Chapter 170
Chapter 170
Exchange the operating rights of abandoned mines for the operation of rubber grass?
Is this a good deal?
As we all know, in order to obtain the operating rights of these minerals from the imperial court, each family spent a lot of money.
But the problem is that many mines, not just coal mines, but also salt mines and even iron mines, as well as various types of mines, have been abandoned and are no longer useful.
How is it possible to continue mining when there is such deep water?
In other words, they used these useless management rights in exchange for Ji Zhizhou taking them to grow rubber grass.
The answer is self-evident.
Of course, some people also say.
Will Ji Yuan suffer a loss?
Who can take advantage of him?
Then the question arises again.
Even if you knew that Epoch might have a backup plan and that the abandoned mine they had might be useful, would you trade with them?
Change it.
This mine is a waste in my hands.
It will always be waste.
It’s better to give it away with eyes closed.
Of course, I will keep one or two for myself, just in case Lord Ji can turn these things into treasures.
Within three days, the operating rights of more than 300 mines in the entire Suzhou were recovered.
This matter is under the jurisdiction of the Household Department.
Although the head of the mining department under the household department did not know the use of collecting these things, he still honestly followed Ji Yuan's requirements and made clear statistics on the conditions of all the mines.
No wonder they are so obedient.
Who made the boss Ji Yuan?
Jiyuan was also not shy about it. All the portals that returned the mine operating rights were included in the Suzhou rubber planting plan.
The environment and places suitable for rubber grass to live, as well as the balance between crops and rubber in different places, are all posted below.
Many people only realized this at this time.
Ji Zhizhou was well prepared. He seemed to have thought about the issue of rubber grass cultivation in the future.
When everyone is complacent.
Suddenly I realized that Lord Ji did take them out to play, but wasn’t there too many people?
Especially a few people from the Freight Chamber of Commerce, they switched from mining to freight, which is a very profitable business.
He thought that his company could make a fortune by switching to rubber, so he hurriedly returned the mining rights that Ji Yuan wanted.
Then what?
Then I found out that it seems like everyone has a copy of this Rubber Grass Planting Manual?
This is just like the martial arts secret book that you went through so much trouble to obtain, but in fact everyone in the world has a copy.
Even people outside Suzhou can easily exchange for a copy.
Whether it is using good seeds from various places or using donated craftsmen to dig wells, it is not difficult anyway.
By the time these things were discovered, their operating rights had already been given away.
After all, Lord Ji had said that there was only three days to consider, so they naturally nodded eagerly.
Who knew this would be the result?
ah?
I paid a lot for it.
What!
You too!
Why?!
But do they dare to confront Ji Zhizhou?
Did Ji Zhizhou promise them anything?
No!
Not at all!
After this incident, it is impossible to say that there is no resentment towards Ji Yuan.
But after thinking about it, everyone realized that what could be done even if they were resentful?
Could they still rebel?
Or go and cause trouble for Ji Zhizhou?
Who doesn't know about his relationship with the imperial court, and his relationship with the emperor, the crown prince, and the prime minister?
As for the taxes paid in advance by the freight forwarders, the government office will accept them all. After all, how can you refuse the money that is delivered to your doorstep?
Not to mention Suzhou's Freight Chamber of Commerce, even Suzhou's government office felt something was different.
The Tongpan of Suzhou also said: "This Chamber of Commerce bullies the weak and fears the strong."
Ji Yuan is the tough one.
He is well aware of his own toughness, which is why he makes everyone step into it even though it is a pit.
After finishing this matter, Ji Yuan handed it over to Cai Fenglan, Commander Li, Liu Jun and others.
And he was preparing to return to Shixing County.
This time, there was no one else to stop him.
Why?
Do you want to deal with Ji Zhizhou or his subordinates?
When dealing with the people below you, you may not gain any advantage, but you will not suffer any loss either.
Dealing with Ji Yuan seems like I’m at a disadvantage, but it also seems like I’m not at a disadvantage.
Anyway, I feel very unhappy.
Cai Fenglan said: "If Ji Yuan wants to make everyone feel comfortable, it is very simple."
"But why should we make everyone comfortable?"
