Li Dan was very satisfied with the land in Chitou, and the project of the banknote factory was in full swing.
Long Hou, Zhu Erye's apprentice, has arrived in Xi'an. He took forty students from Yuqian Engineering School to establish the Shaanxi Institute of Architectural Engineering outside Nanguo Gate. A company called Xinchang Construction Club was registered at the same time, with three major shareholders:
Heyang Investment Trading Co., Ltd. of Heyang Prince's Palace, Du Shi Investment Trading Co., Ltd. under the name of Du Xian's brother, and Shaanxi New Chang'an Investment Trading Co., Ltd. under the name of Li Dan's brother Li Qin.
Long Hou and others began to be busy with surveying and drawing design for the banknote printing factory and mint. Li Dan planned to build not only a banknote factory, but also an acropolis facility like Wanping City in Peking.
Another twenty students, led by five engineers, established a large-scale cement factory in Leyouyuan. Because it was located in Guangde Fang, Tang Dynasty, it was called Guangde Cement Trading Co., Ltd.
Xiao Gui made friends with several local gangsters and got their help to hire 3,000 people from various places.
The workers are all hired from Tianshui, Pingliang and Chencang areas, and the conditions are extremely favorable. Each person is provided with three meals a day, accommodation, and an additional 20 yuan. At the end of the month, those who work perfectly and have no faults will receive an additional 200 to 400 yuan. This means that you can earn up to 100 yuan per month!
Who wouldn’t flock to such conditions? These people provided a stable labor force for the rapid development of the project, provided that summer taxes had been paid and tax payment certificates could be produced.
On the other hand, the trade fair was a huge success, with contracts and letters of intent signed at the event reaching an astonishing 1.4 million taels! Three of the most striking are:
Dongrisheng Vehicle Manufacturing Co., Ltd. signed a joint venture contract to establish the "Northwest Vehicle Manufacturing Factory" with trading companies affiliated to seven local giants, including Zhao, Yan, and Liu;
An agreement between Raonan Trading Co., Ltd. to supply goods to three local trading companies and license the monopoly of briquette stoves;
A contract between Jingnan Glass Products Factory and five investment companies to jointly establish Jingzhao Glass Manufacturing Factory.
In addition, Liaoning Fushun Dongning Coal Mine Equipment Factory sold six sets of orbital winch-traction ore trucks and six sets of animal-powered blower equipment to Tongchuan United Coal Industry, as well as contracts for related installation and maintenance services.
Jiang Cunli took Wei, Wu Xianzhe and others to visit the expo. He couldn't help but look around and exclaimed: "I have been an official in Guanzhong for several years, but I didn't expect that the world has changed so drastically. It's like sitting in a well and looking at the sky, which is embarrassing!"
Wu Xianzhe said: "As Li Youcan imagined, if these machines and equipment enter Guanzhong, the output will be more, but the price will also drop.
Many things, such as briquette stoves, will enter the homes of ordinary people, making people's lives more convenient and affluent, and providing food and clothing will also help further increase yields per mu and mass production. "
"Oh? What's the relationship between this? I didn't understand."
Wei hurriedly asked. Now whenever others mention what Li Dan said, he listens very carefully and seriously, not only because he thinks it is his responsibility to find out, but also because he thinks Li Dan is thoughtful. There are many new things, and if he doesn't understand them, he will quickly fall behind.
"That's right, the people in the warehouse know the etiquette. Li Youcan believes that if the people think about how to eat every day and how to get the next meal, then they will not have time to think about how to select the best seeds, how to dig the land deeply, and how to control pests.
Only by allowing them to solve the problem of food and clothing can they start to think about it, or have time to think about other things. In this way, one more bucket of grain may be harvested from the same acre of land, and the mines will be able to produce less wastage and more genuine products.
This is true for farmers, and so is it for workers! If you accumulate a little, you will make a big fortune, which will be a big fortune in the whole of Shaanxi. "
"It makes sense!" Jiang Cunli nodded: "In the past, we only thought about how to make a fuss about the acres of land and output, but never thought that the land could be reclaimed and the output could be increased. Moreover, with the use of machines, the mines could also produce more minerals. of.
Hey, you are really clinging to old memories! "
"Yes, this kind of animal-powered blower can blow fresh air underground, so that workers don't have to come up every hour to rest, and the human efficiency is improved.
Coupled with the fact that the winch lifts the ore to the ground in a timely manner, the daily output will naturally increase. No wonder Li Youshen told me at the beginning: Machines are tools, and smart people are those who can use the tools skillfully! "Wu Xianzhe said with emotion.
