Chongzhen Daming: Starting from Coal Mountain

Chapter 374 Rewards
Twenty million catties is [-] tons.

An annual output of [-] tons of steel is drizzle for future generations of steel mills.

But for Daming, it was an exaggerated figure.

Because this is almost the annual steel output of the entire Ming Dynasty!

Since Wu Jinxi is a technical official, he also knows about this.

"My lord, this is absolutely impossible." Wu Jinxi said decisively, "I can't do it."

"Of course, I didn't ask you to ask for so much steel all at once. There must be a process in the middle." Chongzhen said, "You don't have to worry about the employment of factories and mines, I will give you a hundred thousand strong men!"

"One hundred thousand strong men?" Wu Jinxi immediately reacted when he heard the words, "Those rebels?"

This is a bit interesting. With [-] strong men, it seems that it is not impossible to produce [-] million catties of iron per year.

"Yes, it's the one hundred thousand rebels." Chongzhen said, "In this life, they should spend their lives in factories or mines. This is the punishment they deserve, and they should be beheaded according to the law."

Wu Jinxi said: "If so, I can give it a try."

"It's not a test, but it must be done." Chongzhen said solemnly.

"Your minister leads the order." Wu Jinxi responded solemnly, "I will definitely complete this matter."

After this pause, Wu Jinxi continued, "However, I still have a question."

"Doubt?" Chongzhen said lightly, "You said, do you have any questions?"

Wu Jinxi said: "Why did your majesty choose Xiangtan to set up this iron smelting workshop? Can't Wuchang do it?"

"Wuchang?" Chongzhen was stunned when he heard the words. This is a fixed mindset. Before that, he only remembered that there was a steel factory in Xiangtan, so he subconsciously chose Xiangtan as the iron factory. But in fact, there seems to be a steel factory in Wuhan, and On a larger scale, Wuhan even once established a famous arsenal, Hanyang Arsenal!
Hanyang made rifles, which are the most famous rifles in modern China, not one of them.

"Wuchang is also fine." Chongzhen nodded immediately after reacting, "Whether this iron smelting factory is located in Wuchang Mansion, Hanyang Mansion or Huangzhou Mansion is up to you."

"Anyway, I have delivered the hundred thousand soldiers to you."

"There is still money. All you need is a letter, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will send someone to transfer it to you."

"Oh, by the way, there is no need to adjust. The Royal Bank has a branch in Wuchang, and you can withdraw directly from the branch."

After finishing speaking, Chongzhen ordered Du Yinxi to say: "Du Qing, in order to prevent chaos and troubles, I may have to trouble you to lead [-] town soldiers to stay and assist temporarily. After the new army arrives, I will dispatch a new army to replace you." At that time, you can return to Xuzhou with the [-] town soldiers. As for the other town soldiers, you can go back tomorrow after receiving the reward."

"The minister leads the decree." Du Yinxi bowed, and immediately followed Wu Jinxi and turned to leave.

Wu Jinxi told Du Yinxi while walking that I plan to open the iron smelting workshop at the northern foot of Guishan Mountain.

Du Yinxi responded that the northern foot of Guishan Mountain is good, and it is close to the Han River. Whether it is mineral materials, charcoal or smelted iron materials, they can be transported by water, which is really convenient.

Wu Jinxi laughed and said, if it is a factory with an annual output of one million catties, it is true that it can directly take wood from Guishan to burn charcoal, but now what the Holy One wants is a large factory with an annual output of [-] million catties. There was simply not enough firewood, so coal had to be mined, smelted into coke and then iron.

The two walked out of the gate while talking.

Watching Du Yinxi and Wu Jinxi leave, Chongzhen asked Gao Qiqian to call Wang Fuzhi, Guan Siqiu and Xia Rubi to his residence.

The land issue has always been a fundamental issue.

Even with the deterrence of force, the gentry in Huguang would not be willing to spit out the fat in their mouths.

If it's just the gentry in Huguang itself, there's nothing to worry about.

But if these gentry and tyrants are allowed to use their clan ties to incite the entire ethnic group, big problems will arise.

Therefore, in addition to deterrence by force, propaganda must also keep up. This requires the use of Wang Fuzhi and other Huguang natives.

"Wang Fuzhi, I remember that you have a flower drum opera in Hunan." Chongzhen asked, "It sings and dances, and there are musical accompaniments. It's not too different from Ruan Dacheng's opera troupe, right?"

Wang Fuzhi said, "What the Holy Majesty is talking about is the Changsha Flower Drum Opera?"

"Yes." Chongzhen nodded and said, "Now I entrust you with an errand."

"You take your respective presidents and go to Changsha Mansion to find these actors who can sing Huagu opera, and then arrange a brand new Huagu opera for them. Many families of the same family in the clan were ruined, and in the end this evil patriarch was suppressed by the court."

Having said this, Chongzhen went on to say: "After suppressing the patriarch, the imperial court distributed the official land stolen by the patriarch to the clansmen, and then the whole clan lived a happy life."

As soon as they heard this, Wang Fuzhi, Guan Siqiu and Xia Rubi knew that Chongzhen was going to deal ruthless blows to the nobles in Huguang.

