MTL - Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty-v2 Chapter 1729 pie in the sky

  Chapter 1729 Pie from the Sky

  Zhu Houzhao was very happy when he saw Chen Yan's face was blue and red, and he was about to give Fang Jifan a helping hand.

  Then Chen Yan was unwilling. At this point, it seems that there is only... the fish dies and the net is broken.

  But at this moment, someone outside said: "Cabinet University scholar Liu Jian, Li Dongyang has arrived."

   As they said, the two of them came in one after the other, led the ministers, and entered the exchange. Seeing that Chen Yan was still alive, they both heaved a sigh of relief.

  Liu Jian and the two of them felt that something was wrong when they heard that the officials were going to greet them.

  The current emperor's temper, what they know best, if they go to touch Nilin now, Chen Yan will probably be unlucky.

  Although I think that Chen Yan is a troublesome person, but after all, this gentleman is the censor. If something happens to His Majesty, it will shake the world again.

  It is not a pity for a Chen Yan to die, but if the emperor's reputation is damaged because of Chen Yan's death, this is something that a courtier does not want to see.

  Liu Jian came to Zhu Houzhao, and quickly bowed down: "The old minister has seen His Majesty."

  When Zhu Houzhao saw Liu Jianlai, he behaved a little more politely, and his face was a little gentler: "Master Liu, why did you come?"

  Liu Jiandao: "Your Majesty... the old minister is also here to welcome the holy driver. Your Majesty has left the palace these days, and the old minister feels uneasy. I implore your majesty to return to the palace so that the subjects of the world can feel at ease."

   These words are not harsh.

  Zhu Houzhao said casually: "Go back as soon as you come back. It's just that Chen Yan accuses me of being a minister here. I have to punish him. Master Liu is here just in time. I want to ask, what crime should be punished?"

Liu Jian sighed in his heart, but hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Chen Yan is the imperial censor. In other words, he is not guilty. Besides... the old minister knows that he greeted him for the sake of the court and for His Majesty. He has no fault. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me. .”

  Zhu Houzhao seemed unhappy.

   In front of so many people, he couldn't step down, and now he needs to forgive this person?

He really wants to forgive, but the problem is that if he forgives today, tomorrow he doesn’t know how many censors will have to repeat the old tricks. If he doesn’t show Chen Yan any color today, he will kill chickens and monkeys. From then on, he will obey these censors’ words in everything .

  Zhu Houzhao did not want to repeat the mistakes of his father.

  But... in front of Liu Jian, he didn't know what to say.

Fang Jifan, who was beside him, seemed to have guessed Zhu Houzhao's thoughts, and said: "Your Majesty has been researching and building cars these days, and it is precisely because of this new steam locomotive that the speed and cargo capacity have been greatly improved, so that people all over the world are looking forward to it." Optimistic about the railway being built by the imperial court. The market value of Liu Gong, Li Gong, and Xishan Jianye has skyrocketed. This railway...has an additional fund of more than ten million taels, and this...is all His Majesty has racked his brains these days The result of building a car, but this Chen Yan... is here to accuse the emperor of not doing his job properly, Mr. Liu, Mr. Li, you have gone through several dynasties, and come to comment, is there any reason in the world?"

what…

   Sure enough, silver has always been the most shocking.

  Liu Jian and Li Dongyang looked at each other, and they were already overwhelmed deep in their hearts.

   More than ten million taels of silver.

  Only in the blink of an eye?

  The benefits of the railway are visible, and now the civil and military courts are full of power, and almost no one stops the construction of the railway.

However, it cost a lot of money to build the railway. This is also a well-known fact. The railway that the imperial court is building now has raised money and food everywhere for money. Although the national treasury has not been used, this huge investment still makes Liu Both Jian and Li Dongyang feel distressed.

   Your Majesty builds a car, just...

  If this is the case... this can solve a huge problem. The more money you have, the more railways you can build. Liu Jian even has selfish intentions. He hopes that the railway can be built in Henan and benefit his hometown in Henan.

   All of a sudden... Liu Jian began to dislike Chen Yan. He had long forgotten about this arrogant guy, and couldn't help saying: "Your Majesty, if this is the case, wouldn't it be possible for the court to plan a few more routes?"

"Of course." Zhu Houzhao said excitedly: "I don't need to say more about the benefits of the railway. Master Liu, this railway involves not only the stability of border towns, but also the national economy and the people's livelihood. I am the Son of Heaven, don't you?" Shouldn't you be worried?"

   "Yes, yes." Liu Jian hurriedly said: "What Your Majesty said is very true."

  Zhu Houzhao then turned cold, and said: "Since that's the case, then Chen Yan, do you want to deal with it?"

   "This..." Liu Jian began to feel embarrassed again.

  Of course he already felt that Chen Yan was in the way, and he even wished that Chen Yan could go as far as he could go. Such a guy who doesn't know how to make money, but only knows how to speak the truth all the time, is getting more and more annoying.

   It is still difficult for Liu Jian to speak out.

