The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1266

[1266. Chapter 1206 God’s protection]

Emperor Hongzhi was very satisfied with Fang Jifan.

This guy also did a great job.

So, wait for the court meeting to end.

Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan both went to see the Empress Dowager and greeted them. Emperor Hongzhi summoned Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao.

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at Fang Jifan, and wanted to say a few words of praise, but seeing his cheerful look, he thought: “Tang Yin submitted a memorial, requesting that Qi Jingtong and others be transferred as deputies to supplement the Eastern Invincible Fleet.” Not only that, but also to reorganize the Ningbo Navy and recruit elite soldiers and generals from the Ningbo Navy to succeed the vassal. “What do you think of this?” Fang

Jifan said: “It is your Majesty’s decree.”

Emperor Hongzhi thought deeply. He nodded calmly: “Then, I’ve got it right.” He knocked on the document: “Sooner or later, I will catch all the Franco fleet in one fell swoop. This shipbuilding must not be delayed.”

After he said that, He smiled and said, “I heard that you two want to build the railway between Baoding Prefecture and Tongzhou, right?”

This is Zhu Houzhao’s specialty. Zhu Houzhao said: “Father, Baoding Prefecture, Tongzhou, and the capital , these three railways were planned by Erchen, and were raised by Tongzhou and Baoding Prefectures…”

“Fundraising?” Emperor Hongzhi became cautious about this.

To be honest, sometimes looking at the debts of Baoding Prefecture and Tongzhou is really frightening.

The loans from Xishan Bank amounted to more than several million taels of silver.

Although its tax revenue has skyrocketed now, it is really scary to watch.

In this era, although there were problems with the imperial court being short-changed or local officials struggling to get enough of their crops, this was still very primitive after all, and such large-scale borrowing was unprecedented and unprecedented.

Emperor Hongzhi said: “I am quite worried. I heard that to connect these railways alone, Ouyang Zhi’s memorial has clearly stated that it is necessary to raise 15 million taels of silver. This involves railways and steam vehicles. The purchase and subsequent maintenance expenses are too large. I dare not criticize it…”

Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyes and glanced at Fang Jifan: “Jifan, let’s not talk about the manufacturing of this steam car, just talk about it. The railway tracks laid by Xishan Jianye, Baoding Prefecture is in a difficult situation, can’t we build the railway for them at a low price? What I mean is that the profit can be less.”

Fang Jifan could understand Emperor Hongzhi’s mood.

It was too expensive, and Emperor Hongzhi found it too expensive.

Fang Jifan said: “Your Majesty…it took countless efforts to put the steam train into production today. Although this train was developed by His Highness the Crown Prince, the manpower and material resources used were staggering. Not only that, In the future, well-trained craftsmen will be needed to lay the railways, not to mention the countless craftsmen in the steel workshops. “

This involves dozens of industries, up and down .

There are hundreds of workshops and hundreds of thousands of craftsmen. The price is determined by Xishan Jianye and Xishan Steam Research Institute after countless efforts. If the price is lowered, it is because Ouyang Zhi is a disciple of Erchen. So if this precedent is set, what will happen in the future? If no money is made from laying the railway, what’s worse is that the Steam Research Institute and Xishan Jianye can continue to spend a lot of money to improve steam trains and the construction of steel and sleepers. Craftsmanship? Your Majesty, you can’t do business at a loss, because once you lose money or become unprofitable, in the long run, all these industries in our Ming Dynasty will come to a standstill. It seems that now that we have built a few railways, the country will It’s cheap, but in the long run, it does a lot of harm but no good.”

Emperor Hongzhi frowned slightly, and he could roughly understand what Fang Jifan said.

After all, there are academicians of economics around me who will explain the principles of economics to me.

Emperor Hongzhi said: “There is really no other way?”

“Yes!” Fang Jifan said firmly.

Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes lit up: “Let’s talk about it.”

“Let the national treasury dig out the money and subsidize the Steam Research Institute, various steel workshops and Xishan Construction Industry. It’s not much, about three to four million taels of silver a year. That’s enough, so…”

Emperor Hongzhi: “…”

Let Baoding Mansion die.

Emperor Hongzhi said: “Oh, we will discuss the subsidy in the future.”

Fang Jifan blinked: “Don’t

you think about it, Your Majesty?” Emperor Hongzhi said: “I will consider it, but for now, the top priority is not just a matter of construction. The Ming Dynasty has many shortcomings, which really worries me. I’m thinking…that’s all. I’ll discuss it with the cabinet. You can step back.”

“Oh.” Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao bowed obediently and left.

Emperor Hongzhi was tapping the papers and waited for Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao to leave before saying, “Xiao Banban.”

“My servant is here,” said Xiao Jing.

“Remember, from now on, all the memorials sent by officials to complain about the waste of money and food in railway construction will be kept in the center. I will not read them.”

