Liao Zhai alchemist

Chapter 365 Development and Construction

Water is the source of all things, without water it is absolutely impossible.

There is no surface runoff in Qingzhou, only water from underground veins.Get water by digging wells.In fact, it is not impossible to rely on well water, but the efficiency of water intake must be considered.

There are no high-lift submersible pumps in this world, and it is very laborious to get water from the ground.But this did not bother Zhang Wei.Because Zhang Wei thought of a thing - a windmill!
In ancient times, windmills were used for grinding and pumping water.The windmill keeps turning, and the groundwater is continuously pumped up, and then a high water storage tower is built, which is the irrigation system!

And Qingzhou Prefecture is located by the sea, the sea breeze blows all year round, and the wind force is not a problem.

Thinking of this, Zhang Wei began to draw the blueprint.The structure of the windmill is very simple, that is, gears and levers.In these key parts, steel can be used.And the fan blades just use wood.

After spending a day, Zhang Wei drew up the blueprint, and then handed it over to the people of Baigongyan to make a finished windmill.

Then after a day, the finished product of the windmill was made.

After making the finished windmill, Zhang Wei asked people to search for water veins outside the city and dig a well.Because a windmill is used to pump water, the well is closed, which makes the well-driller very puzzled.

It's just such a small hole, just big enough to hold a bucket, how can it pump out water?
Then, Zhang Wei installed the windmill.

The windmill is installed very high. On the one hand, it is to capture the wind better. On the other hand, Zhang Wei will build a water tower under the windmill, and the water pumped by the windmill will be stored on the water tower.Then rely on gravity to let the water flow to a lower place, so that the water can be connected and directed everywhere with pipes.

As a local official, it is very simple for Zhang Wei to do these things. The materials and corvee are collected by the government.

A few days later, a windmill, which the people of Qingzhou had never seen before, stood outside the city.When the windmill turned and the water was pumped out continuously from the ground, all the craftsmen and servants were stunned!

Although the amount of water pumped out each time is not too much, this thing is working continuously, and it can fill up the one-foot-square water tower in one day and night!
When Zhang Wei organized people to see this windmill, all the old farmers burst into tears, because this windmill solved their most important water source problem!
"With this windmill, we will have water for irrigation in the future!" An old farmer said excitedly.

The old farmer next to him was also very excited. He said, "Yes! Yes! We just need to build this small water tower bigger, and it can water tens of mu of land at a time!"

Zhang Wei scratched his head when he heard this. This water tower with a square meter can store 27 cubic meters of water. Isn’t it enough?

Zhang Wei doesn't know anything about agriculture, how does he know how much water is needed to irrigate an acre of land!Anyway, with the equipment, in the future, experienced farmers will farm the land.

After watching the windmill, the old farmers asked Zhang Wei expectantly: "My lord, how much does it cost to build a windmill?"

Zhang Wei did some calculations and said, "It should cost 100 taels of silver to be connected to the water tower." The windmill is not worth that much money, but the water tower is made of earth and stone, and it is very high, which will cost a lot of money.

When the old farmers heard this, they frowned and said, "It's so expensive? How can you afford it?"

100 taels of silver is a huge sum for old farmers, and it is obvious that this windmill cannot be built with only one windmill, it should be done with the cooperation of several.

But an old farmer suddenly said, "My lord, we don't count the water tower, but how much silver does the windmill cost?"

When Zhang Wei heard this, he calculated silently and said, "About ten taels of silver." Except for a few metal components, most of the windmills are made of wood. Wood here is really not very valuable.

When the old farmers heard it, they were overjoyed immediately.This is ten taels of silver, they can afford it!
Seeing their appearance, Zhang Wei quickly said, "This windmill is to be used with a water tower. I can't let you waste water for nothing!" If the water tower is not used, Zhang Wei will not agree.

