Chapter 49                                                                                                                             �

After Zhou Mengchen made preparations for immigration, he went north from Chaoyi to Hukou, saying that he was checking the victims along the coast, but in fact he went straight to Hukou. In just a few days, he arrived at Hukou.

The river adjacent to Shaanxi and Shanxi has always been very easy to cross the river. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, there was a boating battle between Qin and Jin, which has always been a major road between Qin and Jin. Vessels travel frequently. It is very convenient for Zhou Mengchen to go to Hukou.

Hukou Waterfall is famous all over the world, which was later generations. In this era, except for some literati and poets, not many people knew it. Moreover, when the name Hukou was first known, it was not Hukou Waterfall. But Hukou Mountain, which is the mountain on the east side of Hukou Waterfall. It is Hukou Mountain.

The Hukou Waterfall blocks the waterway, not the Hukou Waterfall, but is a very narrow river channel above the Hukou. It is known as the Ten Mile Longcao. Before entering the Ten Mile Longcao, the Yellow River was several hundred meters wide, and when it arrived at the Hukou Waterfall, it was only more than 40 meters. The height drop of the Ten Mile Longcao is also 60 meters. It is said that the Yellow River has a pot of ten miles. It is precisely this height drop that the so-called land boating can only go from upstream to downstream, but not from downstream to upstream, because from upstream to downstream, it is a ten Mile downslope. There are mostly rocky beaches on both sides of the Yellow River, and logs can be used as wheels to put the boat down, but it is too difficult to go from below to above.

The scenery of Hukou Waterfall is so magnificent that it is the best in the world. Now the ice and snow on the Yellow River have melted. Countless waters of the Yellow River pour down, and the sound of thunder from afar and thunder from afar, which is amazing. However, on the Yellow River, it is also like a thorn in the throat, like a nail that nailed the Yellow River. Below the Hukou Waterfall, to Sanmenxia, ​​as mentioned in the previous article, it was shipped in the Spring and Autumn Period. On the Hukou Waterfall, to the newly established Heshuo Province, although the Yellow River is not without dangerous shoals in this section, but it is absolutely impossible to pass the Hukou Waterfall.

Moreover, because these places have always been outside the Great Wall, economic activities are not ordinary. Zhou Mengchen is not very clear about the hydrology, and it also requires careful exploration. After all, the Mongolians rarely transport from water. Even if there is, they just blow a sheepskin raft across the river.

Perhaps after the navigation in the future, it will take a lot of effort to diagnose and treat dangerous shoals. But that is also a matter of the future. At least there is no problem from here to the newly pacified Ordos. Although the ship is a little smaller, it can only have wooden ships of one or two hundred stones at most. However, large ships have been banned on the sea these days. Many Ming army warships are just this size.

It's fine if it can be used.

It was just the situation in front of him that made Zhou Mengchen sigh at the beauty of Hukou and the sinisterness of Hukou.

Zhou Mengchen sighed and said, "Everyone, you all know my thoughts. We have also seen the situation around us today. What do you think? You can say now."

Since Zhou Mengchen proposed this plan, he would not have the idea of ​​planning a secret room, and it would not be possible to have this idea. After all, how can such a big project be hidden beyond others? Then he must seek as much support as possible from others. With extensive support, it is easy to do things.

So, this time he came here, he brought many people to inspect. Of course, he was also the person Zhou Mengchen thought was the easiest to be convinced.

Han Bangqi pinched his beard and said, "If the Yellow River channel can be opened, and from then on, the Yellow River will be integrated into one, not only the blessing of the Qin and Jin provinces, but also the blessing of the country and the world. But Han has lived in the village for a long time, and I don't know that there is such a magical thing in the world?"

Han Bangqi has always known that Shaanxi is difficult. Chaoyi is still good. It is relatively easy to get close to Henan, Shanxi, and enter and exit Guanzhong. But it is not the case in many places in the northwest. It takes one or two years to go to the capital to take the exam. Many poor students can't afford it at all. It would be fine if they just take the Jinshi exam. But it's not just that.

