Chapter 172
Chapter 172
They say bad news travels far and wide.
In fact, the same goes for good things.
Things like steam pumps spread like wildfire and reached the ears of countless people.
That is to say, information is not developed enough now. If it were put in modern times, it would definitely become a hot topic.
For everyone, several questions arise.
Steam pump.
What is steam.
The water pump is understandable.
The county magistrates from all over Suzhou came here first, and there were many abandoned mines in their areas.
Naturally, those who followed also included big players from all over the country.
Restarting the mine can definitely change the lives of many people.
The magistrate of Shixing County received instructions from Ji Zhizhou that anyone could come to visit, but they had to obey the local rules.
For example, let the goods go first, do not block the miners' way, and do not hinder local workers from doing their work.
To put it bluntly, when you arrive at a mine, the miners are the most important people here, and other people and things must give way.
A county magistrate was about to put on airs when he was asked to leave.
You're dreaming about visiting a steam pump? Just take a look at the chimney from a distance.
Looking at the thick black smoke coming out of the chimney and listening to the miners laughing, the county magistrate had never felt so humiliated.
He is a scholar!
He is an official!
Why should I be ridiculed by these barbarians!
But he soon lost his anger.
Because everyone in his county had been driven out.
Collective punishment.
The word suddenly popped into his mind.
Faced with the gazes of everyone in the county, the magistrate was also afraid.
“Why don’t you apologize!”
"You ran into that miner, what would happen if you apologized?"
"We have more than a dozen abandoned mines, and we want to take this opportunity to restart them."
"Now it's all right. I can't even look at it. What do you think I should do?"
In fact, merchants also took the opportunity to blame the county magistrate.
These merchants were keenly aware of a problem.
Their Ji Zhizhou had the same attitude towards farmers and miners, as well as merchants and scholars.
Ji Zhizhou will not look at anyone differently because of their identity.
What seemed to make him look at her differently was her character.
In addition to good character, they also treat the disadvantaged more favorably.
They had only heard of such people in novels and plays, but had never actually seen them.
Seeing it now, I actually feel a little dazed.
Someone has already brought up the freight chamber of commerce for comparison.
There were a total of six freight merchants who went to see Lord Ji that time. The first four of them plundered the minerals, then went to make trouble at the freight merchants and even wanted to get involved in the rubber business, so they were dealt with by Lord Ji.
Now that the mine has been restarted, they are the ones who suffer the most, after all, they have basically handed over the management rights.
The two freight chambers of commerce behind were kind to them and gave them things to do.
After all, the latter two were doing business seriously. Although they were also anxious to open rubber workshops, the demands they raised were all reasonable.
Many people in Suzhou have confused minds.
It was disrupted by Ji Zhizhou.
I also saw that big guy causing chaos.
Steam pump.
It's really that magical.
The big customers who came to visit were full of praise, as if they had seen that their own mines could be restarted.
Mines and wells, these things make money, no need to say more.
Some people have even copied the model and wanted to build an identical one.
But this thing is so easy to build that it doesn’t require Master Gao and his team to study it for several years.
So the question is, what price do you have to pay for such a good thing?
Everyone knows that Ji Yuan will never suffer any loss.
But then again, if they had something like this, they would definitely sell it for a huge price and make a fortune with steam pumps.
Maybe it’s more profitable than developing a mine!
When everyone was waiting for Ji Zhizhou to set the conditions, he just said: "Anyone can come and learn."
"free."
Master Gao also agreed. After all, the idea of the steam engine and even the subsequent improvements were basically ideas given by Ji Yuan.
So Ji Yuan can just say it: "It's free."
Is this true or false?
This is impossible!
Of course it’s impossible. Ji Yuan looked at them with a smile and said directly: “The only condition is to abide by the miners’ convention.”
The Miners' Association was not established for nothing.
It contains many rules and regulations that the host cannot accept.
For example, a reasonable diet must be arranged, stipulating the minimum amount of meat to be eaten every few days, as well as the quietness of the residence, guarantee of sleep, and guarantee of working hours.
