Chapter 765: Eggs cannot be put in the same basket
More importantly, population is the labor force. If people go to school, they will definitely not be able to work in the fields.
The old man of the Li family doesn't want his granddaughter to go to school, so the reluctance to do such a hard work is also an important reason!
When Li Shengli heard this, he also wavered in his heart that he wanted his daughter to go to school.
However, when he turned his head and saw his daughter's pitiful, frightened deer-like eyes, the kind of pity an old father had for his daughter instantly surged up.
He gritted his teeth and said.
"Dad, I will go out to work in the next year. I will find a way to spend money on Yaya's studies!"
Li Shengli's father couldn't help but frowned when he heard this.
"You go out to work? If you go out to work, what will happen to your family's fields?"
After the Ming Dynasty fought back to the south of the Yangtze River and recovered Nanjing, it liquidated many landlords and gentry whose stance was biased towards the Manchus.
They also confiscated flag fields occupied by a large number of Manchu dignitaries.
Then there was wealth redistribution!
Many poor families have been assigned their fields.
Although the fields are not their own for the time being, it is not a big problem. As long as they pay an additional amount of rent to the court at the same time as paying taxes, and pay for several years in a row, renting instead of buying, then the fields will be their own.
Therefore, the Li family now has quite a lot of land.
The whole family went to farm, but it was very difficult to finish the farming.
If two grandsons and one granddaughter go to school, and Li Shengli goes out to work, then part of their family's land may be abandoned.
Li Shengli took a sip of his porridge and then spoke.
"If the land cannot be planted, rent it out if it doesn't work. Let's also learn from the landlords and collect rent!"
"Last winter, I worked odd jobs and followed the imperial construction team to build railways for the imperial court in Zhenjiang. During the process of building roads, I learned some skills from those masters."
"Our foreman has news that the imperial court is planning to build a railway along the canal. When the time comes, he is planning to organize a construction team to work for the imperial court."
"He invited me to join and offered me a monthly salary of five silver dollars!"
"I want to try it!"
Li Shengli didn't say a word. Being tied to the land for the rest of his life may be stable, but he has no future.
After working so hard for a lifetime, just caring about food and clothing, I can't save much money!
If you go out to work, you will earn more!
Anyway, he has this skill, why not try it?
Anyway, the worst is to come back and continue farming.
Hearing this, Li Shengli's father had a look of astonishment on his face and asked.
"Really? Five silver dollars?"
Li Shengli nodded and said.
"Our foreman's brother is very rich and has a background in the government and China. He is planning to set up a company specializing in railway construction. My foreman has been recruiting people, especially experienced workers, as many as he wants."
"Even inexperienced workers are needed..."
"..."
Today's Ming Dynasty adopts a supportive attitude towards the entrepreneurship of ordinary people.
Especially for those small and micro enterprises that have just been established, Ming Dynasty has real preferential tax policies.
Because Zhu Hongyu knew that if he wanted the Ming Dynasty to enter the capitalist society, the power of the court alone would not be enough.
All forces at all levels of society must be mobilized!
When Li Shengli's father heard this, he no longer objected, but still spoke harshly.
"That's all, I'm old and can't control you young people anymore!"
"Go ahead and do whatever you want!"
"..."
Well, he has also thought about the landlord's addiction to sitting around collecting rent!
…
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, three years after the Ming Dynasty was restored!
Tagawa Nanzaemon took advantage of the end of this new year and led the team to the Ming Dynasty.
The Tagawa family's fleet landed in Shanghai, then switched from water to land and took people to Nanjing, preparing to pay a visit to Zheng Chenggong, his brother.
On this day, Zheng Chenggong was in his own room. A housekeeper ran all the way to the outside of Zheng Chenggong's study, knocked on the door, and said.
"Your Majesty, we have a visitor!"
Zheng Chenggong raised his head and frowned.
"who is it?"
It's normal for someone to visit him during the Chinese New Year.
But Zheng Chenggong, out of a low profile, refused visits from most people. At most, his things were left behind and people could go to the concierge to have a cup of tea.
Because Zheng Chenggong is now too conspicuous in the court. If he does not want to arouse the emperor's suspicion, it is best to keep a low profile.
When he heard that someone was visiting, Zheng Chenggong didn't really want to meet him.
However, the butler who came to report said with joy on his face.
"Replying to your Majesty, Mr. Tagawa from Japan's Tagawa family is here to visit!"
"He is now outside the house, waiting for you to receive him!"
When Zheng Chenggong heard this, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and then he was ecstatic.
