Chapter 337: The demolition of the capital, a century-old plan (please vote for me)
October has passed and it has slowly started to become a bit chilly.
The continuous rain for several days has made the streets of the entire capital become muddy.
There are ministers from poor families who naturally do not have the extra money to buy a sedan chair bearer. Even if they rent it, they cannot afford it.
Then you can only walk on two feet, and in the dark, you will naturally be covered in mud.
It's not okay to go to court this time. It's disrespectful. The eunuch in charge of the ceremony will not care about you so much and will record it directly.
The last time they were fined was a few months' salary.
The already poor family situation will become even worse.
In desperation, I had no choice but to wash myself with water at Wulong Bridge outside the palace before entering the court.
The breakfast at Meridian Gate makes the upright officials from poor families feel warmer.
So every day, many ministers accidentally fell into the lake.
Generally speaking, those who can enter Fengtian Temple are older. In such weather, they simply cannot afford to get sick and stay at home.
"From now on, let's postpone the morning court meeting for half an hour."
Although Zhu Yuanzhang likes to squeeze officials, this is indeed a bit bitter. After all, they are all Beijing officials who can enter the Fengtian Palace, which can be said to have entered the power center of the Ming Dynasty.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."
Many ministers kowtowed sincerely. The sunrise is extremely late now, and being able to postpone it for half an hour is a great thing for most officials.
Zhu Ying looked at the steady drizzle outside Fengtian Palace and said, "Grandpa, it is now the slack time for farming, and the autumn harvest has passed. Nowadays, the roads inside and outside the capital are in ruins, the rain is waterlogged, and muddy water is splashing."
"My grandson would like to ask my grandpa to issue an edict to make some improvements inside and outside the capital."
Zhu Ying had long wanted to carry out major infrastructure construction in the capital of the Ming Dynasty.
The name of the capital city is now second to none and unique in the entire Ming Dynasty, or in other words, all capital cities in the world.
But for Zhu Ying, who had experienced the high-rise summer period in later generations, with clean roads and well-proportioned houses, it was like entering a slum after leaving the palace.
Even the bustling streets of Qinhuai are surrounded by low-rise buildings.
Because most of them are made of wood, they all have a decayed and old smell at first glance. The prince's residence in the inner city, the wealthy mansion compound, and the bluestone cast wall look a little neater.
The rest of the area is full of filth, and there are even some narrow alleys where no one cleans up the toilet and the stench is overwhelming.
In addition, the land is not hardened, except for the stone road near the inner city of the palace, it is difficult to describe other places.
This is the current, true portrayal of the capital of the Ming Dynasty.
This is true for Nanjing, and it goes without saying much for the rest of the Ming Dynasty.
Upon hearing that His Highness Taisun wanted to repair the capital, the ministers below immediately became extremely quiet.
Today's capital, especially on rainy days like this, really makes people suffer, whether they are literati, scholars, or traffickers and pawns, they have been suffering for a long time.
It's just that after so many years, I have become accustomed to it.
Now His Highness Taisun has proposed that there can be better improvements. This all involves oneself, so who can say no?
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he thought about it.
The autumn harvest had just passed, the treasury was full, and the internal funds were extremely rich. It seemed that it would be a good idea to spend some money to repair the entire capital.
"Okay, since the grandson proposed this matter, the grandson will be responsible for it. The six departments should fully cooperate with the grandson."
Zhu Yuanzhang ordered.
"In compliance with His Majesty's decree."
The Huagai Hall is located between the Fengtian Hall and the Jinshen Hall, and is relatively smaller in area.
This is also Zhu Yuanzhang's office on weekdays.
However, when Da Sun's government affairs needed to be handled, Zhu Yuanzhang would step aside and go to the larger Jinshen Hall at the back to handle government affairs.
For more than ten years, this has been the fixed office location of Prince Zhu Biao.
Now the power as the emperor is just like in the past. Zhu Yuanzhang gradually transferred to his grandson. The same is true for the Huagai Palace.
"There may be planning drawings inside and outside the capital. What should be the basis for the current construction of the Ministry of Industry?"
Zhu Ying summoned Shen Shu, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, to the Huagai Hall and asked him in detail.
These construction craftsmen are all under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Industry.
Shen Shu bowed and said: "Reporting to Your Highness, the Ministry of Works constructs buildings, and its own painters produce drawings, and then the craftsmen cast them according to the drawings. The construction method is based on the classic "Kaogong Ji"."