They even agreed on how much silver would be paid for extra work, as well as all the arrangements for miners' illness or death, as well as sick leave and bereavement leave.
The owner couldn't help but ask, "Are you here to be a miner, or a master?"
So this "Miners' Convention" is like a joke to other wealthy families.
You made the rules yourselves. It's your internal matter. We didn't agree to it.
In their view, this was just self-entertainment led by Ji Zhizhou.
Now what?
Now everyone finally knew where Ji Zhizhou was waiting for them.
If you want to restart your own mine and get the design drawings of the steam pump, you must join and agree to the Miners' Convention.
otherwise?
Otherwise the miners have the right to smash your steam pumps directly.
All the mine owners in Suzhou were shocked.
Many government offices also found it incredible.
This, how can this be possible.
In the past, the miners were paid quite a bit.
Of course, if someone dies of illness, they will also be given some silver.
That's good enough.
Now they are required to take out at least half of their profits and distribute them to the lowest-level miners?
Why?
For those who own the rights to operate the mines.
In the past, if you dug 10,000 kilograms of coal, you could get 70% or even 80% of the profit.
After all, miners' wages are the least valuable.
The biggest cost is probably purchasing the operating rights of the mine.
If in accordance with the provisions of the Miners' Convention.
Their profits will drop to 40% or even 30%.
After all, we have to ensure food, accommodation and shelter for so many people, as well as their safety and even the stability of their families.
otherwise?
Otherwise it would be a violation of the convention!
Okay, okay, is this the Ji Zhizhou who pleads for the people?
Aren’t they the people then?
After these words came out, Ji Yuan just looked at them with a smile and said lightly: "You all have read books."
"You know, it is not right for a scholar to eat when he has nothing to do."
This saying comes from Mencius. It is not acceptable for a scholar to have nothing to do all day and just eat for free.
"There are levels of respect and inferiority in this world." One of them was about to retort.
I want to say that everyone in the world has his or her own place.
Ji Yuan was too lazy to debate the scriptures, so he looked up and continued, "Do you want to debate the scriptures with me?"
Everyone's face changed.
Debate scriptures with Ji Liuyuan?
Are they crazy?
He is the top scholar of the era, and he deserves the title.
Nowadays, among all the students in the world, who doesn’t read Ji Yuan’s articles?
Even after he passed the imperial examination, any article he wrote could be circulated among students.
Compare your knowledge with his.
It's just asking for humiliation.
If Ji Zhuangyuan had a sudden inspiration and wrote an article, they would still have no face left.
Everyone looked at Ji Yuan and realized how difficult he was.
But everyone has to rely on him.
After all, he could openly bring out the steam pump and even the subsequent cooked rubber production.
The only thing to do.
It means giving concessions.
Not giving him any concessions.
It is for the people, for the lower class people whom they look down upon the most.
If Ji Yuan hadn't mentioned the Miners' Convention, they wouldn't have thought of these people at all.
Why does Lord Ji want to encourage the behavior of these unruly people?
Can you not agree to it?
This is also impossible.
If you want steam pumps, you have to join the Miners' Convention.
Otherwise don't mention it.
This will make them think about the requirements of the local magistrate when they visited the Yongxing Mine, such as respecting the miners, letting the goods go first, etc.
All within the Miners' Convention.
It seems that Ji Zhizhou has made up his mind to do this.
Why?
Ji Zhizhou himself was a scholar, and at a young age he was a prefect of the fourth rank.
It is basically certain that he will be appointed as prime minister and join the cabinet in the future.
Why do this.
Ji Yuan is not in a hurry, not even worried about everyone's attitude.
These people will figure it out sooner or later, so why is he in such a hurry?
Today, Shixing County has started moving again.
Although only one Yongxing mine has been opened, it is large enough and sufficient to bring vitality to the local area.
The coal was mined and the coke workshop there was started up.
Coke workshops also have a problem. Their workshops are built on higher ground and in windy vents, using natural wind power to assist combustion.
Someone from the local workshop asked, "If we had a steam engine, could we increase the power?"