When the old farmers heard this, they immediately knew that Zhang Wei had misunderstood them, and they immediately said: "If anyone is wasting water, don't use the old man, we will whip him ourselves!"

Then the old farmer said with a smile: "You are a master, and it is different from us. We can build this water tower by ourselves. It is nothing more than earth and rocks. The mountains and plains are full of earth and rocks. We pick the earth and smash the stones ourselves. In fact Not much money."

Zhang Wei was educated by these old farmers again.Veteran windmill farmers don't know how to do it, and it requires certain skills, so they have to spend money to buy it.But do they still need to spend money to hire others and buy materials to repair this water tower?Who does this look down upon?Which farmer doesn't know some mason skills?
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Back in the mansion, Zhang Wei invited several wives.

After the ladies were seated, Zhang Wei personally poured them a cup of tea, which flattered the ladies.

Hu Qinghao immediately smiled and said, "What is your husband doing? Could it be that he wants to make some shy requests, and I agree to them!" After she finished speaking, she touched Zhang Wei shyly and with a smile.

Zhang Wei coughed lightly, this woman just has no shape!
He shook his head and said, "I know that the ladies have made a fortune recently, so I want to introduce a way to make money with money."

When the girls heard this, they all looked at each other strangely.This piece of Wei took aim at the gifts they received!
Xiaoqian said very grandly: "I didn't touch those things. If you need it, young master, you can use it." With Xiaoqian's statement, the other women were not far behind, and said directly: "Yes, husband. This husband and wife In between, you can use it if you want."

They are not stingy people who have never seen big money, how could they compete with Zhang Wei in this regard.

Zhang Wei smiled and said, "Don't worry, just listen to me."

He drank a cup of tea to moisten his throat, and then said: "I plan to ask you to pay for the establishment of a windmill manufacturing workshop to provide windmills for the people of Qingzhou."

Hearing this, the girls suddenly realized that this was the case!In this regard, Zhang Wei, as a parent official, is really not easy to show his face.

Then, Zhang Wei continued: "It doesn't take that much money to build a workshop. But since the workshop is established, the finished products must be sold. The people in Qingzhou are struggling, and I'm afraid they don't have that much money."

"So, you still need to use your money to build a bank and issue loans to the people of Qingzhou so that they can buy your windmills!"

When the girls heard this, they all blinked their beautiful big eyes, but they didn't react for a while.

Chen Zhirui is very thoughtful, she didn't understand this at the first time.

"I borrowed money to let the people buy the windmills we produced? Why is this superfluous?" Chen Zhirui muttered to himself.

She can understand borrowing money. Since ancient times, young crops have borrowed money. It is not uncommon for many wealthy families to do this kind of thing.But she didn't expect to borrow money to buy her own products.

"Husband, why don't you just lend the windmill to the people and let the people pay back the money slowly in the coming year, why do you need to do so?" Chen Zhirui immediately asked.

"Because, we need to cultivate the habit of borrowing money. If you have money to do everything, it will waste a lot of time and efficiency. I am cultivating a habit." Zhang Wei said with a smile.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with borrowing money. Borrowing money to expand production and run workshops is a good thing.But borrowing money to gamble, borrowing money to spend ahead of time, this is not good.

The women still didn't quite understand Zhang Wei's words, but they still nodded and said, "Then we will listen to you and do this." Anyway, their money is still on the table, so why not use it to help their husband-in-law.

Several major financial investors have been finalized, and the rest is policy support and public opinion guidance.

There is no need to worry about the direction of public opinion in this regard.Looking at the windmill, the eyes of the old farmers nearby turned green!The land in Qingzhou Prefecture is poor, and it is difficult to make a fortune by farming. The big families here don't like to hoard land, they are more keen on doing business.

Therefore, most of the land in Qingzhou Prefecture is in the hands of self-cultivating farmers, which is very good for Zhang Wei.If Zhang Wei didn't engage in borrowing, many old farmers would have to sell part of their land in exchange for money to build windmills.

