My Brother-in-law is the Prince

  Chapter 351 Do a big thing

  After Zhu Di finished speaking, Zhang Anshi himself looked a little confused.

  So Zhu Di smiled and said: "What's the matter? Do you think there is something wrong with me?"

Zhang Anshi put on a surprised look and said: "No, it's just that I never expected that His Majesty would think so far. Compared with those great scholars and so-called famous officials, His Majesty's foresight is far above them. .”

  Although there are elements of flattery in these words, some of them do come from sincerity. Of course, although there is sincerity, there are not many.

After Zhu Di heard this, he laughed and said, "Do you really think I'm just a vulgar person? After Emperor Gaozu, I farmed in Fengyang, fought in Mobei, and was taught by a famous teacher. The people I interact with every day are all For a person like Master Yao, let alone Jing Nan's success in the past. If he doesn't even have this knowledge, how can he be where he is today?"

  Zhang Anshi suddenly realized something.

  The so-called talent, after all, he fell into the trap of certain words.

Under the atmosphere of public opinion of the ancients, the scope of judging talents was very narrow. To be good at piano, chess, calligraphy and painting is called talent, and to be good at writing articles and reading four books is talent. To a certain extent, even Zhang Anshi was judged by the evaluation criteria of this kind of talent. affected.

   Now it dawns on me that when it comes to talent and knowledge, the so-called famous officials and great Confucians in this world may not be able to give Zhu Di shoes.

   People did it with real guns and real knives. Not to mention other things, just commanding troops in combat requires a superb ability to control talents. You have the ability to calculate money and food and understand the thoughts of soldiers, and you also need to be able to think what the enemy doesn't want, and attack the enemy's quick thinking.

  Zhu Di only glanced at the steam engine, and he could immediately judge the great role of the military workshop in the future.

  From the point of view of literati who are only small-minded, such a huge project to sail to the west is just Zhu Di's desire to find Emperor Jianwen, or to satisfy the so-called great feat mentality of all nations coming to court.

  It’s ridiculous to say it. When a person like Zhu Di ascends the throne, his ability to control the country may not be comparable to any emperor of the Ming Dynasty except Emperor Taizu Gao.

  When Emperor Jianwen held the world's soldiers and horses in his hands, Zhu Di was able to beat the crowd and pick Jianwen off the throne, but he was still worried that Jianwen would be reduced to the people. What appeal could he have to revive?

  Going to the Western Seas, which involves the livelihood of tens of millions of people, was done by Zhu Di, and it lasted through the twenty years of Zhu Di's reign. How could it be such a boring thing just to find Jianwen's whereabouts?

   It can be seen from this that many of these literati who are talked about by later generations are so small that it really surprises people.

   But these literati spread such news with great relish, but they are often evaluated as visionary.

  In a sense, judging a person like Zhu Di with such a narrow mind is a bit ridiculous like Xia Chongyu Bing, which seems ridiculous.

  At this time, Zhu Di saw Zhang Anshi's flustered look again, and couldn't help saying: "Why are you in a trance again, what are you thinking about?"

  Zhang Anshi quickly withdrew his mind, smiled awkwardly, and then said: "I...I didn't think about anything, I...I was thinking...Is this the capital governor's mansion...do I need to make more achievements in order to be worthy of Your Majesty's kindness."

Zhu Di said: "This is your business. I don't doubt people, and I don't doubt people. You can do it freely. If you do well, you will be credited. If you don't do well, I will take care of you. I will never teach you to suffer. of."

  Zhang Anshi was not polite at all, and said directly: "That minister really did it."

  When he said this, Zhu Di, who was originally full of pride, suddenly felt hopeless.

   This guy, what does he want to do?

   But Zhu Di had already spoken, but he couldn't go back on his words, so he didn't respond.

  Zhang Anshi didn't care about these things, he left the palace and returned to the Dudu's mansion.

