I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 613 The speed of the train depends entirely on the locomotive!

After leaving Luanzhou Iron and Steel Plant, the Eastern Tour Team did not go to Luanzhou Prefecture's Lulong County, but turned south to Leting, where there was a port, Hulu Port.

It is not only a major port in Gyeonggi Province, but also has the largest shipyard in the north, Hulugang Shipyard.

While resting at an inn on the road, Zhang Juzheng discovered that thousands of laborers were busy working in the fields in the distance.

He turned around and asked Hu Rugong curiously, "Hu Futai, what is being built over there?"

Hu Rugong put his right hand on his forehead, looked around and saw clearly, and replied: "In reply to Prime Minister Zhang, the southern branch of the Luanda Line is being built there."

"Luanda Line?" Countless pieces of information flashed through Zhang Juzheng's mind. He felt that the name was very familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had heard it.

I thought about it for a while, but I really couldn’t think of it.

As the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, he had too many matters to deal with, big and small. When he looked up and saw Zhang Xueyan, he waved and called him over.

"Zi Yu, have you heard of the Luan Line? I remember it was mentioned in a certain cabinet document."

Zhang Xueyan thought for a moment and replied, "Prime Minister Zhang, the Ministry of War received a request from the Zhili Railway Company to build the Datong Line and the Tongluan Line, which was later changed to the Luanda Line. There is also a branch line going south to Hulugang, called the South Branch Line.

This matter is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War. Minister Tan mentioned it at the cabinet meeting. You replied that it was unimportant and the Ministry of War could just approve it. "

After a little hint, Zhang Juzheng remembered everything.

"Railway, yes. The Datong Line from Dagu via Tianjin to Tongzhou was later extended to the southern part of the capital and renamed the Jingda Line. The Tongluan Line was renamed the Luanda Line.

So fast? I remember the Ministry of War approved it not long ago. "

"Prime Minister Zhang," Hu Rugong explained, "the Zhili Railway Company was established under the leadership of the Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the Ministry of Finance holds a large stake. With money, things can be done very quickly."

"Railway? The rail cars used to transport coal in the Kaiping coal mine. This one goes from Dagu to Luanzhou. Is it pulled by horses?"

"Yes, it's fine for ports and mining areas, but why build railroads when horses are pulling hundreds of miles? This matter became a joke in the capital, saying that building a railway is like taking off pants to fart."

Zhang Xueyan’s words made Zhang Juzheng frown.

No, the Emperor and Yang Jinshui are such smart people, how could they be so stupid as to throw money into the river for fun?
In the past, Zhang Juzheng could not figure out the key to this. However, after visiting the Fengrun Woolen Fabric Factory, Kaiping Coal Mine, and Luanzhou Iron and Steel Plant, he suddenly got the idea and figured it out.

"I know."

Zhang Xueyan was stunned, "Zhang Xiang, what do you know?"

"The emperor is a man who thinks ten steps ahead before he takes one step. He secretly asked Yang Jinshui to set up the Zhili Railway Company and build these two railways in a hurry. It must be that the steam engine of the Imperial Observatory has come up with something new."

"New stuff?" Zhang Xueyan also understood what he meant. "Prime Minister Zhang, you said that the Imperial Observatory modified the steam engine onto a frame, installed wheels on it, and installed it on these rails?"

Before Zhang Juzheng could answer, Hu Rugong clapped his hands and said, "Prime Minister Zhang, Chief Secretary Zhang, now that you put it this way, I think you are right!
Before this, who would have thought that a water-boiling pot could have such great power and be used for such a great purpose! If we had not seen it with our own eyes in several factories and mines, who would have dared to believe it?

Those geniuses in the Imperial Observatory could build a steam engine, so they could definitely make it smaller. As long as the power could be solved, the carriages and other things would be ready.

Oh my goodness, I can't believe it. If there really is such a day, a steam engine will puff along the rails, dragging a long carriage, and travel on this land of Yanbei.

My goodness, this is incredible.”

Zhang Xueyan also praised: "Yes, although the steam engine does not run fast, it is very powerful. Ten carriages can be set off at any time. People and goods can be loaded at that time.