Hearing this, Zhu Ying told Guo Zhong to get a copy of "Kao Gong Ji" and take a look at it, and then asked Shen Shu again: "Is there any detailed planning drawings inside and outside the capital?"
Shen Ming replied: "Your Majesty, I would like to inform you that all the drawings related to the internal and external planning of the capital are stored in the library of the Ministry of Works. If your Majesty needs it, I will immediately fetch it for your Majesty."
Zhu Ying just asked casually, but he didn't expect that the capital actually had plans.
In fact, Zhu Ying was really ignorant. Not to mention the construction of the capital, even other cities had detailed plans.
It's just that the current planning drawing is not too detailed, only the general direction and positioning. During the construction process, there will be many changes based on the location.
"That's it, then get it quickly." Zhu Ying ordered.
Shen Shu quickly said: "Follow the order."
Then I hurried to get the drawings.
Zhu Ying began to think deeply about the transformation of the capital.
The first step is to harden the ground. This must be done, but it would be a bit difficult to cover everything with stone slabs.
Stone slabs need to be fired, and the production cycle is not short.
The cost of paving the entire capital with stone slabs is probably not a small amount. Even if Zhu Ying does have a lot of money now, and can even use the treasure banknotes to raise the certificate, such a large project is too extravagant and wasteful. .
'It seems that the best way is to use Roman mortar, add sand and gravel, and create a concrete-like ground.'
'The hardening of the ground is a difficult problem. Manual tamping is too slow. It would be great if there was a soil compactor. It can be rolled back and forth twice and it will be solid.'
Thinking of this, Zhu Ying's eyes lit up.
In the final analysis, the soil compactor is not difficult to make. It is just a big roller, but the power is difficult to work with.
'As for power, if there is no machinery, if there is more human and animal power, why don't you worry that it won't be able to pull it?'
"If four cows are not enough, then eight cows will be used. If five people are less, ten people will be needed. You have to take action to suppress them quickly."
Thinking of this, Zhu Ying started painting directly.
After taking a few pictures, Zhu Ying was not satisfied. After all, when it comes to painting, Zhu Ying is good at freehand brushwork, not realism.
It’s just that when the artistic conception is too profound, it is relatively difficult for others to understand it.
At least Shen Shu, who came back with the drawings, looked at them for a while and couldn't figure out why.
"Do you know what I am painting?" Zhu Ying asked as he put away his pen.
The painting in front of me can be regarded as the most proud of the more than ten paintings.
When Shen Shu heard this, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. He could see something in this dark mass.
If you say you can't see it, wouldn't you offend His Highness Taisun? Do you want to live in the court in the future?
In desperation, Shen Zhu could only bite the bullet and guessed: "The artistic conception of His Highness's painting is far-reaching, and it is difficult for me to reach it. However, when I look at it, it seems that what Your Highness is painting is a plow used for plowing the fields?"
I just guessed that the little black ball on the screen looked like a person or some kind of animal in front. There were a few black lines pulling it, and it was somewhat similar to the scene of plowing.
When Zhu Ying heard this, she was stunned for a moment.
The principle of this soil compactor seems to be similar to that of oxen plowing fields.
But one is loosening the soil and the other is pressing the soil.
Thinking of this, Zhu Ying smiled and said: "It is indeed similar to a plow, but in this aspect, it is not for loosening the soil."
"Shen Shangshu, you see, what is painted behind this palace is a huge iron cylinder. Its purpose is to compact the ground like oxen plowing a field. You only need to count the number of oxen to pull this iron cylinder back and forth. Roll, the ground will be compacted in no time."
Zhu Ying paused, frowned and continued: "It's just that it's a bit troublesome to make this iron cylinder. It will probably take craftsmen a lot of time to make such a large iron cylinder."
After hearing His Highness Taisun's words, Shen Zuxing added with a deep heart: "Your Highness, if it is just to ram the ground, although the iron cylinder is good, it can also be used as a stone pillar. The center of the huge stone pillar is hollowed out, and it can also be used to ram the earth."
When Zhu Ying heard this, he couldn't help but said: "What a good idea."
This time, Zhu Ying finally had a thorough understanding of the wisdom of the ancients.
What he temporarily lived in was a foresight, but it was slightly lacking in practical implementation.
As the minister of the Ministry of Industry, Shen Shu controlled the craftsmen. He had long been familiar with such matters and could draw inferences with a little guidance.
In terms of a single round of IQ, there is no fool who can pass the Jinshi exam.
Those were all done by thousands of troops crossing the single-plank bridge and killing them forcefully.
"The production of this earth-pressed stone was handed over to Shen Shangshu." Zhu Ying said with satisfaction.