  But at this time, suddenly...someone said: "Your Majesty..."

  The voice came from among the merchants.

   Many people looked towards the source of the sound.

   But among the prostrate merchants, some kowtowed in the direction of Zhu Houzhao.

  A mere merchant dared to speak boldly at this moment.

  Zhu Houzhao was not angry at all, but deliberately said: "This guy is so courageous, what's the matter?"

  The merchant coughed and looked at Zhu Houzhao eagerly. He was a little nervous, but he still said tremblingly: "The grass people have something, I don't know whether to ask it or not."

  Liu Jian and others frowned. They felt that this merchant was trying to offend the holy driver.

  Zhu Houzhao calmed down and said, "Tell me and listen to me."

   "The grassroots are thinking...I don't know if we, the merchants, can build a railway privately?" The merchant mustered up his courage and said suddenly.

  As soon as this remark came out...everyone was in an uproar.

  Someone wants to build a railway privately...

  The current railway, of course, is much cheaper than later generations, after all...the structure is also simple.

   But this investment is still terrifying.

  Although the words were astonishing, Zhu Houzhao became interested and cheered up: "You also want to build a railway?"

Facing the questioning, the businessman hurriedly said: "Of course not with the power of the grassroots alone, but if the grassroots put up a part of the capital, then raise shares, buy steam locomotives from Xishan, recruit craftsmen, and carry out construction, think like a grassroots There are not a few like-minded people like this, everyone gathers firewood, grass people, etc. Of course, they can't afford to build a major artery, but for example, the railway from Tianjinwei to a certain house in Shandong may not be able to build it. What grass people did, It is the sale and purchase of silk, and the scale of the business is slightly larger, and the income and profit are considerable..."

  He seemed anxious to let Zhu Houzhao know that he had enough strength.

  But at this time...Zhu Houzhao, Liu Jian and others trembled, and their eyes were shining.

  What they care about is what the merchants said before, and the merchants put up the principal to build the branch line.

   What the imperial court can build, after all, can only be the main artery, and it may not be impossible to improve the various branch lines in the future, but the problem is... until that time, we still don't know the year of the monkey.

  However, if merchants are allowed to raise funds to build the railway, some problems may arise when the railway is completed.

  It's just that in today's world, what needs to be solved is not the question of good and bad, but the question of whether there is.

  If this is the case, then in the future, countless gold and silver can be saved for the court. This...how much silver is involved.

   At this moment, Liu Jian felt a little dizzy.

When the merchant asked, many people became emotional and whispered to each other. Some merchants said: "To build roads, the most important thing is to solve the current land problem. If there is no land, it can't be repaired. Most of the land in the world comes from the Western Mountains." Qianzhuang, if Xishan Qianzhuang is allowed to be built and used... I just don’t know if the imperial court will agree to it.”

  These merchants, after all, still trust the new emperor and the Duke of Qi, which is why they are so bold.

  Zhu Houzhao's face was red all of a sudden, but he looked at the merchant, and doubts arose in his heart: "Could it be that the Qing family thinks that building the railway is profitable?"

The merchant hurriedly said: "Caomin just calculated it. With the current transportation capacity and the huge investment cost, if it is an ordinary line, it is not bad if it can maintain a small profit every year. It's just that this small profit is better than being safe. The railway is connected. You can sit on the ground and collect money. Of course, if you invest so much money and food just for this small profit, and almost empty the net worth of the grassroots, the grassroots will definitely not dare to take risks."

   This is the truth...

  Zhu Houzhao nodded for it.

  The rest of the people all pricked up their ears and listened carefully.

But I heard the merchant say: "But... such a huge investment, of course, it is impossible to see what is now. What Caomin sees is ten or twenty years later. Before... Caomin did not have such a consciousness, but today... It is precisely because of the appearance of new cars that Caomin realized that the railway is a long-term plan. Now it is repaired and operated, although it is a meager profit, but ten years later, if the steam locomotive is remodeled, it will run faster by then , Carrying more? Your Majesty can do this this time, so as long as the speed of the steam locomotive can be increased in the future, the load will be more and more, and the return brought by the same pot of coal will also be greater."

   "What the grassroots want to earn is money ten, twenty, thirty years from now!"

  A merchant is a merchant, and there is no mystery.

   After all, what some merchants invest in is the future. Today’s steam locomotive speed-up has given them a huge shock. If they can speed up today, how can it not be possible in the future? If you don't earn money now, the future...maybe a mountain of gold and silver.

  The monarchs and ministers were all taken aback, and remained silent for a long time.

  In the exchange, it was extremely quiet. Everyone was digesting these words, and some merchants were also tempted. However, many ministers suddenly discovered that they seemed to have found a good recipe, a magical magic that can make the railway from scratch without the court raising gold and silver, just like a magic trick.

  Liu Jian looked overjoyed, but looked at the emperor and Fang Jifan cautiously.

  He really hoped that His Majesty and Duke Qi would agree quickly. As for...Chen Yan, this person is talking nonsense.

  (end of this chapter)