Chapter 529 Zhu Biao Hesitated: Will You Agree?

After the first negotiations broke down.

The next day.

Zhu Biao received the news.

Zhu Di accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang in a low-key manner, took the train south, left Yanjing, and went to Medan Island to observe the rubber industry and fierce oil mining in Medan Island...

Zhu Biao didn't say anything about this.

But anyone can feel that the air pressure on Zhu Biao's body is very low.

Everyone also understands the reason for this.

Zhu Di's move undoubtedly showed that he did not care about the success or failure of the Grand Cross Railway project.

At least, compared to the Ming Dynasty.

Yanhua showed no urgency.

…

Until half a month later.

Zhu Di accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang back to Yanjing.

Fang Xiaoru, the chief minister of the Ming Dynasty cabinet, immediately came to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on behalf of Zhu Biao.

Xie Jinguanfang.

Xie Jin personally poured tea for Fang Xiaoru, sat down, and waited for Fang Xiaoru to take a sip of tea and put down the teacup before he smiled and said, "I feel bad for Brother Xizhi."

"When you are not needed, if you say anything, you will be worried about others labeling you. At this time, Prince, why don't you do it yourself?"

Fang Xiaoru's mouth was bitter.

"As the chief minister of the cabinet, we must be the first to negotiate with each other among our ministers. It is reasonable and reasonable for me to come to see Minister Jie."

Jie Jin shook his head: "What about people like Huang Zicheng and Qi Tai? They are the ones who are talking loudly. Now that we want to restart negotiations, why don't they come?"

Fang Xizhi really wanted to sign the Grand Cross Railway project.

At the same time, he is too humble and a gentleman.

That's why I get bullied and always take over such bad things.

Fang Xiaoru smiled, changed the subject, and asked: "Minister Xie, the prince is back. When can we restart negotiations?"

Xie Jin did not continue the question just now.

He just admired Fang Xizhi's character and talent, was a fellow minister, and felt unfair for Fang Xizhi.

Then he said: "As long as the court, no, to be precise, the prince is sincere and the conservative forces of the Ming Dynasty can adjust the positions of both parties, we can restart negotiations at any time. However, Brother Xizhi must tell his colleagues in the Ming Dynasty, similar to the first The unrealistic conditions and Huang Zicheng's arrogant and domineering attitude in this negotiation must not happen again. "

"But we can't do either. If in the next negotiation, your attitude is still arrogant and unable to recognize the reality, we will terminate the negotiation completely."

"Your Majesty wants to build the Grand Cross Railway for the Central Plains. The fundamental reason is not to use this big project to digest Yanhua's huge steel production capacity, but to fulfill his filial piety. I hope that Your Majesty can ride on the Ming Dynasty's own train and watch His Majesty's hand during his lifetime. Conquered the country!”

"Other interests are just incidental to this main starting point. In essence, our cabinet hopes to achieve a win-win situation for both of us on the basis of our filial piety in helping the prince."

…

He knows it very well.

The prince spent more than two years in the Research Department working with researchers to develop steam locomotives.

Just to fulfill your filial piety.

If it hadn't been for the prince's later actions of stealing, shelling Tuqiao Village, and the navy approaching Penglai.

To be honest, he estimated that the prince would agree to some harsh and rude requests made by the court for this Grand Cross Railway project.

As for digesting the huge steel production.

The Grand Cross Railway was not the only road built for the imperial court.

After the Strait of Malacca was opened.

Going further west for sea trade.

According to forecasts from the Economic Research Division, maritime merchants' demand for sturdier ships will increase rapidly.

A fully armored ironclad ship is definitely impossible.

First of all, it is impossible to fully liberalize military technology for civilian use.

Moreover, the price is too high and maritime merchants may not be able to afford it.

But there will definitely be a surge in demand for semi-armored low-speed steamships in one or two years.

As long as the steel mill persists for one or two years, the situation will change.

As for whether the steelmaking plant has the ability to persist for one or two years?

In this regard, everyone at Yanhua is very confident.

The overall economic situation in Yanhua is very good. It is no problem to support the three steelmaking plants for one or two years.

The prince was under great financial burden during ten years of rural construction.

Promote the construction of the third joint steelmaking plant.

In fact, at that time it was not at all to meet the demand for steel for rural construction.

The essential reason is for the Grand Cross Railway project.

The prince hopes that with sufficient supply of raw materials, a railway can be built before His Majesty leaves!

Essentially, their cabinet knew that the third joint steelmaking plant was built by force.

At that time, the cabinet had already analyzed and demonstrated how to digest the huge steel production once the Grand Cross Railway plan could not be realized.

And, response plans have been made.

Now, members of their cabinet are willing to actively promote negotiations with Ming Dynasty.

