Brother Zhu Youxiao

Chapter 397
"In the construction of the railway from Mentougou to the capital, all the wrought iron was used to build the rails. In addition, small stones were added under the sleepers, and..."

"Have you figured it out? How much wrought iron do you need? How much will it cost?"

In a courtyard in the Armament Academy, when Zhu Youjian learned that the fourth version of the steam engine was about to be used, he immediately started to prepare.

He anxiously listened to the beating sound of the abacus, and the beating was done by thirty scientific researchers at the Hanlin doctoral level.

After all, 10 people can squeeze here from Yanshan, so for Dr. Han Lin of the Armament Academy, this kind of calculation is too childish.

"It will take 230 million catties of wrought iron, plus sleepers and stones, and 1 laborers. The gauge is four feet five, and the construction period is two months. The total length is 38 miles, and the total is 35 taels of silver."

The 38-mile plain railway can be regarded as a child's play for Daming, which is full of disaster victims and continues to build infrastructure.

Of course, the premise of all this is that the materials are properly prepared.

"How much wrought iron did Guochao produce last year?" Zhu Youjian put his hands behind his back, looked sideways at Wang Chengen, and Wang Chengen quickly replied: "It should be 2000 million catties."

"About [-] catties of wrought iron per mile..." Zhu Youjian turned and left, and Wang Chengen hurriedly followed.

He followed Zhu Youjian, and Zhu Youjian said to himself: "So, the country's wrought iron can only build two thousand miles of railways every year?"

Two thousand miles of railway is naturally a lot, but it is too little for Zhu Youjian.

It is four thousand miles to build a railway that passes through Taiyuan, Xi'an, and Jiayuguan from the capital.

It is [-] miles to build a railway from Xi'an to Longchuan via Hanzhong, Chengdu, and Kunming.

It is [-] miles to build the capital and go outside the Great Wall, passing through Duoyan, Daning, and arriving in Shenyang.

The construction of the railway from Kunming to Champo Mansion in the southernmost part of Cochin is [-] miles long.

The last railway that runs from the capital through Shandong, to Nanjing, and finally to Hangzhou is [-] miles long.

These five railways are the railways that Daming urgently needs right now.

The first rule determines the Ming Dynasty’s Western Expedition, the second rule determines the recovery of Burma, the third rule develops the Northeast, the fourth rule runs through the north and the south, and the fifth rule controls the south of the Yangtze River.

The five railways cover a total of [-] miles.

According to the wrought iron output of Daming, it seems that all of them can be successfully built in seven years.

Not only that, due to some complicated geography, I am afraid that in the past seven years, only the shortest one of the five railways can be built.

From this point of view, Daming's iron material is actually sufficient.

However, it is impossible for Zhu Youjian to build one by one. When there are severe droughts and floods in various provinces and disasters everywhere, it is what he has to do to solve the survival problems of the victims with work in lieu of relief.

What can most stimulate employment?Undoubtedly a great infrastructure.

Especially for a dynasty like Ming Dynasty whose light industry market is already saturated and can only expand its market outwards, only large-scale infrastructure can solve the employment problem under natural disasters.

This natural disaster will not end in 14 years, and what Zhu Youjian has to do is to complete the big infrastructure that Ming urgently needs in 14 years.

The pull of large infrastructure also represents the implementation of new currencies and the rise of the banking industry.

Five railways are not the limit of Ming Dynasty, and the use of the fourth version of steam engine will increase the output of minerals and metallurgy.

"Let's prepare for the establishment of some parts factories for the fourth version of the steam engine. First, 50 taels of mercury will be transferred from the Yuma Supervisor to Mentougou."

"Wait for the gold and silver from Xiaoxiyang and Yingzhou to arrive at the national treasury in April, and then transfer 300 million taels of silver from the national treasury. When the fourth version of the steam engine is put into production and construction, immediately put it into Anshan and Fengji in Liaodong, and Qian'an in North Zhili. ,and also……"

Zhu Youjian mentioned more than a dozen place names, which involved the top ten iron mines in Daming and the top ten overseas mines.

For example, Anshan Iron Mine in Liaodong, Benxi Iron Mine in Fengji County, Qian’an Iron Mine, Panzhihua Iron Mine in Sichuan, Ma’anshan Iron Mine in South Zhili, and Meishan Iron Mine in Nanjing, etc...

In short, there are thirteen provinces involved, and nineteen mining areas need to be built, basically all of which are in the hands of the imperial court.

"The railways leading to the river and sea terminals are built in various places. The mileage is reported, and the iron ore from various places is used to make rails and the construction is carried out first."

