Start with Baihuguan

Chapter 547
In Li Huan's view, the cost of building a railway is only a few thousand taels of silver per mile, which is actually not high at all, but in the eyes of everyone, the cost is not low at all. It is worth the cost of more than ten miles of cement roads.

Moreover, although the speed of the railway is not slow, it is not very fast. With this speed and carrying capacity, it seems that it is not worthwhile to spend so much silver to build the railway when compared with the cement road.

Li Huan naturally saw the changes in everyone's expressions, and Li Huan could think of everyone's thoughts without guessing.

If it is not for knowing the future development prospects of steam engines and railways, I am afraid that he may not be willing to invest so much money in railways.

One person coughed lightly and said, "This railway is very expensive. There are so many concrete roads in the imperial court. It seems that there is no need to spend a lot of money to build this kind of railway. After all, this railway is no more expensive than cement roads." How convenient."

You must know that the imperial court has invested a lot of money in the construction of concrete roads connecting all parties in recent years. After more than 20 years of continuous road construction, the current daimyo dare not say that the transportation is convenient, but even if it is included in the territory of the Ming Dynasty Annan, Champa and other places in China have cement roads leading to the Central Plains.

The imperial court continued to build roads and invested so much money, which naturally promoted the great development of the private economy of the Ming Dynasty. These were obviously fed back to the fiscal revenue of the Ming Dynasty. It can be said that the fiscal revenue of the Ming court has continued to grow over the years. Among them, the long roads and convenient transportation definitely played a huge role.

Just like the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal running through the north and the south, it directly drives the great development of the towns along the canal, develops the south, and makes the south a prosperous place.

Similarly, the extension of cement roads may not have driven the economic development on both sides of the strait as obviously as the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, but it has also brought about great changes in many places.

The imperial court saw that several main roads in the world had been repaired, and there was no need to spend a lot of money every year to build roads. As a result, Li Huan came up with this railway again.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that this railway does have certain advantages compared to cement roads, and the key advantages are advantages, but if you want to popularize it like cement roads, the investment will make people feel moved just thinking about it .

I don’t dare to say too much. Given the current tens of thousands of miles of territory in the Ming Dynasty, if it is really necessary to build a few railways, don’t say too much. I’m afraid that 3000 to [-] miles will not be enough, so let’s count as [-] miles. In other words, one mile would cost [-] taels of silver, and one hundred thousand miles would be thirty million taels of silver.

However, Daming's annual fiscal and tax revenues have not exceeded [-] million taels of silver. Even if the treasury is emptied, and then the emperor's internal treasury is emptied, it is afraid that it will not be able to raise such a large amount of road construction funds.

Zhu Houzhao coughed lightly, his eyes fell on Li Huan and said: "Li Qing, the cost of this railway is very high. If the imperial court really wants to invest, I don't know how much money will be invested in it. It is really necessary to spend so much money for it. Build a railroad?"

It’s no wonder Zhu Houzhao would think so. You must know that all the people present are the elites of an era, even they were all frightened by the cost of the railway, so limited by the era, everyone was subconsciously unwilling to invest a lot of money. It is not surprising that funds go to build railways.

Li Huan glanced at the crowd, and slowly said: "If the imperial court does not intend to invest a lot of money in the construction of the railway, then I implore His Majesty to allow private commercial firms to build railways, and to allow private commercial firms to control certain railway operating authority."

Zhu Houzhao couldn't help being taken aback, looking at Li Huan, a thought flashed in his eyes, based on his understanding of Li Huan, if the railway was really useless and unprofitable, then Li Huan would never Such a request was made when everyone showed their disapproval of the construction of the railway.

The right to operate roads is not an unfamiliar term to everyone present. Daming has invested so much money in road construction, so it is naturally impossible for people to use it for nothing. Not to mention other things, it is just a road. The post-maintenance investment is not a small sum of money.

So Daming set up a department early on to collect tolls.