It's not because Yanhua has no way out.

I just want to help the prince fulfill his filial piety.

…

Fang Xiaoru was silent listening to Xie Jin's words.

…

Two days later.

Foreign Affairs Hall.

Same negotiating location.

The second negotiation between the two parties started again.

Zhu Di and Zhu Biao each led their ministers and stood opposite each other across a long table.

The two brothers looked at each other.

Zhu Biao hesitated and stretched out his hand first. Zhu Di also extended his hand almost at the same time. The two brothers shook hands and took their seats first.

Everyone also sat down.

Zhu Biaohan said with a smile: "Fourth, in the first negotiation, you guys politely asked us to state our plan first. This time, you should state your plan first."

Zhu Di didn't refuse, smiled and nodded, looking at Jie Jin who was sitting next to him on the right.

Xie Jin opened the plan book, looked down at it, and said: "First of all, as the deputy leader of the Yanhua negotiating team for this negotiation, I would like to thank the Ming side for their courtesy..."

Huang Zicheng glanced at Jie Jin, who was looking down at the plan, and the corners of his lips twitched.

hypocritically!

Xie Jin didn't even look at the expressions of everyone on the Ming side. After thanking them, he continued: "Our plan mainly focuses on a few points."

"1. In the future construction of the Grand Cross Railway, we will provide a full set of technical conditions for terrain survey and track laying, as well as experienced engineers and steel. Based on the construction experience in the central Luzon region, we will quote a construction cost per kilometer, Calculating two thousand taels of silver..."

On the court side, Huang Zicheng, Qi Tai and others' faces instantly darkened when they heard the quotation.

Two thousand taels per kilometer?

Construction mileage of the Grand Cross Railway.

At least eight to nine thousand kilometers.

This means that the imperial court has to spend at least 20 million taels of silver?

Yes, in the past few years, since the establishment of rural village communities and the opening of the sea, the imperial treasury has been full.

Emperor Zhu was also a diligent and frugal emperor.

But the treasury's surplus is only more than 30 million taels of silver!

Don't talk about Huang Zicheng.

When Zhu Biao heard this quotation, he was shocked at first, and then curled his fingers slightly.

Somewhat angry.

However, he suppressed his anger and continued to listen.

…

"In the plan to build the Grand Cross Railway, 80% of the steel consumption will be provided by us, and 20% will be provided by the Ming Dynasty court. To ensure that the Ming Dynasty can meet the steel supply for construction needs, we will provide the imperial court with a larger smelting Iron blast furnace, the initial plan is to provide eight 20-ton iron-smelting blast furnaces, and provide supporting equipment, three small steel-making converters with an annual output of 10,000 tons of steel, and supporting engineers to help the Ming Dynasty train technical workers and improve Production Process."

…

"Build a steam rolling steel production line for Daming."

"Build a carriage manufacturing factory with an annual production capacity of twenty carriages."

"Help Daming build a steam locomotive assembly factory."

…

"All the above-mentioned aided factories are equipped with technical support until the church."

That’s it.

Xie Jin raised his head and looked at the Ming side headed by Zhu Biao, "This is our plan. I wonder if you have any objections to this plan?"

The reformists headed by Fang Xiaoru and Lan Yu had smiles on their faces.

Although the cost per kilometer is a bit too expensive.

However, I believe the cost issue is negotiable.

There are more than 30 supporting factories built with the help of Yanhua!

In the steam locomotive assembly factory alone, in addition to some high-precision parts provided by Yanhua, there are as many as seven or eight other supporting parts production factories.

Although, these supporting factories are all factories with low technical content, such as cylinder screw and bolt processing factories, connecting rod casting factories, etc.

But it is enough to show Yanhua's sincerity.

You have to eat the food one bite at a time, and you won't become a big fat man after one bite.

Those, such as boilers, cylinders, rubber sealing rings and other high-precision processing and manufacturing.

Even if Yanhua hands over the technology to them.

Can the imperial court do it well?

It is better to start training and cultivating talents in these low-tech supporting processing, step by step, down to earth.

Especially Yanhua solemnly promised.

He will teach the workers who are assisting in the construction of the factory step by step and master the production process.

It turns out.

Process technology during the production process.

Also very important!

And this is precisely the most backward link in the development of the imperial industry. Zhu Biao and everyone on the Daming side communicated and discussed in low voices for a while.

Huang Zicheng wrote down the results of the discussion one by one.

He raised his head and said: "First of all, your cost is too high. As far as we know, your cost includes Yanhua's labor cost, and this cost accounts for at least half of your total cost. We in Daming do not have this item cost."

There was no corvee system in Yanhua.

