Chapter 351: Doing Something Big

Zhu Di said, seeing Zhang Anshi himself looking a bit confused instead.

So Zhu Di laughed and said, “What? Is it because you think there is something wrong with me?”

Zhang Anshi put on a look of surprise and said, “No, it’s just that I never thought that Your Majesty would think so far ahead, and compared to those great Confucian scholars and so-called famous ministers, Your Majesty’s farsightedness is far above them.”

There is an element of bragging in this statement, but it does come partly from a genuine place, but of course, while genuine, it is just not much.

Zhu Di heard, laughed and said: “still really think I am just a rough man? I am the great ancestor of the high emperor, after the Feng Yang farming, killed in the desert north, but also have a famous teacher pointed out, daily interaction around, are master yao such a person, not to mention, jing difficult to ascend to the top of the past. If you don’t even have this insight, can you have today?”

Zhang Anshi snapped out of something.

The so-called talent was ultimately a trap he fell into with certain words.

Under the public opinion atmosphere of the ancients, the scope of judgment for talent is very narrow, good at zither, chess, calligraphy and painting is called talent, good at writing articles and reading the four books is talent, this talent evaluation standard, to some extent, even Zhang Anshi was also affected.

Now it dawned on me that in terms of talent, the so-called famous ministers and great scholars under this sky might not necessarily be able to lift up Zhu Di’s shoes.

People are the real guns and knives out of the dry, not to mention other things, single unified combat, you need to have a superior ability to manage the talent. Calculate the money and food and understand the soldier’s ideological trends of talent, but also need to be able to think of the enemy does not want to attack the enemy’s unprepared for the swift and sensitive thinking.

It is not surprising that Zhu Di only glanced at the steam engine, immediately able to judge the great role of the military workshop in the future, this is, after all, dare to go to the West of the Yongle son of heaven.

Only the small-minded people of the literature, such a huge project to the West, but Zhu Di wants to find the Jianwen Emperor, or to meet the so-called great success of the so-called ten thousand countries to the dynasty of the psychology.

It is ridiculous to say that a man like Zhu Di ascended the throne, and his mastery of the kingdom may not be compared to any Ming emperor except for Emperor Taizu Gao.

When Emperor Jianwen held the world’s troops and horses, Zhu Di can still fight against the crowd with fewer, will Jianwen from the throne to pick down, would even worry about Jianwen fell to the people, what appeal, can be resurrected?

The West China Sea, which involves the livelihood of tens of millions of people, in the hands of Zhu Di to complete, and throughout the twenty years of Zhu Di’s reign, and how is only to find Jianwen whereabouts of this kind of boring things?

From this we can see that many of these literati who are so popular in later generations have a small pattern, which is really a big surprise to people.

But it is these literati who spread such news with great gusto, and are often labeled as visionaries.

In a sense, with that kind of narrow-minded small mind, to judge Zhu Di such a person, quite a few summer bugs talk about ice a kind of funny, seem ridiculous.

At this time, Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi’s flustered appearance again, so he couldn’t help but say, “Why are you out of your mind again, what are you thinking about in your head?”

Zhang Anshi hastily withdrew his mind, smiled awkwardly, and then said, “I …… don’t think about anything, I …… am thinking …… about whether this Right Governor’s Office of the minister …… have to make more achievements to be able to stand up to Your Majesty’s knowledge and honor.”

Zhu Di said: “This is your business, I do not use people, use people do not doubt, you despite the release to do, do well, is a credit, do not do well, I give you a pocket, always do not teach you to suffer.”

Zhang Anshi was not polite at all and said directly, “Then the minister really did it.”

When he said this, Zhu Di, who originally had a great deal of ambition, on the contrary, suddenly felt bottomless.

This guy, what’s he up to now?

But Zhu had already spoken, but it was not good to back out, so he did not make a response.

Zhang Anshi didn’t care about this, he left the palace and went back to the Governor’s Mansion.