Zheng Chenggong put down the book in his hand and strode outside. As he walked, he spoke.
"Quick, quick! Take me to see him quickly!"
Zheng Chenggong and Tagawa Nanaemon have not seen each other for some years, but the feelings between the two brothers are real.
When Zheng Chenggong was young, he lived in Japan with his mother, the Tagawa family. At that time, Tagawa Shichizaemon was also there.
It was only when Zheng Chenggong grew up a little that Zheng Zhilong took their mother and son back to him.
Tagawa Shichizaemon was adopted as a stepson to the Tagawa family, and then inherited the Tagawa family's foundation in Japan.
Later, although the two brothers, who share the same mother-in-law, rarely saw each other, they kept writing letters.
During the years of fighting against the Qing Dynasty, the Zheng family's trade with Japan was the Zheng family's main source of finance. In this process, the Tagawa family also contributed.
Now, Zheng Chenggong was naturally delighted when he heard that Tagawa Nanaemon was visiting.
He even took the initiative to go out to meet Tagawa Nanaemon regardless of the thin clothes he was wearing.
Outside the Enpei Prince's Palace, Tagawa Nanizaemon handed the greeting card to the concierge and then stood there and waited.
He didn't have to wait long when he saw the middle door of Prince Yanping's palace opened wide and his brother Zheng Chenggong came out quickly.
"Tagawa, long time no see, how are you doing lately? Are you doing well?"
Zheng Chenggong couldn't help but ask.
Tagawa Nanzaemon also raised his fists and said.
"I've met my brother!"
After saying that, the two brothers hugged each other and were very excited.
Zheng Chenggong said hurriedly.
"Come on, follow me into the palace. We brothers haven't seen each other for a long time. We must not return until we are drunk today..."
"..."
Zheng Chenggong took Tagawa Nanzaemon through the middle gate of the palace and entered the palace.
Then he immediately ordered people to prepare a banquet, and the two brothers sat together, hugging each other, and drank long sips of the fragrant wine.
Sometimes he laughed loudly, sometimes he cried loudly, and talked about his experiences over the years.
That night, the two drunk brothers fell asleep and slept together.
…
On the second day, in the study room of Prince Yanping’s Mansion!
Zheng Chenggong rubbed his sore eyebrows, which were the sequelae of last night's hangover.
The servant brought sobering tea, and Zheng Chenggong and Tagawa Shichizaemon each had a cup.
When the strong tea enters the mouth, a slightly bitter taste fills the mouth, but it also makes Zheng Chenggong feel refreshed.
Slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, Zheng Chenggong asked Tagawa Nanzaemon how to do it.
"Tagawa, do you have anything to do when you come to Daming?"
"If you need help, just ask me!"
Tagawa Shichizaemon controls the Tagawa family. He is also a busy man. If he didn't have something serious to do, he would not have traveled across the ocean to come to the Ming Dynasty.
If you take the sea route from Japan to Daming, it will take more than ten days with smooth sailing!
It only took a month or two to go back and forth!
If he had nothing serious to do, Tagawa Nanzaemon wouldn't waste his time like this.
After hearing this, Tagawa Nanzaemon didn't hold back anymore and spoke directly.
"Brother, I want Heiji to take the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty, and then pass the imperial examination in the Ming Dynasty and become an official!"
The eldest son of Tagawa Shichizaemon is called Tagawa Heiji.
He was the one who was left to study with Zhu Zhiyu by Tagawa Nanizaemon.
When Zheng Chenggong heard this, his face showed a thoughtful look.
After a moment, he asked.
"Tagawa, do you want the Tagawa family to come to Ming Dynasty to develop in the future?"
When Tagawa Nanzaemon heard this, he also nodded and said.
"Yes brother!"
"The class structure in Japan is too closed now. Although the Tagawa family is strong, there is no room for further advancement."
When Zheng Chenggong heard this, he didn't say whether it was okay or not, he just said.
"I can help with Heiji's participation in the imperial examination!"
"After passing the imperial examination, Heiji will be arranged to serve in Fujian. It will not be difficult to promote Heiji in the future."
"My Zheng family still has some influence in Fujian!"
When Tagawa Nanzaemon heard this, he said with a somewhat excited tone.
"More brothers!"
"When Heiji comes to Ming Dynasty, I will ask him to kowtow to his elder brother and pay homage to his uncle!"
Zheng Chenggong smiled and nodded.
"Although you and I have two different surnames, we are brothers from the same father and mother. There is no need to see each other outside!"
After saying this, Zheng Chenggong changed his subject and spoke again.
"However, I do not recommend that the Tagawa family turn to the Ming Dynasty for development!"