   At this time, he became inexplicably excited, and ordered Gao Xiangren to be called immediately, and Zhu Jin was also invited.

   Wait until everyone is seated one by one.

  Zhang Anshi glanced at everyone, and then said: "In a few days, you will also go to the workshop and have a look at the steam engine in the military workshop."

"This..." Zhu Jin smiled and said, "I've already seen it, seven days ago. The main reason is that I spent too much money, so I went to see it specially. Oh, why are you spending so much money? This thing...is really scary..."

Zhang Anshi looked at his surprised look, smiled and said: "It's a bit of a waste of money, but with this, many things will be easier in the future, but... this steam locomotive can be improved, but... I think After thinking about it, the matter of laying the track needs to be put on the agenda quickly."

  After Zhu Jin heard this, he was shocked, his eyes widened subconsciously, and he said, "Commander... lay iron bars on the ground?"

   "What?" Zhang Anshi glanced at Zhu Jin: "What do you think?"

  Zhu Jin said with a bitter face: "This cost is not small, no, no, no... it is not only a lot of money... this..."

Seeing his troubled look, Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "The cost is really high, so I asked everyone to discuss it. Don't worry, you only see the cost, but what is the cost? The cost is nothing more than gold and silver , Gold and silver, you say they are valuable, they are indeed valuable, but when you think about them carefully, they are worthless, they are just currency! What is really valuable? It is food! It is steel! And The property of this world! So when you think about it, you can’t just look at the cost, you have to think about what benefits it will bring.”

  Zhu Jin looked at Zhang Anshi in surprise: "Income?"

Zhang Anshi is in a good mood today, and he said patiently at this time: "Now, under the rule of the Zuo Dudu Mansion, the food problem can be solved enough, and the business is still prosperous. I heard that there are many merchants, and our Qixia Commercial Firm , now... have accumulated a lot of wealth, right? Calculated in this way, the primitive accumulation of capital is considered to be there. But this is not enough. This business has reached a certain level, and all day long it only knows how to weave and forge There are bottlenecks in making furniture, porcelain and pottery, besides, let me ask you..."

  Zhang Anshi looked at Zhu Jindao and asked, "Has the production of cloth and silk in Taiping Prefecture increased recently?"

"This..." Zhu Jin was stunned. He didn't understand why Zhang Anshi suddenly asked this, but he still thought about it and said truthfully: "Although there are quite a few workshops, in fact, the momentum last year was very good, but this year Well, it's a little slow."

  Zhang Anshi said: "Why?"

Zhu Jin said without hesitation: "It's not easy. Of course, both the Zuo Dudu's Mansion and the Right Dudu's Mansion are now clearing the land, and they all follow the rules of the Taiping Mansion. Many magistrates took office, except for clearing the land. The second thing is to encourage workshops and revitalize commerce. Because of this...so there are many spinning workshops, weaving workshops, and many other workshops. Seeing that the land price is cheaper and the labor costs are lower there, they also Willing to go there to set up a workshop.”

Zhang Anshi said: "That's it. Taiping Mansion can rely on these workshops to revitalize, but can the entire Zhili rely on this workshop? Then... let's think about it again, if in the future, the whole world follows the example of Taiping Mansion, how can we teach the state of the world?" Is this the case in all counties? By that time, the common people will starve to death if they rely on these workshops."

  Zhu Jin thought about it seriously, then nodded and said: "What the governor said makes a lot of sense. In this way, isn't it... other places... even if the New Deal is implemented, it will have no effect?"

Zhang Anshi said: "But you can't say that. Now it seems that there is only one pancake in the whole world. Now this pancake is eaten by the Taiping Prefecture, but with the spread of the new policy, more and more state governments will distribute this pancake. In the end, maybe everyone can only get such a little residue. So, what we have to do is to create a bigger pie before the pie is distributed, and the action must be fast."

  Zhu Jin asked subconsciously: "Where are the pancakes for the governor?"

