Chapter 352 – Talent of the Sky and the Earth
When Yang Pu heard Zhang Anshi’s words, he had a number in his heart.
He smiled and said, “After hearing the words of the Governor, my humble servant will have a slight idea in his heart.”
Zhang Anshi said, “Mr. Yang has always had a way, and after all I’ve said to you, doesn’t Mr. Yang have anything he wants to say?”
“Want my humble servant to pick some faults?” Yang Pu couldn’t help but smile.
Zhang Anshi said, “Many people below me have some doubts about what I’m going to do, not only Zhu Jin, but also Gao Xiang, who also thinks it’s quite risky.”
It was also true that the investment was just too big, and to be honest, Zhang Anshi even knew that he was a bit reckless.
But Zhang Anshi has no choice, the implementation of the New Deal, there is no way back, he has almost been entrenched in the world for a thousand years of the profit-eating class are completely offended to death.
The only way at the moment, is to continue to venture, as long as they run fast enough, due to the new government and the rise of interest groups can be more large, the future …… only have a real thorough liquidation of the old gentry, so that the new government is completely implemented to any corner of the world may be.
It’s not time for me!
Yang Pu smiled slightly, he said, “There will definitely be people who will tell the Governor that this matter costs too much, and there will also be people who will say …… whether the future railroad will be useful or not is not yet known, or, even, some people feel that the Governor is too greedy for the credit, is that right?”
“Uh-huh.” Zhang Anshi looked at Yang Pu, he knew that Yang Pu, this person, is still considered fair, Yang Pu’s opinion, he is willing to listen.
Yang Pu said, “In fact, these days, the next official also heard a lot of such voices, of course, these voices are only worried, people are not the intention to block the Governor, but afraid of the Governor to go astray. But Yang mou seems …… these words …… actually do not have to pay attention to.”
“Why?” Zhang Anshi looked at Yang Pu strangely.
Yang Pu said: ”For anything in the world, once you start to look ahead, then it will be difficult to accomplish! Since the Governor is determined to do this, he must have gone through repeated weighing. Now in the whole world, there is no one who understands the new policy better than the Governor, and no one who understands the railroad better than the Governor. Others don’t understand, so they will worry, then since the Governor understands, and thinks that this way, there is not a small chance of winning, this is willing to make up his mind, in that case, then why doesn’t the Governor stick to his own opinion?”
“In this world, smart people are very few, the vast majority of people, are unable to see the direction of the road ahead, the next official does not mean to look down on people, but the reality of the situation is so. Such as this new policy, this is unprecedented, unprecedented, is relying on the Governor, only to open up such a new road, then the Governor should understand, to this point now, the Governor is the leading sheep, how to do next, what to do, the Governor must take their own ideas, take the idea, after the absolute can not be shaken, if the Governor can not believe in their own, then … … . what makes others believe in the Governor?”
Hearing this, Zhang Anshi couldn’t help but nod his head; “You’re right, I firmly believe that I’m on the right path, and since that’s the case, I have to stick to it, and Mr. Yang’s words have kind of enlightened me.”
Zhang Anshi gazed at Yang Pu, looking sincere.
“The Governor is welcome.”
Zhang Anshi then said, “This time the construction of the railroad, Mr. Yang to me as a deputy, there are some things, I need to discuss with you to do.”
Yang Pu rose and saluted, “Dare not follow orders.”
When this Yang Pu excused himself, Zhang Anshi looked at his back and couldn’t help but feel emotion.
As expected, it is worthy of being one of the three Yang Cabinet in history, and the future Da Ming Cabinet Chief University Counselor ah.
These three Yangs, none of them is a saving grace.
The entire Right Governor’s Office, up and down, was busy.
A program, as well as land exploration, and training in technology, opened up.
In addition, several steelmaking workshops under the Qixia Trading House, as well as some iron and steel and mechanical tools began to tender.
The reason why I got the steel workshop under the Qixia merchant bank to come, in fact, is to press the price.
Zhang Anshi needed a large amount of steel, but once a large-scale purchase was made, it would inevitably lead to a surge in steel.
But with his own steel workshop, obviously different, Zhang Anshi directly give the price of an upper limit, if the other workshops refused to reach this price, then Zhang Anshi simply all to the Qixia merchant bank refining.
But even if the price is capped, but after all, this steel needed to lay the tracks are astronomical, and almost all the workshops want to get a piece of the pie, even if this price …… really doesn’t make much profit in their opinion!
