The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 190 Blueprint for the future

Li Yi gently shook the reins and spurred his horse along the central axis of the street, heading slowly towards the outskirts of the city.

The scenery along the roadside now is vastly different from when he led his army back in triumph from Sichuan earlier this year.

What unfolded before us was a massive, bustling construction project.

As far as the eye could see, the air was filled with smoke and dust, as if shrouded in a thin layer of gray-yellow mist.

The source of the smoke and dust was countless busy figures—rotten beams collapsed with a crash amidst shouts, stirring up large clouds of dust, and broken tiles and wood were roughly sorted and piled up, waiting to be transported away.

The laborers, their backs bare, carried earth and stones and wielded hammers, their shouts echoing throughout the land. A man dressed as a supervisor moved through the dust, pointing and directing, his pen and paper rustling in the wind.

The large carts carrying new materials rolled over the makeshift road that had been dug up and was soaked in mud, the wheels groaning as the mules pulling the carts puffed out heavy white steam.

Tokyo is undergoing a transformation, with ruins revealing its decaying interior, like a scab that has been roughly peeled off the city's fabric, waiting for the moment when it will be completely renewed.

Tokyo's Imperial Street begins at the Xuande Gate of the Imperial City in the north and stretches for more than ten miles, running straight through the Zhouqiao Bridge and Zhuque Gate of the inner city and extending to the main gate of the outer city in the south—Nanxun Gate.

This main thoroughfare, following the old system of the Tang Dynasty capital, should more accurately be called a forbidden street. It was a road exclusively for the emperor's carriages, carrying a clear ceremonial attribute and showcasing the dignity and grandeur of the imperial family.

Of course, since the chaos of the times, many rules have not been strictly enforced, unlike the later Northern Song Dynasty which had many restrictions.

On ordinary days, except for major ceremonial occasions such as imperial processions and suburban sacrificial ceremonies, ordinary people are allowed to cross the street.

Moreover, for decades, the rows of houses and shops along both sides of the street have been encroaching on the road due to illegal construction.

Therefore, taking advantage of this expansion of Tokyo, the imperial court will widen the Imperial Street to two hundred paces, and all buildings that encroach on the road along the street will be demolished and moved back, so that the Imperial Street can be used by large carts and large armies.

“Da…da…da…”

Li Yi sat upright on his horse, letting it ride freely. His gaze swept over the surrounding scenery, and a sense of emotion suddenly arose in his heart.

He thought to himself: Emperor Shizong Chai Rong certainly had lofty ambitions. He spared no expense in manpower and resources to build this new city of Tokyo, intending to establish an unparalleled foundation.

But who could have predicted that just a few years after the expansion of Bianliang (Kaifeng), Zhao Kuangyin would seize the fruits of his labor and use them as the foundation for the later splendor of Bianliang?

However, in historical records, the prosperity of Tokyo is only referred to as "Zhao Song". Who can remember the foundation laid by Emperor Shizong Chai Rong?

Thinking of this, Li Yi unconsciously tightened his grip on the reins.

He made great contributions to the reform and opening up of the capital city and the planning of the city.

Li Yi will never tolerate anyone easily seizing power and reaping the benefits in the future!
In the blink of an eye, the sound of horses' hooves approached.

Looking up, a group of knights rushed towards us from the direction of the city gate, whipping up the cold wind.

The rider at the forefront was tall and imposing, with a bushy beard and a halberd held high. His light armor gleamed with a deep luster in the sunlight. He was none other than Han Tong, the Commander of the Imperial Guards and Infantry.

Upon seeing Li Yi's guards in the distance, Han Tong reined in his horse and shouted a command that, like a booming bell, dispelled the surrounding noise.

Once he could see Li Yi's figure clearly, he spurred his horse on, and the steed galloped a few steps, arriving in front of him in the blink of an eye.

"Envoy Li!"

Han Tong, with a loud voice, spoke first, "What a coincidence! I had something to discuss with you, and we just happened to run into each other here!"

Li Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, remained seated on his horse without showing any emotion, and bowed respectfully: "Lord Han, what brings you to such an urgent matter? Could it be that something has gone wrong with the project?"

