Chapter 377 Steel
Gao reluctantly put down the book in his hand.
Then he looked at Liu Taozi on the side.
"Your Majesty, I think these manuscripts can be copied and promoted throughout the country."
"Let officials from all over the country read and study, not necessarily to master the skills of farming, but at least to have some understanding of farming and mulberry affairs, so as not to be indistinguishable from grain to grain...:::
"And many of the contents and ideas, I think, can be implemented gradually."
"I heard that in the pre-Qin period, the Qin State paid the most attention to mulberry farming, so craftsmen who made new farm tools or farmers who made new methods could get titles...:. Jia Gong also mentioned in his book the importance of mulberry farming.
The important thing is innovation. Only by constantly innovating techniques and tools can we revitalize mulberry farming. This can be implemented."
Gao slowly talked about his many ideas, the most critical of which was the management of agriculture.
Jia Si's agricultural thoughts summarized a lot of content, but the most important point is that farming and mulberry farming is not a matter for farmers and requires the government to intervene in management.
Jia Si proposed three major factors for farming: favorable weather, favorable location, and favorable people.
It is simply impossible for ordinary farmers to complete these three major factors. Only the government has the power to do so.
The weather refers to the climate. He believed that it was necessary for the government to investigate the climate of various places and determine the content of farming according to different seasons, different regional climates, and the habits of different crops. Then there was the geographical advantage. He believed that the government should examine the quality of the land.
Promote corresponding crops according to the actual conditions in different regions, and the final goal is to encourage people to produce, provide corresponding tools, and control the price of food, neither too high nor too low.
A large-scale farming system is formed with the government as the core. The government takes the lead, organizes the people, and takes care of the farmers....\n
This is what Gao Zai was doing originally.
Gao was very involved in agricultural affairs, and this is the reason.
Jia Si's manuscript contains a lot of agricultural technology and agricultural knowledge, and even includes content on animal husbandry. However, this is not just a book in the technical field. This is not a book that teaches farmers how to farm. It is a book that teaches officials how to make crops grow.
A book for farmers to farm better.
Of course, this is not to look down on farmers, the main reason is that in today's era, farmers do not have much autonomy.
It does not mean that farmers can plant whatever they want, nor can farmers plant it when they want. It is not even up to them to decide whether they can plant their own land.
Under the Land Equalization Order, the land does not belong to the farmers. The farmers only have temporary farming rights, and the ownership is in the hands of the government. Therefore, farmers are strictly controlled by the government in farming and other aspects.
At first, Gao Yuan only relied on his conversations with Jia Si and some of the documents he left behind to explore, but now,
With these complete things, he wanted to do more things.
Zu Ban listened to Gao's words carefully and suddenly looked at Liu Taozi beside him.
"Your Majesty, I think it's feasible."
"We were able to get rid of those merchants only this year and were barely able to support ourselves. Like that of the Puppet Zhou Dynasty, because of insufficient food and grass and poor people's livelihood, we had hundreds of thousands of troops, but it was difficult to go out and respond to our attacks."
"Chen Guo had been hoarding grain and grass for decades before he dared to go out to seize the Huaihe River."
"At present, our army has just completed its training, but if we want to send out a large army, we still don't have enough food, especially for the expedition to the Puppet Zhou Dynasty. The cost along the way is difficult to estimate...\n..\n.\n"
"Gao Lingjun is right to focus on mulberry farming. With food, we can do other things. "This book really brings together the essence of all mulberry farming in the past."
"It is feasible to promote this book among officials, and even to let the village officials master these contents, and further promote it to farmers. In the early Han Dynasty, the government also promoted "Hui Hui" to farmers twice.
"The Book of Victory" is very effective."
"In addition, the policies for promoting agriculture recorded in the book can also be tried."
"Your Majesty, leave the ironmaking to me."
Gao Ye's face hardened and he looked at Liu Taozi, but stopped talking.
But Zu Ban didn't seem to see it at all.