Zhu Youjian issued an order, which represented the use of the fourth version of the steam engine and the beginning of the construction of the railway.

But this alone is not enough, Zhu Youjian also needs to increase the scale of miners.

It’s just that mining is dangerous labor after all. Daming can build infrastructure to create employment locally, but overseas doesn’t need it…

"Yingzhou, Jiugang, Jiaozhi, Xiaoxiyang, Nankunlun, Nanzhou..."

Zhu Youjian read out the place names of the three provinces, two divisions and one state, and said:

"The population of the three provinces is too large. Let the chief ministers of each province prepare to send prisoners from each province to work in the mining area. The rest of the work, such as cement field, digging rocks and building roads, hires local people, and the wages are set according to the local wages."

"If there are not enough mining areas in the local area, the prisoners will be relocated to South Kunlun to engage in gold mining."

"The maidservant takes orders..." Wang Chengen responded, and Zhu Youjian also said:
"Factories for bicycles, clocks, glass, etc. can be built. You heard Bi Maokang's words earlier. The cost of these things has been reduced. You can discuss it with Huachun when you go back."

The three Yang mentioned by Zhu Youjian are several technologies mastered by Ming Dynasty, especially bicycles and clocks. Zhu Youxiao had already made them in the second year of Tianqi, but the cost was too high at that time and he did not promote them.

Even now, the cost of a bicycle is two taels of silver, a clock is one tael or three, and the glass of Liulichang is as high as three hundred dollars for a window.

These things were destined to be used by nobles at that time, and after the fourth version of the steam engine entered all walks of life, Bi Maokang estimated that the price of bicycles would drop to [-] yuan, clocks [-] yuan, and glass [-] yuan.

Although it is still a bit expensive, it is already something that the common people can afford.

Especially bicycles, in a situation where donkeys cost three taels of silver, a bicycle without food or water is simply a blessing for the common people.

Even in the land of Yunnan and Guizhou, the wages of workers are ten yuan a day, and they can buy a bicycle in basically three months.

In addition, all provinces are building government roads. After the concrete government roads are used, even women can ride sixty miles in one day for the first time.

After training, soldiers can ride 150 miles a day on flat roads.

This is due to the underdeveloped rubber industry in Ming Dynasty, but Xu Xiake bought back a lot of rubber seeds from European businessmen, and these rubber seeds will rise in pieces in the old port in eight or nine years.

At that time, it is estimated that the tires will become more similar to the tires of later generations, and it is no problem to ride [-] miles a day.

Even if there is no train, the bicycle troops can rush from the capital to Jiayuguan, the westernmost place in Ming Dynasty, within a month.

Although the bicycle troops sound a bit funny, in this era, once the Ming army is equipped, it can be said that the average horse infantry per capita.

Needless to say, what is the concept of the 10,000+ horse infantry in Nine? , Nurhachi might really be able to play the Ming army once, and then retreat calmly.

The Battle of Restoring Liao Dynasty was the first time Zhu Youjian faced an enemy with higher mobility than himself since he took charge of the army.

Although many years have passed, and the current Jianlu is only lingering on his last breath, the thorn in his heart cannot be removed after all.

As long as the train can transport the supplies to Jiayuguan, the Ming army's bicycle troops can go straight to the Western Regions and drink horses from the Yili River within two months.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian is particularly concerned about the cycling field, because it represents a huge market.

Even if only 1000 million people buy it, it can create a light industry with 10,000+ people.

"Your servant understands, please rest assured, Your Highness."

Wang Chengen nodded, expressing that he understood, but after answering, he asked:

"Your Highness, the pricing of these products..."

"Bicycles cost [-] yuan, clocks cost [-] yuan, and glass costs [-] yuan." Zhu Youjian replied without thinking, and he didn't think the price was too high.

The cost price is the cost price, but freight and labor also need money. Besides, the current labor cost has become lower due to the severe drought. After the severe drought is over, it will not be so easy for the people to plow their fields and recruit workers. Naturally, wages will increase at that time.

Setting wages was what Zhu Youjian had to do after Ming entered the industrial revolution.

Promulgating the "Labor Law" when state-owned factories accounted for at least [-]% of the market, guaranteeing wages and giving respect to workers was the first step for Ming to maintain stability after entering the industrial revolution.

If civil strife breaks out in Ming Dynasty, workers and peasants will inevitably be the main force to overthrow Ming Dynasty in the future, no matter whether they are bewitched or not.

Giving them respect and guaranteeing wages can be regarded as the last bit of face left for the Ming royal family.

