Chapter 42 West to the End of the Railway Wu Sangui suffered a setback in North America

As soon as the emperor finished speaking, Ouyang He began to speak, "Each of our second-hand muskets was sold to them for two thousand five hundred taels of silver, so three thousand is seven and a half million taels!" ”

"Oh my God! This has caught up with the progress of our Ming Dynasty in the previous two years! Before Ouyang He finished speaking, Emperor Chongzhen was already surprised.

"If a bullet is two rounds of one tael of silver, then one hundred and twenty thousand rounds is six hundred thousand taels; ** It's fifteen taels of silver, so a little bit of 200 million is eight million taels. They were equipped with a hundred bullets per shot**. This adds up to sixteen,100,000 taels of silver. "Ouyang He's ability to swallow gold in his sleeves is a must, and such simple arithmetic will come out soon!

"Oh my God! That's more than the last time they bought 5,000 muskets! Emperor Chongzhen was still so shocked that his hands trembled a little, but something was wrong when he thought about it, "Hey! Why did they buy more money than ** this time? ”

"Haha!" Zhang Zhimu and the others all laughed.

"Your Majesty! Let me tell you, every musket they buy is a tiger that swallows silver. Every bullet they fire, if you don't use ours, you have to use my ** reloader. And that kind of shell can't last forever. After reloading a few times, it can no longer be used. They don't *** can't! ”

Chen Yufeng said: "The key now is that if they don't buy our bullets, they will lose the country." Therefore, they will do their best to make the country stronger, and they will also give us ***, ***! ”

Zhang Zhimu said with a smile: "Actually, this is also a war, we just want to squeeze out the two powerful empires that are neighbors to us!" No matter how fierce the tiger and lion are, when the blood is exhausted, they will become lambs to the slaughter! ”

"The question is, where did they get all this money?" Emperor Chongzhen said, "We can't come up with so much silver in a country as big as the Ming Dynasty!" ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Actually, we are to blame for not doing a good job!" During the Great Song Dynasty, our country's income was 10 million taels per year, but in the Ming Dynasty, it was only a few million taels per year. A large part of the revenue from the salt tax is also generated. Much of the money that should have been collected was confiscated. Let's talk about Zheng Zhilong's income, there is an income of nearly 10 million taels every year, how many taels can the imperial court get? After many generations of hard work, the Ottoman Empire expanded its land area many times, and every time they fought a war, they were able to plunder a lot of gold and silver treasures. In particular, they encouraged industry and commerce, and doing business was looked down upon in our Ming Dynasty, but in the Ottoman Empire merchants were almost synonymous with superior people. Their country is very rich. Not to mention the Ottoman Empire, even the Yuejibei places we just occupied, the level of wealth there is not comparable to our Ming Dynasty. And we always feel good about ourselves and don't know what the outside world is like. Through the Ottoman Empire's two arms purchases, we can see the difference! ”

Zhang Zhimu's words were very polite, and Emperor Chongzhen's face was also a little red, nodded, sighed and said: "If you don't come out for a walk, trapped in the Forbidden City, I really don't know what the outside world is like!" In any case, we have enough money for the construction of the western region! ”

"Plus last time's enough!" Zhang Zhimu said.

"Hey! Why do you need so much silver? Emperor Chongzhen said, "Zhang Dongjia, if you have silver, you must also count the flowers!" We won't need much silver to build the Great Wall! ”

"Your Majesty, this is what we do differently!" Zhang Zhimu said, "You ordered the construction of the earth, and the officials and people of the world dare not speak out." Because the labor you requisition does not cost money, it is all apportioned, and the local government needs to be responsible for the food and use of the migrant workers. That was an added burden to the people, and the work we were doing, except for the prisoners of war, had to pay for it. So the people welcome the projects we do, they can work and benefit, we buy their food, vegetables and fruits, etc., and they also benefit. Large-scale projects eat and drink for a few years, so many people, that's a huge expense. Many people around will become rich. In this way, we will naturally spend more money! ”

