Daming: I can’t kill such a greedy prince-in-law?

Chapter 572: billion is unthinkable (Please subscribe!!)

"Your Majesty, the blueprint is the soul of the railway. If the blueprint is not well designed at the beginning, there will definitely be problems in the construction of the railway in the future!"

"I would rather have more trouble now than wait until the railway is built. If the railway construction is stopped due to problems with the design drawings, the loss of time and money will only be greater!"

"I have not only been drawing maps during this period. I have sent people to survey the route from the capital to Beiping to determine the risks involved."

"Another problem is the material of the railway tracks. Although we now have three large steel mills in Daming, whether the steel produced by the steel mills can be used on the rails still requires technical verification and various experiments to know. This is also a big problem."

"In addition, the construction of trains must also proceed simultaneously, and the factory to build the trains must also be determined in advance."

Ouyang Lun talked a lot, and Zhu Yuanzhang could listen to him at first, but soon he felt overwhelmed. Materials, verification, experiments, and exploration... Zhu Yuanzhang was quite confused.

You definitely didn't understand what you heard.

However, what made Zhu Yuanzhang slightly satisfied was that, although the project had not started, it could be heard that Ouyang Lun had indeed done a lot of things.

Alas - I don’t know if we can live to see the railway.

"Ouyang Lun, no matter how much preparation we have done in the early stages, you have to speed up the process. Don't forget what you promised us!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

"Yes!"

Ouyang Lun was also somewhat helpless. Zhu Yuanzhang was getting older and his character was becoming more and more cunning. He had clearly just said that he would give it a try at the beginning and had not made any guarantees. But now, he had directly promised the other party.

What’s the difference between this and forced buying and selling?

It turns out that Zhu Yuanzhang’s words cannot be trusted.

Of course, Ouyang Lun just muttered a few words in his heart. There was no need to argue with Zhu Yuanzhang about this matter. He still had to give Zhu Yuanzhang some face.

But Ouyang Lun was not completely tolerant. You are always polite? It is impossible.

"Your Majesty, I did promise you that I would build the Beijing-Ping Railway, but I also made it clear when I agreed to this. Building a railway in the Ming Dynasty is unprecedented and a huge challenge!"

“Success is not guaranteed!”

"And I have to say it again, building a railway is a complicated matter. There is no point in rushing. If it is just a demonstration project, I can complete it in a year. Oh, no, three months!"

Ouyang Lun said calmly.

A railway that took three months to build? You, Ouyang Lun, dared to build it, but we dare not ride on it!
"Hehe, we just asked you to hurry up and not be lazy, we didn't ask you to build a shoddy project for us!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said this in a bad mood and then stopped talking.

Seeing this, Zhu Biao immediately tried to smooth things over, saying with a smile: "Haha, after hearing what my brother-in-law said, I realized that building a railway requires so much preparation! But after hearing that my brother-in-law did such a detailed and thorough job, I am even more looking forward to the first railway in my Ming Dynasty!"

"Brother-in-law, besides this, do you have anything else to say to me and my father?"

Hearing Zhu Biao's question, Ouyang Lun nodded immediately, "I do have something I want to discuss with your majesty and the emperor."

"What's the matter? Just tell me!" Zhu Biao said loudly.

"It's like this. I have been planning the Beijing-Ping Railway during this period. I have recalculated the cost of the Beijing-Ping Railway." Ouyang Lun said slowly.

"The cost of building the Beijing-Pingcheng Railway? Hasn't this been calculated?!" Zhu Biao was stunned and asked in confusion.

"I have indeed calculated it, but the conditions were not as mature as they are now. I just did a simple calculation. Now that the conditions are mature, the calculation results will naturally be more accurate." Ouyang Lun said with a smile.

For some reason, after hearing Ouyang Lun's words and seeing his smiling expression, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Biao, father and son, suddenly became nervous.

"Brother-in-law, after you recalculated the money for building the Beijing-Pingcheng Railway, is it more or less?" Zhu Biao asked nervously.

"Ahem, the cost of railway design and exploration is increasing. In addition, the price of materials cannot be reduced and will also increase. After the official construction, we will have to recruit more workers to meet the deadline, and the cost will also increase. There are other aspects. The cost will naturally increase."

"I came here today to ask Your Majesty and the Emperor to agree to this expense."

Ouyang Lun said slowly.

