Ming Dynasty: Tanks blocked the door and you said to me, "Long live Ming Dynasty"

He loves money, but he is not a fool!

Chapter 387 I want to report you!

Where has Liaodong’s military expenditure been spent over the years?

Military pay is only part of it!

The various garrisons and cities also account for a large proportion!

After the cement formula came into Wu Chunfu's hands, he took a look at it.

Oyster shells, there is no shortage of this thing in coastal areas!

Red fat and talc are also not rare things, but they are a little scarce in Datong nowadays. As long as there is enough time, they can be transferred from other places.

But the three-in-one soil is different...

That thing needs to be mixed with glutinous rice juice, brown sugar and egg white!

In order to prevent insect infestation, arsenic is added into the mixture, and the cost of this is much higher than that of cement.

Although the formula of cement cost two million taels, in the long run, this is definitely a major event that benefits the country and the people!

Seeing that his attitude had softened, Wu Chunfu continued.

"Brother, think about it again. What would happen if we re-paved all the main roads in the two capitals and thirteen provinces with cement?"

This time, Guo Yunhou’s eyes widened even more!

The Ming Dynasty conscripted laborers to build roads every year, but every time the roads were built, they would break down not long after.

He bet that if the road was replaced with cement, such a situation would never happen again.

He suddenly turned his head and looked towards the capital.

A picture emerged in my mind.

Rows of blue-grey cement roads extend outward from the gates of the capital, until they reach the whole world!

Countless carriages, caravans, and pedestrians traveled on the road unimpeded...

It is only seven or eight hundred miles from the capital to Datong, but with the current road conditions, it would take at least a month to transport the goods.

If we replace it with a cement road, this time will be greatly shortened!

Is that time saved?

Do not!

It’s silver, pure white silver!

He was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue and knew best how much food and fodder was wasted on the road during every march or battle.

If the northern expedition had taken the cement road this time, he believed that at least 100,000 shi of food and fodder could have been saved!

One hundred thousand shi of grain equals two hundred thousand taels of silver......

hiss.........

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but take a breath!

"value!"

"These two million taels are so damn worth it!"

But after sighing, he grabbed Wu Chunfu by the collar and yelled at him.

"What a bastard!"

"You are the Minister of Industry!"

"You actually want me to spend money to buy this kind of thing from His Majesty for you!"

"Where's your face!"

His tone was extremely violent, and his eyes, as if he was looking at an unfilial son in the family, stared at Wu Chunfu so intently that they seemed to be spitting fire.

"I want to report you!"

"I will severely punish you!"

"I'm telling you to strip off this official uniform!"

"If an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes. That's what your majesty said!"

Wu Chunfu was scolded like a quail by him. He shrank his neck and did not refute until the saliva stopped falling on his face. Then he smiled awkwardly at Guo Yunhou.

"Brother Guo, calm down, calm down..."

"Listen to my argument, no, explanation..."

"Your Majesty is rich, so he can allow so many Taoists to come out and study cement."

"But you know, the Ministry of Industry is so poor that they can't even make ends meet!"

"You limit my annual expenses so much that I don't even give you a penny more. What else can I do?"

"How about this? Every year you give the Ministry of Works a little more money, and I'll get everyone working after I get back!"

"Didn't Your Majesty spend fifty thousand taels on cement?"

"Whoever can come up with a useful new gadget in the future will be rewarded with 50,000 taels!"

"A big reward will always bring courage. I just don't believe that I can't spend this money!"

"What do you think, Brother Guo?"

Guo Yunhou was still staring at him, but his cheeks were gradually puffing up, and his old teeth were creaking. It took him a long time to roar out a word.

"So this is why you called me here in the middle of the night!"

"It turns out that the weasel is wishing the chicken a happy new year!"

"No!"

"Don't even mention 50,000 taels, there's not even five copper coins!"

"Humph!"

Having said that, he waved his sleeves, got up from the ground, brushed the dust off his butt, and was about to turn around and leave.

Wu Chunfu was not surprised at all. He just stood there, shrugged his shoulders and sighed.

"Brother Guo, I hope you won't regret it..."

