My Ming Dynasty, I have the final say

Chapter 220 I don’t dare anymore, I don’t dare anymore

"Build a technical school?"

This was the first thought that popped into Zhu Youxiao's mind after Xu Guangqi's proposal was made.

He touched his smooth chin, then turned his head and looked Xu Guangqi up and down.

Should we say that he is worthy of being a representative of the Western School of Ming Dynasty and the founder of Confucian practical studies?

However, if an engineering school was built, it would probably cause an uproar in the court.

There is a foundation for the establishment of the Military Academy in the Ming Dynasty.

Military science and martial arts examinations in various military institutes are the cornerstone of the Wulue Academy.

But engineering is different.

He had just revoked the craftsman status of Shuntian Mansion.

After all, you need to figure out what work is first before you know what you should manage.

This is a necessary part of Zhu Youxiao's monthly work.

After carefully observing every chain on the machine, Xu Guangqi couldn't help but sigh.

After the Baoquan Bureau inspection was completed, it was time to inspect the Shijing Factory.

After waving his hand to Xu Guangqi, Zhu Youxiao spoke.

"I accept the decree."

In fact, he only had a preliminary idea about setting up an engineering school.

"Let's do this. You first make a list for me, summarize it, and list all the businesses. After I read it, I can think about how to implement it."

To sum up, which industries belong to the category of work.

The group visited Baoquan Bureau, or rather after the inspection.

The two of them also discussed in private why the Ming Dynasty banknotes of the great ancestor Taizu would eventually depreciate in value to the point where they were no longer as good as wipes.

After visiting the ironworks, the next step is the production of gunpowder.

Zhu Youxiao also attaches great importance to this.

He was currently observing carefully in front of a stamping machine.

A railroad car as tall as one person is pulled by donkeys and runs on two rails.

It is better to use it to carry mines than to build roads.

Although Xu Guangqi was a capable man, he ensured that the Wanggong Factory did not explode by transporting the finished products first and then cutting off the raw materials.

With the expansion of mines, the recruitment of miners, and the gradual increase in the number of iron-making furnaces, iron output is rising every day.

Just like last month, after inspecting several ironworks, Zhu Youxiao was very satisfied.

At the same time, rails and rail cars were also being laid in many factories.

The difference from Bi Ziyan and Yuan Shizhen is Xu Guangqi.

"It's possible, but not now."

"Your Majesty has so many wonderful ideas."

Standing in front of a huge scale and looking at the craftsmen who were weighing each silver coin, Bi Ziyan and Yuan Shizhen were filled with emotion.

This term clearly refers to the credibility of Ming Dynasty and is the cornerstone of Ming Dynasty.

The army is the backbone of the emperor Zhu Youxiao.

According to Xu Guangqi's observation, the reason for this is that there are a bunch of gears and pulleys on the side of the machine.

After all, a unit of manpower can produce higher value than simple and heavy manual labor like backing mines, which can be solved with equipment.

After rejecting the offer to study engineering, the group started working in Baoquan Bureau again.

Although Ming Dynasty has abundant human resources now, they cannot be used in this way.

Industry is the backbone of Ming Dynasty.

At the entrance of Baoquan Bureau, after the three people sent the emperor off on horseback, they also saluted and said goodbye.

What he really wanted was the second half of the emperor's sentence.

The emperor explained to them what currency was.

What's being weighed on the scale in front of me are silver coins.

This machine was designed by the emperor and was made by master craftsmen.

Although it costs a little more, it saves a lot of manpower.

Last time, during a meeting with the emperor in Xiyuan, Xu Guangqi came up with this idea after learning that the emperor intended to give weight to the Ministry of Industry.

His eyes wandered, and after thinking for a while, Zhu Youxiao shook his head.

After hearing the emperor's words, Xu Guangqi cupped his hands and responded.

Compared with other roller presses in the factory, this roller press obviously requires less effort.

But Zhu Youxiao, the emperor, was afraid of the time travelers in the gunpowder factory.

After all, the Wang Gong Factory explosion is too famous in history.

Not only did it destroy the Ming Dynasty's gunpowder storage for many years, but it also gave away Tianqi's third son, leaving Tianqi with no successor.

Gunpowder production in the Ming Dynasty was roughly divided into 3+1 steps.

The first 3 produce nitrate, carbon, and sulfur respectively.

The last one is responsible for producing qualified granular gunpowder according to the proportion of raw materials.

For safety reasons, the emperor Zhu Youxiao only inspected the first three factories and would not go to the final mixed production factory.

Taking people to the raw material production area, Zhu Youxiao couldn't help but shook his head when he looked at the craftsmen who were boiling saltpeter in the open air.

Before the chemical industry flourished, although Ming Dynasty's industrial production capacity was already very advanced in the world, its output was still far behind that of later generations.

The production of sulfur and carbon is relatively easy.

