Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 1206 God's Protection

  Emperor Hongzhi was very satisfied with Fang Jifan.

  This guy is also a great achievement.

  So, wait until the court meeting is over.

   Both Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan went to visit the Empress Dowager, and after asking about her, Emperor Hongzhi recruited Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao.

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at Fang Jifan, and wanted to say a few words of approval, but seeing his cheerful look, he thought: "Tang Yin submitted the memorial and asked to be transferred to Qi Jingtong and others, as deputy, to supplement the Eastern Invincible Fleet. Among them, not only that, but also to reorganize the Ningbo Navy, and from the Ningbo Navy, recruit elite soldiers and strong generals, Ji Fan, what do you think of this?"

  Fang Jifan said: "It is His Majesty's order."

  Emperor Hongzhi nodded approvingly: "Then, I will agree." He knocked on the copybook: "Sooner or later, I will wipe out the Franji fleet. The matter of building a ship must not be delayed."

  After he finished speaking, he smiled: "I heard that you two want to build a railway between Baodingfu and Tongzhou, right?"

  This is Zhu Houzhao's specialty. Zhu Houzhao said: "Father, Baoding Mansion, Tongzhou, and Jingshi, these three railways are all planned by my son, and funded by Tongzhou and Baoding Mansion..."

   "Fundraising?" Emperor Hongzhi became cautious about this.

  To be honest, sometimes looking at the debts of Baoding Mansion and Tongzhou is really frightening.

   The loan from Xishan Bank is more than several million taels of silver.

  Although its tax revenue has skyrocketed now, it is really scary to watch.

  In this era, although there is a problem of the imperial court being in short supply, or the local government’s surcharges, but this is still very primitive after all, and like this, there is no one before and no one to come after such large-scale borrowing.

Emperor Hongzhi said: "I am quite worried. I heard that just these few railways will be connected. In Ouyang Zhi's memorial, it has been clearly stated that it needs to raise 15 million taels of silver. This involves railways and steam vehicles. The cost of purchase and later maintenance, this amount is too big, I dare not criticize..."

Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyes and glanced at Fang Jifan: "Jifan, let's not talk about the manufacture of this steam car, let's just talk about the railroad tracks laid by Xishan Jianye. Building railways? What I mean is, the profit can be less."

  Fang Jifan could understand Emperor Hongzhi's mood.

  It was too expensive, and Emperor Hongzhi felt that it was too much.

Fang Jifan said: "Your Majesty... the steam train has spent countless efforts to put into production today. Although this car was developed by the head of His Royal Highness, the manpower and material resources used are amazing. Not only that, the future The laying of railways requires well-trained craftsmen to be foolproof. There are also countless craftsmen in steel workshops."

"This involves dozens of industries, hundreds of workshops, and tens of thousands of craftsmen. The price is based on the countless efforts of Xishan Jianye and Xishan Steam Research Institute. If the price is lowered because Ouyang Zhi is a student of Erchen, then this precedent has been set, what should we do in the future? If the railway is laid and the money is not earned, what is worse is that the Steam Research Institute and Xishan Jianye are still Can you spend a lot of money to continue to improve steam trains and improve the construction technology of steel and sleepers? Your Majesty, you can’t do business at a loss, because once you lose money, or it is unprofitable, in the long run, all these industries of my Ming Dynasty will be lost. It seems that the country has taken advantage of the construction of a few railways, but in the long run, it will do all harm and no benefit."

  Emperor Hongzhi frowned slightly, he could roughly understand what Fang Jifan said.

  After all, there are academicians of economics beside me, who will explain the principles of economics to me.

  Emperor Hongzhi said: "Is there really no other way?"

   "Yes!" Fang Jifan was categorical.

  Emperor Hongzhi's eyes lit up: "Let's listen."

   "Let the national treasury pay for the money, and subsidize the steam research institute, various steel workshops, and Xishan Jianye. It's not much. About three or four million taels of silver a year is enough, so..."

  Emperor Hongzhi: "..."

  Let Baoding Mansion die.

  Emperor Hongzhi said: "Oh, let's discuss the matter of subsidies later."

  Fang Jifan blinked: "Don't you think about it, Your Majesty?"

Emperor Hongzhi said: "I will consider it, but at the moment, the top priority is not just a matter of construction. My Ming Dynasty has many shortcomings, which really worry me. I am thinking... Forget it. I will discuss it with the cabinet. You can step down. "

   "Oh." Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao bowed obediently and left.

  Emperor Hongzhi tapped on the copybook, and waited for Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao to leave before he said, "Xiao Banban."

   "The servant is here." Xiao Jing said.

   "Remember, from now on, all the officials' memorials to the railway construction that cost money and food will be kept in the middle, and I will not read them."

  Xiao Jing couldn't help but said: "Your Majesty, this servant thinks that Fang Jifan is simply audacious. He actually used subsidies to blackmail His Majesty. This... is really bold."