Shen Shu quickly expressed his position, saying that within three days, dozens of them could be built.
Then, it was about the planning and construction of the capital.
The existing drawings are relatively detailed. It can be seen from the drawings that the current Nanjing City of the Ming Dynasty can be roughly divided into four major categories.
They are: handicraft area, commercial area, residential area for officials and wealthy households, and scenic and recreational area.
As for the slums, they naturally go to the outer cities, and they don’t have the financial resources to live in the inner cities.
Among them, the handicraft industry area is the largest area in the city.
Today, the vast majority of residents in Nanjing are craftsmen. The Peasant War in the late Yuan Dynasty turned most of the slave laborers into relatively free craftsmen.
The booming agricultural production in the early Ming Dynasty became a solid foundation for the development of handicraft industry.
The prosperity of the handicraft industry has also given rise to many new industries, and each stage of product production has gradually become independent.
For example, paper making and printing, sugar making and selling.
In the past, papermaking and printing were mostly produced in one piece, but now they are gradually being separated.
The reason why Zhu Ying decided to collapse the sugar factory was largely due to the current prosperity of the sugar industry.
Although the production is a little troublesome, most icing is made by families, sold in front stores and made in backyards.
The impact of sugar frosting factories on the private sector will leave many families without a foothold.
Zhu Ying naturally does not want the private sector to be hit too hard and must maintain a good environment for the development of the private sector.
Such as wine making, textiles, clothing, and porcelain.
It has little impact on the private sector, and the main direction is still towards military officials and export sales.
Today's handicraft industry has developed to a total of 360 lines.
The words "every other line is like a mountain" are extremely appropriate now.
Each industry has its own language, which is not commonly used. When I first heard it, I didn’t even know what the language was.
Chinese characters have many sounds, and there are many dialects in various parts of the Ming Dynasty, making communication very difficult.
Only the Huaixi dialect, because His Majesty said it, should be the first to learn.
This is a transmission from top to bottom. When Your Majesty says this, naturally the ministers must also learn this. Otherwise, they will not be able to hear the edict clearly, and they are seeking their own death.
For those who serve as officials in the capital, the first step is to learn Huaixi dialect.
At present, there are sixty-two lines of craftsmen working in shifts in the government-run handicraft industry of the Ming Dynasty, which shows its prosperity.
The handicraft industry areas are located in the southwest of Nanjing and are mostly designated by the government, allowing various craftsmen to have their own areas.
Craftsmen are also divided according to industry classification.
The place of residence is often called a certain workshop, such as a wood workshop, a brocade workshop, etc.
It is also related to the geographical location. For example, dyeing workshops are mostly located in Liuye Lane and Chuanban Lane, which are close to the lower end of the water source and are convenient for use.
Another prosperous area is the business district.
Most of the shopkeepers in the capital were non-natives.
People living here are generally businessmen from other places, with large-scale industries. There are also various fellows' associations and business gangs gathering here.
But now, most of the entire business district is occupied by the Qunying Chamber of Commerce.
There are also districts for wealthy officials and scenic spots.
These are basically the residences of dignitaries and nobles, that's the western section of Qinhuai.
Where it intersects with the business district is where Zhu Ying's Ping'an Teahouse is located.
There are many brothels and brothels, showing wealth and prosperity.
The current capital city, judging from the drawings alone, is already quite bloated. For example, in the commercial and industrial areas, shops have begun to squeeze out, and some alleys are difficult to navigate.
As a result, some local government officials had difficulty with their carriages. Finally, Zhu Yuanzhang issued a penalty rule: Anyone who encroached on the streets and built houses would be punished with a sixty stick and ordered to restore the old ones.
This stopped the encroachment, but since it had been built earlier, it was not easy to demolish it.
This demolition has displaced tens of thousands of people and made them homeless.
Twenty-five years after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, Nanjing was the capital, and people from all over the world flocked here.
Refugees, businessmen, scholars, all walks of life, all are like this.
Zhu Ying looked at the drawings for a long time, and with Shen Shu's explanation, he also had a clear understanding of the entire capital situation.
After a while, Zhu Ying sighed leisurely and said: "We are the capital of the Ming Dynasty and the capital of the world. Now sweet potatoes and other crops have begun to spread, and the people's lives will naturally become more and more prosperous in the future."
"If we spread it over a small area, the Ming Dynasty will be strong and prosperous, and the future will be promising."
"Although the capital is large at present, in the next few hundred years, the number of people will only become larger and larger. How can such a layout reflect the splendid Ming Dynasty?"
