Phi-Fic Chapter 223: Transferring Grain to Beijing
Chapter 223: Transferring Grain to Beijing
"Master, why are you so anxious?" King Li disagreed.
"I have obtained so many Buddhist scriptures, so I must go back as soon as possible to hold a lecture and invite monks from all over the world to Beijing to attend the meeting and study the scriptures together. I will go down and prepare first." Master Yuanhui said firmly.
"Well, in that case, I will not try to persuade you to stay. I will personally send someone to escort you and the scriptures back to the capital. Please don't refuse. Take a rest today and set off tomorrow." King Li said.
Master Yuanhui thought about it and decided not to refuse. "Thank you so much, Your Majesty. I will take my leave now."
"Okay, Master, take care," King Li said, and then ordered, "Come here, help the Master deliver the scriptures to the Master's courtyard."
"Yes." Subordinates immediately followed orders and did it.
Gu Dajiang had not expected that this master would be so efficient. Fearing that he would disturb the prince from seeing off Master Yuanhui, he said, "Prince, please watch..."
"It's okay. Master Yuanhui will leave tomorrow, and I do have something to discuss with you." King Li said.
Gu Dajiang felt relieved as he watched King Li's men move all the scriptures away.
Then he said, "This is the small gift I prepared for Your Highness. Please accept it."
Looking at the two wooden boxes and with Master Yuanhui's comparison, King Li felt relieved.
I thought, a small gift will do. I won't be seen as a greedy prince in the eyes of the emperor's grandson.
Then he smiled and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your kindness."
"It's my duty, it's my duty." Gu Dajiang said modestly.
The subordinate took the gift box, brought it to the table in front of the prince, and opened it for the prince to examine.
Prince Li glanced at it calmly, and saw that it was "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. This book was in the royal family, and he was shocked. He asked, "Did Ah Jing prepare this gift?"
Gu Dajiang was happy to hear King Li call him "Ajing" so affectionately. It seemed that Grandpa Ajing was very proud in front of King Li.
The prince loves Ah Jing so much that he knows everything about Ah Jing.
Thinking of this, Gu Dajiang said happily: "Your Highness, these books are from my Gu family's collection, but before they were sent to us, A Jing did help us check them to avoid duplication with your collection."
Upon learning that it was not the one from the palace, Prince Li was still shocked. Who exactly was the Gu family? It was rumored that there was only one copy of the book in the world, but the Gu family actually had it and gave it away so easily.
But now is not the time to worry about these things, because along with the emperor's family letter, there is also a secret letter from the emperor to King Li.
The letter informed His Majesty of his health condition, as well as the arrangements for the campaign and the court. This is how the announcement of Zesheng County was made and how quickly it spread.
The second request was that there was a shortage of food in the capital, and the court learned that there was a powerful grain store in the county and requested that grain be transferred to the capital.
The third is a general order, ordering the top three craftsmen from all over the country to come to Beijing to serve.
This second point needs to be discussed with Gu Dajiang.
King Li withdrew his thoughts, coughed lightly and said, "I asked Boss Gu to come here today. In addition to the matter of Taohuashan Jun, there is another matter that needs to be discussed with Boss Gu."
"Your Majesty, if you have anything to say, just tell me." Gu Dajiang said.
"It's like this. We have just started spring plowing and there are still several months before summer harvest. I'm sure you have heard the news. There is a food shortage in the south and in Daxia. A few days ago, I received a secret order from the court, ordering me to transfer grain to the capital, but there is no surplus grain in the county! I wonder if Boss Gu can transfer some grain to the capital?" King Li asked.
"Your Highness, don't worry. Our Gu family can handle this. I wonder how much food Your Highness needs, how to transport it, and where to deliver it." Gu Dajiang said after thinking for a while.
King Li did not expect that he could achieve his goal so easily. He said happily, "You can decide the location, sir. The sooner the better. However, it is best to keep a low profile to prevent it from being discovered and sabotaged by treacherous people."
The two then discussed the matter of grain delivery, and agreed to deliver the grain at Gu's shop in the early morning three days later.
Seeing that the matter had been finalized, Gu Dajiang took out another piece of drawing paper from his arms and said, "Your Majesty, I also have something I want to ask you."
"What's the matter, Boss Gu, just tell me." King Li was in a good mood after settling the food issue.
"It's like this. I bought a row of shops in the East Market and plan to renovate and rebuild them. Here are the renderings. Your Majesty, please take a look." Gu Dajiang said, taking out the drawings that Gu Fu handed to him when he went out.
My niece told him at that time that if he had the chance, he should ask King Li how high the horizontal bar in the middle of the road should be so that it would not be a hindrance. King Li had just received benefits from his family, so now was the perfect opportunity to ask.
King Li took the blueprint, opened it and sat up straight.
The building above was simple and square, a style he had never seen before. "Is this a house?"
"Your Highness, this is indeed a house, but it is used as a shopping mall," Gu Dajiang replied.
Next, Gu Dajiang explained to King Li the functions of the items shown in the drawing.
Then he pointed to the overpass that spanned both sides and said, "My shop is separated into two sides, so we need to build a suspension bridge to connect them. I want to know if there is any particular requirement for the height of the suspension bridge. How high should it be so as not to affect the daily life of the county? I can build the suspension bridge according to that height. Please give me some advice, Your Majesty."
King Li's eyes were still on the renderings, and he had a picture in his mind as he looked at the drawings, imagining people walking on the suspension bridge.
After hearing Gu Dajiang's question, King Li thought for a moment and said, "Five meters is best."
"Thank you, King Li, for clearing up my doubts. I just wonder if there is any particular requirement for the height of the building?" Gu Dajiang continued to ask.
King Li thought for a moment and said, "Your building is quite unique. How is its structure, safety, and sturdiness? If it is built higher, it may be damaged by wind, rain, and hail."
"Your Highness, we have a special material that can reinforce buildings. You can rest assured about its sturdiness," said Gu Dajiang.
"Then let's build it according to the number of floors you designed. When it's completed, I will send you a plaque to congratulate you." King Li thought for a moment and said.
Gu Dajiang bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
King Li smiled happily and said, "No need to be polite. It's getting late. I'll order a banquet. How about not going home until you're drunk today?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will not bother you any more. I'd better go back as soon as possible to discuss the food issue with my family." Gu Dajiang declined.
King Li thought about it and didn't try to persuade him to stay. He still had to deal with business. "Okay, after this is done, I will host a banquet to celebrate the success."
"Okay, thank you, Your Highness. I will take my leave now." After Gu Dajiang said this, he took the renderings and left with the steward of the palace and his carriage and staff.
After seeing Gu Dajiang off, Prince Li hurriedly instructed the steward, "Take the gift from Gu Dajiang to the study, and go to the backyard to tell the princess that I will be staying in the study today."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The steward took the order and did it.
After King Li got the books, he found that except for the first one, he had never even heard of the names of the others.
The book talks about the principles of battlefield and the tactics of maneuvering soldiers. Even he, a veteran who had fought for half his life and earned the title of king, could not compare to it.
"Come here, call all the officials and staff to the study to discuss the matter." King Li ordered.