I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 797 Is it worth building a railway?
Zhu Yijun glanced at everyone and saw calmness, confusion, excitement, and indifference.
Zhang Juzheng looked normal, except that his eyelids drooped slightly, making him look a little absent-minded.

Yang Jinshui, who was sitting in the corner next to him, was also shocked.

He knew the itinerary arrangements best. This train was for the emperor and all his advisors.

Tomorrow morning, another train will bring 126 imperial doctors to Kaiping City to meet the emperor and the ministers, tour the area, and then hold a plenary meeting of the imperial council in the Great Hall of Lulong City.

Did the emperor go to so much trouble just to criticize Zhang Juzheng in front of everyone?

impossible!
However, the emperor always does things with deep meaning. He must have a profound intention when he suddenly said this.

What's the purpose?
Yang Jinshui quietly observed the expression on Zhu Yijun's face and saw only a little excitement but no anger.

During this period, many important officials came to Beijing to hold meetings of the Council of State, and then there was a major reshuffle of officials. All kinds of rumors came out from every corner, causing undercurrents in the court.

Yang Jinshui remembered.

Some time ago, the Ministry of Public Administration issued a notice, summoning the academicians and ministers of the imperial court to come to Beijing to prepare for a meeting, and some rumors began to circulate in the court and the country.

Most of these rumors are directed at Zhang Juzheng. What the emperor said just now is part of these rumors.
Yang Jinshui felt reassured and kept his composure.

Zhu Yijun continued: "Since the first year of the Wanli reign, Master Zhang has served as the Prime Minister. During these five years, Master Zhang has focused his energy on land surveys, population censuses, labor service assignments, and the new policy reforms of the upgraded version of the Yitiaobian Law, which merged the population tax with the salt tax.

Are these things important or not? "

Faced with Zhu Yijun's question, no minister dared to answer.

How come we're back to this topic?
Too sensitive.

How many people died because of this!

However, the ministers gradually understood that the emperor began to give everyone a heads-up and set the tone in preparation for the court meeting a few days later.

“Very important!
Previously, 90% of the taxes in the Ming Dynasty came from the fields, all of which were grain. The Ming Dynasty was so prosperous, with a territory of thousands of miles and hundreds of millions of people, but the treasury was actually short of money.

A few years ago, the Ministry of Revenue sorted out the old account books from the Jiajing period and presented them to me in brief form for my review. They were shocking.

In the 26th year of Jiajing, the salt tax collected 2.6 million taels of silver, the mining tax collected 30,000 taels of silver, the tea tax collected 42,000 taels of silver, and the customs tax in Fujian and Guangdong collected 32,000 taels of silver.*"

Zhu Yijun sneered, "We can actually receive so much tax silver. It must be the gentry and powerful people from all over the country who have shown favor and given the emperor and the court a meal."

Everyone knew that he was speaking sarcastically and no one dared to say a word.

"What is Master Zhang doing? He is measuring the land, conducting a population census, and changing the taxation model. He is solving three important problems that are vital to the Ming Dynasty.

That is who to collect taxes from, how much to collect, and how to collect it! "

Zhu Yijun's voice became high-pitched.

“To put it bluntly, during these five years, Master Zhang was mainly responsible for ruining the business!
Whose fault is this?

Put the blame on those officials, gentry, and powerful families.

How to smash it?
These groups, which owned the most land and made the most money, paid the least taxes. They enjoyed various exemptions from the imperial court but were unwilling to take on even a little responsibility.

Was Ming Dynasty poor?

Once the ten major salt merchants in Yangzhou are seized, the national treasury will no longer be short of money.

Once many aristocratic families in Jiangnan were raided, hundreds of thousands of refugees were able to get land.

Regardless of whether it is fair or not, if this continues, the Ming Dynasty will eventually perish due to lack of money, or due to the inability to collect taxes even though it has money."

Zhu Yijun's words were like sharp arrows, flying towards everyone.

At this time, everyone understood what he meant. Instead of blaming Zhang Juzheng, they found ways to praise him.