At this time, he inexplicably got a little excited and ordered people to immediately summon Gao Xiangren and others to come, and invited Zhu Jin.

Wait until the people are seated one by one.

Zhang Anshi scanned the crowd, then said, “In a few days, you will also go to the workshop there to see the steam engine of the military workshop.”

“This ……” Zhu Jin smiled and said, “I have seen, seven days ago, I have seen, mainly spent too much silver, so the small special to see, oops, how to spend money like this ah, this thing …… is really scary ……”

Zhang Anshi looked at his surprised look, smiled and said, “Spending money is spending a little, but with this, many things will be better in the future, but …… this steam locomotive can still be improved again, just …… I Thinking about it, this laying track thing, but need to hurry to put on the agenda.”

When Zhu Jin heard it, he looked astonished, his eyes subconsciously widened, and said, “The Governor …… laid iron bars on the ground?”

“What?” Zhang Anshi glanced at Zhu Jin, “What do you think?”

Zhu Jin said with a bitter face, “This expense is not small ah, no no no …… not only is the expense not small ah …… this …… ”

Looking at his entangled appearance, Zhang Anshi laughed, “The expenses are indeed huge, so that’s why I’m looking for everyone to discuss it. Don’t be anxious, you, only see the cost, but what is the cost? Spending is just gold and silver, gold and silver this thing, you say it’s worth money, it is really worth money, but think about it, this thing is worthless, but it’s just currency! What is really worth money? It’s food! It’s steel! And the products of the 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, “Gain?”

Zhang Anshi today in a good mood, at this time is very patient, said: “Now, this left under the rule of the Governor’s Office, the problem of food, is considered sufficient to solve the problem, business is also quite prosperous, I heard that a lot of merchants, as well as our Qixia business firm, now …… have accumulated a lot of wealth, right? So count down, the original accumulation of capital, is considered to have. But with this, but also insufficient, this trade to a certain extent, all day only know weaving, making furniture, making porcelain and pottery, there is a bottleneck, and then again, I came to ask you ……”

Zhang Anshi looked at Zhu Jindao and asked, “Has there been an increase in the production of woven cloth and silk and other commodities in Taiping Province recently?”

“This ……” Zhu Jin froze, he did not understand how Zhang Anshi suddenly asked about this, but still thought about it, truthfully said: “Although there are a lot of workshops, but in fact, last year’s momentum was excellent, but this year, well, it is a little slow. is a little slow.”

Zhang Anshi said, “Why is this?”

Zhu Jin did not hesitate to say: “This is not simple, of course, is the left governor’s office and the right governor’s office are now clearing the land, and also according to the rules of the Taiping Province, many governors, in addition to clearing the land, the second thing to do is to encourage workshops, revitalize the business, because of this …… so there are many Spinning workshop, and weaving workshop, as well as many other workshops, see there land price is cheaper, labor costs are also lower, they are also willing to go there to open a workshop.”

Zhang Anshi then said: “This is it, Taipingfu can rely on these workshops to revitalize, but the whole Zhili, can rely on this workshop? Then …… let’s think about it, if the future, the world all follow the example of Taipingfu, is to teach the world’s counties are so? By that time, I’m afraid that relying on these workshops, the people would have starved to death long ago.”

When Zhu Jin thought seriously, he could not help but nod his head and say, “When the Governor says this, it is quite a few points of truth. In this way, wouldn’t …… other places …… even if they have implemented the New Deal, it wouldn’t have much effect?”

Zhang Anshi then said, “But it can’t be said like this, now it’s like the whole world, there is just such a pie, now this pie is the Taiping prefecture in eating, but as the new policy spreads out, more and more state capitals are dividing this pie, and in the end, maybe everyone can only share such a little bit of residue. So ah, what we have to do is to rush to create a bigger pie before this pie is divided out, and move fast.”

Zhu Jin then subconsciously asked, “Where is the Dudu’s cake?”