"Those people forced him to come back and asked the people above to put pressure on him, and he just agreed so calmly?"
This word was spread intentionally.
Many people's faces changed.
After returning to Hexi Prefecture, Wang Tongpan also fell silent.
They can put pressure on him, but Ji Yuan won't care and will simply pull back.
The operating rights of more than 300 abandoned mines that were recovered this time, as well as the benefits offered by various places in Hexi Prefecture, are all compensation for this time.
Now it seems like a small punishment but a big warning?
Wang Tongpan thought of Ji Yuan's expression again. He was always smiling, but the topic was always in his hands.
He was too arrogant.
He actually went there to demand a share of the rubber business rights.
Do you really think that people are easy to bully just because they are young?
This brief confrontation made no one in Suzhou or even Hexi Prefecture mention the fact that Ji Yuan didn't care about rubber anymore.
If he comes back he will deal with it personally.
Next time, you will want more than just the operating rights of the abandoned mine, right?
Even the local officials did not expect that Ji Zhizhou would use this method to make everyone shut up.
But the problem is back to square one.
What on earth was he going to do with the abandoned mine!
Is there really a way for him to pump the water out?
Is there really a way to bring the mine back to life?
What does Jiyuan want to do with these "abandoned" mines?
Of course, this is to pave the way for the future.
Once the steam pump is invented, these so-called abandoned mines will no longer be abandoned.
At the same time, it also allows people from the Freight Chamber of Commerce to calm down.
If you weren't putting pressure on me, I wouldn't have to make concessions.
If he still had to be controlled by this kind of relationship in such a remote place, why would he come all the way here?
After a circle, the outside was finally calm.
And the steam engine that he had been dreaming of finally began to be built.
He had always said that he thought the construction of the steam engine was like shooting arrows blindly because there was no target, and naturally there was no preparation when practicing.
Now, the target is right in front of us.
Then this arrow should be shot accurately, right?
If we must draw an analogy, we used to let everyone research it on their own.
But it’s different now.
Ji Yuan directly gave a question to these mathematicians, physicists, and even chemists.
I have a mine here that is full of water.
And I want to mine the ore inside.
How can we use a steam engine to solve this problem?
After the “questions” are assigned, the next step is to answer them one by one.
After giving the research direction, the progress was visibly accelerated.
Ji Yuan left Shixing County at the end of May and returned on June 11. The blueprints had already been drawn, and Master Gao and his team were recruiting manpower to start construction according to the blueprints.
As soon as the era came, Master Gao immediately showed him the blueprints.
Other officials may not understand, but Ji Yuan will definitely understand.
Master Gao also said: "We found local miners who had been down the mines, and we also went down to take a look ourselves."
"The groundwater seepage is severe. It is definitely impossible for ordinary people to carry water up. Even if horses are used to pull water, the cost is extremely high, so these mines are abandoned and useless."
"If our steam engine can be built, it will not only have sufficient power, but also save a lot of costs."
Manpower and horsepower are limited, but steam will not get tired. Not only that, this is a coal mine, so fuel is almost free.
Master Gao has even seen the prospects of the steam water pump. As long as it can be built, all the mines in Shixing County will be revitalized.
"Now that we have found the angle, as long as we build the steam engine, we can try to pump water."
The research on the steam engine itself in the past few years was not in vain.
Everyone is familiar with the operating principle of the steam engine.
The problem lies in how to make feasible tools according to local conditions.
This can even test whether their research results over the years are feasible.
Ji Yuan was still looking at the blueprints and saw that the steam pump in front of him had a lot of modules added to it.
The most important part is naturally the steam engine's boiler and pipes.
These things are the focus of Master Gao and his team's research. Some of the tools are even specially made and transported directly from Jianmeng Mansion.
Overall, the design of this steam pump is not difficult, and can even be described as simple.
And it is very similar to the steam engine power machine in another time and space in the era memory.
Sure enough, the results of countless designs are the same.
The steam water pump made by Mr. Gao consists of three parts.
The boiler, piston cylinder and a giant lever at the rear.
The boiler does not need much explanation, it is used to boil water to produce steam, the steam enters the piston cylinder, and the design of the piston cylinder allows the t lever to move up and down.
