HCB Chapter 223 Li Ke Returns to Chang'an
Chapter 223 Li Ke Returns to Chang'an
But what the aristocratic families didn’t know was that this was also Li Chengqian’s established strategy.
Steel mills are very profitable, and mining is also very profitable.
But it’s just about making money.
What he wants is for the aristocratic families to make money. As long as you only have money in your eyes, you will slowly evolve into a chaebol!
As for the chaebols, they are nothing in front of the state’s violent apparatus!
Whenever you evade taxes, do something illegal, or even when the court encounters a financial crisis, they will pull one out and slaughter it.
By then, these noble families will be fat sheep, helping the imperial court to alleviate its financial crisis!
Can't the noble family see the conspiracy?
No, they understand, but there is nothing they can do.
Now that the imperial court has absolute military advantage, they have no choice.
Either they become the next Qinghe Cui family, or they accept the court's transformation into a chaebol.
At least the chaebol is still a clan, and it is still a noble family, and it can still continue the family line.
But if you go against the imperial court, you will become the next Qinghe Cui family...
Pei Xingjian continued: "Master Changsun..."
Chang Sun Wuji's face jumped: "I am here!"
"Master Changsun is responsible for establishing an arsenal in Longxi, responsible for the research, development, production and manufacturing of flintlock rifles and cannons, and holds a 30% stake."
Zhang Sun Wuji took a deep breath and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"
arsenal!
Flintlock gun!
Such a powerful weapon of the country was actually handed over to the Changsun family! ?
He also holds 30% of the shares alone. This is a firearm that can change the situation in the world!
Relatives in law are indeed relatives in law...
What about gunpowder?
Pei Xingjian continued, "Where are the Duke Lu's and Duke E's mansions?"
Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong were still on the front line in Goguryeo, so only their eldest sons could attend the meeting.
"Chen is here!"
"You will still be responsible for the production of gunpowder and start to expand the scale. Each of you will hold 20% of the shares!"
"I thank Your Highness for your kindness!"
As the people who followed Li Chengqian through time and space gained core benefits one after another, the aristocratic families became jealous.
But it also made them more determined to follow the court!
Because they knew that the court still had more good things to give away, such as high-yield crops, new-style education, and the legendary lathe that could process flintlocks...
This profit distribution meeting officially came to an end after Xue Rengui and Su Dingfang's families obtained shares in the compound crossbow factory.
The heads of the major families left the palace and Chang'an with mixed feelings.
The reshuffle has begun, and it is inevitable that the west wind will prevail over the east wind.
It's time for them to make adjustments, adjust their positioning, adjust their mentality...
The next day, after Li Chengqian handed over the government affairs to civil officials such as Fang Xuanling and Chu Suiliang, he took his men to the lathe factory in Huangzhuang.
A month ago, the steam locomotive was assembled and started smoothly.
Up to now, thirty sets of turning and milling lathes have been assembled, which can fully process flintlock parts and small steel cannon barrels independently.
In addition, with the vast amount of finished steel, it would be no problem for the Tang Dynasty to form a firearms force of 100,000 people.
But the finished steel provided by Mr. Jiang and his team will eventually run out, so blast furnace steelmaking has become the most critical project now.
Li Chengqian not only wanted a flintlock rifle, he also wanted a bolt-action rifle, and he also wanted to build trains and railways, all of which required a large amount of steel.
The key technology of the bolt-action rifle lies in the bullet, which is the smokeless gunpowder and mercury fulminate in the bullet!
Both of these technologies are readily available, but even so, large-scale production is still not possible with Datang's current technology.
In addition, the independent production of steam engines also requires a large amount of finished steel.
Therefore, that batch of finished steel cannot be used only to make flintlock rifles, most of it must be retained for the research and development of new technology.
Li Chengqian's idea was to form an army of 50,000 people with flintlock muskets.
The 50,000 men must be divided into ten armies of 5,000 men each, stationed around each of the major families to supervise and intimidate them.
Let the aristocratic families understand that the court can give you concessions, but can also take them back at any time.
If you want to rebel, think carefully.
At the critical moment, these flintlock armies also acted as butchers reaping the fat sheep, killing two birds with one stone.
At this time, looking at the rumbling steam locomotive and the workers busy processing the rifling of gun barrels in the workshop, Li Chengqian was a little dazed.
Industrial Revolution, this is the first industrial revolution!
If we can manufacture steam engines ourselves, then how far are railways?
Only when railways were fully rolled out across the country could the Tang Dynasty truly control its own territory.
At that time, even if there is a rebellion somewhere, the imperial court will be able to respond immediately and quell the rebellion quickly!
Then there are Mobei, Xiyu, Liaodong...
Wherever the railway is built, that is the homeland of the Tang Dynasty!
At this moment, the person in charge of the lathe workshop saw His Royal Highness the Crown Prince coming in person, and hurriedly stopped his work and came to pay his respects.
"Come on, how is the independent research and development of the steam engine going?"
The person in charge saluted and said, "Except for the sealing device, all other parts can be manufactured independently."
"Sealing device!?"
"Can't we use copper pads?"
"Copper!!" All the craftsmen looked confused?
"But the seals of finished steam engines are not made of copper!"
Li Chengqian replied: "Don't worry about that. First test whether the copper gasket can be used and what level of copper to use. Do more tests and record the test data. That's it, go to work!"
The craftsmen were all puzzled, but they still followed the order and went down to test it.
After inspecting the lathe workshop, Li Chengqian went to the steel plant in Huangzhuang.
At this time, the blast furnace had already been put into production, but the molten steel produced did not meet the standards.
Li Chengqian had no better idea and could only ask the craftsmen to continue researching whether there was a problem with the coke, the furnace temperature was not high enough, or the sintered ore was not of high quality.
Things have to be done step by step, and skills have to be accumulated and summarized slowly. He doesn't expect to achieve everything in one go, but as long as he makes a little progress every day, that's a good thing.
As for the planting of hybrid rice and other crops, it is also proceeding as planned.
He didn't have to worry about these things, as he was very relieved to have ministers like Fang Xuanling and Chu Suiliang.
And he had someone better in mind as Agriculture Minister…
After inspecting the place, Li Chengqian discovered that the one with the least time was him, the crown prince.
Everyone had their own things to do. Even Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong were busy expanding gunpowder production and researching smokeless gunpowder and mercury fulminate.
He is the only one there, and he has no specific work to do. He just looks here and touches there all day long, doing nothing.
Is this what it feels like to be a leader?
Li Chengqian said, it feels great!
Su is going to give birth in three months.
Accompanying his family is his most important task now!