China has a vast land and rich resources, and ready-made sulfur mines can always be found. The only problem is transportation.

For carbon, you only need to burn the wood and grind it into powder.

But nitrate, the compound that refers to potassium nitrate, is difficult.

The saltpeter used by the capital of the Ming Dynasty to prepare gunpowder was mainly local saltpeter produced in Shandong. Even if there is ready-made ore for this thing, refining it using local methods is still a little complicated.

Therefore, there is a saying that "a thousand days of boiling salt water is not worth a shot from the general."

Earlier, Xu Guangqi took out half of Wang Gongchang's reserves, and then sent them to Xiong Tingbi in Liaodong under the emperor's instruction.

For this reason, Xiong Tingbi was able to regain the lost ground only by throwing money at it.

"Although I am good at chemistry, there is still a gap in applying it to production."

Far away, watching a worker stirring the saltpeter in the pot with a willow stick, Zhu Youxiao smacked his lips and thought to himself.

From theory to production.

From lab hand bottles to production line mixers.

The distance in between cannot be easily crossed.

Although he mastered the theory, he really knew nothing about production, especially mass production, and could not help him at the moment.

When Zhu Youxiao finished inspecting Shijing Factory, the sky had darkened.

That night, Zhu Youxiao stayed in Shijingchang.

And when the emperor Zhu Youxiao was inspecting Shijing Factory, Nanhaizi.

"These people work so slowly."

Holding a cup of tea in his hand, Wei Zhongxian sat on a hillside and looked at the officials below who were moving bricks. Wei Zhongxian couldn't help but shook his head and sighed.

"Daddy, why don't you give them a few whips to make them move faster?"

After hearing Wei Zhongxian's words, his godson Wei Qing couldn't help but shout.

"Get out of here."

Looking sideways at this fool, Wei Zhongxian's expression changed and he immediately cursed.

"Alas, alas."

Knowing that the flattery was on the horse's leg, Wei Qing did not dare to stay any longer, so he turned around and left.

"The emperor's method is better."

After scolding his godson, Wei Zhongxian put the tea cup on the small table, stretched out his neck and took a closer look at the officials working below, shook his head and praised the emperor's wisdom.

In the past, the Ming Dynasty's punishment measures for courtiers ranged from light to severe, ranging from imperial rods, reprimands, and beheadings.

But for the current civil servants of the Ming Dynasty, imperial rods and reprimands are clearly to make those people look good, while beheading is a bad emperor's own reputation.

The punitive measures that the emperor has pulled out of the trash heap of history can be said to be quite effective.

To raise hope? What are you thinking about?

He couldn't even go back home, and at most he was allowed to have family members come visit him.

Put aside the labor reform on the construction site, when the reform goal is completed, when will you go home.

In the past, Wei Zhongxian had often heard or seen that some court officials' reputation among the people had greatly increased after being punished or reprimanded by Wanli's court. But now, even though he controls the supervisory agency of Dongchang, Wei Zhongxian has not heard of any of these people who have been reformed through labor, and their reputation has greatly increased.

It is very unusual that after these people entered the Nanhaizi construction site, no one interceded.

At least, he didn't hear anyone sympathizing with these people in the public opinion field in the capital.

"It's weird..."

Looking at Yan Guan who was carrying bricks one by one, Wei Zhongxian couldn't help but murmur in his heart.

If Zhu Youxiao knew about Wei Zhongxian's doubts, he would probably sigh that Wei Zhongxian actually had a brain.

The larger the organization, the more complex its internal organizational structure is.

Just like a hydra, you have your thoughts and I have mine.

The emperor was strong and had repeatedly sent out the iron fist of imperial favor to the officials.

Brainless is either awaiting trial in the Criminal Department or in the Nanhaizi Labor Camp.

People with brains often don't follow others' opinions.

An emperor who has his own opinions and holds the power of life and death over his courtiers is the most terrifying creature to the courtiers.

After seeing the emperor's treatment of officials, who would speak for these people?

When the time comes to evening.

"It's time, it's time to get off work, it's time to get off work..."

Starting from the bell of the Superintendent's Office, to the gongs of different work areas, and the whistles of different work sites.

Voices with seemingly different meanings sounded in the ears of people with different identities at different construction sites.

"Eat and rest."

As the supervisor's voice sounded, whether they were prisoners, workers, or supervisors, they all put down their work and headed towards the shack where they stayed.

There are large and small construction sites scattered throughout Nanhaizi.

Although there is a wall around Nanhaizi, there are not that many soldiers to patrol it.

For the convenience of management, shacks and simple walls were built in various areas.

And because too many people gathered, in order to prevent thieves, walls were built along the shacks. Sharp objects such as tiles were stuck on the walls, and there was even blood in some places.

Each shack area also has ferocious wolf dogs, ranging from dozens to a dozen. Every night, there will be a dedicated person leading the patrol - this is the new one after the last "haunting" in Nanhaizi. Introduced management policies.