Jiang Cunxiang recalled a picture Li Dan drew for him, which marked the start time of the new policies and plans to be implemented in Shaanxi within one year. He couldn't help but say:
"It seems that in one year's time Shaanxi will be as rich as the Northwest. I just wonder if the cabinet will give us this opportunity?" Wei looked at him thoughtfully after hearing this.
After the summer, the imperial court issued a new decree:
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were established.
Qi Shan, the former right minister of the Ministry of Industry, is the Minister of Industry and Commerce, including seven department-level units including industry and mining, salt affairs, metallurgy, domestic trade, foreign business, planning and finance, and regulations;
Wang Gan, the former Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, is the Shangshu of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which includes five departments: Strategy, Legal Affairs, Protocol, Ambassadors, and Financial Administration;
After the split, the Ministry of Works retained the Management and Maintenance Department, and added six new departments: Finance and Administration, Planning, Urban Management, Regulations, and Administration and Finance;
The former Vehicle and Driving Department and Arsenal Department of the Ministry of War were all transferred to the newly established General Armament Department. The General Affairs Department was upgraded to the General Logistics Department, the Joint Hall was changed to the Protocol Department, the Military Selection Department was changed to the Training and Teaching Department, and the Staff Department was changed to the Military Intelligence Department. , separated from the Staff Division and established a new Military Law and Pressure Division.
The Ministry of Communications was newly established, with Liu Cunwu, the left minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Industry, as the Minister of Communications, and under its jurisdiction were seven departments: Postal Service, Shipping, Land Transport, Roads and Bridges, Vehicles and Vessels, Horse Administration, and Traffic Law;
Li Xian, the right minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was promoted to the left minister, and Sun Song, the former right minister of Honglu Temple, was promoted to the minister of rites.
The six divisions were changed into nine divisions, and the three new ministers, Jingchuan, Jiangnan, and Beidi, each occupied one quota, which was quite balanced. Everyone admired His Majesty and wondered how he came up with this idea.
It seems to have added weight to each faction, but in reality it has not. The cabinet is happy and the officials are excited, but the few ministers involved are not happy because they have been decentralized. But this matter can't be overcome by arms, so they have to agree with everyone's opinions!
The one who benefits the most is the emperor. It is not a good situation for Jinghu and Jiangnan to always join forces to deal with him. A stronger cabinet plus the imperial court is a nightmare for the imperial power.
Fortunately, a sentence in Li Dan's letter: "Both Jinghu and Jiangnan want to expand their power, and using it seems to be a real reward, just like the effect of Chao Cuo's kindness..." It woke him up.
A large number of new positions appeared for all parties to compete for, and the emperor easily rearranged the court, causing everyone to rush to show their loyalty. Surprisingly, the new decrees introduced by the emperor during this period went very smoothly, and there were few objections from either the cabinet or the court. "This guy Li Sanlang, although he is young, he really sees through these civil servants!" He told the Empress Dowager with a smile.
"Yes, this child is really rare in the world!" The Queen Mother praised her at first, but then Zhao Tuo's expression changed: "But is such a powerful young official a blessing or a curse for the royal family?"
She pointed to Zhao Fei, the eldest son of the emperor, who was playing on Zhao Tuo's lap and said, "I think that with the protection of Grandpa Taizu, the two generations of emperors Chengzong and Yanzong successfully ascended the throne and continued the great rule.
Taizu passed away in the third year of Emperor Longzhi's reign, and the "Battle of Jingnan" took place only five years later. I wonder if this child has a long-lived father who can protect him forever? Or, is Li Sanlang someone we can trust? "
"Mother, are you worrying too much?" Zhao Tuo frowned.
"Perhaps, but as an emperor, you can't think about these things." The Queen Mother waved her hand, and the Queen immediately understood and went over to coax the eldest son of the Emperor to let him go with her to watch the peacocks in the garden outside.
The Empress Dowager asked Cai Du and Eunuch Xia to go further away, and then asked in a low voice: "What kind of person does the emperor think Li Dan is?"
"Capable, capable, versatile..."
"The Ai family heard that he has a team of staff around him?"
"Mother forgot? Isn't the Ten Prince Consort his original chief military medical officer?" Zhao Tuo smiled.
"No, Ai Jia wants to remind Your Majesty that it may not be a good thing for Your Majesty to have so many capable people around a minister. How can a minister have dozens of people on his staff?
