Emperor Chongzhen has always believed in the famous saying that there is no revenge overnight, and also believed in the words of the saints that can still be revenged for ten generations of grudges.

In a nutshell, you are still cautious in keeping revenge.

After Zhu Chunchen, Zhang Zhiji and others said goodbye, the petty Emperor Chongzhen also left the palace staggeringly.

Destination, Ministry of Railways.

The last time I got 400,000 Tatars as coolies, according to their itinerary, I should have arrived in the Ming Dynasty early, but I don’t know what’s going on now.

Influenced by Emperor Chongzhen, a huge map was also hung behind the lobby of Hong Chengchou's office in the Ministry of Railways.

The various marks on it are very different from the one hanging by Emperor Chongzhen. The one hanging by Hong Chengchou simply marks the direction of the railway in various places, and small flags mark the construction site under construction.

Hong Chengchou, who was in the middle of the desk, heard the sound of someone coming in. He looked up and found that it was Emperor Chongzhen. He hurriedly pushed a bunch of documents aside, stood up and saluted Emperor Chongzhen to greet him.

Emperor Chongzhen waved his hand with a smile, stopped Hong Chengchou, and walked directly to the map behind Hong Chengchou.

Seeing this, Hong Chengchou quickly explained: "Your Majesty, I only marked the direction of the railway on this map, and there is nothing else."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "Okay, you don't need to explain this to me. I know the benefits of hanging such a map."

However, Hong Chengchou did not explain the behavior of hanging maps in the lobby, so he just thought about it.

If you don’t think about it in a wrong way, it doesn’t matter, but who can tell the truth about human heart? Once you think about it in a wrong way, what do you want to do on the map?

Seeing that Emperor Chongzhen didn't care much about this map, and that he knew the use and benefits of hanging the map, Hong Chengchou breathed a sigh of relief.

After reading the map for a long time, Emperor Chongzhen found that he could not understand what the mess above represented. He was completely disgusted.

After thinking about it, Emperor Chongzhen simply asked: "Hong Aiqing, how is the current progress of the railway?"

Hong Chengchou bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the railway from Beijing to Nanjing has been completely built, but it only takes ferries to and from the Yellow River, and it is impossible to directly build the railway.

If you want to build a railway across the Yellow River, you may be afraid that the construction period will be delayed until about 20 years of Chongzhen.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "Build! Use the ferry first, but this kind of railway bridge must also be built.

As long as the Yellow River is repaired, it will be much easier to repair it in other areas in the future!”

Hong Chengchou bowed and said, "Yes, the Ministry of Works is ready to start construction of a bridge across the Yellow River first. After the bridge is completed and the heavy trucks can be used, the railway bridge will be started.

However, Weichen is worried that it will cost a lot and requires countless manpower?"

Emperor Chongzhen laughed and said, "I will approve the money you should spend, and the manpower you should spend, and I will approve it. Don't use this method to test it again in the future. If you have something to say, you can just say it!"

Hong Chengchou quickly bowed and responded, and quietly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead while getting up.

Throughout history, I have never heard of any emperor who is the same as today's son. He doesn't care about any routines or non-routines. It's useless to take over the things in the officialdom, so he can do whatever he thinks.

If we look at this point alone, it is indeed much stronger than other emperors in history or is His Majesty Yang Er the same as His Majesty today?

Chongzhen pointed to the map and smiled and said, "Hong Aiqing will tell me that I am very concerned about railway affairs now."

Hong Chengchou bowed and then walked to Emperor Chongzhen, and pointed to the map and said, "Your Majesty, the double-track between Shanhaiguan and the capital has been built, and the single-track between Shanhaiguan and Chenyang has been built. There is no need for a double-track for the time being, so the work has been temporarily suspended.

A line has been built from the Beijing to Nanjing, and the second line for reciprocating has been started. This is the first-ranked section.

The single line from the capital to Taiyuan Prefecture, through Yan'an Prefecture to Xi'an Prefecture, has been completed, and the double line has not yet started construction.

As for the route from Xi'an Prefecture to Lintao Prefecture, the test has just been completed and construction has not started yet.

The two routes from the former King Zanshan station Lingzang to Lintao Prefecture and Yongning Prefecture have been started, but the preliminary measurements have not been completed, and the amount needs to be supplemented later.

