"The cooperation of the imperial court?" Gao Shilian was stunned and looked at Merton.


    Merton said naturally, "that''s natural. Does the court want to take money instead of doing things?"


    Gao Shilian smiled bitterly and said, "it''s not enough to show sincerity for the court to let me come. How do you want the court to cooperate?"


    Now, as long as we can raise enough money for disaster relief, as long as it''s not too outrageous, I''m afraid the poor and crazy court will agree.


    "I don''t know how the imperial court is going to relieve the disaster?" Merton suddenly asked Gao Shilian mysteriously.


    "Disaster relief?" Gao Shilian looked at Merton suspiciously and asked, "but put grain and porridge to appease the people."


    "That''s all?" Merton looked disappointed.


    Gao Shilian said unhappily, "that''s all. It''s the same in all dynasties. How can I be an exception in the Tang Dynasty? But what''s your plan? I can tell you frankly. I will naturally invite the court."


    Merton straightened his chest and said proudly, "Zi Mozi said: the hungry can''t eat, the cold can''t dress, and the laborer can''t rest. The three are also great disasters for the people! Your Majesty''s grain and porridge is benevolent and righteous, which can solve the people''s problems, but it''s like ordinary people giving alms to beggars. Although the people can live, they lose their dignity, and can only enjoy their success like beggars."


    "Dignity?" Gao Shilian looked at each other, people are starving, still thinking about dignity?


    Merton said with a righteous face, "if a boy suffers from disaster, the boy would rather work hard to support himself than accept handouts from others."


    "It''s easy for one person to support himself, but there are so many affected people. How can they do so much work?" Gao Shilian shook his head.


    "That''s why the imperial court needs to come forward and find a livelihood for the people affected by the disaster in the Tang Dynasty. This is work for relief." Merton said positively.


    "Work for relief!" Gao Shilian''s eyes lit up when he thought a little.


    The affected people are destitute. Even the imperial court can only provide food and porridge for disaster relief. How can they pay money? If work is used for relief, the country can be built on a large scale, and the people also have a way to live. Naturally, there will be no trouble.


    "But in a hurry, how can the imperial court have so much work to do?" Gao Shilian said with some regret. The biggest project of the imperial court is to control the Yellow River. Unfortunately, it is a flood season, which is not the time at all.


    Merton said proudly, "boy, I once mentioned an idea, that is, the ten roads in the Tang Dynasty are connected by brick roads and paths. Now it''s just an opportunity."


    "Building brick roads?" Gao Shilian bowed his head to think of the cableway.


    "Yes, this is the brick road map with three horizontal and five vertical directions that I came up with according to the mountain and river geography of the Tang Dynasty. Please give me some advice." Merton respectfully handed a map of the Tang Dynasty to Gao Shilian.


    Building brick roads is the most labor-intensive industry. Digging and making bricks requires manpower, transportation requires manpower, and building roads and paving bricks requires manpower. If so, millions of victims may not be enough?


    "Three horizontal and five vertical?"


    Gao Shilian took a look and saw the route map of cities in series on the map. The three horizontal and five vertical brick road map almost connected all the strategic places of the Tang Dynasty. From his eyes, he could see that once the map was completed, the imperial court''s control over the whole Tang Dynasty immediately soared to a higher level.


    Gao Shilian looked at Merton in amazement and said: "if your boy is 20 years older, I will recommend you as the Minister of work."


    The strategic vision of the three horizontal and five vertical road map alone is enough to shock the whole court.


    "You didn''t come up with the three horizontal and five vertical brick road map to sell horses!" Gao Shilian suddenly thought of his previous words and looked at Merton strangely.


    Merton nodded proudly and said, "it''s natural. As long as the brick road is built, the horses will be hot and the demand will increase greatly. Only when we sell these livestock can the imperial court have more money to work for relief."


    Gao Shilian could not help shaking his head and laughing. Who could have thought that selling horses could be linked with the national strategy. Such an incredible thing appeared in front of him.


    "Boy, the purpose of coming here today is to write to the imperial court jointly with Lord Gao. Now Qinghai cattle are very popular. Don''t worry at all. As long as you can sell horses smoothly, there will be only sheep left." Merton said bluntly.


    In this regard, Gao Shilian has no reason to refuse. He can not only benefit the victims, but also benefit the affairs of the Tang Dynasty. He readily stamped his own seal.


    Three days later,


    When the first batch of money and the three horizontal and five vertical maps were placed in front of the Manchu courtiers, all courtiers could not help but marvel at it. It was not a straw bag to enter the courthouse. Naturally, they could see the amazing part of the three horizontal and five vertical maps, which was much more advanced than the ten brick roads of the Tang Dynasty simply put forward by Merton.


    "Ink sacrificial wine is worthy of being a genius of heaven. Once the three horizontal and five vertical brick road map is completed, we will have no worries in the Tang Dynasty." an official of the Ministry of work said with praise on his face. At this time, Duan Lun has been dismissed and the Ministry of work has carried out a round of cleaning. However, the risk of building the Yellow River embankment is not small, but everyone is happy about building the brick road. How can the Ministry of work not cater to it.


    All the officials nodded one after another. In particular, Merton''s statement of work for relief brightened the eyes of all the ministers. It is also disaster relief. One is like a bottomless pit, and the other has rich returns. Naturally, people can see the advantages and disadvantages.


    "It''s also a way to get the best of both worlds, but in this way, the consumption of the imperial court will be greater." Dai Zhou frowned.


    Fang Xuanling shook his head and said, "the convenience of brick road is obvious to all. Its biggest disadvantage is the high cost. Now there is work for relief, which is the best time to build brick road. Now there is ink sacrifice wine to raise money in Lanzhou. Just wait until September and wait for the autumn tax collection. Naturally, everything will improve."


    Although the flood in Shandong is a disaster, it is not the best time to build brick roads.


    Soon, the Imperial Court reached an agreement and agreed to build brick roads with work as relief. It directly declared that the Tang Dynasty would build brick roads with three horizontal and five vertical directions. In fact, the real start was the east section of the Longhai line and the North-South brick road in the center of Zhengzhou, the end of the Longhai line. First, a cross shaped brick road network was built in the Tang Dynasty.


    At the same time, Confucian and Mohist journals immediately cooperated with the imperial court to publicize the strategic significance and broad prospects of the three horizontal and five vertical brick road map on a large scale. Many businessmen rushed to Lanzhou city once again.


    Brick road is indeed convenient. It is built on the basis of carriage. Whoever has a horse can seize the opportunity on the brick road in the future. Now a large number of Qinghai good horses gather in Lanzhou with good quality and low price. If they miss this opportunity, I''m afraid everyone will regret it for life.


    "The ink offering wine is really clever!" Gao Shilian watched the horses outside Lanzhou disappear with the naked eye. A cart of money was pulled into the prefect''s house, and his old face was full of chrysanthemums.


    With this money, I believe it will be enough for the imperial court to use for some time.


    "It all depends on the cooperation of the imperial court?" Merton was also relieved. Now Marco is more popular than cattle. In addition to the rush purchase of horses outside Lanzhou, there are many merchants who want to book the next batch of horses, but Merton can only reluctantly refuse.


    "Next, we have to deal with the sheep." Merton had a headache when he thought of the sheep all over the mountains.