"Yes! Oh, yes! Emperor Chongzhen said, "This is also the silver you can come up with!" After your project is completed, the people are also rich, the whole line is opened, and the people on both sides continue to benefit! ”

Yan Boju said: "The emperor is right! In Shanxi, there are many people who come west with their families, and they all want to build sheds and open restaurants near large construction sites. Although the construction site is in charge of food, the migrant workers have money in their hands, and after work, some of them want to change their tastes, or want to drink a little wine, they will come out to such a small restaurant to eat and drink. I know that some people just follow the path of building a railway, and after a railway is built, the money they earn is enough to open a good shop. As soon as the road passed, there were more people, and they didn't need to move the place, they could take root and do it. ”

Ouyang He said keenly: "If this is the case, can it also attract immigrants to come!" I do have a suggestion: In the future, small restaurants that follow the project, small traders who buy and sell vegetables and fruits, and so on, as in the western region, should not be taxed, and they should also be provided with convenience! This will attract a lot of people! ”

"That's a great idea!" Zhang Zhimu said.

Chen Yufeng smiled and said, "Zhimu! The situation is still changing too fast! I think that after this business is done, our western railway should not have a plan! ”

"Hmmm! Oh, yes! There is no shortage of silver. I think all the money earned from the arms business in the west will be used in the west and not for other purposes. After we went back, we studied with Mr. Lu, since we have enough steel, no shortage of silver, and enough manpower in the west, why don't we go on roads, railways, and canals together? ”

"I think that in addition to building a railway along this railway to the west, we also need to build a railway to the Caspian Sea along the Ura Mountains to the south, and we also need to build a railway around the Caspian Sea." Zhang Zhimu already had a lot of ideas in his heart, but he didn't have the conditions and couldn't do it.

"Good! I am glad to hear you say this! Emperor Chongzhen said, "In the future, we will be able to build railways to the most remote places in the country." So that our border defense will no longer be a big problem! ”

After everyone drank tea for a while, Chen Yufeng said: "It seems that there is no major event on the Western Front this year!" ”

Ouyang He said: "It's okay next year, let General Li Jing transfer the First Army of the Mountain Jungle Army to General Liu Chenghuang as soon as possible, and we must finish the Nanyang matter this year!" ”

Emperor Chongzhen suddenly remembered the explosion of the Mughal Empire and asked, "Zhang Dongjia, was it we who killed the Mughal Emperor?" ”

"Hahaha!"

Several people from the kiln gang burst out laughing.

Zhang Zhimu asked rhetorically: "In this world, who else can do such a beautiful thing?" ”

"Is it really General Li Jing who led someone to do it?" Emperor Chongzhen asked.

"Yes!" "This is to hasten the collapse of the Mughal Empire," Zhang said. Otherwise, when they recover their strength, they will take back the land that we have been given. It's better to tear them apart. ”

"Why don't we occupy the Mughal Empire?" Emperor Chongzhen didn't understand.

"That land, where the tribes have different beliefs, is very divided. It would take a lot of effort if we were to occupy it. It's better to let them split the autonomy. We can also control them indirectly. Zhang Zhimu said, "The opponent we need to solve is in the west." We need to stop the fighting on the southern front as soon as possible. Then concentrate on dealing with opponents on the Western Front. In the future, we will most likely have to face the entire Western coalition confrontation! ”

Ouyang He said: "This side is stable, we have to organize a fleet to go around from the sea all the way to the Black Sea!" Build a military port there, and assist us in guarding the west gate there. ”

"Yes, yes! The warships of the Xiyi people can sail to our door, and ours can pass by. If our ships can sail to the Black Sea, then no one over there will dare to turn against us! Emperor Chongzhen said, "Hey! Looks like there's still a lot more to do! ”

"Huh! The emperor can rest assured that all this is in our plan. The initiative is always in our hands! Zhang Zhimu said.