Zhang Anshi directly spat out three words, “Build a railroad.”

“Ah ……,” said Jujin, again surprised.

Zhang Anshi then added: “Creating demand, at the same time …… there will be more iron and steel workshops, machinery workshops, and even workshops for steam engines, in addition to rubber, alchemy, and wood processing are all greatly enhanced.”

“But …… this is a railroad track ……” said Zhu Jin, looking a little worried.

Zhang Anshi said: “Don’t always think that steel is expensive, you drive up the industry, this gained benefits, but than these Xu things, the value of ten times a hundred times higher. Laying railroad tracks, is to create a strong demand for steel, machinery, alchemy and other industries, so that people are willing to put more silver, invested here, but also willing to go to any lengths to cultivate talent in this area.”

“In addition to this, after the completion of this thing, and can bring great convenience to us, but also can get more revenue, if we are afraid of the fear of greed, then …… will not be able to do anything.”

Gao Xiang listened carefully on the side, he this new governor in fact, for the matter of industry and commerce, already have a lot of their own understanding, but Zhang Anshi this time, but put forward a new theory, need to take his time to digest.

Zhu Jin said, “Then what does the Governor mean ……”

Zhang Anshi said, “Let the Left Governor’s Office take the lead, raise funds, issue public bonds, and carry out the planning and construction of the railroad tracks. Qixia merchant bank, and your money bank down here, this public debt you must subscribe at least 30% to 40%, I will use the taxes of the left governor’s office as a guarantee.”

After saying that, he seriously pondered for a while, and then said, “This year we have more than two million taels of taxes, of which one million taels are paid to the court, you calculate how much of the balance, at least to prepare a sum of silver to be used as the project’s funding. The rest …… can all be financed through public debt, this debt issuance, but also need to cooperate with the joint money bank side.”

Zhu Jin said, “How much does the Governor intend to issue.”

Zhang Anshi said, “First build a few it …… preliminary planning, personnel training, and exploration and the construction of the roadbed, the laying of rails and sleepers, some of this …… before and after, I’m afraid to not less than ten million taels of silver! …… But …… good thing is that these silver, is spread over the next few years.”

After a pause, he thought of something, before he added: “When the railroad is completed, it can also earn some profits to repay …… so that the problem of …… funds should not be too big, the first issue of three million taels of silver, not enough then Additional is.”

Zhang Anshi remembers that the construction cost of the railroad at the end of the Qing Dynasty was roughly around 13,000 taels of silver per kilometer, and of course, railroad technology was already more common at that time, but given the level of technology at the end of the Qing Dynasty at that time, it was only a matter of importing the vast majority of things at a high price, coupled with the fact that the price of silver in the Ming Dynasty was much more expensive than that of the end of the Qing Dynasty period.

So theoretically, thirteen thousand taels of silver per kilometer cost, should be able to take down, and thereafter with the maturity of the railroad project, Zhang Anshi even think, this cost can also be greatly room to reduce.

South Zhili this place, although the right Governor’s Office under the jurisdiction of the state, is not the most affluent area, but also belongs to the essence of the Ming, laying railroads here, should not lose money, the future cost should be able to recover.

But the benefits of the various industries driven by the benefits are unimaginable.

However, the number reported by Zhang Anshi still startled Zhu Jin.

That’s ten million taels of silver on a scale, and even though it’s spread out over each year, it’s affordable, but it’s too much of a drain on the silver.

Just Zhang Anshi’s words, how dare he not listen? Finally gritted his teeth and said: “Governor command is, whether it is the merchant bank or joint money changers, how much the Governor wants, how much the small will raise, excess public debt, merchant banks and money changers underwriting is.”

“What is wanted is this sentence from you.” Zhang Anshi smiled happily, “So these days, it’s still necessary to work hard for you.”

Zhu Jin hurriedly said, “I don’t dare.”

Zhang Anshi then looked at Gao Xiang, “Prefect Gao.”

