October has passed and it is slowly starting to get a little chilly.
Continuous rain for several days made the streets of the entire capital city muddy.
Ministers from poor families naturally did not have extra money to purchase sedan chairs and bearers, and even renting them was unaffordable.
Then you can only walk on your feet, groping your way down in the dark, and naturally you will be covered in mud.
Of course you can't go to court this time, as it's impolite. The eunuchs from the Imperial Household Department won't care so much and will just record it.
The worst that can happen is a fine of several months' salary.
The already poor family situation will be made even worse.
In desperation, he had to wash himself with water at the Wulong Bridge outside the imperial palace before entering the court.
The breakfast at Wumen made the honest officials from poor families feel warm.
So much so that every day many ministers fell into the lake due to carelessness.
Those who can enter the Fengtian Hall are generally older. In such weather, they would fall ill and stay at home.
"Let's postpone the morning court session for half an hour from now on."
Although Zhu Yuanzhang liked to exploit officials, this was indeed a bit hard for them. After all, they were all Beijing officials who could enter the Fengtian Palace, which meant they had entered the power center of the Ming Dynasty.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
Many ministers kowtowed sincerely. The sun was rising very late now, and being able to delay it for half an hour was a very good thing for most officials.
Zhu Ying looked at the drizzle outside the Fengtian Palace and said, "Grandpa, now is the off-season for farming, and the autumn harvest is over. Now the roads inside and outside the capital are in ruins, the rain is flooding, and the mud and water are splashing."
"I would like to ask you to issue an imperial decree to build the capital city."
Zhu Ying had long wanted to build large-scale infrastructure in the capital of the Ming Dynasty.
Now the reputation of the capital is second to none and unique in the entire Ming Dynasty, or in other words, among all the capitals in the world.
But for Zhu Ying, who had experienced the high-rise buildings, clean roads and neatly arranged houses in the future, leaving the palace was like entering a slum.
Even the bustling Qinhuai Street is lined with low houses.
Because most of them are made of wood, they all have a rotten and old smell at first glance. Only the prince's residence in the inner city, the wealthy mansions, and the bluestone walls look a little neater.
The rest of the area was filthy, and in some narrow alleys, no one cleaned up the feces and urine, and the stench was overwhelming.
In addition, the land is not hardened, and except for the stone roads near the inner city of the imperial palace, other places are hard to describe.
This is the true portrayal of the Ming Dynasty capital now.
This is the case in Nanjing, needless to say in other parts of the Ming Dynasty.
Upon hearing that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince intended to repair the capital, the ministers immediately became very quiet.
The capital city now, especially on a rainy day like this, is really a torture for everyone, no matter if they are scholars or peddlers, they have suffered for a long time.
It's just that after so many years, I've gotten used to it.
Now His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has proposed that there can be better improvements. This involves one's own situation, so who can say no?
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it.
The autumn harvest has just passed, the national treasury is full, and the imperial treasury is even richer. It seems that it would be a good idea to spend some money to renovate the entire capital.
"Okay, since this matter was proposed by the eldest grandson, he will be responsible for it. The six ministries should fully cooperate with the crown prince."
Zhu Yuanzhang ordered.
"As your majesty commands."
…
The Huagai Hall is located between the Fengtian Hall and the Jinshen Hall, and is relatively smaller in area.
This was also Zhu Yuanzhang's office on weekdays.
However, when the affairs of the eldest grandson needed to be handled, Zhu Yuanzhang would step aside and go to the larger Jinshen Hall at the back to handle government affairs.
More than ten years ago, this has always been the fixed office location of Crown Prince Zhu Biao.
Now, as the emperor, Zhu Yuanzhang's power was gradually transferred to his eldest grandson as it had been in the past, and the same was true for the Huagai Palace.
"There are blueprints for the planning of the capital and beyond. What should the Ministry of Works base its current construction on?"
Zhu Ying summoned the Minister of Works Shen Xi to the Huagai Palace and asked him in detail.
These construction craftsmen are all under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Works.
