Emperor Ming Dynasty

Chapter 924 Railroad Tracks
"A ticket to Songjiang Mansion—"

"Three dollars—"

"Two sleeper berths to Changzhou Prefecture."

"No, you can buy a seat, it's cheap."

"Cheap? Is Lao Tzu the kind of person who can't afford it?"

Suzhou Mansion, a station five miles outside the city, was already crowded with people, and there were countless people.

People carried small packages and looked around from time to time, not to mention how nervous they were.

The long teams actually marched hundreds of steps forward one after another, making the foreheads of the people behind sweaty.

At the ticket window, there are about a dozen big men, with burly bodies and loud voices, they are not easy to mess with at first glance.

They are high above, like court servants in a pawn shop, speaking condescendingly, with cold and impatient expressions.

Those who bought the tickets raised their heads, reluctantly put the money on the front, and shouted the tickets they wanted.

Although they knew it was awkward, everyone was in a weak position, so no one dared to speak up.

Even those who have a little wealth did not intend to refute.

Compared with the attitude, the fare is more uncomfortable.

Here is the ticket office for the rail carriage.

At this time, Fang Yizhi, the newly appointed prefect of Zhenjiang, came to the ticket office outside the city, accompanied by a group of elders.

In front of them, the person in charge of operating the railroad track looks gentle, but exudes a little businessman's breath, a mixture of the two.

Since the construction of the railway was a joint venture between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the private gentry, the person in charge was elected by the businessmen and named as the big shopkeeper.

I saw that this shopkeeper had seen the world, and he didn't hesitate to face the magistrate, explaining in an orderly manner:

"Fu Zun, the rail carriages arrived at Songjiang Mansion from Zhenjiang Mansion, five hundred miles away, and stopped at Danyang, Wujin, Changzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, Kunshan, Qingpu, Songjiang, a total of eight stations..."

"Just the 500 miles of railroad tracks cost 350 million yuan. It can be said that it is a step by step step by step, and it is paved with gold and silver..."

"Look, this railway track is double-tracked. It's very convenient and fast. There's a train every two quarters of an hour..."

"Oh? As for the railroad track, I have heard about it in the newspapers, and now I am lucky enough to see it. It is really better to be famous than to meet."

Fang Yizhi stroked his beard and praised.

His old father passed away a few years ago, and he had been in Anqing Dingyou for two and a half years, and now he is officially appointed as the prefect of Zhenjiang, but this is the first time he has seen this thing.

"Fu Zun, the people in Yingtian Mansion are not happy anymore, and they are clamoring to go to Yingtian." At this time, the prefect of the Fu also joined in the fun and said:

"They don't even think about it. Can Yingtian Fu Yin be the master? He can't be judged by the Holy Majesty himself, and he won't be able to fall in a year or so."

"Why should Ying Tianfu also cultivate?" Fang Yizhi asked softly, his eyes full of searching.

"Fu Zun, this railway track is naturally more convenient."

The big shopkeeper continued at this time: "In the past, Zhenjiang went to Songjiang Mansion, with a boat and a carriage, and it took less than three to five days, so it was impossible to get off at all."

"But now that we have this railroad carriage, although it takes time to replace the horses, it takes at most half a day to arrive. It is very convenient and there is no danger."

Hearing such an explanation, Fang Yizhi was noncommittal.

The fellow judge at the side said in a low voice: "I want Futai to know. This railway track is convenient, but it is a bit more expensive. It costs one yuan per station. From Zhenjiang to Songjiang, eight stations cost eight yuan."

"A horse-drawn carriage can transport 500 people, and a round trip costs nearly 400 yuan. They can earn at least [-] yuan."

"What are the benefits of Yamen?" Fang Yizhi asked in a deep voice.

"There are advantages too." Tong Zhi smiled lightly: "Although the business is done by the emperor and the gentry, the yamen also has something to do with it."

"Think about it, if there is such a long railroad track, if there is even the slightest mistake, the car will be destroyed and people will die. Moreover, it is necessary to prevent those thieves from stealing the railroad track, so it must be guaranteed by the yamen."

"Therefore, each station has to pay 1000 yuan to the local county government every month, which can be regarded as tax."

Fang Yizhi was stunned.

1000 yuan may not seem like much, but it is [-] yuan a year, which is extremely generous for the local county government.

But this shows how terrifying the profits of the railroad track are.

What's more, the entire southern Jiangsu area is densely populated and wealthy. Eight yuan may seem like a lot, but compared to several days of hard work, food, drink and accommodation, it is worth the money.

"It's no wonder Ying Tianfu coveted it."

Fang Yizhi sighed: "This is like a mountain of gold and silver, everyone wants to have it!"

"You're right."

The big treasurer nodded, and said respectfully and proudly: "The gentry and yamen in those places want to build the railway track privately, but they don't have any doors."

