Chapter 522: A Major Change that Has Not Happened in a Century

A silver steam train was driving slowly on the rails, and the intersection between the wheels and the rails was making a rhythmic clanking sound. As the train travels to the countryside, the fields, mountains and streams outside the window pass by one by one.

The passengers in the car looked outside at this moment, still feeling like they were dreaming.

With just a straight railway and this weird car, as long as they sit here quietly, they can reach hundreds, thousands, or thousands of miles away.

Tie Xiangshan, Marquis of Ping Liao, was a master who feared neither heaven nor earth, but at this moment, sitting upright and clenching his fists, he felt an unprecedented sense of nervousness.

"What a wonderful workmanship!"

"It's more than just a miraculous workmanship, it's groundbreaking!"

"If it is officially opened to traffic, I will definitely take this car to Tianjin!"

…

The chief minister of the cabinet, Yin Zhi, and other important ministers looked away from the window. At this moment, they felt that their whole bodies were indeed moving, and they all expressed emotion.

Although they were suffering from the impact of technology in their hearts, after they came to their senses, a heated discussion started in the car.

"This car is amazing, but the imperial court really invested a lot of money into this railway!" Liu Xuan, Minister of War, thought of the imperial court's reduced military expenditure, but felt sorry for the money.

Naturally, Chen Kun, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, spoke for his own yamen of the Ministry of Industry. He immediately stood up and explained: "Liu Shangshu, this is wrong! We have indeed invested a lot of money, but once this railway is completed, all overseas goods in Tianjin Port can pass through. Railway transportation saves a lot of labor costs, and it can also solve the problem of road cargo congestion between the two places in one fell swoop!”

The Beijing-Tianjin Railway indeed invested a lot of manpower and material resources. Especially in order to solve the problem of needed steel, the Ming Dynasty not only mobilized the power of the whole country, but also forced other vassal states to pay tribute to pig iron.

However, once this railway is completed, the transportation cost from Tianjin to Beijing will be greatly reduced, and it will also solve the cargo congestion problem that has been plaguing the two places.

This is exactly the case. Although the Beijing-Tianjin Railway did bring a heavy financial burden to the Ming Dynasty in the short term, it was beneficial to long-term development and was a real century-old foundation.

"Chen Kun, as you are the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, you naturally hope to carry out such a big project, but agriculture is the foundation! If this money is used for water conservancy, Ming Dynasty will produce more food!" Liu Zhong of the Ministry of Agriculture also has his own His attitude seemed very regretful.

The Ministry of Agriculture is in charge of the country's agricultural production, and agricultural production is inseparable from the support of water conservancy infrastructure. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture under his supervision hopes that the court can invest more financial resources in water conservancy construction.

Ever since the Ming Dynasty incorporated Japan's Kyushu Island and Shikoku Island into the Ming Dynasty's territory, placed Shimaoka Island and other southeastern islands under military control, and added the southern part of Myanmar to the Indian Ocean Governor's Palace, these new lands have always been on his mind.

Unfortunately, the always wise emperors were very stingy in investing in water conservancy in these new lands, and even did not allow Kyushu and Shikoku to develop agriculture.

Likewise, he always believed that it was the Ming-Myanmar Highway and the Beijing-Tianjin Railway that delayed water conservancy construction, so he was opposed to the Beijing-Tianjin Railway in his heart.

Chen Kun, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, could see through Liu Zhong's thoughts at a glance, and seemed to take the problem deeper and said: "Dare you ask if the people of the Ming Dynasty do not have enough food to eat now? Where are the disasters that the imperial court has just ignored? Now the Ming Dynasty is not short of food at all. ! You only saw that the imperial court spent 10 million silver dollars on the Beijing-Tianjin Railway, but do you know how many people got wages from this project and how many people were able to support their families? "

this……

Officials such as Liu Xuan, Secretary of the Ministry of War, knew that something was wrong between these two people, but they did not expect that sparks would fly here. However, this time it was Chen Kun who saw the problem more thoroughly.

"Okay! Today is a major change that has not happened in the Ming Dynasty for a hundred years, and it is also a happy day!" He Cong, the Minister of Household Affairs, stood up to mediate, and then expressed his own opinion: "The Beijing-Tianjin Railway is a resolution passed by us at the Supreme Council , and things have proven that our choice is correct! If this railway really encounters any financial problems, we will sit down together to discuss solutions. I believe that all of you are the pillars of Ming Dynasty!"

