he was about to crawl. Climb to play.

The exposed arms and legs are round and fair, like a Yuxue doll. The family is well fed and cared for, and she is fat and chubby, which is really pleasing.

Fang Yuke hugged the little boy from the blanket in pain, Qingyan hadn't crawled enough, looked at the old father kicking his little feet and swearing dissatisfaction: "This child must be too obedient when my father was pregnant with him." Now that I am sensible, I have never made a fuss in my stomach, but now I am going to make a fuss back."

Qingyan moved around in Fang Yu's arms like a big fat carp, blinking her cute big eyes and looking at Fang Yu left and right, as if she was a little unfamiliar with the man in front of her.

Fang Yu slapped a kiss on the chubby cheek: "If I didn't hold you for a walk in the porch, you little brat wouldn't know your father, would you?"

"You go out early and come back late every day. Qingyan is still awake when you go out, and you have already fallen asleep when you come back. You go to see your child, but the child doesn't look at you. You are not born."

Qiao Hezhi walked in with a smile when he heard the father and son in the wing room.

"Then Daddy has to kiss you well."

Fang Yu held the child upside down, and said to Qiao Hezhi, "The little guy seems to be lighter."

"It's not so light, it only gained two catties." Qiao Hezhi teased Qing Yan'er's face with his fingers: "You have done too much physical work, and suddenly you feel lighter when you hold the baby."

"It makes sense."

Qingyan stretched out her arms when she saw the little daddy, beckoning to the little daddy: "Good boy, daddy just came back, let daddy take a breather."

Fang Yu held the child with one hand and did not let go, then pulled Qiao Hezhi aside and sat down: "What did you go out for, why did you come back so late?"

Qiao Hezhi said: "It's not about you."

Fang Yu moved closer: "My business?"

"The imperial court launched a fundraising campaign for the construction of official roads, and posted a notice saying that if the donation exceeds ten taels, it can be recorded in the register and issued a wooden seal. It is valid for ten years from the date of passage. If you donate more than [-] yuan, you can also set up a stone tablet next to the official road to leave your name."

Qiao Hezhi said: "As soon as the notice came out, wealthy people flocked to collect donations. You were still resting when the family got the news. I paid money to support it. The money is not wasted, one is your business, and the other is that when the road is repaired and we will be useful, this can be regarded as paying the toll in advance."

After finishing speaking, Qiao Hezhi took out the card seal obtained by donating money.

Fang Yu squeezed the wooden seal. Compared with the family seal, it is a bit rough, but after all, it was made in a hurry, so what can we expect.Xiao Qingyan babbled and snatched the card seal from the old father. Fang Yu raised his eyebrows and smiled, turned his head to look at Qiao Hezhi, and said with a smile, "Master Qiao still understands me."

"There is not enough funds for road construction, so I have to find ways to find money on my own, which is also a helpless move. But I didn't expect the people from the Ministry of Industry to move so fast, and they actually got things done while I was asleep."

Qiao Hezhi shook his head. It was too difficult for Fang Yu. Not only did he have to worry about road construction, but he also had to raise funds by himself.

"But the money donated cannot be used all the time, and it can only relieve the urgent need." It's not that he poured cold water on it. Fang Yu must have thought about the things he could think of.

Fang Yu nodded: "Yeah, it's not like making a living. You can do it once, and you can't seek a steady stream of income. If you want to be rich all the time, you have to make a living to continue."

Qiao Hezhi squeezed Qingyan's hand, and put the child's fat little hand in Fang Yu's palm: "Don't be too tired, you're too embarrassing yourself."

Fang Yu held the hands of his wife and children tightly: "I know, don't worry. I have some ideas in my heart, and there are ways to do it later."