Rule the Ming Dynasty Alone

Dongjiang Mixiang, Ministry of Industry.

While the capital was abuzz with discussions about the Beijing-Tianjin Railway, the most important scientific research results of the Ming Dynasty had been displayed, but only to important court officials.

In that huge boiler, water is heated to a boil by wood fires and turned into billowing steam. The steam roared inside the machine, like an awakening beast, full of infinite power.

"Jia Shangshu hides it so deeply!"

"Is there really no machine in the world that can transport supplies without animal power?"

"Whether we can or can't, we just have to wait and see, you won't be able to do anything!"

…

Minister of War Liu Xuan and other important ministers came to the craftsman's courtyard. They saw the unheard-of steam engine in front of them and felt the terrifying power of the water vapor. They all looked at this weird machine with wide eyes and started talking.

The steam engine plan had been secretly launched as early as the third year of Hongzhi. The person in charge of this project was Jia Jun, Minister of Industry, and it became the most secret scientific research direction in the empire.

Just wanting to build a steam engine is not an easy task.

A steam engine is a machine that generates high-temperature and high-pressure steam by burning coal and other substances, and uses the steam pressure to push piston and other mechanical parts to reciprocate.

The specific working principle is: coal and other fuels are added to the boiler to generate high-temperature and high-pressure steam; the steam enters the cylinder and pushes the piston to move in the reciprocating direction; the flow and direction of the steam are adjusted through the valve to achieve reciprocating motion.

Only parts such as boilers, cylinders, pistons, valves, connecting rods and barometers need to be developed from scratch, which is far more difficult than nylon materials.

The only advantage is that the Ministry of Industry can recruit the most powerful craftsmen in the world and gather the wisdom of the hardest craftsmen in China to overcome the difficulties of these parts one by one.

To this end, Jia Jun, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, summoned outstanding craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of War, and the Shipyard to set up a department to secretly study steam engines, and now preliminary results have finally been achieved.

Rumble…

When the piston of the steam engine began to move slowly and the connecting rod drove the flywheel to rotate, the onlookers' eyes widened and expressions of disbelief appeared on their faces.

They watched as this behemoth made of pig iron actually moved on its own without human or animal power.

This kind of scene is simply an unprecedented miracle for people of this era.

Originally they suspected it was a magic trick, but the steam engine was placed in an open space, and only people added firewood to the boiler. There was no human or animal power at all.

"I'm not dazzled, right? Is... is it true that I can move on my own?" He Cong, the Minister of Revenue, murmured to himself, his voice full of awe and shock.

"With such a miracle, our Ming Dynasty will definitely reach a higher level!" Liu Zhong, Minister of Agriculture, seemed to have witnessed the beginning of a great era, his voice full of awe and joy.

Jia Jun's reaction was the calmest, but there was a trace of vicissitudes on his face. He looked up in the direction of Xiyuan and murmured: "Fortunately, the mission has been fulfilled!"

Although the Ministry of Industry obtained the steam engine design drawings that Taizu gave to His Majesty through a dream, their research team encountered countless difficulties in order to manufacture the steam engine.

First, they deeply studied the boiling of water and the properties of steam. After repeated experiments, they found that when water is heated to boiling, a large amount of steam will be produced, and these steams have huge power.

So they began to try to use this power to drive machines. After countless attempts and improvements, while studying corresponding components, a simple steam engine model was finally designed.

This model consists of a boiler, a piston and a connecting rod.

When the water in the boiler is heated to boiling, a large amount of steam is produced that drives the piston, which in turn drives other machine parts through connecting rods.

Although this model was still very rough and still far from the required steam train, the success of the steam engine gave everyone hope.

Boom!

The steam engine placed in the open space, every roar and every reciprocating movement of the piston, seems to announce the arrival of a new era to people.

This mechanical monster not only changed people's perception of power, but also inspired their infinite reverie deep in their hearts, and they began to believe in miracles.

The era of Zi Buyi, monsters and gods will eventually pass, and Ming Dynasty will enter a new era of exploring nature, making every impossible possible.

As the display ended, all the important officials left in shock.

As the new year approaches, heavy snow falls like goose feathers, covering the sky and the earth.

The glazed tiles in Xiyuan's Imperial Study Room lost their color, and flying snow gradually accumulated on the roof, eaves and window lattice, decorating the originally splendid palace with silver, adding a bit of solemnity and solemnity.

The main style of the imperial study is becoming more and more bright, and even the hanging world map is colored. It is in sharp contrast with the snowy world outside.

