There are many people in the public house, and it is not a good place to talk, so Zhu Gaochi talked to Xu Ning outside.

"How's the progress going on with the engineering team?"

"The three places where the engineering team started work, there are Zhoujia Mine, Chenjia Mine, Fangshan Zhoujia Mine, Fangshan Zhoujia Mine started the earliest, and it can be completed in about a month, and Zhoujia Mine finally started, and only half of the project was completed, and it will take about three months."

The engineering team has recruited nearly 300 people to work on the construction site.

Fangshan Zhoujia Mine Project is the smallest, the location is the most convenient, so the salary is small, the construction period is short, and the price is more than 2,700 taels of silver.

Seventy or eighty workers were there leveling the land and building improvised gravel roads leading to the mountains. Then there is the Chenjia Mine and the Zhoujia Mine, each of which uses 100 people, with a long construction period, and the price is 9,600 taels of silver.

300 people, the construction period is seven or eight months.

Because of the need for packaging materials, and subtracting labor, food, accommodation, work clothes and other expenses, Zhu Gaochi's final profit was less than 2,000 taels of silver.

Compared to the steam engine, this business cannot be called a business, and it is accurate to describe it as a bigger contractor.

It is also a characteristic of the times.

Many mine bosses are the foremen they hire outside, and they pay for the materials themselves, and pay the minimum cost.

Like the people in the township, the biggest expense for building a house is not only the material money, but then the money for hiring craftsmen, and the labor is not for money.

Whoever builds a house, the neighbors take the initiative to help, the host provides food, and when it is finished, they set up a feast and have a big meal.

Xu Ning knew the roots, he was born as an apprentice, although he did not go to the steam engine factory next door, but he got the moon first near the water, and he knew the profits of the steam engine.

I don't know if the nobles will be satisfied with the engineering team, this business is not going to start, Xu Ning quietly observed Zhu Gaochi's expression.

"The engineering team and the steam engine factory are different." Zhu Gaochi went to work in his previous life, and his department was not profitable, so he knew what Xu Ning would worry about, so he took the initiative to comfort him.

Moreover, Xu Ning has strong work ability, and more and more things in the engineering team are handed over to him, and he needs to be given confidence.

"The purpose of the engineering team, in the end, is to build a railway, which can play a vital role in the industrial development of the Ming Dynasty, and cannot be measured by interests."

Zhu Gaochi looked at Xu Ning with a smile, the worry in Xu Ning's eyes just now, he had already found it, and encouraged: "You take care of the engineering team well, and it is no less effective than a steam engine." ”

Xu Ning's heart landed, the identity of a nobleman, he is qualified to talk about state affairs, and he does things for nobles, isn't it also for a better future.

As long as the nobles can recognize it, Xu Ning has the confidence to do a good job in the engineering team, including the railway that the nobles have always cared about.

"Regarding the railway, Xiaomin took Master Xiaojiu to the field for investigation, asked the opinions of many foremen, and also asked the owner of the coal yard."

"How?" Zhu Gaochi became interested.

"Adapt to local conditions." Xu Ning explained: "If the mine owner has a lot of iron in his hands and can't sell it, he can use iron sleepers, and if he can't provide iron materials, he can use wooden sleepers. ”

This method is good, and it coincides with Zhu Gaochi's history of the birth of British railways.

"Yes, that's the way it goes." Zhu Gaochi clapped.

"You and Xiao Jiu have discussed the charter, according to the current market, we estimate that in a few months, it will be the opportunity to promote the railway among the coal bosses."

The population of Beiping City using coal is increasing, and the demand for coal is also increasing. With the increase of mines in the surrounding mining area, the amount of coal produced is also increasing.

The volume of transportation has skyrocketed, and it will not be long before the roads everywhere will become overwhelmed and full of potholes.

Not only is it not conducive to the transportation of coal, but it will also make the local government and the people dissatisfied. Whether it is the needs of the market or the pressure of the officials, the coal bosses are forced to come up with solutions.

Whether it is the birth of the steam engine or the birth of the railway, it is to meet the needs of the market in order to promote the development of generations.

Now that the steam engine has increased the output of coal mines, even if Zhu Gaochi does not have the means to produce honeycomb coal, in 20 or 30 years, low-cost coal will gradually replace charcoal.

And Zhu Gaochi was unwilling to wait that long, so there was honeycomb coal.

In Pei Binh province, honeycomb coal played a role in accelerating the promotion of the steam engine for at least 20 years.

The savings in the past 20 years have directly made the coal mining industry prosperous, but when the coal mining industry is prosperous, it will inevitably encounter a big problem, that is, transportation.

The first industrial revolution was as simple as that.

As long as you start, the next things are complementary to each other.

Zhu Gaochi was not worried that the coal bosses would refuse the railway, but would be warmly welcomed like a steam engine.

What really makes it difficult for Zhu Gaochi is that he wants to speed up the process.

Life is too short.

The stage process of the industrial revolution is a span of 30 years, and he Zhu Gaochi can't delay it for so long.

He's going to lead the Age of Discovery.

And he is also worried that his crossing will affect history, and he must work hard to strengthen Zhu Di's strength, which is also for his own life.

After finishing the business, Zhu Gaochi mentioned the dormitory.

"The steam engine factory said that the engineering team should vacate a few dormitories, what do you think?" Zhu Gaochi asked tentatively.

Xu Ning's head shook like a rattle.

"I was about to tell the little prince about the husband and wife room, and the engineering team has formed many husbands and wives at the moment, and there are thirty-five couples."

All right.

Hearing the news, Zhu Gaochi was happy and embarrassed.

Whether it's an engineering team or a factory, these new couples have roughly the same background.

Most of the men are older bachelors, a small number of mothers-in-law have died of illness, and most of the women are widows with children, if according to normal history.

They can't survive on their own, and in the end they are largely disgraced, where will there be an opportunity to form a new family.

Although he has not been in Daming for a long time, he has changed countless people and history.

For example.

Next year or the year after, dozens of newborns that should not have appeared will come to this era, and there will be more and more in the future.

What could be greater than the expansion of one's own race?

In Zhu Gaochi's view.

This is the most magnificent undertaking in the world.

"I can only recruit more people." Zhu Gao said happily.

He didn't expect to make money from the engineering team, and the two thousand taels of silver were not in his eyes, let alone left in the warehouse to eat ashes, and it was only useful to spend them.

Xu Ning is not like an ordinary shopkeeper, he only thinks about money for nobles, he sees farther, so he doesn't feel anything wrong.

The more people are recruited, they are all strong men, and the stronger the little prince's strength will be.

Who recognized the little prince last year.

This year, more and more people have known the little prince, and many people have been involved with the little prince, and even run for the little prince, which is a huge change.