Chapter 1181: God's Blessing

Emperor Hongzhi was very satisfied with Fang Jifan.

This guy is also a great achievement.

So, wait until the court meeting is over.

Both Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan went to meet the Empress Dowager, and after asking about her, Emperor Hongzhi recruited Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao.

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at Fang Jifan, and wanted to say a few words of approval, but seeing his cheerful look, he thought, "Tang Yin submitted the memorial and asked to be transferred to Qi Jingtong and others, as deputy, to supplement the Eastern Invincible Fleet. , not only that, but also to reorganize the Ningbo Navy, and from the Ningbo Navy, select elite soldiers and strong generals, Jifan, what do you think of this?"

Fang Jifan said, "It is His Majesty's order."

Emperor Hongzhi nodded approvingly, "Then, I'll agree." He knocked on the copybook, "Sooner or later, I'm going to wipe out the Francine Fleet. The building of the ship must not be delayed."

After he finished speaking, he smiled, "I heard that you two want to build a railway between Baoding Mansion and Tongzhou, right?"

This is Zhu Houzhao's specialty. Zhu Houzhao said, "Father, Baoding Mansion, Tongzhou, and Jingshi, these three railways are all planned by my son, and funded by Tongzhou and Baoding Mansion..."

"Fundraising?" Emperor Hongzhi became cautious about this.

To be honest, sometimes looking at the debts of Baoding Mansion and Tongzhou is really frightening.

The loans from Xishan Bank are all over several million taels of silver.

Although its tax revenue has increased sharply now, it is really scary to look at.

In this era, although there is a problem of the imperial court being in short supply, or the local government's government spending more than enough food, but this is still very primitive after all, and like this, there is no one who borrowed heavily like this before, and there will be no one to come after.

Emperor Hongzhi said, "I'm quite worried. I heard that just these few railways will be connected. In Ouyang Zhi's memorial, it has been clearly stated that it needs to raise 15 million taels of silver. This involves the purchase of railways and steam vehicles. , the maintenance expenses in the later stage, this amount is too big, I dare not criticize..."

Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyes and glanced at Fang Jifan, "Jifan, let's not talk about the manufacture of this steam car, let's just talk about the railroad tracks laid by Xishan Jianye. Railway? What I mean is, the profit can be less."

Fang Jifan could understand Emperor Hongzhi's mood.

It was too expensive, and Emperor Hongzhi felt that it was too much.

Fang Jifan said, "Your Majesty... the steam train has spent countless painstaking efforts to put it into production today. Although this car was developed by the head of His Royal Highness, the manpower and material resources used are astonishing. Not only that, the future The laying of railways requires well-trained craftsmen to be foolproof. There are also countless craftsmen in steel workshops."

"This involves dozens of industries, hundreds of workshops, and tens of thousands of craftsmen. The price is based on the countless efforts of Xishan Jianye and Xishan Steam Research Institute. If the price is lowered because Ouyang Zhi is a student of Erchen, then this precedent has been set, what should we do in the future? If the railway is laid and the money is not earned, what is worse is that the Steam Research Institute and Xishan Jianye are still Can you spend a lot of money to continue to improve steam trains and improve the construction technology of steel and sleepers? Your Majesty, you can’t do business at a loss, because once you lose money, or it is unprofitable, in the long run, all these industries of my Ming Dynasty will be lost. It seems that the country has taken advantage of the construction of a few railways, but in the long run, it will do all harm and no benefit."

Emperor Hongzhi frowned slightly, he could roughly understand what Fang Jifan said.

After all, there are academicians of economics beside me, who will explain the principles of economics to me.

Emperor Hongzhi said, "Is there really no other way?"

"Yes!" Fang Jifan was categorical.

Emperor Hongzhi's eyes lit up, "Let's listen."

"Let the national treasury pay for the money, and subsidize the Steam Research Institute, various steel workshops, and Xishan Jianye. It's not much. About three or four million taels of silver a year is enough, so..."

Emperor Hongzhi "..."

Let Baoding Mansion die.

Emperor Hongzhi said, "Oh, the matter of subsidy will be discussed later."

Fang Jifan blinked, "Don't you think about it, Your Majesty?"

Emperor Hongzhi said, "I will consider it, but right now, the top priority is not mere construction. My Ming Dynasty has accumulated many evils, which really worry me. I am thinking... Forget it. I will discuss it with the cabinet. You can step down. "

"Oh." Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao bowed obediently and left.

Emperor Hongzhi tapped on the copy, and waited for Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao to leave before he said, "Xiao Banban."

"The servant is here." Xiao Jing said.

"Remember, from now on, all officials' memorials to build railways that cost money and food will all be kept in the middle, and I will not read them."

Xiao Jing couldn't help but said, "Your Majesty, this servant thinks that Fang Jifan is simply audacious. He actually used subsidies to blackmail His Majesty. This... is really bold."

