Railway construction will definitely accelerate after next year. However, because of the obstruction of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, at least for now, it is not possible to build a bridge across the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, and it cannot be opened directly to traffic.
As a result, a place between the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, and south of the Yangtze River, must be chosen as a railway hub to radiate railways to other places.
In this case, a factory to build steam trains must be built in this railway hub. Otherwise, it would be a big problem to just build steam trains here in the capital and transport them to various railway lines.
This site selection is very important. Under normal circumstances, Song Yingxing would have to send craftsmen who know railways to verify the suitable place.
However, if Liu Weichao is here now, I believe that listening to his suggestions will get twice the result with half the effort.
This matter must be done after this year. Railways can be rolled out across the country as soon as possible so that the imperial court can further control all parts of the country and continue to expand territory without having to consider things too far away.
In other words, in the next few years, a lot of manpower and material resources will probably be spent on road construction, including railways and highways!
Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen immediately thought of manpower. Prisoners are really useful! If more prisoners could be captured to build roads and railways, the court would be able to save a lot of worry!
But where did this prisoner come from?
It seems that there are many people who are dissatisfied with the imperial court, both in the southeast and the northwest. Emperor Chongzhen thought in his mind that it was necessary to change the way of rewarding military merit: the bounty for beheading cannot be more, and beheading prisoners is of little use to the imperial court.
None, what a loss!
Write this down first!
Later, Emperor Chongzhen remembered another very important thing in the coming year. The new spinning machine and flying shuttle had proved that the production of cloth could be greatly improved.
Starting next year, the imperial court will be able to purchase cotton in large quantities. By the way, there will also be wool, the more the merrier.
When he thought of wool, Emperor Chongzhen naturally thought of the Mongolian grasslands, and only their nomadic tribes had much wool.
That Turg will go to the grassland after the new year, and it seems that we need to make some arrangements for him.
Thinking of this, Emperor Chongzhen felt that there were really many things to do in the coming year, and each one was very important.
In addition to what I just thought of, there is also the matter of crossing the Pacific eastward to the Americas, and the sooner the better. Liu Weichao has already said that there are many good things in South America, not only rubber trees, but also cinchona trees and so on. Looking back
He will compile a piece of information for himself.
By the way, there are huge iron ore and copper mines in South America, which must be snatched!
As a result, routes to America must be verified this morning.
Then the Ming Dynasty still needs to have a powerful navy that can fight on the ocean and be invincible. It needs to build more shipyards and expand its sailors...
After thinking about it, Emperor Chongzhen couldn't help but feel a little headache.
I originally thought that with the situation greatly improved, I would be able to relax a bit. But just thinking about it roughly, there are a lot of things to do!
Fortunately, the palace can use electric lights, which are much better than candles, so the night time can be used more effectively.
Emperor Chongzhen thought for a long time before he finally had a rough idea.
Afterwards, he took up a pen and jotted down roughly what he had just thought about, preparing to discuss it with his ministers again.
……………………
There are a total of 18 statutory holidays in the Ming Dynasty, which are clearly recorded in the "Ming Huidian". There is no holiday on New Year's Eve. The holiday begins on the first day of the Lunar New Year, which is the Zhengdan Festival of the Ming Dynasty. It starts on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
, civil and military officials have a five-day holiday. Then there is the Winter Solstice Festival, which starts today and has a three-day holiday. Finally, there is the Lantern Festival, which starts on the eleventh day of the first lunar month and has a ten-day holiday.
Therefore, there is actually no holiday on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. However, according to the custom of the Ming Dynasty, preparations for the New Year and the festival have been started since the sacrifice of the stove on the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month.
A few years ago, the world was in chaos, and Emperor Chongzhen had no money, so it was impossible for him to have a good time during the New Year.
The situation this year has improved a lot. Naturally, we still have to live this year and live it well to give a good sign for the coming year.
On New Year's Eve, the revised "Da Ming Law" was officially announced to the world.
Liu Weichao has also read this new version of "The Laws of the Ming Dynasty" and made some comments. Therefore, it seems more humane and more tolerant to the people at the bottom.
Among other things, in the form of the law of the Ming Dynasty, the untouchable status was abolished. Except for the criminals who were still untouchable, all others were returned to civilian households, so that they had the rights of ordinary people and could take the imperial examinations normally.
Marriage, etc., I don’t know how many people will benefit.
Although this article has actually been announced before. However, the new version of the "Da Ming Law" came out and it was clearly recorded, which gave all the yamen a clear legal basis. If anyone is still being unfairly affected by this, it is okay.
sued.
There is also good news, which is also officially announced to the world on this day.
It is said that the Jianlu puppet emperor Huang Taiji was so angry that he died because of Ningyuan’s victory!