Everyone knows about this itinerary. After meeting with the doctors of the Imperial Court Council tomorrow, we will tour the area and then hold a joint meeting to conduct the first court meeting of the Wanli Dynasty.

The emperor has started to spread the word. For example, with these words now, what is he trying to tell us?
The train continued to move forward, and the rhythmic clanging sound was like the sound of a war drum, beating in the hearts of many people.

"What Master Zhang has done in the past five years is to adjust the direction of taxation, so that the farmers who had previously been burdened the most are gradually liberated, and a new taxation rule has been established: whoever has more land and makes more money will pay more taxes.

To develop industry and commerce, promote new agriculture, and develop new productive forces is to start from scratch.

These matters were mainly led by the Shaofujian and several governors of Huzhou, Luanzhou, Jiangsu, Hebei, etc. The Ministry of War, the Imperial Household Department, the Imperial Household Department and other departments followed up.

The results of the new government are obvious. The factories, the ships, the cotton and sugar cane, and the two railways are all visible to everyone.

In contrast, smashing the pot not only encounters much greater resistance, but also makes progress more difficult, and the political achievements are not conspicuous. Taxes have increased by leaps and bounds, and the treasury is full. Everyone says that it is the prosperity of industry and commerce and the credit of starting a new business.

But without Master Zhang's hard work over the past five years, and his efforts to establish new rules under tremendous pressure, would we have been able to collect so much tax silver?"

Zhu Yijun's gaze swept across everyone's faces again.

When they met his gaze, some people nodded, some were solemn, some were calm, and some smiled but the corners of their mouth trembled slightly.

"Developing the economy, strengthening the country and enriching the people are important responsibilities of the court, but there is another responsibility that is even more important, and that is fairness!
Hai Gong once said that most of the conflicts in this world come from injustice.

We vigorously develop the economy and improve productivity, but if we don’t smash the old dregs and establish a relatively fair wealth distribution system, what will it matter how rich we are?
The rich will only get richer and the poor will get poorer.

Ladies and gentlemen, if the poor have no way to make a living, everyone will have no way to survive.

Throughout the dynasties, there have been many such incidents, haven't there been many?"

Zhu Yijun's words hit everyone's heart like a hammer.

"I told Master Zhang a long time ago that a reasonable tax system is a very effective means of wealth distribution and mediation, and can resolve many life-and-death conflicts.

But the key is fairness.

During the five years, Master Zhang surveyed the land, conducted a population census, assigned labor service according to the acreage, and combined the two taxes, namely, the male tax and the salt tax, which offended countless people and caused an uproar in the country. Why did he do that?
Fair, fair, and fair!"

Zhu Yijun looked at Zhang Juzheng and said emotionally.

"Among the many reforms of the Wanli New Deal, Master Zhang picked the one that was the most difficult and tiring, and the one that was the most disadvantageous to him. Five years have passed, Master Zhang, you have aged a lot."

Zhang Juzheng stood up, clasped his hands and said, "I am fortunate to be able to participate in the creation of the Wanli era. No matter how hard or tiring it is, I am willing to do it and enjoy it."

Zhu Yijun stood up and held his hand, "Master Zhang, your achievements will eventually go down in history. Future generations will understand that the Wanli era was created by you who was willing to be a hardworking ox!"

Seeing this teacher and student acting in a sympathetic manner in front of everyone, all the ministers realized that the emperor was sending everyone a message.

You are all representatives of various forces in the Ming Dynasty. Before the meeting, let me remind you that the major reshuffle of officials will never involve Zhang Juzheng.

He is still the Prime Minister of the Cabinet. Whoever spread those rumors before should swallow them back himself.

The greetings have been made. When we have the meeting after the tour, you will take care of the internal coordination and keep the ambitious people under control for me. If you dare to fire recklessly at the meeting and disrupt the agenda for your own selfish desires, don't blame me for being rude.

receive!

Everyone's eyes quickly became clear.