Emperor Hongzhi said indifferently, "You eunuch, what do you know? What he said makes sense, and he got it right. In this world, you need money to do anything. If the money doesn't come out of the treasury, you have to go to Baoding Mansion and Go to Tongzhou to borrow money, the money will not decrease, someone must come out..."

Emperor Hongzhi shook his head, "I have seen this railway, and it is actually beneficial to the country and the people. If it is not built, it will not succeed. I don't care about this matter. Let them make trouble."

"Also!" Emperor Hongzhi suddenly gave Xiao Jing a sideways glance, "If you dare to gossip in front of me in the future, just clean it up."

Let's go to Xiaoling. "

Xiao Jing shuddered, bowed down, and said with difficulty, "Slave, damn it!"

…………

Sumatra.

A merchant ship arrives at the port city of the archipelago.

Here, there is quite a bit of Francine style.

The Portuguese have been entrenched here for more than ten years, and the huge harbor makes this a natural harbor.

Just here...

But a guest came from afar.

The distinguished guest was treated with respect even by the local Portuguese governor.

The nobleman obviously suffered from some cold and fever symptoms during the turbulence at sea.

At this time, he was half lying on the bed in a magnificent mansion. He was wearing a silk pajamas with special lace on the collar. At this time, the Governor of Portugal had invited a full-time barber. division.

After the barber checked out the nobleman's symptoms with ease, he said without hesitation, "There are harmful things in the blood of Your Excellency the Duke."

The nobleman had wavy blond hair. After hearing the barber's suggestion, he nodded and glanced at the barber with his blue eyes.

As a result, the priests and the governor of Portugal retreated a little.

And the barber took out his carry-on box without hesitation.

In the box, there are razors, awls, spatulas, and daggers... a dazzling array of things.

The barber first went to the razor and removed a few strands of hair from the nobleman's head.

Then, he fetched the spittoon and placed it under the sick bed.

He solemnly said to the nobleman, "Your Excellency, whether you are healthy or not depends on the result of the contest between good and evil gods."

He decided to get rid of the bad things in the noble man.

The barber took the razor and grabbed the gentleman by the wrist.

He started chanting things like thank God.

This made the nobleman very gratified, he was so tormented by the illness that he couldn't imagine that in the far east, he could still see such an excellent barber here, seeing how well-organized and elegant he is.

The nobleman murmured softly, "May God bless you."

The barber nodded, and the razor began to slit the nobleman's wrist.

As a result, blood water began to flow down the wrist.

The nobleman began to close his eyes, and he began to feel that the bad elements in the blood began to peel off his body. This is a pleasant process, although there will inevitably be some pain during the process, but compared to purifying one's body and getting rid of the evil Obviously, this is nothing.

More and more blood flowed.

Outside, there was the sound of boots.

A well-dressed attendant came in, bowed, and saluted, "Your Excellency, the person you want is here."

The nobleman was immersed in the wonderful process of bloodletting. The bright red blood was dripping down his fingers. He felt a little tired, so he mopped his dry lips, but he still tried his best to say, "Bring him in."

Immediately afterwards, a ragged man hurried in, it was Wang Bushi.

Wang Bushi looked at the people in the room in panic, and naturally, he also saw the duke.

This is a Spaniard, because the coat of arms of the Aragon family is embroidered on his clothes.

He hurriedly took off his hat and said, "Your Excellency."

The nobleman lazily raised his eyes, "You escaped from Daming, what happened there, where is my fleet, where are they?"

Wang Bushi subconsciously looked at the Governor of Portugal.

The governor of Portugal, who had apparently received domestic approval, cooperated with the Spanish nobleman, and nodded towards Wang Bushi.

Wang Bushi opened his mouth and said, "The damned Ming Empire expelled us, and most of the envoys were thrown into prison by them. As for the fleet, I have heard that there is a Spanish fleet that suffered from their attack. Attack, they cunningly set a trap, led the Spanish fleet into the harbor, and then sank them all, for this reason, the Ming Empire held a grand celebration to celebrate this victory."

There's nothing wrong with that...

The nobleman was obviously a little outraged.

He did not expect that the disappearing fleet was indeed destroyed by the Ming Empire.

Now, Spain has fallen into panic. They can't understand that such an advanced fleet will be defeated by the Ming Empire.

He tried his best to say, "Did you encounter a trap set by the Ming Empire? Is this all a conspiracy by the Ming Empire?"

"Yes." Wang Bushi insisted, "Although the ships of the Ming Empire are large, they are not suitable for combat, but the Ming people are extremely cunning. They are full of conspiracy, and their tricks are endless."

Hearing this, the priest standing aside couldn't help but cross himself and muttered, "This is the devil abandoned by God. May God punish their atrocities."

…………

Chapter 1, ask for a guaranteed monthly pass.

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