They are all under 60 years old, in good health and still strong, and can still hold on despite the scorching heat.
The other prime ministers were all in their sixties or seventies, and they really couldn't handle it.
For example, Lu Yijian and Wang Zeng had gradually recovered their health during this period. Although they looked much older, they soon returned to work. However, because the weather was too hot, they went home to rest.
"It's finally sorted out. We should have big moves this year." Fan Zhongyan wiped the sweat from his forehead, sorted out the documents in his hand, and prepared to hand them over to Zhao Zhen for final review in the afternoon.
After half a year of discussion, he and Zhao Jun agreed on the content of this year's reform from the very beginning, and finally reduced and increased the amount several times. After making sure that it would not cause opposition from many prime ministers in the Constitutional Council, he brought it out for discussion with everyone.
Even so, opinions vary. Some argue that such a major nationwide mobilization, after just two years of prosperity, could lead to fiscal depletion and national instability.
Some people also believe that since the future will be steam-powered and cement factories, brick factories and other factories are also expanding on a large scale, future roads should be cement roads, or at least brick and stone roads, rather than continuing to build rammed earth roads as they are now.
After the large-scale renovation of dirt roads in the future, we will immediately start building brick and stone roads, cement roads, etc. Will this lead to financial fluctuations, continuous investment that is difficult to recover, and ultimately waste?
For this reason, Zhao Jun could only explain patiently.
First of all, according to the budget of the Ministry of Finance, the annual allocation for major infrastructure projects is about 30 million guan. This money is saved from the original redundant military expenditure and will not harm the national treasury.
The second issue is brick and cement roads. These things, including trains, take eight years for rubber to grow. Zhao Jun believes that it will take at least ten years before construction can begin, and two to thirty years before they can be fully popularized.
After all, the main function of cement roads is to provide for automobiles, and it is too luxurious for horse-drawn carriages to use cement roads. When steam engines could not be mass-produced and steam power could not be built on a large scale, just like the canal, ensuring the construction of infrastructure in ancient society was the best solution.
Therefore, as the roads can still be used for at least another thirty years in the future, it is not too late to build ordinary rammed earth roads first. When steam engines become popular in the future, and even electricity and internal combustion engines are developed through steam power, thus starting the second industrial revolution, it will not be too late to build brick and cement roads.
So after three or four months, the Constitutional Yuan finally reached a consensus and made reforms and related measures on major issues ranging from politics, military, economy, agriculture, education, science and technology, medical care, diplomacy, culture, infrastructure and even natural resources.
This reform proposal should be the last reform for the Song Dynasty to transition from an agricultural country to a primary industrial country during the First Industrial Revolution. It involves all aspects and the entire social order will undergo tremendous changes.
"What's wrong? Why are you so happy?"
Just at this moment, Zhao Jun came in from outside and saw Fan Zhongyan's happy face, and couldn't help but feel curious.
Fan Zhongyan smiled and said, "Wasn't it finalized at the meeting this morning? I have sorted out the content of the meeting and everything else. I will give it to the emperor for final approval this afternoon, affix the imperial seal, and then it can be officially released."
"Well, then go ahead and do it boldly."
Zhao Jun said this as he came to his seat, packed up a bit and was about to leave.
Seeing this, Yan Shu wondered, "Hanlong, where are you going?"
"I just went to the government's house for dinner. On the way back, the Academy of Sciences reported it, so I planned to go and inspect it."
Zhao Jun said.
"oh?"
Fan Zhongyan, Cai Qi, Song Shou, Jiang Tang and others all looked over.
Yan Shu smiled and said, "Another surprise from the Academy of Sciences?"
The Academy of Sciences has been full of surprises in recent years, including developments in mathematics, research in physics, and even ongoing chemical experiments.
Under Zhao Zhen's instructions, they even developed methods for making garlic, glass, and soap. For a time, Zhao Zhen's reputation as a great inventor became increasingly popular among the people.
The most important thing is that Zhao Zhen also helped them build a relatively scientific system. Zhao Zhen was clueless about mathematics, but in chemistry and physics, Zhao Zhen established the periodic table of elements, invented Zhao's mechanics, Zhao's optics, Zhao's first law, and so on.
Even the group of scholars at the Academy of Sciences who were devoted to scientific research were stunned. They praised Zhao Zhen as a god incarnate, worshipped him as an academic giant, and almost carved a wooden statue of him on the spot to worship him.
Zhao Jun said, "Wasn't the emperor researching electromagnetic force at the beginning of this year? He made a Tesla coil himself and named it the Zhao Coil. The Academy of Sciences has already made it. I went to take a look."
"Amazing! As expected of an official."
"It is truly a great blessing from heaven that our Great Song has such a wise and powerful emperor."
"I really want to see the development of electricity one day."
Several prime ministers were deeply moved for a moment.
Although these things were done on the computer Zhao Jun brought, Zhao Jun himself didn't have time to do it.
On the contrary, Zhao Zhen stayed in the palace every day with nothing to do and had time to guess.
As a result, while Zhao Jun was helping him govern the country, Zhao Zhen, who was not a time traveler, was engaged in inventing and creating, which was also an outrageous thing.
But there's nothing I can do.
Zhao Jun himself doesn’t know how to do many things, or even if he knows how to do them, he doesn’t have enough time.
Compared with invention and creation, governing a country is definitely more important.
If Zhao Jun had focused on inventing things and let Zhao Zhen, Lu Yijian, Wang Zeng and other laymen govern the country, wouldn't the Song Dynasty be doomed?
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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