With the windmill, irrigation is not a problem, and the benefits are visible to the naked eye.When there are benefits, the big players will move!They will immediately invest in land.

Zhang Wei's loan will frustrate the intention of the big households to take the opportunity to absorb the land.Although it cannot be banned completely, it can also cause great obstacles.

Because Zhang Wei is not an ordinary official, he is a "priest" who can slay dragons in the sky, kill ghosts in the earth, and interrogate springs in the middle!Anyone with a normal mind would not fight this kind of official.

Zhang Wei has a very strong reputation in Qingzhou Mansion, even if no one has seen his trial, they must have seen the earth-shattering trial in heaven.

When an official has such a reputation, everything he does will go smoothly, because the people will preside over him.

Therefore, when the 'Gourd Bank' established by Zhang Wei's six wives was established to issue loans for windmills, all the people trusted it.

That is the bank established by Mrs. Zhang Wei Zhang's wives, and they will not cheat us!
The windmill workshop established by the wives received a large number of orders when it was first established.

Then, the workshop began to absorb a large number of workers and artisans, and began to purchase a large number of materials.This economy is revived in one go!
Only industry can drive a series of industries, nothing else!
Ever since, after the autumn harvest and the winter break, water towers and windmills began to be built in various parts of Qingzhou Prefecture.If there is no water conservancy project, then we will build it ourselves!
In the beginning, only the villages and towns near Qingzhou City started to do it.When the windmills and water towers were built one by one and began to pump water continuously, more and more villages began to do this.

Can't buy a windmill?That's okay, let's fix the water tower first!

In the twelfth lunar month of winter, the windmill workshop is still working in full swing.A large number of people during the winter break were called into the workshop to do odd jobs, and the windmills produced every day would be taken away by the farmers with orders.

The hot business naturally attracted the envious eyes of many people.

The spring of the second year of Baojing, the first day of the first month.A grand sacrificial ceremony was presided over in front of the government office in Qingzhou.Qingzhou Prefecture is close to Mount Tai, and the Lord of Taishan Prefecture is naturally the main object of sacrifice.

Although he was an enemy, Zhang Wei still had to preside over the sacrificial ceremony and offer gifts to Lord Taishan.This is the helplessness of being an official.

After the sacrifice, there will be a half-month spring break.Tongzhi Zhang Mingchen came to Zhang Wei's side and said with a smile, "My lord, according to the management, today the common people want to pay New Year's greetings to you and invite you to the New Year's greetings dinner."

Zhang Wei nodded, there is such a rule.The so-called New Year's greetings from the common people are actually the local gentry's New Year greetings to him.Zhang Wei still had to go to this custom of 'having fun with the people'.

In the evening, at the biggest restaurant in the city, Zhang Wei had a drink with the country gentry 'common people'.

After drinking for three rounds, everyone began to toast Zhang Wei.At this time, an elder walked over trembling slightly.

Zhang Wei hurriedly stepped forward to help him, and said, "My lord, I should toast you."

The old man chuckled, and said, "Master Zhang is really a good official who is considerate of the people."

Zhang Wei said with a smile: "It's better to go home and raise sows when an official doesn't make decisions for the people." The old man became happy when he heard this, nodded and smiled: "This is really a rough talk. But my lord Ah, we are also your people, you should always think about us."

Zhang Wei was taken aback when he heard this, what does this mean?
The old man went on to say: "Qingzhou Prefecture was suffering in the past. If this kind of seeds were sown, they would not be able to harvest a few seeds throughout the year. As for everyone, they all turned to the outside world for a living, and they also saved a little wealth by traveling all over the world."

"Up to now, adults have made windmills and designed water towers. We can see that they can benefit the people of one side, and we want to make a contribution to our hometown!"

Hearing this, Zhang Wei finally understood.This group of squires, seeing how much his wife earns, are jealous now!