He continued: "Iron involves so many things that many officials in Taichung, except me, may not be able to complete this matter."
Liu Taozi stared at Zu Ban in front of her with a straight face.
"Grandpa...\n...Have you been studying the law recently?"
"Read often in your spare time."
"good.'
"Then let Grandpa do it."
When Zu Ban left here triumphantly, Gao Fang said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, I am not trying to alienate the emperor and his ministers, but since ancient times, salt and iron have made huge profits, so Zu Ting was asked to do this...
If you want to engage in agriculture, you must develop corresponding ancillary industries, such as iron and steel, and business. In fact, they will all be promoted together.
Agricultural countries, agricultural societies, and agriculture are the core force driving all other industries, just like the status of industry in industrial societies is the same.
Mining and iron smelting also play a huge role in this.
However, Tie's profits are really too big. With Zu Ban's personality, it's really hard for people to rest assured...:
But Liu Taozi said: "Zu Ting has not taken anything from others for a long time. A smart person like him will not ruin his big ambitions because of such a trivial matter."
Zu Ban quickly organized his team and quickly headed to Pingcheng Iron Works.
Qi State's iron smelting plants are still very famous. In the past, Qi State had a total of 39 large-scale national iron smelting plants, which were basically distributed in the counties from Shuozhou to Yanzhou.
Eight of them can produce one ton per day. Theoretically speaking, Qi's factories across the country can refine iron in the range of about two thousand to three thousand tons a year. Qi has the largest iron ore and the largest iron ore.
A good factory, but this annual iron production is just a theoretical figure, and in the end, it is just a theory.
There is a large iron smelting plant in Pingcheng that can theoretically produce one ton of iron per day.
This iron smelting plant is a product of the previous dynasty. It is located in Hunshui Township, north of Pingcheng. At the beginning, the Wei State diverted Muddy Water to the north of the city and built a canal. After moving the capital, the iron smelting plant was set up near the canal. It was close to the water source and the terrain was good.
Flat, conducive to transportation.
When I was in Qi State, the big factories here were still playing an extremely important role, and they occupied a huge area.
The entire township is within the scope of the smelting plant.
It is operated by a dedicated iron officer.
As soon as Zu Ban's carriage and horses approached, he saw the billowing black smoke rising into the sky.
The countryside is surrounded by fences to prevent thieves from sneaking in, and there are soldiers guarding every road to maintain the safety and order of the factory.
When Zu Ting arrived, Tie Guan had already known about it and led many officials and even sergeants to greet him.
This iron officer was wearing a military uniform, and most of the officials behind him were also in the same style. They all looked like soldiers.
Seeing Zu Ban, the iron official's face was full of smiles, but his trembling hands betrayed his uneasiness.
This iron official's surname was Hu Lu, Hu Lu was named Hu Luguang. He was about forty years old and looked like a standard Northern general.
"I didn't know that my grandfather was here, but I wasn't prepared... It's really rude, rude!"
"Come here, prepare the banquet quickly!"
The iron official yelled, bending down towards Zu Spot.
Times are different now. If ten years, no, five years earlier, I would have met a Han Chinese like Zu Ban, the iron officer would have thrown him into the iron furnace to refine him...
Zu Ban pretended to stare at the black smoke in the distance, "Your errands are really hard."
"The banquet is not in a hurry. I came here on orders. Why don't you show me around first?"
"good!"
"Grandpa, please!"
This leader led Zu Ting to visit the factory.
After passing the fence, you can see many residential houses, which are connected to each other and also surrounded by fences.
These are where the workers sleep, with soldiers watching over them.
The workers at this time were still mainly prisoners, captives, sons-in-law, etc. The State of Qi even captured people through labor force and asked them to mine and smelt iron.
The sky is a little gray and has a choking smell.
After passing these houses, you can see open-air blast furnaces. These blast furnaces are neatly arranged in the distance, one after another, and you can't even see the end of them. Many craftsmen are busy.
Some are transported, some are burned, and some are even forged.