Finally, there are several short-term lines from Yingtian Prefecture to Suzhou Prefecture, Wenzhou Prefecture, and Quanzhou Prefecture, and are now preparing to repair the line.

The first single line from Yingtian Prefecture to Nanchang Prefecture is ready to start construction, and the several lines from Nanchang to Guangzhou Prefecture, Yuanjiang Prefecture and Yongning Prefecture have also been measured and are ready to start the construction of the first single line."

Through Hong Chengchou's description and his gestures on the map, Emperor Chongzhen finally had the most intuitive understanding of the railway construction progress of the Ming Dynasty, which was much more intuitive than what I saw in the memorial before.

After thinking about it, Emperor Chongzhen simply asked: "What else do Hong Aiqing need besides the manpower?"

Hong Chengchou bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the biggest problem with the construction progress of the railway is the manpower problem.

In fact, it is not only the laborers who build railways, but also the officials who test, communicate with local governments, supervise materials and labor, etc., which are very short of them.

In addition, even the speed of the steam locomotive has been increasing repeatedly, the fastest front of the car is only half the charge speed of the war horse, and it is even less than yet."

After Emperor Chongzhen nodded, he looked at the map in front of him and did not speak any further.

The problems Hong Chengchou mentioned naturally exist, especially the personnel issues.

The Ming Dynasty was not a later generation. In later generations, millions of college students could be created in a year, which was the most appropriate way to be a coolie.

But what about the Ming Dynasty?

Even if Emperor Chongzhen had issued an order to change the imperial examination to select more minor officials once a year, in fact, there was still not enough manpower!

Just in terms of railway construction, from terrain exploration to the start of construction and then to the final opening of traffic, there are too many people who need to read and read in each link, and what the Ming Dynasty lacks is scholars!

Of course, the Ming Dynasty did not really lack scholars, but lacked scholars who could directly get started with work!

Those scholars with good qualifications and understanding the worldly style are not only loved by the Ministry of Railways, but also by the others. Every year, these works compete for each other to poach people.

Emperor Chongzhen pondered for a while and said, "Does Hong Aiqing intend to enter the cabinet?"

Hong Chengchou was shocked and didn't know why Emperor Chongzhen suddenly asked this question.

Entering the cabinet must mean the cabinet. As long as you enter the cabinet, you can truly enter the power center of the Ming Dynasty. The chances of meeting Emperor Chongzhen will be countless times higher than you are now, and it is even impossible to win the position of the prime minister one day.

But what should the Ministry of Railways do?

Hong Chengchou discovered that in the past few years he was in the Ministry of Railways, he had gradually fallen in love with this job of the Ministry of Railways.

Not only did I see the Ming Dynasty railways taking shape in my hands, but it was also because there were the most barbarians in this yamen, the most exhausted barbarians, and the most inhumane!

Of course, Hong Chengchou never thought he was inhumane, so what if he was exhausted? What happened to Guan Daming?

A country like the Ming Dynasty should have been born to be in the center to control the four barbarians. It is their honor for the barbarians to have the opportunity to shed blood and sweat for the Ming Dynasty!

But how should I choose now?

His Majesty asked, he must have really intended to let himself enter the cabinet, but after he entered the cabinet, the Ministry of Railways would definitely have to let go of the storied stories, otherwise his energy would not be able to take care of so many things.

Haven't you seen that Wen Tiren looks older now than Shi Fenglai, who is more than ten years older than him!

After thinking about it, Hong Chengchou still bowed and said, "I am calling your Majesty. Although I am interested in entering the cabinet, the matter of the Ministry of Railways has not been completely settled. I dare not let go of it."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "Then wait. In a few years, let's talk about the matter of the Ministry of Railways after all the matters of the Ministry of Railways have been settled."

Emperor Chongzhen really intended to let Hong Chengchou enter the cabinet. Although he planned to take the blame at the beginning, Hong Chengchou has performed very stably and competently step by step since he was appointed as the governor of Yan'an until now.

This is very rare.

The Ming Dynasty cabinet now does not need many enterprising guys or amazing people, but people who can check for themselves like Wen Tiren!

Hong Chengchou in front of him is a good target!