When hearing the last sentence, everyone nodded silently.

If the phenomenon that they are most proud of in recent years is not the Ming Dynasty's repeated victories in foreign wars, it is the fact that the Ming Dynasty is now in the government, and the high-ranking officials in the government are not mediocre people.

Yin Zhi, the chief assistant of the cabinet who assisted the emperor in handling government affairs, was a moral gentleman. Wang Yue, the chief assistant of the military aircraft cabinet who assisted the emperor in handling military affairs, was a rare talent in a century, and the ministers in each ministry were all capable ministers.

Although their current financial expenditure is indeed an astronomical figure, with the wisdom of their group of important ministers, it may not be impossible to solve the holes in government affairs.

You know, the current Ming-Myanmar Highway and the Beijing-Tianjin Railway are indeed almost draining the Ming Dynasty's finances, but the Ming Dynasty's grain tax, salt tax, luxury tax, commercial tax and customs are all rising.

In particular, the Ming Dynasty's foreign wars were not just about promoting the country's prestige. Luzon in Southeast Asia has been continuously transporting gold, and today Japan also sends a large amount of silver jewelry and seafood.

Because of this, they may encounter financial problems, but they are also confident that they can solve them.

The steam train has entered the fields, and the roaring sound echoes in the empty fields, as if the pace of history is advancing rhythmically.

They were all wearing Ming official uniforms or granted uniforms, which formed a sharp contrast with this modern means of transportation, as if it was a painting of ancient and modern times.

"Just now I was outside the east gate of Beijing, and now I am in the fields, how magical!"

"There are such magical objects in the world, which leave in the morning and arrive in the evening, which is really a great blessing for the world!"

"Although this object has no life, it can travel a thousand miles a day. It is really a god helping my Ming Dynasty!"

...

In addition to high-ranking officials riding together, a group of military honors were also invited, and nobles such as Jingguo Gong Zhao Chengqing also couldn't help but sigh.

Ten miles, for this steam train, is already a huge achievement.

As this silver steam train entered the platform, the steam train rubbed against the rails, and then slowly stopped, completing this historically significant journey.

The door opened, and Zhu Youtang, wearing a dragon robe, walked down like a dragon and a tiger.

Although this was the slowest train he had ever taken, it was undoubtedly a huge breakthrough in this era, and it was also the beginning of the real rise of the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Xiang, the commander of the Jinyiwei, accompanied him all the way, but this was his first time riding a train. He suddenly found that his feet were trembling when they touched the ground.

"Your Majesty, I respectfully wish you long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the emperor!" The magistrate of Wanping County, as a representative of local officials, had arrived here first, but he saluted respectfully.

This train station is not big, but as a standard building of this era, it is also enough to receive the emperor and many important officials who came here.

Zhu Youtang sat on the dragon chair in the waiting hall and held a meeting here.

"Reporting to your majesty, the Beijing-Tianjin Railway is expected to be completed in another three months!" Yu Ming, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, and Su Boyan, the new Nanzhongbo, also stepped forward to answer the emperor's questions respectfully.

Although the Ming Dynasty almost used the whole country's strength for this railway, it has been catching up with the progress of the project. But nothing can be done overnight, and they still have the last section of the railway to be repaired.

However, there is no big problem with the Beijing-Tianjin Railway. After all, the most difficult steam locomotive has been launched. It can be completed by connecting the entire railway.

Zhu Youtang has been paying attention to this project. He nodded with satisfaction and said, "Although it is the final stage, don't take it lightly! The Beijing-Tianjin Railway is not only responsible for solving the freight transportation between the two places, but also the century-old foundation of the Ming Dynasty, so it cannot be allowed to be anything!"

"Ministers will remember it!" Yu Ming, the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, and Su Boyan, the Nanzhongbo, looked serious and immediately expressed their opinions in a proper manner.

Zhu Youtang looked at the senior officials present, but smiled slightly and said, "My dear ministers, you all took the train just now. What do you think of this train?"

"It's amazing!"

"To be honest with your majesty, I still feel like I'm dreaming!"

"When it is completed, please allow your majesty to take a day off so that I can take this train to Tianjin!"

...

Faced with this question, the officials present expressed their opinions one after another, and they were not stingy with their praise for this amazing steam locomotive.

Zhu Youtang's eyes fell on Liu Zhong, but he smiled slightly: "My dear Liu, I just heard that you have some complaints about the investment in this project, is that true?"

