In today's era when the price of pig iron has been slashed, a pound of iron costs only ten cents, and a steam engine weighing about a thousand pounds only costs ten silver coins.
Of course, whether it is gears, screws, or chains, they are all made manually, and the labor cost is extremely high.
Therefore, the cost of a steam engine is only a hundred silver coins.
For ordinary people, this is money that cannot be obtained in a lifetime, but for wealthy people, a room in Beijing costs more than a hundred yuan.
"By the way, how long can this steam engine run?"
The craftsman was stunned for a moment and then said: "I'm fine, but basically as long as there is coal, you can keep running."
"A piece of coal weighing about a thousand kilograms should be able to travel about ten miles, and it would take half an hour..."
"The utilization rate is too low."
Zhu Yixi murmured.
According to this efficiency, if you want to travel fifty or sixty miles, you will need to load at least one carriage of coal.
The speed of their carriages is ten miles per hour, and their carriages are thirty miles per hour. The speed of rail carriages is even fifty or sixty miles per hour. How can this be compared?
This is just the initial steam engine, and it still needs to be improved by Watt!
Just how to improve it?
Damn, the steam engine has come out, but it still needs to be improved...
"No, it's not enough if I can run. I have to continue to improve."
The emperor's expression was serious: "At the very least, a thousand kilograms of coal can run a hundred miles. It is appropriate to run thirty to fifty miles in an hour, so that we can better attract people."
"Whoever can improve it will be rewarded with a reward of 10,000 yuan and promoted to a baron."
Instantly, all the breathing became much heavier.
A group of workers looked at the train with almost sparks in their eyes.
After the inspection, the emperor was about to leave when suddenly the craftsman's supervisor said again: "Your Majesty, although this steam engine is not very good at pulling people, it can pump water."
"As long as iron pipes are laid, water can be pumped directly from wells dozens of feet deep at extremely high speeds."
"Such a large pond can be drained in an hour, and there is no need to take a break. If this is applied to the people, there will be no fear of drought."
Hearing this, Zhu Yixi stopped walking.
In today's era, the technology of well digging is actually not very developed. Water can come out only five or six meters in the south, but only about ten meters in the north.
So there is an unknown amount of groundwater stored under the land, but it is not used.
The only problem is getting water.
It relies on people to pull and carry it, and I don’t know when and what month it will be able to water it into the ground.
Even if there is plenty of well water, it will be difficult to use it as quickly as possible.
If a steam engine could continuously pump water upwards, its efficiency would be many times greater than that of human power.
Moreover, with the advent of steam engines, wells could be dug deeper, so there was no need to worry about water shortages.
I said, I dare to focus my technology on agriculture.
"Although this initial steam engine is inconvenient as a train, it can be used in farming."
Zhu Yixi's eyes lit up: "Like that tiller for plowing the land, it doesn't care about efficiency and doesn't require much energy, even if it burns wood."
Bringing hundreds of people and cultivating land are two different things, and the consumption is lower.
The reason why the development of Northeast China is slow is not because manpower is scarce, and the old forests of Northeast China with large trees and deep roots cannot be achieved by the productivity of this era.
The cost of cultivating one acre of wasteland is several times that of the Central Plains.
If there is enough land, who will develop the Northeast?
Therefore, for hundreds of years, the Ming Dynasty continued to develop mature areas like Liaodong, while the rest of the land was handed over to the Jurchens and Mongols.
Historically, the development of Jiangnan only started gradually after the iron tools gradually matured.
The Wu State had the support of the Jin State, and the Yue State had the support of the Chu State. Only with perfect productivity and systems could they dominate successively.
The reason why the Chu State was able to resist the Zhou Dynasty and refuse to accept the Zhou Dynasty was because it controlled the most important copper resources in the Spring and Autumn Period.
After the rise of iron and the advent of the Warring States Period, the Chu State stopped cultivating.
Thinking of this, he turned his head and said to the supervisor of the craftsman: "Very good. The Han Dynasty gained the steel skills from the Western Regions and was able to suppress the Xiongnu. If this kind of steam engine can be used for agriculture, how can the drought during the Chongzhen period be feared?"
"
As he spoke, he couldn't help but be encouraged: "Although the imperial court has conquered Mongolia now, there are still not enough cattle for farming. This steam engine can walk on the ground. If the cattle are used for farming instead, wouldn't it benefit the country and the people?"
"The humble people among the common people call it strange and ingenious, but they have steam cows. Who dares to look down on you anymore?"
"Adding wheels to a steam engine?"
The craftsmen started talking one after another, waiting for wonderful ideas, which was really unexpected.
It’s not that they were incompetent in technology, but their thinking was imprisoned. Now that I think about it, if there was a steam iron ox, it would be no less than the wooden stream ox and horse invented by Zhuge Kongming in history.
Leave your name in history!
This iron cow does not eat feed, only firewood, and it is not easy to get sick. It can work for decades without any problem.