It doesn’t run as fast as a horse, but as long as it has coal and water, it can keep running without sleep.”

The three of them stood together on the flat ground outside the post station, looking into the distance.

The weather was a little hot under the sun, and the heat from the ground rose. At a glance, the light was bending in the heat, making the scene in the distance hazy and blurred, like reality, but also like a dream.

Coincidentally, Zhu Yijun and Yang Jinshui, who were resting in the inn room, were also discussing railways and trains.

Yang Jinshui handed over a cup of hot tea, "Your Majesty, the tea is just right, please moisten your mouth."

Zhu Yijun took it, took two sips, and put it on the coffee table. "Jinshui, have the Beijing-Tianjin Railway and the Tianjin-Luanzhou Railway been built?"

Yang Jinshui was stunned for a moment, but he was quick-witted and immediately realized that the emperor was referring to the Peking University and Luan University railways.

"In reply to the emperor, we started construction as soon as the Ministry of War's approval came in. We dare not delay it at all." After answering, Yang Jinshui added, "Beijing-Tianjin Line, Tianjin-Luanzhou Line, your majesty has made a good change."

Zhu Yijun glanced at him and said, "The line from Dagu to the capital is called the Beijing-Datong line? In my plan, there is a railway from the capital to Datong, and that is called the Beijing-Datong line."

"I understand. Your Majesty, please decide on the name of this railway line."

Zhu Yijun waved his hand disapprovingly, "The railway should be repaired as soon as possible. Although the Imperial Observatory had many skilled craftsmen such as Huang Daolin, they were scattered and could not make full use of their efforts.

Now, Zhu Zaiyu, the prince of Dongyuan County, has taken charge of the Imperial Observatory. Within a year, he has managed it in perfect order. The several research institutes are no longer working independently, and they finally know how to follow the coordinated operations that I have always emphasized.

Huang Daolin was able to devote himself to improving the steam engine with dozens of engineers from the steam locomotive group of the Mechanical Institute. The progress was rapid and a prototype would be ready next year.

"I heard that the emperor gave Huang Daolin a lot of advice and even drew a sketch with his own hand, helping them solve several key problems."

"They insisted on calling this steam locomotive the Prince's Locomotive, but I rejected it, as if I had been a prince all my life.

I gave it a new name, called 'Yanshan'. The first one is Yanshan No. 1, the second one is Yanshan No. 2, and the model is also called Yanshan A."

Yang Jinshui smiled, "Your Majesty, the name you chose, Yanshan, sounds nice, so that's right. Your Majesty, this prince of Dongyuan County is indeed very capable. He is proficient in music, mathematics, and astronomy. The emperor appointed him to lead the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to compile a new perpetual calendar, which is a good use of his talent."

Zhu Yijun laughed, and then sighed, "Zhu Zaiyu's experience is also very sad."

"Your Majesty is right. When Zhu Zaiyu was fifteen, his father, Prince Dongyuan, was suddenly convicted. Zhu Zaiyu felt very upset and built a room to stay alone, devoting himself to studying. This is how he achieved this."

Yang Jinshui was talking about a case involving Zheng Fan.

The third King of Zheng, King Kang of Zheng Zhu Youye, died without a son. According to the order of succession, Zhu Youye's third uncle, the son of King Mengjin Yi Zhu Jiansu, should have succeeded to the throne. However, because Zhu Jiansu was guilty and had been deposed, the court instead appointed Zhu Youye's fourth uncle, the son of King Dongyuan Duanhui Zhu Jian, as King of Zheng, who was King Yi of Zheng.

In the sixth year of Jiajing, Zhu You's fourth son Zhu Hou'an succeeded to the throne of Zheng.

In the 29th year of Jiajing's reign, Zhu Youzhen demanded the restoration of his title of Prince of a County. He resented that Prince of Zheng Zhu Houwan did not make a memorial on his behalf, so he presented a memorial listing forty crimes of Zhu Houwan and accused him of treason.