The movement of the lever generates the power of the water pump.
With pressure similar to that of a water pump, the well water can be pumped up as the lever moves up and down.
The pumped-up wastewater can even enter the boiler to generate steam.
Theoretically, as long as there is enough fuel, the steam engine can run continuously.
At these efficiencies, no matter how much groundwater there is, it can be pumped out cleanly.
As long as there is no wastewater under the mine, then the mine can be alive and can continue to be mined. The mined coal will be the fuel for this steam engine.
Mr. Gao became more and more excited as he spoke: "We can solve the huge problem of mine wastewater without using manpower or horsepower!"
But then, Master Gao also said: "But these things are what we already have, and there is no innovation."
This is also where Master Gao feels ashamed.
Because when they were solving this problem, they found that their existing technology was actually able to completely solve this huge difficulty.
But before this, everyone had never considered putting what they had at hand into practical use.
Even studying steam engines was just for fun and interest.
Little do they know that they find things fun and interesting.
It can actually play such a big role.
This is not surprising.
Even Ji Yuan almost fell into such a misunderstanding.
Theory and practice have always been two different things.
Studying theoretical knowledge and applying it to the public are two different things.
Although theoretical research on the former is indispensable, if it is not put into practice, it will become a lofty subject that has nothing to do with the lives of ordinary people.
In fact, there are all kinds of strange research among the people, but without the support of theoretical knowledge, their development will be limited.
Only the combination of the two.
Only by combining lofty and profound knowledge with down-to-earth but simple craftsmanship can we create practical things, even things that change everyone's life.
In modern times, it might be called a knowledge barrier.
Even today, this is the result of the lack of communication between scholars and craftsmen.
However, it is also because these things are already available that the drawings can be produced so quickly.
Even the subsequent construction will go very smoothly.
Ji Yuan also lived next to the mine and watched the construction of the steam pump with everyone every day.
He is not an amateur and can give his own suggestions.
Construction was going on here in full swing, but I discovered something strange.
It was mainly discovered by Wuying first.
"Since the steam pumping plant was built, many people nearby have passed by intentionally or unintentionally and wanted to take a look inside."
In fact, there are quite a few houses built near the mine, which were where the miners lived at that time.
But there was no wall, only two roads leading outside and many small paths.
So if people nearby wanted to come and watch, it would be very easy and clear. They could even hide in any house.
If the dozens of men under Wuying had not been alert, they probably would not have been discovered.
Of course, it is also because there are too many people who "accidentally pass by".
Ji Yuan was fine with this, but the Shixing County Magistrate was embarrassed. He took the initiative to say, "It should be the miners back then. They have been working in the mines all their lives, so they are very concerned about this."
As the local magistrate, I know this.
Shixing County made its fortune from coal. Now that the coal mines are gone, the coke workshops are gone too.
In addition, the wastewater from mining and the residues and waste materials produced by various workshops were basically dumped on farmland.
Nowadays, coal cannot be mined and no crops can be grown in the farmlands.
Therefore, the locals live a hard life.
Some people also say, they must have earned a lot of money back then?
This is what we should do.
But is it really like that?
The people of Shixing County, after all, are just miners who earn their money through hard work and risking their lives.
In this case, how much wealth can they have?
It was nothing more than them drinking a sip of the hot pot soup while the mine owner was eating meat.
But everyone misses the time when the mine was still there.
After all, we could drink the water used to wash dishes back then, but now we don’t even have the chance to smell it.
Now, whether they come here intentionally or unintentionally, they naturally hope that the mine can get better so that they can have the opportunity to continue working hard.
Ji Yuan was silent after hearing this.
Wuying and the others were helpless.
The two of them are better off. After all, they have experienced hardships and are mentally prepared.
Master Gao couldn't sleep all night after hearing this. He told his fellow disciples about it, and now everyone in the sect couldn't sleep.
They studied for such a long time, even Confucius and Mencius studied it.
I read books for the country and also books for the people.
It turns out that I just read it but didn't practice it.
Those designs that they think are not perfect in their hands can change the lives of many people.
One of Master Gao's fellow apprentices couldn't help but ask, "Master Ji originally said that you wanted us to design a steam loom in order to truly change people's lives, right?"