"This matter was decided by His Majesty himself. No one is allowed to build it without his old man's permission."

"However, let me be a bit tricky, there is still a lot of fuss about Ying Tianfu!"

"Oh?"

Fang Yizhi was a little surprised.

According to common sense, Yingtian Mansion has a very high status. As the accompanying capital of the imperial court, the prefect's status can directly reach the front of the imperial court. It should be very easy to build a mere railway track.

He glanced again, and there was a continuous stream of people coming out of the station, and there were more than a dozen shops, warehouses, inns, wine shops, and even places where people could look for flowers and flowers.

In such a bustling area, the local yamen may collect thousands of yuan every month just to collect taxes!
"You are old and clever." The shopkeeper whispered: "There is a Xiaoling Mausoleum outside Nanjing City."

"The government and the public are paying attention. Many people have written letters, saying that the noise on the railway tracks has disturbed the peace of the great grandfather. Who dares to bear such a big relationship?"

"That's true." Fang Yizhi straightened his expression: "Huang Ming has always governed the country with filial piety, and it is related to the great grandfather. It really needs to be cautious. A small profit is nothing."

"Good morning, sir—"

Everyone praised it, and wandered around the entire station again.

The more he looked, the more shocked Fang Yizhi became.

The entire station occupies an area of ​​less than [-] mu, but an earth wall has been built, which is more than three feet high, enclosing the entire station, and there is only one exit to enter and exit.

All people who buy tickets will be stamped with a seal and become a proof of entry and exit.

In addition to money, guests also need to have a way to prove it, otherwise they will not be able to ride at all.

"This stamp?"

Fang Zhifu looked at it curiously, feeling surprised.

"This is a way that a certain dye merchant came up with. Before, we used road guides to stamp, but we found that people repeatedly boarded the car, so we stamped it directly on the back of the hand."

The shopkeeper chuckled and said, "This dye is also strange, and it can be eliminated in a day's work."

"You see, at the entrance, those big guys rub the back of his hands, and let them go as long as they can't be rubbed off. It's very convenient."

"It's like going to Changzhou, then the Zhenjiang and Changzhou stamps will be stamped on the back of the hand. If you sit in Songjiang, you will have to pay a fine..."

Fang Yizhi wandered around for a long time before returning to the government office.

The front office and the back residence, Zhenjiang Mansion is worthy of being the location of Southern Jiangsu. It looks dilapidated on the outside, but it is magnificent on the inside, and the furniture is of the best style.

Not long after he took his seat, a housekeeper came to report that a businessman from Anqing Mansion asked to see him.

Hearing that it was an old family member, Fang Yizhi thought about it and agreed.

The businessman did not have the air of a philistine, on the contrary, he was very refined: "Master Fu, your article in Anqing Wenbao has already appeared in the newspaper, and I will come here specially to pay you for the manuscript!"

Hearing this, Fang Yizhi suddenly realized.

It turned out that during Ding You's period, he was not idle, so he refilled the "Little Knowledge of Physics" that he had compiled, and then published it in Anqing Wenbao.

He hadn't been seen for more than half a month, and it was surprising that he got the news not long after he took office as the prefect.

But after he thought about it for a while, he realized that he was looking after the dishes.

"My clumsy work, don't bother your newspaper!"

"Where is it?" The businessman hurriedly apologized with a smile: "The editor of the newspaper was fired before, and later people missed all your manuscripts. I saw it a few days ago, and I was shocked."

"When I wanted to send you the manuscript fee, I found out that it was your house. The grassroots were very panicked, so they came to Zhenjiang to apologize to you..."

Hearing these words, Fang Yizhi's expression eased.

At this time, he suddenly understood that it was reasonable for others to abandon their articles.

My own "Little Knowledge of Physics" is not a stereotype, nor is it a novel. It only involves [-] categories such as heaven, calendar, wind, thunder, rain and sun, land, occupancy and weather, and human body, and it is explained in combination with Western learning.

For example, it has always been believed that the sky is round and the earth is flat. Missionaries came to China and brought the theory of round earth. Fang Yizhi accepted it, so he said: "The terrain is like a walnut, with convex mountains and concave seas."

Moreover, based on the fact that Xiyi observed with a telescope that Venus was "sometimes dark, sometimes full, and sometimes up and down", he put forward a guess that Venus and Mercury orbit the sun.

Either way, the impact on the folk is enormous.

In this case, how could other newspapers publish it?
"This is your payment."

The businessman hands up a pack of purses.

When I opened it, it turned out to be a gold circle.

"This is rare." Fang Yizhi was surprised, quite a bit surprised.

There are so many silver dollars on the market today, one silver dollar is one tael of silver, and one gold dollar is ten silver dollars.

Gold is more precious than silver. Naturally, it is worth a lot, and the silver coins cast by the imperial court are not as common as the silver coins from the past.