Zhang Wei immediately said: "It's really great that you have such a heart. I don't know where the old man wants to help?"

When the old man heard that Zhang Wei didn't refuse, he felt joy in his heart.Immediately said: "Anything is fine, it depends on what the adults want, we will follow the adults!"

He paused and said, "Actually, we don't want to get involved in the vicinity of Qingzhou City. It's just that there are many counties outside Qingzhou City. We want to develop there. The business of this bank..."

Hehe, Zhang Wei's heart ached, this old man is so shameless, he dared to make such a move!
Zhang Wei immediately said: "I'm afraid this is difficult. You know me. I used to be the county magistrate of Tianmen County. Ever since I came here, the people of Tianmen County wanted to help me and sent someone to contact me a long time ago." You know, Tianmen County Cotton Land Reclamation Association, they are here."

Tianmen County Cotton Land Reclamation Association, referred to as the Land Reclamation Association.After so many years of development, it has become a giant in the Northwest.It's not about how big it is, it's just a mutual aid association in a county town.

But its big, reflected in the money!
The Land Reclamation Association is getting rich!They occupy half of the cotton fields in Suzhou Prefecture and half of the cotton workshops in Suzhou Prefecture, and their power continues to expand. Relying on the cotton and money in their hands, they have conquered Yinshan Prefecture and are heading towards the Hetao area.

The Mere Land Reclamation Association, holding more than ten million taels of working capital in their hands, began to take the path of financial investment.Some things don't need to be taught, as long as you have money, you will naturally follow this path.

When Zhang Wei came to serve in Qingzhou, his loyal Tianmen Agricultural Reclamation Association naturally followed.They have already approached Hu Susu. As long as Zhang Wei agrees, the Nongken will immediately inject a large amount of silver into the gourd bank to add vitality to the dwindling capital of the bank!

Yes, even if it is a mountain of gold and silver, this one cannot be borrowed, and all the expenses of the workshop have to be borne, and even a few women can't stand it.

Years ago, under the pretext of Chinese New Year, Hulu Bank stopped borrowing money to buy windmills.The common people don't know the reason, don't those big households know the reason?
That means the bank has no money!Calabash Bank is in the business of lending money, and wants to do the business of absorbing deposits, but its business partners are all poor ghosts, who come to borrow money to buy windmills, and they will have some money to save.

And the really rich big family is watching with cold eyes, hoping that the gourd bank will go bankrupt, and then they will rush to establish a bank to do this lending business.They will not deposit money to Hulu Bank at all.

Although they also admire Zhang Wei, but admiration is nothing but admiration, business is business, and these people are very clear about it.

Now that they finally waited until Hulu Bank fell into a state of capital shortage, they felt that they should appear on the stage!That's why the old man said today.

But when the old man heard Zhang Wei's words, his heart immediately changed from great joy to great sorrow, and he couldn't hold the wine glass steadily in his hand.

Zhang Wei quickly supported him and said, "However, I can let you part of the business of the windmill workshop."

Hearing this, the old man's hands stopped shaking.Immediately, he grabbed Zhang Wei's hand and asked, "Your Excellency, are you serious?"

If Hulu Qianzhuang is the long-term big profit, then Windmill Workshop is the hen that lays golden eggs.Unlike banks, banks operate in debt.And the workshop really sees the money!

If you want to be a bank, the large households in Qingzhou must consider the problem of large initial investment and slow returns.After all, it is impossible for these mud legs to pay back the money immediately, they have to pay back the money slowly within a few years.This is a slow business.

As for the workshop, as long as it produces a windmill, it will receive real money.Joining the workshop, that is fast investment and fast income!
The old man thought that Zhang Wei would not hand over the business to them at all, because if this workshop did not belong to Zhang Wei, then his Hulu Bank would close down even faster!

Thinking of this, the old man's heart changed, and he immediately said: "Then what does your lord need us to do?"