But none of them listened.
He was determined to develop an efficient, compact and perfect steam engine.
From the 39 years since Huayuan came to the 44 years now, this has been our goal.
Now think about it, what they want to do is completely contrary to what Jiyuan wants to do.
"No wonder Ji Yuan wanted to bring us here."
“He wants to solve real problems.”
Ji Yuan actually didn’t think that much. He was just looking for a way out for the steam engine and the correct way to use it.
Only through practice can the steam engine be better improved.
The road must be taken step by step.
Even if what we have now is not perfect, it is impossible to have everything in one go.
But the next morning, Ji Yuan discovered that the way Master Gao and the others looked at him was completely different.
Forget the eyes.
Why are they all rolled up?
Originally, we were just waiting for the construction of the steam pump.
All of a sudden, they even started thinking about how to improve the mining tools and what kind of wheels would be more labor-saving.
And how to be efficient when transporting minerals.
Ji Yuan listened to their discussion and silently drew a modern track: "Is this okay?"
As he spoke, he drew a small car that fits the track next to him: "Running on the track will save effort in transporting ore."
Everyone was silent.
Ji Zhuangyuan!
As expected, he is the top scholar Ji!
How come you are good at everything!
If the people in Master Gao's school are still discussing how many places the rail vehicle can be used, how it can be improved to save effort, how to stop it suddenly, and how to ensure safety.
Shi Weizhong and Shi Weiyang, the locals of Shixing County, just stood there in a daze.
If there was such a thing, then his grandfather's waist wouldn't hurt so much in cold weather, and his father's hands and arms were all caused by injuries from carrying ore on his back.
The two of them already felt guilty towards Lord Ji.
They almost robbed Ji Zhizhou, but Ji Zhizhou just punished them by making them do hard labor here.
Now my heart is even more different.
And they know Lord Ji's skills.
Everyone has heard that the freight company in Suzhou wanted to take advantage of Lord Ji and Lord Ji slapped them back.
He was ruthless to a few freight merchants, but showed mercy to them, and even wanted to help them "save" the mine.
This makes them not work hard.
When the news reached Shixing County, many miners from that time came to see it again secretly.
The rail cars made by Mr. Gao are naturally very good.
If we had this thing back then, it would have been much easier for everyone to do things.
At one point, some people even came to ask if they could come and help, without asking for any wages, as long as this big thing could be built quickly.
The big thing they were talking about was a steam pump.
Although I don’t know what this thing is used for, but rail vehicles are so useful, this thing must be very powerful too, right?
As for why it is called the big guy.
Naturally, this is because the height of a single boiler is taller than a person, plus the piston cylinder and chimney.
That’s almost seven times higher than that of an adult.
If you look from a distance, you can see this huge chimney and the huge cylinder at a glance.
The lever was even more exaggerated, about three meters long.
It’s about twelve meters.
How can such a huge building not be considered a big one?
This name is also interesting to call out, and it has become a nickname for the steam pump.
However, Ji Yuan discovered a problem.
That is, everyone at Yongxing Mine is working too hard!
From Mr. Gao to the workers, everyone gets up earlier than him every day. Is this reasonable?
When Ji Yuan and Wu Ying were exercising, they saw Master Gao and the others had dark circles under their eyes, saying that they had thought of how to improve the plan and how to increase efficiency.
The workers who were hired, including Shi Weizhong and others who were sent as punishment, continued to build the chimney secretly.
ah?
Aren't you tired?
Is everyone feeling a bit tired?
That being said, their figures appear in Ji Yuan's paintings during his free time.
Ji Yuan painted both landscapes and them.
It would be good if we could leave our own traces on the paintings.
The Yongxing Mine outside Shixing County is in full swing.
The purchase of rubber grass seeds in Suzhou City has also officially begun.
This rubber grass, also known as dandelion, is like a weed in the local area. It is not uncommon to use it as a medicinal material or to make tea, after all, it is everywhere.
The problem is that this stuff is mixed in with other plants, so you need to collect the seeds and then create a real rubber grass field.
After the news spread, adults and children in Suzhou went out to collect seeds, and then people who grew rubber grass would come to buy them.
