With the sound of whistles, the train that Emperor Hongzhi and others were riding began to slow down slowly. After an hour and a half of journey, it finally arrived in Tianjin.
"Arrived in Tianjin now?"
Zhang Mao looked out the window slightly dumbfounded. He could clearly see the high-rise buildings outside, and he could also see the sky-high chimneys standing on the ground in the distance, and the billowing smoke was continuously emitted into the sky.
You can be sure, this is Tianjin.
Nowadays, in the entire northern region, only Beijing and Tianjin have such a scene.
But if we calculate the time, we will arrive in Tianjin in less than two hours?
"You will arrive in Tianjin in less than two hours?"
Not only was Zhang Mao dumbfounded, Liu Jian looked at everything outside the window and couldn't help but ask.
"This is too fast."
Li Dongyang sighed.
"Haha, of course~"
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he couldn't help but said proudly: "When the trains were built, they were kept as straight as possible, which greatly shortened the distance. Secondly, the trains ran on the rails, and there was no need to compete with other carriages and the like.
The most important thing is that these are mechanical forces."
"Relying on the powerful steam power, this speed is nothing. Maybe we can build a faster steam locomotive in the future, and then it may not even take an hour."
Zhu Houzhao is still very confident in this regard, because he has personally participated in the research of steam locomotives and is very clear about the technological development process of steam locomotives. From the beginning, they were weak and slow, and gradually developed the powerful steam locomotives they have now.
locomotive.
Liu Jin on the side also smiled and nodded after hearing this.
The speed of later high-speed trains exceeds 300 kilometers per hour. The intercity high-speed rail in the Beijing-Tianjin area can reach Tianjin from Beijing in less than half an hour.
At this current speed, it can only be regarded as just the beginning.
But for this era, it is still the fastest speed.
Of course, if you use the eight-hundred-mile express, the speed will definitely be faster than that.
However, it is used in emergencies and can only be used to transport small and light items. But trains are different. They operate at normal speed and can carry large amounts of people and goods.
The meaning is completely different.
"Okay, the most important weapon of the country!"
"I want to meet all the craftsmen involved in railway construction and train manufacturing. Those who have merit will be reported. I will reward you heavily!"
Emperor Hongzhi was also very happy.
Look at the sun outside, it's still high in the sky.
Originally, he thought that even if the train was fast, it would arrive in Tianjin in the evening at least, but now it has arrived in Tianjin at noon.
This speed is indeed incredible. The key is that it is also carrying a large car of people.
"Thank you, Your Majesty~"
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he was immediately happy and saluted solemnly to express his thanks.
"Haha, you naughty little monkey."
Emperor Hongzhi looked at Zhu Houzhao's appearance, couldn't help laughing and touched Zhu Houzhao's head.
It would be better if my son likes to learn how to govern a country and how to be a king, but he has no interest in this aspect at all.
Fortunately, he is in good health now and is in his prime. He has plenty of time. When he grows up, he will definitely be better. Moreover, there are young loyal ministers such as Liu Jin, Wang Shouren, and Yang Yun, and they are also the same.
Being young, as long as they are around, you don't need to worry much.
If he likes to study these things, he can study them on his own.
In the past, I thought that the prince was not doing his job and only liked to play these fancy tricks, but now it seems that the importance of these things is also very huge.
Once this train comes out, as long as the trains and railways extend from now on, the Ming Dynasty's rule will become extremely stable. With such a powerful carrying capacity, the speed is so fast, and it can continue to improve.
In the future, although the territory of the Ming Dynasty will be vast and boundless, as long as there is a train, places no matter how far away they are can be reached in the morning and at night. In the future, everything in the world will be able to gather in the Ming Dynasty, and we, the descendants of the Yan and Huang Dynasties, will no longer need to be blocked or restricted by mountains, rivers and mountains.
"Father, I am not speaking for myself."
"I am speaking to all those involved in train research, railway research, and construction. They have always been called craftsmen. Many of them are still craftsmen in their ancestral home. They have humble and low status, and live in poverty and desolation."
"But these are not the most important. What really makes them feel most desperate is that they have clearly made their own contributions to the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, but their identity and status have never been recognized, and their role has been ignored.
."
"The power of craftsmen is called heresy, and the technology developed by craftsmen is called Qiqiao Yin skills. Many predecessors have worked hard-->>
The results of painstaking research are often destroyed and denied by someone with a simple opening of their mouth."
"This is the greatest harm to them, and it is also the most helpless place for craftsmen."
"Now my father has said that he wants to meet them and reward them. For them, this is nothing less than a great grace. Their hard work over the years and the dedication of countless generations have been recognized."
