Diao Meifang, the head of the shipbuilding workshop, is three years Chinese New Year's Eve old today, a native of Qichun, Huguang, and his friend Zhao Xunting from the Nanjing Ministry of Industry, and also has a reputation for being famous, optimistic and open-minded, and usually talks with Zhu Daolin.

Diao Meifang put forward her own opinions on the second phase of the expansion project: "My lord, our five docks are all made of regular stone strips, which are ten times stronger than the original docks of Longjiang Bao Shipyard, and have also added advanced cranes, which are also second to none among all shipbuilding workshops along the Yangtze River for thousands of miles, which are enough to be competent for the repair of thousand-ton ships, with sufficient inventory and abundant funds. ”

"Therefore, I believe that the top priority is not the second phase of the expansion project, but to continue to recruit senior craftsmen, otherwise it will seriously affect this year's shipbuilding plan."

Zhu Daolin also knew this problem, but he didn't rush to express his position, but turned to Miao Jinde, the chief manager with a solemn expression: "Uncle De, what is your opinion?" ”

Miao Jinde hurriedly replied: "Mr. Diao is right, in the four months since the workshop started, there has been great progress in all aspects, the stock of wood is enough to build ten 500-ton warships, of which five warships of three types have started construction one after another, and two 80-ton new sail paddle patrol clippers have met the requirements in all aspects after more than ten days of sea trials, which are much easier to use than the original Centipede clippers." ”

"However, because there are too few skilled craftsmen, the construction speed is still very slow, and the old man and his colleagues are worried day and night, lest they live up to the expectations of adults!"

Zhu Daolin comforted kindly: "Thank you very much for your hard work, I have also seen the progress and achievements of the workshop, but in the matter of recruiting a large number of shipbuilding talents, no one is in a hurry!" ”

"Among the thousands of craftsmen in the workshops of the original Ministry of Engineering that we quietly recruited, few of them built ships, and I found out after careful inquiry that it was more than ten years ago. Successive officials of the Ministry of Industry have sold tens of thousands of shipbuilders to maritime merchants and local tycoons in Ningshao, Shandong, and Fujian, and you should know this......"

"Because of this, the Ministry of Industry dared to be angry and did not dare to speak out after we pried away thousands of craftsmen, because they were also worried that we would find out their old bottoms, otherwise they would have their tempers. I've already made trouble with the emperor! ”

"Despite this, we have not gained much, especially in shipbuilding, which has suffered so much that we can only base ourselves on cultivating our own talents."

"So, is the second phase of the expansion project slowing down?" Zhang Xiangling asked.

Zhu Daolin said: "No! In order to speed up the construction of the second phase of the project, it is necessary to build five more large docks capable of producing 2,000 tons, as well as supporting factories and warehouses within one year. A 100-acre shipbuilding school was built, and a high-end residential area for 2,000 artisans was to be built...... The land has been carved out, and it is the 300 acres of land that is being leveled to the south of Dock No. 5. ”

Miao Jinde was both happy and worried: "But our craftsmen are not enough!" ”

Zhu Daolin said confidently: "If it's not enough, go to someone else's workshop and dig it back!" Ningshao and the Jiangbei coast to the Jiaodong Peninsula, there are four large shipbuilding workshops and more than a dozen small workshops, and the total number of craftsmen is no less than 20,000. ”

"These private workshops have been quietly building seagoing ships for more than a decade, and their craftsmen are paid very low salaries, and they are also turned into faks by foremen and shopkeepers, and they live like beggars. I work day and night all year round, and it's hard for my family to eat a few meat ......"

"In contrast. We are so strong here, even the primary apprentice has 1 tael of silver per month, the salary of the junior craftsman is 3 taels of silver per month can easily support a family of five, the monthly salary of the second-level craftsman is 6 taels, the monthly salary of the third-level craftsman is 9 taels, and the monthly salary of the fourth-level craftsman is 12 taels. The fifth-level craftsman is 15 taels, and then the income doubles for each level of promotion......"

