The Emperor of the Apocalypse returned to Beijing, and the news quickly spread back to the capital, and what happened in Nanjing naturally spread. But no one cares a lot, after all, the distance is too far, but it doesn't have much impact.

By November, the Emperor of the Apocalypse had finally returned to Beijing, and the weather had become colder. As the first snow fell, the Ming Dynasty fell into silence. He handled a lot of government affairs in the palace, and he was busy until December, when the Emperor of the Apocalypse breathed a sigh of relief.

On this day, the Emperor of the Apocalypse brought people to the firearms factory, but he still went out on patrol. Xu Guangqi, who had already received the news, had been waiting here for a long time, wearing a big coat on his body, although he was a little old, but Xu Guangqi's whole spirit was still very good.

Seeing the Emperor of the Apocalypse come down from the arrogant son, Xu Guangqi hurriedly greeted him, saluted respectfully, and said, "Minister Xu Guangqi sees the emperor!" "He didn't kneel and bow, he just bowed to the Emperor of the Apocalypse, which was the privilege given to Xu Guangqi by the Emperor of the Apocalypse.

Smiled and walked in front of Xu Guangqi, stretched out his hand to help Xu Guangqi up, and the Emperor of the Apocalypse said as he walked: "Aiqing doesn't need to be polite, I'm just a micro-service on patrol, so don't pay attention to these false courtesies." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xu Guangqi knew the temperament of the Emperor of the Apocalypse, so he followed the Emperor of the Apocalypse to go inside.

"Xu Aiqing, has there been something good coming out of the Martial Arts Research Institute recently?" The Emperor of the Apocalypse looked at Xu Guangqi with a smile, for this question, the Emperor of the Apocalypse was the most looking forward to.

Xu Guangqi had already thought about it, and when the Emperor of the Apocalypse asked like this, it was naturally in Xu Guangqi's heart. After thinking for a moment, he spoke: "The research on the steam engine mentioned by the emperor has not made much progress. Regardless of the quality of steel. Or other manufacturing processes, none of which are up to standard. ”

Hearing this, the face of the Emperor of the Apocalypse showed an unconcealable disappointment at the effect of the steam engine. There is no one in the Hereafter who does not know. The steam engine started a qualitative leap in human history, a leap that could pull away distance.

"Although the strength of the emperor's hundred steelmaking is enough, it has become a problem in terms of quantity and production. Whether it's used to craft guns or iron cannons, the number of uses is too huge. Chen felt that now was not the time to rush to cast a steam engine, and what he had to do now was to improve the refining level of steel. Xu Guangqi looked at the Emperor of the Apocalypse cautiously. This is the final conclusion reached by the Academy of Martial Arts after research.

Nodding slowly, the Emperor of the Apocalypse smiled helplessly, he was still a little anxious for quick success. This era is not the afterlife! To be able to do it at the level it is at this level is very rare.

"Xu Aiqing, you go on!" The Emperor of the Apocalypse looked at Xu Guangqi with a smile, and he didn't seem to be lost or angry.

"Your Majesty, iron smelting is the key now! The emperor told the minister about the blast furnace, and the minister remembered it. After such a long period of research, Chen has come up with a feasible solution. in the process. The minister consulted with the officials of the Ministry of Works, the old craftsmen of ironmaking, and some of the Franco. In the end, the conclusion was feasible, and the minister asked the emperor to allow the minister to conduct experiments. Xu Guangqi didn't know if the Emperor of the Apocalypse would agree, because it was another sum of money.

The Emperor of the Apocalypse has invested a lot in the Martial Arts Research Institute, and it can be said that he will give it if he asks for money. Money is needed for the manufacture of sea vessels. The production of firearms by the weapons factory costs money, and the Armed Forces Research Institute still needs money. The newly built Guowujian and Guozijian are all places where money is spent. This time, in this blast furnace for ironmaking, Xu Guangqi was really not sure that the Emperor of the Apocalypse would agree.

Frowning and thinking about it, the Emperor of the Apocalypse glanced at Xu Guangqi and said in a deep voice: "Xu Ai, how is it at the shipyard?" What is the progress of the battleship? ”

"Your Majesty, the first batch of forty warships should be completed by March. Later, there will be some supply ships and ships fighting in special waters, which will take about half a year. The emperor wants to form a fleet of forty warships, and I am afraid that it will have to wait until the end of next year. "Xu Guangqi didn't know what the Emperor of the Apocalypse meant. Thinking that the Emperor of the Apocalypse did not agree with his opinion, his face suddenly became a little gloomy.

"Can the current fleet fight?" The Emperor of the Apocalypse looked at Xu Guangqi and said in a deep voice.

Nodding vigorously, it is really the project he is responsible for, Xu Guangqi is naturally very clear. Said: "Of course you can, but you can't go to the West!" This fleet is required by the emperor to have the ability to go to the Western Ocean, but it is not possible yet. If it was only to fight along the coast of the Ming Dynasty, there would be no problem. ”

"Let's get your steel-making business done as soon as possible! Once the first fleet is built, the Imperial Court will engage in a naval battle, after which we will open the sea. You don't have to worry about money, I will find a way, and there will be no shortage! Emperor Tianqi saw Xu Guangqi's expression in his eyes, and was a little moved in his heart, this is a minister who is dedicated to the country.