Even if only one adult remembers the "Labor Law" well, the royal family can still retain [-]% of their decency.

At present, the light and heavy industries in Daming accommodate more than 200 million workers, at most 2% of the workers, including the private sector, at most 5%.

Not to mention that most of the 5% are textile, tea, sugar and other processing industries.

The entry of the fourth version of the steam engine into the market will make their jobs unstable. If they want to stabilize them, they have to build factories to accommodate employment.

Daming's population accounts for too much of the world, and it is destined not to have a large proportion of the working class like European countries, but it will not be too small.

Zhu Youjian can only absorb the labor force into a relatively stable industrial system as much as possible. Every additional permanent worker will reduce one farmer and increase the average cultivated land by six acres.

With an increase of 1000 million workers, Daming would have an additional 6000 million mu of average arable land, and each of the remaining 3000 million farmers would be able to share at least half an mu of land.

A middle-peasant economy must be established, as must an industrial economy.

Zhu Youjian should make good use of the remaining 14 years of severe drought.

"Your Highness, this can't be done like this..."

"Why can't it be done?"

"It's going to explode..."

"Oh... so..."

Walking to the gate of the Tractor Research Institute, Zhu Youjian heard the voices of Zhu Ciran and Wang Zheng coming from inside.

A bad premonition arose in his heart, he hurried into it, and then he saw Zhu Ciran whose face was white and black, and his hands were full of stains.

He was sitting on a chair, the table in front of him was full of steam engine parts, and Zhu Ciran was assembling with a screwdriver, Wang Zheng next to him looked helpless.

"What about Dingguo?"

Zhu Youjian turned back in doubt, and looked at the Jin Yiwei at the door, while the two Jin Yiwei bowed their heads and said:
"He said that there is nothing to visit in the Armament Academy, so he went back to the carriage to study..."

"No wonder..." Hearing this, Zhu Youjian looked at Zhu Ciran helplessly.

The kid hadn't noticed him yet, and he was immersed in the atmosphere of assembling a steam engine.

Zhu Youjian walked behind him, and he was still fiddling with the parts in his hand.

"Sir, this steam engine is so small, can its horsepower drive a tractor?"

"This..." Wang Zheng looked at Zhu Youjian, hesitant to speak, but Zhu Youjian lifted his chin lightly, motioning for him to speak.

"It's natural that the horsepower is insufficient. This is just a model machine. The actual agricultural steam tractor is about five feet high, four feet wide, seven feet long, and weighs two thousand catties..."

"However, this kind of tractor is pulled into the field by a car, and then placed on the head of the field, and the plowshares that are plowed in the field are pulled by wire ropes from a distance."

Seeing Zhu Youjian's signal, Wang Zheng could only talk to Zhu Ciran, and when Zhu Ciran heard it, he was surprised and said:
"It's so heavy? How does that person transport it? Besides, how many acres of land can it plow, and how much charcoal and water can it waste?"

"Wheels will be installed under it, and then pulled over by horses. It will plow about [-] mu of land a day, burn [-] catties of charcoal, and waste [-] catties of water. It takes three people to operate."

Wang Zheng explained patiently, while Zhu Ciran said happily after hearing this:
"Then if there are such..." He pinched his fingers, and continued to be happy: "There are more than 4000 million units, and Daming's land can be planted, right?"

"That's true, but..." Wang Zheng showed embarrassment, and Zhu Youjian took the opportunity to say:

"Ran'er, don't think about it. Just think about how much money a thousand catties of coal needs, how much money the people earn per mu of land, how much money is needed for a machine, and whether the people can afford it."

"Uncle Qi?!" Zhu Ciran was taken aback, but seeing that he was not scolded, he quickly thought about it.

Although he didn't know it clearly, he also knew that normally, one mu of land would only earn 18 taels of silver after paying taxes, while [-] mu of land would be [-] taels of silver.

A thousand catties of coal is about one tael of silver, and the common people can still get 17 taels of silver.

"Uncle Qi Wang, the people can still earn 17 taels of silver when they go to the charcoal water!" Zhu Ciran thought he was happy to show off, but Zhu Youjian turned to look at Wang Zheng:
"How much does such a machine cost?"

"This... cost 150 six taels..." Wang Zheng truthfully stated the cost of the machine, while Zhu Youjian looked at Zhu Ciran:

"What's the cost of a machine, including shipping costs, at least 160 taels of silver."

"My dynasty is like Zhili in the north. Each household has no more than 25 mu to 13 mu of land. Even if there are five people in a family and [-] mu of cultivated land, the annual income is only [-] taels of silver."