These strange words are already on everyone's lips.
The answer is yes.
With the steam engine, the power will be more stable.
However, supplying air to a charcoal-burning workshop is different from pumping water, and requires a slight change in the power structure.
Mr. Gao and his team quickly took over the task, and they also found that if they encountered specific problems, it would be easier to find directions for improvement.
Before that, it was a bit like a headless fly.
Although special steam engines designed for coke workshops are still under research.
But they still started working first.
Before construction began, a huge oil storage pool was dug nearby.
There is a lot of straw at the bottom of this pool, which will be used to store tar in the future.
Once the rubber grass is grown, it can be mixed with tar to produce cooked rubber.
Shixing County is developing at a rapid pace.
All parties are working hard.
Although they couldn't say anything profound, they understood very well that this was their chance for Shixing County, and their chance had really come.
What surprised everyone the most was.
The first batch of rubber grass began to be planted in Suzhou.
This batch of rubber grass is located in the county next to Shixing County.
That county town was also a poor place, with a lot of sandy land on the sides that had always been empty.
Before, it was just a pure wasteland, completely useless.
But now the tar in Shixing County has given the rubber grass here an advantage.
There is no need to think too much. The two places are so close that after the rubber is produced here, we can buy tar nearby and do further processing of the rubber.
Since they are close to Shixing County, it is very convenient to transport tar.
Moreover, their county is not far from Suzhou City, so it will definitely be very convenient to transport goods in the future.
Until August.
The various parties in Suzhou pieced together this complete chain.
After the steam pump was built, the mine in Shixing County was restarted. Part of the coal produced in the mine was sold and part was made into coke.
The tar produced by coke is transported to the next county, where it is processed into locally produced rubber.
The cooked rubber is made and transported all the way to Suzhou City.
It is convenient to go anywhere in Suzhou City, so the goods can be transported out completely.
The places chosen by Ji Yuan were all poor counties in Suzhou. They were not close to the trade routes and lived in poverty.
Now it's like a huge pie in the sky has fallen on my head.
While all parties are still hesitating whether to join the Miners' Convention.
A group of Zhejiang businessmen came rushing over.
They said directly: "We join this convention, we join it immediately!"
"Can you show us the blueprint of the steam engine?!"
The news spread in July, and in late August, these Zhejiang businessmen with a keen sense of smell arrived.
It would have been fine if they were just here, but a group of Jincheng merchants came here at full speed.
There are even more mines in Jin.
This steam pump was tailor-made for them.
Forget about the miners' convention. The local miners already have their own organization. Although it is not very strict, it already has a rudimentary form.
Therefore, they accepted the Miners' Convention proposed by Epoch Times very well.
When the Shanxi merchants saw the steam water pump, they cried with joy.
Oh my god.
It seems that many of their mines that could no longer be mined have been saved!
The arrival of this group of people made the merchants in Suzhou seem sluggish.
It’s not that they don’t know how to count, it’s that they are reluctant to spend money.
The Shanxi merchants even brought someone who was familiar to Ji Yuan.
Song Liuqun was a fellow student in the Jiyuan era during the imperial examination.
It's not that Ji Yuan can easily meet familiar people.
Instead, the prefect of Jinzhou Prefecture learned that Song Liuqun and Ji Yuan were born in the same year, so he sent him here specially.
This thing is not only liked by Shanxi merchants, but also wanted by the prefect of Jinzhou Prefecture.
The steam water pump is really tailor-made for the mine!
They were even curious, since Ji Yuan wanted to reopen the mine, why didn't he come to them.
Anyway, after much deliberation, he specially sent Song Liuqun here to persuade Ji Yuan to give them the drawings of the steam engine.
If you want something, just ask.
Song Liuqun.
The third place winner in the imperial examination in Huayuan in the 38th year.
No matter where it is placed, it is stunning.
His father used to be the Minister of Works, but because he stood on the side of Grand Secretary Chu, he now only holds a sinecure.
When the 33-year-old saw Ji Yuan, he felt as if he were in another world.