Apart from not being able to give birth, it has many advantages.
After boosting morale, the emperor's interest continued and he summoned Wang He, Minister of the Interior.
"What are the difficulties in a coal mining land?"
After taking off his regular clothes, Zhu Yixi put on a loose short coat, which showed no regal demeanor.
Wang He was stunned, but there were many coal mines in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He said seriously: "Your Majesty, coal mines have a lot of benefits, but there are three difficulties. One is landslides, the other is explosions, and the third is accumulation.
water……"
The collapse is easy to understand, but the explosion is due to a dust explosion.
As for water accumulation, leakage of surface rock formations and groundwater, it is impossible to prevent it.
Once too much water accumulates, coal mines are basically unable to be mined and can only wait for nature to clean up.
The first two can be prevented, but water accumulation cannot be prevented.
"I have something to cure standing water."
There was a smile on the emperor's lips: "The Ordnance Department has recently studied a steam engine. As long as it keeps burning coal, it can pump water from the ground to the ground without rest, day and night."
Wang He looked delighted: "If we had such a good thing, the coal mine could be mined for many more days and the profits would be huge."
"It is also excellent for use in farming."
"Yes, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has set up a steam engine workshop to produce steam engines. It can also deal with civilian farming and mine water accumulation."
Zhu Yixi gave the instructions casually, and the latter naturally agreed hurriedly.
Wang He left the palace and returned to the Yamen of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Since the establishment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it has developed a unique system after years of continuous improvement.
It is divided into two parts, the bureaucracy and the imperial merchants.
The former is the decision-maker and leader, while the latter is the executor and tentacle.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs will be led by the Minister of Internal Affairs (fourth grade) and assisted by three co-ministers (fourth grade), all of whom are personally appointed by the emperor.
The official rank here is just a salary, not a formal official position.
In other words, the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs belong to the inner court and cannot be transferred to the outer court (imperial court). Like the imperial guards, they maintain their independence.
Below the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there are four ministries, with the heads of each ministry responsible for them respectively.
Tianbu manages all imperial estates and lands.
The Mining Department is in charge of the mines, mountains and forests owned by the emperor.
The Merchant Department is responsible for the operation of shops, caravans, and all profitable transactions.
Money Department, responsible for all money storage, transportation, and verification of accounts.
As for the customs, although the Ministry of Internal Affairs has always wanted to merge, it is managed by an independent customs affairs office, which is more detached.
These four bureaucrats were either from imperial merchants or appointed by the emperor.
By the 20th year of Shaowu's reign, the size of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continued to expand, with more than 500 employees, but there were only about 30 officials with decision-making power.
Their annual expenses are about 500,000 yuan, but the profits they earn exceed 10 million yuan, reaching the level of 15 million yuan.
For example, the Ministry of Internal Affairs controls the sugar industry in Taiwan and Hainan, ginseng and fur in Northeast China, and some cattle and sheep in Mongolia.
It controls more than 30% of the world's mineral resources.
However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs never stopped doing business. Instead, it granted management rights for a certain period of time to the imperial merchants, allowing them to take over the internal affairs operations, thereby obtaining maximum profits with the minimum effort.
This has many advantages, such as not having to conflict with local gentry and avoiding the situation of drawing fire into the palace during the Wanli period.
In addition, the harvest is guaranteed despite droughts and floods, so there is no need to worry about the quality of the business, since the annual authorization fee will still be collected.
The bureaucrats of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are even more happy. They don't have to worry about being accused of embezzling imperial property, because it is more secretive for them to collect internal bribes from imperial merchants.
As soon as Wang He entered the yamen, he asked several imperial businessmen who operated Xishan coal mines to come.
He went straight to the point and described the wonderful use of steam engines to pump water, and then chuckled: "You quietly collect some water-logged coal mines at low prices, remember, don't make it public-"
"I'll understand later." All the emperors and merchants understood that this was bargain hunting at a low price.
"For every additional coal mine, the annual fee will be an additional five thousand yuan."
"Yes -" the royal merchants bowed their heads in agreement.
They buy the mines themselves and have to pay licensing fees.
There are many coal mines in Yuquan Mountain, but the number of people in Beijing is limited, so they can only be sold at high prices in winter.
Therefore, many coal mines can only dump them at low prices to Zunhua Iron Works. The more iron-making, the better for coal mines.
Even if there is a rich mine, limited by manpower and material resources, plus labor expenses, settlement expenses, commercial taxes, etc., the net profit per year can be as high as 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, or as low as 6,000 to 7,000 yuan.
Once a mining disaster occurs, such as an explosion or landslide, the settlement fee will have to be paid out of all profits, and a mine may also be lost.
The imperial merchants were responsible for the risks, hard work, and business taxes, but the Ministry of Internal Affairs only had to collect the money directly. How hateful!
But there is no way, this is the price of the imperial merchant.
Once you enjoy the benefits of this layer of skin, you have to bear the consequences.