"That is to say, a family needs to go without food or drink for nearly 12 years before they can buy such a machine."

"Ah..." Zhu Ciran was speechless when he heard that, but at this time there were footsteps outside the door.

Li Dingguo trotted all the way into the courtyard, followed by Jin Yiwei, it turned out that it was Jin Yiwei who sent Li Dingguo.

"Li Dingguo!"

Seeing Li Dingguo coming, Zhu Ciran hurried over and talked to him about Zhu Youjian's problem.

After all, Li Dingguo lived in the village for a while, so he knows more than Zhu Ciran, and he said to Zhu Youjian confidently:
"Your Highness, one household cannot afford it, but one village can afford it!"

"It usually takes about 20 days for spring plowing to turn the land. This machine can turn [-] acres, and [-] acres in half a month."

"One household has 26 mu of land, [-] seven families have [-] mu of land."

"26 Seven households pool their money together and they will definitely be able to afford it. Each village can buy three or four."

"Yeah!" Zhu Ciran nodded quickly, with a proud look on his face, he didn't know what he said just now.

"You guys..." Looking at them, Zhu Youjian couldn't help laughing and said:
"It's enough to think about it. It is true that as you said, one family cannot afford it, but one village can buy it."

"However, it is not easy to unite the people in a village, so what the court has to do is to help the villagers buy machines."

"Help buy?!" Li Dingguo was a little surprised, after all he heard the price of this machine.

Daming has 900 to 7000 natural villages, tens of thousands of market towns, and more than 4000 counties. As Zhu Ciran said, [-] million mu of cultivated land requires at least [-] million machines.

For these more than 4000 million machines, the imperial court had to spend nearly 70 billion taels of silver...

With so much money, Li Dingguo didn't even dare to think about it, but Wang Zheng, who was standing behind Zhu Youjian, and all the Hanlin doctors were speechless.

Not to mention more than 4000 million units, even 40 units can empty out the treasury of Ming Dynasty.

"Help buy, but not all." Zhu Youjian looked at the expressions of everyone, and sighed helplessly:

"There are [-] to [-] villages in the Ming Dynasty, and the imperial court cannot satisfy each village with five or six sets, but it is still possible to place two or three sets."

"Don't think that it is good for the people to be satisfied. Even if there are only two or three sets, it can relieve a lot of pressure on the people."

"Besides, the price of the machine can be lowered through scientific research." Zhu Youjian said so in his words, but the reason why he wanted to equip the people with machines was not simply to reduce the burden on the people.

To put it bluntly, he wants to let the world see the power of industry, and let the world give up the backward idea that industry is a "wonderful skill".

In addition, after the distribution of these two 10,000+ machines, is it true that the court really only loses but not makes money?

how can that be possible……

Not to mention that these two 10,000+ machines can release tens of millions of labor force, the coal used by these two 10,000+ machines alone is enough to stimulate the coal industry.

The cost price of coal in Huangdian is ten Wen and fifteen catties, and it is sold to the common people for one penny per catty, and ten catties can earn five Wen.

Two 10,000+ machines are not only used by ordinary people during busy farming seasons, but also used to reclaim new land.

With such a low cost price, as long as the common people find that it is solid, they can't wait to use it for twelve hours a day to reclaim new land.

Such a machine, even if it can reclaim five acres of land a year, is cost-effective for the common people.

At that time, the demand for billions of catties of coal will make Yu Majian a lot of money, and it will only take more than ten years to pay back.

However, how to build it depends on Wang Zheng and the scientific research team behind him.

Therefore, Zhu Youjian set his sights on Wang Zheng, and then said:

"How long will it take to solve the problem of speed and power?"

"Probably...can be resolved in three months." After Wang Zheng finished speaking, he continued:

"After the solution, the weight of the tractor is estimated to be reduced to [-] kilograms, and the research on human-operated machinery such as harvesters, cultivators, land leveling machinery, subsoilers, and seeders has also been completed."

"As long as your Highness orders, a steam engine workshop and an agricultural machinery factory can be established in a few months."

"The lower officials have calculated that 50 taels will be able to invest in the construction of an annual output of [-] large-scale high-pressure steam engines, [-] industrial steam engines and [-] agricultural steam engines."

Wang Zheng's words made Zhu Ciran, Li Dingguo, and everyone around him look at him. After all, if Zhu Youjian didn't support it, it would be difficult to build a steam engine factory.

Zhu Youjian was also a little speechless when he heard the cost. He thought that investing 50 taels in the construction of a steam engine factory was already a big deal, but it turned out that the start of the industry was really expensive.