But it is indeed as Hong Chengchou said, there are still a lot of things about the Ministry of Railways. Now let him enter the cabinet. Things around the world, plus the affairs of the Ministry of Railways are enough to crush him to death.

Or, Hong Chengchou can separate the center of gravity, with the cabinet as the main focus or the Ministry of Railways as the main focus, but countless things prove that human energy is limited, and it is simply unrealistic to be able to cover everything!

Therefore, Emperor Chongzhen, who was also somewhat confused, threw this question to Hong Chengchou himself to choose whether he would like to enter the cabinet, and it depends on his own thoughts.

When Hong Chengchou refused, Emperor Chongzhen felt relieved in his heart. It was also an extremely important part of the Ming Dynasty today. Hong Chengchou was in good condition. It was not easy to find someone who could replace Hong Chengchou.

There is no problem with Sun Chengzong, and there is no problem with joining the cabinet or managing the Ministry of Railways. However, Sun Chengzong is already 76 years old. How many years can he last?

After a while, Emperor Chongzhen, whose mind finally came back, continued: "Since Hong Aiqing is willing to continue to preside over the Ministry of Railways, then follow Hong Aiqing's wishes.

However, I have a few requirements to mention Hong Aiqing.”

Hong Chengchou bowed and said, "Please give me instructions."

Emperor Chongzhen continued: "Do you know what the Ministry of Railways in my heart, or the Ming Dynasty's railway, should look like?"

Hong Chengchou bowed and said, "I am so dull that I can't know Your Majesty's intentions. I hope Your Majesty will make it clear?"

Emperor Chongzhen said: "From east to west, from south to north, from northeast to southwest, from southeast to northwest, there are railways everywhere!

At the beginning, I could not ask for speed, from Beijing to Nanjing, I could reach it in two days or ten or eight days.

But in the future, this speed should be gradually improved, and it is best to arrive the next day! The same is true in other places.

Railway is like the blood vessels dissected by the guys from medical schools. Railway is the blood vessels of my Ming Dynasty!

Whether it is transporting goods, traveling people, or transporting soldiers and military supplies, the speed is not comparable to that of carriages. Do Hong Aiqing agree?”

Hong Chengchou nodded and said, "Your Majesty is very true. I have also done a test on the road from the capital to Shanhaiguan.

If the capital is transported 100,000 stones of grain and grass to Shanhaiguan, if manpower is used, it will cost nearly half of it and a large number of civilians will be used.

If it is changed to railway transportation, the consumption will be less than half a century. The main consumption is also some coal and water, which is indeed much better than the characters."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "That's true. Also, do I want to hear other opinions about Hong Aiqing on the railway?"

Hong Chengchou said carefully: "I originally thought that you could let merchants and the people ride on steam locomotives, but in the end I gave up this idea. It would be better to allow the post station to use railways to transport goods instead."

Emperor Chongzhen asked: "Does Hong Aiqing refer to the goods of merchants?"

Hong Chengchou nodded and said, "Yes, nowadays, merchants often have to pass civilian stations to transport goods, and they also have to hire escort agencies to escort escorts to transport a large amount of goods.

If they are transported by railway and charge part of their fees, it can reduce the costs of merchants and also make the inn and the Ministry of Railways more income."

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and said, "That's it, Hong Aiqing is ready to do it. How to charge for it? Think carefully and then report it to me.

However, just now Hong Aiqing said that merchants still need to hire escort agencies to transport goods? Could it be that the road is not peaceful or what?”

Hong Chengchou hesitated and said, "The road is very peaceful, at least much better than during the Tianqi period, but there are still many powerful disciples who gather in the mountains and forests who want to do some unsolicited business, so most merchants hire escorts for safety."

Emperor Chongzhen said: "Then Hong Aiqing isn't worried that someone will set his mind on the railway?"

Hong Chengchou shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, the people in the world don't know much about railways, but no one has the courage to put their ideas on the railway."

No one dared, the famous Jinyiwei and the East China Factory were there, and they could almost stop the children from crying at night. No matter how hard the boss on any mountain got his brain broken, he had no courage to set up a railway.

Emperor Chongzhen nodded and turned the topic to another direction: "Hong Aiqing can also think about it and see the issue of railway transporters in the future."

ps: Today I sacrifice a book called "Projection of the Heavens" by a big man, and the work of a good friend, local dog.

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Chapter completed!