The imperial court charged tolls according to the amount per mile, and it was free for ordinary people to travel, but all vehicles and horses had to pay tolls according to the rules.

Although the tolls collected are not too high, the total amount is quite a large number. After the road maintenance costs, it can even be turned over to the treasury of millions of taels of silver every year.

Because of this, everyone knows what it means if the road operation rights are handed over to private commercial banks, that is to say, those private commercial banks that have invested a lot of money to build railways will be able to block roads and set up card fees like the imperial court.

As soon as they thought that the tolls that should belong to the imperial court would flow into other people's hands, some people subconsciously objected: "No, this is not possible. The road connects the north and the south, and the relationship is very important. The right to operate the road must be in the hands of the imperial court."

Li Huan smiled slightly and said, "Then let the imperial court invest funds to build the railway. If there is no profit motive, it's not good for people to spend money for nothing to build roads."

Immediately the man was at a loss for words, Li Huan cast his eyes on the emperor and Wang Yangming and said, "I don't know what your Majesty thinks?"

Wang Yangming looked at Li Huan stroking his beard with a wise look in his eyes and said, "Could it be that Duke Qin is planning to invest in the construction of the railway?"

Immediately, everyone couldn't help staring at Li Huan.

Li Huan said unabashedly: "That's right, if His Majesty allows it, the Duke of Qin's government is going to spend a sum of money to build a railway linking Nanjing Road, Huating City, and the Shipping Division."

It is about five or six hundred miles from Nanjing to Shanghai. If a railway is to be built, the investment alone will cost at least 200 million taels.

It is recognized that the Duke of Qin's mansion is rich, let alone 200 million taels, even if it is doubled, the Duke of Qin's mansion can also easily spend it.

After all, others don't know how much money Daming Royal Commercial Bank has earned in these years, and how can they who are at the top of the country not know.

In particular, the proportion of shares held by the Duke of Qin in the Daming Royal Commercial Bank is lower than that of the royal family. It can be said that a large amount of money flows into the Duke of Qin's mansion every year.

After hearing Li Huan's words, Wang Yangming looked at the emperor and bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think it is possible, but I have another condition."

Zhu Hou looked at Wang Yangming and said, "Oh, please tell me, Ai Qing."

Wang Yangming said to Li Huan: "Qin Guogong wants to build a railway. The court can agree, even if the road operation right can also be handed over to Qin Guogong, but the road operation right must be stipulated for a period of 60 years. After 60 years, the road will be operated. The power, including the entire railway itself, will be owned by the imperial court. If Qin Guogong can agree to this request, Qin Guogong can plan the railway at will within the territory of Daming."

Everyone's eyes lit up when they heard Wang Yangming's words. If it was true what Wang Yangming said, it would mean that the court could reap a railway in just a few decades without spending a penny.There is no better deal than this.

It's just that this request seems a bit difficult for everyone. Li Huan is not a fool. He invested millions of taels of silver in a railway, but after decades it will be handed over to the imperial court. This means that Li Huan has to collect tens of thousands of dollars every year. Only two fees can keep the principal.

However, millions of taels of silver have been occupied for decades. If it is used to invest in other industries, the principal may not be more than doubled for such a long time.

So no matter how you look at it, as long as it invests in railways, the Duke of Qin's mansion will definitely lose money.

Under everyone's gaze, Li Huan chuckled lightly and said, "Okay, that's the deal. I hope you won't regret it when the time comes."

Seeing that Li Huan agreed so straightforwardly, the crowd felt a little uneasy. Could it be that they were really wrong this time, or did this railway really have a value that they didn't know about?
Soon Li Huan named several roads in one breath, such as the railway connecting Suzhou and Yangzhou, or the railway connecting Zhangjiakou to the capital, or even the railway from the capital to Guangzhou.

The names of roads came out of Li Huan's mouth, and everyone opened their eyes wide in shock, looking at Li Huan in disbelief.

Even Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but said: "Li Qing, this...these roads are probably thousands of miles in total. Where did Li Qing find tens of millions of taels of silver to invest in it..."

