Chapter 359 – The Great Joy of Heaven

The one in charge of the railroad is Yang Pu.

He, the young magistrate of Taiping Province, was quite weak and a bit out of his depth in terms of local governance.

Therefore, Zhang Anshi simply arranged special affairs for him first.

The construction of the railroad had to be led by a person of sufficiently high rank, who, on the other hand, had to have the will to do so and to be able to go to great lengths.

Of course, the most important thing is that Yang Pu still has a lot of administrative experience, he may not be able to deal with the kind of local affairs of a thousand and one, but conscripting labor, supervising the project, but always still be considered to be in the line of business.

For Yang Pu, repairing the railroad is actually the river project in this era, as long as you understand the principle, conscript the people, and then divide them into many sections, gather some people with skills, and let them take the people to the construction in sections.

Of course, there are still a lot of troubles, because there are too many people involved, and very complex, coupled with different sections of the construction of different levels of difficulty, the order of steel, sleepers, equipment may not always be able to arrive on schedule, he, the young Yin, had to be coordinated, which encountered the complexity of the matter, countless.

The good thing is that Zhang Anshi gave enough money and food, and has long trained a group of young engineering talent, many workshops are after all merchants, this era of merchants, after all, the status of the humble, but not yet bold enough to dare in Yang Pu, such as the crown prince’s close ministers, the head of the Taiping Province, the head of the young governor of the lack of pounds and pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs of pairs.

So things are going pretty well.

For more than half a year, Yang Pu shuttled around various construction sites, coming and going in the wind and rain, and he had lost a lot of weight.

This time he, from Jing County back to Qixia, this Jing County is one of the counties of Ningguo Province, where the terrain is more complex, so deliberately went to take a trip.

Just returned to the Prefect’s office.

It so happened that Liu Ji, the county chancellor of Wuhu County, came to the government on official business and paid a special visit to Yang Pu.

This Liu Ji saw Yang Pu and said, “Bachelor Yang ……”

Yang Pu saw Liu Ji come, was very happy, sweeping away the weariness of many days of hard work, full of smiles and said: “Haha, Wenchang actually came. Why, what is the matter with Wuhu?”

“It’s for the matter of the county’s mine approvals, another large mine has been discovered, this Wuhu minerals are quite a lot.” After a pause, Liu Ji continued, “Just waiting for the following from the prefecture.”

Yang Pu nodded.

This Liu Ji and Yang Pu, were Zhanfu down, like Liu Ji, can enter the Zhanfu, often selected from the Hanlin Academy. This Liu Ji also has a status, is the Hanlin Academy of the editorial repair.

At this time, Liu Ji, however, was also dusty, and his complexion was not as fair as before.

Tang Hanlin, Zhanzheng House of the adjutant, is actually in the county to do a district a county minister, really suffocating.

Yang Pu at this time looked deeply at Liu Ji, before saying, “How is it, in Wuhu County has grown in insight, right?”

Liu Ji smiled bitterly and said, “A thousand things, really can not win, the next official to now, but also just the first glimpse of the door.”

Yang Pu smiled and said, “There is still much to learn.”

“Lord Yang, my humble servant has heard that Lord Yang has been running around lately ……”

Liu Ji’s words have not finished, Yang Pu waved his hand and said, “For official business, it is not running around, but walking around, but also saw a lot of Zhanfu out of the colleagues, they are in the various counties in the various provinces, but also quite hard.”

Liu Ji also can not help but lament: “Hey …… when in the Hanlin and Zhanzifu, always feel that things are easy, as long as how to how. Now really to the head of the lower, realize that in the temple hall on the words of things, to the local …… will need to countless officials for a year and a half to run for it, may not be able to succeed.”

Yang Pu said: “the world’s affairs, largely are so, did not do things will think things easy, do things only know things difficult. I heard that you did a good job in Wuhu County, the local magistrate was full of praise for you, finally did not give us Zhanfu disgrace.”

Liu Ji, however, said, “Yang Gong …… you this railroad …… heard is lifted a lot of debt …… this … …Will ……”

Yang Pu looked at Liu Ji’s worried appearance.

He immediately understood that Liu Ji had unconsciously entered the role of a metropolitan ruler.

