The day after Xu Shifu's death, Emperor Wen recovered.
In the next few days, Emperor Wen dragged Qin Liugan and others to inspect the construction progress of the new capital.
Emperor Wen looked at it very carefully.
It seems that I want to see every corner of Xindu.
However, Yun Zheng did not follow Emperor Wen again.
While he and Zhang Xu are both in Xindu, they have to do some things as soon as possible.
The two of them have been hanging out together these past few days, studying something mysteriously. Even Miaoyin doesn't know what the two of them are tinkering with.
"Okay, let's have someone try to make one or two hot air balloons using this method."
Yun Zheng no longer worried about other things and decided to make this thing first.
If it doesn’t work, improve it!
...
...
Now, all that's left is this final step.
"good!"
Zhang Xu nodded, "Then I will start working on this thing when I return to the Imperial City."
"Stay secret."
Yun Zheng warned Zhang Xu and stopped wasting time on the hot air balloon. Instead, he took out a picture and handed it to Zhang Xu, "Take a look at this..."
Zhang Xu unfolded the picture and said, "Is this the little train we made before?"
"right."
Yun Zheng nodded gently, "I was thinking, can we first lay a dozen miles of railroad tracks, and then improve the wheels of the carriage and embed them into the rails, so that it should run faster, right?"
Speaking of this idea, Yun Zheng secretly felt ashamed in his heart.
He didn't want to think about the steam engine for the time being.
But the rails are still worth thinking about.
Now that Dagan’s territory is so large, the cost of transporting many things is too high.
If this stupid method works, then use it first.
Wait until the steam engine is invented before we start thinking about trains.
"Should I?"
Zhang Xu was also a little unsure. "If Your Highness wants to try, you can try it. However, I think more than ten miles is a bit too much. I think we can try a few miles first..."
"Okay, I'll listen to you then."
Yun Zheng nodded slightly.
“Knock, knock…”
Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.
"Your Highness, Hou Shikai requests to see you!"
Lin Ji's voice came from outside the door.
Hou Shikai?
Upon hearing this name, Yun Zheng and Zhang Xu were both stunned, and then they looked at each other at the same time.
How rare!
This time, I didn’t meet Hou Shikai in a brothel.
"Let him wait for a moment, we have something else to do."
Yun Zheng replied and continued to discuss the matter of horse-drawn trains with Zhang Xu.
At present, they are not sure whether it is feasible.
But one thing is certain, running on rails is definitely faster than running on the ground.
Of course, they also have to consider the practical situation.
After the two of them had discussed it, they left the room together to meet Hou Shikai.
When they came outside, Miaoyin was chatting casually with Hou Shikai.
"Greetings to the prince, and greetings to Lord Zhang!"
Seeing Yun Zheng and Zhang Xu coming, Hou Shikai quickly stood up and saluted.
"We are all old acquaintances, no need to be polite."
Yun Zheng raised his hand to signal Hou Shikai to sit down, then walked over and sat next to Miaoyin, and then asked Hou Shikai, "Why did you suddenly come here?"
He remembered that the last time he saw Hou Shikai was during the Chinese New Year two years ago.
After not seeing him for such a long time, Hou Shikai seems to have become much richer.
It is estimated that Hou Shikai's business is booming now.
Hou Shikai replied: "I just came back from the Northwest Protectorate. I was planning to visit my old father at home first, but then I unexpectedly heard that the prince was in Juzhou inspecting the new capital, so I hurried over to pay my respects to the prince..."
Miaoyin pointed to the gift placed there and said, "Nuo, this is a gift that Shopkeeper Hou brought specially for you."
"Boss Hou, you are so dishonest!"
Zhang Xu smiled at Hou Shikai and said, "You only brought gifts for the prince, but you didn't bring any for me?"
“Sorry, sorry…”
Hou Shikai smiled embarrassedly, "I didn't know that Lord Zhang was here before, so I will make it up to Lord Zhang later! As long as Lord Zhang doesn't mind."
Hou Shikai knew that Zhang Xu was joking with him.
Given the relationship between Zhang Xu and Yun Zheng, Zhang Xu was giving him face by accepting his gift, not to mention asking him for a gift.
"How can that be possible!"
Zhang Xu laughed and said, "Say hello to those brothels below you later. If I want to go shopping, just don't take my money."
"no problem!"
Hou Shikai nodded with a smile.
Miaoyin was speechless, then glared at Zhang Xu with a smile.
Yun Zheng smiled, glanced at the gift casually, and jokingly said, "You don't want to ask me for something, do you?"
Hou Shikai laughed dryly: "Your Majesty has a keen eye, I admire you!"
Oh shit!
Yun Zheng’s eyelids twitched.
He was just joking.
Does Hou Shikai really have something to ask him?
Is this really the case of no one visiting for no reason?
How does this make it seem like I'm taking bribes?
Yun Zheng lowered his eyebrows and smiled, "Tell me, what's the matter?"
Hou Shikai restrained his smile and looked at Yun Zheng sincerely: "Haven't I heard that the court is going to build a new capital in Guangling? Thanks to your care, I have made a lot of money in the past few years. I also want to contribute to the construction of the new capital."
uh-huh?
Hearing Hou Shikai's words, the three of them looked surprised at the same time.
Is Hou Shikai rushing here to deliver the silver?
Yun Zheng smiled at Hou Shikai and asked, "You just want to give me money, no other requests?"
"No."
Hou Shikai replied with a smile: "Isn't it because of the care of the prince that I can make so much money? My business is mainly in Shuobei and Muzhou. When the new capital is built, won't I also benefit from it?"
"How much silver do you plan to give to this king?"
Yun Zheng asked with a smile.
Look, this is a smart person.
Don't hold on to the money; give it away when necessary.
He contributed to the construction of the new capital. Even if he doesn't mention anything, can I still treat him unfairly?
"Two million taels!"
Hou Shikai laughed.
"How many?"
Miaoyin was surprised.
The first thing he did was to offer two million taels of silver?
How much money has Hou Shikai earned in these years!
Zhang Xu also widened his eyes and looked at Hou Shikai in disbelief.
Neither he nor Miaoyin had ever seen silver.
But Hou Shikai was nearly defrauded of all his wealth a few years ago. How could he have such a rich fortune in just a few years?
Two million taels of silver, just given away like that?
This is a bit exaggerated!
Yun Zheng was also a little surprised, but he soon understood.
Hou Shikai obtained the right to sell white sugar, and he also participated in the refined salt business.
In addition, he also had caravans traveling between the Northwest Protectorate and Beihuan, so it was not too exaggerated to earn several million taels of silver in a few years.
Yun Zheng thought for a moment, then looked at Hou Shikai with a smile on his face, "It does take a lot of money to build a new capital, but I don't need you to give me money to build a new capital! If you have this intention, I can show you two ways."
A bright path?
Hou Shikai's heart moved.
How could the path the prince has pointed out for me be wrong?
As soon as he thought of this, Hou Shikai immediately said, "Your Majesty, please give me some advice. I will be very grateful!"
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