Seeing that the imperial merchants were interested, Wang He did not say anything further, and then went to prepare for the construction of the steam workshop.
…
However, it is said that after Wang Fuzhi was awarded the title of Governor of Beihai, he was also given the title of Minister of the Ministry of War, reaching the second rank, which can be said to be unlimited glory.
The threshold is about to be crossed.
Even Zheng Sen, who served as the governor-general in Luzon, heard about this and sent a letter by express ship, asking the Zheng Mansion to send people to congratulate him. He was extremely generous and sent a gift worth a thousand silver dollars.
Just when he was about to close the door and thank his guests, Xia Wanchun, the chief envoy of Shandong Province, suddenly came to ask for an audience.
Wang Fuzhi's scarred face moved and he quickly went out to greet him.
He and Xia Wanchun were both Jinshi in the fourth year of Shaowu, and the latter was the number one scholar, so he was promoted very quickly.
In just over ten years, every time I passed the exam, I would be promoted. Occasionally I jumped two or three levels, and my smoothness was ridiculous, and I had already reached the rank of Chief Minister of Shandong.
Zheng Sen was three years older than him, and now he was just the governor of Luzon (second grade), only half a rank higher.
You must know that Wang Fuzhi is now fifty-seven and is about to be sixty, while Xia Wanchun is only thirty-six years old. He has a bright future, with eight ministries scheduled and a cabinet that can be expected.
"Brother Xia, aren't you in Shandong?"
Wang Fuzhi was smiling all over his face, and then he was stunned: "You can't be?"
"My younger brother came to Beijing to report on his duties and meet with the emperor."
Xia Wanchun said softly.
"But you've only stayed for less than two years!"
Wang Fuzhi was deeply hit.
Well, if you come to Beijing to see the emperor and report on your duties, you will most likely be promoted.
The one above the chief envoy is the governor, or the minister of Taichang Temple, the minister of Guanglu Temple, or the minister of Taipu Temple, who are the second-rank officials.
(The governor and the Minister of War were awarded the title of Second Grade)
"That's all." Mrs. Wang looked deeply shocked: "If you can come to see me when you return to Beijing, I will have no regrets."
After welcoming the shameless young Xia Wanchun in, Wang Fuzhi asked some questions about Shandong's customs and customs, and then revealed his policy on Beihai governance:
"Only by using both suppression and pacification, as well as animal husbandry and farming, can Beihai be brought under great control."
When Xia Wanchun heard this, he smiled and said: "There is another time when Your Majesty builds a city for King Fu in the Chechen Khan tribe. As a governor, you can do great things."
"Governing the people is invisible, but the city is the center of attention, and King Fu is always concerned about it. How can we not let the Sacred Heart pay attention?"
"What Brother Xia said is true." Wang Euzhi was greatly shocked.
Sure enough, it makes sense for people to be promoted.
After asking for advice and experience, Xia Wanchun didn't leave until late at night.
Sure enough, two or three days later, Xia Wanchun was transferred to the position of Minister of Guanglu Temple.
After a year and a half of hard work, he will be released as a patrol officer, even to the governor, as long as you are kind to him.
Wang Fuzhi, with the idea of promotion, visited Beijing with a few words and headed towards Mobei.
Accompanying him were the generals of Mobei and Luzhou Hou Xiong Yingjie, as well as 20,000 soldiers from the capital, preparing to replace the soldiers from the capital who had made great achievements.
Thanks to the good fortune of transporting grain back then, there were countless inns along the way, and the road was considered smooth.
When arriving at the majestic Kulun City in Mobei, Wang Euzhi sighed:
"The sky is blue, the fields are vast, the grass is blown by the wind and cattle and sheep are low, and this place has become a fertile soil."
Xiong Yingjie, a man with big arms and waist, looked at the cattle and sheep all over the ground and said, "There are cow dung and sheep dung everywhere, it's so smelly."
When Wang Euzhi heard this, he chuckled and said: "In the next few years, the general will have to live here all the time, so he can get used to it."
After saying that, he went directly into the city.
Xiong Yingjie sighed. He was a general of Mobei and a Marquis of Luzhou. In the future, he would have to be controlled by a civilian official. He would not have freedom at all and could not compare with Jilin and Heilongjiang.
After resting for a while, Wang Euzhi freshened up and went to the temple to see Jebtsundampa.
As the leader of the entire Mobei region, he is extremely young. He is only in his mid-thirties now. Years of pampering have made him extremely fair and tender.
"Amitabha, what's the matter with the Governor?"
Lobsang Tenpel Gyaltsen was very smart. He recited a Buddha's name before opening his eyes and asking.
"I have been ordered by Your Majesty to ask the great lama to move north to teach the people..."
Jebzundamba's eyes lit up, this was extending his influence to the Beihai region!
"For the benefit of the people, what does it matter if a poor monk suffers some hardships?"
ps: I’m stuck, I’ve been holding it in for a long time.