“In.” Gao Xiang hurriedly got up and saluted Zhang Anshi.

Zhang Anshi said, “Next, it depends on you, the railroad laying of the work of the early stage, you to carry out, the land requisition, as well as the mobilization of civilian workers, Taiping House side, to bear most of the, when ……… Taiping House set aside a lot of land, now …… can also be put to use.”

“I dare not do my best.”

Zhang Anshi also long breath, I have to say, he is now quite a few points of the flavor of gambling, betting on the railroad once started to build through, then the industry is also prosperous.

But if the repair of the road thing screwed up, then afraid to debt, Zhang Anshi thought about it, there is only one way to run to Xinzhou overnight.

Said to do, the money bank began to release the public debt, the interest rate of the public debt, than the silver stored in the money bank to be slightly higher, this joint money bank in Zhu Jin under the authorization of the money bank, has begun to publicize the savings is not as good as the purchase of the public debt, as well as public debt of the benefits of all kinds of.

On the other hand, the Railway Division under the Left Metropolitan Government was established, and in addition to this, a brand new railroad workshop was set up.

Along with it came a Department of Road Protectors and Inspectors, equipped with three hundred men and horses, whose main role was to protect the safety of the future railroads along the lines, patrolling the lines as well as the stations and maintaining law and order.

And once the news came out, the proprietors of the major merchant houses, almost all have begun to receive hints, these big merchants, by no means a fool, they do business in addition to their own unique vision, for the collection of intelligence, but also very important.

As soon as they heard that a railroad was going to be built, all the news of this railroad thing was laid before them.

And then …… almost coincidentally, the major workshops began to desperately smash silver, ready to contract the iron and coal mines of the prefectures and counties.

Obviously …… the future demand for this steel will be very strong, this time if you do not hurry to expand production at all costs, I’m afraid that even a mouth of soup can not drink.

And it is rumored that the Qixia Trading House, has discovered a large number of coal and iron mines in Wuhu and other counties.

…………

“Master, Master ……”

In a huge rolling building, outside of this building, there was even a gold-painted plaque of the scholarly discipline hanging.

Someone saluted the people inside and said, “Sir Liu has returned from the capital.”

“Oh? Quick, invite him in.”

It didn’t take long to see a young man in spandex and Confucian clothes enter, and in the depths of this eerie mansion, he bowed and saluted towards an old man inside, “En master ……”

This old man sipped his tea before looking up at this youth and said, “How is the situation in the capital?”

This youth exasperatedly said, “It’s bad, someone lured the wolf into the house, actually invited to the king of Shu, that king of Shu wolf ambition, hey ……”

“These things, the old man from the residence newspaper also know some, really did not expect ……” This old man shook his head, said quietly: “I heard that in the capital, the so-called new policy, is to give tenants to share land? ”

“Exactly.”

“Borrowing the heads of all the squires, inviting to buy the hearts of the small people, hey ……” The old man continued to shake his head and laugh bitterly.

“Enchanter, the situation is not that bad.”

The old man was surprised and said, “Hm? How can you see that?”

The youth then said, “The student was in the capital, but also with a lot of people to understand, the student got the news, some different.”

“Say it and see.”

The youth said, “This King of Shu and the Duke of Wei not only forced the confiscation of land under the name of checking the hidden fields, but also forced the hired peasants to accept these fields; for a farmer who is ambitious and self-supporting, this kind of unearned income is undoubtedly a humiliation!”

“So in Nan Zhili, not only do the victimized gentry have grievances against the King of Shu and the Duke of Wei, but also the former sharecroppers and hired peasants.”

The old man couldn’t help but say, “Really? What a surprise ……”

“This is among the scholars, students have learned the actual situation, this Zhili can be said to have been a dry fire, everyone on the King of Shu and the Duke of Wei hate to the bone, but they are, after all, the power of the people dared to be angry but not dare to say, had to suffer them to be bullied and humiliated.”