"Although up to now, there has not been the highest-level eighth-level craftsman, but the monthly salary of the three craftsmen who have been promoted to the sixth level has reached 30 taels, and there are also nine fifth-level craftsmen. Dozens of fourth-level craftsmen, and as long as they pass the fourth-level craftsman qualification evaluation, they can be assigned to a two-story building with a small courtyard before and after, and the children can be admitted to Ziyang Academy for free, and the whole family will be treated for free, and there will be benefits during the New Year's holidays. ”

"Who else has such treatment? That's our advantage! Can other shipyards compare? You know what to do, right? ”

Miao Jinde and the three of them immediately laughed, Diao Meifang laughed loudly: "Don't worry, adults, we know how to do it, it's not that we didn't think of it before, but we didn't dare to do it, but now with the support of adults, we won't have any worries, haha!" ”

"Senior brother, look, the two warships coming upstream seem to be under the banner of Wei Guogong." Yang Dading reminded Zhu Daolin in a low voice.

Zhu Daolin looked over and saw the Qinglong Flag flying high on the warship and a few big characters of Zuo Dudu: "It's Wei Guogong's ship, Uncle De, two gentlemen, the recruitment of craftsmen depends on everyone, let it go!" ”

"In addition, please ask Uncle De to take some time to meet Brother Monsan, see what he wants, and help him to complete the second phase of the expansion project as much as possible, and build the craftsman residential community as soon as possible."

"Strive to achieve the goal of building 10 500-ton three-masted sail warships and 10 300-800-ton cargo ships every quarter by this time next year!"

"Don't think that this goal is set high, as long as the second phase of the project is successfully completed, and the total number of craftsmen above the fourth level reaches 2,000, maybe this goal will be set low."

After Zhu Daolin finished speaking, he walked down the small stone gang, crossed the large wharf where people came and went, and rushed to the military wharf in the north, waiting for Xu Hongji, the Duke of Wei.

Two 300-ton hard-sailed warships that had just been painted slowly approached the military dock, Xu Hongji and Zhang Gongwei, the Marquis of Longping, on the deck, waved to Zhu Daolin on the shore one after another, and after coming down, he didn't say a polite word, and directly pointed to the thousands of young recruits who were waiting in five long lines to register, and asked Zhu Daolin how many soldiers he was going to recruit?

Zhu Daolin replied solemnly: "As long as you meet the requirements, you can recruit as many as you want." ”

Xu Hongji and Zhang Gongwei, along with the seven or eight generals behind them, were all taken aback, and Xu Hongji looked at Zhu Daolin incredulously: "If there are 20,000 people who meet your requirements, do you dare to accept them all?" ”

Zhu Daolin thought for a while: "There won't be so many, even if the recruitment period is extended for another half a month, there are not many who can meet the five conditions, and I am thankful for 10,000 people." ”

"OMG! Do you want to rebel? ”

Zhang Gongwei made a joke, and a group of generals behind him burst into laughter.

Zhu Daolin asked rhetorically: "I heard that in the past six months, the military department has twice transferred troops from Jiangnan to the north to encircle and suppress the rebellious Kong Youde, but the result is that he has suffered successive defeats and lost his troops. ”

"At the beginning of the year, he led 20,000 horses north to Dengzhou, and General Zhang Keda, the former commander of Nanjing Yulinwei, who served as the commander-in-chief of Denglai, also killed his concubine after the defeat, and then hanged himself."

"The younger generation wants to ask, after the three guards and the twelve thousand households of the Jiangnan Land Division under the command of the predecessors were transferred to the north by the imperial court, how many people are left now? Can you still get together 5,000 officers and soldiers? ”

Zhang Gongwei's face changed, and the four henchmen behind him were full of frustration, and they were all embarrassed to look at Zhu Daolin.

Xu Hongji laughed to break the embarrassment: "Dao Linxian nephew, are you trying to help your Uncle Zhang rebuild the Jiangnan Lu Division?" ”

The generals immediately looked at Zhu Daolin, and they all knew that Zhu Daolin respected Wei Guogong and Longping Hou very much, and the three sons of Wei Guogong and the two sons of Longping Hou were all sworn brothers.

With Zhu Daolin's astonishing wealth, as long as he wanted, he would definitely be able to assist the Marquis of Longping in rebuilding the Jiangnan Army Division, even if he could not replenish the original 50,000 men and horses, it would not be difficult to help recruit and equip 10,000 soldiers. (To be continued......)