For steelmaking, the Emperor of the Apocalypse naturally would not object, because the Emperor of the Apocalypse knew that steelmaking was the basis of heavy industry. As for the environmental concerns of future generations, where can we take care of them now, and we no longer consider them at all.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Xu Guangqi's face suddenly turned happy, and he made up his mind that he must do this thing. Once you have batches of iron, you can do more on your own.

However, he also heard the idea that the Emperor of the Apocalypse wanted to open the sea, so he asked, "Your Majesty, I don't know what the Emperor wants to do if he wants to open the sea?" Do you want to reopen the market? ”

Xu Guangqi also heard about the reopening of the market, but Xu Guangqi was still noncommittal about this matter.

"Aiqing has nothing to say, but it doesn't hurt to say it, you don't have to spit out like this!" The Emperor of the Apocalypse originally wanted to ask Xu Guangqi's opinion, but now that he has something to say, he naturally wants to ask clearly.

"Your Majesty, the reopening of the market, the minister thinks it is feasible, but it is not a particularly good way. After all, there used to be a market company, but the effect didn't seem to be good. Chen didn't come up with any good way for a while, Rong Chen thought about it! Xu Guangqi had a solemn face, this is definitely a big deal, and it can't be sloppy at all!

Looking at Xu Guangqi's serious expression, a smile appeared on the face of the Emperor of the Apocalypse, and he said: "Xu Aiqing, I am not the kind of person who acts in vain, and I am still sure that things can be done well." I want to set up a new city in a city to redefine the taxation of maritime trade. Once you've run a city well, it's time to expand it! ”

"The emperor has a good idea, I admire it!" Listening to the words of the Emperor of the Apocalypse, Xu Guangqi's eyes suddenly lit up, it was indeed a good idea. Being concentrated in one city is not only easy to manage, but also minimizes losses if there is anything missing. After thinking about it, Xu Guangqi asked again: "I don't know which city the emperor has chosen?" ”

The Emperor of the Apocalypse looked at Xu Guangqi with a mocking face, and said with a smile: "What does Xu Ai think of Shanghai?" ”

I didn't expect the Emperor of the Apocalypse to say such a name, I originally thought that the Emperor of the Apocalypse would say Quanzhou, which has always been a developed place for maritime trade. During the Song Dynasty, Quanzhou was the largest trading port. As for Shanghai, Xu Guangqi is also very familiar, and it can be said that he is very familiar.

At this time, Shanghai was different from later generations, but it was only a small county town at the mouth of the Yangtze River, which belonged to Songjiang Prefecture. But Shanghai is Xu Guangqi's hometown, where he grew up, where he once lived.

"Your Majesty, Shanghai doesn't seem to be suitable! It's too small, it's just a county seat, and it doesn't seem appropriate as the first city to open the sea! Xu Guangqi didn't think about it, and this sentence came out, he didn't know why Emperor Bai Qi chose Shanghai.

"Xu Aiqing, don't be in a hurry to object, this is my thought after careful consideration. It's not because it's your hometown, and it's not because it's anything else! The Emperor of the Apocalypse patted Xu Guangqi's shoulder and said with a smile.

From later generations, the Emperor of the Apocalypse knew that the most suitable place for the Ming Dynasty to open the sea was Shanghai. The one who chose to be in Shenzhen back then had far-reaching political significance. If we talk about economic advantages alone, Shanghai is irreplaceable, where to choose if you don't choose Shanghai?

"I value the geographical location of Shanghai, which is located at the mouth of the Yangtze River, facing the East China Sea in the east, facing the Japanese island of Kyushu across the sea, Hangzhou Bay in the south, and Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in the west. This location, how superior it is! Can you communicate the mainland through the Yangtze River, and the north and south through the canal, is there a better place than here? The Emperor of the Apocalypse looked at Xu Guangqi with a smile, he believed that Xu Guangqi had this vision, but he didn't expect it yet.

This time it was Xu Guangqi's turn to be stunned, and he couldn't see Mount Tai, Xu Guangqi suddenly remembered this sentence. I am a native of Shanghai, and I really didn't think about how superior that small county town was. Hearing Emperor Apocalypse say this, Xu Guangqi suddenly opened his mind.

Seeing the Emperor of the Apocalypse looking at him, Xu Guangqi said respectfully: "The emperor is sage, and his thoughts are lofty. Geographically, it is indeed very suitable. As for the county seat being too small, Chen believes that as long as the matter of opening the sea is spread, it will become very prosperous. ”

"That's for sure! The opening of the Fu in Shanghai will not affect the interests of the local gentry. It will not involve the forces in the court, and the matter of opening the sea will be easier and less unnecessary. As for the small county seat of Shanghai, I can set aside a piece of land and build a new city. I believe that as long as the news of the opening of Shanghai comes, the world will be shaken, and countless businessmen will flock to Shanghai. At that time, there will definitely be no shortage of money, and I can make half of the treasury from the sale of land! The Emperor of the Apocalypse smiled like a fox, and he was finally able to live a real estate hiding.

In my previous life, I always heard about how profitable real estate is, and this time I will definitely make a lot of money by doing it myself. Shanghai is still in an unopened state, and it saves money to develop it, which is also an important reason why the Emperor of the Apocalypse chose Shanghai!