Zhu Yijun glanced at them and spoke again. "At the military parade on May 5, everyone saw the Workers' Militia Division and the Peasants' Militia Division! Compared to you, compared to the gentry and wealthy people everywhere, they are poor.

It was like this before, it is like this now, and it may be like this in the future.

But I organized them into militia divisions and distributed muskets and cannons to them.

So I would like to remind you that the fairness established by Master Zhang and I must last for thousands of years.

Otherwise"

Zhu Yijun stopped talking, but everyone understood.

Your Majesty, you are so cruel.

Anyway, you are a wise and holy emperor supported by all the people. If anything unfair happens, it must be done by us treacherous ministers.

Zhu Yijun asked Zhang Juzheng to sit down, glanced at everyone, and turned to Fu Jinyou and said, "Director Fu, please continue."

When Zhu Yijun was speaking just now, Fu Jinyou wished he could stick himself into the screen wall.

Is this something I can listen to?

Fu Jinyou waited tremblingly for Zhu Yijun to finish speaking, and suddenly heard his name being called, he was panicked for a moment.

Your Majesty, how can I continue?
What did I just say?
Now my mind is in a mess and I can't remember anything.

Tan Lun said, "Director Fu, you just introduced the Beijing-Luan Railway Company and the Beijing-Tianjin Railway Company, as well as the responsibilities of each section under it. Could you continue to introduce the two railway companies, Beijing-Luan Railway Company and Beijing-Tianjin Railway Company, and who is in charge of them?"

Fu Jinyou breathed a sigh of relief.

Mr. Tan, I will make a longevity tablet for you when I return.

"Thank you, Mr. Tan. Your Majesty, gentlemen, the Jingji and Jingjin Railway Companies are under the jurisdiction of the Jingji Railway Bureau.

The Jingji Railway Bureau directly manages three Class A stations: Beijing South Station, Tianjin Station and Lulong Station. It has a general dispatching office and eight departments: organization, publicity, planning, equipment, transportation, safety, engineering and public security.

"Is there a department but no section?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhao. The Beijing-Luan River and Beijing-Tianjin Railway Companies have separate sections for engineering and maintenance, because they have to undertake the actual work and run on the front line.

The Gyeonggi Railway Bureau does not need to carry out specific practical tasks, but is more responsible for coordination and supervision, so eight departments are set up to guide the work of the two railway companies and their subordinate sections. "

"Of these eight departments, I know what the Public Security Department does, but what about the other seven departments?"

"In response to Pan Bu Tang's words, the organization is similar to the imperial court's selection and appointment system, which is called human resources in enterprises. It manages the recruitment, training, performance evaluation and appointment and dismissal of all business officials and employees.

Propaganda is responsible for political work and education.

The plan is to set annual revenue targets, formulate development plans, and provide advice for new railway construction according to the instructions of superiors.
The Equipment Department oversees the maintenance and operation of all equipment within its jurisdiction, including locomotives, passenger and freight cars.
The Transportation Department oversees passenger and freight operations
The Safety Department supervises and manages the safe operation of each route and station in the jurisdiction, mainly guiding the work of the engineering section.
The Engineering Department supervises and manages the construction and maintenance of buildings and facilities on all routes and stations in the area under its jurisdiction.
The two major railway companies are managing their businesses in detail horizontally, while the railway bureaus are supervising and coordinating vertically, with cross-management to leave no loopholes or blind spots in safety as much as possible.

So that's how it is. It is similar to the safety production management in steel mills and coal mines.

Many advisors were confused after hearing this.

According to the decision of the Cabinet Standing Committee, the railway company is a government-run enterprise, which is the Ming Dynasty version of a state-owned enterprise.

The Railway Bureau is a state-owned enterprise management unit under the Ministry of War of the Cabinet, which means it undertakes the supervision and management responsibilities of the government as well as the responsibility of assisting the economic development of enterprises.

Don’t understand?
Then you will understand it slowly.

During the Wanli New Deal, all kinds of new terms and expressions emerged like mushrooms after a rain, making it difficult to keep up.