The faint fragrance of ink here is intertwined with the sandalwood burning in the stove, especially the fragrance of tea in the attic, creating a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.

A group of important ministers came at the right time. After flicking off the falling snow on their bodies, under the leadership of the two bosses Yin Tai and Wang Yue, they all saluted respectfully to the emperor in the attic.

Although it is windy and snowy outside, the study is as warm as spring, as if it is an isolated paradise.

"Holy Ann!" Zhu Youtang, who was wearing a dragon robe, seemed to be lying lazily on the chair. He was indeed in good health at the moment, and he said these two words happily.

Today is a supreme meeting, and all the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty are proud to attend this meeting. The six ministers who stepped into this place for the first time seemed particularly excited.

Development is the last word, and this is very considerate of today's Ming Dynasty.

Since Zhu Youtang's landing, although it took some time to take power, he has been promoting social development, and the Ming Dynasty has been prospering.

As far as the most important grain is concerned, the price of rice in Beijing has been falling year by year.

Although sweet potatoes, corn and potatoes have not been widely promoted, the problem of food shortage in the north has been effectively solved, and Northeast Prefecture has become a veritable granary of Northeast China.

Thanks to the water conservancy construction in the Northeast and the people's active land development, coupled with the unique black soil in the Northeast, the total yield per mu in the Northeast has exceeded 20 million tons.

Northeast Prefecture produces so much food in a year. Although the new Northeastern people now need to consume some of it, most of the food is left.

A large amount of grain from Northeast China was transported to the capital through taxation and grain sales. Coupled with the increase in grain production in Shandong, Shanxi, Henan and other places, and the introduction of North Korean rice through sea transportation, the grain supply in the north was basically solved.

As the food shortage in the north has been alleviated, the south-to-north food transfer will no longer seem so urgent. Even the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which requires millions of maintenance fees every year, can be abandoned.

However, these achievements are not the end, but are just the beginning, and various problems will arise during the development process.

Although the problem of transporting rice from the south to the north has been solved, the transport of goods from the south to the north has become a current dilemma.

With the rise of sea transportation, many goods have abandoned the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and chosen the more convenient sea transportation. A large amount of goods have been shipped to Tianjin from Jiangnan or overseas.

The status of the newly established customs in Tianjin is increasing day by day, but as more and more goods are shipped to the docks, the imperial court has to face the problem of Tianjin's insufficient transportation capacity.

Guo Yong stood by the incense burner in front of the important ministers, but suddenly took out a bright yellow imperial edict: "Jia Jun, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, accepts the edict!"

"I respectfully welcome the holy will!"

Jia Jun was stunned for a moment, then knelt down and said.

The chief minister of the cabinet, Yin Tai, and other important ministers also knelt down one after another when facing the imperial edict. They were very confused about why Your Majesty suddenly issued an edict to Jia Jun, the minister of the Ministry of Industry. Could it be that he wanted to punish Jia Jun?

Guo Yong spread out the imperial edict and read aloud: "The emperor is entrusted by heaven. The edict says: Since Jia Jun, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, took charge of the fortifications, he has made outstanding achievements and is very popular with me. I see your ability and you are the pillar of the Ming Dynasty... I am conferring this article on you." The Grand Scholar of Yuan Pavilion was specially promoted to the pavilion and given the title of Crown Prince and Grand Master. When my husband reaches the first rank, all the officials will look forward to it and look forward to it from all directions. I will study the ancient teachings. I will be sure to use light to assist my virtue, and there will be people below to benefit the people. I appreciate this!"

ah?

He Cong, the Minister of Revenue, and other important officials heard this appointment and looked up at Jia Jun in disbelief. They also looked at the emperor in the attic in shock.

Although the status of the cabinet has declined, it has always depended on the origin of the CI minister. Even if it is not good enough, he must be recognized by all the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty like Li Yu, the former Minister of Civil Affairs.

On the other hand, the humble minister of the Ministry of Industry in front of him was suddenly made an exception by the emperor and entered the cabinet to pay homage to the prime minister.

"I thank your Majesty for your kindness. Long live my emperor, long live, long live!" Jia Jun was also shocked, and he couldn't suppress his emotions at this moment and said thank you.

Unlike Yin Zhi, the chief minister of the cabinet, who had a strong foundation, and could not be compared with Li Yu, who was recognized by all officials for his fair treatment, he was just a civil servant.