"After the settlement of North Korea on our side, there is only Ryukyu left, and then Nanyang. If we unify these places as soon as possible, we will have no worries. Emperor Chongzhen said, "However, after I talked to the Ryukyu king, he promised to go back and study it, and there will be no movement as soon as he leaves!" And that Sulu has always had a good relationship with us, and you treat them well! ”

Ouyang He said: "The matter of Ryukyu is not a big deal! Sooner or later, they will figure it out, and it is better for them to take the initiative to unify with us than for us to unify them! As for Sulu's affairs, don't worry, it's all within our control, all we have to do is try to satisfy them! ”

"No one would want to surrender the throne on their own initiative!" Chen Yufeng said, "We must deal with all these things this year and next, and we have already begun to march east to North America, and that direction does not pose any threat to us." Starting next year, we will also go to Australia. At the same time, our navy will also march to the Atlantic, and truly let our navy go to the world, which is what we really face the world. ”

"Yes! We must not only use our warships to go out, but we must also have the heart to face the whole world. Zhang Zhimu said, "We not only need captains who drive warships to the world, but also diplomats, politicians, and businessmen who have the whole world in mind." We have a long way to go, and we need to cultivate talents with such vision! Only in this way can we give full play to the political, military, and economic strength of our great power, as well as the soft power of our culture! ”

"Hey, hey! I don't understand the truth you said, but in Jiayuguan, I saw that a merchant in the Western Regions bought all the movies and pictorials in his hand selling newspapers and magazines on the street! I wondered, some of those magazines were old magazines from last year, what did they buy back and do? The man said that they could buy it back and sell it several times! Everything on our side is good! ”

"Hey! Aren't they *** not allowed to look at these things? Zhang Zhimu felt a little strange.

"Hey, hey! It's more expensive to sell it secretly! Yan Boju said with his little eyes squeezed.

"This time we sold arms to the Ottoman Empire, and we made a condition to them, we want to build a movie theater in Istanbul and conquer them with culture." Zhang Zhimu said.

"Yes, and to build a radio station, which is a condition for selling arms!" Ouyang He said, "We are going to do the same in Moscow!" They will definitely be able to grant our request! ”

Emperor Chongzhen somewhat understood, "That's right! Our radios can also be sold to them! We can also make a lot of money in movies! But what if they don't understand us? ”

"Huh! It's easy to do, and we hire their people to broadcast on the radio! As for the movie, we also re-dub with their people! It's a lucrative thing to make money. Zhang Zhimu said, "I think we can also invite them to come and record their good songs, and then sell records and tapes to them." In exchange for their delicious and easy to use, we are still cheap! ”

"This is a good thing, but if they bring in too many agricultural products, we farmers will suffer!" Emperor Chongzhen said with some concern.

"It's easy to do!" Zhang Zhimu said, "In the future, our industry will further develop, and we will appropriately reduce the peasants' taxes, gradually eliminate agricultural taxes, and even have to subsidize the peasants who cultivate the land!" As long as we can earn a lot of silver, we are not afraid of anything! ”

Yan Boju smiled and said, "Hehe! Since ancient times, the national tax on yellow grain has been collected, and I haven't heard that there is no tax, and there is still a tax on the peasants! ”

"Uncle Yan, many of the things we have done are unprecedented, and in the future, when our industrialization process reaches a certain stage, this thing must be done. At that time, the peasants worked on the land and created far less value than they worked in the factories, and the peasants could not live without subsidies, and in order to ensure our grain production, we had to subsidize the peasants. ”

"Hey! I said, Zhang Dongjia, do you study many of your major events like this? "It is the first time for Emperor Chongzhen to study things with several members of the kiln gang, and I think it is very interesting.

"Yes! Your Majesty, many things are decided like this, drinking tea and chatting! If a major event cannot be decided on the spot, we will hold a general meeting to allow more people to participate in the opinion. Weigh the pros and cons before making a decision, and make fewer mistakes in doing so! Zhang Zhimu said, "Doesn't the emperor think this is very good?" ”

"Good! Is this what you often call democracy? ”

"It's a democratic decision!" Zhang Zhimu said affirmatively.

"Oops! If you have something to do in the future, I will also call me to participate and discuss things with you, and I feel very happy! It's good to study it while drinking tea! Emperor Chongzhen said.