The old man sighed, “The rites are falling apart, the rites are falling apart ……”

“Enshu’s disciples and officials are all over the world, and at this time it is time to come forward and speak for the world’s people.”

The old man said; “What’s the use of talking about it, a dim ruler is in the court, a treacherous minister is in power, do you think you can teach them to repent by a few words and a few words of righteousness?”

The youth said indignantly, “Are we to do nothing at all? Let them seize the land and humiliate the farmers?”

The old man was silent for a moment, then said, “There is no hurry …… there is no hurry, it is not yet the time …… Right, there is a letter, sent from Java, your senior brother, is quite concerned about your studies, you go to see it. ”

The man looked surprised, and then nodded, “Yes.”

…………

The Right Governor’s Office was full of people, and in order to make plans for the railroads, many of the Left Governor’s officers had gone to the various houses to investigate.

Apart from that, it is the organization of a large number of labourers for pre-training.

Come here to serve as a young Yin Yang Pu, has long been busy open, he has been organized to go to a military workshop to investigate the situation of the steam train, but also to understand the situation of land exploration around the situation after the whole person, up to now is still dizzy.

In this Taiping Province, he has been dry for more than a month, the general situation, has been familiar with, he is still surprised at, this Taiping Province, the new political situation.

Now, having seen the steam car and the grand blueprint that Zhang Anshi was about to promulgate, he couldn’t help but realize something at this point.

He hurriedly came to see Zhang Anshi and said, “Dudu ……”

Zhang Anshi looked up at him with an easygoing expression and smiled, “Come, sit down, you don’t have to be so polite, after all, you’re the University Sergeant of Zhanfu, and this Young Yin is just your substitute position.”

Yang Pu, however, said, “A young Yin is a young Yin, and since he is the Governor’s official, there should be respect for his superiority and inferiority.”

Zhang Anshi then didn’t say anything more on this, and turned to say, “I ordered you to understand the situation, have you understood it?”

“Roughly understood.”

“Is there anything you don’t understand?”

Yang Pu then revealed a bit of worry and said, “Will the matter of money and food bring a huge burden?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Railroads are not water conservancy, and railroads can be profitable in the future.”

“According to my humble understanding, Jiangnan many waterways, some construction is more difficult to go around, but some places, but need to lay bridges can not be ……”

“That’s why I ordered exploration, and after the exploration, I ordered people to find a way to build the bridge, and just because it’s hard, we can’t stop building it, can we? If not, then nothing will get done. It really can’t be solved.”

Yang Pu said, “Then the next official has no questions, but according to my understanding, now on the market, the price of labor has risen a lot ……”

Zhang Anshi then said: “This is for sure, suddenly there is such a large demand for labor, the price of labor is bound to rise. So on the one hand, we have to attract people from surrounding prefectures to come to work, and on the other hand, we will force everyone to use tools.”

Yang Pu looked at Zhang Anshi suspiciously, “Use the tools?”

Zhang Anshi smiled and said, “Do you know that in Taipingfu, once upon a time, why people didn’t use oxen and horses to plow the land, while nowadays more and more people use oxen and horses to plow the land?”

Yang Pu looked seriously at Zhang Anshi and looked at him with an inquisitive face and said, “I am trying to ask for advice.”

Zhang Anshi said, “It’s very simple, because once upon a time, manpower was too cheap, and the cost of raising oxen and horses was not small, so since manpower was cheap, why would you want to replace manpower with exorbitant oxen and horses? But nowadays it’s different, because the manpower in Taipingfu is getting higher and higher, so everyone realized that it’s more cost-effective to raise oxen and horses to cultivate the land and save manpower instead, thus everyone scrambled to purchase oxen and horses to replace manpower.”

“Actually, this is the case now. 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 right now that are starting to use water-powered spinning wheels to try their best to replace human labor.”

…………

Well a little bit better, worked on one chapter, trying to write another one today I guess. From the word go, will definitely be more if I can.