The infrastructure of the Yanhua court was built by spending real money and employing people.

Moreover, Yanhua's population shortage has exacerbated Yanhua's labor costs.

But the imperial court was different.

To build the Grand Cross Railway, those stupid people must serve as corvees!

"Secondly, we provide 20% of the steel demand, which is too low, at least 50%. Since we do not have this production capacity, Yanhua must provide assistance to build a large-scale converter steelmaking plant with a capacity of 100,000 tons..."

After hearing this, Xie Jin, Ye Mao and other members of the Yanhua cabinet suddenly wanted to laugh and curse.

Even though he knew that his production capacity was insufficient, he still demanded at least 50% of the production capacity.

What's more, it requires assistance in building a large-scale converter steelmaking plant with a capacity of 100,000 tons.

Every word reveals an aura of poverty and poverty!

When Fang Xiaoru, Lan Yu and others heard this, they bowed their heads in shame.

This is something that the conservative forces must add to the discussion just now. Although they opposed it, they did not realize it.

These conditions are the result of mutual compromise between the reform and conservative factions.

The reason for their opposition is simple.

It's too big a step.

Prior to this, the imperial court did not even have a real steelmaking plant.

Even with the small-furnace steelmaking method, the yield is very low.

Is it really good to start a 100,000-ton steel plant all at once?

They have all visited the 100,000-ton steel plant in Yanhua.

In addition to the visit taken by the King of Yan, they also spent a long time to visit and understand it carefully during the free visit.

The production of a 100,000-ton steel plant involves a terrifying number of technical jobs.

They believe that it is too difficult for the court to hastily start a 100,000-ton steel plant now. It is too big a step and may not be worth the loss.

"For this reason, the 100,000-ton steel plant can be excluded from the aid sequence. We can buy it with money, but it must be 100,000 tons!"

Traitor!

Huang Zicheng said, cursing secretly.

The clause of buying with money was requested by the traitors of the reformists.

Isn't this giving money to Yanhua and Zhu Silang!

After cursing inwardly, he continued: "Finally, we request that the supporting factories for locomotive assembly be supplemented with boiler manufacturing factories and technical support. We must master the technology of producing boilers by ourselves. Moreover, boilers are huge and inconvenient to transport. Your assistance in our boiler manufacturing will benefit both you and me."

The imperial craftsman supervisors are rubbish.

Let them imitate Yanhua's first generation 66 steam engine and build steam engines.

How many years have passed.

They can't even cast the most primitive boilers.

They are simply a bunch of rubbish!

Huang Zicheng was very dissatisfied with these improved conditions, but he didn't dare to get angry with Yanhua, fearing that Zhu Di would directly interrupt the negotiations again, so he could only act like a grudge.

While proposing the improved conditions, he cursed inwardly.

After a moment, he stopped, "This is the improved conditions proposed by us on the basis of Yanhua's plan. We have shown our greatest sincerity. I hope Yanhua will seriously consider it and seize this opportunity!"

After leaving a sentence, he thought it was a relatively tough and oppressive summary.

Huang Zicheng stopped. Eyes, secretly looking at Zhu Di.

Zhu Di smiled, glanced at Huang Zicheng, and looked at Zhu Biao, "Brother, is the court sure it wants a 100,000-ton level?"

Zhu Biao moved his lips and subconsciously wanted to say, sure.

But when the words came to his lips, he saw Zhu Di's helpless smile, swallowed it again, and looked at Zhu Di.

Zhu Di said helplessly: "Helping the court build a 100,000-ton steel plant, Yanhua has no problem. To be honest, we are not afraid of technical leaks at all. A 100,000-ton large-scale converter steel plant, the whole world, only our Yanhua has the ability to build it, there is no semicolon."

The technology involved in the 100,000-ton steel plant.

In addition to constantly purchasing complete sets of equipment from Yanhua, the court could not imitate it at all.

"Moreover, in the production practice of a 100,000-ton steel plant, the process technology involved, the technical workers required, and the quality requirements of the workers are also dozens of times that of a 10,000-ton level..."

Providing the court with three 10,000-ton small converter steel plants was actually decided based on the actual situation of the court.

Even so, Yanhua had to send a large number of technical workers to teach them for a long time.

It is definitely not something that can be done by a few engineers.

What's more, it is a 100,000-ton class.

"The 100,000-ton class has high requirements in production and even higher requirements in maintenance. Each maintenance, with the current quality of Yanhua's technical workers, will take at least seven days, and at least a thousand people will be required to participate..."

...

Zhu Biao looked at Zhu Di, and he could judge from the expression of the fourth brother.

It seems that the fourth brother does not want to provide a 100,000-ton class, but sincerely believes that a 10,000-ton class is more suitable for the court.