Shen Xi bowed and said, "Reporting to Your Highness, when the Ministry of Works builds buildings, painters will draw up blueprints, and then craftsmen will cast according to the blueprints. The construction methods are based on the classic book "Kaogong Ji"."
Hearing this, Zhu Ying ordered Guo Zhong to fetch a copy of Kaogong Ji and asked Shen Xi again, "Are there any detailed planning drawings inside and outside the capital?"
Shen Xi replied, "Your Highness, the blueprints for the inner and outer planning of the capital are all stored in the library of the Ministry of Works. If Your Majesty needs them, I will fetch them for you immediately."
Zhu Ying just asked casually, but he didn't expect that there was actually a plan map preserved in the capital.
In fact, Zhu Ying was really ignorant. Not to mention the construction of the capital, even other cities had detailed plans.
However, the current planning map is not overly detailed, and only provides the general direction and positioning. During the construction process, many changes will be made depending on the local conditions.
"If that's the case, then bring it here quickly." Zhu Ying ordered.
Shen Xi said quickly: "As ordered."
Then he hurried to get the drawings.
Zhu Ying began to ponder the transformation of the capital.
The first thing is to harden the ground, which is a must, but it would be a bit difficult to cover it all with stone slabs.
The stone slabs need to be fired, and the production cycle is not short.
The cost of paving the entire capital with stone slabs would probably be no small sum. Even if Zhu Ying did have a lot of money now and could even use the Treasury Notes Division, such a large project would be too extravagant and wasteful.
"It seems that the best way is to use Roman mortar, add sand and gravel, and make a floor similar to concrete."
"It is a difficult problem to harden the ground. Manual compaction is too slow. It would be much easier if we had a soil roller. It would be solid after rolling it back and forth twice."
Thinking of this, Zhu Ying's eyes lit up.
A soil roller is not difficult to make, after all. It's just a big roller, but the power is difficult to get.
"As for the power, if there is no machinery, we can use more human and animal power. Are you still worried that we can't pull it?"
"If four oxen are not enough, then eight. If five people are not enough, then ten. We have to do it anyway, and we have to do it quickly."
Thinking of this, Zhu Ying started painting directly.
After taking a few pictures, Zhu Ying was not satisfied. After all, when it comes to painting, Zhu Ying is good at freehand painting, not realism.
It’s just that when the artistic conception is too profound, it is relatively difficult for others to understand.
At least Shen Xi, who brought back the drawings, looked at them for a long time but still couldn't figure out what they meant.
"Do you know what I am drawing?" Zhu Ying asked after putting down his pen.
The painting in front of me is my proudest work among more than ten paintings.
When Shen Xi heard this, cold sweat broke out on his forehead. What could he see out of this pitch-black mass?
If I say I can't see, wouldn't I be offending His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? Will I be able to continue my life in the court from now on?
In a hurry, Shen Xi could only bite the bullet and guess: "Your Highness's paintings have a profound artistic conception, which is beyond my reach. However, from what I have seen, it seems that Your Highness painted a plow used for tilling the fields?"
By guessing, the small black group in the picture looks like a person, or some animal in the front, with a few black lines pulling it, which barely resembles the scene of plowing a field.
When Zhu Ying heard this, he was stunned.
The principle of this earth roller seems to be similar to that of a cow plowing a field.
It’s just that one is loosening the soil and the other is compacting the soil.
Thinking of this, Zhu Ying smiled and said, "It is indeed somewhat similar to a plow, but in this respect, it is not used to loosen the soil."
"Minister Shen, please take a look. What I have drawn behind me is a huge iron cylinder. Its purpose is to compact the ground like an ox plowing a field. All it takes is a few oxen to pull the iron cylinder back and forth, and the ground will be compacted in no time."
Zhu Ying paused, frowned and continued, "It's just that it's a bit troublesome to make this iron cylinder. It will probably take a craftsman quite a while to make such a large iron cylinder."
Hearing His Royal Highness' words, Shen Xi added with a heartfelt smile: "Your Highness, if you just want to tamp the ground, although iron cylinders are good, stone pillars can also be used. The center of a large stone pillar can be hollowed out and used for tamping the earth."
When Zhu Ying heard this, he couldn't help but say, "Good idea."
