First Prince of Ming Dynasty

Chapter 433

Zhu Biao saw that this batch of coal already looked a bit like honeycomb briquettes of later generations. If it was studied for a few months, it might be finished. Then use it first.

As long as the northern people can spend this year's cold winter more comfortably, the effect of regaining the hearts of the people is bound to be a thousand times stronger than any formal edict to calm the people, and the northern people's recognition of the imperial court will also increase to a higher level.

Zhu Biao was overjoyed and rewarded 500 taels of silver to those craftsmen. Not to mention the joy of the craftsmen, even the minister of the Ministry of Industry was a little envious. 500 taels of silver, according to his salary of a dignified third-rank official, he didn’t even know how to save it. How many years.

Zhu Biao ordered: "Let's start large-scale production immediately. The northern frontier army and the people need these. The rest of the work of the Ministry of Industry will be put on hold for now. I will go to the Holy Majesty for instructions later."

Everyone in the house agreed immediately, Zhu Biao turned around and walked outside. It was still quite hot in the afternoon in the early autumn. After baking in the house for so long, it was really hot and dry.

Those agitated craftsmen were still kowtowing. No one dared to withhold the crown prince's silver reward. After they got it, they took the initiative to pay a little respect, and the rest would be enough for them to live a prosperous life, and their children and grandchildren would be able to afford it. Fix the reading.

Everyone in the world knows that all things are inferior, but reading is high, because only scholars have the way to be an official or a slaughter.

Zhu Biao went out of the house with the Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and Zhu Biao then ordered: "The mines that are closer to the capital are fine, and the mines that are farther away, especially those in the north, do not need to transport raw coal to the capital. The Ministry of Industry will send craftsmen and officials to stand there. Recruit workers to make coal."

The minister of the Ministry of Industry responded, and then hesitantly said: "Even though the cost of coal production is low, but such a large-scale initial recruitment will cost a lot of money in the early stage."

Zhu Biao said: "There will be a decree in a while, take out 5 taels of silver from the Ministry of Households and hand it over to the Ministry of Industry.

The Minister of the Ministry of Industry knew that His Royal Highness was beating him, and immediately replied: "Don't worry, Your Highness, there will be no corrupt people in the Ministry of Industry!"

Zhu Biao nodded and said: "That's good, I have always liked the Ministry of Industry, so don't let me down."

Then the two walked towards the lobby of the Ministry of Industry while discussing the deployment. After entering, a messenger brought warm water. Zhu Biao washed his hands and sat down. The coal research and development came to an end for now, but Zhu Biao was still not satisfied with the Ministry of Industry.

It took so long for mere coal to show that there are not many excellent talents in the Ministry of Industry, let alone innovative talents.

The Ministry of Industry is in charge of the system of civil construction, the method of using utensils, the method of dredging canals and weirs, and the code of supplying billions of mausoleums. But at present, the thinking is a bit rigid, and there are too many officials and too few craftsmen.

It is not that Zhu Biao has not thought of setting up a special scientific research department to improve the status of craftsmen and stimulate their innovation with gold and silver official positions. However, it is not easy to rashly improve the social status of a group of people. The rebound of officials and gentry is a big problem.

What's more, after the independent department, the manpower and material resources required for scientific research are not so easy to obtain, and the imperial court does not have so much spare money to invest in things with uncertain prospects, so it is better to rely on the Ministry of Industry, a large department with abundant resources.

After taking their seats, Zhu Biao took a sip of the tea offered by Liu Jin, and then looked at the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and said: "This palace will send another 2 taels from the warehouse of the East Palace for the Ministry of Industry to recruit outstanding craftsmen from all over the Ming Dynasty. There must be no delay in R&D for so long!"

The Minister of the Ministry of Industry's eyes lit up, and immediately responded: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will definitely recruit good people."

After Zhu Biao nodded, he ordered a few more words, and then got up to leave. The Minister of the Ministry of Industry respectfully sent him away, as if he was treating the God of Wealth.

Zhu Biao naturally knew that, and he didn't ask for the 3 taels at all. Is there any king in the world?

At most, it was just a settling fee. The 3 taels he gave was more than enough no matter how you calculated it. The extra part was undoubtedly a reward for the officials of the Ministry of Industry. This is the way of the world. If you want a horse to run, you have to To feed the horses, you can't just whip the whip blindly.

All the way straight to the Hall of Prudence, several small officials from the Ministry of Industry behind Liu Jin were holding several baskets of coal. Memorial.

After Zhu Biao entered the house to meet him, he asked the people behind him to put the coal basket aside. Zhu Yuanzhang naturally put down the pen in his hand curiously, but his son rarely came to see him with anything.

Even if you got any rare treasures outside, they would be sent directly to the inner pocket, and you would never show them in front of him. After putting down the pen, he walked down the imperial steps with great interest, looked at the black coal, He also kicked the boots embroidered with dragon patterns.

Zhu Biao watched from the side with a smile, knowing that his father had forgotten about it, and that's right, after all, it has been two years, and old Comrade Zhu has a lot of things going on every day, so it is really unlikely that he will remember it.

After thinking about it carefully, Zhu Yuanzhang still couldn't remember it. Maybe the quality of coal was quite ordinary, similar to that used by the eunuchs and maids in the palace during the winter, but he also knew his son's character, so he would definitely not waste time with useless things.

Old Zhu murmured and did not speak, and Zhu Biao stopped pretending to be deep when he saw this. Otherwise, Lao Zhu couldn't keep up his face, and if he didn't say anything at this time, he would have to torment him when the Chinese New Year came, and all those troublesome things had to be let go. He went, or he might have to be driven to Fengyang to worship the imperial mausoleum.

Zhu Biao was too tired to think about it, so he hurriedly said: "Father, you still remember the time when you discussed cotton with your ministers. The Ministry of Industry finally achieved results."

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this reminder and thought of cotton again, he quickly remembered, his eyes lit up, he happily grabbed a piece of black and heavy coal, weighed it and asked: "How much is this big piece of money? Farmers can use it at home. Can you afford it?"

Zhu Biao nodded and said: "It is affordable, and the cost of this large piece is not high, because the main raw materials are crushed cinders and yellow mud from coal mines. In the first two years, the imperial court will subsidize more, and the common people will spend a few dollars. Money can be used.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed immediately. All the springs swallowed the cold, and I was even more bitter when I was cold. He is the one who knows how difficult it is for ordinary people to survive the winter. A solid thermal item.

However, the straw was rough, with large gaps, and it made a rustling sound when placed in the quilt, which was extremely uncomfortable. The reed flowers sounded beautiful, but they were actually very thin. A quilt of reed flowers was not as warm as a pound of cotton.

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(End of this chapter)