Daming: If I find a great-grandson, I will teach an emperor through the ages

Chapter 78 Daming Should Open the Sea!
Zhu Yuanzhang's birthday banquet started at noon, and after half a day, when he returned to the imperial city, the sky was already covered with sunset.

Royal study.

All the vassal kings and ministers had already left, only Cao Wei was dragged here by Zhu Yuanzhang.

In the brightly lit Imperial Study Room, Cao Wei stood upright in front of the desk, while Zhu Yuanzhang sat behind the desk, wearing presbyopic glasses, trying to figure out the words on some memorials in front of him.

In the past, when there were no reading glasses, Zhu Yuanzhang could see less clearly when it was dark. Even if he got close to the candlestick, he had to squint his eyes very hard to barely see the small characters on the book paper.

Wearing presbyopic glasses today, Zhu Yuanzhang could tell what was written in the memorials with little effort.

This made Zhu Yuanzhang feel extra relaxed for a while, and once again he was completely satisfied with the magical little thing of reading glasses.

He raised his head and looked at Cao Wei standing in front of the case. Cao Wei grinned at him.

Since the last time Cao Wei refused to be an official and returned home, this is the first face-to-face communication between the two.

"Today I talked about the rewards for those craftsmen, but you haven't said what you want. Now there is no one around. Tell me, so you don't say anything, and you will blame us for being stingy in your heart." Zhu Yuanzhang said.

"Your Majesty misses it, and the grassroots are terrified!" Cao Wei bowed his waist at ninety degrees respectfully, "If you can contribute to your Majesty and contribute to the Ming Dynasty, the grassroots are satisfied, so how dare you slander Your Majesty?"

"But..." Cao Wei changed the subject,
"Since His Majesty said so, Caomin dare not refuse. Caomin doesn't want much, but hopes that Ying'er can live better after he leaves. If His Majesty is willing to reward Caomin with another hundred and ten taels of silver, Caomin will be happy." I am satisfied, and I will definitely continue to shine for Daming in the future."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded helplessly.

In a way, Cao Wei can be said to be a wall that cannot be supported by mud.

Such a great contribution in developing the train was enough for him to become a marquis and an official, but Cao Wei only wanted a mere hundred and ten taels of silver. Should we say that he had no ambition?

"Of course this is possible. As long as we can develop the train that can carry a thousand people, let alone a hundred taels, even a thousand taels of silver, we can give it!"

"We called you here right now to ask you, how long will it take to develop a train that can carry a thousand people?"

The importance of trains to Daming is self-evident, and it is only natural that Zhu Yuanzhang would be so concerned.

"You also heard what the generals said during the day. The train is very important to the Ming Dynasty and must be built as soon as possible. Can you give us an approximate time?"

After Cao Wei heard this, his expression became strange.

It is not difficult in terms of technology to build a train that can carry thousands of people. After all, the craftsmen in the western suburbs already have experience. The transmission mode can be improved.

However, although it is not difficult to build a train, it is extremely difficult to put the train into practical use!
Not to mention anything else, laying railway tracks was a matter of great difficulty for the inexperienced Ming Dynasty.

Cao Wei can use sleepers to build tracks in the western suburbs for temporary use, but the real railway tracks must be made of steel.

Daming's steelmaking technique at this time had too many disadvantages, and the output was too little. This was a problem.

In addition, when laying tracks across two places, we will inevitably encounter various complex terrains. What should we do if we encounter ditches and rivers?What to do if you encounter mountains?Is it to build bridges and roads, or to dig out mountains and rocks?

Building bridges is okay, but the current Daming does not have the technical conditions to dig railway tunnels in the mountains...

Cao Wei bowed his hands towards Zhu Yuanzhang with a heavy expression, "Your Majesty, I will allow you to think about this matter carefully before giving your Majesty a definite reply."

It was the first time for Zhu Yuanzhang to see a serious look on Cao Wei's face, and he frowned for a moment.

"Huh? Why, is it difficult? Then tell me what is difficult, and how can we help you?"

Zhu Yuanzhang really wanted Daming to open to traffic as soon as possible.

Cao Wei sighed, and said: "Your Majesty does not know. Today, in the workshop in the western suburbs, the track used to make the train run is temporarily built by grassroots with sleepers, but the sleepers cannot withstand the wind and rain all year round. If you want to build Qualified train tracks must be made of steel."

After Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, his expression darkened.

Wood and steel, the cost of which is a world of difference...

Calculating the national treasury of the Ming Dynasty at this time, there was indeed a lot of pressure to build railway tracks.

"In addition, the laying of railway tracks may also encounter various dangers of mountains, rivers and rivers. How to deal with this has to be carefully considered."

After Zhu Yuanzhang listened, he slowly leaned back in his chair, his face expressionless, making people wonder what he was thinking.

"So... even if a train that can carry a thousand people is built, it will be difficult to put it into practical use?"

At this time, Zhu Yuanzhang was no longer as happy as he was at the beginning, and instead seemed to have been poured cold water on him.

Originally, I thought that the appearance of such artifacts as trains would make Daming not afraid of foreign enemies from now on, but when I elaborated, there were problems everywhere, making it difficult to realize.

There really is no such thing as a good thing in this world...

"Although it is difficult, it is not impossible," Cao Wei suddenly said after pondering for a moment.

When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this, he sat up straight again and said, "Tell me."

"Caomin once read a book about a special steelmaking method that can greatly increase steel production, and the operation is simple. It is not difficult to meet the steel requirements for laying railways."

"As for the dangers of mountains, rivers and rivers, as long as you plan ahead, you can always find a road suitable for laying the track, but this matter cannot be completed overnight. Your Majesty must be prepared."

These words finally made Zhu Yuanzhang see some hope again.

"Since this is the case, this matter should be put on the agenda as soon as possible."

"The common people understand that tomorrow the common people will compile the method of making steel. However, this matter requires surveying the terrain of various places. The common people are weak and difficult to do it. Your Majesty also needs to draw up an imperial edict to make officials from various places cooperate with each other to find the best solution. A line was used to lay the track.”

Zhu Yuanzhang was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "You have created a problem for us!"

Cao Wei was taken aback, "What does Your Majesty mean by that?"

"Do you know how much it will cost to lay a railway track across Daming? That's not a small sum."

Cao Wei smiled awkwardly.

This is the problem of different positions. According to Zhu Yuanzhang's order, he only focused on developing trains. As for the funds, Zhu Yuanzhang should have a headache.

However, as a time traveler, Cao Wei really had something to say about this situation.

"Your Majesty, it's actually not difficult to solve the railway funding problem. It's just that ordinary people are afraid of using this method to blame His Majesty."

"Just say it, we don't blame you."

"What your Majesty is worried about is the expenditure of the national treasury, and the national treasury is related to the economic and tax revenue of the entire Ming Dynasty. If the economic level of the Ming Dynasty is improved, the tax revenue of all parties will also increase accordingly, and the problem will be solved."

"However, Daming's domestic economy has formed a closed loop, and it is difficult to make significant improvements. We can only seek breakthroughs from outside."

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, "What do you mean?"

Cao Wei replied seriously: "Open the sea!"

(End of this chapter)