As a Hanlin, one would have despised these things.

And now that we are deeper into it, we probably already know the rules of operation here, and although there are still some people who are full of complaints, at least they will not be too hostile to the New Deal.

Of course, there are many people worried about the new policy is difficult to sustain, such as this railroad, it is too scary, debt so much, this input of silver, in previous years, but the court several years of cash silver income ah.

Just to fix this …… What a horrible thing to do once those debts explode.

A person in an agricultural society could not imagine suing for a loan in this way; only the desperate would borrow.

And in general, once you go into debt, it’s extremely miserable!

Because the vast majority of them can’t pay it back, they end up as slaves for their families and are exploited for generations.

Yang Pu collected his smile and said, “Speaking of which, in fact, the old man also has some worries, and there are quite a lot of people who are worried about this …… thing.”

Liu Ji hesitated, then said, “I have a number of colleagues in the Hanlin Academy, have mentioned this matter, but there are a lot of, are gloating, all said …… that the Yin Yin eating food, have never heard of a good end.”

He said, shaking his head.

Yang Pu didn’t care too much about this, but he pulled himself together and said, “No matter what, we have to do our own thing, and we have only glimpsed the tip of the iceberg of the operating rules of this New Deal, so what is the use of going to think more about it now?”

Liu Ji had to nod: “Yang Gong said right, I in Wuhu County …… but also can perceive this new policy quite a lot of benefits, to say …… hey …… ”

Yang Pu smiled and said, “Oh? You tell me about it.”

Liu Ji said, “Not to mention the other, let’s just say that this people …… finally have a livelihood, there is land, you can farm, if you want to earn money, you can also work in the agricultural leisure time, now the new government is flourishing, the price of labor is also rising, the prosperity of industry and commerce, and the things sold on the market are also much more, not to be ashamed of it, the next official’s Wuhu County, children and teenagers between the ages of nine and fifteen, enrolled in school, is actually going to reach fifty percent, it is really unimaginable.”

Yang Pu smiled and said, “If I remember correctly, you were complaining about the New Deal at first.”

Liu Ji smiled bitterly and said, “My official is from Shandong, and I have some properties at home, and when I think that they are going to inventory and confiscate my official’s properties, can I not be anxious?”

“But how do you figure it out now?” Yang Pu shot up and gazed at Liu Ji.

Liu Ji said: “When I was studying, I have a year brother, when in the countryside, and the next official are considered a scholar-gentry family, but his luck is not good, to the age of thirteen years old, his father died early, the family encountered a change of fortune, and thus the family way to fall, to the end, fell into a beggar, the next official had to find him, want to help, only to know that he has been sick and died.”

Yang Pu: “……”

Liu Ji seems to be because of the memory of those past, born a few points of depression, quietly continued: “At that time only think that he was bad luck, but now in Wuhu, think carefully, the ze of the gentleman, five and chop, who can guarantee that their own family can be prosperous for all eternity? Not to mention the other, even the Song Dynasty, how many descendants of the royal family, to the end of the Song Dynasty, have been the end of the road, that Liu Xuan De, more after Liu Bang, but to his birth, is not also a family in the middle of the road?”

“From this we can see, people can not only think of this day’s wealth, but also need to think about, future generations of children and grandchildren fell to the most difficult time, what will be the appearance? Now these properties in the family, even if they are not confiscated due to the New Deal, who dares to guarantee that they will be my Liu family’s for generations to come?”

Yang Pu listened and kept nodding.

Liu Ji said here, seems to Shu out of a mouthful of depressed air, then smiled and said: “So ah, I am now open to the idea, but this is still better, rather than give the children and grandchildren how much land, rather than …… give the children and grandchildren a poverty-stricken world! Even if the family again difficult, also reliable farming to feed themselves, let the children into the school reading, can enter the city to work, do not let themselves fall into the disease and poverty, which is also better than today to keep some land.”

Yang Pu listened, could not help but laugh: “You actually have such insights, the old man also did not think …… that if I had known this, I would have taught you to do the school, specializing in preaching the benefits of this new policy.”

Liu Ji laughed, “Don’t dare, don’t dare.”

