In the Southern Song Dynasty, I competed with Mongolia for the world

Chapter 432 The Song Dynasty must colonize and expand

The imperial court had conquered and occupied Hanzhou. As the Song Dynasty's first colony outside, Zhao Yurui wanted to set up a governor outside to better rule the colony.

The selection of the colonial governor is very important. You must not be conservative in your thinking. You must be soft when you need to be soft and kill when you need to kill. You must be able to control the local indigenous people and at the same time, you must be able to implement Zhao Yurui's policies in an orderly manner. of local development.

The status of Hanzhou can be profitable. Whether it is spices from Nanyang or locally made sugar, they can bring huge profits to the Song Dynasty.

After Zhao and Rui Silai thought about it, they decided to appoint their brother-in-law Qin Chen.

Qin Chen is the son of Qin Zhuo and the brother of concubine Qin Nan.

When Zhao Yurui first came to power, he still made a lot of achievements. The Qin family provided money and effort for Zhao Yurui, and made great contributions to Zhao Yurui's overthrow of Shi Miyuan.

Qin Chen often helped Zhao and Rui travel overseas at that time. He was well-informed and had a relatively open mind.

Zhao Yurui's third son, Zhao Yi, was born to Qin Nan and is only six years old now.

There was no way, Qin Zhuo wanted to marry Zhao Yurui, and Qin Nan was only eleven or twelve years old. In order to gain the support of the Qin family, Zhao Yurui agreed bravely, but Qin Nan at such a young age was obviously not suitable for having children, so until After Qin Nan grew up, he gave birth to Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yurui planned to entrust his sons outside in the future.

So Qin Chen was asked to go to Hanzhou as governor first.

"After Hanzhou is pacified, the sugar in Hanzhou can be exclusively supplied to Persia and Nanyang, while the big officials can be exclusively supplied to Japan and Korea." Zhao Yurui said to the cabinet members present at this time.

During the Ming Dynasty, the white sugar in the Netherlands had to be supplied to Japan and Persia respectively, and it was not enough until the production increased in 1658.

Now Zhao Yurui mainly supplies sugar to Japan and Korea, and Hanzhou supplies it to Nanyang and Persia. Then his merchant ships do not need to run back and forth on a large scale like the Dongyindu Company.

“Persia and Nanyang are also big sugar consumers.”

"Hanzhou's output is currently low, but it will increase in a few years."

Many natives in Hanzhou have just surrendered. As sugar cane is planted one after another, when the sugar production increases, profits will naturally become higher and higher.

At present, there are less than 5,000 acres of sugar cane in Hanzhou, and the annual output of white sugar, rock sugar, brown sugar, etc. adds up to about 300,000 jins.

Just selling these sugars to Southeast Asian countries and Persia can earn Zhao Yurui more than 100,000 yuan.

Zhao Yurui's goal is that Hanzhou's sugar cane will eventually reach more than 50,000 acres and earn millions of dollars a year. This money can guarantee the local Song army and Yamen's own expenses, without the need for the court to provide money.

In addition to selecting the governor, Zhao Yurui also requested that the farther away from the Central Plains Dynasty of the Song Dynasty in the future, the more a clan should be sent there.

The clan can hold any position. For example, in Hanzhou this time, Zhao Yurui asked the clan Zhao Yumin to go to Hanzhou and become the magistrate of a newly established county there.

Looking at this name, you can tell that Zhao Yumin is the same generation as Zhao Yurui. He is the tenth grandson of Taizu Zhao Kuangyin. When Shi Miyuan chose the heir of King Yi, Ning Zong required that he be over fifteen years old, and Zhao Yumin was only nine years old just now. , so it is not included in the examination.

Zhao Yumin is only twenty-five years old now. In the early years of Yuanzhen, when he was twenty years old, he became an official.

At that time, Zhao and Rui secretly recruited more than a dozen clan officials, and announced that they would no longer be in the clan, and that the clan would have to take exams.

Zhao Yumin finally got on the last shortcut to becoming an official.

After finishing speaking, Zhao Yurui glanced at the cabinet members and said slowly: "I believe that as the cabinet of the Great Song Dynasty, everyone at the center of power also needs to broaden their horizons and see the world."

The cabinet members present were confused.

Then Zhao Yurui broke the bombshell that everyone in the future cabinet must have experience working in overseas colonies.

"Whether a dynasty can progress or regress often depends on whether the people in power are enlightened or conservative."

"If all my dear friends can only stay in the capital and cannot see the great countries of the world and the various worlds in all directions, how can we talk about development and progress?"

"We, the Song Dynasty, must not be closed to the outside world like the previous dynasties. We must open up, colonize, and expand--"

Zhao Yurui believes that only by seeing the bloodshed and conquest, the benefits and gains of overseas colonization can cabinet members truly understand the benefits of colonization and the benefits of expansion.

Otherwise, these people would only think about party disputes, the position of prince, and their own three-quarter acres of land every day in the court.