After not seeing Ji Yuan for a few years, when I saw him again, I couldn’t help but think of the time when he had just passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi.
It's really inappropriate for him, a man of twenty-six or twenty-seven, to care about Ji Yuan, who is so young.
Fortunately, they got along quite well afterwards.
So his boss asked him to come over and plead for mercy, and he came immediately.
Song Liuqun is obviously much more stable and has grown a beard. His father chose the wrong side and got a sinecure, so he is now the pillar of the family.
So it was very important for him to get a deal on the steam pump.
Ji Yuan was naturally happy to see his old friend.
But when it comes to requirements, everyone is treated equally.
The miners and the mine owners joined the Miners' Treaty, and the drawings of the steam pumps were immediately sent to them, and they were also provided with certain technical guidance.
This condition can even be called simple.
But Song Liuqun is no longer the sulky-minded scholar of the past, but Mr. Song who has been an official for five or six years.
After he finished reading the miners' agreement and looked around to see that everyone was his own people, Song Liuqun said directly: "You know, the logging association you founded has become a big problem for the Yunnan government."
The logging association is becoming more and more powerful.
Not only were they literate, they also understood reason and even learned the laws of the Tianqi Kingdom.
In this situation, they have a lot of strength again.
All local governments in Dianzhou Prefecture had to give them some face.
The people who were once loosely united have become united "troublemakers".
All localities must be on guard to prevent them from causing trouble.
Occasionally, there are those who bully others by relying on their power, and they have to be punished by the logging association and the government.
In other words, the logging association is a double-edged sword.
This applies to both the government and the local people.
If there were no checks and balances between the two parties, and if the logging association had not been aware of the rules, there would have been countless accidents.
People outside only know that loggers are loyal and can help their brothers get justice, but they don’t know that the government does not like this.
If it weren’t for the fact that I have a pretty good relationship with Ji Yuan and we are of the same age.
Besides, in Ji Yuan, it doesn't matter what you say, so Lord Song would not be so straightforward.
"Your request may seem simple, but it is actually very difficult to agree to."
The Jinzhou Prefecture must be afraid that the miners in Jinzhou will become like the lumberjacks in Dianzhou Prefecture.
To put it in an exaggerated way, this is something that shakes the foundation.
If Ji Yuan had brought up this matter in Jinzhou Prefecture, it would have been suppressed long ago.
Wait a minute?
Is this the reason why Ji Yuan didn’t go to Jinzhou Prefecture to work?
It is obvious that the number and scale of abandoned mines in Jinzhou Prefecture far exceed those in Suzhou.
"You know all this! And you still want to do this?!" Lord Song stood up and said anxiously, "If someone sincerely spread rumors and accused you of undermining the imperial power in front of the emperor, what would you do?"
Ji Yuan smiled.
Yes, Lord Song Liuqun can see it.
Cai Fenglan beside him could also see it.
The scholars in ancient times just lived in a different era, they were not really stupid.
When the logging association was established, they were still confused, but now they must see clearly.
This is a force that cannot be underestimated.
If they are not treated well, they are a force that can directly rise up in rebellion.
After all, they are a group of strong laborers who unite together, study, and learn the laws of the Tianqi Kingdom.
Who isn't afraid of this?
Ji Yuan looked puzzled: "Isn't the Miners' Convention unreasonable?"
“Just give the miners a fair salary.”
"They are not barbarians. As long as the mines don't go too far, everyone will live a good life."
Yes.
As long as it's not excessive over there, give the miners and lumberjacks a way to make a living and let them live a better life.
Who would be willing to rise up in rebellion?
Even if there happens to be a born rebel, others will not be happy about it.
They are not people who cause trouble at random.
As long as the mine operators and local authorities do not oppress them, why should we worry about them causing trouble?
If they really cause trouble, shouldn't we reflect on ourselves and ask why we are exploiting them?
Song Liuqun took a deep breath.
Ji Yuan looks calm, but he is actually walking on a tightrope.
No wonder he had to run so far!
He is really something!
Song Liuqun was just about to ask, aren’t you afraid of being retaliated against?