Sejong ordered the imperial eunuchs to hear the case, and they reported back that there was no crime of treason, but there was the crime of using the name of the palace to designate the emperor's carriage.

Emperor Taizong was furious: "Zhu Houwan ignored my advice and was arrogant and rude in Zheng State, which is a great treason." So Zhu Houwan was demoted to a commoner and imprisoned in Fengyang.

Zhu Youzhen's report was meritorious, and he was restored as the Prince of Jin and temporarily took charge of the affairs of Zheng. In the last major purge of the royal family, Zhu Youzhen and more than a dozen princes and generals of Zheng were found to have committed serious crimes such as disrespect and treason, and were expelled from the country along with Zheng.

By the way, the fact that Zhu Youzhen had framed Zhu Houwan was discovered, and Zhu Houwan was pardoned. However, Zheng Fan was removed, and the title of King of Zheng was changed to Zhu Zaiyao.

The imperial court then issued an edict, and Zhu Houwan was renamed Prince of Dongyuan, thus inheriting his grandfather's title.

After his father Zhu Houwan was rehabilitated, Zhu Zaiyu gladly accepted the invitation and became the director of the Imperial Observatory.

After a half-hour rest, the East Tour team continued on their journey.

Zhu Yijun and Zhang Juzheng were still sitting opposite each other in the carriage.

"Your Majesty, I have been accompanying you on this tour to the east, from Fengrun to Kaiping, and then to Luanzhou. It has been an eye-opener. I have also deeply understood what Your Majesty said before, that economic development is the foundation of everything.

I feel that I am not as good as Yang Jinshui in developing the economy. However, as the Prime Minister, I am considering one thing. "

"What's the matter?"

"Your Majesty, Luanzhou is so wealthy. Taiyuan, Shanghai, and other key industrial and commercial areas will surely take on the responsibility of supporting Ming's economy and taxation in the future."

Zhu Yijun nodded and said, "That's right, the train runs fast because of the locomotive!"
"It's just that these places, whether prefectures or counties, are under the jurisdiction of the local governors according to the law, and the cabinet and the Ministry of Revenue should not interfere. However, every move of these places affects the national economy and people's livelihood.

The emperor often said that the whole country is like a chess game. As the prime minister, I dream of how to play this game well. But the chess pieces are not easy to use. "

Zhu Yijun laughed loudly, "I know Master Zhang's worries. He is worried that the finances and taxes of these places will be taken away by the governor, and he really can't bear to let them go."

"Haha, Your Majesty is right, I am indeed a little reluctant.

In addition, I am also worried that since these places are under the jurisdiction of the governor, there will always be people who are blinded by greed and regard these places as fat sheep, and make random moves. If the time comes, it will disrupt the political affairs of these places and delay the daily operations of the factories in these places, which will be troublesome.”

Zhu Yijun's face straightened, "Well, Master Zhang's concern hits the point. Some local officials are always very bold, especially when they see money, they can be extremely bold."

He tilted his head and thought for a while, "Master Zhang, in addition to prefectures and counties, there were also direct-controlled prefectures and scattered prefectures. Direct-controlled prefectures were under the jurisdiction of the capital or the provincial government, and had the same status as prefectures, while scattered prefectures were under the jurisdiction of prefectures.

I am carrying out local reforms, abolishing all direct-controlled prefectures and scattered prefectures and merging them into various prefectures. Now we can set up direct-controlled prefectures again, but the level of these direct-controlled prefectures can be raised by one level.

The rank of the prefect is the same as that of the right councilor of the governor, and the finance and taxation are directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue. However, the administration is managed by the governor, and the personnel selection is nominated by the governor, but must be approved by the Ministry of Personnel and the Cabinet.

Zhu Yijun designed Zhili Prefecture as a separately planned city with an administrative level of "vice-provincial level".

It is directly under the jurisdiction of the central government in terms of finance, but is also granted a certain degree of autonomy in economic management, while administrative and other aspects are coordinated and managed by the Chief Secretary.

Zhang Juzheng heard the mystery and thought about it carefully. He found it feasible and had many advantages.