As soon as he finished speaking, Wei Liaoweng, the chief minister of the cabinet, immediately shouted: "Your Majesty is wise, I second your proposal."

Wei Liaoweng has just turned sixty this year. He just became the first assistant last year, because according to Zhao Yurui's requirements, the deputy prime minister must retire if he is under sixty.

Retirement will only occur if you are above sixty-five as Deputy Prime Minister.

He is Zhao Yurui's old hero, so Zhao Yurui plans to keep him for a few more years.

When he heard what Zhao Yurui said just now, he must have raised his hands to support it, because his son Wei Jinsi is now the envoy of Hainan.

Although Hainan is not considered a colony at this time, it is still far away and can be considered overseas.

Sure enough, Zhao Yurui immediately told Wei Weng that I planned to ask Wei Jinsi to go to Liaodong Province to serve as an envoy.

Wei Liaoweng was overjoyed. This meant that his son would have the opportunity to join the cabinet with him in the future.

Liaodong in the Song Dynasty included Haisan City, which had been built, and Kuye City, which was under construction.

Haisan City to the north and east are all colonies.

Finally, Zhao Yurui said that the members of this cabinet are not counted, and all future cabinets must have experience in overseas colonies.

I have to say that Zhao Yurui's move is quite good.

After the news spread, officials all over the world began to think of serving as officials overseas.

In the past, overseas was a barren land in their eyes, a place where people were assigned, but now it is different. If you want to join the cabinet, you must have stayed in the colonies.

At present, Zhao and Rui have designated three places as colonies, the area north and east of Haisan City in Liaodong.

The senior officials count as one, and Hanzhou counts as one.

In the past, no one wanted to be an official in these three places, but now they are all trying to get there.

Time flashed to September, and the Song Army and the Mongolian Army were still fighting everywhere in front. From time to time, various news would be transmitted back. Every few days, Zhao Yurui would see a wave of military information.

At present, things are generally going well. The Song Army, equipped with flintlock guns and gasoline bombs, can indeed be invincible in this world as long as it does not waste time in field battles. Peak Mongolia is of no use.

According to Zhao and Rui's strategy, the Song army sent troops from Ningxia, broke through Heishui City, entered Mobei, and then destroyed the two Mongolian army craftsmen and logistics bases in Haraholin and Qianzhou. After garrisoning troops in Haraholin and Qianzhou, they were equal to Split Mongolia in two.

The territories of the Mongolian army and Batu, Wokuotai and Chagatai in the Western Expedition were all to the west of the Song army.

Tuolei's territory, the territory of Temujin's three younger brothers, and the Mongolian army in Khan Wokuotai were all to the east of the Song army.

At that time, the Song army can attack no matter which side it attacks first.

When Batu comes back, fight Batu first.

Even if you don't pull it back, start building a large platform.

Even according to the current strength of the Song Army, they can fight Batu and Wokuotai together.

With the emergence of the Thunder Gong Fire Hat, the firing speed of the flintlock rifles increased again, and their power became even worse. Zhao and Rui also looked less and less towards the Mongolian army. In early September, the Bureau of Craftsmen came to invite the emperor to see the steam water lift they had developed over several years.

There was a wooden model on site. After the craftsmen painted it according to the emperor's instructions, they finally finalized it after countless trials and changes.

The only one is the steam boiler, which requires no explanation, is easy to understand, and has no technical difficulty.

Then there are the cylinder, base, piston, flywheel, crank connecting rod, valve, speed regulating mechanism, etc. The most important core is the steam shortage.

There are also various types such as single-door, multi-door, single-acting and double-acting.

What craftsmen currently build is the simplest.

One end of the cylinder is the piston, and one end is closed.

The craftsmen first demonstrated it to Zhao Yurui with a wooden one. Zhao Yurui was very satisfied after seeing it. It basically looked like a later steam engine.

The actual effect remains to be seen.

The craftsmen first made the simplest water lift.

Why build a water lift machine?

Because most of the ancient mines had trouble working when it rained. If it rained for one-third or half of the year, they had to rest for half of it.

After Zhao Yurui ascended the throne, all mines across the country were basically state-owned, considered state-owned enterprises and maintained by the state.

But for those who frequently take half or one-third of their time off, they still have to continue to be paid.

It would be different if there is an automatic water lifter. You can continue to dry on rainy days.

A water lift is a drain machine.

First, an egg-shaped container is filled with steam, then the steam inlet valve is closed, and cold water is sprayed outside the container to condense the steam in the container to form a vacuum. Open the water inlet valve, and the water at the bottom of the mine will be sucked into the container through the water inlet pipe under the action of atmospheric pressure; close the water inlet valve, reopen the steam inlet valve, and rely on steam pressure to force the water in the container out through the drainage valve. When the water in the container is drained and filled with steam, close the steam inlet valve and drain valve, and spray water again to condense the steam. Repeat this cycle and use two egg-shaped containers to work alternately to achieve continuous drainage.