This kind of factory is not just for refining, sometimes they are also responsible for production and even sales.
Zu Ban covered his mouth and looked at the blast furnaces in the distance.
Tie Guan introduced the names and uses of these things to him with a proud look on his face.
"Oh...I see."
Zu Banban nodded, and then asked: "Are these military officials here?"
"Yes, Wen Xuan... Well, after Gao Yang came to power, he issued an edict that the iron mines and iron factories in various places were put in charge of the army, and the generals managed them separately. The management was very good! It's getting better and better!"
The iron official was very proud.
From ancient times to the present, iron has always been an important resource for the country. In the Western Han Dynasty, there was a monopoly on salt and iron, which could only be bought and sold by the state. However, in the Eastern Han Dynasty, it was banned and taxes were imposed on iron...::. In the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it was always banned
Convert between and not banned.
Qi State did not have an iron monopoly and allowed private individuals to smelt iron as long as they paid taxes.
Of course, the State of Qi cannot do without its own characteristics. The characteristic of the State of Qi is its military monopoly.
Iron officials appeared in the Western Han Dynasty and were inherited all the way. In the Qi State, iron officials directly became military attachés, and armies and generals from various places controlled the local iron mines and iron factories.
In the Western Han Dynasty, the generals had armor at home and were beheaded. During the Qi Dynasty, the generals did not have armor at home, but they had iron mines and iron smelting plants!!
There is a huge gap between Qi's theoretical iron production and its actual iron production, and the reason for this gap is its system.
The large and small iron mines in various places are completely controlled by the garrison, especially the iron factories. Corruption is serious. The living environment of the workers is difficult to see directly. The technology is backward and they are unwilling to update. Everyone regards the factory as their own...
Zu Ban had just stepped in and already discovered more than a dozen drawbacks.
Tieguan didn't even notice the change in Zu Ban's expression, so he just took him on a tour.
No problem if you want to visit, just take a look!
As long as you don't look at the accounts, it's easy to talk about anything.
The blast furnaces are like dense forests, and the zombie-like craftsmen are always busy, and they don't seem to have much reaction to the outside world.
The cars in the distance are responsible for transportation. To the west is a large warehouse, where piles of iron are transported and stored.
They also have their own workshops, and many craftsmen are making tools, mostly agricultural tools.
According to the iron official, this was an order from the temple, which gave factories in various places the requirements on farm tools, allowing them to complete the task before the year.
Zu Ban followed around for a long time, and then followed Tie Guan to the resting place.
To the east of the entire factory is where officials rest.
Many luxurious restaurants have been built here, which is completely different from the situation not far away.
Zu Ting sat in the upper position, and the officials sat on both sides. They even called dancing girls to please Zu Ban.
Zu Ban was not polite, he just looked at the dancing girls lustfully. He was not satisfied just by looking at them, so he simply called them to his side, one in each hand.
Seeing Zu Ban like this, the officers felt relieved and smiled.
Zu Ting asked: "You have been here for many years, right?"
"Yes, grandpa, I have been here for seventeen years... After the establishment of the new dynasty, I was dismissed once. However, the affairs of this factory are complicated. Without familiar people, nothing can be done. In the end, we can only
Let me keep doing it..."
Iron Man whispered.
Zu Ban cleared his throat and squeezed the hands of the two little ladies, "Is there no wine for such a big banquet?"
Tieguan hesitated for a moment, "Grandpa...\n.\n. Prohibition on alcohol...\n
"Hey, with me here, why are you afraid of the prohibition on alcohol?"
"Bring it to me quickly!!"
Zu Ban said sternly, and Tieguan stood up and hurriedly asked someone to get some good wine.
The soldiers closed the door, and the room was filled with good wine. Everyone looked at Zu Ban with smiles, and Zu Ting gulped down the wine and hugged the beauties on his left and right, enjoying it very much.
After a long time, Zu Ban finally said slowly: "You should know what I am here for, right?"
"My grandfather made it clear!"