Han Tong didn't mince words. When Li Yi brought up the project, he said directly, "The project is fine. However, I heard that Commander Li recently purchased a piece of desolate land outside the city. This is your private matter, and I naturally have no say in it."

“But yesterday you allocated manpower and materials for the construction of the city to that field to repair the site and houses… Others do not know the inside story and only think that Governor Li is abusing his position to use public office for private gain.”

"As the person in charge of the construction of Tokyo, I have to come and ask him in person to clarify the matter because of my duty."

Han Tong's words were frank and did not seem to imply any accusation.

However, given Han Tong's personality, if he cannot give him a satisfactory answer, he will probably not let the matter rest easily, especially since the other party has taken time out of his busy schedule to seek out Li Yi for questioning.

Fortunately, Li Yi did not act on his own initiative regarding what Han Tong said; he had already received the approval of Xiang Xun and Wang Pu.

"Oh? So that's what General Han came for." Li Yi smiled slightly. "I must first thank General Han for his concern and warning!"

"But please rest assured, General Han, I have already reported this matter in detail to the Imperial Censor and the Prince's Palace. As for building houses and buildings in that wilderness, it may be of great use to the court in the future, and the relevant report has already been sent to the Huainan Imperial Court with urgency."

"As for all the labor costs, food supplies, bricks, tiles, wood, and stone materials required for the construction, they were all paid for by Li personally. The accounts were clearly kept and could be checked and verified at any time. There was absolutely no misappropriation of public funds or damage to the country!"

"This—" Han Tong's tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, but then furrowed slightly, revealing a rare hint of embarrassment on his face.

"I see! I've been busy with construction work lately and haven't been aware of this matter. I've made a fool of myself."

Li Yi shook his head slightly, cupped his hands and said, "General, you bear the important responsibility of guarding the capital and building the city, so naturally you have no time to concern yourself with such trivial matters. On the contrary, I was negligent and failed to inform you of this matter in time."

His words were sincere, and he took responsibility upon himself, which not only gave Han Tong a way out but also showed him respect.

Upon hearing this, Han Tong's rugged face immediately broke into a hearty smile. He waved his hand dismissively and said, "Since the matter has been approved by the Imperial Academy and the Prince's Mansion, then Commander Li, just go ahead and do it. If there is anything you need, as long as it is within my duties, just let me know, and I will naturally help if I can."

His doubts had now dissipated.

Even with Han Tong's strong-willed and uncompromising personality, he couldn't find fault with Li Yi's responses, attitude, and prior arrangements.

In his eyes, this official's brother-in-law, though young and holding a high position, had no arrogance and was very humble in his daily life, making it difficult for anyone to feel any dislike towards him.

"Alright, since it's all a misunderstanding, then I'll take my leave now!"

Han Tong came and went in a hurry. He pulled on the reins, turned his horse around cleanly and neatly, and shouted to his entourage behind him, "Go!"

Li Yi stood still, watching Han Tong's towering figure disappear into the distance until it vanished completely from sight.

He suddenly realized that people like Han Tong and Shi Yanchao were not as "naive" as they seemed. Their personalities might be annoying, but weren't they also a way of surviving?
The emperor was not afraid of his generals having shortcomings, but he was afraid that they would be neither capable nor obedient, and in the end, they would be more likely to cause trouble than accomplish anything.

Li Yi didn't know much about Han Tong's military skills, but his ability to handle affairs was beyond doubt.

He learned a lot from Han Tong, especially in the matter of construction projects. He had followed Han Tong around for a while and learned a great deal about the relevant knowledge.

Otherwise, no matter how skilled Li Yi was in sketching and drawing, he would never have been able to create such a detailed street plan.

He did have some knowledge of modern architecture, but he learned ancient architectural techniques on the spot.

Li Yi felt that he also had some talent. Whether it was engineering construction or fighting on the battlefield, he could quickly apply the knowledge he had acquired from all aspects.

However, as the saying goes: a person's ability to execute is their most powerful fighting force.

If you only think about something without doing or practicing it, even if you have Einstein's brain, you'll still waste it.