People in the south may not feel much about this. Of course, the news did not spread to the south so quickly. But it was a sensation in the capital.
Basically every household of the people in Gyeonggi Province has been tortured by the Jianqiu. Relatives and friends, no matter how related, can tell some stories about the disasters caused by the Jianqiu.
Although Aisin Gioro Abatai and Aisin Gioro Azig were captured alive and cut to pieces before, this was the false emperor of Jianlu! He was pissed to death
, this is so refreshing!
For a moment, the sound of firecrackers in the capital city was louder than in previous years because of the announcement of these two major events. Gu
What’s the best-selling item during the Chinese New Year? It’s definitely the firecrackers!
No matter whether you are poor or rich, you will play several times during the Chinese New Year.
Those who have money set off more, and those who have less money set off less. The sound of firecrackers continues all day long, and it is more festive than any previous year.
Basically, the people in the capital are more willing to spend money than in previous years. If not for anything else, just because life is getting better day by day!
Relatives, friends and neighbors met one after another. In addition to saying "Happy New Year", they all spoke with smiles.
"Mr. Zhang, I heard that you went to the bank for a loan again?"
"Isn't it true that this bank run by the imperial court has low loan interest rates? The world is becoming more and more peaceful, so I just want to open up more doors!"
"If there is any place where you can make a fortune, please help me!"
"Haha, you should know how busy the train station is, right? I heard that next year there will be train stations in many places. If you have the connections, go and build a shop yourself!"
"Yes, yes, that's the truth. The train station is definitely profitable!"
"..."
"Liu Yuanwai, I heard that your daughter is going to take the women's examination?"
"The matter of the women's department has not been decided yet, right? My daughter is quite smart. If she really opens the women's department, she will have to try her luck!"
"Isn't there spring next year? Maybe the women's department matter can be settled too!"
"..."
"Mr. Zhao, I heard that your father has seen the night pearls in the palace with his own eyes? Are there really many of them and they are very bright?"
"That's not a pearl at night. Do you understand it's called an electric lamp? I heard from my father that His Majesty has decreed that during the Lantern Festival, there will be lanterns made of electric lamps. They are just outside the Meridian Gate. You can go and see them when you turn around."
"You must go and experience such a rare thing!"
"..."
"Master Sun, I heard that your glass factory received a lot of dividends this year!"
"Ha, it's just so so. It's just a little more than last year. It's just in time for the Chinese New Year to be used."
"Now that I think about it, I really regret it. If I had known that His Majesty asked for the money to do this, I would have paid more anyway!"
"..."
"Mr. Li, you are wearing glasses on your nose. They are very expensive, aren't they?"
"It's glasses, but fortunately, they are not ground from crystal, but made from glass in a glass factory, which is cheaper!"
"Really? Then I've read too much and my eyes can't see far. I'll have a look some other time. If the price is good, I'll buy one!"
"..."
"Old Wang, I heard that you want your two sons to sign up to be soldiers after the Chinese New Year?"
"Yes, look at those who are soldiers, their income is much higher than ours. My two sons are rich and powerful, wouldn't it be wasted if they don't become soldiers?"
"That's right. The people who are soldiers now are not the poor soldiers in the past. Moreover, the military households have also been changed. Now they are all civilian households. There is no need to worry that all the children and grandchildren will be soldiers."
"It's not just about money, don't you know? The one under construction outside the Forbidden City is called the Ming Dynasty Martyrs Monument and Memorial Hall. Even if a soldier dies in battle, he can be enshrined by the court. It is said that the emperor
They will all go to worship in person."
"No way, you have so much dignity? If that's really the case, let my eldest son try his luck. You can make more money while you're alive, and you'll have dignity when you die. It's better than eating at home and waiting to die!"
"No, what if you achieve military exploits and return home in glory one day? Isn't that right? Nowadays, the imperial army has won many battles. It's no longer the same situation as in the past where they were defeated in just one fight!"
"..."
Not to mention how people outside the palace celebrate the New Year, the New Year program inside the palace is still the same as before. After having the New Year's Eve dinner and going through the New Year process, Queen Zhou and others gathered under the electric light, cracking melon seeds and chatting.
From time to time, they looked up at the rows of electric lights, and then looked at Emperor Chongzhen from time to time, waiting for Emperor Chongzhen to finish speaking early. They were all waiting for the live broadcast of the Spring Festival Gala!
Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen kept talking, Concubine Tian suggested to Queen Zhou: "I don't know how long it will take. How about next year, let's hold a Spring Festival Gala ourselves. What do you think, sister?"
"Okay, okay!" Upon hearing this, Princess Zhu Ainao of Kunxing clapped her hands and applauded!