Chapter 78 Railway Construction Starts
At this moment, the Beijing Railway Station is still a construction site.
He Xi is here to attend a simple groundbreaking ceremony. Before that, the design, bidding, planning, and fund allocation of the railway have all been completed.
The chief engineer of the railway is none other than Ge Tiangong.
Now Ge Tiangong has found his own position. Became the chief engineer of large-scale projects.
Although in terms of research and development, Ge Tiangong is somewhat behind the times. But in terms of construction, Ge Tiangong is still very good, especially this kind of project that no one has built before. Ge Tianzong is highly qualified and very prestigious among craftsmen. Moreover, Ge Tiangong is familiar with all kinds of construction machinery, and even some construction machinery was developed by him. For many new needs, he can also independently develop some new construction machinery with relatively low difficulty.
Use innovative methods to solve some engineering problems.
The entire project was contracted by Puzhou Society and three major construction companies in Beijing. The total contract price was 5 million yuan. Even He Xi personally felt that this price was a bit underestimated. After all, if nothing else, the rails alone require about 100,000 tons, not to mention the construction of bridges, stations and the like along the railway lines. Plus, locomotives, carriages, etc. Almost the entire project has been contracted, and after the Beijing City Project, all the steel production capacity.
Of course, if the consumption of the war is added, the steel production capacity of Beijing and Liaodong will be expanded again.
Beyond that, there’s labor. The cost of land acquisition, etc.
All aspects were added together, and according to the joint accounting results of various departments of the Beijing Cabinet, the expenditure in various aspects was estimated to be as much as 10 million yuan. If it weren't for He Xi's strong support, this resolution would not have been implemented at all. Without him, ten million yuan is a quite large number for Beijing's property.
After all, fighting on the front line consumes tens of thousands of yuan every day. It may not seem like much, but it is actually not much at all. Coupled with consumption in other areas, Beijing's original balance and the money generated by He Xi's issuance of national bonds will not be able to sustain it for long.
At this time, most people do not support investing such a huge amount of money in this irrelevant place.
In fact, they didn't know that about half of the seemingly huge expenditures went around the economic system and returned to the hands of the imperial court. Most of the construction companies headed by Puzhou Society belonged to the imperial court, and the steel companies belonged to the imperial court. , of course, many workshops are not owned by the imperial court.
After all, after He Xi bought and sold state-owned factories on a large scale, there were some private companies in Beijing and Liaodong.
These companies have to pay taxes. Although the tax revenue is not much, it is money back. More importantly, since the beginning of the North-South War, Beijing's industrial production has not been unaffected. Even He Xi's efforts to maintain foreign economic and trade relations have been affected. had an impact.
Let’s not talk about the strategic significance of this railway for now. For economic reasons alone, it must be done. Because only this large factory was built, it not only expanded industrial production capacity to cope with the war, but also benefited the entire economic system.
This will give Beijing more room for maneuver in the economy.
If you don't have enough money, you can print money.
Maybe it's because of lack of experience, maybe it's because Nanjing hasn't felt financial difficulties yet. After all, Nanjing's family wealth is much richer than that of Beijing. Now the burden of the war on Nanjing is not great at all. Maybe banks are a new thing. Many people don't understand.
After the break between the north and the south, Nanjing only took over the banks in the south, but there was no change at all in the currency, that is, banknotes. This is also a manifestation of the nature of bureaucracy. It is better to do less than to do more.
This gave He Xi space. Space to print money.
Banknotes printed in Beijing can pass through the south without hindrance. Fortunately, He Xi still had a conscience. He chose to boil the frog's blood in warm water instead of destroying the banknotes in the south. In comparison, He Xi still wants to dominate the world.
The banknotes in the south were destroyed. After making a mess, He Xi will have to clean it up.
Isn’t this just finding something to do for yourself?
Nowadays, most of the noble industries have cooperated with He Xi's policies. After all, this is what makes them money. How could they not cooperate? Of course, they have not supported it in other aspects.
How long will it last?
Including national debt.
After all, they don’t want to take sides politically.