But fools understand, this bulk of the sale, even if the profit is less, but after all, can not stand the procurement of large quantities, still profitable, and in the future, once the scale of their own expansion, it is possible to produce a scale effect, the cost can also be reduced.
Even …… as soon as you get a big order, turn around and ask someone …… to do something about cost savings, whether it’s using a new steelmaking method or improving the process, there’s always a way to do it.
So all of a sudden of …… the whole Qixia, merchants and businessmen everywhere in the recruitment of manpower, refining steel required craftsmen, all of a sudden has become the meat and potatoes, even if there is no skill, but also scrambling, after all, people can be trained, you can learn, and the expansion of production, has been imperative.
The market for tools for all kinds of machinery, too, suddenly started to get hot.
Whether it is the refining of steel, or the future steam engine, or the laying of railroads, the demand for tools, too, must be massive, doing business, which is not a cat that smells the fish.
The business of the money changers, too, began to flourish.
Not only is the Right Governor’s Office commissioning the money changers to issue bonds, but many merchants and businessmen have also begun to look for money changers to raise funds in preparation for the expansion of production.
So much so that the increase in interest rates on loans from money changers by quite a bit could not curb the momentum.
In addition to this, the hardwoods needed for construction, kerosene, tung oil, and to all sorts of clothing, food, and shelter items, also suddenly heated up.
On the surface, Zhang Anshi’s plan was nothing more than millions of taels of silver a year, but it seemed to have pried up a full ten million taels in a flash. Everyone was looking for opportunities, and a large number of people were hired at high prices, which in turn caused a bit of a consumption boom, which in turn brought about a boom that greatly increased the demand for consumer goods.
After the price of manpower skyrocketed, before this railroad was even opened for repair, Zhang Anshi’s steam engine workshop, ushered in the first wave of dividends.
“Drumming well?” Zhang Anshi at this time, was grabbing Xu Jingchang’s ear, “What?”
Xu Jingchang let out an ouch in his mouth, but he was busy saying, “Brother-in-law, brother-in-law …… is almost there, almost there. It’s just that …… the production is on the small side!”
Zhang Anshi then said, “Then train some more craftsmen, tell me how many you need.”
“It is this thing ……,” Xu Jingchang said, pointing to a huge steam engine not far away, and smiled bitterly, “There is no point in drumming it.”
Zhang Anshi then glared at him and said, “His Majesty has already said that you have already spoiled a lot of silver, and he can’t wait to eat your meat. Now you don’t hurry to earn money, do you want to turn over the sky?”
Xu Jingchang was now frustrated, and he preferred to get machines with more force out, wanting to test if there was more power than steam.
It was only a pity that Zhang Anshi gave him orders to enrich the products of the steam engine.
Now he has at hand, in addition to the improvement of the steam locomotive, that is, on the basis of this steam power, make some improvements, so that the steam locomotive power is greater, more load capacity in addition to the immediate need to complete is the steam textile machine at hand.
Steam textile machine, to put it bluntly is to use steam to replace manpower just, and the technology is lower than the steam locomotive, after all, the steam locomotive to consider the boiler and the size of the cylinder and the weight of the problem, but the steam textile machine, you want to force a little more, just need to add more cylinders and boilers can be.
This is like killing a chicken with a bull’s-eye as far as Xu Jingchang is concerned.
But Zhang Anshi saw the potential of this thing, because now many workshops are short of manpower, and the price of manpower is getting higher and higher, and in the future, if the construction of railroads, will inevitably have to recruit a large number of laborers again.
In this situation of manpower shortage, replacing manpower with machinery may not be possible in the past, but now …… is the right time.
Once this steam engine can be promoted to all walks of life, then …… Zhang Anshi this one organized steam engine workshop, it is bound to be able to day into the gold bucket.
The most important thing is that this thing is so, once the various models of steam engines hot, the future can also greatly reduce the cost of production, while with the improvement of different models of steam engines, but also unknowingly, improve a variety of processes.
It’s something that can’t hurt.
Zhang Anshi’s threat is still somewhat effective, Xu Jingchang had to say, “Brother-in-law don’t worry about it.”
Zhang Anshi let go of Xu Jingchang, and at this time, he was looking at the huge machine suspiciously, and could not help but say, “This thing …… is useful?”