Li Huan said with a smile: "Your Majesty, don't worry, since I dare to bring it up, there will naturally be a solution."

Seeing what Li Huan said, Zhu Houzhao took a deep breath and said, "Okay, since Li Qing has such courage, then I will agree."

Wang Yangming on the side also stroked his beard and said, "Mr. Qin ordered someone to submit a document for road construction, and the cabinet will approve it as quickly as possible."

Daming Zhengde 36 years
On the road of Huating, Nanjing Road, road construction teams conscripted one by one are working hard to tamp the foundation under the scorching sun, and then laying stones, sleepers, and thick and heavy hundred-smelting steel. rail.

Qin Guogong Li Huan invested 200 million taels of silver to build a railway linking Nanjing to Huating. When the news came out, I don't know how many people were shocked.

Especially those merchants were moved by the news, but after seeing the railway linking the Beijing Normal University and Tianjin Wei Port, many people said they were amazed by it, but after learning its cost, they were eager to imitate Li Huan and win it. One or two people with the right to build and operate railways suddenly died down.

It's really too much investment. Of course, if it's just a big investment, it can't scare these merchants. After all, if the world is rich, it really belongs to these merchants.

The key is that these merchants can't see the return at all. After all, such a large investment will be taken back by the court after decades. Who can accept it.

Many people regard Li Huan as a fool, but a few dignitaries such as British Duke and Cheng Guogong put a sum of money into it after a little consideration, and the right is to share part of the pressure for Li Huan .

In more than a year, regardless of the input of manpower, the railway from Nanjing to Huating has been completed, and it is still two-way two-lane, with a full investment of 450 million taels of silver.

The steam locomotive running on the railway this time has already been updated for two generations. After all, under Li Huan's request, a group of skilled craftsmen headed by Luo Tong tried their best to improve the steam engine.

Accompanied by the roaring sound, the steam locomotive pulling nearly ten huge carriages ran at a speed of about forty miles per hour. There has been a great improvement.

It would take several days to transport tens of thousands of catties of goods from Suzhou to Huating, even by water, and several large freight ships would be needed.

However, with this steam locomotive, it only takes more than half a day to arrive, which saves several days.

This kind of convenience and timeliness is naturally noticed by sensitive merchants at the first time. Although the freight of steam locomotives is not low, it is actually not more expensive than water transportation, and it is even cheaper. Its timeliness, even a fool can see the benefits of steam locomotive transportation.

It can be said that less than a month after the railway from Nanjing to Huating began to operate, a large number of businessmen flocked to request the use of steam locomotives to transport goods.

When the imperial court received the news and looked at the calculated income, all the cabinet ministers showed expressions of disbelief.

The benefits brought by the railway are completely beyond their imagination. Where is the huge pit, it is simply a continuous gold mine.

The direct consequence was that courtiers clamored to build railways, and the court must build railways.

Here, the imperial court recruited craftsmen to start planning the route immediately, and allocated money and food to invest in the construction of the railway. The same group of wealthy merchants obtained the construction and operation rights of some railways by virtue of their respective relationships. The process of building the railway.

45 years of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty, and more than ten years have passed
In the vast northern land, the mountains are winding and undulating, like a black dragon crawling on the ground, the vast land is covered by wind and snow, and the wind and snow are blown all over the sky by howling, but at this moment, accompanied by a long whistle Suddenly, a black line whizzed past, it was a steam locomotive driving on a long railway line.

This steam locomotive is tens of feet long and has more than a dozen long carriages. It runs smoothly on the ground. Judging by its speed, it may not be less than sixty miles per hour.

In one of the luxurious carriages, several figures were looking out through the bright and thick glass.

"I really didn't expect that the land of Liaodong would have such a vast snow scene. In just a few days, I went from the warm spring in the south of the Yangtze River to the snowy land outside the customs. This steam locomotive is really as Li Qing said in the past. It is to stabilize me. An artifact of Ming Dynasty."

(End of this chapter)