Fortunately, Yunrong's research results in recent years have been quite good. Some of her research results have not been used on a large scale due to various reasons. These things need time to be promoted.
It's okay for Yunrong to take a break.
Bobo has been with her son for three months. Although Yunrong is very happy to play with her son every day, she can't keep doing this forever. She will pay attention to her son, but she doesn't want to give up her career.
Besides, as Bobo grows up, Yunrong thinks she can make some educational toys.
For example, building blocks.
For example, some ingenious mechanical toys.
For example...
The principles behind these things are not difficult. Yunrong also has a Golden Finger Lab, which is slightly flawed but still quite practical. The equipment inside cannot be taken out, but the data and drawings can indeed be taken out.
It's really much more convenient and saves Yunrong a lot of trouble.
Then Yunrong gradually started to work hard so that her son could play with toys.
Meanwhile, Yinzhen ordered the construction of roads. There's a saying that's very true: "To get rich, build roads first." Once roads are open, goods can circulate, and the economy will naturally develop.
Not just highways, but also railways.
Electricity is still difficult to spread, and it is already a great privilege for the palace to have electricity. Therefore, Yinzhen plans to use the principle of steam to have craftsmen build steam engines and use the power generated by steam to power trains to run on railways.
However, this will take time.
Yinzhen obtained a cement formula from Yunrong and ordered the construction of a cement road. At the same time, Yinzhen also ordered the construction of a ten-mile-long railway in a desolate place.
Road construction should be carried out step by step. As the capital of the Qing Dynasty, Beijing should naturally be prioritized. Shengjing, as the foundation of the Qing Dynasty, should also be included. Then there is the area around Jiangnan.
The Jiangnan region is a land of outstanding people and abundant resources, with grain, aquatic products, textiles, and more being its main production areas. Furthermore, due to its well-developed waterways, Jiangnan is not only the nation's premier granary but also a vital source of national revenue.
However, in areas inaccessible by waterway, the economy tends to be somewhat underdeveloped.
Therefore, the roads around Jiangnan must be open.
But road construction sounds good, and everyone knows it's a project that benefits the country and its people, but it requires money!
Logically, the labor of people performing corvée labor could be used, but there are many roads to be built, and it is impossible to conscript people indefinitely.
Just like when Emperor Yang of Sui built the Grand Canal, didn't the Grand Canal benefit the people?
It can benefit the people!
However, Emperor Yang of Sui increased corvée labor in order to build the Grand Canal, which eventually led to widespread suffering and resentment among the people, ultimately resulting in the downfall of the country.
When people of later generations mention Emperor Yang of Sui, the first thing that comes to mind is his enslavement of the people and his inhumanity towards them. Who can remember that the Grand Canal, this extensive network of waterways, was Emperor Yang's achievement?
The court officials did not object to the road construction, but Yinzhen said that the money for the road construction would come from the national treasury, and that the construction would not increase the corvée labor. In other words, the national treasury would not only pay for the road construction materials, but also pay for the labor.
The court officials thought the emperor had gone mad. Although the national treasury still had a surplus, thanks to Yinzhen's good management over the years, the treasury could not afford to invest any more money in such a large-scale national project.
Of course, most importantly, the emperor allowed court officials who urgently needed money to borrow from the national treasury. If the national treasury didn't have enough money, they would have to live a very frugal life if they didn't take advantage of it. Since it concerned their own interests, no one was willing to agree.
Of course, there were also a few quick-witted people who immediately echoed Yinzhen's suggestion. These people didn't have any good ideas either; they just wanted to take advantage of this job and hope to make some extra money. After all, there was a lot of silver coming out of the national treasury, and it always had to go through people to use it. As long as it went through people, they could naturally get some benefits!
Seeing all sorts of strange and unpredictable people, Yinzhen grew impatient: "Minister of Revenue."
Minister of Revenue Mi Sihan: "Your servant is here."
Yinzhen: "How much silver is left in the national treasury?"
Misihan: "Your Majesty, the national treasury currently has 25 million taels of silver on its books, but the actual amount is only 20 million taels."
Yinzhen's face darkened. His Qing Dynasty officials were really poor; they had borrowed a total of five million taels of silver.
Yinzhen said in a deep voice, "Oh! Explain to me where the five million taels of silver on the books went?"
Misihan replied truthfully, "Your Majesty, it has been borrowed."
As soon as Mi Sihan finished speaking, Yinzhen's expression darkened even further.
Yinzhen remained silent, and those below dared not speak either. After a while, Yinzhen finally said, "Five million taels! Liang Jiugong, tell me how many items there are in the common people these days?"
Yinzhen sent Liang Jiugong to investigate commodity prices among the people. Originally intended to punish corrupt officials and sycophantic lackeys in the Imperial Household Department, the task was now being put to good use.
Liang Jiugong's voice was somewhat high-pitched: "Eggs are one coin each, pork is twenty coins a pound, chicken is twenty-five coins a pound, fine cotton cloth is twenty coins a foot, silk prices vary, ordinary cabbage is one coin for two pounds, and even the most expensive vegetables are no more than ten coins a pound..."
Because the emperor was behind Liang Jiugong, he dared to speak out, and he spoke in great detail, so much so that everyone found it terrifying.
After Liang Jiugong finished speaking, Yinzhen asked, "Why is everyone silent?"
Still, no one spoke.
Yinzhen: "The ministers I have raised are good. In just a few years, they have borrowed five million taels of silver. Misihan, tell me how many people have borrowed silver from the national treasury, and whether anyone has repaid the silver during this period."
Misihan: "Your Majesty, fewer than a hundred people have lent money, and only two of them have returned it."
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