"Mr. Yuan Ge, at this juncture, don't be tempted!"
"Mr. Ge, these three items are already extremely far-sighted. What preparation can be stronger than this?"
Listening to the urging of the ministers, Yuan Keli chuckled and said: "The fourth item, you should know that the inns on the Nanjing Road and Beijing have been repaired and reorganized, and some have been opened for passing businessmen and tourists to rest, similar to cheap restaurants and Come to the inn!
This pavilion can tell you very clearly that the entire Ming Dynasty’s inns will be like this. When the time comes, the handicrafts and specialties of the people around the road can be sold around the inns.
Passengers passing by can buy some specialties, and if the caravan is interested, they can also order in large quantities. This will promote the development of the surrounding area. His Majesty calls this a national business.
The post station can also operate on its own capabilities, reducing the burden on the court.
From then on, the treatment of the postmen at the post station can also be improved, and the post station and official roads can be better maintained.
It is even said that in the future, letters between various places can be delivered through post stations. Post stations can truly be transformed into political, military and civilian uses. "
Listening to this, the eyes of the ministers were shining brightly, but some of their brows were also furrowed, full of contemplation.
Since its invention, the post station has been responsible for transmitting imperial decrees, official documents from various places, and more importantly, military information.
But the postmen in the post station are all from the surrounding people through corvee labor. In this case, there is no wages.
It was fine during the time of Taizu, but later emperors did not strictly follow Taizu's plan. In addition, officials were corrupt and used the free labor at the post station to do their own private work, which greatly increased the burden on the people.
Coupled with the loss, delay, etc. of delivered letters, there will be extremely severe punishments, and the postmen will flee one after another. It can be said that nearly half of the post stations have a serious shortage of postmen, and some are even missing 70 to 80 percent.
Although the emperor carried out rectification after he ascended the throne, there were more than 2,000 water and horse stations in the entire Ming Dynasty, with tens of thousands of postmen. In addition to the expenses required to support tens of thousands of horses, donkeys, carts, and boats,
If we relied solely on the imperial court's funding, millions of taels of silver a year would be required to ensure the integrity of the post station and the postmen.
If the post station is semi-open and can be self-sufficient, it can save countless money and use it in other places.
A censor whispered: "Mr. Yuan Ge, this idea is very good, but if there is urgent military information transmission, will this delay the transmission speed?"
"No, first of all, the number of postmen in each post station ranges from seven or eight to more than a hundred.
The transmission distance is about ten to thirty miles. The war horse only needs half an hour of effort, and even running only takes a quarter and a half. How much do you think two consecutive letters of six hundred miles apart, only a quarter of an hour apart, are expedited military information? ?
Secondly, only part of the post station is open, and there are strict regional divisions. The military, political and civilian aspects are strictly separated and do not interfere with each other.
Thirdly, it is related to His Majesty’s fifth preparation! "
After saying this, Yuan Keli glanced at the ministers: "You still remember that at the Ningyuan Mutual Market Investment Conference yesterday, Shangshu Bi mentioned that it only takes two or three days to go down the canal from Beijing to Nanjing.
According to the normal water transportation, it will take about ten days at the fastest, so His Majesty asked the Industrial Research Institute to study new means of transportation, and now we have something in mind.
When all the post stations are renovated, it is estimated that they will be ready. By then, relying on the convenience of the Grand Canal and sea transportation, the role of the horse post will be smaller. "
Speaking of this, Yuan Keli showed a playful smile at the corner of his mouth. He didn't know if that thing would come out after a while and it would scare everyone.
Anyway, he had heard the emperor discuss it with Wang Zheng, the director of the Industrial Research Institute, and was extremely shocked when he saw the model of the thing.
"The above are the preparations His Majesty made before fully promoting the business. If you have any questions, you can ask them."
The ministers looked at each other and shook their heads.
They had just learned about these preparations and the specific details were not clear. What could they ask?
Asking at this time is not to show how smart you are, but just to show off.
But someone still stood up and said, "Your Majesty, I have a question. It is not a business matter. Please allow me!"
"allow!"
"Your Majesty, could you predict that the Jian slaves would be destroyed back then? So you prepared all this in advance?"
"Bold, Mr. Wang, what do you mean by this? Are you expecting Jian Nu to come in?"
"Wang Zhongkun, you are so presumptuous, why are you asking such a question?"
"Lord Wang, are you questioning His Majesty's wise decision?"
"Lord Wang, this is the court, you can't do anything!"
…
Listening to Wang Zhongkun's question, several officials and censors angrily rebuked him.
Wang Zhongkun still raised his neck and looked coldly at the ministers who were angrily scolding him: "Everyone, you don't know what state the Ming Dynasty was in when His Majesty ascended the throne!
In the east of Liaoning, there were slaves and persecutors, in the north there were Mongolian tribes invading the border, in the southwest there was the She'an rebellion, in the southeast there were Japanese pirates raids, and Spain, the Netherlands and other countries were eyeing them, and the defense strength was insignificant;
One wrong step leads to another wrong step. In this case, the most important thing His Majesty should do is to stabilize the country. "
"Conflict?"
Listening to Wang Zhongkun's explanation, Chongzhen, who was sitting on the dragon throne, suddenly spoke up: "Among the five, only Jiannu is more difficult, but as long as the Guanning Defense Line and Shanhaiguan remain, Jiannu will not be able to enter.
Even if you enter the customs from other places, you don't dare to stay for a long time because you will be surrounded by the Ming army.
It seems like a danger, but it's actually nothing.
Secondly, my biggest reliance is the Warrior Battalion, the Forbidden Army, and the Firearms Research Institute. If I want to defeat the Jiannu cavalry, firearms are the only and quickest choice.
I don’t know whether new firearms can be developed, but spending millions of taels of silver to build hundreds of red cannons and general cannons, and place them on all sides, both Mongolia and Jiannu can only stare at them.
I am prepared for a long-term confrontation, but the premise is that there is a large amount of military support. Without money, how can we counterattack the Jiannu and Mongolian tribes? "
"Then, let me ask Wang Aiqing, if there is a long-term confrontation or counterattack, where do you think the money will come from?"
"This, this... Your Majesty, didn't you confiscate the homes of many corrupt officials and..."
"Then within the Ming Dynasty, the officials govern the Qingming Dynasty, the people support it, and the king and his subjects are united. Why are they still afraid of foreign enemies?
If you don’t work hard to make money, make the people rich and the country strong, what are you waiting for? "
"this……"
"Wang Aiqing, can't you tell the difference?"
"I, I don't dare. I am stupid. Your Majesty, please forgive me!"
Wang Zhongkun immediately knelt down, his forehead covered with cold sweat.
The ministers looked at the embarrassment, their eyes full of pity.
