Water Margin people

Everyone looked at Sun Lei. During this period, the emperor's policies seemed to be more inclined towards innovation, and he was not so concerned about the original steam engine.

As officials, they were the ones who could best feel the changes in the emperor's policies.

"It's not that we have to give up, but the steam engine has its limitations and cannot be developed in many fields, such as electric lights and telegraphs. The steam engine is completely useless."

"But the steam engine also has its uses. In addition to providing power, power generation is also a steam engine's strength, so we still need to continue researching the steam engine."

Sun Lei said that he had indeed paid little attention to steam engines recently, as his mind was full of the electrical age.

"Don't think too much about it. You will understand once the things are built."

Sun Lei looked at the cabinet members and said that although these people were very capable in government affairs, they knew nothing about science and technology and it was difficult for them to understand the relationship between steam and electricity.

Ruan Xiaoer led the fleet all the way south. When passing Quanzhou Port, a ship docked at the port with a tall antenna standing on it.

At the same time, ships with antennas appeared in various inland places. These were Qi's wireless telephone networks. With these, Qi's domestic communication problems were solved, and the central government's control over the local areas became more comprehensive.

Telegraph office.

A new store appeared in the larger county government, with a sign on the door that read "Telegraph Office."

The people were all watching out of curiosity; they didn't understand the meaning of these three words.

"The telegraph office is where telegrams are sent. If you want to write a letter to your relatives far away, you don't have to ask someone to take it there. As long as the area is covered by our telegraph office, the message can be sent there immediately and someone will be there to deliver it..."

The telegraph office manager smiled and spoke to the audience.

"How far is it okay?"

“Is this a magic trick from the gods?”

"Will it be expensive?"

"It can't be fake, right?"

……

The people were talking about it and no one believed that there was such a magical thing.

The manager of the telegraph office did not answer these questions. Some things become more unclear the more you explain them. Slowly, these people will understand and believe them.

"Butler, there is a telegram from the army."

A servant handed a piece of paper to the steward.

"Daxishui Village, Zhang Laoshuan, do you know anyone here? There's a telegram coming from his son in the army! If you know him, please help pass the message and ask him to come pick it up. The telegraph office is open today, and there's not enough staff, so I'm afraid it will take a while for the delivery to be made."

The steward glanced at the signature on the telegram and shouted to the onlookers.

"Zhang Laoshuan, I heard that his son is an officer in the army, in charge of hundreds of people!"

"I came back last year and brought a lot of money as a reward. I even bought several large tiled houses for my family."

"His wife is so lucky, she might become a general's wife in the future!"

……

The people watching seemed to know everything about the Zhang family.

"I know. Uncle Zhang is going to the market today. He wants to find a carpenter to make the best tables and chairs."

A young man said, "Why don't you go find it?"

Everyone urged the young man, and he was quick and disappeared quickly.

Soon the young man brought Zhang Laoshuan to the telegraph office.

"Hello, stewards, I heard there is a letter from my son?"

Zhang Laoshuan looked at the telegraph office manager with a wary look on his face. Why did his son's letter end up in this telegraph office? Could it be a scammer who had set his eyes on his son's reward?

"Old man, is this the letter from Captain Zhang? Don't worry, your son is a captain in the army, and you are a military dependent. No one dares to lie to you!"

The steward handed the letter to Zhang Laoshuan with a smile.

Zhang Laoshuan looked at the letter in his hand, feeling a little overwhelmed. The manager's words made him feel a little relieved, but the problem was that he was illiterate and could not understand the contents of the letter.

Zhang Laoshuan could only ask a young official to help him read. The young men in Qi had all received enlightenment in school. Although they could not be said to be knowledgeable and talented, they had no problem knowing how to read.

Seeing the young man reading the letter, the onlookers all sighed in their hearts that he was young and promising. He could read at such a young age and had a much brighter future than those of them.

They also secretly vowed in their hearts that they must send their children to school. Regardless of other things, at least they must learn to read. After all, the school is free, so they can send them there when they are old enough, and they can save themselves the trouble of disciplining them.

Zhang Laoshuan was not in such a good mood. His son wrote in the letter that he had just received a military order and would not be able to return home within two years. He asked his parents to take good care of their health and his wife to take good care of the children. Finally, he said that he would write to his family more often when he had time to report his safety.

After hearing the message on the telegram, everyone finally believed in the magic of the telegram and that there really was something that could transmit messages thousands of miles away.

At this time, the telegraph office also posted a price list, charging one penny per word.

This price has discouraged many people. Although people's lives have improved now, one word costs one cent. A letter will cost at least dozens of cents, and a few more words will cost over a hundred cents.

Of course, there are also people who send messages immediately. There are always relatives far away who want to be contacted. In the face of emotional connections, this little money is nothing.

The first people to discover the convenience of the telegraph office were merchants. Such convenient information transmission made it much easier for them to do business. They only needed to send a telegram to know the market conditions thousands of miles away. This saved time and avoided many detours. As for the price per word, the merchants felt that it was simply value for money.

cabinet.

A group of cabinet members are handling government affairs. Since a large number of grassroots officials were sent to the local area last time, the local area has become much quieter. The officials are very diligent in handling government affairs. The sense of crisis makes all officials dare not have any other ideas.

"Master Xiao, should we set up a management agency for this telegraph office?"

A cabinet member spoke up and said that telegraph offices were now spread all over the country, from the front line of Japan in the east to the various prefectures in the Western Regions in the west, from Liaodong and the grasslands in the north to Guangzhou and the South China Sea in the south.

They have already discussed the importance of the telegraph office. For a long time to come, the telegraph office will become the most important institution in the country. Profits are secondary. The most important thing is that it can influence the lifeblood of the country.

"Of course we have to manage it. Elder Wen has already reported this to His Majesty."

Xiao Jiasui nodded.

"Sir, this industry needs strict management. Although telegrams are convenient, the impact of authenticity is huge. If someone sends a false telegram, the impact will be huge."

A cabinet member looked at Xiao Jiasui and said.

"This situation... I believe that Your Majesty will find a solution. There is no need to worry too much for now. The telegraph is confidential. Even if someone wants to copy it, they can't. As for those who spread rumors, their property will be confiscated and their clan will be exterminated!"

Xiao Jiasui spoke up. He certainly knew the terrible consequences of the telegraph being exploited by people with ulterior motives, but now that the emperor was pushing it hard, there was nothing they could do.

However, Xiao Jiasui also guessed the emperor's purpose. More convenient information transmission can accelerate domestic economic prosperity and quickly digest the benefits brought by the war. Qi has made countless benefits overseas, and these things need to be digested by the whole people. (End of this chapter)