When Zhu Houzhao heard this, he immediately said to Emperor Hongzhi seriously.
Zhu Houzhao is deeply aware of this.
The status of craftsmen in the Ming Dynasty was extremely low, especially those who were classified as craftsmen. Their status and status were very low, and their lives were extremely difficult.
Many people regret being born in such a family. Not only do they not want to learn the crafts passed down from their ancestors, but they also despise them, feeling that it is because of these things that they live such a lowly and humble life.
This situation lasted until the emergence of Liu Jin. Many industries under Liu Jin attached great importance to craftsmen. They not only gave them high salaries and treatment, but also gave them enough respect. Many craftsmen became professors in schools.
Teachers have a high status and high income.
Therefore, new technologies and inventions are always emerging in many industries under Liu Jin's command. From shipyards to textile factories, to steel plants and machinery factories, the things manufactured are becoming more and more powerful and sophisticated.
, the role is getting bigger and bigger, and the power of craftsmen begins to be revealed to the world.
It was only in these years that everyone gradually realized the importance of these craftsmen. Shipyards of all sizes in the Ming Dynasty learned from the Tianjin Shipyard, valued carpenters, and trained carpenters, so the Ming Dynasty had a strong shipbuilding industry.
The large and small steel mills in Ming Dynasty also learned from Miyun Iron Works and attached great importance to blacksmiths. This is how Ming Dynasty's powerful steelmaking enterprises came into being.
But these are obviously only looking at the surface, and the promotion of craftsmen is only the first and most superficial thing.
The truly high-level people should be scientists and engineers. Bows and arrows only study how to use and build things, while scientists and engineers study the essence of things in depth.
Of course, the Ming Dynasty is still generally referred to as craftsman. Only the many schools founded by Liu Jin have gradually broken away from the original constraints of craftsmen and transformed into later generations of scientists and engineers.
"Well said~"
"The power of craftsmen is also an extremely important power."
"The things they have researched are also very helpful to the prosperity of our Ming Dynasty."
"This steam cultivator can help cultivate the land. This spinning machine and loom can improve the speed and efficiency of spinning and weaving. This steam engine can provide powerful power and drive many things."
"And this train is even more important to the country."
"These all show that craftsmen are very important. The technology they master is not some fancy trick, but something that can also benefit all people, and it is also a path truly worthy of recognition!"
Emperor Hongzhi looked at the train in front of him, then at the tall buildings and dense chimneys in the distance, and solemnly nodded in affirmation.
In the past, I was always deceived by those scholars and literati, thinking that the way to govern a country is the way of Confucius and Mencius, and that everything that is not in line with the way of Confucius and Mencius is heresy, a trivial way, not worthy of being a Tao, and not worthy of attention.
However, what he has seen and heard over the years also made Emperor Hongzhi think about whether this is right or wrong?
Is the Tao of Confucius and Mencius really omnipotent?
Can we really achieve long-term peace and prosperity by relying on the so-called etiquette, justice and integrity?
Can we really conquer the world by relying on benevolence, righteousness and morality?
The Ming Dynasty could achieve all this, but didn’t it rely on powerful force?
The reason why there is strong force is that on the one hand it has carried out military reforms, and on the other hand it has powerful weapons and equipment. Miyun Iron Factory can produce the most powerful armors and firearms. Without these two things, it would be difficult for the Ming Dynasty to conquer the country.
Conquer all directions.
In the past, we relied on the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, but due to internal and external troubles, the comparison gap was too big.
This is also the reason why Emperor Hongzhi was so lenient with Zhu Houzhao.
The people in the court also criticized the prince a lot. They felt that the prince only studied the humble way and did not respect Confucius and Mencius. He did not learn the way of the emperor and the way of governing the country. This was not acceptable. Ministers often wrote letters asking Emperor Hongzhi to be strict with the prince.
Choose a famous teacher to teach the prince.
But these were all rejected by Emperor Hongzhi. This was a carefully considered decision made by Emperor Hongzhi after going through many things.
After all, as an emperor, he also attaches great importance to his successor and has many strict requirements. It is impossible to say that he can really let it go.
The reason why he didn't care was because Emperor Hongzhi felt that what the prince was learning and doing was meaningful and helpful to the development of the Ming Dynasty.
The emergence of trains is the best proof. With trains, are you still worried about being unable to consolidate the territory of Ming Dynasty?
Hearing Emperor Hongzhi's words, Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and other civil servants were all extremely surprised, and at the same time they couldn't help but frown slightly.
Confucianism has always been the dominant one, excluding hundreds of schools of thought, but judging from the current situation, Emperor Hongzhi seems to have the intention of supporting others.