Yang Pu sighed: “But that said, want to let people want to open these, is not easy, take away people’s money, after all, is the murder of parents, so ah …… we act, be more careful, do not make any mistakes, give a person a handle.”

Liu Ji said, “Yes.”

At that moment, Liu Ji resigned, still need to rush back to the county.

Yang Pu did not send, at this time he is concerned about the problem of steam locomotives, Taiping Province, the first railroad is about to be through, this railroad, repairing up is also convenient, is connected to the original Taiping Province and Ningguo Province, but also connected to the Qixia.

This is the first through the railroad, vital, in the mouth of the forthcoming through, the purchase of steam locomotives, if not as delivered, then the previous rush of work, even if it is a waste of time.

The building of steam locomotives is the responsibility of the Army Workshop.

And the Army Workshop is placed under the Sukhumvit Science Academy.

This Academy of Sciences, is Zhu Di under the authorization of the establishment of a collection of scholars in various disciplines, and this steam power, is responsible for Xu Jingchang.

These days, Xu Jingchang and find a way to improve some of the power of the steam locomotive, after one improvement after another, finally, this steam locomotive than the original version of a little stronger.

Of course, this was also due to the fact that he was strict with the various suppliers, and the stronger the steel was, the less steel could be used.

Somehow, it also greatly reduced the deadweight of the steam locomotive and increased capacity.

In addition to this, still working on the boiler and cylinders, after repeated experiments again and again, this latest steam locomotive, finally finalized.

The next step is to manufacture, how to mass production of some components, it becomes a problem, which must let the mechanical workshop, improve the lathe.

Naturally, in front of this countless demand at the moment, both workshops and research institutes are now happy to find ways to improve the process, after all, …… any little progress means lower costs and more revenue from orders.

Xu Jingchang almost every day in the Academy of Sciences, he may not be interested in these things at first, but …… in the process of learning and research …… he found an unprecedented feeling from it, that is, an indescribable sense of accomplishment.

As the descendant of the honored ministers and a relative of the royal family, Xu Jingchang’s childhood was almost spent in fun and games.

Perhaps because the achievements of his fathers were too great, in Xu Jingchang’s view, he was, in any case, unable to match them.

Since we can’t compare, we won’t. Doesn’t it smell good to mingle and die?

But when from the beginning of this research steam power, he suddenly began to find an indescribable sense of accomplishment, he witnessed this big guy in his own hands to move, and then harvested the envy of countless people, this feeling, as if all of a sudden opened up a certain box deep inside him.

It turns out that …… yourself …… can even ……

It was true that for the better part of a year, no one had kept him in the military workshop any longer.

But Xu Jingchang put his heart and soul into it almost day and night, taking dozens of students and repeating the experiment over and over again.

Occasionally, he comes up with new ideas and then seeks out the Institute for funding.

Sometimes, when he resented the overly cumbersome pace at which the Institute approved funding, he simply paid the money out directly.

He had always viewed money lightly, after all, for a noble son who had been born without worrying about food and clothing, and who would always have countless slave costumes, these belongings, were not worth mentioning.

By early summer ……

Zhang Anshi, on his side, had received a copy of the report.

The first railroad, about to come through.

Zhang Anshi took the zheng report, the first time, he hurriedly said, “Tell people to prepare horses, into the palace.”

This first railroad, the significance is too great, Zhang Anshi can not dare to be idle.

Consequently, Zhang Anshi was in a hurry to enter the palace for an audience.

By the time he arrived at the Wen Building, Zhu Di was deliberating with the ministers.

“I, Zhang Anshi, have met Your Majesty.”

Zhu Di looked at Zhang Anshi with a smile and smiled, “Speak of the devil ……”

Zhang Anshi’s face changed and he said, “Your Majesty, I am Xun Yu, not Cao Cao.”

Zhu Di laughed out loud and said, “Look, it seems that Minister Zhang is also good at literature and history.”

The crowd laughed dryly.

Zhang Anshi said, “I occasionally read ……”

“Speak up, and what is it that you call today?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty ascended to the throne, has been twelve years, the government is smooth and people are in harmony, and now I even have a great joyful thing to tell ……”

Hearing of a happy event, Zhu Di raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “What happy event?”