"Has it increased?" Zhu Biao frowned slightly. The original cost of the Beijing-Pingcheng Railway was 10 billion taels of silver. Although it was paid in installments, it still put a lot of pressure on the Ming Dynasty's finances.

"It's just adding money. We've already paid the ten billion, so we're not afraid of more. What's the newly calculated cost? Ouyang Lun, tell us what it is!" Zhu Yuanzhang said proudly.

When Ouyang Lun first heard that it would cost 1 billion to build a railway, he was indeed shocked. However, after learning more about it, he found out that the 1 billion taels of silver did not need to be given by the court all at once, but rather required a continuous investment of about ten to twenty years.

If the imperial court has no money, the major banks can still lend money to this project, and then use the operating rights of the railway as collateral.

Zhu Yuanzhang was obsessed with this railway and was willing to pay a higher price.

It’s just a little more money, it’s no big deal!

Ok!

"I have just prepared the latest details of the construction costs of the Beijing-Pingcheng Railway. Please review it, Your Majesty!"

As he spoke, Ouyang Lun took out a memorial from his sleeve.

The eunuch took the memorial from Ouyang Lun and opened it to read it immediately. At first, there was a smile on Zhu Yuanzhang's face, but the more he read, the smile disappeared, and in the end, his expression became more and more gloomy!
Zhu Yuanzhang's hand holding the memorial began to tremble slightly, and veins bulged on the back of his hand and neck.

Everyone in the hall was shocked when they saw this scene.

When Zhu Biao saw Zhu Yuanzhang like this, he was also confused.

what happened?

My father was fine just now, why did he become like this after reading the contents of the memorial? Or is he sick?

Zhu Biao quickly moved closer to Zhu Yuanzhang and asked softly, "Father, if you are not feeling well, can you ask the imperial physician to come and see you?"

"No, we're so good!"

"It's just that the cost of building the railway is abnormal!!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said this almost gritting his teeth.

After hearing this, everyone immediately understood that it was not because Zhu Yuanzhang was ill, but because of the content of Ouyang Lun's memorial.

All of a sudden, everyone in the hall became curious about the contents of the memorial.

Everyone was wondering what Ouyang Lun wrote in this memorial that could make Zhu Yuanzhang so excited!
Could it be that the cost of building the railway has increased a lot this time?
Swish--

Li Shanchang and other officials standing by were curious and looked at Ouyang Lun. They wanted to see something from Ouyang Lun's expression.

But it's a pity.

At this moment, Ouyang Lun's face showed nothing but a standard polite smile, as if he had already anticipated Zhu Yuanzhang's reaction.

"Ouyang Lun! Is the cost really so much?!" Zhu Yuanzhang asked in a deep voice.

"That's indeed a lot." Ouyang Lun nodded calmly.

"I see that your memorial says a total of 9.9 billion taels of silver. Ouyang Lun, tell me if this is true?" Zhu Yuanzhang roared, "Does it really take so much to build a railway?!"

Ninety-nine billion taels of silver!!

hiss--

This number is too unfamiliar!
Even based on the Ming Dynasty's current annual tax revenue of nearly 200 million, it would take 50 years to save up 9.9 billion. And this is assuming that the Ming Dynasty court does not spend any money.

This is simply an astronomical figure!

Before reading this memorial, Zhu Yuanzhang had prepared himself mentally. The previous offer was 1 billion, and he would grit his teeth and accept it even if it was 100 million or 200 million more. After all, everything was for the early opening of the Beijing-Pingcheng Railway.

But this increase is not 100 million or 200 million, but a tenfold increase!!

Damn! This is crazy!
This number was really hard for Zhu Yuanzhang to accept.

Even if the 9.9 billion taels of silver were paid in installments, it would still be a heavy financial burden for the Ming Dynasty.

The Ming Dynasty is indeed getting better and better, but it is not good enough to build a project that costs 9.9 billion taels of silver!

Even if you sell the entire Ming Dynasty court now, you may not get ninety-nine taels!

When they heard this astronomical figure, Zhu Biao, Li Shanchang and other officials all widened their eyes instantly.

Everyone's face was filled with horror.

The number of 9.9 billion is something I cannot even imagine in my dreams!

Li Shanchang's eyes turned, and he immediately felt that his chance had come. He immediately stood up and said, "Your Majesty, the Supreme Emperor, 9.9 billion taels of silver is simply an astronomical figure. Let's not talk about whether the Ming Dynasty can come up with it. Even if we can, we must not spend it like this!"