"Good! Don't be afraid to worry about it, of course we are willing to have someone to help the staff! Zhang Zhimu said.

"Good! It's a foregone conclusion! Hearing Zhang Zhimu agree, Emperor Chongzhen was really happy.

Railroad to the west. It had been a long way to leave Hami and go west, and Zhang Zhimu and they took the train slowly and walked for a day before they reached the end. Along the way, Zhang Zhimu saw that along the railway, a lot of grass lattices had been laid on the desert to fix sand. Zhang Zhimu decided to take out some of the silver and use it to lay water pipelines along the railways and highways, so that trees could be planted in the grass lattices along the lines. If it is really impossible to divert water, some ultra-deep wells should be drilled for greening.

At the end of the railway, Zhang Zhimu and Emperor Chongzhen visited the workers and soldiers who were building the railway, as well as prisoners of war. I gave them some of the food I had brought with the car. Emperor Chongzhen, who was still interested, also left the train and continued to move west by car. Zhang Zhimu and many adults persuaded him, and Emperor Chongzhen reluctantly agreed.

Zhang Zhimu privately persuaded: "Your Majesty, you see that our team of people and horses doesn't feel anything on the special train, but if you take a car and add the army of guards, it will be a long convoy, and the safety of food and supplies is a big problem." I don't think it's better to stop here now, and when they build the railway to Lake Balkhash next year, I'll accompany the emperor for a trip. Tell the emperor, the more I go, the more I want to go! I can't wait to go to the Caspian Sea all at once! ”

"Will you be able to build Lake Balkhash next year? How can it be so fast? It's still far from Lake Balkhash! "Emperor Chongzhen is not confused.

"They are repairing from here to the west, and there are still several sections of the roadbed in front of them at the same time, and when the roadbed is connected, they will directly lay the tracks, and then connect the telegraph and telephone lines! Doesn't the emperor know how many people in the west are busy? We supply them with food and other supplies, and we send them here by train every day, can the progress of the project not be fast? ”

"Good! Come back next year! My heart is now out of the wild, and I can't stay at all when I go back! "Emperor Chongzhen told the truth.

"Oops! With such a big country, there are so many places you can walk! Zhang Zhimu said, "This time we will go back to rest for a while, and we will go to the south together to participate in the ribbon-cutting of the first reservoir on the Jialing River." Next year, the Zhengzhou-Hankou Railway will be opened to traffic, the Hankou Yangtze River Bridge, and the Hankou Hanjiang Bridge will be opened to traffic, can you still see it? ”

"Hey! It's so nice to be with you! Emperor Chongzhen said sincerely, "I have lived for so many years, and I have never felt that it is really good to be alive!" In this world, can it still be governed like this? ”

"Your Majesty, let's work together to build the railway to the Malay Peninsula as soon as possible, so that we can take the train all the way south to the end of the continent, where to see the sea of the West!"

"It's mostly up to you!" Emperor Chongzhen said.

"Strive to accomplish these feats in our lifetimes!" Zhang Zhimu said.

The special train returned to Jiayuguan and stayed for another day, waiting for Lu Bingyi to return from Lop Nur and go back with them. Emperor Chongzhen also got out of the car with Zhang Zhimu to take a break.

Empress Zhou, Concubine Zhuang and Yang Yulin also had to buy some things in Jiayuguan. In fact, they have already bought a lot of fur products in Hami, as well as a lot of things from the Western Regions. But the women never seemed to have enough to buy things.

Now Jiayuguan is very prosperous, because the railway has been here very early, it is still the first place to build a generator, the first to build a movie theater, etc., as well as the shopping mall of Yaogang, which is already very prosperous. It is a distribution center for commodities of all ethnic groups.

On the day that Zhang Zhimu and they stayed at Jiayuguan, Wu Sangui's telegram was transmitted from the command center.

In the telegram, Wu Sangui asked for punishment, because after they landed in North America, they caused some losses of personnel and materials due to carelessness. But now the situation is under control, it has taken hold, and a dock has been built that can carry some large equipment.