  Zhang Anshi directly uttered three words: "Repair the railway."

   "Ah..." Zhu Jin was surprised again.

Zhang Anshi continued: "When demand is created, at the same time... there will be more iron and steel workshops, machinery workshops, and even steam engine workshops. In addition, it will greatly improve rubber, alchemy, and woodworking. "

   "But...these are railway tracks..." Zhu Jin seemed a little worried.

Zhang Anshidao: "Don't always think that steel is expensive. If you drive the industry, the benefits you get are ten times and a hundred times more valuable than these few things. Laying rails is to create industries such as steel, machinery, and alchemy." The strong demand makes people willing to invest more money in this field, and they are also willing to cultivate talents in this field at all costs."

"In addition, after this thing is completed, it can bring us great convenience, and at the same time, we can get more benefits. If you are afraid of your hands and feet, and afraid of greedy for success, then... you will not be able to do anything. .”

Gao Xiang listened carefully to the side, he, the new governor, already had a lot of understanding about business matters, but this time, Zhang Anshi put forward a new theory, which required him to slowly to digest.

  Zhu Jindao: "Then the governor means..."

Zhang Anshidao: "Let the Zuo Dudu Mansion take the lead in raising funds, issuing public bonds, and planning and constructing the railway tracks. Qixia Commercial Bank, and the bank below you, you must claim at least 30% to 40% of the public bonds. I use Zuo The tax from the Dudu Mansion will be used as a guarantee."

After all, he thought about it seriously, and said: "This year our taxes are more than two million taels, of which one million taels is handed over to the imperial court. If you calculate how much you have left, you must at least prepare a sum of money." Come, as the funds for the project. The rest...all can be raised through public bonds, and the issue of bonds requires the cooperation of the United Bank."

  Zhu Jin said: "How much does the governor plan to issue?"

Zhang Anshidao: "Let's build a few first... The preliminary planning, personnel training, and exploration, as well as the construction of the roadbed, the laying of rails and sleepers, etc., all of this... I'm afraid it will cost tens of millions of taels of silver... But... Fortunately, the money will be apportioned over the next few years."

After a pause, he thought of something, and then said again: "After the railway is completed, some profits can be made to pay back... Calculated in this way...the problem of funds should not be a big problem, let's issue three million taels of silver first, it's not enough Just add more."

Zhang Anshi remembers that at the end of the Qing Dynasty, the construction cost of railways was about 10,000 taels of silver per kilometer. Of course, railway technology was relatively common at that time, but given the level of technology at the end of the Qing Dynasty, most things had to be imported at high prices. , plus the price of silver in the Ming Dynasty was much more expensive than that in the late Qing Dynasty.

  So theoretically, the cost of 13,000 taels of silver per kilometer should be able to be taken down. Afterwards, as the railway project matures, Zhang Anshi even feels that this cost can be greatly reduced.

  South Zhili, although the state capital under the jurisdiction of the Youdu Dudu Mansion is not the most affluent area, it also belongs to the essence of Ming Dynasty. The railway laying here should not lose money, and the cost should be recovered in the future.

  The benefits of various industries that can be driven are unimaginable.

  But the number reported by Zhang Anshi still surprised Zhu Jin.

   This is a fund of tens of millions of taels of silver. Although it is acceptable to apportion it every year, it is too expensive.

  It's just Zhang Anshi's words, how dare he not listen? Finally, he gritted his teeth and said: "The governor's order is that no matter whether it is a commercial bank or a joint bank, the governor will raise as much as he wants, and the small ones will raise as much as they want. The commercial bank and the bank will take care of the excess public debt."

   "What I want is your words." Zhang Anshi smiled happily: "So these days, I still need to work **** you."

  Zhu Jin hurriedly said: "Don't dare."

  Zhang Anshi immediately looked at Gao Xiang: "Gaofu Yin."

