Jiangnan East Road, Jinling, August, early autumn, the first year of Xingqing in the Song Dynasty, the sun was shining brightly.
After nearly half a year of busy work and the joint efforts of thousands of craftsmen and civilians, the "Jiangnan Weapons Manufacturing Department" rose from the ground, standing on an isolated island in the river, with thick smoke billowing all day long, making it a spectacular sight.
It makes both weapons and non-military equipment. This is a major feature of the Jinling Arms Manufacturing Branch, which takes into account both military and civilian uses, and also highlights the official launch of the steel manufacturing industry in the Song Dynasty.
To the west of Jinling City, the newly built West Bank Pier on Bailuzhou is close to the Yangtze River. It is huge and filled with ships traveling from south to north. Coal, iron and other mineral resources are constantly being sent ashore. Along the west bank of Bailuzhou, in the several-mile-long work shed, large iron pots are lined up one after another, which is a spectacular sight. There are several large pots in each work shed, and the pots are filled with coal that has just been transported along the Yangtze River waterway.
Thousands of people, or workers more appropriately, took buckets and poured river water into three pots in the work shed. They used shovels to stir and clean the coal in the first pot, and then moved it into the second pot filled with water. Clean it again, then move it to the third pot again and clean it three times in a row before the cleaning is completed.
The coal that has been washed three times is dried on the flat cement ground that stretches for several miles along the shore. After the washed coal is dried, it must be burned before it can be used to make iron.
Although the process seems troublesome, it is an important step to ensure the quality of iron smelting.
As for adding limestone and other materials during iron smelting and adding a regenerative furnace, these are all necessary processes for iron smelting. In particular, the addition of a regenerative furnace has greatly reduced coke loss and greatly improved the quality of iron smelting.
In the north of Bailuzhou, the huge iron gate faces the Yangtze River, and the sign of "Jiangnan Weapons Manufacturing Department of the Song Dynasty" catches the eye. The officers and soldiers who were always guarding the door made the people intimidated and stayed away.
Under the billowing black smoke, freight vehicles were constantly entering and exiting the manufacturing department. Iron ingots, coal coke, lime, etc. were checked by the guards before being transported into the manufacturing department. Swords, briquette stoves, spatulas, pots and basins, kitchen knives and meat knives, plows, hoes, sickles, etc. were all shipped out from it and shipped to various roads in the Song Dynasty via merchant ships from various places at Jinling Wharf.
Although the government and the public were discussing and objecting to the sale of swords, it was still implemented under the emperor's single hand.
Without it, the benefits would be huge.
"Your Majesty, since swords and ironware were sold to the people, in half a year, the court has made more than 300,000 guan in profit. Including soap and other products, the total income has been 400,000 guan. Counting the whole year, just Jiangnan East Road alone, There will be a profit of one million dollars. It can be compared with Quanzhou Shipping Company."
After boarding the North Pier of Bailuzhou, Hu Mengyu, the accompanying commander-in-chief of Jiankang Mansion, introduced to Zhao Hong at the side, feeling excited.
In less than a year, the benefits brought by the implementation of the New Deal are already visible to the naked eye.
With good government and good people, all kinds of waste will be prosperous. How can he not be inspired by the prosperity of the group under his rule?
"Every industry in Jiankang Prefecture is booming. In addition, two of the three major universities are in Jinling City. There is a large foreign population. For a time, the land in Jinling is expensive. In a few years, the price of houses in Jinling City will be sky-high."
Wang Gang, the envoy of Jiangnan East Road, shook his head and sighed.
"Mr. Wang, then hurry up and buy a few houses. Once you let them go in a few years, you will definitely make a fortune!"
Student Cao Youwan joked, his brother Cao Youwen glared hard, and Cao Youwan quickly shut up.
"Officials of our court, as well as relatives and friends, are not allowed to get involved in these commercial transactions. Jinling City will also strictly prohibit relevant people from adding to the flames, and violators will be severely punished. When the imperial court implements the new policy in Jinling, it must eradicate bad policies and enrich the country and strengthen the army, isn't it? Let people speculate and take advantage of shortcomings.”
Zhao Hong said calmly, Wang Gang, Hu Mengyu and other ministers all listened to the order.
"Your Majesty, the Department of Construction and Property will strictly investigate the sale of private houses, buying and selling of land, etc. We will never allow such speculation to spread in Jinling and other places."
Wang Gang vowed and immediately returned to the New Deal.
"Your Majesty, the new policy of Jiangnan East Road has been implemented smoothly. Next year we will push a few more roads. In three or four years, we can try it all over the world."
Zhao Hong nodded. Wang Gang's words were exactly what he wanted, and the benefits of industrialization were also obvious.
It seems that the annual income of only one million yuan is less than half of what Shi Miyuan earned from confiscating his house, but the employment opportunities and social effects this brings are immeasurable.
It alone drives employment, food, clothing, housing, transportation, mining, transshipment, production, etc., just like the real estate industry in later generations, it also drives the development of many other industries, involving the employment of hundreds of thousands or hundreds of thousands of people.
Of course, the prosperity of industry on Jiangnan East Road cannot be confused with the real estate of later generations.
"Hu Mengyu, you have learned most of my tricks. Next year, when the new policy is implemented on Jiangnan West Road, you will probably have to shoulder another heavy burden."
Zhao Hong patted Hu Mengyu's thin shoulder and stepped forward.
Jiangnan West Road has a large population and a backward economy. Only a "strong man" like Hu Mengyu may be able to handle this tough task.
Hu Mengyu was startled and quickly followed.
In just one year, he is going to be promoted again?
"Be careful! Don't break anything!"
On the dock, a sweaty man in Tsing Yi with a dark complexion and a black turban was directing the coolies to load the ships. His accent seemed a little weird.