"Let's go and take a look at the village outside the city."

Li Yi lightly spurred his horse, and it immediately began to gallop. A group of personal guards followed suit, their hooves pounding the long street as they rode towards the city gate.

……

Suburbs of Tokyo.

The biting cold seemed even purer and more piercing than inside the city.

Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the city and its rows of houses, the north wind in the desolate countryside is unhindered, lashing at the cheeks like a cold whip.

The fields stretch as far as the eye can see, a desolate winter scene: large tracts of harvested land expose gray-yellow soil, ditches with ice crusts meander through them, and withered grass trembles in the wind, showing a stubborn yet fragile curve.

Occasionally, the sparse outlines of villages can be seen, huddled behind bare trees, appearing particularly small and lonely under the pale sky. A few hundred steps east of Nanxun Gate lies the eastern section of the Cai River, which flows past Xiashuimen. Many kilns, workshops, and other buildings that had relocated outside the city are concentrated in this area.

The settlements are distributed along the banks of the Cai River, which provides ample space, convenient access to water, and the advantage of river transportation.

In no time, construction projects began on both sides of the river, and the once somewhat desolate riverbank plains suddenly took on a rugged and bustling atmosphere.

Therefore, some officials in the court have submitted a memorial proposing to rename this section of the Cai River as "Huimin River" to demonstrate the court's intention to do things that benefit the people.

However, this matter has not been finalized yet.

As luck would have it, most of the land deeds for the thousand acres of land given to Fu Erniang by her father-in-law, Fu Yanqing, were located in this very vicinity.

These fields were rented by tenant farmers, and the landlords only needed to collect rent quarterly. To facilitate cultivation, settlements were formed around the fields, and the tenant farmers were called "zhuanghu" (庄户).

"Everyone, put in some effort and get this land leveled before dark..."

Li Yi's uncle, Liu Da, was standing on a high slope, directing the laborers to level the land. Turning his head, he saw a group of knights riding towards them.

He put his hand on his forehead and looked for a moment, then suddenly realized that the person in front of him was his nephew.

He hurried down the slope and went to greet him: "Erlang, what brings you here?"

"Uncle," Li Yi responded, then jumped off his horse.

"Erlang, don't blame your uncle for being nosy..."

Uncle Liu couldn't help but say, "This piece of wild land you bought is unsuitable for growing crops, and it will be a huge hassle to level. If you want to build a house, there are plenty of vacant plots of land in Tokyo right now. Why spend so much money to buy this place..."

Liu Da rambled on for a few more minutes, but seeing his nephew's nonchalant attitude, he could only sigh inwardly and said no more.

My nephew is now an extremely distinguished person, no longer the dissolute youth he once was who roamed the countryside.

His thoughts and plans are all about national affairs. Perhaps his purchase of this land for construction is part of some long-term strategy.

Sigh, never mind... My nephew is a filial son. He took his uncle in and took care of him, allowing his family to live a good life that they never dared to dream of before.

Now I don't need to worry about so much anymore, I just need to do my best to help him with these things.

Thinking of this, Liu Da said, "If Erlang doesn't need any help from his uncle, then his uncle will go over there and supervise the work. We can't let anyone take the opportunity to shirk their duties and waste Erlang's money and grain."

Li Yi nodded slightly: "Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle."

"Oh dear, we're all family, why bother with all this formalities? I'll head over now..."

"Ok!"

Watching his uncle Liu Da's departing figure, Li Yi remained silent for a moment, then shook his head with a smile.

He knew, of course, that his uncle meant well, but he wasn't entirely sure about some of the rough ideas in his mind, and he couldn't explain them clearly in the short term.

Let's wait until we have results before making any further decisions...

Li Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze falling on the barren land surrounded by low hills—that was the land he had previously purchased, and the place where some future plans would soon unfold.

The reasons for buying this place are twofold: firstly, it was cheap and right next to my own farmland; secondly, it is located next to the Caishui River, which will make future transportation and logistics very convenient.

Moreover, the kilns, workshops, and other facilities he plans to build here may also be able to utilize the natural water resources here to test some of the ideas that are vaguely forming in his mind.