Xiao Jing couldn’t help but said: “Your Majesty, this slave thinks that this person who succeeded the vassal is simply audacious. He actually took advantage of it. “

To blackmail His Majesty with subsidies, this is really bold.”

Emperor Hongzhi said calmly: “What do you know about an eunuch? What he said makes sense. Everything in this world requires money. , if this money cannot be released from the national treasury, Baoding Prefecture and Tongzhou must raise and borrow it. This money will not become less, and someone will have to come out…”

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head: “I can see that this railway is really good. It will benefit the country and the people, and it will not work if it is not repaired. I don’t care about this matter. Let them make trouble.”

“Also!” Emperor Hongzhi suddenly looked at Xiao Jing coldly: “Don’t dare to do anything to me in the future. In front of me, I just packed up my things and went to Xiaoling.”

Xiao Jing shuddered, bowed, and said with difficulty: “Damn it, slave!”

…

Sumatra.

A merchant ship arrives in the archipelago’s port city.

Here, there is quite a bit of Franconian style.

The Portuguese have been here for more than ten years, and the huge harbor makes it a natural harbor.

But here…

we welcome a guest from afar.

This distinguished guest, and even the local Portuguese governor, treated him with great respect.

The noble man apparently suffered from some fever and chills during the turbulence at sea.

At this time, he was half lying on the bed in a magnificent mansion. He was wearing silk pajamas, and even the collar of his clothes had special lace. At this time, the Portuguese Governor had invited a professional barber. division.

After the barber familiarized himself with the noble man’s symptoms, he said without hesitation: “Your Majesty the Duke’s blood contains harmful things.”

The noble man had wavy blond hair. After hearing the barber’s advice, he nodded. , glanced at the barber with his blue eyes.

As a result, the priests and Portuguese governors on the side retreated a little.

The barber did not hesitate to move out his suitcase.

In the box, there are razors, awls, scrapers, daggers… a dazzling array of things.

The barber first went to the razor and cut off a few strands of hair from the noble man’s head.

Then, he took the spittoon and placed it under the bed.

He solemnly said to the noble man: “Your Excellency, your health depends on the outcome of the contest between good and evil gods.”

He decided to get rid of the bad things in the noble man.

The barber picked up the razor and grabbed the nobleman’s wrist.

He began to say words of thanksgiving to God.

This made the noble man very happy. He was tortured so much by his illness that he never expected that in the far east, he could see such an excellent barber here. Look at his orderly and fastidious appearance.

The noble man murmured softly: “May God bless you.”

The barber nodded, and the razor began to cut the noble man’s wrist.

As a result, blood began to flow down his wrist.

The noble man began to close his eyes. He began to feel that the bad molecules in the blood began to peel off his body. This was a pleasant process. Although there would inevitably be some pain during the process, it was compared to purifying his body and getting rid of the disease. Obviously, this is nothing.

The blood flowed more and more.

Outside, there was the sound of boots.

A well-dressed attendant came in, bowed and saluted: “Your Majesty the Duke, the person you want is here.”

The noble man was immersed in the wonderful process of bloodletting. The bright red blood dripped down his fingers, and he felt a little Tired, he pursed his dry lips, but still tried hard: “Bring him in.”

Immediately afterwards, a man in ragged clothes hurried in, it was Wang Xizuo.

Wang Xizuo looked at the people in the room in panic, and naturally, he also saw the Duke.

This is a Spaniard, because his clothes are embroidered with the coat of arms of the Aragonese family.

He quickly took off his hat and said: “Your Excellency.”

The noble man raised his eyes lazily: “You fled from the Ming Dynasty. What happened there? Where is my fleet? Where are they?”

Wang Xizuo Then he subconsciously looked at the Portuguese Governor.

The Governor of Portugal had obviously received instructions from the country and cooperated with the Spanish nobleman. He nodded towards Wang Xizuo.

Wang Xizuo then said: “The damn Ming Empire expelled us, and most of the envoys were thrown into prison by them. As for the fleet, I have heard that there was a Spanish fleet that suffered from them. During the attack, they cunningly set up a trap, led the Spanish fleet into the harbor, and then sunk them all. For this reason, the Ming Empire held a grand celebration to celebrate this victory. “

This… no.” Something wrong.

The noble man was obviously a little angry.

He did not expect that the fleet that disappeared would be destroyed by the Ming Empire.

Now, Spain has fallen into panic. They cannot understand that such an advanced fleet could be defeated by the Ming Empire.

He tried hard and said: “Did we encounter a trap of the Ming Empire? Is this all a conspiracy of the Ming Empire?”

“Yes.” Wang Xizuo insisted: “Although the ships of the Ming Empire are large, they are not suitable for combat, but Ming people are extremely cunning, they are full of conspiracies, and their tricks are endless.” When

the priest standing aside heard this, he couldn’t help but cross himself and murmured: “This is by God. The abandoned devils, may God punish them for their atrocities.”

…

Chapter 1, please give me a guaranteed monthly ticket.

(End of chapter)