"I'm so exhausted today."

Miao Changqi, a concubine of the Hanlin Academy, hammered his waist and looked at Yuan Huazhong, the censor next to him.

"No, it weighs dozens of kilograms and has to be carried for several miles."

He picked up a tea bowl from the side of his bed and went to the bucket. Yuan Huazhong didn't care whether it was dirty or not. He scooped up a bowl of water and put it in his mouth.

When he finishes drinking, let someone else take the scooping spot.

"It hasn't even been a month, and my hands are already cracked."

Putting his bowl on the bedside, not caring about the mess on his clothes, he sat down on the bed, Yuan Huazhong grimaced.

"When will these hard times end?"

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu"

"When did I, a son from a rich family, ever do something as despicable as lifting bricks? Your Majesty humiliated me, Your Majesty humiliated me."

As Yuan Huazhong opened his mouth, he didn't know who it was, but he spoke in a crying voice.

"Your Majesty, why do you need to humiliate me like this?"

Emotions are contagious.

As one person started crying, everyone in the shack suddenly began to wail.

The labor at the Nanhaizi construction site was determined by the emperor.

I got up at mid-morning (six o'clock), had breakfast, and started running.

At the beginning of the morning, work began, that is, moving bricks.

The next work lasted two hours!

After resting for an hour at noon, work for another two hours.

It was almost the eight-hour work system of later generations.

But for these officials who cannot lift it with their hands or carry it on their shoulders, the pain is almost equivalent to beheading.

Who suffers like this on a daily basis?

Just when everyone's emotions were about to collapse, a guard in Jin Yi came to the door and shouted loudly.

"Why are you howling?"

"It's time to serve food. Those who come late should not eat."

"Just come, just come."

After hearing Jin Yiwei's words, Yuan Huazhong didn't bother to comfort his colleagues around him anymore, picked up his bowl and rushed outside.

Following his actions, other people in the shack woke up one after another. They didn't even bother to wipe the tears on their faces and rushed to the place where the food was placed.

"Yours, next."

In the cooking position, in front of the cook is a large pot with a stew cooking in it.

The food on the construction site may be unacceptable to future generations.

Simply pickle Chinese cabbage, wild vegetables, and tofu, add salt, and stew them in a pot, adding at most a piece of lard or vegetable oil.

The staple food is not steamed buns or rice, which are indispensable to later generations.

Instead, they are simply cooking rice and wheat.

Literally, after the wheat and rice are shelled, they are cooked and eaten directly without grinding.

On the construction site, there is no such thing as being tired of fine food and fine food, as long as you can have a full stomach.

Yuan Huazhong first went to fill a bowl of boiled rice, and then came to the cook to serve a ladle of stew.

Without going back to the shack, I just found a place around, sat down and started digging.

"Something even dogs won't eat."

Frowning and swallowing the coarse food, Yuan Huazhong cursed secretly.

Although he was scolding, Yuan Huazhong's movements with his hands were not slow.

He didn't want to experience the feeling of going to work hungry again.

Prison officers and laborers in urban construction camps are still different.

Among workers, if they perform well, they can also get rewards, such as eggs, duck eggs, or stir-fried vegetables that are only available to supervisors.

This is for the enthusiasm of workers.

But the prisoners won't have that.

Moreover, in this place, even if you have money, it won’t help. The guards who supervise the work come from various construction sites and change every three days.

If you want to have a good meal, you can only wait until your family members visit once a month, and hope that your family members will bring you something good.

The management of the Nanhaizi construction site is really a devil in the eyes of these prisoners.

In addition, there is the issue of illness and injury.

These Jin Yiwei didn't go to the capital to hire famous doctors.

Instead, he was sent directly to the imperial physician of Rang Imperial Hospital for diagnosis and treatment.

What is the level of the doctors at Taiyuan Hospital?

Even the emperor of Ming Dynasty didn't believe it.

He actually let these people come to treat them, just to practice with them.

When have they ever suffered like this?

Although they have enough food, warm clothes and enough sleep.

The standard of living is probably not comparable to that of many ordinary people outside.

But it also depends on what their previous status was.

Time and heavy labor are the most powerful weapons that can wear down a person's energy and energy.

These prisoners had a repulsive attitude towards moving bricks from the beginning.

But the arm couldn't twist the thigh.

After one or two hungry meals, you will be honest.

Just like a sentence from later generations.

Even if you are beaten to death, you will do it. If you can't be beaten to death, you will do it.

People are all realistic animals, no matter how strong the initial will to resist is.

But under the survival instinct of hungry people, Bailiang Steel can also make you hungry and soft.

At this moment, many prisoners only have one thought in their minds.

I don’t dare, I don’t dare anymore.

I never dare to confront the emperor again.

(End of this chapter)