"I can't bear to spend fifty thousand taels, but I'll have to spend two million in the future..."

Upon hearing this, Guo Yunhou stumbled and fell directly onto a solid pipe. He subconsciously stretched out his arms and tried to use the pipe to stabilize his body.

But by coincidence, my left hand pressed it, but my right hand pressed the round hole in the middle of the pipe...

"what!"

After a scream, his head was stuck inside...

"Save people, save people quickly!"

Wu Chunfu was startled and quickly called Miao Xuan to come and help.

He asked Guo Yunhou to come out to make money. If this old man died here, it would be a big trouble!

Apart from other things, who will take over the money that the Ministry of Revenue owes Your Majesty?

He dares to bet!

Your Majesty will definitely throw yourself into the Ministry of Revenue!

Miao Xuan rushed over immediately upon seeing this, and the clerk supervising nearby also came forward to help.

The wooden boards outside the pipe were quickly removed.

The cement that had not yet completely solidified, as well as the bamboo tendons inside, were also pulled out.

Wu Chunfu also came forward, but as soon as he stretched out his hand, he frowned and then stood there in a daze.

Then he bent down and picked up a handful of cement from the ground, feeling it in his hand.

At this moment, he seemed to have forgotten that Guo Yunhou was still struggling beside him with his butt sticking up...

"Hahahaha! I figured it out!"

Suddenly, he burst into laughter for no apparent reason.

He pulled Miao Xuan out from the crowd and said, "Go to Dao Ji right away and ask them to use limestone instead of oyster shells to burn a furnace and try it out!"

Miao Xuan was confused: "Sir, why is this?"

Wu Chunfu pointed at the pile of cement on the ground that had not yet completely solidified and said excitedly, "Touch it! This thing is getting hot!"

"If I remember correctly, quicklime is the same!"

"The burnt oyster shells are white, and so is quicklime!"

"We are worried about the lack of oyster shells here. Let's ask them to replace them with limestone!"

If it were any other time, he would not have explained too much to his officials, after all, it was just his own guess.

But at this moment, the joy in his heart was beyond words!

Although oyster shells are medicinal materials, pharmacies don't stock too many of them. In addition, this thing is even more scarce inland.

If it is transported from the coast, it will definitely take time.

If limestone could be used as a substitute, that would be a great thing!

Chapter 388 Fourth Prize

Although Guo Yunhou was stuck in the pipe, he could hear everything around him clearly.

So, after he was pulled out, his eyes were full of resentment when he looked at Wu Chunfu.

"Is this how you ask me for money?"

"You don't even care about my life or death?"

Wu Chunfu smiled awkwardly: "Brother Guo, don't get me wrong, I also accidentally discovered something that can replace oyster shells."

"this........."

“It can save money. It can save a lot of money!”

His answer hit the nail on the head for Guo Yunhou.

When he heard the word "saving money", Guo Laokou immediately calmed down. The resentment in his eyes turned into expectation. He let Miao use a wet towel to wipe the mud off his face, swallowed his saliva and asked.

“How much can I save?”

Wu Chunfu held up three fingers and said, "Oyster shells are sold at the pharmacy for five cents a pound!"

Then he stretched out his hand and swiped towards the distance.

"But this limestone is everywhere in Datong!"

Guo Yunhou swallowed again, his eyes gleaming.

Datong is located at the intersection of the Yinshan Mountains, Yanshan Mountains, Luliang Mountains and Taihang Mountains, and the thing it has the most is stones!

Now that they hear that disaster relief is being provided here, more and more people are fleeing here, and the thing they lack the least is manpower!

Just send someone to dig!

Anyway, it's all work-for-relief, what's the difference between this and picking it up for free...

It really saves a lot of money!

He was very satisfied. He touched the scratch on his head, then stood up and walked towards the city gate.

Wu Chunfu was stunned when he saw this: "Brother Guo, don't leave... the fifty thousand taels of silver you just mentioned..."

Guo Yunhou replied without even turning his head: "I promise you, I will pay you after I return to Beijing!"

"Brother Guo is so generous!" Wu Chunfu was delighted.

Then he thought of something and shouted at him again.