“Of course it is useful.” Xu Jingchang can not help but show a few points of complacency, said: “In fact, this spinning machine, than the steam locomotive is much simpler. Brother-in-law you see, here is the steam engine, provide power, and then through the gears and belts, and this sky axis connection, this sky axis ……”
Xu Jingchang pointed to the tube above his head and said, “In connecting the gears and belts, thus driving the shuttle on the spinning machine …… so that there will be a constant flow of production, but …… the only shortcoming in the beauty of the thing is that this thing ……… occasionally breaks down ……”
“It doesn’t matter, just recruit more manpower and provide them with after-sales service.” Zhang Anshi said, “What about efficiency? How does the efficiency compare to manpower?”
Xu Jingchang said, “Compared to the former spinning machine, the efficiency is at least five times that of human labor.”
Zhang Anshi nodded with satisfaction and said, “That’s enough, I’ll let the people from the Qixia Textile Workshop try it out first, and on your side, recruit more maintenance workers and train a group of personnel.”
Xu Jingchang reluctant look, said, “I still have to teach those unusual craftsmen …… these shallow knowledge?”
Zhang Anshi said, “Then you find someone to teach, in short, this is something you don’t want to slack off on.”
Xu Jingchang frowned, finally compromising under Zhang Anshi’s glare, he had to say, “Fine”
After a pause, he looked like he suddenly remembered something, so he added: “By the way, brother-in-law …… I also thought of the …… steam pumping machine.”
“Hmm?”
“I have heard that in many mines there is a serious accumulation of water, which makes mining not easy, and is very liable to breed accidents on account of it; but this can be solved by using a steam extractor.”
Zhang Anshi’s eyes brightened a few points visible to the naked eye and said, ”Engage, all of them can be engaged! In short, anything that can replace manpower, you can try. Right, I’ll recruit a few hundred readers to follow you from now on, you’re the Shao Bao, you have to be given more manpower.”
Xu Jingchang drooped his head again, “But brother-in-law, I want to …… try …… to have any way to replace that steam engine …… this thing …… power is too small.”
Zhang Anshi then glared at him again and said, “First settle the matter at hand, or else it’s a truce, and also, if you stuff gunpowder in the boiler again in the future, I’ll kick you to death.”
Xu Jingchang: “……”
It was also at this time that a letter reached Zhang Anshi.
Zhang Anshi got the letter, and when he saw the letter, Zhang Anshi did not dare to be slow.
This is from my own brother, Zhu Gaoxu.
Zhang Anshi unwrapped it and his face changed slightly.
And immediately afterward, he went to see Zhu Di.
Zhu Di heard some Zhang Anshi in the Qixia big debt, the court is quite controversial, but Zhu Di this, ignore.
Rarely Zhang Anshi came to see himself, Zhu Di was pleasant and smiling, “You kid …… is rare.”
Zhang Anshi saluted and said, “Your Majesty, here is a letter from the King of Han …… No, it is Zhu Gaoxu, I implore Your Majesty to look at it.”
Zhu Di frowned, Zhu Gaoxu that kid, all day long and Zhang Anshi correspondence, but almost rarely repair the book to him, as a father, Zhu Di quite a few points of displeasure.
This dog’s son is very realistic, when he wanted to take over the crown prince, he surrounded me all day long, and now he only wants to ask Zhang Anshi for armaments, so he surrounds Zhang Anshi again.
Zhu Di made a wink towards Yiluoha.
Yilungha will understand, busy letter sent to Zhu Di.
Zhu Di opened a look, and immediately …… changed color.
He looked up at Zhang Anshi, “This epistle, you have read it?”
Zhang Anshi said, “Yes, it has been read.”
“Zhu Gaoxu this kid, what do you do for food, all day long in Annan flaunted, but unfortunately …… is a wine bag.”
Zhu slammed the letter on the desk.
The content of this letter, very simple, is Zhu Gaoxu reported, was sealed off to the Johor Shen Wang Zhu mode, in Johor occupied hundreds of miles, and then proceeded to build a city.
But he was still a little reluctant, feeling that the land he had circled was too little, so he contacted Zhu Gaoxu, and at this time, the Siamese state began to be wary of the Shen king who appeared in Annam and his own surroundings, and encroached on it from time to time.
Therefore, Zhu Gaoxu and Shen Wang Zhu Mou hit it off, intending to do a big job and take Siam, which occupies fertile land and has thousands of miles of territory, directly.
These uncles and nephews had a meeting in Cham, which was very opportune, and then each went back, assembled his troops, and, in the name of the King of Siam, who had not paid tribute, each led a body of men, and marched into Siam.