Although the family of Wang Fuzhi and the three of them are also Huguang gentry, the three of them agree with Chongzhen's will, because they support the comprehensive land equalization from the bottom of their hearts.

When Du Yinxi was in Guide to equalize the land, they wanted to go back to Hunan to promote the equalization of land.

Chongzhen said: "This is not equalizing the land, but just taking back the occupied Zhuang Tian under the names of the various vassals."

"Your Majesty, why don't you just equalize the land?" Wang Fuzhi asked puzzled, "Wouldn't it be great to take advantage of this opportunity to solve the problem of land annexation in Huguang once and for all, and truly realize the land to the tiller?"

"Yes, why not equalize the land?" Guan Siqiu and Xia Rubi were also puzzled.

Chongzhen smiled and said: "I remember that the three of you also have a lot of land in your family. If you share the land in Huguang, it may be inevitable for your family. How will you go home to see your parents in the future?"

"This is for self-interest." Wang Fuzhi sighed, "equalizing the land is the righteousness of the country."

Guan Siqiu and Xia Rubi also said: "How can personal interests be compared with the righteousness of the country?"

"Your ambitions are known to me." Chongzhen said, "It's just that meals have to be eaten bite by bite, and things have to be dealt with one by one. The matter of equalizing the land should not be rushed. The most urgent task is to recover the occupied farmland under the names of the feudal vassals. "

"Your servant understands." Wang Fuzhi and the three said, "I will lead my troops to Changsha now."

Just as the three of Wang and Fuzhi left, there was suddenly a tsunami of cheers outside Xingyuan.

Chongzhen immediately rushed to the door and shouted: "Wang Daban, what's going on outside? Who is shouting long live?"

Wang Chengen immediately went to the gate, and said respectfully: "Long Live Lord, those rebels are grateful for your kindness of not killing, and they are calling Long Live three times to thank you, Long Live Lord."

"So that's what happened." Chongzhen nodded and said again, "Oh, by the way, have you counted all the gold and silver jewellery, livestock, and women seized from the rebels?"

Zuo Liangyu has guarded Wuchang for many years and has accumulated a lot of wealth.

After Zuo Liangyu died of illness, Zuo Menggeng did not return for a long time, and the property was divided among Ma Jinzhong and the others.

After Ma Jinzhong and the other four were killed by He Tengjiao, the property was divided up by Lu Guangzu and a dozen others.

And now, all these goods belong to Chongzhen, together with the cattle, sheep and horses that were seized before, and the property looted within a month after the war.

Chongzhen estimated that the amount of this wealth would not be small.

While talking, Gao Qiqian walked in happily.

"Gao Banban." Chongzhen asked, "Has all the goods been counted?"

"Long live, the exact number is still being verified." Gao Qiqian said flatteringly.

"However, the approximate figure has been released. The silver is about two million yuan. In addition, there are jewelry and antique calligraphy and paintings worth more than one million yuan."

Chongzhen's face immediately collapsed.

More than two million cash plus jewelry worth more than one million is more than three million.

Huguang has been looted by Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong many times, and it is already dilapidated. I didn't expect Zuo Liangyu to loot so much in the past few years when he was in Wuchang.

Remember this account first.

When the time is right in the future, we will use this as a fuss to remove Zuo Liangyu's tablet from the Taimiao, and let such rebellious officials stay in the Taimiao, which is simply a humiliation to the ancestors of the Ming Dynasty.

Sooner or later, Zuo Menggeng's dukedom of Chu would have to be taken away.

"Where are the war horses?" Chongzhen asked again, "How many horses have you collected in total?"

Gao Qiqian said: "Around more than [-] war horses, more than [-] cattle, more than [-] sheep, more than [-] pairs of armor, and more than [-] pieces of waist knives or spears. , there are about ten thousand bird guns, about nine thousand vans, and more than one hundred thousand stones of grain, silk, cotton cloth, etc. are still being counted.”

Chongzhen's expression suddenly became serious: "Gao Banban, you didn't reach out, did you?"

"Long Live Lord!" Gao Qiqian immediately knelt down with a puff, and said anxiously, "How dare this old slave reach out, besides, there are so many Qin princes staring at him, even if this old slave wants to reach out, he has no chance."

"Get up, it's fine if you don't reach out." Chongzhen snorted softly, and said again, "Also, listen carefully, gold and silver treasures, antique calligraphy and paintings, or mansions and farms, you can only take what I reward you. Whoever gave it to you is not allowed to take it, and you are not allowed to reach out indiscriminately, otherwise let me know, and you should know the consequences."

"Yes, this old slave knows." Gao Qiqian nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

But he sighed in his heart, who would dare to reach out with a long live god like you?

"However, I will not treat you badly." Chongzhen smiled and said, "You guys have worked hard this time. After returning to Beijing, go to Ma Minglu to receive the reward."

"The old slave thanked the Lord Long Live." Gao Qiqian was overjoyed when he heard the words.

Wang Chengen also came down to thank him: "Thank you Long Live Lord for the reward."

Chongzhen smiled, and continued: "Twelve taels per person!"

The smile on Gao Qiqian's face froze, so it was only twelve taels?
Chongzhen then added another sentence: "Gao Banban, don't be too little."

(End of this chapter)