   "Yes." Gao Xiang quickly got up and saluted Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshidao: "Next, it's up to you. You will carry out the preliminary work of laying the railway, the land requisition, and the mobilization of migrant workers. The Taiping Mansion will bear most of it. Back then... Taiping Mansion reserved A lot of land, now... can also come in handy."

   "The next official dare not try his best."

  Zhang Anshi also heaved a long sigh of relief. It has to be said that he is quite a gambler now. The bet is that once the railway starts to be built, all businesses will also prosper.

  But if the road construction went wrong, Zhang Anshi was afraid of being in debt, Zhang Anshi thought about it, and had no choice but to go to Xinzhou overnight.

   Just do it, the bank began to release public bonds, and the interest on public bonds was slightly higher than that of storing silver in the bank. Under Zhu Jin's instigation, the United Bank has begun to publicize that saving is not as good as buying public bonds, and the various benefits of public bonds.

   On the other hand, the Railway Department under the Zuodu Dudu Mansion was established. In addition, a brand new railway workshop was established.

   Followed by a road protection inspection department, equipped with 300 people, the main role is to protect the safety along the future railway line, patrol the railway line and the station, and maintain law and order.

  As soon as the news came out, almost all the owners of major commercial firms had begun to receive hints that these big merchants were by no means fools. In addition to their own unique vision when doing business, they also attached great importance to the collection of information.

  As soon as they heard that the railway was going to be built, all the news about the railway was placed in front of them.

  Then... Almost in unison, the major workshops began to spend money desperately, preparing to contract iron ore and coal mines in various counties.

  Obviously... the demand for steel will be very strong in the future. If we don't expand production quickly at all costs at this time, I'm afraid we won't even be able to drink soup.

   And it is reported that Qixia Commercial Bank has discovered a large number of coal mines and iron mines in Wuhu and other counties.

  ...

   "My lord, my lord..."

  In a huge and continuous building, there is actually a golden lacquer archway hanging outside this building.

   Someone saluted the people inside and said, "Young Master Liu has returned from the capital."

   "Oh? Come on, let him in."

   Not long after, I saw a young man in a shawl and a Confucian shirt enter. In the depths of this gloomy mansion, he bowed to an old man inside and said: "Master..."

  The old man took a sip of tea, then looked up at the young man, and asked, "How is the situation in the capital?"

  The young man said angrily: "Too bad, someone lured a wolf into the house, and invited the king of Shu, that king of Shu is ambitious, hey..."

   "The old man also knows some of these things from the residence newspaper. I really didn't expect..." The old man shook his head and said quietly: "I heard that in the capital, the so-called New Deal is to distribute land to tenants?"

   "Exactly."

   "Borrow the heads of the gentry and invite to buy the hearts of the common people, hey..." The old man continued to shake his head and smile wryly.

   "Men, the situation is not so bad."

  The old man was surprised and said: "Huh? How can you see it?"

  The young man said: "The student is in the capital, and I have known many people. The news that the student got is a little different."

   "Tell me to see."

The young man said: "The King of Shu and Duke Wei not only forcibly confiscated the land in the name of confiscating the hidden fields, but also forced the farm laborers to accept these fields. For an ambitious and self-reliant farmer, this kind of income for nothing is undoubtedly a humiliation. !"

   "So in Southern Zhili, not only the victimized gentry complained to the King of Shu and Duke Wei, but also the former tenant farmers and farm laborers were also dissatisfied."

  The old man couldn't help but said: "Really? I really didn't expect..."

"This is the actual situation learned by the students in the scholar forest. Zhili is already a raging fire. Everyone hates the King of Shu and Wei Guogong to the bone. It's just that they are powerful after all, and people dare not speak out when they are angry. You have to be bullied by them."

  The old man sighed: "The rites are broken and the music is broken, the rites are broken and the music is broken..."

   "Men, teachers, students, and old officials are all over the world. It's time to stand up and speak for the people of the world."