“The railroad …… in the counties of Taipingfu is through! This is the first railroad in the world since Pangu opened the sky and earth. The right governor’s office up and down, His Majesty’s generous grace, therefore, in order to repair this railroad, all exhaustive efforts, die until their deaths. Now …… the railroad through, this is the blessing of the people, is the luck of the people, but also His Majesty’s great evidence of the world, this unprecedented event, will certainly be remembered for generations ……”

Zhu Di heard, also came to the spirit: “That will be steel on the ground …… thing, you really, will this iron store to the counties?”

Zhang Anshi said, “Your Majesty has seen the railroad with your own eyes, so how can you say that you will lay the iron on the ground?”

Zhu Di said, “It’s not much, just someone …… also uploaded a petition ……”

Zhang Anshi then said, “I wonder what kind of petition?”

“They say that what I am doing is …… following the example of Emperor Yang of Sui.”

Zhu didn’t hide Zhang Anshi either.

Zhang Anshi was astonished, “Emperor Yang of Sui …… Your Majesty …… what …… is this allusion?”

Zhu Di said: “It seems that you fucking reading only half, this Sui Emperor Yang had a allusion to the silk wrapped tree, to highlight the richness of the Sui Dynasty. He is silk wrapped tree, I am the ground on the iron, since it is a mockery of the meaning of my good and great.”

Zhang Anshi said in his heart, “Your Majesty, since you know that they satirize you, why don’t you go and cut them down?”

“This ……” Zhang Anshi said: “Your Majesty, these people …… have no insight, only know to find chapter and verse, show the so-called words, is really a hundred useless! Your Majesty, why do you need to pay attention to.”

Zhu Di said, “I’ve ignored …… but ……”

Zhu deliberately mentioned this matter, in fact, there was a hint.

To know, steel in this era, but luxury goods, take steel paving roads, even Zhu Di are listening to the meat pain, and then think of Zhang Anshi these money is still borrowed, it is more put heart, and even some days, are always a little bit unable to sleep.

You borrow money, even if you give me the borrowed money.

Now heard Zhang Anshi responded in this way, Zhu Di also could not help but smile, “This railroad has been repaired as well as repaired it, just …… how much did it cost?”

Well, that one was what he wanted to know the most.

“This railroad?” Zhang Anshi said.

Zhu nodded.

“If this one only, the total length is four hundred and thirty miles, and the cost …… is roughly between two hundred and ninety and three million two hundred thousand taels.”

When Zhu Di heard this, he immediately sucked in a breath of cool air.

Yang Rong and the others, apparently, were also startled by this number.

It’s only one strip and …… cost that much?

Zhang Anshi said, “But this is the first one, on the one hand, is rushed the construction period, on the other hand is still not skilled, so the cost of the early stage is huge, later …… if you continue to build, you can spread these costs, the cost of gradual low.”

Zhu hmmm’d and held back the fleshly pain in his heart.

He saw Zhang Anshi in high spirits, but also not good to splash him cold water: “Secretary to do, I am still assured.”

“I came here in the hope that your majesty promulgate the auspicious date of the opening of the train, when …… I intend to organize a powerful ceremony of connection on the auspicious date of the opening of the train, so as to teach the whole world to know such a feat, if your majesty can go to Qixia in person to observe the ceremony, it would be even better, so that this time the construction of the railroad officials, businessmen If your majesty can come to Qixia to watch the ceremony, it would be great, and then the officials, merchants, and people who are building the railroad will be greatly demoralized by your majesty’s love.”

Zhu Di then glanced at Yang Rong people and so on: “What do you think? It’s just a matter of letting Secretary Jin make up his mind, he’s good at this kind of trickery.”

Kim Chung: “……”

Jin Zhong felt a bit speechless, His Majesty seemed to have a bit of a misunderstanding about his specialty.

But right now, he did have some difficulties, so he said, “Your Majesty, when this railroad comes through, is it considered a housewarming ceremony, or is it a relocation, or is it the opening of a market, a blessing, or the opening of a warehouse?”

Yes, once upon a time there were no railroads, and in terms of the concept of the zodiac, it was never heard of that it was desirable to have a railroad running through.