At that time there were several other kings nearby, such as the King of Zhao in Java, and the King of Tang in Malacca who had expressed their willingness to come and help in the war.
But this Zhu Gaoxu and Shen Wang uncle and nephew, but think …… to take Siam is easy, more than one person out of the army, I am afraid to also share a cup of soup, then said that this is only a military disciplinary action, fight a fight to retreat.
As a result, the two led the army and horses, and drove long and fast, and finally …… overturned the car.
That Siam are all around the dense forest, but the King of Siam is not in a hurry to fight with, but fighting and retreating, and finally in a dense forest ambush Zhu Gaoxu and Shen Wang’s soldiers and horses, followed by the wall, so that the two armies can not be supplied with food and grass.
Seeing this, Zhu Gaoxu and King Shen had to retreat, who knew that when they retreated, they were pursued all the way by the Siamese.
Zhu Gaoxu chicken thief, said to Shen Wang, you are the king s uncle, give the little nephew a break, Shen Wang agreed.
The result was the worst loss; even he, himself, was shot in the calf by a bow and arrow, and was carried back.
In this battle, the Han King’s Guard lost more than three hundred men, and the Shen King’s Guard lost three thousand four hundred men, so this former Han King was not convinced, and said that he wanted to avenge his uncle’s death, and asked Qixia’s side, to hurry up and send some firearms, and artillery to come.
Zhu Di read this letter and almost didn’t give a damn.
He was so angry that his face turned blue and said, “Recruit both Jin Zhong and Xia Yuanji, and go quickly.”
The duo of Jin Zhong and Natsubara Yoshi entered the meeting.
Zhu Di glanced at them, then said, “I want to go on an imperial expedition, what do the two ministers think?”
Jin Zhong was surprised, “I wonder where Your Majesty is conquering?”
“Siam.”
At this moment, Jin Zhong was confused, “Your Majesty, that place …… is long and far away ……”
Xia Yuanji also anxious, said, “Your Majesty, ah, how can you raise troops for no reason, if it is to fight the Tartars, there is no excuse, this ……”
Zhu said, “See for yourselves.”
Letters were passed around in the hands of Natsubayoshi and Jinchung.
The two were silent.
After half a minute, Xia Yuanji thought for a moment and said, “Your Majesty, the Han King wants weapons, give him just …… overseas, there are vassal kings to dispose of, if it is not enough, the big deal is in the decree of the King of Tang and the King of Zhao to increase the troops, why need to labor, Your Majesty, if it is from the Nanjing levied troops and horses, to go to Siam, the attrition along the way, it is really not a small ah. ”
Zhu Di also a little calmer, sigh: “I am not unaware of these, just this Siamese king, it seems to be a moment of greatness, I am worried about Zhu Gaoxu, etc., can not cope with him, this Siam is not a small country, covers an area of thousands of miles, with armor of one hundred thousand, and the country in the mountains and forests are dense, Zhu Gaoxu and the Tang King, King Shen, etc., although there are elite soldiers, firearms abundance, but once the depths of hundreds of miles, the supply will be unable to Keep up, resulting in a lone army situation, the time, place and people, are not in their hands, if the loss of troops and generals, is not worrying?”
Zhu Di paused and then said, “In such a situation, if I don’t step in, should I just stand by and see them lose? Secretary Zhang, don’t you think so?”
Zhang Anshi said: “your majesty, I also thought that there is no need to move lightly, this Siam is really far away. And as your majesty said, this Siam up and down, the same enemy, and covers an area of thousands of miles, once a large army, where there are many mountains and dense forests, once the war is protracted, I am afraid that it is unfavorable to my Ming.”
Zhu Di frowned up, he had expected Zhang Anshi to sing with him and convince Xia Yuanji and Jin Zhong.
However, Zhang Anshi then said, “But I have a method, in fact, …… may not need to send troops, you can avenge this arrow for King Shen and King Han.”
When Zhu Di heard this, he was surprised and said, “What? What’s your good idea?”
Zhang Anshi said with a smile, “The situation in Siam has long been grasped by the Brocade Guards, who have also sent a number of people to infiltrate, and now that I have a subordinate with whom I can strategize, things are bound to succeed.”
Zhu Di listened to it, and his heart became more and more curious: “Why didn’t I hear you say it before?”
“This man, His Majesty recognizes.”
“Chen Li?”
“No, Your Majesty …… is His Highness King Yi!”