"The current strategy is to demolish the city, expand the city, build pools, and rectify the layout of the buildings, so that the capital can embrace all rivers."
Hearing this, Shen Shu held his breath and was shocked.
He originally thought that His Highness Taisun just wanted to repair the roads, but he didn't expect that he wanted to completely rebuild the entire capital.
Especially the expansion of the city and the construction of ponds can be said to be the great changes in Nanjing for thousands of years.
"Your Highness, with such a huge scale, the cost of this project is sky-high. Although the national treasury is full and the internal funds are rich, this scale will probably not last more than three to five years and it will be difficult to continue."
"If the weather is good every year, I don't have to worry too much. If there is a disaster, I'm afraid it will be too much and waste money."
After coming back to his senses, Shen Shu knelt down and kowtowed and tried his best to persuade.
Now the situation in the Ming Dynasty is getting better. If this happens, the treasury will actually be sucked dry.
Zhu Ying helped Shen Shu up and said: "Shang Shu Shen is overly worried. I started my own business. Of course I understand the cost involved and I have a plan in mind. Not only will it not cause too much damage to the national treasury, but I am not sure it will actually make a profit." "
joke!
The Ming Dynasty had a territory of tens of millions of miles and a population of more than 60 million. If we were to build the city of Nanjing, it would destabilize the country and make its foundation unstable.
Then Zhu Ying might as well commit suicide and go back, and become a poor grandson of the Ming Dynasty.
These basic business methods are really not difficult from the perspective of future generations.
Shen Shu naturally didn't believe it in his heart, but it was impossible to refute His Majesty Taisun face to face. He planned in his heart to write a memorial and report to His Majesty when he returned.
Zhu Ying didn't pay too much attention to Shen Shu's expression. He looked at the drawing for a long time, then pointed at Zhengyang Gate and said: "Starting from Zhengyang Gate, at Wulongqiao Square outside the palace, a total of thirty feet of avenues will be built on the left and right. As long as there are shops involved, All of them will be demolished.”
"On the left and right sides of the avenue, we will make a unified plan and build another three-story small building with a width of one foot, three rooms on the first floor, and an alley on every fifth floor, starting from Zhengyang Gate and ending at Wulong Square."
When Shen Shu heard this, he immediately understood.
His Highness Taisun's idea is to build a main road that leads directly to the inside and outside, just like the Suzaku Avenue in Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty.
Thinking back to ancient records, Chang'an was prosperous, and Shen Shu couldn't help but feel drawn to it.
After just immersed in it for a while, Shen Shu couldn't help but ask after coming back to his senses: "After demolishing so many houses, I wonder how the people will resettle them."
Zhu Ying replied directly: "It should be settled according to the size of the demolition. The size shall be based on the land deed. No compensation will be given for encroachment."
Shen Shu did a little calculation in his mind and couldn't help but said: "Your Highness, this amount is huge, I don't know how much should be used as the standard."
Zhu Ying's calculations in his mind.
According to the drawing, from Waiwulong Square to Zhengyangmen, there is about three and a half miles of land, which is 1,750 meters long.
One hundred meters to the left and right is 175,000 square meters.
In addition, outside the road, Zhu Ying planned to advance 15 meters on each side to build shops, so he added another 52,500 square meters.
A total of two hundred and twenty-seven thousand five hundred square meters.
After thinking in his mind, Zhu Ying said: "Just two banknotes per square meter on the ground, and one banknote per square meter on the second floor to accommodate the people."
Although the current housing prices in the capital are relatively high compared to other places, an ordinary house has an area of about 60 square meters and costs roughly 45 guan notes, which is about 1 guan notes per square meter.
The prices in the store are a little higher, but not consistent.
This price is a huge profit for the demolished people.
At present, the shops on the street are about fifty or sixty square meters, including the second floor, and you can get nearly a hundred treasures.
It's not difficult to spend dozens of dollars to find a new address.
Zhu Ying also calculated that even if the street area was taken into account, the total would not exceed 500,000 guan.
For the current Qunying Chamber of Commerce, these are really not big things. They don't even have to move their muscles and bones. The liquid treasure money on the books can be withdrawn at any time, and it will not have any impact on its own business.
Shen Shu opened his mouth slightly.
Hundreds of thousands of banknotes, His Highness Taisun folded them one by one and went out like this, and this was just the beginning.
Even if His Majesty renovates the inner court of the Imperial Palace, he usually only spends tens of thousands of Guan banknotes. However, looking at His Highness Taisun's appearance, he doesn't seem to pay much attention to these hundreds of thousands of Guan banknotes.