This time, Zhu Ying had a thorough understanding of the wisdom of the ancients.
What he temporarily resides in is foresight, but when it comes to practical implementation, it is slightly lacking.
As the Minister of Works, Shen Xi was in charge of the craftsmen. He was already very familiar with such matters and could draw inferences about other situations with just a little guidance.
Judging from IQ alone, there is no fool among those who can pass the imperial examination.
They were all soldiers and horses that had fought their way out by crossing a single-plank bridge.
"The production of the earth-pressing stone will be handed over to Minister Shen." Zhu Ying said with satisfaction.
Shen Xi immediately expressed his opinion, saying that dozens of aircraft could be manufactured within three days.
Next, it was about the planning and construction within the capital.
The existing drawings are relatively detailed. From the drawings, we can see that the current Ming Dynasty Nanjing City can be roughly divided into four categories.
They are: handicraft area, commercial area, residential area for officials and wealthy families, and scenic and recreational area.
As for the slums, they are naturally moved to the outer city, as people do not have the financial resources to live in the inner city.
Among them, the handicraft area is the largest area in the city.
The majority of residents in Nanjing today are handicraftsmen. The peasant war at the end of the Yuan Dynasty turned most of the slave workers into relatively free craftsmen.
The booming agricultural production in the early Ming Dynasty laid a solid foundation for the development of handicraft industry.
手工业的繁荣，也生出了不少新的行业，产品制作的各个阶段，也逐渐开始独立起来。
譬如造纸印刷，制糖售卖。
往前造纸印刷多是为一体制作，现在也慢慢分别开来。
而朱英之所以决定把造糖厂崩盘，很大程度上，也是因为目前制糖行业的繁荣。
虽然制作稍显麻烦，但是糖霜制作，多数以家庭为单位，前店售卖，后院制作。
糖霜厂对于民间的冲击，将会使得许多家庭无立足根源。
朱英自然不想民营受到太大的打击，须维护住民营发展的良好环境。
像是酿酒，纺织，制衣，瓷器。
对于民营冲击不大，主要的方向，还是在于军户官员及外销。
如今的手工业发展，已有足足三百六十行之多。
隔行如隔山的话，在现在极为恰当。
每行每业，都是有自己的市语，不相通用，初一听去，甚至连何等语言都不清楚。
汉字一字多音，大明各地方言甚多，交流起来，也很是吃劲。
唯有淮西话，因陛下语之，当为学习之首。
这是从上往下的传递，陛下说这话，自然大臣们也得学这话，不然圣谕都聆听不清，岂不是自寻死路。
为京官者，首先第一步，就是要学习淮西话。
目前大明官办手工业轮班匠人，也已有六十二行之多，可见繁华。
手工业区在南京西南方，多为官府指定，使百工各有区肆。
匠人们也按行业分类而区。
居住地往往称作某某坊，如木作坊，织锦坊等等。
其中也跟地利多有干系，譬如染坊多布置在柳叶巷，船板巷这等靠近水源低端，方便使用。
另一个繁华地带，便就是商业区了。
京师铺户多非土著。
在这里生活的，一般为外地商人，规模产业较大，也有各种老乡会，商帮聚集。
不过现在嘛，整个商业区，大半为群英商会所占。
还有官吏富户区，风景区。
这些基本上都是达官贵人居所，秦淮西段，便就是了。
在这里与商业区相交之处，便就是朱英平安茶楼所在。
各种青楼妓馆林立，彰显富裕繁荣。