"Ask me. What is this? Where is it sent to?"
Dong Songchen, dressed in casual clothes, grabbed the black-faced man.
"You are……"
"What are you talking about? This is the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, why don't you come forward to pay your respects?"
Dong Songchen put on airs and inadvertently exposed his identity.
"Emperor of the Song Dynasty!"
The black-faced man was startled. He saw Zhao Hong's extraordinary bearing. There were officials from the Song Dynasty with wide robes and big sleeves beside him, and the students from the Jiangwu Hall behind him were all fierce and powerful, so he quickly knelt down and worshiped.
""Grassmen occupied the city, Li Shao, to pay homage to the Emperor of the Song Dynasty! "
His bare posture makes people believe him.
"Keep your voice down, don't let others know."
Zhao Hong rolled his eyes at Dong Songchen, who smiled and helped Li Shao up.
"Mr. Li, what did you buy?"
Zhao Hong pointed to the goods being loaded onto the ship. Obviously, this was shipped from the Jiangnan Arms Manufacturing Department.
I don’t know what exactly overseas businessmen buy when they come to Jiangnan Arms Manufacturing Department, civilian goods or weapons?
"Back to Your Majesty, these goods include swords, spearheads, briquette stoves, iron pot plows, etc. To the north of Champa City is the Dai Viet Kingdom, and to the southwest is the Chenla Kingdom, which lacks weapons. So the common people transported rice to the Song Dynasty, and then If I buy these swords, iron pots, plows, and soaps when I go back, I believe I can make a lot of money."
Li Shao said with a smile on his face and a beaming look on his face.
Being called "Sir" by the Emperor of the Song Dynasty will last ten years after returning home.
"Mr. Li, you are very discerning."
Zhao Hong nodded and said loudly:
"Don't worry. These goods are of high quality and low price. They are no less profitable than tea, silk, and porcelain. You have chosen the right path. Just wait and make a fortune."
In overseas trade, a few boxes of swords and soap can be exchanged for a shipload of food, so why not do it.
"What your Majesty said is absolutely true! However, if the Song Dynasty can sell firearms to outsiders, it will definitely sell better!"
Li Shao echoed Zhao Hong with a flattering smile on his face.
"firearm?"
Zhao Hong looked at Li Shao and asked softly:
"Do you also need firearms to occupy the city?"
Don't say you need it, I'm afraid I haven't seen it before.
"Your Majesty, there are many pirates on the sea, but as long as the warships of the Song Dynasty appear and a few cannons hit the sky, the pirates will be beaten to pieces and flee in panic. If your Majesty is willing to sell firearms to the Champa Kingdom, the common people will Be the first to buy it!”
Li Shao's words made Zhao Hong startled, and then he suddenly realized.
It seems that the sea in the Song Dynasty is very uneven. But it can also be seen that the Song Navy is active on the sea again.
It seems that Wu Qian's rectification and management of the navy have achieved initial results.
"Mr. Li, after you load the goods, are you going back to Champa Kingdom?"
"Back to Your Majesty, I will first transport it to Mingzhou, Zhejiang by river ship, and then transfer it to Champa by sea ship from Mingzhou. There is a Song navy patrolling the sea now, and it will take about 20 days to arrive."
Li Shao's answer immediately gave Zhao Hong an idea.
If Champa can be used to deal with Dai Viet (Vietnam) and Chenla (Myanmar), and disgust each other, it seems to be in the interests of the Song Dynasty.
The Great Viet Kingdom and the Great Song Dynasty will definitely regain this lost land in China in the future!
"Mr. Li, can you meet the King of Champa?"
Zhao Hong frowned slightly and asked directly.
Maybe on New Year's Day, Champa would send envoys to the Song Dynasty to pay homage, but he didn't want to wait that long.
What happens today is today, why wait until a few months later.
"Return to...Your Majesty, civilians should...of course you can!"
Li Shao was secretly surprised, but he immediately agreed with trembling lips.
He was just a small businessman selling grain in the Champa Kingdom. How could he meet the king and those powerful people. The great merchants from Champa came to the Song Dynasty to buy porcelain, tea and silk. Only he ventured into business such as swords and soap.
However, this is obviously an opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make a comeback.
"In this case, Mr. Li, I will write a letter later, and you can go back and bring it to the king of Champa. The Song Dynasty is willing to have deeper exchanges with Champa. The Song Dynasty is also willing to help Champa resist foreign aggression. Both sides will get what they need, and they will benefit the two countries. It will benefit the people of both countries."
Sure enough, Zhao Hong thought for a moment and said it directly.
The Song Dynasty wanted to colonize overseas, and Champa was a suitable port of call in Nanyang. Maybe they could buy a piece of land there or rent a seaport as a base for overseas colonization.
Liuqiu, Qiongzhou (Hainan Island), Champa, and later Singapore will be occupied when the time comes, and the entire Silk Road and Nanyang will be alive.
"The common people will bring His Majesty's letter to me before the King!"
Li Shao knelt down and worshiped again, his heart pounding.
This is truly a blessing from heaven!
In this way, he could catch up with the royal families of Champa and the Song Dynasty. Now, don't worry about the sales of these goods. A rapid rise is just around the corner.
After everyone left, Hu Mengyu asked confusedly:
"Your Majesty, firearms are important weapons of the country and should not be given away easily. Do you really want to sell firearms to Champa?"
"I'm just selling firearms, but the formula and technology are still in my hands, Da Song. Why do you have to worry?"
Zhao Hong smiled and walked forward as he spoke.
"Besides, everything is not that easy. I haven't decided yet."
Occupying an important maritime location, opening a new port was laborious and extremely risky. When the Song Dynasty Navy went south, it had to have a transit port.
Champa Port is a good choice and a good opportunity for the Song Dynasty to expand.