"Explicitly stated?? Do you still need me to express it clearly? Why, have you forgotten all the past rules?"
Tie Guan hurriedly said: "Grandpa, I have prepared a gift of ten cars..."
"Fuck you!"
Zu Ban pushed away the beauties on the left and right, his expression became frightening, "Who do you think I am? I'm here just for those ten carts of gifts?!"
Tieguan looked troubled and looked at the other officials. They all looked at each other thoughtfully.
Zu Ban put away his anger and said with a smile: "Don't think that I don't know, what you earn every year,
Even ten Sangong can’t earn it...:. In the past, we had generals to back us up, but it’s different now. Now it’s the world of people like us. The generals don’t count on their words. I want 90%!”
Tieguan's eyes widened, "Grandpa!! This...\n
"how?"
Zu Ban narrowed his eyes, "Or do you want me to check the account book, or check something else?"
Tieguan smiled bitterly and said: "Grandpa, ninety percent is too much. In the past, it was always seventy percent. It is not as good as before. There are many people overseeing it, so we can no longer eat casually. Besides, there are also noble people in the court who want to eat."
, you take away 90% at once, we have to feed so many people, how can we do that?"
"A lot of places cost money, and those who come to monitor have to take care of themselves a little. And many people are short of money. If they want to take care of themselves, it's easy for them to get sent in!"
"In the past, huge profits were indeed made as my grandfather said, but not now. Let me tell you the truth. For such a big factory, we only got less than 50 million yuan last year...:"
Zu Ting's hand holding the wine cup trembled.
Then he alerted Iron Officer.
"Do you think I will believe it? It's only 50 million?"
The iron official couldn't express his sorrow, so he looked at the other colleagues, who all started to complain.
"Grandpa, many officials today do not accept bribes, and those generals do not dare to make decisions for us. Who can we rely on?"
"Who do you rely on? Oh, Taichung needs to record your income and expenditure, so you have no one to rely on?"
Tieguan whispered: "Grandpa, it's not that we are deceiving, it's that no one is willing to come forward. Only Li Wenshi, the master of Zhongshutai, is willing to help us. Every time we thoroughly check the income and expenditure, and when the documents are returned to the government, he can
I made slight modifications to prevent the matter from being leaked.\n.:. If you are willing to take us, it would be our honor. It is not just us, but also several other big manufacturers. I can help you contact them. They are all because
I am worried because I have no one to help me.”
"It's just that 90% is too high...\n
"That's 90%. Who else can you rely on now besides me? Zhongshu Sheren? Ha, in my eyes,
He is nothing more than a swordsman!"
"You help me contact various factories. I want 90%, but I can ensure that they will not be thoroughly investigated, will not be subject to any supervision, and can return to the past state!
?
"If he doesn't want to, I will raid his factory and make him unable to make any money!!"
Zu Ban hugged the beauties on his left and right again and raised his head, "You should send someone to tell them now. If there is someone who is unwilling to bow his head, don't be alarmed. Just write down their name and I will deal with it myself."
Tieguan hesitated for a long time, and finally bowed his head helplessly, "Wei!!"
Only then did Zu Ting burst into laughter and kissed him fiercely several times.
Royal palace, main hall.
Liu Taozi stared at the drunk Zu Ban in front of him.
"In this way, my grandfather had no choice but to drink and attend the banquet in order to obtain relevant evidence...
"Your Majesty, for the sake of national affairs, I have no choice but to sacrifice my own reputation! I have no choice but to violate the law!
"But these are all for important matters. I will never regret it and am willing to be punished!!"
"However, most of these factories and mines in the country are staffed by officials from the past. These officials don't know how to govern at all and only want to seek benefits for themselves! Please don't punish me yet, and wait until I catch you.
Get rid of all the participants and arrest those noble people who support them. Then you can punish me for the crime of drinking!!"
Zu Ban knelt down in front of Liu Taozi, looking upright and awe-inspiring.
He really sacrificed too much for national affairs!
Chapter completed!