So this is how you can make money!

Just days after this news broke, the wealthiest merchants in Tokyo began to rethink the business logic of the Song Dynasty.

The rules have changed; the imperial court is clearly delegating power to the people and encouraging them to be more innovative.

The Huaxing Spinning Wheel Case of the sixth year of the Jingkang era was recorded in history. This year is also known as the first year of the industrial revolution in the Song Dynasty. In the midst of the magnificent road construction boom, it was like a thunderclap, resounding in the court and among the people.

After Huaxing spinning wheels came out, another benefit to the market was that the price of each garment dropped from fifty coins to thirty-eight coins.

A business scholar from the Song Dynasty once said: "In this year, as long as you have the courage to participate in the clothing trade, even if you only set up a small transport team to transport raw materials, you can make a lot of money."

The first wave of wealth injected into the people by the Jingkang New Deal began to take effect in the sixth year of Jingkang.

And all of this is just the beginning.

Because the steam engine, which truly propelled the Song Dynasty's economic boom, was undergoing its final improvements.

In April, the peach blossoms had not yet faded, and petals rained down along the roadside.

The Bian River shimmered in the sunlight, and tourists had already shed their thick cotton-padded coats, now wearing blue shirts and pretty headscarves, leisurely enjoying the intoxicating spring scenery.

A simple, old-fashioned carriage, surrounded by a group of knights, left Tokyo.

After leaving Tokyo, the poetic scenery unfolds before your eyes like a tranquil landscape painting.

After walking along the wide cement road for about half an hour, Zhao Huan finally arrived at the starting point of the first steam locomotive of the Song Dynasty.

It must be said that the Ordnance Supervision Bureau has a very strong ability to execute orders.

In early February, Zhao Huan emphasized to Chen Gui that the railway steam locomotive should be made as soon as possible.

In just two months, the most primitive steam locomotive was produced.

This is a very large steam locomotive, which is quietly parked on the double rails. The double rails, made of iron, are not very long and are currently in the testing phase.

Zhao Huan was very satisfied with this "big guy". Although it was still quite different from the old-fashioned train in the world he came from, at least the prototype had been completed, and it was significantly improved compared to the last one.

All scientific creations require taking the first firm step. It doesn't matter if the prototype is flawed; Tokyo wasn't built in a day.

What's more, this thing can run on railway tracks.

The area within several miles had been completely surrounded by the Imperial Guards, and not even a fly could get in.

Someone is adding coal and wood to the furnace above.

Before long, the steam locomotive on the rails began to move slowly.

This rail steam locomotive is slightly faster than steam locomotives that run on the ground.

However, when it runs, it makes a "clanging" sound.

Behind it was an iron box with wheels underneath, which it pulled along. The iron box contained a lot of wood.

Although it was worn out a bit, Zhao Huan felt a great sense of accomplishment. This thing was the backbone of the Song Dynasty's transportation industry, and its mission was to connect the entire Song Dynasty and completely drive cross-regional economic development.

However, the ministers could not understand the emperor's feelings. The only one who thought the matter was reliable, Tang Ke, had been behaving himself recently because of the spinning wheel incident.

After the steam locomotive finished its journey, it stopped at the end of the line.

The emperor said with great satisfaction, "Minister Xu!"

"Your subject is here!"

"First, build a railway from Tokyo to Jiangling!"

Xu Churen was immediately in a bind. The task of building cement roads was already very heavy, and now the emperor suddenly had the urge to build railways. Wasn't this just setting people up for disaster?

"Your Majesty, the national treasury is likely insufficient..."

The emperor, however, was completely unaware that the Grand Chancellor was unwilling to make the repairs. He excitedly said, "That's easy. Establish a Great Song Royal Railway Company, raise funds from merchants in Tokyo and Jiangling, start with 3 million strings of cash, and let them be minority shareholders. In the future, when the railway makes money, we will share the profits with them every year!"

Xu Churen was no longer surprised to hear strange words coming from the emperor's mouth.

However, he didn't think those businessmen would be willing to pay that money.

This railway is no joke. Iron ore is already scarce, so using iron to build a road from Tokyo to Jiangling is a huge waste.

Xu Churen couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, ironware is scarce; we cannot waste it like this."

"Iron ore?" Zhao Huan suddenly dismissed the question and continued, "Didn't we say we'd use thunderbolts to blast the iron ore out of the mountains? Minister Xu, you can complete the cement road from Dongjing City to Jiangling Prefecture this year. Once the cement road is finished, transporting iron ore will be much more convenient!"

The other ministers stood aside, not daring to speak, listening to the emperor putting on airs all by himself.

The emperor thought for a moment and said, "If that's not enough, add more people!"

According to official statistics, in the first year of the Jingkang era, the Song Dynasty produced 150 million kilograms of iron annually!

By the fifth year of the Jingkang era, the annual iron smelting volume of the Song Dynasty had reached 500 million kilograms!

Large-scale mines have been established in Hebei, Yanyun, Hedong, Jingdong, Chengdu and other places, directly managed by the government offices, and laborers are recruited to mine.

Xu Churen said, “In the south, the paper money has not yet been widely promoted. People are still using iron coins. If such a long road is built now with iron, I am afraid that it will be dismantled and sold for money.”

Upon hearing Xu Churen's words, Zhao Huan was speechless.

Xu Churen's words do make some sense. Iron is now considered a precious metal. Although it is much cheaper than gold and silver, it is still very valuable.

But we can't stop building railways just because of that, can we?

Even in the 21st century, the previous life of Zhao Huan, thieves who steal public facilities still exist. The country can't stop developing because of those thieves.

Zhao Huan said menacingly, "This is easy to solve. Anyone found stealing from the railway will be executed without mercy!"

"Your Majesty, killing them is not the solution. I believe that railways are too expensive. Cement roads can already solve the transportation problems of the Song Dynasty. There is no need to build railways."

The emperor's face darkened, and he said, "It must be repaired; there's no room for discussion!"

After saying this, the emperor got into the carriage with displeasure and left with his entourage.

In fact, the molds for the Ordnance Bureau were almost ready, and the ministers' objections were completely useless now.

However, the ministers believed from the bottom of their hearts that railways were far too extravagant, and that the emperor was only building them out of vanity and a desire for grand achievements.

Xu Churen sighed. He and Zhou Chao exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in their eyes.

The only option is to repair it. After the repairs are completed, present the emperor with a financial report on the expenditure. Upon seeing the enormous financial expenditure, the emperor will surely regret his decision.