There are only thirty or so pieces, worth 300 yuan in silver dollars.

This fee seems to be quite a lot.

"I'm afraid it's not worth it!" Fang Yizhi shook his head and pushed the purse forward: "Although my book is good, there are many objections in it, and it's less than 300 yuan."

"No one in Tongcheng knows your reputation?" The businessman said respectfully, "Just your old name is worth the price."

Fang Yizhi is a representative of the Tongcheng School, so his reputation is naturally great, and he is one of the famous four princes.

Fang Yizhi straightened his expression, and said in a deep voice: "If you have anything to do, just say it directly, you and I are from the same village, and if you can take care of it, you will naturally be able to take care of it."

"Futai, there is really no other way."

The businessman smiled wryly and said, "Recently in Anqing Mansion, there has been news that Ying Tian is going to repair the railroad tracks. You are from Anhui, so you should know that when Ying Tian Mansion sneezes, we Anqing people have to put on some clothes—"

"I heard that Yingtian Mansion is building a railroad track, and Anqing Mansion is in trouble. The gentry are clamoring, thinking about building a railroad track to go to Luzhou Mansion."

"No matter how bad it is, Tongcheng will also go to Luzhou, right?"

"Nonsense——" Fang Yizhi frowned when he heard the words, and said in a deep voice: "The matter of the railway track is all dictatorized by the Holy One. How can my little magistrate make the decision?"

"The common people also know this, so the gentry speak out and let the officials and the people jointly write to the imperial court. You are from your hometown and have a high talent and reputation, so I want you to agree..."

The businessman spoke in a calm and orderly manner, which forced Fang Yizhi to agree.

Because this is a joint matter of the entire Anqing Mansion.

If he doesn't want to be ostracized and scolded at home, he has to agree.

"What is the purpose of this country gentleman building railroad tracks?"

Fang Yizhi frowned and asked casually.

"Our Anhui provincial capital is in Luzhou. Although it is not far from us, it is full of mountain roads and rivers. It is very difficult to walk. It is not convenient to take the provincial or rural examinations.

Unlike in previous years, you can arrive at Yingtianfu directly by boat at the pier, and it takes only one day. "

"If you want me to say, it's better to put the provincial capital in Yingtian, no matter how bad it is, it's our Anqing."

The businessman complained that it was still the provincial government's business to remember.

Obviously, Ying Tianfu has been the center for 300 years, and the people of Anqing still don't trust Luzhou.

Even a little proud in his bones.

The west of Anqing is Hubei, the south is Jiangxi, and the Yangtze River passes through the city. The transportation is inconvenient. Anhui is rich and prosperous, and it is comparable to Huizhou, which is well-established in business.

In the imperial examination, Anqing Prefecture is also the first in Anhui, even in Jiangsu is also a leader.

Now Luzhou Mansion is the provincial capital, and half of it is divided into Lu'an Mansion. No matter in terms of population or taxation, it cannot be compared with Anqing at all.

Under such circumstances, who is willing to recognize Luzhou, wishing to be the provincial capital himself!

"Okay, I agree." Fang Yizhi shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Take the money back!"

Businessmen are not allowed.

Fang Yizhi was helpless, so he took ten gold coins, saying that he was only worth so much.

However, the entire Jiangnan area, because of the huge profits from the railway tracks, has caused a lot of trouble among the people through the propaganda of the newspapers.

The gentry love the convenience, but also want to make money, so they all want to build railroad tracks.

But this kind of matter is presided over by the emperor, and they have nothing to do but clamor to write a letter.

At this time, the emperor went to Shanhaiguan after his inspection tour in Zunhua.

The end of the railway track is Shanhaiguan.

As a barrier inside and outside the pass, the importance of Shanhaiguan is self-evident, and [-] frontier troops are directly stationed here.

After all, unlike before, this is no longer a border, but a checkpoint.

The real frontier of Ming Dynasty has expanded to the north for more than [-] miles, and Chahar's [-] frontier troops are stationed. As long as it is safe there, the entire Gyeonggi will be peaceful.

Zhu Yixi looked at the endless stream of merchants passing by, his eyes swept over the big and small bags, his face remained unchanged:

"How much money can Shanhaiguan collect in a year?"

The guard is a guerrilla general, and he tremblingly said: "Your Majesty, the last general dare not be greedy. These are all under the sole control of the Commercial and Taxation Department, and the last general is just a guard..."

Zhu Yixi was speechless, and glanced at him, which made the latter tremble with fright.

Soon, people from the Commercial and Taxation Department came and reported: "The huge Shanhaiguan passes through more than [-] people a year, and can collect about one million."

"My minister is lying, given time, the entire Liaodong will develop, and Shanhaiguan will be able to rise again—"

(End of this chapter)