But to say that it’s a chocobo, that’s not true, because this thing moves.

But if it is said to be relocated …… and not right, as for the opening of the market …… seems to be a bit hitched, can not pick a day suitable for marriage, right?

At this point, everyone was in trouble.

Zhu Di then frowned and said, “You’re asking me this?”

Jin Zhong thought for a moment and said: ”The day after tomorrow, the ninth day of the month, is the day when it is appropriate to settle the bed. I think, this through and bed resting the same, bed resting is before the housewarming, the new house is fixed, and again before the housewarming of the last step. This railroad through …… then, the first nine Shen time two moments. When belongs to the auspicious day of the zodiac.”

Zhu Di said, “Then let it be so, what does Minister Zhang think?”

Zhang Anshi said, “So very good, Jin Gong really professional, but …… this auspicious day is Jin Gong pick, then tomorrow DiBao, then please Jin Gong handwritten a bulletin, announce the world?”

Jin Zhong’s face was ugly, words, you really take me as a word measuring gentleman?

He said with a straight face, “I am the Secretary of the Ministry of War, how can I be so grand as to do such idle things.”

Zhang Anshi said, “No harm, no harm, let’s settle for the second best, let me find someone to write on my behalf, and then we can just add the name of Duke Jin, and we won’t have to bother Duke Jin.”

Kim Chung: “……”

Zhang Anshi added: “I implore your majesty to go to Qixia the day after tomorrow and personally preside over this through ceremony, your majesty …… This is the world’s first-class great event, which will surely be remembered for thousands of years, and it is also the proof of your majesty’s great governance of the world …… Such a grand event! …… It would be a pity if Your Majesty were to be absent ……”

Zhu Di some hesitation, he is now still heartache silver, but in the end, but still said, “In any case, spent so much silver …… I can not go? This matter, I am graciously authorized.”

Seeing that Zhu Di agreed, Zhang Anshi was overjoyed. Zhu Di was a bit tired, so he ordered the ministers to retire.

Zhang Anshi went out of the Wen Building, that Wen Yuan Pavilion university scholar still had to go to Wen Yuan Pavilion on duty, while Zhang Anshi and the others went in the direction of the outside of the palace.

Jinchung looked depressed.

As for the Jinchun people, Zhang Anshi was also not very familiar with them.

However, Zhang Anshi muttered in his heart when he saw that Natsubara Yoshi was also putting on a foul face.

So without slowing down, he walked alongside Xia Yuanji and whispered, “Lord Xia, you don’t look well.”

Natsuhara Yoshi looked up and forced a dry smile, “Well ……”

Zhang Anshi added, “Not sick, right?”

Natsubara Yoshi couldn’t help himself, “You’re the one who’s sick!”

Zhang Anshi was shocked. Not right. In his memory, Xia Yuanji had always been a modest gentleman, how come today, he was like this tiger and wolf?

So Zhang Anshi said innocently, “Xia Gong …… what is wrong with you, I am kind ……”

Natsuhara Yoshi wrinkled his brow, as if he was trying very hard to hold back something, and said, “It’s nothing, don’t ask.”

Zhang Anshi said, “If there is any difficulty, as much as and I say a word, you can rest assured, I Zhang Anshi …….”

“The difficulty is a little.” Xia Yuanji looked at him seriously and said, “I am afraid that this …… Wei Guo Gong is really willing to solve it?”

Zhang Anshi patted his chest and said, “What is this word, Xia Kaikou, I Zhang Anshi go to the soup and fire …….”

Not waiting for his words to finish, Xia Yuanji said, “The thing is like this, also do not know is the imperial grandson by which one of the lack of moral ancestral tomb are smoking guy instructed, actually forced to sell land. My son happened to be on duty in the young army, but also was pressed to buy a few dozen acres of head, Wei Guo Gong you are aware of the old man’s …… old man ……”

This turn under Xia Yuanji words did not finish, Zhang Anshi face a tense, toward Xia Yuanji hold hands, “Wait, Xia Gong, I happen to think of home soup fire is not yet extinguished, have to hurry home to extinguish the fire, farewell!”