But he thought more, and after pondering for a while, Zhang Juzheng looked up and said to Zhu Yijun: "Your Majesty, I think we can make some changes to the local official system on this basis."

"How to change it? Master Zhang, please tell me in detail."

"Your Majesty, I think the name of the prefecture, there are Rong government, Yingtianfu and Shuntianfu, setting up prefectures in different places will cause misunderstanding and confusion. I suggest changing it to a county.

Province, county, or county.

Prefectures were set up again, divided into directly governed prefectures and scattered prefectures. A directly governed prefecture was actually a county, but it was directly under the cabinet, and its finance, administration, and personnel administration were all equivalent to those of a governor, and the rank of a prefect was also equivalent to that of a governor.

As for the scattered states, they are actually counties, but their finances are directly under the jurisdiction of the provincial governor, and the rank of the prefect is the same as that of the county governor, while the rest of the administrative and personnel affairs are entrusted to the county.

Zhu Yijun was stunned. Master Zhang, I only set up a separately planned city, but you set up municipalities directly under the central government and provincial cities?
"Master Zhang, is there anything particular about your design?"

"Your Majesty, the cabinet will definitely eat up the big fat pieces of meat like Shanghai, Luanzhou, and Taiyuan. But can't the central government take all the benefits and leave nothing for the local governments?
I am thinking that counties with weaker economic conditions, such as Taicang, Kunshan, Jiangyin, and Nanhai, should be changed into scattered prefectures and directly under the jurisdiction of the provincial governor, so that they can have some good opportunities to develop the economy. "

Zhang Juzheng's last words touched Zhu Yijun.

Yes, Luanzhou, Shanghai, Taiyuan and other direct-controlled prefectures are the experimental fields and locomotives of the central government to revitalize the economy. But we must also leave a few fertile fields for the provinces to use as experimental fields and revitalize them to become small locomotives.

Zhu Yijun nodded: "Master Zhang's idea is very good. The central government eats meat, and the provinces must drink some soup."

Zhang Juzheng also laughed, "Your Majesty is wise and can see through my thoughts at a glance."

Of course I see through your little thoughts. You suggested setting up direct-controlled prefectures. They have strong economic strength and high taxation, and their every move affects the national economy and people's livelihood. They are directly under the control of the cabinet. Of course you are happy.

More importantly, Zhili Prefecture directly governs several counties. The territory is not large, so it is enough to have a prefect. It is impossible to have a governor for several counties.

According to the current official system, the prefect is under the jurisdiction of the cabinet, and the governor is directly under my jurisdiction.

Master Zhang, those abacus beads in your heart are about to jump onto my face.

Zhu Yijun smiled.

He wouldn't take this kind of calculation too seriously.

As I said, I can give up power and take it back. If I feel there is something wrong, I will find a way to take Zhili Prefecture out of the hands of the cabinet and give it an official hat to manage it.

"I think this suggestion is sound, Master Zhang, please go ahead and do it. My only worry is that some people will be dissatisfied with the change of the local government to a county.

Some people always have their own ideas, and if you don’t agree with them, they will get angry.”

Zhang Juzheng was a bit puzzled. How could there be such a person?

However, he didn't care much whether it was called a county or something else. As long as his small reform of the local official system could be implemented smoothly, it didn't matter what it was called.

"Your Majesty, let's spread the word and listen to their opinions. If they think the county is not good and have any new ideas, we will listen to them."

"Okay, let's listen. If it sounds reasonable and pertinent, we will adopt it."

After finishing the business, Zhang Juzheng looked at Zhu Yijun who was in high spirits across from him, hesitated for a moment, but decided to take this opportunity to make things clear.

"Your Majesty, I am confused and have something on my mind. I don't know if I should speak it out or not."

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng's serious expression and waved his hand, "Master Zhang, between you and me, is there anything else we should or shouldn't talk about?
Just speak your mind!"

Zhang Juzheng gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I think Yang Jinshui has too much power, and I'm afraid he may become too powerful to be controlled!"

Zhu Yijun's face turned cold in an instant.

(End of this chapter)