Steel Dynasty - Chapter 758

[Chapter 757 Railway Construction]

The brand-new flash cap firing gun shimmered with metallic luster.

Song Changping was excited. The barbarians were threatening the country of Chongqing like a sharp sword. The blood debts of many generations were engraved in everyone’s mind and they wished they could be destroyed overnight.

“The emperor has great ambitions, and the name of conquering the captives will definitely be recorded in the history books.” Song Changping bowed and said.

Xiao Ming gently stroked the body of the Zhenglu musket, feeling the cold metal texture. He returned the musket to Song Changping and said, “Since I ascended the throne as emperor, you have all learned to flatter me. There is no need to sing praises. You should continue to praise me.” It is the business of the Chongqing Kingdom to provide new weapons.”

Song Changping rubbed his hands awkwardly, and he slapped the horse’s legs for the first time, so he said, “Your Majesty, this official came here because of something. I need to ask for advice.”

Since Xiao Ming changed his attitude of not asking about these trivial matters, he often went back to Qingzhou University to discuss the gun matter with Xiao Ming.

Xiao Ming had already guessed a bit and said, “Just tell me if you have anything to say.”

“The emperor sent Chen Qi the blueprint of the breech-loading artillery. Does this mean that the musket can also be breech-loaded?” Song Changping said.

Xiao Ming nodded, “You guessed it right. This is exactly what I want your military workshop to do next. Don’t forget what I once told you.”

Song Changping did not forget that Xiao Ming once said that Dayu The country’s weapons need to be equipped for one generation, developed for one generation, and designed for one generation.

Now that the flash cap percussion gun belongs to the research and development generation and has become equipment, then it is time to research a new type of musket.

“The official understands and will summon the craftsmen to carry out the matter when he returns.” Song Changping said.

The intervention of the West has drastically deteriorated the environment around Da Yu, which forced Xiao Ming to upgrade his weapons to ensure his own safety.

After all, seriously speaking, the country of Chongqing is not yet truly unified, and half of the country in the south is still in the hands of the King of Chu who is supported by the French.

As for the barbarians in the north, needless to say, the Japanese and the British were struggling, and there was an uncontrolled Tibet in the west who could stab him at any time. All these things really bothered him.

Originally, he wanted to calm down and recuperate, but his thinking was too simple. Now it seems that the enemy will not give him this opportunity at all.

The two briefly talked about the breech-loading musket, and Song Changping went back with excitement on his face.

For Song Changping, he is worried about what to do next? Now that Xiao Ming has pointed out a clear path for him, he really wants it.

Song Changping left, and soon a burst of laughter like silver bells sounded, and the figure of Princess Pingyang appeared outside the imperial study.

“Your Majesty, this Song Changping is quite handsome.” Princess Pingyang said as she entered the imperial study.

Xiao Ming has always had a headache about this famous aunt. He directly put aside the topic and asked: “Aunt rarely comes to the imperial study room. There must be something very important for coming here this time.”

Princess Pingyang Having long been accustomed to Xiao Ming’s business-like attitude, she showed a bored look and said seriously: “Your Majesty, I came here this time because of the railway matter. Nowadays, laying railways requires a lot of labor, but now the railway company There is no way to summon so many people, and even if they were summoned, the money allocated to the railway department by the court would not be enough to pay their salaries. If the emperor does not allow the people to do corvee service, the railway will not be laid for ten and a half years. “

Xiao. “

Ming frowned. What Princess Pingyang said was true, so he asked Liang Dahai to go to Haigu City to recruit Korean people to build the railway in Dayu.

The reason is very simple. People in Chongqing need to pay money to build railways, and they are unwilling to do it if the money is less.

As for the corvee mentioned by Princess Pingyang, he had thought about it, but was rejected. Now that people’s livelihood in the north is difficult, people should resume farming instead of participating in the construction of railways. Moreover, the emerging industry also requires a lot of labor. labor.

What’s more, the population of Dayu State is due to the continuous war in the north and the density in the south. All the people in the north suffered a large number of massacres during the northern war.

It is somewhat inappropriate to introduce corvee service now. After all, corvee service is generally exempted after war.

“Don’t worry, aunt. I’ve asked Liang Dahai to go to Goryeo to recruit hard labor. It won’t be long before he comes back.” Xiao Ming comforted him.

He did not dare to neglect this matter. The railway was a channel connecting resource supply areas and industrial centers. The sooner it was completed, the sooner it would be good for the country of Chongqing.

Princess Pingyang breathed a sigh of relief and said to Xiao Ming, “Your Majesty, the Qingzhou Railway has been laid for fifty miles, and the Qingzhou Station has basically taken shape. Today the railway company is about to test the performance of the steam locomotive on the railway. Well, the main reason I came here today is to invite the emperor to observe it in person.”

Xiao Ming was startled after hearing this. Since this aunt settled in Qingzhou, she has become more reliable, and the fifty-mile railway is really a big surprise to him.

After all, this steam engine locomotive was developed not long ago.

Undoubtedly, this railway is an important project for him, and it can even be said to be a project related to the national destiny of the country of Chongqing.

In Xiao Ming’s plan, controlling the northeastern part of Dayu relied on the railway network. In this way, logistics could be guaranteed and his army could gain a firm foothold in the northeast.

With excitement in his heart, Xiao Ming said, “My aunt warmly invites me, how can I not go?”

After that, Xiao Ming stood up and walked out to Princess Pingyang. Princess Pingyang had prepared a carriage at the gate of the carriage house.

Xiao Ming got on Princess Pingyang’s carriage and headed to Qingzhou Beicheng District under the protection of the guards. Qingzhou Station started from here and led to all directions.

After walking ten miles, the carriage stopped in front of Qingzhou Station. After getting off the carriage, Xiao Ming looked at Qingzhou Station, which was still under construction.

At this time, the buildings on both sides of Qingzhou Station were basically completed. A railway extended outwards along Qingzhou Station, and there were thirteen railway branches in the platform. However, construction of these branches had not yet started, and the rails had only been laid for a short period. terminated.

“It seems that the secret of the Great-Chongqing Railway can no longer be kept.” Looking at Qingzhou Station, Xiao Ming’s eyes were attracted by a dozen blond and blue-eyed Westerners.

After Dengzhou became a treaty port, some foreign merchants appeared in Qingzhou city from time to time. The purpose of their coming to Qingzhou was to purchase goods from the Great Chongqing Kingdom.

And the people of Qingzhou are gradually no longer surprised by this.

Princess Pingyang turned her head to look in the direction where Xiao Ming was looking, and said calmly: “Wouldn’t being seen by these barbarians increase the prestige of our country of Chongqing?”

Xiao Ming did not speak. In fact, his current industrial level is not much different from that of the West. The West that can produce can also produce.

The real gap is that Westerners have not yet reached the level of imagination. If they understand the technical principles, they will be able to imitate them very quickly.

Therefore, he felt that it was time to implement a technical blockade.

(End of chapter)