We must be careful not to have another Sima Yi in this dynasty in the future! After the Empress Dowager finished speaking, she thought for a while: "How about the emperor also give him a favor order and ask him to recommend his subordinates to become officials...?" "
"Oh!" Zhao Tuo understood, nodded and said: "It is only natural to recommend someone to the country. I understand what you mean."
"This is also a touchstone. If he is happy and happy, it means that he has His Majesty and the overall situation in mind. Otherwise, this person is not worthy of too much trust." The Queen Mother sighed:
"The Ai family wishes they could live a few more years and help you more, and even be able to watch the emperor's eldest son grow up, but it's a pity that his body is getting worse every day."
"Mom, don't say such things. You don't have to think about anything else. Just enjoy peace and wealth."
"Huh, don't just go to the Queen's Palace all the time. If there are more princes and princesses, maybe I can live with it for another ten years if I'm happy?"
The Empress Dowager's words were a mockery of Zhao Tuo and the Empress for being too clingy, which made the other concubines complain. Zhao Tuo's face turned red and he quickly stood up to apologize. The Empress Dowager covered her mouth with a silk handkerchief and laughed.
Li Dan received a reply from the emperor regarding his request for instructions to establish the Shaanxi-Gansu Banknote General Administration and appoint the director:
There are so many talented people in your staff, why are you afraid that you can't choose anyone who can be an eighth-grade official? The reform of the Ministry of Household Affairs has not yet begun. You don't have to wait for the imperial court to appoint you. You can just make your own appointment.
After being surprised, Li Dan approached Wu Mao, and the two discussed that since Wen Zhou had been appointed as the president of the Bank of Shaanxi, they decided to let Jiao Tong serve as the director of the General Bureau of Banknotes and Currency.
The two of them have been working together for a while and are very familiar with each other. Moreover, Jiao Tong has the status of being an official, so it makes sense for him to be an eighth-rank official.
"Why did His Majesty suddenly ask me to recommend staff? This has never happened before." Li Dan said puzzledly.
"There's nothing I can't understand. Your Majesty wants to see whether you are hoarding talents for the country or raising talents for yourself." Wu Mao smiled: "Maybe someone is whispering something in His Majesty's ear, so don't take it to heart.
Recommend it generously, and your Majesty will be at ease. Besides, there may be more such things in the future. "
Li Dan was speechless after hearing this, and wrote a reply to Zhao Tuo in the evening: There is a member of the imperial court, Jiao Tong, who has been assisting Wen Zhou, deputy envoy of the Baoquan Bureau of the Chief Secretary, to prepare for the currency reform since he entered Shaanxi. The minister recommended him.
In addition, team training has been set up in various places in Shaanxi. This place is mountainous and cannot be managed without someone in charge. Mr. Shen is currently paying close attention to the public security in various places and cannot spare any effort to take care of it.
He has complained to the minister several times. The minister suggested that he might add a seventh-grade military regiment training officer position under the capital command department to be responsible for supervising the issuance of orders, the mobilization and deployment of regiment training, recruitment and training, but the food, salary and equipment also need logistics. Department and Equipment Department to coordinate.
If Your Majesty agrees, I would like to ask Gu Daming, the former Raozhou regiment training director who trained the Liao army in Liaoning, to temporarily assume this position.
Soon, the emperor wrote back, telling him that after a fierce quarrel between the first assistant and the second assistant, the plan to split the household department was finally passed.
The newly established Ministry of Finance includes: Department of Treaty and Law, Department of Taxation, Department of Customs, Department of Treasury, Department of Bills and Certificates, and local regulatory bureaus. Among them, the General Administration of Banknotes and Currencies belongs to the Department of Bills and Certificates, and An Zai, the former left minister of the Ministry of Accounts, serves as the Minister of the Ministry of Finance.
The remaining part of the Ministry of Household Affairs includes five departments: Civil Affairs and Household Registration, Medicine and Welfare, Charity and Relief, Regulations, and Financial Administration. It has essentially transformed into a department focusing on civil affairs and is completely separated from financial affairs. The new Minister of the Ministry of Households is the former right minister Gao Integrity.
As for Li Dan's two recommendations, the emperor approved them, and also consulted him on the transfer of Jiangxi Inspector Lin Zhongtai to serve as the minister of the Ministry of Justice, which was about to be newly restructured.
Li Dan replied that although Mr. Lin had been impeached against his ministers during his tenure, he had an upright reputation, was familiar with rules and regulations, was principled and yet flexible, and I thought he was worthy of the post.
The two exchanged letters constantly, and the previous incident seemed to have no impact at all.
