In his previous life, Zhao Huan was just a low-level employee in a company, the kind who would spend his time at work scrolling through his phone, reading novels, drinking, and bragging. It would be quite a challenge for him to travel back to the Song Dynasty.
Not to mention that he had transmigrated to the late Northern Song Dynasty, an era when the Central Plains were in hell mode. He barely survived, as if he had nothing to lose, and he had no clear direction on what to do next.
He didn't know if the ideas he shared with the prime ministers would succeed, because no one can guarantee success before it's achieved.
Moreover, Zhao Huan was a political idiot, an agricultural idiot, and a technological idiot. He was only slightly better than the keyboard warriors of later generations. He would never have dared to dream of making cement in the past.
But when people are in a certain environment and forced to a certain point, they dare to try anything. Anyway, they have some vague and fragmented knowledge in their minds, and Qin Hui found the group of people in the Song Dynasty who are best at scientific research.
So Zhao Huan, still determined to try anything, gave the Academy of Sciences some guidance, even though he was a complete novice. He decided to give it a shot, and to his surprise, after some time, he actually succeeded!
At this critical juncture of pay cuts, the emperor plans to raise the salaries of the people at the Academy of Sciences. Where should the nation's money be spent? It should be spent wisely!
The Song Dynasty was incredibly generous to its civil officials. Their salaries were the highest in ancient China, outrageously high. A county magistrate's salary, converted to modern currency, would be over 160,000. The prime minister's salary was even more impressive.
There are rumors that Bao Zheng, who once served as the Minister of the Three Departments, earned an annual salary of over ten million. What does that even mean? Even if he wasn't as stingy as the Ming Dynasty, he couldn't have been so extravagant.
This salary is seven or eight times that of the prosperous Tang Dynasty!
I'm going to cut it off now! Damn it, who cares if they want to or not? The number of scholars in the dynasty is like a swarm of locusts crossing a river, a whole bunch of people are waiting. Anyone who dares to stop me from saving money should die!
Zhao Huan is now increasingly able to understand the feelings of Ying Zheng and Liu Che. The First Emperor was trying to change the world, but six-sevenths of the people in the world opposed him. If he wanted to change China from a feudal system to a prefecture-county system, he had to fight the people to the end. Anyone who didn't obey him should die!
Scholars spout the most nonsense, so just burn them! Just bury them! Do they think I don't have a knife to carry out my plan?!
In such a transformative era, it was essential for powerful figures to step forward, and Qin Shi Huang was such a person.
Where is Liu Che? Damn it, I am the mighty Han Dynasty, the first truly unified empire in China for such a long time, and you son of a bitch Hun dare to run wild? Get him!
But many people objected, saying that the emperor was too aggressive and warlike.
Haha, you officials must be having a great time getting your salaries in the capital, huh?
Anyone who dares to criticize the government again will die! Guards! Drag Sima Guang away and castrate him! Oh no! It's Sima Qian!
The theory that "your position determines your perspective" is correct. Where you sit largely determines your vision. Sitting in Zhao Huan's position, he could see the entire Song Dynasty and the surrounding countries.
From Zhou Chao's position, he only cared about the national treasury's money; from Xu Churen's position, he cared about the internal affairs of the Song Dynasty; and from Li Gang and Zhong Shidao's positions, they saw military and political matters.
Therefore, the emperor was lonely. No one could stand in the same position as him and see the world from the same perspective. Moreover, at this time, the emperor's thoughts and actions were completely contrary to the mainstream, just like Qin Shi Huang and Liu Che.
Only by using the most ruthless methods can we force it down!
My orders are meant to be carried out, not questioned.
Zhao Huan and Qin Hui arrived at the Academy of Sciences together, and Han Gonglian hurriedly stepped forward: "Your humble servant kowtows to the Emperor."
Behind Han Gonglian were several people from the Academy of Sciences. These people were dressed very strangely. Compared with the refined manners of the officials of the Song Dynasty, they seemed somewhat dull. But in Zhao Huan's eyes, they were quite dedicated to their studies.
"Your subject kowtows to the Emperor."
"No need for formalities."
Zhao Huan laughed and said, "Chen Yongyi, you were right! You managed to produce cement for me in just half a month! As agreed, I will find a wife for each of you bachelors!"
The people from the Academy of Sciences laughed; they were all quite old, but not young either.
In the Song Dynasty, it was unimaginable to be thirty years old and still not have a wife. Even the poorest peasants would have been married and had children long ago.
Look at these guys, they're always disheveled and look like beggars on the street. It was only when they first entered the palace to meet the emperor that Qin Hui arranged for someone to dress them up, and then they went back to their original appearance.
Fortunately, the emperor didn't say anything and let them do as they pleased. He didn't care about their usual clothing, as long as they weren't naked.
The simple-minded man named Chen Yongyi smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Zhao Huan looked at them with a knowing look that all men understand, and laughed, "And Zhan You, Li Zhong, Xu Da, you are all pillars of the empire's future. There are many unmarried daughters and granddaughters of my court officials. I will bestow marriages upon you!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Come! Let me see the cement you've made!"
When everyone produced the results of their research, Zhao Huan was overjoyed. It was exactly what they had come up with. Although it didn't look as good as those from later generations, it was still quite impressive.
In ancient China, roads outside cities were generally paved with a layer of gravel, followed by rammed earth. Many official roads used tamped soil, which was soil that had been baked over a fire before being compacted. This made it less susceptible to insects and weeds, and the roads were preserved for a longer period of time.
However, after being exposed to wind and sun, it will inevitably suffer serious damage soon.
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