Large high-pressure steam engines are mainly used in ships and trains, while industrial steam engines are used in light and heavy industries, and agricultural steam engines needless to say.

This kind of output obviously does not meet the speed of industrial progress that Zhu Youjian wants.

Although he knew that investing a large amount of gold and silver would lead to local inflation, Daming did not have much local finances to use right now, so Zhu Youjian could only say to Wang Chengen:
"Increase the 50 taels for the construction of steam engine factories to 300 million taels, and build six factories in Mentougou, Miyun, Yanqing, Taiyuan, Zunhua, and Baoan."

The places selected by Zhu Youjian are all located in valley plains surrounded by mountains, because it is easier to keep secrets this way.

"The servants take orders..."

Wang Chengen responded, and then reminded: "Do you want to inform Long Live?"

"Naturally..." Zhu Youjian nodded, he must tell his royal brother about such a big event as the fourth version of the steam engine.

The six factories represent [-] large high-pressure steam engines, [-] industrial steam engines and [-] agricultural steam engines each year.

Although the speed of agricultural steam engines is relatively slow, it will take more than ten years to realize the idea of ​​the imperial court paying for [-] to [-] natural villages.

But for things like factories, the more they are built, the more problems are discovered, and the more they are improved, the higher the output will be.

What's more, Zhu Youjian will order the construction of steam engine factories every year in the future, because steam engines represent industrial production capacity.

From this point, it can be seen how huge Daming's body is.

The industrial demand in Britain in 5000 was only more than 8000 steam engines, while the more than [-] steam engines in Daming were just the beginning.

Population and territory represent demand, and Ming's demand is more than ten times stronger than that of Britain. Before the emergence of internal combustion engines, Daming needed at least a million steam engines to meet its own needs.

However, in Zhu Youjian's view, Daming's steam engines may not reach 100 million units and will enter the era of internal combustion engines.

Thinking of this, he looked at Wang Zheng, and he couldn't help but hope for him:
"After the study of the fourth edition of the steam engine is over, you should concentrate on studying the internal combustion engine. You should have read the subject and the general theory."

The more modern the technological products, the more cumbersome they are. Zhu Youjian's memory of internal combustion engines only remembers the car engine he saw when his car broke down and went to repair it, and the basic knowledge of pistons.

Naturally, this knowledge cannot inspire the internal combustion engine, but the basic principles can.

Zhu Youjian is very satisfied with the fourth version of the steam engine. The fourth version of the steam engine is enough for Ming's needs. In the future, except for the improvement of agricultural steam engines, Zhu Youjian will not care too much.

He is more concerned about whether he can see the release of the internal combustion engine before he leaves Daming, even if it is the initial version.

"We have a little understanding of the topic of internal combustion engines, but there is too little information. I am afraid that we only know the principles..."

Wang Zheng's face showed embarrassment, and Zhu Youjian was relieved when he saw this, and comforted him:

"It's not bad that the steam engine has entered the fourth edition. When you completely solve all its problems, the imperial court will reward you generously."

"Thank you, Your Highness..." Wang Zheng bowed back when he heard this, and Zhu Youjian glanced at Zhu Ciran and Li Dingguo next to him, turned around and said:

"Let's go and look at other scientific research topics..."

After finishing speaking, he walked towards the door, and Zhu Ciran and Li Dingguo quickly followed after seeing this.

Wang Chengen took out a handkerchief and asked Zhu Ciran to wipe his hands, and then they visited all the scientific research institutes of the Armament Academy.

In general, more than a year has passed, and all kinds of scientific research have made progress. After the birth of the fourth version of the steam engine, apart from the progress in transportation, industry, and agriculture, perhaps the biggest progress is the military industry.

Zhu Youjian took a special look at the breech-loading gun lathe that was still under research. Although the lathe had not passed the test, everyone in the Military Industry Academy knew that its use was only a matter of time.

Once the lathe and the fourth version of the steam engine are used, it may not be a delusion for the Ming army to sweep the Western Regions and Mobei with one enemy and one hundred people and 1 people.

Facing the lathe being corrected, Zhu Youjian thought of Jianlu in the northeast:

"It's best to solve the problem within one year and put it into production next year. I hope to see it appear on the battlefield during the North Sweep."

"Don't worry, Your Highness..." Bi Maokang bowed in return, and Zhu Youjian also turned around and left the Military Industry Research Institute upon seeing this.

The change of science and technology will make the reform of Ming Dynasty more smooth, and the gentry will eventually withdraw from the stage of history.

Faced with such a changing era, Zhu Youjian couldn't wait...

(End of this chapter)