Those princes and nobles, those wealthy families, are definitely unwilling to share their profits with the miners.
Ji Yuan really doesn't seem to be afraid.
He has too much on his hands.
On the one hand, it makes those people fearful, and on the other hand, it makes them drool.
Ji Yuan had already arranged everything.
He had no objection to maintaining the status quo.
But if you want a better steam pump, you have to do as he says.
You choose.
Do whatever you want.
Even if steam engines were to become widespread someday, I think the Miners' Convention would also become widespread.
And it will inspire more people just like the logging association did.
More people?
Who are those more people?
Thinking of this, Song Liuqun could no longer think further because his mind was blank and he could not imagine how the future would develop.
But he knows.
Jiyuan’s ideas will come true.
Anyone who has seen a steam pump will definitely agree to it.
On the one hand, the mines are wasted, and on the other hand, some benefits are given to the lower-level people with a pinch of the nose.
Anyone with any sense would angrily choose the latter.
Song Liuqun admired Ji Yuan's boldness, and felt that with someone like Ji Yuan around, it seemed as if the books he read by sages were meaningful.
He may have been an official for many years.
When I arrived in Suzhou, I found that Suzhou was different.
Not really.
The Hanlin Academy Historian Academy led by Ji Yuan at that time was also different.
Everyone reads books of sages.
It seems that only Ji Yuan read it carefully and truly understood it.
There are many officials like Song Liuqun.
Many local wealthy people, like those in Suzhou, were furious.
Local authorities may still be calculating the dangers posed by the miners' association.
But the merchants from other parts of Tianqi Kingdom don’t care.
After weighing the pros and cons, they would definitely choose the steam pump.
Even merchants from far away Guangdong came.
Without much thought, they signed the contract and took away the drawings of the steam pump.
Someone asked: "Guangdong is so far away, aren't you afraid that they won't fulfill the convention?"
"Don't be afraid." Ji Yuan smiled, "The local people will know about this, and they will fight for their own interests."
There is no doubt about this.
Maybe the progress will be fast or slow.
But Shixing County’s benchmark is here, so everyone knows where to look up to.
Don't underestimate their wisdom, they will always find a way to survive.
With Guangdong taking the lead, countless people rushed to exchange.
By the time it started snowing in Suzhou, the entire miners' association had already numbered tens of thousands of people. No one had ever counted the exact number, but they were scattered all over the place and no one knew the exact number.
Likewise, many steam engines were built.
Countless craftsmen began research all over the country.
Today's steam pumps are certainly not perfect.
Thermal energy is not fully utilized, too much fuel is required, and it is too heavy and too large.
It is only suitable for large mines; it is somewhat unprofitable to build pumping equipment in small mines.
Not to mention looking at it from a modern perspective, even if you look at it from an ancient perspective, there are flaws everywhere.
Since there are shortcomings, we must improve them.
Craftsmen began to use their wisdom, and thousands of people began to improve the steam pump.
Some smarter people started thinking: Would it be useful if such huge kinetic energy was used in other areas?
Master Gao and his school have become very popular, and everyone wants to have good relations with them so that it will be easier to correct mistakes during construction.
It is foreseeable that Master Gao’s school will become a hot topic.
But at the blacksmith's workshop in Jianmeng Mansion, people kept coming to visit, which left the family puzzled.
Fortunately, they soon figured out what was going on.
Because the people who come to them all have similar problems.
"Did you help Master Gao make a batch of ironware?"
"Are you the only ones who know how to do that craft?"
"Can you help us make a batch too? The price is negotiable!"
"Too difficult? Not doing it? How can this be possible!"
They helped Master Gao make those strange iron tools, but everyone was scrambling to buy them?
It seems that in Tianqi Country, only his family knows how to make it?
Even the dumbest person would realize at this moment that their family seemed to be about to become rich.
Many years ago, he was tortured every day by Master Gao and his companions to perfect his craft.
Now it seems like there will be a payoff?
Forty-four years of Huayuan.
A year destined to be remembered by everyone, officially kicking off a new chapter.
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