现在的京师，单单从图纸上看，已经是颇为臃肿，像是商业区及受工业区，店铺都已经开始挤压道理，一些小巷都难以通身。
以至于有些地方官府马车难过，最后朱元璋出具罚规：凡侵占街巷道路而起盖房屋者，杖六十，各令复旧。
这才止住侵占，不过早前已经建好的，也不太方面拆了。
这一拆，就是数万人流离失所，无家可归。
大明立国二十五载，南京作为京师，天南海北的人，都往这里涌入。
流民，行商，读书人，各行各业，林林总总，尽皆如此。
朱英看着图纸良久，在沈溍的解说下，也对整个京师的情况了解清楚。
半晌后，朱英悠然一叹道：“我大明京师，天下王都，如今番薯等作物已然开启扩散，往后百姓自然生活越发富足。”
“加以摊丁入亩，大明强盛繁荣，未来可期。”
“目前京师虽大，可对往后数以百年而言，人数只会越发众多，如此布局，何以彰显煌煌大明。”
“现有之计策，唯有行拆迁之事，扩城建池，整顿建筑之格局，方可使京师海纳百川。”
沈溍闻言，屏息震撼。
他原以为太孙殿下就是想修缮一下道路，没成想这是要把整个京师，彻底的重新建设一番。
尤其那扩城建池，可谓是千百年之南京大变。
“殿下，如此巨大规模，这个中花费，岂不是天价，虽国库充盈，内帑丰润，但此番规模，怕是没有个三年五载，难以承继。”
“若是年年风调雨顺，自不为多虑，若是碰上灾年，只怕是过于亏虚，劳民伤财。”
回过神来，沈溍跪地磕首极力劝说。
现在大明的情况才堪堪好些，这般一来，其实要把国库吸干。
朱英扶起沈溍道：“沈尚书多虑，本宫自商起家，当然明白这个中花费，自以心中早有规划，不仅对于国库没有过多损害，说不准反而能有所盈利。”
笑话！
大明疆域千万里，百姓六千余万口，若是打造一个南京城，还要让社稷动**，根基不稳。
那他朱英不如自杀回去，还做个劳什子大明太孙。
这些基础的商业手段，以后世的眼光所看，真就不难。
沈溍自然是心中不信，但也不可能当面反驳太孙殿下，心中计划着，待会回去就写奏章，到陛下那边打小报告。
朱英没有过多关注沈溍神情，看着这图纸许久，而后手指正阳门道：“自正阳门起，于皇宫外五龙桥广场，左右共计修建三十丈大道，但凡牵扯其中店铺，予以尽数拆除。”
“大道左右，统一规划，另造三层小楼，间宽一丈，三间一楼，每五楼留一巷，自正阳门起，至外五龙广场而止。”
沈溍闻言，顿时就明白。
太孙殿下的想法，便是如同唐时长安，朱雀大道一般，修建一条直通内外的主干道。
遥想典籍记载，长安繁华，沈溍不由心神驰往。
只是沉浸少许，回过神来后，沈溍不由问道：“拆除如此多家，不知百姓当何以安置。”
朱英直接回道：“自是当以拆迁尺寸，予以宝钞安置，其中尺寸，便以地契为准，侵占不予发放。”
沈溍心中稍稍一算，不由道：“殿下，这等数额巨大，不知当以多少为其标准。”
朱英心中术算。
按照图纸上，自外五龙广场到正阳门，约莫有三里半地界，便就是一千七百五十米长。
左右百米，便就是十七万五千方。
再加上在道路之外，左右两边朱英打算各推进十五米，用以建造店铺，便再加五万两千五百方。
总计二十二万七千五百方。
心中思索一番后，朱英道：“便就按地面两贯钞每方，二层往上则按一贯钞每方计，用以安置百姓。”
现在京师的房价，虽然比起其他各地来算是高，不过一间普通住宅，面积大约六十方左右，大致也就四十五贯钞即可，大约是一贯钞每方。
店铺的价格稍高，也没两贯。
这个价格，对于被拆迁的百姓来说，可谓是大赚了。
目前街道旁店铺，大约在五六十方，算上二层，可得宝钞近百。
再花费个几十贯宝钞找个新址真不难。
朱英也算过，即便算是街道面积，总计不会超过五十万贯钞。
这些对于现在的群英商会来说，真不算太大的事情，连动筋骨都没到，账面上的流动宝钞随时可抽出来，对于本身的买卖，都不会有什么影响。
沈溍嘴巴微微张开。
几十万贯钞啊，太孙殿下一张一合，就这么出去了，且还只是个开头而已。
即便是陛下修缮皇宫内廷，一般出手也不过几万贯钞的花销，而看着太孙殿下这番模样，这几十万贯宝钞似乎并没有放在眼中。
“殿下，安置百姓，是否过于多了些。”沈溍不由说道。
在沈溍看来，官府办事，便每家每户有个十多二十贯钞便已足够了，怎能还赚上了。
朱英笑着说道：“这可不算什么，咱们这大道左右两侧的店铺售卖出去，什么都有了。”
沈溍有些奇怪的问道：“不知殿下新建店铺，打算卖多少一方。”
朱英嘴角翘起，伸出两根手指。
沈溍皱眉道：“两贯钞一方，似乎太过低廉了些，如若算上三层同价的话，倒也不差多少。”
新建房屋一间五十方，三间一楼便是一百五十方每层，三层共计四百五十方。
每楼九百宝钞。
折合市价算起来，大约是六百多白银。
就京师行情而言，已经算是比较低了。
毕竟是正阳大道左右，往后便是最为繁华地段了。
朱英闻言，缓缓摇头道：“二两贯钞怎可使得，本宫说的是每方二十贯钞，三层同价。”
沈溍思索的神情，一下子就僵硬起来。
太孙殿下真好，明明可以直接抢钱，却还要送出去一栋三层小楼。
朱英可没管这么多，继续说道：“如此算来，全部售卖可得宝钞三百余万贯宝钞，即便是加上地面修缮，建造房屋，应当还是能有些剩余。”
这么想着，朱英思索着再次道：“到时候看剩余多少吧，不够本宫就再添一点，把正阳门也给修缮一番，便是这内廷之中，有些地方也需多多修葺，似有些陈旧了。”
眼瞧着太孙殿下似乎陷入美梦之中，沈溍不由打断道：“殿下，这方价钱，一楼约莫一万三千余贯钞，即使折算市价，也须得近万两白银。”
“哪有如此多的富人，购置这等房屋，简直超乎臣心中想象。”
沈溍作为工部尚书，每年的俸禄折合起来，包含大米，宝钞，绸缎等等，总计不过一千五百两白银。
他可是正二品的大臣，在没有宰相的现在，实权上已经是和其他尚书并列百官首位，位高权重。
Even so, one would have to go without food and drink for nearly seven years, and the remaining salary would be enough to buy these three small buildings.
