Chapter 508

When Zu Mingjun arrived in Luoyang and set foot on the brick road, there was a ready four-wheel carriage waiting there.

"But master Zu! Little Mo'er is ordered to wait here by the master." Mo'er said.

"Thank you very much!" Zu Mingjun replied. He once saw Mo Er in Mo mansion, and naturally recognized him.

Zu Mingjun stepped on the carriage and Mo Er immediately started driving.

"Drive!"

The four horses pulled the four wheeled carriage along the straight brick road to Chang'an city. Soon after, Zu Mingjun suddenly realized that the carriage had stopped and couldn't help looking at it.

"Master Zu, wait a minute! After passing the toll station, the carriage can continue to drive." Mo Er explained.

Zu Mingjun nodded and saw the carriages waiting in line to pay the fees in front of the toll station. He sighed: "brother Mo initiated the brick road, which is puzzling to the world. Not to mention the others, the wealth of Chang'an Luoyang line is rolling every day, and it will be able to return in less than ten years, which is enough to make the world have no doubt. Brother Mo's vision is admirable!"

Mo Er suddenly said proudly, "master Zu doesn't know. Now this brick road has been two thousand miles long. It has been paved from Luoyang to Lanzhou."

Zu Mingjun was shocked and said in surprise, "has it been built?"

Mo Er nodded and said, "the news has come from Chang'an city. The Ministry of work has been working day and night, and all the paving has been completed five days ago."

The section of Longhai line from Lanzhou to Luoyang is the best section to be laid. There is no large river at all, the construction difficulty is very small, and the brick road is simple. As long as there are enough red bricks, sufficient manpower and multi line construction, the laying of the whole line is finally completed in March.

Zu Mingjun solemnly nodded. No wonder Merton summoned him in such a hurry. As soon as the brick road is open to traffic, I'm afraid the western expedition will begin.

At the west gate of Chang'an City, Li Shimin led a group of civil and military officials to gather at the west gate and kept looking into the distance towards the brick road outside the west gate.

"Come on, I've reported that the test carriage has arrived at Baqiao." Duan Lun saluted Li Shimin respectfully, but there was an irrecoverable pride on his face.

At the beginning, when mojiazi built the brick road in the south of the city, it can be said that it caused a sensation in Chang'an city. Now, the brick road has been built from Chang'an city to Lanzhou. Duan Lun directly copied the set of Merton and came to a traffic opening ceremony.

Baqiao is Li Shimin's blessed land. At the beginning of the Weishui alliance, Li Shimin blocked hundreds of thousands of Turkic cavalry at Baqiao, which won a breathing opportunity for the Tang Dynasty. Duan Lun estimated that he mentioned Baqiao to please Li Shimin.

Li Shimin nodded and took a deep breath. It cost a lot to build the brick road. Now it's time to see results.

Just as they were about to wait impatiently, suddenly a four-wheel carriage came at a gallop.

"Coming!" Duan Lun's eyes lit up.

"See your majesty, see you adults!" he jumped down from the carriage and saluted Li Shimin and all civil and military officials.

It was supposed to be done by others. They would make a prison sacrifice. In order to express their merit in front of Li Shimin, they volunteered to drive in person.

"Wei Chen started from Lanzhou county city and passed through Dingxi, Tianshui and Chencang until Chang'an city. It took only three days. The brick road is the only thing Wei Chen has seen in his life." the general said excitedly.

In order to get to Chang'an City as soon as possible, he kept changing the horses in the post station all the way. More than ten horses died in order to perform well in front of Li Shimin.

"OK!" Li Shimin didn't know this. Hearing this, he couldn't help looking excited.

It took only three days to get from Lanzhou to Chang'an, which is probably the fastest speed in history.

"Congratulations, your majesty. From then on, the northwest will also!" the ministers congratulated. The brick road is so fast that the imperial court has greatly strengthened its control over the northwest.

Li Shimin's face was proud, but he said modestly, "I'm afraid we still need to win Tuyuhun to calm the northwest."

"Tell your majesty, as the saying goes: before soldiers and horses move, food and grass go first. Now the brick road has been built, and I'm afraid food and grass should be prepared in advance." Hou Junji, a servant of the Ministry of war, helped.

Li Shimin nodded and said to Dai Zhou behind him, "Dai Aiqing, come and arrange the food and grass for the western expedition for you Aiqing."

Dai Zhou went out and said, "Your Majesty, according to the usual practice, the officers and men in the army need three and a half kilograms of grain for three days and 35 kilograms for a month. The number of people in the western expedition of the imperial court is 200000, which requires seven million kilograms of grain in January."

Dai Zhou is now learning from Merton and likes to list detailed and convincing data.

"Seven million kilos of grain!" people couldn't help but draw it. If it was changed into money, it would be a great fortune, but now it will be used all in the western expedition.

"In the past, we needed to recruit 50000 civilian men and 10000 chariots and horses to ensure the grain road. It took nearly a month and more than half of the loss could be transported to the border. Now, with the completion of brick road and the carrying capacity of four-wheel carriages as high as 5000 kg, it only needs 1500 Coachmans and four horses per vehicle in five days. The loss is less than one percent," Dai Zhou said excitedly.

"Five days delivery, less than 10% loss!" Li Shimin immediately felt happy. The cost of building brick roads was distressing, but the effect was immediate.

"Congratulations, your majesty. The grain road is unblocked, and the Tang Dynasty will win this western expedition." all the officials immediately congratulated in unison.

Soon after the founding of the Tang Dynasty, these old ministers had experienced war. Naturally, they knew that once they went on an expedition, the biggest loss was not the rations of the soldiers, but the loss on the road.

When Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty went on an expedition to Koguryo, it was a huge loss that brought down the Sui Dynasty. Now that the brick road is completed, the loss of grain from Chang'an city to Lanzhou is no more than 10%, which is nothing to everyone.

Dai Zhou then said, "this is the grain for one month. The western expedition will take at least half a year. The imperial court needs to prepare six months of grain and grass."

One month is seven million kilograms, six months is not 42 million kilograms of grain! As soon as they calculated, they took a breath. However, this is the key period of the western expedition. Naturally, they won't say anything more about it.

"Moreover, this is just what Chang'an city needs to get to Lanzhou county city. After the army enters Tuyuhun, there will be no benefit of brick road, and I'm afraid the loss will increase sharply. From the perspective of micro ministers, it will take at least 60 million kilograms of grain to be safe." Dai reported.

Li Shimin nodded, turned his head and shouted, "where is Su Ding!"

"Wei Chen Su dingfang knocks at your majesty!" Su dingfang steps out at the end of the general.

"According to my order, Su dingfang is responsible for recruiting carriages and escorting Taicang grain and grass to Lanzhou first." Li Shimin shouted.

Taicang is the granary of Chang'an city. It is responsible for supplying the grain of the whole Chang'an city. There is a large stock. However, I'm afraid Taicang will be directly emptied during the western expedition.

"Yes, Mr. Wei." Su dingfang shouted.