This automatic drainage machine was not originally invented until 1698, but now, thanks to the efforts of Zhao Yurui, it has appeared more than years in advance.

Its practicality is not very strong, and Zhao Yurui has no intention of fully promoting it in the mines.

Because it is difficult to work on rainy days, there is no reason for workers to continue working in the rain, right?

But the invention of the steam water lift means that we are getting closer and closer to the real steam engine.

Da Song's steam water lifter still has many shortcomings, especially the sealing performance is not enough and the piston is not smooth.

Zhao Yurui immediately saw the important point. The craftsmen used steel sheets and steel plug rings for sealing, which had to be replaced with copper.

It is best to use copper piston rings and copper pads for steam engines.

"There is nothing wrong with the steam water lifter, but if you want to build a large steam engine, you have to add two things." Zhao Yurui started to popularize science again at this time.

"The first is the safety valve, because a steam boiler is prone to explosion when it is over-pressured. The principle is to use a lever or spring to press the exhaust port. Once the pressure of the boiler is high, it will automatically open to discharge the steam."

Craftsmen already understood this when steam turbine balls were made, that steam can generate pressure and can push up the ball.

After Zhao Yurui explained this, everyone nodded to express their understanding.

"There is also a pressure gauge, which can be used to observe the pressure in the boiler and steam engine at any time. If the pressure is high, it can be manually discharged in advance. If the pressure is low, it can be pressurized."

"There are two types of pressure gauges: liquid column type and mechanical type. We use the mechanical type."

The liquid column type requires high-strength glass, but the mechanical type is simple in this era.

After Zhao Yurui's further advice this time, the Song Dynasty was getting closer and closer to the steam engine.

When Zhao Yurui came out of the Craftsman Bureau, he thought about the memorials issued by the Ministry of War in recent years.

The Song Dynasty now went out with soldiers and horses, often bringing a large number of carriages, and Zhao Yurui liked to build four-wheeled carriages. This kind of four-wheeled carriages is large in size and carries a lot of weight. When turned sideways during war, it can become a natural city wall. The benefits Many.

But the shortcomings are equally astonishing. Each carriage requires at least two, or even three or four horses and mules to pull it in turn, and someone has to push it when encountering difficult or uphill roads.

After all, the road in this era was too difficult, which meant that the Song army could not march fast enough with the carriage, and the wheels were easily broken.

Zhao Yurui has always wanted to install rubber tires on the wheels. Rubber is the same as oil and is a standard industry industry.

In the early years of Yuanzhen, Zhao and Rui asked the Ministry of Maritime Trade to issue an order to suspend gold.

Whether merchants from the Song Dynasty or from other countries, as long as they find rubber seeds from the Americas, they can get various rewards such as titles, gold, silver, and land from the Song Dynasty.

Now, almost six years have passed, and there is still no news from the rubber seeds.

Many merchants in the Song Dynasty knew that there was America overseas, but few dared to travel tens of thousands of miles to find rubber tree seeds.

If that doesn't work, we have to organize the imperial navy to go there.

Because Zhao Yurui didn't want to sacrifice the soldiers in vain, the court never did it personally.

In this era, there were no steamships, so it was too difficult to cross the ocean to America, so Zhao Yurui desperately hoped to build a steam engine. With steamships, it would be much easier to cross the ocean.

As soon as Zhao Yurui's carriage team returned to Li's main gate, they found several people waiting outside.

Niu Bao asked after passing by, and quickly ran back: "Your Majesty, Pu Shougeng from Quanzhou wants to see your Majesty."

"Pu Shougeng?" Zhao Yurui was stunned for a moment, and then quickly remembered who it was.

Back then, his old friend Pu Heli came to help him seek an official position. Zhao Yurui looked at Pu Heli's face and asked Pu Shougeng to work as a clerk (eighth grade) in Quanzhou Ship Division, also known as Bogan.

In history, Pu Shougeng worked his way up to the top position in Shibo City, and also served as the coastal system envoy. He also laid the foundation for the development of the Pu family, and then monopolized the spice market for thirty years. It is said in history that his family has thousands of children. , two thousand ships and huge assets.

But the club would not be so lucky under Zhao and Rui.

After all these years, Pu Shougeng is still a businessman.

Pu Shougeng became rich because he became the city's shipping department and the coastal system envoy, and became prosperous through the integration of government and business.

The current Pu family has not yet developed.

This guy is very good at sneaking into camps and is very courageous. After a few years of silence, this time he bypassed Puheli and went directly to the capital to ask for an audience with the emperor.

But what kind of status does Pu Shougeng have? He is just an eighth-rank official in a local place, and the guards at Li Zhengmen directly stopped him outside.

As soon as Zhao Yurui came back, he heard that Pu Shougeng had come from Fujian to ask to see him, and he admired him slightly.

Sure enough, people who can develop have advantages.

With Pu Shougeng's courage, there were not many in the Song Dynasty.

So Zhao and Rui entered the palace first, and then summoned Pu Shougeng in Chui Gong Hall.

(End of this chapter)