"I don't oppose this project, but I still think that the Ming Dynasty can spend more on water conservancy and agricultural development!" Liu Zhong hesitated for a moment and said his thoughts.

Zhu Youtang looked around and finally his eyes fell on Liu Xuan, the Minister of War.

"I also agree with this project, but even if I am the Minister of War, I naturally hope that Your Majesty can increase the military budget!" Liu Xuan did not hide his opinion and said what he said.

Zhu Youtang's eyes swept over Wang Hua, the chief priest of the Imperial College, and others, and said bitterly: "I naturally know what you are thinking! The court's finances are so much, and everyone hopes to get more, but is that true?"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Liu Zhong and other officials of the Ministry of Agriculture bowed their hands.

Zhu Youtang changed the subject when facing the officials present: "If you want to get rich, build roads first! Li Bai's "The Road to Shu is Difficult" pointed out that if there were no roads, Shu and the Central Plains would have no contact for three thousand years. I have discussed the issue of roads with you many times before, so we decided to build the Beijing-Tianjin Railway and the Ming-Myanmar Highway! But I found that you seem to be content with the status quo. You are not really satisfied with the Ming Dynasty having only this railway, right?"

As soon as these words came out, they immediately pierced the hearts of many people.

They really felt that building a Beijing-Tianjin Railway was a huge achievement, and it would not be appropriate to do other major projects for at least ten years, but this idea was undoubtedly too conservative.

Some officials who originally regarded themselves as reformists also suddenly realized that they actually wanted to stagnate and did not consider the idea of ​​a second railway.

Zhu Youtang saw their reactions and reiterated: "I remember the agreement with all the ministers! We, the monarch and the ministers, want to create a truly prosperous era and bring the Ming Dynasty to an unprecedented height. Since we can now connect Beijing and Tianjin by rail, why not continue to promote this? The railway does cost a lot of silver dollars, but can we stop it and hand it over to future generations just because it costs money?"

"I am guilty!"

"The Beijing-Tianjin Railway should not stop!"

"We should clear the way for our descendants!"

...

High officials such as Wan Yi, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, were determined and expressed their opinions one after another.

In their position, it is actually the most comfortable to do nothing. It's just that they have already set the goal of becoming a strong country. Now that they know that the railway can deepen the integration of the two places, what reason do they have to stop?

"Your Majesty, please point out the new railway line. We are willing to go through fire and water for your Majesty and the Ming Dynasty!" Liu Xuan, the Minister of War, was determined and stood up to express his position.

The officials present expressed their opinions one after another, and looked at Zhu Youtang curiously.

If the center is the capital, then the most important two routes are naturally the connection between Beijing and the Northeast granary, and the other is the connection between Beijing and Jiangnan.

From the perspective of cost, the best route is undoubtedly to connect to the Northeast, so that the food in Beijing will be more strongly guaranteed.

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Zhu Youtang smiled and said, "How to build a new railway? You should not ask me, but ask yourself! Where should we build it? It can not only meet the needs of the court, but also benefit the people!"

Unlike the autocratic emperor, Zhu Youtang is now more willing to hand over the problem to the officials below, and then make the final decision himself.

Now that it has been decided to continue to build the railway, we must consider both the needs of the country and the most core issue of recovering costs.

Although the investment in the Beijing-Tianjin Railway is huge, the freight demand in Tianjin is there. Once it officially starts operating, it may not be impossible to recover the cost.

"Your Majesty, I think the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway can be built!" Chen Kun, the Minister of Industry, stood up with a big belly and said very seriously.

Ah?

As soon as this was said, the officials present looked at Chen Kun in shock.

According to the investment in the Beijing-Tianjin Railway, if the Ming Dynasty court wants to build the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway, then the court will have to spend at least 100 million silver dollars.

No one expected that the Beijing-Tianjin Railway had not yet been completely completed, but Chen Kun dared to start planning the Beijing-Hangzhou Railway, a super project that would cost 100 million silver dollars.

"Ridiculous, do you know how much financial expenditure this would require?"

"Let alone whether the court can afford it, how to solve the problem of pig iron?"

"Beijing and Hangzhou are thousands of miles apart, do you know how many years it will take to build it?"

...

Officials such as Liu Zhong, the Minister of Agriculture, faced Chen Kun's frightening proposal, but they stood up and strongly opposed it, and accused Chen Kun personally. (End of this chapter)