"The Zheng family's status in Ming Dynasty is too high now!"
"I'm a little scared because of the height!"
"Every time I think about it, I can't sleep peacefully at night!"
"Although the Emperor of Heaven is now broad-minded and looking at the world, in the future..."
"You can't put your eggs in the same basket!"
Zheng Chenggong said seriously.
Although Zhu Hongyu is indeed broad-minded now, and he is indeed not willing to kill heroes.
But who can say for sure what will happen in the future?
The current emperor is young and strong, has made great military achievements, and has enough prestige to dominate the world. Naturally, he does not need to wield a butcher knife to cleanse the heroes.
But if he waits until the new emperor takes the throne, even Zheng Chenggong will have already died in front of the emperor.
But the strength of the Zheng family is there. If the Zheng family is not dealt with, will the new king be able to sleep at night?
If there was not another Li Dingguo who shared the burden, then Zheng Chenggong would be the only king with a different surname, and that would be an eyesore.
But even so, Zheng Chenggong usually acts as low-key as possible!
I'm afraid that if he is too high-profile, he will bring trouble to himself and the Zheng family!
Hearing this, Tagawa Nanizaemon showed a thoughtful expression on his face, and finally nodded and said.
"What brother said makes sense!"
"Brother understands!"
Zheng Chenggong nodded.
"As long as you understand, that's good, as long as you understand..."
Of course, Zheng Chenggong did not want the Tagawa family to come to the Ming Dynasty to develop, and there was also a reason why he needed the presence of the Tagawa family to safeguard the Zheng family's interests in Japan.
…
Imperial Palace, Imperial Study Room!
Zhu Hongyu closed the memorial, signed and stamped it, and approved the plan report for the railway construction project along the canal submitted by the Ministry of Construction.
This includes the railway construction process, project quotation, and technical parameters, etc.!
At present, if Ming Dynasty wants to build railways, the biggest cost is not manpower or land acquisition, but the rails.
The price of steel in this era is very expensive!
Especially for rails, there are certain performance requirements, and it cannot be just made of pig iron.
Fortunately, Ming Dynasty has developed several large-scale steel plants across the country, and the technology of steel smelting is also making continuous breakthroughs.
Even now, the Ming Dynasty has begun to use the alkaline open-hearth steelmaking method that was only invented in the 19th century.
The output and performance of steel have also been greatly improved, and they are rising almost every year.
Otherwise, we may not be able to withstand the cost of building the railway.
When the railway was being built, the iron materials laid on the ground were all of the best quality!
If placed in other countries, it would be too late to use these iron materials to make weapons. Who would be willing to make them like this?
With the opening of various large-scale steel plants and the advancement of steel smelting technology, Zhu Hongyu believes that the construction cost of the Daming Railway will only get lower and lower in the future.
"The stock sale of the Canal Shipping Company really solved a big problem for Ming Dynasty!"
Zhu Hongyu couldn't help but sigh.
Without the stock sale of the canal shipping company, I don’t know when the north-south railway along the canal would be built.
Zhu Hongyu let out a deep breath. At this moment, a young eunuch ran in from outside and handed a telegram to Zhu Hongyu's head.
"Your Majesty's urgent report from North Korea forwarded from Liaodong!"
As time went by, Ming's telegraph network became more and more perfect.
Even Liaodong, which had just been recovered, was also equipped with telegraph.
It may take several days for what happened in North Korea to reach Liaodong from North Korea, but it only takes half an hour from Liaodong to Nanjing.
[A novel app that has been running stably for many years, comparable to the old version of the source-changing app, huanyuanapp, that is used by all chasing bugs.]
This is due to insufficient technology and the telegram needs to be forwarded, otherwise it will only be faster.
Zhu Hongyu picked up the emergency report on the eucalyptus, with a slightly solemn expression on his face.
Nothing will happen to North Korea, right?
Could it be that the Ming Dynasty instigated the Manchus to do dirty work and was exposed?
Thinking about these messy things, Zhu Hongyu picked up the emergency report and opened it.
The first chapter of the emergency report goes straight to the point!
"The Qing army conquered the Japanese!"
Three years after the restoration of the Ming Dynasty, just after the New Year, the Qing army set off from Busan and headed for Tsushima Island, sending out a vanguard army to conquer Japan...
What is even more noteworthy is that this expedition against the Japanese was conducted personally by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty.
At the same time that the forward army set off, Kangxi had already arrived in Busan with his troops.
Just waiting for the forward army to open up the situation, his side will prepare to set off to cross the sea.