Wang Jiuao looked at Zhang Yi and then at Yang Shan, with an expectant look on his face.
After all, these two are traditional Confucian scholars and are not in the same group as those in the Academy of Sciences. They should not blatantly undermine them, right?
Zhang Yi had no choice but to say: "The way of the sage is that our nature is self-sufficient. It is wrong to seek the truth about things from it."
Wang Jiuao was very satisfied after hearing this, and the smile on his face almost overflowed.
Yang Shan on the side couldn't help but frowned. The emperor asked whether the current technological development can be obtained by reading the Four Books and Five Classics. It would be better for you to make a sentence about the way of saints. Is it yes or no?
It stands to reason that this kind of ambiguous answer is reserved for an experienced person like me. You are stealing my words!
After Zhang Yi finished speaking, everyone's eyes were focused on Yang Shan.
Yang Shan smiled awkwardly and said, "I agree with what Yang Shangshu said!"
After finishing speaking, he and Zhang Yi looked at each other, and they both smiled knowingly at the same time.
Zhu Qizhen said slowly: "You have both the good and the good, do you understand?"
Ichijo Kaneliang hurriedly saluted and said: "I deeply admire Chinese culture. I just heard what Scholar Wang said and was deeply touched!"
Zhu Qizhen nodded and said: "I wrote in the memorial that I want to learn how to make steam trains and steamships. After much thought, the Ming Dynasty and the Japanese Kingdom are countries of friendship, so naturally I want to share good things.
of."
Kanyoshi Ichijo was overjoyed and said: "Thank you so much, His Majesty the Emperor!"
"but……"
Zhu Qizhen changed the subject and said: "The knowledge here is quite profound, and it cannot be learned in one or two years. Wang Qing's family just said that the literati of Ming Dynasty have studied the Four Books and Five Classics since they were young. After several generations,
People's hard work, accumulated over time, will lead to today's achievements, do you understand?"
"I understand!"
Of course Ichijo Kanyoshi knows that so much high technology cannot be accomplished overnight.
However, he firmly believed that if the Ming Emperor opened his mouth, things would be easier to handle.
If one or two years doesn't work, then three to five years, ten or twenty years...
As long as you work hard, you can learn these techniques sooner or later!
Zhu Qizhen continued: "The Qing family traveled across the ocean and came to the Ming Dynasty. I deeply feel the sincerity of the Qing family. I agree to all the requests in this memorial!"
Ichijo Kaneliang was so excited that tears filled his eyes. He knelt on the ground with a bang and kowtowed: "I thank you for your holy grace!"
Writing memorials is the same as doing business. If you want two kilograms of grain, it's best not to ask for it directly, because they will bargain with you and end up getting only one kilogram.
There is an old saying: He who seeks the upper part will find it, he who seeks the upper part will find the lower part, and he who seeks the lower part will get nothing.
Therefore, in a comprehensive memorial, various requirements are put forward, very many.
Not only did he ask Daming to provide equipment, but he also asked to send personnel to maintain and teach, and provide technical support. In short, almost everything he could think of was written into the memorial.
In his expectation, as long as the Ming Emperor could meet one-tenth of his requirements, he would be considered a profit. Unexpectedly, with a wave of his hand, they all agreed!
I regret it, I should have written more...
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said, "Get up and answer the question."
"Thank you... thank you, His Majesty the Emperor!"
Kanyoshi Ichijo stood up slowly, wiping tears and was very moved.
"I promised to provide you with technology, but making cars and ships requires a lot of steel and coal. These raw materials cannot be given to you for free, because they are the property of the people, and I cannot take the things of the people for nothing, don't you agree?"
Ichijo Kanryoshi nodded hard and said: "I understand that His Majesty the Emperor provides technical support. I am grateful on behalf of the Japanese people. We spend money to buy steel and coal!"
"Don't worry, Xu Qing's family, please tell me the price of these raw materials."
Xu Pu finally understood that he was waiting here!
"Your Majesty, the price of a pound of pig iron is roughly one cent of silver. The price of fine steel is much more expensive, roughly the same as silver!"
Ichijo Kanryoshi was still complacent and happy. Hearing this, he was suddenly startled and asked: "The price of fine steel is so much more expensive?"
"That's natural!"
Xu Pu nodded and said seriously: "The refining process of fine steel is extremely complicated and requires dozens of processes. Moreover, the process control is very strict. As long as there is an error in any of the processes, all the efforts will be wasted."
Ichijo Kaneliang's expression changed. The price of a pound of fine steel was equivalent to a pound of silver. Is this a clear-cut robbery?