Zhang Wei said with a smile: "I don't need you to spend money to buy shares, I need you to use land to buy shares!"

When the old man heard this, he was immediately stunned.Then he started thinking.

Before the old man could figure it out, Zhang Wei said, "Tianmen Agricultural Reclamation will join, and I won't be short of money. It's useless to ask for your money. But Tianmen Agricultural Reclamation will have a shortcoming, that is, they can only provide money , cannot provide land, and you have land!"

Zhang Wei said indifferently: "It is because you have land that I let you get involved in the business. Otherwise, do you think this lucrative business can still be your turn?"

"Don't forget, I am Zhang Wei in Eshan, and my father is a famous silk rich man in Jinhua Prefecture. Even if there is no Agricultural Reclamation Association, the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce in Jinhua Prefecture is something you can resist?"

As soon as these words came out, the old man's heart immediately trembled.That's right, my lord, but he also has a big background in Jinhua Mansion.

The Jiangnan Silk Chamber of Commerce, represented by Jinhua Mansion, is a super-merchant alliance with a deeper foundation than the Tianmen Land Reclamation Association.The silver that can be used is in the tens of millions!
Damn, why is Zhang Wei so difficult to handle? !

The old man closed his eyes and thought for a while, and immediately made a decision: "My lord, we will use the land as a stake!"

Only then did Zhang Wei smile in satisfaction, and drank a drink with the old man.

Why does Zhang Wei want the land of these people?Because Zhang Wei has bigger plans!
If the plan is implemented, then these large households with a large amount of land will be the biggest trouble.Let them spend their money and energy on the workshop, not on the land.

The land is allowed to be cultivated by ordinary people to ensure the basic food supply of Qingzhou Prefecture.With windmill irrigation, Qingzhou Prefecture must be self-sufficient in food, and even have a surplus.

Only when there is a surplus of food, will more farmers move from the fields to the workshops.Because Tianmen County has a lot of land and a very small population, all the people can be fed with a small part of the land, so that the small population can be put in the workshop.

However, Qingzhou Mansion has a lot of people and barren land. If people can't get enough to eat, how can they transfer the population to the workshop?You must know that there are guides in this world, and it is impossible for the population to move in large numbers.It is impossible to absorb people from outside to work.

Only when the land is well utilized and planned can Qingzhou Mansion develop according to Zhang Wei's plan.

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Zhang Wei has no control over how the old man wants to persuade the big family in Qingzhou Prefecture.During the first lunar month, Zhang Wei and his wives were traveling around Qingzhou Mansion.

Qingzhou Prefecture is located by the sea, so it's not particularly cold, not as heavy as Tianmen County's mountains covered by heavy snow.It is also a great pleasure to take the wives to climb a few small dirt hills to see the snow scenery, or take a big boat to go fishing in the sea.

The local tyrants from the Tianmen County Agricultural Reclamation Association also went to play together. They were very excited since they had never seen the sea.

In addition to playing, Zhang Wei is also constantly writing letters to Di Li, Cao Bin, and Emperor Baojing.It's all for one mission.

Take the right to smelt iron ore!
The Dagan Dynasty, like the previous courts, was specialized in salt and iron.In terms of iron, it is to control the iron mines across the country and control the production of iron ingots from the source.Then blacksmith shops in various places pay taxes according to their share to buy iron ore and go back to smelting it themselves.

This kind of small workshop production naturally cannot meet Zhang Wei's needs.So he wants to get more open smelting rights, he wants to smelt steel!

Thanks to Zhang Wei's very good impression in the heart of Emperor Baojing, the support of Di Li, the left servant of the Ministry of Industry, and the lobbying of Cao Bin.Daqian's salt and iron franchise has finally torn a hole in Qingzhou Prefecture.

After the Lantern Festival, Zhang Wei finally got the permit, and he was allowed to freely purchase iron ore and freely smelt iron ore within Qingzhou Prefecture.

(End of this chapter)