Emperor Hongzhi said indifferently: "You eunuch, what do you know? What he said is reasonable, and he has said it thoroughly. In this world, you need money to do anything. If the money does not come out of the treasury, you have to go to Baoding Mansion Go to Tongzhou to borrow money, the money will not decrease, someone must come out..."

  Emperor Hongzhi shook his head: "I have seen this railway. It is actually beneficial to the country and the people. If it is not built, it will not succeed. I don't care about this matter. Let them make trouble."

   "There is more!" Emperor Hongzhi suddenly looked coldly at Xiao Jing: "In the future, if you dare to gossip in front of me, pack your things and go to Xiaoling."

  Xiao Jing shuddered, bowed down, and said with difficulty: "Slave, **** it!"

  ...

  Sumatra.

  A merchant ship arrives at the port city of the archipelago.

  Here, there is a bit of Francine style.

  The Portuguese have been entrenched here for more than ten years, and the huge harbor makes this a natural harbor.

   Just here...

   But ushered in a guest from afar.

   This distinguished guest, even the local Portuguese governor, respected him very much.

  The nobleman obviously suffered from some cold and fever symptoms during the rough sea.

At this time, he was half lying on the bed in a magnificent mansion. He was wearing a silk pajamas with special lace on the collar. At this time, the Governor of Portugal had invited a full-time barber. division.

  After checking the nobleman's symptoms with ease, the barber said without hesitation: "There are harmful things in the blood of Your Excellency the Duke."

  The nobleman has wavy blond hair. After hearing the barber's advice, he nodded and glanced at the barber with his blue eyes.

  So, the priests and the governor of Portugal retreated a little.

  The barber took out his carry-on box without hesitation.

  In the box, there are razors, awls, spatulas, daggers... an array of things to see.

  The barber first went to the razor and removed a few strands of hair from the nobleman's head.

   Then, he fetched the spittoon and placed it under the sick bed.

  He solemnly said to the nobleman: "Your Excellency, whether you are healthy or not depends on the result of the contest between good and evil gods."

  He decided to get rid of the bad things on the nobleman.

  The barber picked up the razor and grabbed the nobleman's wrist.

  He began to chant words like thank God.

   This made the nobleman very gratified. He was tortured by illness and couldn't imagine that in the far east, he could still see such an excellent barber here. See how he is so orderly and elegant.

  The nobleman murmured softly: "May God bless you."

  The barber nodded, and the razor began to cut the nobleman's wrist.

   As a result, blood began to flow down the wrist.

The nobleman began to close his eyes, and he began to feel that the bad elements in the blood began to peel off his body. This is a pleasant process, although there will inevitably be some pain during the process, but compared to purifying one's body and getting rid of the evil Obviously, this is nothing.

  The blood flowed more and more.

   Outside, there was the sound of boots.

  A well-dressed attendant came in, bowed, and saluted: "Your Excellency, the person you want is here."

  The nobleman was immersed in the wonderful process of bloodletting. The bright red blood was dripping down his fingers. He felt a little tired, so he licked his dry lips, but he still tried his best: "Bring him in."

   Immediately afterwards, a ragged man hurried in, it was Wang Xizuo.

  Wang Xizuo looked at the people in the room in panic, and naturally, he also saw the duke.

   This is a Spaniard, because the coat of arms of the Aragon family is embroidered on his clothes.

  He quickly took off his hat and said, "Your Excellency."

  The nobleman lazily raised his eyes: "You escaped from Daming, what happened there, where is my fleet, where are they?"

  Wang Xizuo subconsciously looked at the Governor of Portugal.

  The governor of Portugal, who had apparently received domestic approval, cooperated with the Spanish nobleman, and nodded towards Wang Xizuo.

Wang Xizuo opened his mouth and said: "The **** Ming Empire expelled us, and most of the envoys were thrown into prison by them. As for the fleet, I have heard that there is a Spanish fleet that suffered from their attack. Attack, they cunningly set a trap, led the Spanish fleet into the harbor, and then sank them all, for this reason, the Ming Empire held a grand celebration to celebrate this victory."

  That's... nothing wrong.

  The nobleman was obviously a little furious.

  He did not expect that the disappearing fleet was indeed destroyed by the Ming Empire.

  Now, Spain has fallen into panic. They cannot understand that such an advanced fleet will be defeated by the Ming Empire.

  He tried hard and said: "Did you encounter the trap of the Ming Empire? Is this all a conspiracy of the Ming Empire?"

   "Yes." Wang Xizuo insisted: "Although the ships of the Ming Empire are large, they are not suitable for combat, but the Ming people are extremely cunning. They are full of conspiracy, and their tricks emerge in endlessly."

  The priest standing aside heard this, couldn't help but crossed himself, and murmured: "This is the devil abandoned by God, may God punish their atrocities."

  ...

  Chapter 1, ask for a guaranteed monthly pass.

  (end of this chapter)