But the problem is that the core technology is in the hands of others, and the pricing power is naturally tightly controlled by them.
If you want to buy it, this is the price.
Don’t buy it…pull it down!
Seeing how strong the Ming Dynasty's industrial base was, and looking at the Japanese state, it was not as good as a small village or town. How can such a gap make people feel at ease?
After thinking for a long time, Ichijo Jianliangcai gritted his teeth and said: "I will make the decision for the Japanese country, buy it!"
Xu Pu continued: "The price of coal is much cheaper, about one cent and five silver per hundred catties."
Ichijo Kanyoshi finally breathed a sigh of relief. This was not expensive and was acceptable.
"However, steam locomotives and steamships do not burn ordinary coal, but processed anthracite. This kind of coal burns fully and has high heat. However, the production process is more complicated, and the price is naturally much more expensive. It is about 20 times more than ordinary coal.
times."
Ichijo Kane's conscience twitched, and he asked cautiously: "If we don't burn anthracite...is it okay?"
"Of course you can, but there will be a lot of problems."
"what is the problem?"
Xu Pu explained: "The first is the storage capacity. The heat of anthracite is three times that of ordinary coal. In other words, your steam locomotive carries one hundred kilograms of anthracite, which is equivalent to carrying three hundred kilograms of ordinary coal. The train's warehouse is limited.
Yes, the more fuel you can carry, the farther you can run. Otherwise, you can only run for a short period before stopping to replenish fuel."
"It is easier to solve this problem when trains run on land. Prepare more fuel at stations along the way. Although it is troublesome, it can be overcome. However, steamships are different, especially ocean voyages. There is no place to replenish it for you.
fuel."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Then let's talk about the technical issues. Whether it is a train or a ship, they are all driven by steam engines. Ordinary coal contains a lot of sulfur and other impurities. When burned, it not only
The calorific value is low and the loss of the steam engine is very serious. If anthracite is used, the life of the steam engine can be greatly extended, thereby saving costs."
This explanation is reasonable and well-founded. Ichigo Jianliang is also a sensible person, so he naturally knows the pros and cons.
However, he still took a chance and asked: "How much silver does a steam engine cost?"
Xu Pu replied: "The price on the train is about 300,000 taels, and the one on the ship is more expensive, at least 500,000 taels!"
"ah?"
Ichijo Kanera's face turned pale and he murmured: "It's so expensive..."
"This is just the manufacturing cost. Countless dollars have been invested in the early research and development work. A rough estimate is that it has exceeded 10 million taels!"
Xu Pu's words were not alarmist. The initial investment was indeed huge, but he did not say that this research and development work was not just for steam engines, but also included the overall design of trains and ships.
Wang Jiuao's heart bleeds when he hears this. There are tens of millions of taels of silver. Why don't you give us a share of this money? It's all thrown in!
Ichijo Kanera gritted his teeth and asked again: "Is it acceptable?"
He has already risked his life. The value of these high-tech products far exceeds money. As long as he can buy them with money, he will accept them for any price!
Zhu Qizhen smiled and said: "The Qing family can buy the raw materials and make them themselves."
Ichijo and his conscience secretly complained, you really praise me!
Even if you send me technical guidance, can we still do it without looking at the current industrial base of Japan?
If there are no corresponding supporting facilities, how can you let your people rub it with their hands?
"Thank you for your kindness, His Majesty the Emperor. I believe that the industrial level of Japan is too backward and the production capacity is insufficient. It is safer to purchase from the Ming Dynasty and transport it back to Japan for assembly. I wonder what His Majesty the Emperor thinks?"
Zhu Qizhen nodded and said: "That's fine, how much are you prepared to purchase?"
Kanryo Ichijo thought quickly in his mind, and then replied: "In view of the current situation of the Japanese country, I request to purchase five steam trains and two steam ships. I hope His Majesty the Emperor will give me your permission!"
Of course, the more the better, but once you calculate the cost and then look at your pocket, forget it, just buy less in the first batch.
When Japan's industrial level develops in the future, they can make it themselves.
Zhu Qizhen looked at Xu Pu and asked, "Xu Qing, please calculate the cost."
Xu Pu understood and continued: "The current cost of a steam train is roughly fifteen million taels of silver, and the cost of a steamship is roughly thirty million taels. The rails need to be made of refined steel, and the cost of each hundred meters of rails is
It’s ten thousand taels…”
"Um... isn't rice for eating?"
"Oh, this meter is a unit of measurement. One hundred meters is roughly one hundred and fifty steps, or seventy-five steps."
