My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 895 Private Equity Participation

"Kachacha~ Kachacha..."

On the ground of Wuying Hall, an exquisite train toy kept spinning along the circle paved by the rails. Zhu Qizhen, who was sitting on the dragon chair, stared at it.

Empress Dowager Zhang, Yang Rong and others were also amazed. They did not expect that this small toy train could be made so exquisitely. After just adding some oil to the car and lighting it, it could actually make the car run on its own.

"Empress Dowager, this is the train from Dahan. After we arrived at Beizheng Port, we took the train to Xijing. It only took a few hours, and Beizheng Port is farther from Xijing than Tianjin to Beijing. "If we also build a railway between Beijing and Tianjin, we can reach Tianjin in two or three hours!"

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Hu Hu immediately mentioned the construction of the railway to Queen Mother Zhang.

“Is it possible to build a railway between Beijing and Tianjin?”

Queen Mother Zhang was also stunned when she heard this, and then asked a little hesitantly.

"It is definitely feasible. I have obtained the consent of His Highness the Crown Prince. As long as we nod and bear the cost of building the railway, Dahan is willing to send craftsmen to help us build a railway between Beijing and Tianjin, and will also provide us with trains!"

Hu Xi reported again.

"The big man is actually willing to help us build the railway, and he is also willing to sell us the train!"

When Yang Rong, Yang Pu and others heard the news, they all showed shocked expressions.

Before Hu Xi went on his mission, Yang Rong and Yang Pu also discussed with him. At that time, they both agreed that there was not much hope of buying a steam engine from the Han Dynasty. However, they did not expect that Hu Xi not only bought a steam engine during this mission, but also a steam engine. And I bought it back together with the train, which is really surprising.

"Building railways? This is indeed a good thing, but I don't know how much it will cost?"

Queen Mother Zhang was happy at first, but then she frowned and asked.

The Empress Dowager Zhang knew very well that although the Ming Dynasty seemed to be strong, the national treasury was very tight, and money was being spent in all aspects. Now she wanted to build the railway, but she didn't know how much it would cost?

"To the Queen Mother, the cost of building the railway is indeed very high. Dahan did not give a price. Instead, he said that he would have to wait for the terrain to be surveyed before he could give a quotation. However, judging from Dahan's experience in building railways, he wants to build The railway from Beijing to Tianjin is definitely not feasible without a few million railway lines."

Hu Xi hesitated for a moment and finally told the truth.

In fact, Hu Hui had underestimated the amount of several million yuan. If there were some additional expenditures during the construction period, it might have increased by several percent.

"So expensive!"

The Queen Mother Zhang was also shocked when she heard this. You must know that the Ming Dynasty is still building two imperial mausoleums. The cost of each imperial mausoleum is very staggering. Now there is an additional railway, which makes the Queen Mother Zhang feel overwhelmed.

"Empress Dowager, in fact, this price is really not expensive. When the Han Dynasty built the first railway, because they had no experience, the cost budget was twice as high, but Her Royal Highness still gritted his teeth and built it from Xijing to Xijing Beizheng Port Railway, and after this railway is opened, it will only take a few hours from Xijing to Beizheng Port. This is equivalent to giving Xijing an additional port to the sea. Pedestrians and goods can enter and exit through the railway, which greatly promotes The economic development of Han Dynasty..."

As Hu Hui spoke, he recounted in detail how they took the train, what they saw and thought afterwards, especially the great significance of the railway to Xijing.

Empress Dowager Zhang and Yang Rong were also very curious, but Zhu Qizhen kept staring at the small train running in circles. If Empress Dowager Zhang hadn't been there, he would have run off to play. "So although the investment in the railway is huge, the benefits it brings in all aspects are also huge. The cost can be recovered within a few years. By then, this railway can even bring a lot of income to the court!"

Finally, Hu Xi added again.

Of course, Hu Hui's idea will definitely be scolded in future generations, because the railway is more like a national public welfare, and it does not mean making money from it. It is just the huge marginal effect brought by the railway, which is enough to make up for the railway. of losses.

However, due to the limitations of this era, it is quite difficult for Hu Hui to have the above ideas.

After hearing this, Queen Mother Zhang pondered for a long time. Finally she looked up at Yang Rong and other cabinet ministers and asked, "Yang Aiqing, do you think this is feasible?"

Yang Rong, Yang Pu and others looked at each other, and finally Yang Rong was the first to express his opinion: "I think the railway is feasible. The official road from Beijing to Tianjin has always been severely congested, and the road is already overwhelmed, and even There is no time for maintenance. If there can be a railway to share the pressure of the official road, the traffic between the two places will be smoother!"

"I second the proposal!"

Yang Pu also stood up and agreed at this time, and the remaining cabinet ministers also expressed their opinions. It can be said that it was unanimously approved. Even Zhang Fu, who had always been taciturn in the cabinet, also expressed his agreement.

"Very good. Since all the members of the Qing family agree, I have no objection. It's just that building the railway costs a lot. How can we raise the money?"

Queen Mother Zhang first agreed, and then raised a very realistic question.

"To report to the Empress Dowager, on the way back, I thought of a way. It is better to let banks come forward to raise money from the private sector. For example, the court will provide half of the money, and the remaining half will be allowed to be owned by the private sector, and dividends will be distributed to them in the future. In this way, the problem of insufficient money can be solved!”

Hu Hui expressed his idea of ​​raising money.

"This is a good method. When Shangshu Xia was still alive, he raised funds from the private sector many times and solved many problems!"

Yang Rong immediately stood up and agreed. In fact, he knew very well that the first person to propose private equity participation was Zhu Zhanhe. Xia Yuanji also learned from Zhu Zhanhe, but he had some self-esteem. Yang Rong deliberately did not mention Zhu Zhan He's name.

Yang Pu and others did not object. After all, this was not the first time that the Ming Dynasty had done this. Of course, the most important thing was that the court really could not afford the money, so it had to use this method.

"Very good. Now that there is a way to raise money, the railway matter will be easy to handle. Hu Shangshu, you immediately send someone to inform the big man and say that we have agreed. Then we will trouble you to discuss the construction of the railway with them in detail." !”

Queen Mother Zhang finally agreed.

"The Queen Mother is very polite, this is my duty!"

When Hu Hu heard that Empress Dowager Zhang had left this matter to her, she happily agreed. After all, building the railway would not only benefit the country and the people, but it would also be a huge political achievement that no one else could ask for.

(End of this chapter)