He waved to the two civil servants at the door. The two civil servants took out a large map from the door, climbed on the chair and hung the map on the wall behind the rostrum.
Seeing the map, all the businessmen in the conference room took a breath.
This map is drawn so rigorously and meticulously that it seems to be accurate to every centimeter or even millimeter.
That map was drawn by Li Zhi who had been sending surveying and mapping personnel to all parts of the country over the years and used relatively advanced surveying and mapping instruments and methods. The accuracy is almost the same as that of later civilian maps.
Different colors are used on the map to represent the mountainous geography of the Ming Dynasty and one town and nine provinces. High-lying areas are represented by yellow or even dark yellow, and low-lying areas are represented by green or even dark green. As soon as the whole map is hung up, people will be fascinated by it.
The topography of the entire East Asia is clearly visible.
A breath of modern science and technology rushed to the face, with precision and tension far beyond this era. As soon as this map was displayed, the last trace of dissatisfaction in the hearts of individual businessmen was completely suppressed.
Who dares to be dissatisfied in the face of the prince's powerful methods?
Cai Huaishui held up a small wooden stick, pointed at the map and said: "Currently, we have built the railway network in Liaodong Province, and the railway in Jilin Province is under construction. The main lines have been completed, but the branch lines have not yet been networked."
"In Shandong, our railway has connected Dengzhou Port and Jinan City. The railway starting from Tianjin goes all the way south and has now been built in Henan. We are currently waiting for the completion of the steel bridge across the Yellow River. After the bridge is fully completed this month,
The main railway line from Tianjin to Kaifeng is now complete."
"In Jianghuai Province, our main line railway plan is to connect the railway extending from Shandong to Yangzhou City. However, this railway is still in the planning and mapping stage and has not yet started construction. But overall, the construction plan of this main line railway is
It has been planned, the production of personnel and materials has been put on the schedule, and the funds have been allocated. If there are no accidents, this trunk line will also be responsible for the government."
The businessmen below heard Cai Huaishui's instructions and noticed that there were some black and white lines on the map, which were the completed trunk railway routes. There were also some dotted lines, which were the Jianghuai Province trunk railway lines that were still under planning.
Cai Huaishui looked at the businessmen below and said: "At present, these trunk railways have greatly reduced the logistics costs of one town and nine provinces. Presumably many of the goods from your factories are transported to Shandong via railways."
"With the further development of the commodity economy, transportation demand in various places will further increase in the future. We need not only trunk railways, but also branch railways. The prince has a more ambitious plan for the railway network in one town and nine provinces."
Cai Huaishui was about to continue his introduction when Li Zhi suddenly stood up. He walked to the map, took a picture of it and said:
“Dear business owners, the development of our one town and nine provinces is leapfrogging. The construction of infrastructure will catch up with the actual demand and provide conditions for the circulation of commodity economy to the greatest extent. We hope to be able to develop every prefecture and city in one town and nine provinces.
We will build railways so that every factory and farm is within three hundred miles of the train station."
Through various inventions and creations, Li Zhi has now brought the commodity economy level of one town and nine provinces to the level of the 19th century, at least the level of the 1850s. In the mid-19th century, European countries began to vigorously build railways
era. For example, the United States has built 409,000 kilometers of railways in the past few decades since the 1830s, equivalent to two hundred railways from Beijing to Guangzhou. These railways are what allowed the United States to surpass the British Empire and become the world's
The inner support of the overlord.
Today, one town and nine provinces are also facing the same railway needs.
Li Zhi was ready to work hard to bring the infrastructure of one town and nine provinces to the level of Western countries in the mid-19th century.
After hearing Li Zhi's words, the businessmen below looked at each other for a while, then each raised their hands and said, "Your Majesty, Sheng Ming!"
"The king is in a commanding position!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Li Zhi smiled and said: "The construction of this line of railways cannot be all done by the government. Firstly, the government cannot manage it, and secondly, it is financially difficult. I hope that a considerable part of these branch railways will be built by companies.
.”
Li Zhi drew a line on the map and said: "For example, this branch railway from Yangzhou Prefecture to Luzhou Prefecture is more than 500 miles long and costs about 12 million taels of silver. If Fanjiazhuang businessmen take the lead to form a joint-stock company
I estimate that it will be completed and open to traffic within five years, that it will be profitable within two years of its opening, and that the cost will be recovered within fifteen years."
After Li Zhi said these words, he paused for a while to let the businessmen below digest them.
The businessmen were really shocked by Li Zhi's large-scale project, and they gathered together in twos and threes to discuss it.
A business with a cost of 12 million taels is indeed a big business. The turnover in one year is at least more than 1 million taels, which has exceeded the scale of Huashi Agricultural Machinery Factory, the largest private enterprise in Fanjiazhuang.
Finally, Tang Zhongdao stood up and said, "Your Majesty, how risky is it to build this railway?"
Li Zhi said with a smile: "As long as it is managed properly, the risk is relatively low. We allow private railways to charge higher tolls, so with the development of the economy, the railways will eventually become profitable. The only problem is the timing of profitability. In the end,
Whether the cost is recovered in ten years or fifteen years depends on the local economic development and the speed of material circulation."
"However, in today's one town and nine provinces, factories generally use new machines, steam engine power and assembly line structures, completely defeating the handicraft industry. All kinds of goods are gradually concentrated in factories in big cities for production and transportation between places. In addition,
For the transportation of raw materials, we still have a huge demand for railway transportation. According to our experience in Liaodong, generally speaking, the cost can be recovered within fifteen years."
"If you feel that the occupation of funds is too great, you can also issue railway construction bonds to the people."
The businessmen below heard Li Zhi's words and started talking among themselves again. The people in one town and nine provinces are extremely rich. If the railway company is allowed to issue bonds, as long as the interest on the bonds exceeds 5%, then the funds will not be used at all.
question.
After a pause, Li Zhi continued: "Railway construction is related to people's livelihood and is a project that contributes to the country. Therefore, our government will give certain honors to the businessmen who take the lead in building the railway."
"We have designed seven levels of businessman's medals of honor, which will be awarded to businessmen involved in railway construction to varying degrees. These businessmen's medals of honor, like military medals, are evidence of meritorious service to the country. Individuals who hold the medals will have a better life in life.
Lieutenant General is respected and courteous by the entire society!"
Upon hearing Li Zhi's last words, the eyes of the businessmen below suddenly lit up.
The Merchant Medal is really what businessmen want most.
Although this thing is not an official and has no administrative power or privileges, in Fanjiazhuang, this medal is very respected. Those meritorious soldiers or family members of martyrs who wear medals are not looked down upon wherever they go. Even if they buy food, they will be lined up.
Someone from the team asked them to go to the front, and even if they fell while walking, a bunch of people would come up to help them.
With this medal, even the police will be more enthusiastic towards you, and those scoundrels who blackmail businessmen will naturally retreat.
Although Li Zhi was not prepared to give businessmen official status and privileges, if he gave them medals, it would be enough to give them a sense of security and accomplishment.