"I see……"
Ichigo Kaneliang secretly calculated in his heart that one hundred meters is ten thousand taels. The first railway line in Japan needs at least one hundred thousand meters, which is ten million taels...
Ten million taels, this is all money!
Xu Pu continued: "As for sleepers, bed foundations, etc., they can be obtained locally in the Japanese country, so they are not included. By the way, Mr. Ichijo, you haven't said how many rails are needed?"
"This... let's calculate it as 100,000 meters first!"
"We generally don't talk about one hundred thousand meters here, but one hundred kilometers. The total is 10 million taels. Five steam trains are 75 million taels. The cost of two steamships is 60 million taels. The total cost is 60 million taels.
It’s 145 million taels of silver.”
"Calculated as five million catties of anthracite, the total is one and a half million taels of silver."
"Then there is the transportation cost. However, the current capacity of ships is very large, so the freight will not be much, at most 30% of the purchase price."
"After this calculation, the total is...wait a moment, let me do the math..."
Xu Pu closed his eyes, pinched his fingers, and murmured to himself, then suddenly opened his eyes and said: "One hundred and ninety-four million taels of silver!"
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said: "Oh, we are all countries of friendship. Even if we are so careful, I don't want to make money from you. Let's just take the lead and wipe it out. 190 million taels will be enough!"
"
Ichijo Kanera couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. Didn't you make any money from us?
Nearly 200 million silver, where can I steal it for you?
"Thank you for His Majesty the Emperor's grace, but... the Japanese country is far from as rich as the Ming Dynasty. I'm afraid I won't be able to get so much money at once..."
"No Money?"
Zhu Qizhen suddenly put away the smile on his face and said: "It will be difficult if you don't have money!"
"Rich, rich!"
Ichijo Kaneliang was so frightened that he was afraid that he would regret not selling, so he hurriedly said: "I just can't get it out at once, but I hope His Majesty the Emperor will be kind and allow the Japanese country to repay it in installments..."
These words are very unconfident, because there is no money in installments.
However, seeing that steam trains and ships are almost arriving at your doorstep, you have to have them if you don’t have them!
First defraud the trains and ships, and then slowly pay them back...
Zhu Qizhen's face became a little ugly and asked: "If you don't have money now, you will have it in the future? How can you guarantee that you can pay the installment?"
Ichijo Kanryoshi frowned, thought quickly, and then said: "As long as the advanced technology of the Celestial Dynasty is introduced, I promise, the Japanese country will be able to develop rapidly, and then there will be money to repay it!"
"What you say is empty talk. What I want is something real, or assets that can cover the debt."
"Then..."
Ichijo Kaneryoshi gritted his teeth and said: "Use the Japanese customs as collateral!"
"How much tariff can your Japanese country collect in a year?"
"In terms of silver, it's about three million taels."
Japan is an island country, and its development depends entirely on maritime transportation. Three million taels per year is quite a lot.
This was all due to the Ming Dynasty lifting the maritime ban, which not only led to frequent trade between the two countries, but also promoted trade between the southeastern countries, which resulted in a tariff as high as three million taels.
Zhu Qizhen was very disapproving and said: "Your order is close to 200 million, and the annual customs area is 3 million taels. Do you want me to wait until sixty years later?"
"Your Majesty the Emperor, although there are not many now, as long as there are trains and ships, the development prospects of the Japanese country are huge, and the growth will be doubled in the future. I estimate that at most... thirty years will be enough!"
"What will I do if your tariffs don't increase?"
Jianliang's teeth were almost broken and he said: "I will take out two more ports and lease them to the Ming Dynasty for ten years to pay off debts!"
Zhu Qizhen shook his head: "Thirty years of tariffs and ten years of use rights to two ports, I still feel that I am at a loss."
Ichijo Kanryo felt his heart bleed, but he really didn't want to give up.
"Fifty million taels of silver, twenty years of tariffs, plus the right to use any two ports for twenty years!"
This condition is equivalent to spending the next twenty years of the Japanese country, which is already exhausting everything.
Kanyoshi Ichijo knew very well that if he organized his own people to conduct research, it would be bad luck to make a breakthrough even in two hundred years, let alone twenty years.
Now that there is something ready-made in front of you, even if it means selling it out and losing everything, you still have to get it!
Zhu Qizhen seemed to still have some doubts and asked, "Can the Qing family be the master of Guan Bai for the Japanese country?"
Ichijo Kanyoshi nodded solemnly and said: "Your Majesty, please rest assured that I can make the decision!"
After hearing this, Zhu Qizhen finally showed a satisfied smile and slowly uttered two words -