"The Beijing-Ping Railway is certainly important, but if we have to spend so much money just to build it, it's really not worth it!"

Li Shanchang did not directly target Ouyang Lun this time, because he knew very well that it was more important to have a head-on conflict with Ouyang Lun in the current situation.

This time he could use this incident to severely attack Ouyang Lun, or even destroy the Beijing-Pingyuan Railway project! !

However, Li Shanchang planned to proceed step by step and test the waters first.

Li Shanchang's words made Zhu Yuanzhang's face become serious.

The Beijing-Pingyuan Railway is certainly important and of great significance, but adults ultimately have to consider their own interests.

Compared with the Beijing-Pingcheng Railway and 9.9 billion taels of silver, this made Zhu Yuanzhang hesitant.

The price paid is simply too high.

At this time, Li Shanchang spoke again: "Your Majesty, the Supreme Emperor, when Qin Shihuang built the Great Wall, its importance to the Qin Dynasty was self-evident. Almost the entire country was involved in its construction, but in the end, it was a waste of money and labor, and the people revolted!"

"The Ming Dynasty is now following the old path of the Qin Dynasty!"

Li Shanchang's words were convincing and full of emotion.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face remained gloomy, but he did not speak.

Li Shanchang was delighted and continued, "Your Majesty, the Supreme Emperor, I am still worried. How much of this 9.9 billion taels of silver can actually be used to build the railway?"

Murder and heart-wrenching! !

This time, I, Li Shanchang, will not target you, Ouyang Lun. I will not even mention your name. I will just talk about the facts. You, Ouyang Lun, will not be able to say anything!

Who wouldn’t be moved when seeing 9.9 billion?

What's more, you, Ouyang Lun, have a bad reputation in official circles.

Zhu Biao was quite calm. For such a big matter, although he, Zhu Biao, was the emperor now, the final decision would still be made by Zhu Yuanzhang. So in addition to being shocked by the 9.9 billion, he was also waiting for Zhu Yuanzhang to make a decision.

Zhu Yuanzhang was suspicious by nature, and after hearing what Li Shanchang said, he started to think more.

However, Zhu Yuanzhang not only suspected Ouyang Lun, but also Li Shanchang.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also weighing Li Shanchang's motives.

Is this guy doing this for the good of the Ming Dynasty, or is he targeting Ouyang Lun? However, Li Shanchang did not mention Ouyang Lun this time, and it seemed that he was just discussing the matter at hand.

As for Ouyang Lun, thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but look at Ouyang Lun.

This kid still looks calm and composed.

Could it be that this guy is not joking with me, but really wants to spend so much money? Zhu Yuanzhang gradually calmed down and looked at the memorial in his hand. The content of the memorial was written in great detail. It can be said that it clearly stated how the 9.9 billion silver would be spent!
call--

Zhu Yuanzhang let out a breath of foul air.

"Ouyang Lun, the contents of this memorial are too many and too complicated, and there are many special terms. The emperor and I cannot understand them. Since you are here, you should tell us in person why you have to spend so much money!"

"If you can convince me and the emperor today, the 9.9 billion may be enough, but if your reason is not enough, then you will have to pay for the railway construction!"

Zhu Yuanzhang said in a deep voice.

What the hell!

After hearing what Zhu Yuanzhang said, Ouyang Lun almost had high blood pressure.

Lao Zhu, you are simply a bandit! No no, you are a bandit!
If it weren't for the fact that you are my father-in-law, I would really like to beat you up!
"Your Majesty, the Supreme Emperor, I have made it very clear in my memorial. We are not only going to build a Beijing-Pingcheng railway, but we are also going to comprehensively develop the railway infrastructure industry chain of our Ming Dynasty!"

"It costs so much to research tool and material production technology and train professional talents for mass production workshop construction!"

“Do we need to provide loans to business companies related to the industry so that they can develop? Do these things cost money?”

"I have already been frugal enough to calculate, which is why the total budget has been compressed to within 10 billion!"

"Moreover, some technologies and materials may not be found in the territory of the Ming Dynasty. We have to look for them in countries outside the Ming Dynasty, which will cost us a lot. We also need to import some professional talents from abroad!"

"To be honest, if it weren't for the current reality of our Ming Dynasty, I would still think that 9.9 billion is not enough!"

Forehead..

I was listening to Ouyang Lun's explanation carefully, but after hearing these words, I really couldn't help myself!

You still feel it’s missing!!
(End of this chapter)