According to his background as a juren, it is a great gift to be able to stay in the position of Minister of the Ministry of Industry. No one would have expected that his majesty would break the rules and join the cabinet to worship the prime minister.

At this moment, he felt the emperor's grace and the emperor's willingness to give him such treatment.

"Since Jia Qing took charge of the Ministry of Industry, many projects have been quite successful, and the Mingyuan treasure ship and steam engine have made great achievements! I am specially promoted to the cabinet today. This move not only shows my merit, but also hopes that the following courtiers will follow my example. As long as Work honestly for the Ming Dynasty, and you will be able to join the cabinet and worship the prime minister like Jia Qing in the future!" Zhu Youtang's voice came from the attic, which seemed quite impressive.

"I see!"

"Jia Jun deserves this treatment!"

"It is a great blessing for us that the Ming Lord is in the court!"

…

The important ministers present were initially a little dissatisfied with the treatment of being treated as a minister in the cabinet, but when they heard Zhu Youtang's words, their whole bodies instantly became excited, and they were filled with emotion.

A civil servant who works honestly and honestly can receive such an honor. As a dignified non-commissioned officer, why can't they join the cabinet and worship the prime minister in the future?

"Your Majesty is wise!" Under the guidance of Yin Zhi, the chief minister of the cabinet, all the important ministers saluted in a polite manner.

They are now obedient to Zhu Youtang, not only because they are forced by Zhu Youtang's rising power, but also because they respect from the bottom of their hearts this emperor who is a talented and strategic emperor with clear rewards and punishments.

Jia Jun was only a civil servant. After receiving the imperial edict, which represented his success in joining the cabinet and worshiping the prime minister, he was so moved that he could not control his emotions and was crying quietly.

Liu Jin had been standing in front of the guardrail on the attic, holding a whisk in hand and said lightly: "Since you have already seen the steam engine, what do you think of the Beijing-Tianjin Railway project?"

Zhu Youtang took the hot tea delivered by Han Youying's slender hand and drank it silently.

Transportation is the biggest cost of the times and the most urgent direction to improve social productivity.

Even though China has spent countless manpower and financial resources to build the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, transporting grain to the capital still requires 80% of the energy cost, and the annual expenditure has already passed millions of taels.

The Kaizhong method introduced in the early Ming Dynasty was actually a move by the court to sacrifice salt tax to solve the transportation problem, and the potential expenditure here also reached several million taels.

Now that the Ming Dynasty really wants to take off economically, it must start solving the problem of backward transportation capacity, and railways are the best way to solve the current power problem.

Because of this, he is also preparing to promote the Beijing-Tianjin railway project and change the dilemma of backward power in this era.

"Although the steam engine is indeed magical, it is still unknown whether it can build a steam train!" Liu Xuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, was a rigorous person and immediately questioned it.

When Chen Zheng, the left minister of the Ministry of Industry, saw Jia Jun who had been promoted, he vowed as if he had been beaten to death: "Liu Shangshu, since our Ministry of Industry dares to speak out about this matter, we will definitely build a steam train in two years!"

According to many people's understanding, it is natural to build steam trains first and then build railways. It's just that the Ming Dynasty is now planning to build the railway first, and then build the steam train during the construction of the railway.

"Yesterday we visited the steam engine. Jia Shang...Jia Ge also said that a steam train will be built within two years. Let's not argue about this issue!" Yin Zhi knew that the man in the attic was behind the matter. , also stood up and expressed his stance.

Zhu Youtang put down the tea cup in his hand. This time he was actually taking a risk.

It's just that Tianjin's development is unexpected. The congestion problem of port cargo is more serious than imagined, especially when winter comes, the canal will be paralyzed.

At present, the problem can still be solved through animal power, but with the continuous development of the economy, once this problem is not solved properly, the economic take-off can only be a loft in the sky.

The backward transportation capacity has become the biggest obstacle restricting China's economic development.

Because of this, although the steam train would take two years to be manufactured, he decided to put the Beijing-Tianjin Railway project on the agenda ahead of schedule.

"Even if the technical problem can be solved, where does so much steel come from?" Liu Xuan, Minister of War, did not give in, but asked another sharp question.

As the talker in the Ministry of War, he knows better than anyone else how difficult it is to make steel.

Although the total output of pig iron in the Ming Dynasty was 40,000 tons, this was not enough for the Ministry of War. How could the copper and iron be used as money, and it had to be sold from Tianjin to Beijing.

You know, the distance between the two places is more than 200 kilometers. How much pig iron will be consumed?