"Your Highness, is it too much to accommodate the people?" Shen Shu couldn't help but ask.
In Shen Shu's view, it was enough for each household to have more than ten or twenty guan of banknotes to handle government affairs, so how could they still make money?
Zhu Ying said with a smile: "This is nothing. If we sell the shops on the left and right sides of the avenue, we have everything."
Shen Shu asked a little strangely: "I wonder how many squares your Highness plans to sell in his new store."
Zhu Ying raised the corners of her mouth and stretched out two fingers.
Shen Shu frowned and said: "Two banknotes per side seems a bit too cheap. If you include three layers of the same price, it's not much different."
A newly built house has one room of 50 square meters, three rooms on the first floor is 150 square meters per floor, and the three floors total 450 square meters.
Nine hundred treasure notes per floor.
Calculated at the market price, it is about more than 600 silver.
As far as the capital market is concerned, it is already relatively low.
After all, it is around Zhengyang Avenue, and the most prosperous area is after that.
Hearing this, Zhu Ying slowly shook his head and said: "How can you make two taels of banknotes? What I said is twenty guan banknotes per square, and the three layers have the same price."
Your Majesty Taisun is so kind. He can obviously steal the money directly, but he still has to give away a three-story building.
Zhu Ying didn't care so much and continued: "Based on this, more than 3 million guan of treasure money can be obtained from all the sales. Even if we include the repair of the ground and the construction of houses, there should still be some leftover."
With this in mind, Zhu Ying pondered and said again: "Let's see how much is left. If it's not enough for this palace, we will add more and repair the Zhengyang Gate. Even in this inner court, some places also need a lot of repairs." , seems a bit old.”
Seeing that His Highness Taisun seemed to be lost in a sweet dream, Shen Shu couldn't help but interrupt: "Your Highness, the price on the first floor is about thirteen thousand taels of silver. Even if it is converted into the market price, it will be nearly ten thousand taels of silver."
"How can there be so many rich people purchasing such houses? It is simply beyond my imagination."
As the minister of the Ministry of Industry, Shen Shu's annual salary, including rice, treasure notes, silk and satin, etc., totaled only one thousand five hundred taels of silver.
He is a minister of the second rank. Now that there is no prime minister, in terms of actual power, he is already tied with other ministers for the first place in the hundred officials, and he has a high position of authority.
Moreover, it would take nearly seven years without food or drink before the salary saved could afford to buy these three small buildings.
Zhu Ying stood up, walked to Shen Shu's side, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile: "Shen Shangshu, when you have time, go and look around. Not to mention the capital, even just in Jiangnan, the rich gentry are enough to It’s a buyout.”
"Moreover, there are so many merchant gangs in the Ming Dynasty. They only have ten thousand taels of silver. In front of the merchant gangs in one province, they are really nothing."
"There is no purchase limit for the small building here. Just wait until the news comes out. Shen Shangshu will watch. In less than three days, everything will be sold out."
Poverty limits Shen Shu's imagination.
Therefore, he still did not believe in His Majesty the Grand Sun. He had already made a plan in his mind and made up his mind to write a memorial and report to His Majesty when he returned.
Looking at Shen Shu's expression, Zhu Ying guessed something, and then said meaningfully: "This matter must be done as soon as possible. Shen Shangshu will issue specific regulations according to what I just said, and then ask Grandpa for review."
"We will coordinate the measurement after the approval is received."
Shen Shu bowed deeply and said, "I obey your Majesty's decree."
Watching Shen Shu leave, Zhu Ying smiled softly and didn't care much.
He knew in his heart that with this little money, the old man would not say much.
Besides, the old man also has a good reputation. Zhengyang Avenue is several miles long and is thirty feet long and one hundred meters wide.
This is undoubtedly in line with the old man's preference.
In the future, when foreign ministers come to Beijing, they will naturally be shocked, just like the scene in the prosperous Tang Dynasty when all nations came to court, showing the Ming style.
From another perspective, this is called political correctness.
The most important thing is that no money from the national treasury was used. Even if the subsequent houses cannot be sold, the Qunying Chamber of Commerce will naturally pay the bill.
How could these houses and shops not be sold?
Zhu Ying had already made a plan in his mind. He would just wait for the announcement of the plan and then directly deliver the announcement through the post station, expedite the announcement to all prefectures and cities, and start pre-sales directly.
Of course, Zhu Ying can guarantee that this is definitely not an unfinished building.