  The old man said: "What's the use of saying it? When a faint king is in power and treacherous ministers are in power, do you think that a few words and a few words of righteousness can teach them to repent?"

  The youth said indignantly: "Don't we do nothing? Let them seize the land and humiliate the farmers?"

  The old man was silent for a moment, and then said: "Don't worry... don't worry, it's not the time yet... Yes, there is a letter sent from Java. Your senior brother is really concerned about your studies. You should go and have a look."

  The man looked surprised, then nodded: "Yes."

  ...

  The Right Dudu Mansion is full of people. In order to formulate a railway plan, many officials from the Zuo Dudu Mansion went to various prefectures to investigate.

  In addition, it is to organize a large amount of labor for preliminary training.

Young Yin Yang Pu, who came here to work, has been busy for a long time. He has been organized to go to a military workshop to investigate the situation of steam trains, and after learning about the situation of land exploration in various places, the whole person is still dizzy. of.

  He has been working in Taiping Mansion for more than a month, and he is already familiar with the general situation. He is still amazed by the new policy of Taiping Mansion.

   Now, after seeing this steam car and the grand blueprint that Zhang Anshi is about to announce, he couldn't help but realize something at this time.

  He came to see Zhang Anshi in a hurry, and said, "The governor..."

  Zhang Anshi looked up at him, with an easy-going expression, smiled and said: "Come on, sit down, you don't have to be so polite, after all, you are a bachelor of Zhan Shifu, and this Shaoyin is just your substitute."

  Yang Pu said: "Shao Yin is Shao Yin. Since he is the assistant official of the governor, he should have the upper and lower ranks."

  Zhang Anshi didn't say anything more about it, but instead said: "I ordered you to understand the situation, have you already understood?"

   "I probably understand."

   "Is there anything you don't understand?"

  Yang Pu showed a bit of worry, and said, "Will the matter of money and food bring a huge burden?"

  Zhang Anshidao: "Railway is not water conservancy, and railway will be profitable in the future."

   "As far as I understand, there are many waterways in the south of the Yangtze River. Some places that are difficult to build can be bypassed, but there are some places that need to lay bridges..."

   "That's why I ordered people to conduct exploration. After the exploration, I ordered people to find a way to build the bridge. It can't be because it is difficult to stop building, right? If not, then nothing can be done. It really can't be solved."

  Yang Pu said: "Then I don't have any doubts, but as far as I know, the wages in the market have risen a lot..."

Zhang Anshi said: "This is for sure. With such a sudden demand for manpower, it is inevitable that the labor price will rise. So on the one hand, people from the surrounding prefectures and counties must be attracted to work, and on the other hand, they must be forced to work. Everyone use the tools."

  Yang Pu looked at Zhang Anshi suspiciously: "Use tools?"

  Zhang Anshi smiled and said: "Do you know that in Taiping Mansion, in the past, why didn't everyone use oxen and horses to plow the land, but now more and more people use oxen and horses to plow the land?"

  Yang Pu looked at Zhang Anshi seriously, looked at him curiously and said, "I just want to ask for advice."

Zhang Anshidao: "It's very simple, because manpower was too cheap in the past, and the cost of raising cattle and horses was not small. Since manpower is cheap, why use expensive cattle and horses to replace manpower? But it's different now, because Taiping Mansion's The manpower is getting higher and higher, so everyone finds that it is more cost-effective to raise cattle and horses to cultivate the land, which saves manpower, so everyone rushes to buy cattle and horses to replace manpower.”

   "Actually, the current situation is the same. The price of manpower has risen, which is not a bad thing for Zhili. As far as I know, there are quite a few workshops that have begun to replace manpower with water-powered spinning wheels."

  ...

  I got a little better, I worked hard to write a chapter, and try to write another chapter today. In other words, if it can be better, it will definitely be better.

  (end of this chapter)