Since Empress Fu's condition improved, and she sent someone to deliver that eight-character message to him.

Li Yi had been thinking about how to do a good job of staying behind.

The renovation of the Longjin Bridge area, the "First Building in Tokyo", and cement that has not yet been mass-produced... and other matters.

These are all attempts he made for this purpose.

However, many things are easy to think about but not easy to do... Just building that "Tokyo's No. 1 Building" would require a budget of at least tens of thousands of dollars.

In addition, it is necessary to provide the necessary supporting facilities for cement production, as well as this envisioned experimental zone.

Regardless of whether it will succeed or not, it will definitely require spending a lot of money in the early stages.

Li Yi himself couldn't possibly come up with that much money, and even if he could, he wouldn't use his own money for national development.

Does the entire household not need food, drink, or other necessities, and are they all supposed to go out and starve?

Among them, the planning of the Longjin Bridge area is a task that must be accomplished, and it must be done well. Otherwise, wouldn't Li Yi's boast be nothing but empty words?

If he ends up in a complete mess, how will the emperor view him?
Having the original homeowners invest in the renovation could solve part of the funding problem, allowing them to cover the cost of redeeming the land and property deeds.

However, this decree has not yet been officially announced, and it remains to be seen how many people will ultimately be willing to contribute money.

At the same time, even after redeeming the land and property deeds, starting construction also requires a large sum of money. This approach of robbing Peter to pay Paul clearly cannot solve the fundamental problem.

Therefore, attracting investment is very important; it requires attracting people to invest money.

Li Erniang's family seems to be quite wealthy; aren't they ready-made "investors"?

The Li family's funding is still undecided, but the chances are very high. If it works out, it will immediately solve a major problem for Li Yi.

Of course, one cannot rely entirely on Li Erniang's family for funding, because in Li Yi's plan, the Li family is mainly responsible for funding the "Tokyo's No. 1 Building" for the renovation of the Longjin Bridge area.

For the remaining unknown gaps, it would be best to attract more merchants to participate through preferential policies.

After all, the "experiments" that Li Yi personally envisioned would still require strong support from Li Erniang's family in the future; they couldn't possibly let the other party pour all their money into official projects.

In addition, some ideas about deepening the reform of the Imperial Guard gradually took shape in Li Yi's mind.

He currently holds the position of Inspector General of the Palace Guards, but he also handles the military affairs of the Imperial Guards on a regular basis, because Han Tong is simply too busy to take on the duties.

Moreover, Li Yi, who led the reorganization of the Imperial Guards last year, was indeed more familiar with the arrangements and training of newly recruited soldiers, as well as the coordination of the daily affairs of the Palace Guards and the Imperial Bodyguards.

Even if the Imperial Guard were handed over to Han Tong, he might not be able to figure it out in a short time.

Moreover, before the emperor left Tokyo, he specifically entrusted the training of the new recruits to Li Yi, so he could naturally intervene in both the Palace Guard and the Imperial Guard.

With the emperor not in Tokyo, and neither are Li Chongjin and Zhang Yongde, Li Yi holds the greatest implicit power among the imperial guards remaining in the capital.

After careful consideration, Li Yi believed that staying in Tokyo to defend the home base instead of going to Huainan to fight was a good opportunity to go all out.

It's no wonder that throughout history, whether people have been seeking personal gain or have lofty ambitions and a desire to leave their mark on history, they have gone to great lengths to acquire power, and once they have it, they are even less willing to give it up easily.

Because without power, nothing can be accomplished.

Just like Li Yi's current plans, how could he mobilize these human and material resources to realize them without having a certain amount of power?

After inspecting the riverbank for a while, Li Yi didn't linger. He told his uncle and then led his men back to Tokyo.

Many things in this world happen simultaneously, not just one thing at a time... This is true of Tokyo's expansion, and it is also true of Li Yi's plans.

Li Yi planned to finish his shift early today and go home to talk to Zuo Congqin about some of his thoughts.

And incidentally, give this "ancient chemist" something to do...

(End of this chapter)