Zhu Ying stood up, walked to the side of Shen Xi, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile: "Minister Shen, go and look around when you have time. Not to mention the capital, even if you only count Jiangnan, those rich gentry are enough to buy it out."
"There are so many business groups in the Ming Dynasty. Ten thousand taels of silver is nothing in front of the business groups of one province."
"There is no purchase restriction for this small building. Just wait for the news to spread. Minister Shen, just wait and see. Within three days, all of them will be sold out."
Poverty limited Shen Xi's imagination.
So he still didn't believe His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. He had already made up his mind and decided to report to His Majesty when he returned.
Zhu Ying looked at Shen Xi's expression and roughly guessed what was going on, so he said meaningfully: "This matter should be handled as soon as possible. Minister Shen should follow what I just said and issue specific rules, and then let Grandpa review them."
"Once the approval comes, we will coordinate the measurement."
Shen Xi bowed deeply and said, "I obey your Highness' orders."
Watching Shen Xi leave, Zhu Ying smiled lightly, not caring much.
He knew in his heart that the old man would not say much with such a small amount of money.
Besides, the old man is also a face-conscious person. Zhengyang Avenue is several miles long and thirty feet or a hundred meters wide.
This is undoubtedly what the old man likes.
In the future, when foreign officials come to Beijing, they will naturally be shocked, just like the scene during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty when all nations came to pay tribute, demonstrating the grandeur of the Ming Dynasty.
To put it another way, this is called political correctness.
The most important thing is that no money was taken from the national treasury. Even if the house cannot be sold later, the Qun Ying Chamber of Commerce will naturally pay for it.
However, how could these houses and shops not have anything to sell?
Zhu Ying had already made up his mind. He just waited for the plan to be announced, and then directly sent the notice through the post station, urgently notified all the prefectures, and started pre-sales right away.
Of course Zhu Ying can guarantee that this is definitely not an unfinished building.