However, this is not important. At least financially, it would be fine if it didn't hinder He Xi. As long as Beijing's economic system can be implemented according to He Xi's ideas.
He Xi looked at the construction site in front of him, amidst the embers of firecrackers, and asked Ge Tiangong, "When will this project be completed soon?"
Ge Tiangong said: "Teacher, I have personally led people to do the surveying and mapping, and there are official roads along the way. I am going to build it from both sides. I have checked the production and transportation of the rails. If everything goes well, six months, six months It can be repaired in a month."
He Xi was stunned and said, "So fast?"
Ge Tiangong said: "Junior Brother Zhang already has a train over there. After the paving is done here, it will be very fast to transport goods by train."
In fact, the reason why it was so fast was also due to the light gauge of the rails in this era.
In fact, according to the railway tracks of this era, even wartime railways and temporary railways cannot be considered in later generations. Tamp the land, spread a layer of sand and a layer of gravel. Lay a layer of sleepers, then lay the rails and fix them. That's it.
In this era, trains may not be able to catch up with bicycles, so they are very crude in many aspects.
But it's okay to be humble.
From Beijing to Yingkou, it only takes one or two days at the fastest for bulk goods and troops, and three or four days at the slower time. This is already a revolutionary speed increase.
He Xi said: "I'll leave this matter to you. But we can't just go for speed, but we also have to ensure quality. After all, we need to pass through the army."
Ge Tiangong said: "Teacher, please don't worry, I will do it quickly and well."
When He Xi heard what Ge Tiangong said, he felt a bad feeling in his heart. However, he also believed in Ge Tiangong's ability. More importantly, He Xi had no one else on hand to use.
At this time, Yao Guangxiao came from behind.
He Xi saw Yao Guangxiao coming and sent Ge Tiangong away. Said: "What's the matter?"
To be honest, this kind of groundbreaking ceremony is very boring. But He Xi had to appear. After all, his appearance represented the attention of the court, which was just a political attitude. Although Yao Guangxiao came with He Xi, he did not join in the fun.
If you come here at this time, something must have happened.
Yao Guangxiao said: "Two pieces of news. Both are good news."
He Xi said: "What good news?"
Yao Guangxiao said: "The first good news is the great victory at Anlingbao."
Yao Guangxiao said as he handed a document to He Xi.
He Xi took it over and looked at it and said, "Who is Zhang Ming?"
Yao Guangxiao said: "Being from the Imperial Academy in Beijing, Zhang Zongde recommended General Ye Chen. If I remember correctly, did the eldest son mention this person to you?"
He Xi was stunned and said, "Did you mention it?"
Yao Guangxiao said: "That's what the eldest son calls him, the number one master in the Imperial College in Beijing."
He Xi's eldest son is naturally He Yuansi.
He Yuansi is currently studying at the Imperial Academy in Beijing, studying under Zhang Zongde, and he has met Zhang Ming. Zhang Ming is very skilled and is well known in the Imperial Academy of Beijing. He Xi knew that he just didn't remember.
When Yao Guangxiao mentioned it, He Xi immediately remembered this person. Said: "Remember, let Zhang Ming withdraw from the front line at some time and invite him to your home for dinner."
It can be said that at this moment, Zhang Ming has officially entered He Xi's eyes.
If you are capable, you can hold on to Anlingbao and defeat powerful enemies repeatedly. Although Anlingbao has the advantage of weapons and location, you are still capable if you can hold it.
There was luck. In He Xi's opinion, Tang Shengzong's death was entirely luck. Although the battlefield is very dangerous, it can be said to be a place where corpses are erected, and all kinds of people can die. But once you become a senior general, it is difficult to die on the battlefield.
Not only in ancient times, but even in modern times, beheadings are so frequent, the survival probability of generals is still far greater than that of small soldiers.
Tang Shengzong had his own life, which made Zhang Ming famous.
It seems to He Xi that luck is mostly involved.
More importantly, what is one’s own? He has an innocent family background and has been supported by this faction along the way. This kind of person is not one of our own. What is one of our own?
