In the past half year, Li Jie has been spending time at the construction site again. He knew that the matter was urgent...the jobs he accepted were all urgent jobs for His Royal Highness.
Fortunately, these workshops are not palaces and do not require exquisiteness. Li Jie also knows where they are. With the cooperation of the supervisor, when Qian Jian's workshop was completed, the bobbin carts were also fully equipped.
Then, Su Song organized and equipped the gadgets that he had been thinking about for a while.
His Royal Highness the Prince said that large-scale production is the only way to reduce costs.
The guard camp is now selling new coins. Su Song feels that it is already very profitable, but His Royal Highness the Prince said that it is still far from enough...
Therefore, Su Song also wanted to verify the large-scale production mentioned by His Highness the Crown Prince.
"Your Highness, the copper stored by the Ordnance Supervisor can be used for up to three months."
Facts have proved that His Highness the Crown Prince was right again.
The raw materials have not changed. At the same time, the same craftsmen can produce new coins that have increased five times compared to the original guard camp.
If the new currency is simply used as a commodity, the change will indeed be quite significant.
In other words, regardless of the cost of raw materials, the current Bianliang Qianjian can generate three or four times the original profit for every new coin produced.
It’s just that the copper mine…can’t handle it any longer.
"Please inform the court. New coins have been launched recently, and the court should also estimate the usage of copper mines."
As for the small matter that the copper content of new coins is different from that of old coins, there is no need to let the courtiers know.
Anyway, the new coins are not comparable to the old coins in terms of exquisiteness, toughness, anti-corrosion, anti-counterfeiting, etc., and the market recognition is high. These are enough.
There is no way, even with the talent of Li Jie, Zhao Xi cannot push forward the construction of new transportation lines. No money!
I don’t know if I am really too anxious to plunder the spare money of the ministers, or if I just can’t see the profit after the track is formed.
Since the beginning of the Southern Expedition, three mines of manganese, copper, and iron have been built, and a woolen mine has been added later. This should not leave these ministers and workers who have been treated favorably for many years without any spare money, right?
The weapons supervisor belongs to the imperial court, and the money supervisor also belongs to the imperial court. Zhao Xi insists that merchants must not be allowed to intervene.
The problem is, Zhao Xi sent people to flee, not only the officials in the capital, but also the security camp to recruit close people like he was planning to build a copper mine. Unfortunately, no one provided any more funds.
Therefore, Zhao Xi had to shoulder the responsibility of building a new transportation line alone.
The six companies that had already joined in were involved, but it was a drop in the bucket... The construction of this transportation line really couldn't be accomplished with just a few bucks.
Even Liu Yi complained to Zhao Xi. Even the formula of that thing called ice cream didn't sell for much money.
Therefore, Zhao Xi also knew that his own women were reluctant to lend money to others.
There is no way, everyone in this era thinks that money is what they look at.
As a last resort, Zhao Xi made a fuss about the new currency.
"Uncle Hui, did you say when the new miners will be in place?"
"It will take another two months."
Alas, the order is wrong.
Zhao Xi originally thought that managing water transportation was not a difficult task. After all, it was a thankless job, but he did not expect that there were so many tricks in it.
When he was in Xuzhou, he dispersed the members of the copper mine and quickly collected the money and food to build the copper mine... If you keep holding on to money and do nothing, you will definitely be criticized and your character will be ruined.
Therefore, preparations for the construction of copper mines have been prioritized.
Then, whether it was the weapons supervisor or the money supervisor, the imperial court was keeping a close eye on it. The houses had all been sold, and it was unjustifiable not to build them.
The only thing is the transportation route.
Zhao Xi knew that he was forcing himself to continue with the original water transport, so as to have a legitimate explanation of wear and tear.
"The copper stored in the Ordnance Supervisor should be almost consumed, right?"
Small talk is a way to relax when dealing with official business, especially talking about things that you can see clearly and that others are worried about.
Just like now.
"Ming Zhong knows a lot about weapons inspection..."
Zeng Gongliang is a good man, and he can't bear to see his prince's jokes being laughed at by his princes.
"Four more Tiger Crouching Cannons were cast. The Ordnance Supervisory Office does not have much copper reserves. Judging from the new coins issued by the imperial court, there should be very little left."
Zeng Gongliang did understand that the Third Division was in charge of arms construction, which was Zeng Gongliang's business scope before His Royal Highness designated arms construction.
"There are no new coins in the East Palace?"
"Even if there is, it's only a small amount. And Liu Yi from Neiyuan, who sells new sweets, is also in need of new coins. I think there is a shortage of new coins in the East Palace."
"In other words, is the memorial from the new money supervisor accurate?"
"That's right! People outside Beijing are already making a huge noise. Now that the Qian Supervisor has been established, the Dongchuan Copper Mine has not been touched..."
Fu Bi wanted to continue, but it must be the purpose of some people. Then he paused...
"How much loss can be tolerated when transporting new coins by water?"
Everyone can understand it, and it should be obvious. Wen Yanbo accepted Fu Bi's words and simply told the truth.
This is obviously forcing His Royal Highness to continue taking the original route.
His Highness the Prince also sent people to the government to inquire, but Wen Yanbo did not agree. He did not think His Highness the Prince's plan was feasible, and he also did not want to get into trouble with those along the water transport route.
He excused himself by investing in woolen textiles.
But he was not prepared to let water transport play too big a role in the new coins. Everything had to be done within a certain limit, especially now that the minting volume of new coins had not increased and the market was tight, the court must not make the hole bigger. Otherwise,
The court was once again in chaos.
"Half percent! If necessary, the state government and the imperial army along the road can intervene..."
Although Fu Bi said this, he also knew that it might be difficult.
Since the beginning of the dynasty, the water transportation of the Bianhe River has been independent of the government at all levels, and has many connections with the state governments along the road.
Not to mention having independent water transport troops and generals, even the foraging fields along the road were in response to the orders of water transport... after all, they depended on water transport for their livelihood.
Therefore, Fu Bi also knew that even if the state government and the imperial army were to get involved along the way, it would only increase the losses in the end.
Alas... The country belongs to everyone, but not many people really take it seriously as their own business.
The court got it right and cooperated quite well. He directly allocated some copper ingots from the general supervisor.
This is the most appropriate method. It is most appropriate for the Qian Jian to directly receive the copper ingots.
But Zhao Xi was a supervisor of generals, and it should be said that he really looked down on the copper ingots extracted by the copper supervisors of the state.
Even these copper ingots must be re-refined when they reach Qianjian. Therefore, when Zhao Xi was planning to build the Ordnance Supervisor and Qianjian, he directly built a systematic and complete production chain.
This is also the reason why Li Jie is interested.
This is not building a workshop at all, but more like building a new city.
"How long can it last?"
Time is tight, really tight. Following His Highness the Crown Prince, I seem to be on the road every day. I don't think that the scholar-bureaucrats of the imperial dynasty... can live a leisurely life.
"Your Highness, it can last for half a year, or maybe less. The craftsmen are not yet familiar with the overall manufacturing process. Once they are proficient, it will only last four or five months."
Really tight!
"Ming Zhong, can you get away with the weapons supervision and construction matter?"
Zhao Xi still wanted Li Jie to take the lead in the construction of the new track, and Su Song had to stay here to take care of it. Many of the facilities were instigated by him, and no one else could do it, not even Zhao Xi himself.