Of course, Zhao Kuo was a little aware of Zhao Qian's admiration, but he didn't take it too seriously.

For Zhao Kuo, he is actually paying attention to another thing now.

After making about seven or eight laps, the locomotive slowly stopped.

Zhao Kuo jumped off the train and then said to Fu Zhen: "Can you mass-produce this locomotive as soon as possible?"

When Fu Zhen heard this, he nodded immediately and said with great certainty: "Please rest assured that our Majesty has overcome all the technical difficulties of this steam engine train. As long as we have enough personnel, we can start mass production of locomotives now."

After hearing this, Zhao Kuo immediately smiled and said, "You can go to the Prime Minister's Mansion and say it, and ask him to give you as many people as possible, just say it's what I mean."

For Zhao Kuo, the train must be put into mass production immediately and immediately.

Only when the train is used on a large scale can the train technology be rapidly improved and faster, stronger and more labor-saving trains appear.

Of course, the most important thing is that this will help the society of the Han Dynasty and enter the industrial society at a faster speed.

After hearing Zhao Kuo's words, Kuo Zhen was immediately full of confidence and said to Zhao Kuo: "As long as you have enough manpower, please rest assured, our locomotives will be built one by one soon."

Zhao Kuo nodded and asked another question.

"Are there any technical difficulties in the production of railways?"

The manufacturing of railways seems to be quite simple, it is nothing more than preparing some sand and stones and sleepers. But in fact, it also has some knowledge of technology and physics principles. It is impossible to say that you can create a railway at will.

After hearing this, Ku Zhen answered this question with confidence.

"Please rest assured that the railway is much simpler than the train. Even if something really happens, we can break it quickly."

After getting this information, Zhao Kuo was completely relieved and smiled and said to Fu Zhen: "Then you guys do it well. By the way, remember to give it to me for a budget for building a railway.

I will convene a court discussion in two days to discuss the construction of the railway!”

The construction of railways is a major project, which is equivalent to the construction of high-speed railways in later generations. Considering that this is the first time the Han Dynasty has built a railway, it is necessary to start as soon as possible.

According to Zhao Kuo's estimate, after the first railway is built, these trains should be able to produce ten or twenty vehicles. When this happens, it will definitely be a 10,000 taels of gold when the train rings.

There was once a saying that goes, to get rich, it is a truth proven by history.

Now, Zhao Kuo wants all the Han people to know that to get rich, build the railway first! Sitting on the carriage back to the palace, Zhao Kuo looked at Zhao Qian, who still couldn't hide his excitement and said, "How about it, is this train surprising you?"

Zhao Qian nodded and said, "Father, this is really amazing. I really didn't expect that such a magical thing would appear in this world!"

Although the train was very loud and shaking when it sat up, Zhao Qian still felt that this big iron lump had a very unique charm when it was running, which made Zhao Qian involuntarily feel it.

Zhao Kuo smiled and said, "You must know that there will be more magical things in this world in the future, and many things are likely to be beyond your imagination.

At this time, you should not subconsciously think that they are ridiculous and false things, but should first let someone verify them.

It's like this train today. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, who would believe it if I told it?

But the problem is that it actually exists in this world.

This is why I want to set up a Ministry of Science and Technology. Technology can make the world progress. Many things it creates, like the train today, will completely change the whole world!"

Zhao Qian nodded convincingly, and his admiration for Zhao Kuo became more and more obvious.

At this moment, in the heart of the young prince, his father was as dazzling as a god! According to Zhao Kuo's instructions, Ku Zhen quickly sent a rough railway and train construction budget table.

After all, the Ministry of Science and Technology belongs to the country. If you really want to build the railway, it will require the treasury to pay, so of course you have to make a budget and calculate the cost. It is impossible to say that you spend unlimited money.

Then, Zhao Kuo convened a court meeting.

During this court discussion, military generals such as Li Mu, Sima Shang were all fighting outside, so they were mainly important officials of civil servants.

Zhao Kuo smiled and spoke to the ministers in front of him, "My dear friends, I came to you today mainly to discuss the construction of trains and railways."

After hearing Zhao Kuo's words, the ministers of the Han Dynasty present couldn't help but feel a little confused. They didn't know what the railway was.

Zhao Kuo laughed and said, "Simply put, the Ministry of Science and Technology has just created something called a train. With this thing, the connections and transportation of goods and military forces in the future will be more convenient.

In order to cooperate with the operation of this train, the railway must be built. Here is a budget table from the real one. You can take a look first.

After everyone finishes watching, I will take you to try this train and let you see what the future high-tech of the Han Kingdom will look like!”

After saying that, Zhao Kuo asked someone to send the budget table, one copy per person.

After reading the budget table, many important officials showed shocked expressions on their faces.

