Datang's free and easy concubine

Chapter 1623 Proposals
Su Cheng was eloquent and talked a lot.

Li Shimin, Fang Xuanling and the others listened very carefully, thinking quickly while listening. After listening, they couldn't calm down for a long time.

Because Su Cheng painted a grand and beautiful prospect, and they didn't find any faults in it.

The steam car can pull dozens of carriages, and it can be so fast. If the railway is really built, the benefits to the court and the people will be too great.

More importantly, although the construction of the railway costs a lot, it does not need to mobilize as many people as the construction of the Grand Canal, so that there will be no public grievances due to corvee labor.

Because of this, even Wei Zheng, who likes to criticize the most, can't find faults.

Li Shimin was very excited when he heard that, if there is a railway, it will be much easier for the court to mobilize money, food and taxes in the future, and there will be less loss on the way, and it can also carry passengers and cargo to increase profits.

What satisfied Li Shimin the most was that Su Cheng also said that the railway must be built by the imperial court, which he very much agrees with.

And Su Cheng also said that the railway can be built section by section, and the railway built can make money, and the money earned can continue to build the railway, and so on.

"Good! Good! Good!" Li Shimin said three good words excitedly.

"If the railway is built, its role will be no less than that of the Grand Canal, or even more. The railway can connect the states of the Tang Dynasty, but the Grand Canal can only follow the trend to the south." Fang Xuanling said excitedly, stroking his beard.

Li Shimin nodded and said: "Yes, as Su Cheng said, the completion of the railway is another lifeline of our Tang Dynasty. It is so important that it must be built by the imperial court and completely controlled by the imperial court."

After finishing speaking, Li Shimin couldn't help looking at Su Cheng, and smiled amiably: "Su Cheng, it's not that I don't want to agree to you. You said it yourself, such a lifeline must be in the hands of the court."

Princess Changle has been obediently standing beside the queen mother and listening quietly. After hearing so much from Su Cheng, and seeing the excitement of her father and the ministers, she realized that steam cars can't make a lot of money, yes. Datang is so important.

Now hearing that her father really wanted to repent, Princess Changle couldn't help shaking her mother's arm lightly, in front of all the ministers, even though she was her father's favorite daughter, it was difficult to refute her father's words.

It's not easy for her to refute, but the queen mother can, so she can only turn to the queen mother for help.

Empress Changsun said softly: "This is an important matter for the imperial court. The harem can't interfere in politics, and the queen mother can't say anything. Moreover, since Su Cheng proposed it himself, you have to trust Su Cheng."

Princess Changle pouted and stopped talking.

"How much does Your Majesty think a steam car is worth?" Su Cheng didn't answer Li Shimin's words, but changed the subject and asked.

When Princess Changle heard this, she almost couldn't help but praise her. That's right, only Mr. Lang can make a steam car. If the imperial court lays railway tracks, they can only spend a lot of money to buy a steam car.

Princess Changle felt relieved all of a sudden.

Li Shimin almost choked when he heard it. He really forgot just now that only Su Cheng can build a steam car. He didn't know how much money it would cost to build a steam car, but because only Su Cheng could make a steam car in this world, That means that Su Cheng can sell as much silver as he wants.

Li Shimin coughed dryly, and said with a smile: "Weng and son-in-law, wouldn't talking about money hurt feelings?"

Su Cheng nodded with a smile and said: "Your Majesty said that, in fact, it doesn't matter if I teach the craftsmen who will be in charge of making steam cars."

Hearing Su Cheng's words, Li Shimin suddenly felt a little ashamed. Su Cheng had made so many contributions to the Tang Dynasty, and now he was willing to tell the imperial court how the steam car was made, but he still thought about the railway between Longan and Luoyang.

Su Cheng pondered: "What I said just now is actually just a hypothesis. The problem before us is that the steam car outside the palace is just a test product, and it needs follow-up experiments and improvements."

Li Shimin and a group of ministers from the DPRK and China were poured cold water on their heads. They were so excited just now that they forgot that Su Cheng wanted to build the Chang'an-Luoyang railway to test whether it would work.

The prospect Su Cheng described just now is actually just an idea, and it is not known whether it will work or not.

Su Cheng smiled slightly and said, "Since your majesty does not want me to build the railway from Chang'an to Luoyang, then I ask your majesty to allocate 200 million guan for laying rails and experimenting with improvements. After success, both the technology and the railway will belong to the imperial court."

200 guan?

Li Shimin paused after hearing this for a while. Although several wars were launched in succession, the court was still able to spend 200 million guan.

However, being able to take it out doesn't mean you're willing to!
Although the Tang Dynasty was rich and prosperous, the imperial court had spent a lot of money in the past few years, and finally accumulated some wealth. If they took out the 200 million guan, how much wealth would the imperial court have left?

If he is sure to succeed, then he gritted his teeth and stomped his feet to pay out the 200 million guan.

But what if Su Cheng fails?
Wouldn't the 200 million pennies just go to waste?

Not only Li Shimin was hesitant, Wei Zheng and others were also hesitant, because 200 million guan is really not a small amount.

Wei Zheng said in a deep voice, "Su Cheng, how sure are you that you will succeed?"

Su Cheng shrugged slightly and said with a smile: "Of course I have full confidence that I can succeed!"

Although Su Cheng has full confidence, it doesn't mean that Li Shimin and the others also have full confidence.

Seeing Li Shimin's hesitation, Su Cheng couldn't help laughing: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be so embarrassed. I have paid for the construction of two railways from Chang'an to Luoyang. After the test is successful, Your Majesty can build two more." The railway from Chang'an to Luoyang."

"How many people and caravans commute between Chang'an and Luoyang every day? It's just two round-trip railways. Twenty trains a day are too busy. Not to mention, the imperial court will dispatch a lot of food, supplies, etc. Therefore, His Majesty can build two more railways."

After listening to Su Cheng's words, Li Shimin had a sudden feeling, yes, let Su Cheng build those two railways, and when Su Cheng's experiment is successful, then he can build two more railways.

For the imperial court, it is equivalent to avoiding risks, and Su Cheng's construction of these two railways is very profitable, which can be regarded as a reward for Su Cheng, which can be said to be mutually beneficial and kill two birds with one stone.

Not only Li Shimin thought Su Cheng's proposal was good, but Fang Xuanling, Wei Zheng and others also felt that this proposal was the safest way.Although Su Cheng will get huge benefits from these two railways if he succeeds in the end, but after all, Su Cheng made the steam car, and he is willing to teach the manufacturing technology to the imperial court, so it is only natural for him to get benefits.

(End of this chapter)