This is consistent with the views of Fang Xizhi, Lan Yu and others.

But...

Yanhua's 100,000-ton class is too enviable.

The ferocity of that steel behemoth, he was awakened by the steel behemoth that appeared in his dreams for several nights during this period.

...

"Okay, this one will be implemented according to the Yanhua plan." Zhu Biao hesitated and struggled for a long time, and finally decided to accept Zhu Di's suggestion.

Huang Zicheng opened his mouth, but swallowed the words that came to his lips.

Zhu Di continued: "Cut the cost price in half, it's not reasonable..."

"Old Four!" Zhu Biao interrupted Zhu Di directly, "I think this one is very reasonable. We cut it in half, it's not aimless. According to our understanding, the labor cost does account for half of the construction cost of your railway in the central Luzon area."

Even if it is cut in half, it's one thousand taels of silver per kilometer.

Eight or nine thousand kilometers, that's eight or nine million taels of silver!

"Prince." Ye Mao, who was sitting behind Zhu Di, suddenly interrupted, "Prince also said that what you learned was the construction cost. We, Yanhua, are building a large cross railway plan for the court. Once the construction is successful, how much can the court benefit economically and militarily?"

"What we are negotiating now is commercial cooperation. We are doing business with the court, not helping the court. We must always make a profit. Therefore, the court cannot ask us to help the court build railways at cost price. This is not doing business."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly, "But in your construction cost, in addition to labor costs, in material costs, such as steel consumption, you have already given enough profit to the steel mill in procurement. Now, the court has also given enough profit to Yanhua Steel Mill according to Yanhua's purchase price..."

Ye Mao smiled bitterly.

The prince may know a little about business, but he obviously doesn't know much.

He then explained, "Prince, the commercial entity that built the railway for the court is Yanhua's railway construction company. Yes, the court purchased Yanhua's steel and gave enough profit to the steel mill, but according to the cost calculation, no profit was given to the railway construction company."

"The railway construction company also has a series of construction technologies. If the court wants to use these technologies when building railways, it must pay for them..."

These technologies are not obtained for free.

They are all summed up during the construction, which consumes the brainpower of many engineers and many construction workers, and even sacrifices their lives.

For these construction workers who sacrificed their lives.

The railway construction company must bear the compensation and support for the wives and children of the construction workers.

...

Zhu Biao's face was a little hot.

Zhu Di raised his hand to stop Ye Mao.

He said: "Brother, it is not a problem to carry out the construction according to the cost of deducting labor, and even to assist in the construction of boiler technology. However, the court must agree to one condition of our side."

Zhu Biao frowned slightly.

He felt that this condition must be one that he could not accept very easily.

Because the fourth brother suddenly made too big a concession!

Zhu Di held up three fingers, "In the next ten years, the court will provide three million migrants for Yanhua!"

"In addition, the court will recruit corvée labor during construction. Even if the people are not paid, at least they should take care of their daily diet."

The corvée system is too harsh on the people.

Building railways is also very intensive labor.

He couldn't change the corvée system of the court.

But, he wanted to gain some benefits for the people.

For example, don't let the people carry their own food.

He was a farmer and participated in corvée labor. He knew that corvée labor didn't earn a penny, and they had to bring their own food. How much of a burden it was for the people.

Zhu Biao frowned.

He didn't care about providing food for the people.

The court's grain reserves over the years, this consumption is not a burden at all.

But...

Three million migrants!

Hu Weiyong, Lu Ben and others also looked very solemn and embarrassed.

Population!

This is the biggest constraint on Zhu Silang's Yanhua development.

You know, even now, the total population of Yanhua is just over 4 million.

Once he is given another 3 million.

Within ten years.

Based on Yanhua's medical conditions, I'm afraid the total population will exceed 15 million!

Zhu Di knew that this condition would be difficult for Zhu Biao to accept, and continued to increase the price: "Once the young and strong labor force is conscripted for labor service, it will inevitably affect agricultural production. To solve this problem, Yanhua can provide a batch of animal-powered seed drills and combine harvesters to the villages that are conscripted for labor service free of charge. Moreover, the people who participate in the construction of the railway have the right to relocate to Yanhua first!"

"Your Highness..." Ye Mao said, this condition is really too favorable!

Zhu Di raised his hand to stop Ye Mao.

His eyes were fixed on Zhu Biao...

Will the eldest brother agree?

It doesn't matter whether he makes money or not, as long as the eldest brother agrees to give him 3 million quotas for relocation.

Even if it is to build the Great Cross Railway Project for the Ming Dynasty for free, he dares to agree.

The reason why I didn't state this bottom line directly was because I was afraid of scaring my eldest brother, which would make him suspicious and shrink back.