The transportation in Datong is more than in the northwest, and it is still difficult to transport food. The land of Gansu is far away from the Central Plains. This weakening of control even allowed the Mongols to cross Gansu and enter Qinghai, becoming the so-called captives. Even the northwest used more troops.

The more troops are used, the more logistics supplies are needed. The more logistics is needed, the more difficult it is to transfer. These are all burdens on the people of Shaanxi Province. Grain production is already very difficult and surrounded by enemies on three sides. It can be said to be a prominent part of the Ming Dynasty's territory.

This was established in Heshuo Province, which relieved a lot of border pressure in Shaanxi.

Therefore, Han Bangqi has always supported his approach to reducing the burden on Shaanxi. He doesn't care about Qi's tricks, what he cares about is that Zhou Mengchen didn't brag too much, right?

"Sir, Caomin also wants to ask, can this matter really be successful? If it can be successful, my Shanxi merchants are willing to sell their money and support the court." Zhang Yunxi said.

Zhou Mengchen shook his head and said, "The court has its own laws. How can you sell the pot? Xu Gao, you have been to Hukou several times, so tell me."

Xu Gao said: "Yes."

Xu Gao is one of the disciples who came earlier, and is also the chief designer and engineer of Hukou Railway.

Xu Gao was a top student in the capital. He often built houses for nobles and even took on work in the palace. However, the longer the time, Xu Gao felt less challenging.

Indeed, if he was only satisfied with being an ordinary master. At this point, he was already the top. In his life, he would add a resume of building a tomb for the emperor. Even if it was Great Perfect.

However, Xu Gao studied under Zhou Mengchen and was no longer satisfied with the pinnacle of a traditional craftsman. He was not even satisfied with building a house. Nothing else, these houses had certain rules, just like formulas, and could not satisfy Xu Gao's desire for ingenuity.

Especially the experience of Xishan Canal not only allowed Pan Jixun to understand in advance how to use steam power, but also allowed Xu Gao to feel the beginning of a new and infinitely possible architectural model.

This time, in Xu Gao's opinion, the railway was not difficult, but it also had some small challenges.

Xu Gao said, "Master, I have already explored. This ten-mile Longcao seems to be ten miles, but it is actually fourteen miles long. To bypass this ten-mile Longcao, you need to build two ports below the Hukou and above the Longcao. There is room for space. In the specific situation, and carefully explore the water depth geology to determine the location of the two ports. However, the total length has been determined, and it should be between ten and fifteen miles. The location has also been determined, which is the east bank of the Yellow River, because the two banks of the ten-mile Longcao are mostly stone bottoms on the east bank." He said, taking out a stone and handed it to Zhou Mengchen for Zhou Mengchen to see.

Zhou Mengchen looked at the stone in his hand and found that there were very obvious traces of quarrying. In other words, this stone was knocked down from the mudflat, which made him sigh at the power of time. In his opinion, perhaps countless years ago, it was like this stone bank. It was just that under the erosion of countless years of water flow, he cut a river channel.

Xu Gao saw Zhou Mengchen clearly and said, "Stone sills, you don't need to consider the foundation problem. Just lay sand, gravel, sleeper, rails on the ground. As long as there is enough materials, I estimate that tens of thousands of people can build it in three months. What I am worried about is the steam engine of Junior Brother Yin? This road is easy to repair, but I don't know if the steam car really runs."

Zhou Mengchen looked at Yin Zongyi and said, "Are you sure?"

Yin Zongyi's face was flushed and said, "Please rest assured that the steam engine of my Yin family is absolutely fine. After many improvements, the steam engine will definitely be able to run on the railway. I think when building a railway, I should consider repair lines and directly allow the steam locomotive to turn around on the spot. It is much more convenient to drive in relative terms."

After hearing this, Zhou Mengchen said in his heart: "Don't I want to do it? It's just that the time is no longer."
Chapter completed!