Chapter 872

However, Li Chengqian was calm, looked at the doctor of the driving department and said helplessly, "what should we do? Why don't the doctor of the driving Department discuss with other ministers to see if we can let Liubu spare some money and food to support the post station first, and then make up for it when the next batch of taxes come up?"

"Ah!" the doctor of the driving Department suddenly turned black. In the court hall, the post station was in the most embarrassing situation. It was nominally a military facility and was subordinate to the Ministry of war. However, except in wartime, most of his time was spent serving civil servants, using official documents, accommodation and entertainment, as well as the cost of horses, which consumed countless money and food every year.

However, what is more helpless is that the official position of the doctor in charge of supervising the post station is very low. He has only five grades. If he goes to the Ministry of the people to ask for money and food on weekdays, he will be blinded by the officials of the Ministry of the people. If he asks him to ask the six Shangshu for money, he will eat the bear heart and leopard courage.

"Wei Chen! Wei Chen..." the doctor of the driving department, looking at the bad expression of the six Shangshu, was stunned that he didn't dare to say one more word.

However, how can the six Shangshu be willing to take the initiative to give up their interests? They are also happy to see the joke of Li Chengqian, a doctor in the driving department.

"From the perspective of the palace, Datang post station costs a lot every year, but it's not necessary at all!" Li Chengqian suddenly said.

"No need?" the doctor of the driving department was stunned. He looked at Li Chengqian foolishly, and suddenly a bad feeling rose in his heart. Is it because his Highness the prince is dissatisfied with the post station?

"Your Highness doesn't know. Although the post station costs a lot, it is an indispensable department for the Tang Dynasty to pass military information and official documents between the government." Gao Shilian, with gray hair, frowned. In his opinion, if he doesn't come forward to remedy it, his grandnephew may make more and more jokes.

"What Lord Gao said is very true. There are post stations since ancient times. You can't easily depose them!" cried the doctor of the driving department.

"Who says to depose the post station? Of course, the palace knows that the post station cannot be moved lightly, but there is no doubt that the huge annual cost of the post station has dragged down the government. If the post station can be self-sufficient, how much money can it leave for the court?" Li Chengqian said leisurely.

"Self sufficiency!" the doctor of the driving department was stunned. Only then did he hear that Li Chengqian had something to say.

All the other officials were human beings. Naturally, I heard that Li Chengqian had another meaning. I was shocked. Could it be that today's matter was not the prince's negligence, but wanted to attack the post station.

Li Chengqian Lang said: "Datang post station is divided into land post station, water post station and both water and land post station. There are 1639 post stations, 20000 personnel and 8000 horses. The annual food and drink cost is not a small amount. However, it is only used to deliver official documents every year. Isn't it a great waste?"

Dai Zhou, the Minister of civil affairs, nodded involuntarily. The post station has to raise a large number of people every year. It costs a lot, but it can't be abolished and can only be raised.

Other ministers could not help but put down their affairs and listened attentively to Li Chengqian's speech.

"Take the Ministry of war for example. Every year, a large number of soldiers serve at the border and are far away from their hometown. If these post stations can deliver messages for the whole army and let them exchange letters with their relatives, it will not reassure their relatives, but also make the military calm and make the border officers and soldiers serve the country as one." Li Chengqian turned to Hou Junji.

Hou Junji nodded solemnly, which is really a good idea.

"In addition to the officers and soldiers, as far as I know, many foreign students come to study in Chang'an city. They have the opportunity to go home every field holiday. If the post station also communicates for them and gives peace to distant relatives, how warm it is." Li Chengqian looked at Kong Yingda, the son of the state, offering wine.

Kong Yingda also nodded silently.

"There are also officials who have gone to various places, merchants who do business abroad, and farmers who are now serving corvee abroad,........." Li Chengqian cited one by one and brought together the benefits of post station communication. Manchu officials couldn't help thinking. According to Li Chengqian, it looks like this post station has many benefits.

"But in this way, the post station will be more busy, and I'm afraid it will require more funds." the doctor in the driving Department shook his head again and again.

Li Chengqian nodded one after another and said, "naturally, the post station can't send letters to the people for free. Of course, we can't pursue profits like businessmen. After all, our purpose is to subsidize the cost of the post station. From the perspective of our palace, it's better to send a letter for a penny, or if it's overweight, we can add it as appropriate."

"We have a plan for the post station here. We just need to follow this plan. We can't guarantee that the post station will not need the court to allocate money and food from now on. In this way, the imperial court will reduce the burden and the people all over the world will make profits. Isn't it the best of both worlds?"

With a big hand, Li Chengqian handed Shen Hongcai's plan to all officials for circulation.

"It's urgent for three hundred miles. You can send letters back and forth in January."

"Six hundred miles, half a month...!"

"800 Li urgent,..."

Of course, the 800 mile rush is the most demanding. I'm afraid that according to Shen Hongcai's idea, it can only be implemented temporarily in the place where the brick road is built, and other places are tentative.

All officials looked at the rational plan in their hands and nodded in their hearts. This plan is indeed very likely to succeed.

"Charge according to different speeds and weights, and they are extremely cheap." Fang Xuanling nodded secretly. Li Chengqian only didn't charge according to the distance, so that everyone in the world can enjoy the convenience of communication. This is really a rare good governance.