Pan Sheng turned and asked the Minister of War Zheng Luo.

"Yu Xiu, which department of your Ministry of War is in charge of the Gyeonggi Railway Bureau?"

"It will be temporarily under the jurisdiction of the Railway Department. The Ministry of War is preparing to upgrade the Railway Department to the Railway General Administration, with a structure similar to the Gyeonggi Railway Bureau, and with departments for organization, publicity, planning, regulations, safety supervision, and transportation supervision."

Now the six monasteries are keen on establishing a general bureau, or a general bureau.

According to the new official system of Wanli, the General Administration was equivalent to the "vice-ministerial level". The director of the General Administration was the right vice-minister of the ministry or the right junior minister of the temple, and various functional departments were set up under it.

The level suddenly went up one level.

Pan Jixun, the new cabinet right chancellor in charge of transportation, water conservancy and other construction, asked: "I heard that the Ministry of War has drawn up a huge railway construction plan. I wonder if Yu Xiu can explain it to us?"

Zheng Luo turned and looked at Zhu Yijun.

Your Majesty, can you tell me about this plan?
Zhu Yijun thought for a moment and said, "I will tell Master Pan and the other officials about the railway plan."

"My railway plan has three horizontal and three vertical lines.

The horizontal direction connects east and west, and the vertical direction connects north and south.

The first of the three horizontal lines is from Busan in Haidong Province to Hanyang and Pyongyang, crossing the Yalu River, then connecting to Qinhuangdao via Liaoyang and Jinzhou, directly to the capital, and then passing through Changping, Juyongguan, Xuanfu, Datong to Guihua and Suiyuan.

The second horizontal route starts from Qingdao Port in Shandong, passes through Jiaozhou and Yanzhou, crosses Henan to Shaanxi, and goes west through Gansu and Hami to the foot of the Tianshan Mountains.

The third horizontal route starts from Shanghai, passes through Hangzhou, Jinhua, enters Hunan, goes through Guizhou, and reaches Kunming, Yunnan.

The first column of the Third Column marched southeast from Kulun in the northern desert, split into two routes at Sunite in the southern desert, and the left route went straight to the east of the Luan River. It turned south at Chengde, passed Qian'an and merged into Lulong.

The right road continues southward, passes Zhangjiakou and merges into Xuanfu, and enters the capital through Juyongguan.

The second vertical line is the Beijing-Tianjin line that continues southward, passing through Cangzhou, Dezhou, Jinan, Xuzhou, Suzhou, Fengyang Zhongdu, then turning to Chuzhou and reaching Pukou in the north of the Yangtze River from Nanjing.

The Jiangnan part continues southeast from Nanjing, passing Changzhou and Suzhou and reaching Shanghai.

The third column is the capital's southward march from Zhuozhou, passing through Baoding, Zhending, Handan and entering Henan, crossing the Yellow River and going straight down to Zhengzhou and Xinyang, entering Hubei from De'an Prefecture, and directly reaching Hankou on the north bank of the Yangtze River in Wuchang.

The southern part of the river continued southward from Wuchang, entered Hunan from Yueyang, passed Changsha, Hengyang, and Chenzhou, entered Guangdong from Shaoguan, and reached Hong Kong via Guangzhou.

After the three horizontal and three vertical lines are completed, the framework of the Daming Railway will be formed, and then they will be connected into a network."

Everyone was dumbfounded.

How many people would be mobilized for such a large project and how much money and food would be consumed?

Hai Rui narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, "Your Majesty, is it worth it to build a railway at such a huge cost?"

Zhu Yijun was about to speak when a freight train passed by at full speed on the opposite track.

The rumbling sound plunged the carriage into silence.

The two trains passed each other with a clang. Everyone looked at Zhu Yijun, waiting for his answer.

The dozen or so freight cars speeding past in the opposite direction made the light in the carriages flicker, reflecting on everyone's faces, making them look cloudy and bright.

(End of this chapter)