Prime Minister Xu Li couldn't help but speak, "Your Majesty, this budget for building a railway is too amazing, right?"

Of course, Zhao Kuo had already read this budget table and immediately smiled and said, "Is it amazing?"

Actually, I think it's OK.

Don't worry, I can guarantee that these budgets are definitely worth the money!"

Xu Li: "..." Not only Xu Li, but even the left Prime Minister Pang Xuan frowned and said, "Your Majesty, this railway is actually worth one million yuan per mile?

It's really too expensive.

In addition, this locomotive, a locomotive costs ten million yuan, which is even more expensive."

These two prime ministers usually rarely question Zhao Kuo's decision, but under this huge number, they still broke the convention.

When Zhao Kuo heard this, he was immediately amazed and laughed.

One million per mile, would this be expensive if it were placed in later generations?

That's simply too cheap.

After all, the railway has to use a lot of manpower, and it has to open a new road, and it may also involve land issues, so Zhao Kuo thinks that this million-per-mile road is really not expensive.

Zhao Kuo patiently explained: "It is normal for something like railway to be built with a higher cost for the first time. Will it be reduced after we successfully build it in the future?

And, you should know that trains are really of great significance to our Han Kingdom and will greatly promote the development and progress of our society. One million miles apart are really not expensive!”

Although Zhao Kuo explained patiently, Xu Li and Pang Nuan looked at each other and still chose to continue to oppose it.

Xu Li sighed and said to Zhao Kuo: "Your Majesty, I really find it difficult to understand why the train and railway are so expensive.

Please think about it. It is only a 300-mile journey from Imperial Capital to Daliang City. The budget for building a railway is 300 million. In addition to purchasing twenty locomotives, a locomotive of ten million is 20 million.

In other words, the Han Dynasty had to invest at least 500 million in these three hundred miles of journey, which was too high, Your Majesty.

Our great Han Kingdom is now a land of thousands of miles. If we want to build the railway throughout the entire great Han Kingdom as His Majesty said before, we may not even be able to take out one percent of this number in our treasury.”

After Xu Li finished speaking, he immediately received support from Pang Nuan and others.

Obviously, for Xu Li, Pang Nuan and even other ministers of the Han Dynasty, the money was too much and the cost was too high.

Zhao Kuo: "..." Zhao Kuo suddenly realized that he had made a small mistake.

Perhaps, we should take Xu Li and the others to take the train first, let them feel it, and then make a decision.

As soon as he thought of this, Zhao Kuo didn't say anything nonsense and said directly: "This way, I know that you have doubts about this train and railway. So I will take you to the Ministry of Science and Technology for a trial ride now, and then we will make a conclusion after we finish the trial ride."

Then, Zhao Kuo took these important officials from the Han Kingdom out of the palace and went to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Half a day later.

Zhao Kuo was the first to get off the train, and smiled at the group of important officials behind him who were still shocked on their faces and said, "Now all my dear friends should know how transcendental invention this train is."

At this time, many important officials of the Han Dynasty, including Xu Li, were still digesting the experience of taking this train.

As an "ancient man", the shock of taking a train is really needless to say, it is very, very shocking.

However, after the shock subsided, Xu Li spoke again.

"Your Majesty, the old minister will stick to his previous opinions."

Zhao Kuo: "?

?

?”

Zhao Kuo was really surprised now. Good guys, they all took the train. You don’t know how good the train is?

Xu Li looked at Zhao Kuo and said sincerely: "Your Majesty, this train is indeed very good, but the old minister also feels that it is not without its shortcomings.

First of all, its speed is not fast and is completely incomparable to a carriage.

Secondly, it requires a lot of steel, but now our country's steel resources are actually very tight. Instead of using them to make railways, it is better to use them in other aspects.

Finally, the most important thing that Lao Chen thinks is that the construction cost of the train and railway is really too high."

Not only Xu Li, but also the left Prime Minister Pang Nuan once again insisted on his previous position.

Zhao Kuo: "..." Zhao Kuo suddenly understood why Xu Li and Pang Nuan were against it.

The construction of a railway does require huge amounts of steel and funds, which can be clearly and intuitively reflected on the budget table.

The hundreds of millions of funds are definitely not a small amount of money for the treasury of the Han Dynasty. After all, these hundreds of millions are just used to build a train mileage of 300 miles.

But what about the benefits after the railway construction?

This benefit is not what you can see now.

Like Zhao Kuo, as a time traveler, of course, he knows how huge the benefits the railway can create and how huge the role it plays in society.

But for "ancient people" like Xu Li and Pang Nuan, they really had no way to foresee such benefits. They could only see this amazing cost, and then chose to oppose it in order not to allow the treasury to spend such a large amount of money.

Now, Zhao Kuo had a headache.
To be continued...