The government also encourages them to keep some for planting, and then some people will come to collect the rubber grass, which can be regarded as an additional income.
Everything was fine.
Collect seeds now and plant them in August.
The problem is that some people with bad intentions actually want to maliciously drive up the price of rubber grass seeds so that they can make a fortune.
Besides, Ji Yuan is not in Suzhou City, so by the time he finds out, it will be too late.
Then Cai Fenglan stood up.
Cai Fenglan, Cai Tongzhi.
Everyone knows that he is Ji Yuan’s fellow townsman, classmate, and good friend.
Even this time when he came to Suzhou, he came with Lord Ji, so no one paid much attention to him.
A man with myopic eyes and a wife from a wealthy family, he looks like a clinger.
When Ji Yuan heard these rumors, he just shook his head slightly and was not worried at all.
Given Cai Fenglan's level, is there any need for others to worry about him?
Ji Yuan continued to be busy with the mine.
With just a little effort, Cai Fenglan dealt with those who maliciously raised the price and confiscated the money from the mine.
Want to maliciously raise the price?
Then you need to have plenty of rubber grass seeds.
When these people were buying properties at prices higher than the market price, Cai Fenglan pretended not to know.
It was not until June that Cai Fenglan calculated that they had purchased most of the seeds, so they spread the word that the government needed a huge amount of seeds, and even if they took into account the amount they had stockpiled, it would still not be enough.
When these people heard this, they gritted their teeth and went to other places to purchase seeds. They stockpiled seeds in dozens of warehouses and almost bought out all the seeds from individual investors in Suzhou.
Considering that they have so many seeds in their hands, won’t they have the final say on the subsequent pricing?
These are the seeds of rubber grass.
It used to be a weed, but now it’s a treasure!
Even the government would come and speak well of them, right?
These people waited and waited, but the Suzhou government office did not say a word.
Planting is just around the corner in August, isn’t the Suzhou government in a hurry?
They rely on the rubber business to control freight merchants and wealthy families.
If we can't plant on time, everyone will definitely be dissatisfied.
Then, these people saw large quantities of cheap rubber seeds being transported from Hexi Prefecture.
It turned out that Ts'ai Tong-zhi had already mentioned this matter to the prefect and the magistrate of Hexi Prefecture.
Many places are helping to purchase seeds, but who should be entrusted to do this?
The two merchants with the longest standing in the freight forwarding association were sincere in their attitudes. They were dissatisfied with the four freight forwarding merchants who had switched to mining. When the government came to them, they were naturally happy to help.
Back and forth.
Within the Freight Chamber of Commerce, one-third of the power is on the side of Ji Zhizhou and Cai Tongzhi.
Those who wanted to maliciously raise the price were dumbfounded when they looked at the seeds in their hands.
I stockpiled so many rubber seeds and now I can’t sell them all!
At this moment, Tsai Tong-Chief came out leisurely and pushed the money: "The government can buy it."
As for the price?
One tenth of your cost.
How many? !
One percent! ?
What’s the difference between what you’re doing and robbing?
besides!
Since you knew we were stockpiling, why didn’t you stop us?
Why not stop it?
He must be trying to get something for nothing, is there any doubt about that?
Cai Fenglan was just too thick-skinned, and no one could see him rolling his eyes.
If the 10% acquisition was not cruel enough, then the fact that these people were directly detained due to tax issues would make everyone in Suzhou shudder.
If it is said that Ji Yuan’s methods made the wealthy families in Suzhou dare not provoke him.
Tsai Tong-zhi's supplement also made many people with ulterior motives more honest.
At the same time, many people realized that Ji Yuan dared to leave Suzhou City for a month or two because he trusted his subordinates and his classmates and friends?
They all thought that since Ji Yuan was not in Suzhou City, they could stir up trouble.
Now I understand.
Whether they are here or not, you have to behave yourself.
If you are not honest, they have the ability to make you lose all your money.
Ji Yuan looked at the newly arrived prisoner and raised his eyebrows, "Here you are? Is it fun to hype up the seeds of this official's land?"
Is it fun?
Not fun!
Ji Yuan, Ji Zhizhou, what kind of pervert is he!
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