"Six hundred mile express and eight hundred mile express charge higher fees. In this way, the post station has more income, and maybe it can really make ends meet." Dai Zhou nodded secretly. If the post station is really self-sufficient every year, the Ministry of civil affairs can really save a lot of money every year.

"In this way, I'm afraid there are not enough people in the post station to deliver so many letters." the driving doctor smiled bitterly.

"As long as the post station has income, I'm afraid it can't recruit people. A lot of wounded soldiers are discharged due to injury every year. These soldiers can ride horses. It's no problem to send letters. It's better for these meritorious soldiers to make a living." Li Chengqian waved his big hand.

"It should be so!" Hou Junji nodded and agreed.

It doesn't need any technical work to deliver a letter. It only needs to be able to ride a horse. As long as these veterans and wounded soldiers can move, they can be competent for this job. What's more, those wounded soldiers themselves can't participate in heavy physical labor. It can be said that the job of postman is most suitable.

"But the post station is a place for the imperial court to send official documents. Now it has to send letters to ordinary people. That's how it is." the doctor of the driving department was distressed.

Although the post station is underground in the Imperial Hall, after all, it receives officials and official documents. Now it suddenly wants to send letters to ordinary people. This gap is unacceptable to the doctor of the driving department.

Li Chengqian said proudly, "my father once taught the palace that the people are precious, the monarch is light, and the country is the second. Now the post station reform and sending letters for the people all over the world are just in line with the saying that the people are precious. How can it be disrespectful. Moreover, this is also beneficial to the post station. Otherwise, where will the post station fund come from? Will the court be in deficit for years?"

The doctor of the driving department was stunned and didn't know how to explain.

"What a fool!" many ministers hummed coldly. Li Chengqian directly shared the funds of the post station among the six departments without leaving a trace. There was little left in the funds of the post station. It can be said that the post station had no way back, so he had to follow Li Chengqian's instructions.

Many dignitaries couldn't help looking at Li Chengqian with dignity. They had to say that Li Chengqian's skill was beautiful. Although the post station was important, it was of little use at ordinary times. No one stood up for Li Chengqian when he moved the post station.

In particular, the Ministry of civil affairs and the Ministry of military affairs, as long as the post communication system is completed, the Ministry of civil affairs can save a lot of expenses every year, while the Ministry of military affairs has found a job to settle veterans and wounded soldiers, and naturally supports the post reform with both hands. The other six departments have more funds out of thin air, so they are naturally reluctant to spit out. They can only support Li Chengqian.

"Your Highness, wait a minute. I believe your highness is kind. It's just that the post station only sends official documents and military information. It's a system of the Imperial Hall since ancient times. If you rashly change to send letters to the people, I'm afraid you need to ask your majesty." Du Chuke suddenly proposed.

Suddenly, has the final say that the minister meet the eye everywhere. In the final analysis, Prince is still Prince Edward. There are no successor princes in history. In the end, the emperor has the final say. If the emperor does not like it, they will be responsible.

Li Chengqian's face was cold. He knew that Du Chuke was very close to his brother Li Tai. Before that, he had stopped himself from supervising the country and delayed the reform of the post station until Li Shimin came back. At that time, I'm afraid the post station will be half done and his political achievements will be greatly reduced.

"Post station communication is beneficial to both the people and the imperial court. If you communicate one day earlier, the people can enjoy the convenience one day earlier, and the imperial court can also reduce some burden. This matter is urgent. If there is a difference, the palace will bear it." Li Chengqian decided.

Suddenly the ministers were silent. No one dared to touch Li Chengqian's eyebrows at this time. Although the young tiger is small, it is also cannibal!

"The old minister is old and frail. I'm afraid he can't shoulder this important task. I'm afraid he'll ask his royal highness to choose another talent." the doctor of the driving Department gritted his teeth and bowed his hand.

He is not unaware of the benefits of post station communication. If he obeys Li Chengqian's orders and reforms the post station at the moment, if it annoys Li Shimin, I'm afraid Li Chengqian will not have the slightest responsibility. He will certainly become a scapegoat. If he succeeds, his political achievements will be obtained by Li Chengqian, but he has no benefits. Naturally, he wants to get out of this vortex by resigning at the moment.

"In that case, the doctor in the driving department should rest assured and cultivate his body! Where is Su Ding?" Li Chengqian shouted.

"The end will be!" Su dingfang proudly stepped out among the generals.

"You have been meritorious in transporting grain and are proficient in the way of operation. Are you confident in reforming the post station communication and finding a way to survive for our wounded soldiers in Datang?" Li Chengqian shouted.

Su dingfang hugged his fist and said, "the last general is duty bound."

Li Chengqian looked around and said, "in that case, general Su will be the doctor of the driving Department temporarily and take charge of the reform of the world's post stations."

The doctor in charge of the driving department was black in his eyes. He thought that after he resigned, no one in the court could sort out the post station. However, he forgot that there was a su dingfang who was proficient in grain transportation.

"I will obey!" Su dingfang said proudly.

"Retreat!"

Seeing the figure of Li Chengqian disappear into the hall, the officials were thoughtful and couldn't help sighing:

"The prince has grown up!"