Back to the Warring States Period as Zhao Kuo

Page 694

Presumably it should not be easy to handle. "

Pang Nuan also gave Lu Buwei a rather pity expression.

Pang Nuan is quite optimistic about Lu Buwei himself, but now that Lu Buwei has been assigned to the position of Minister of Transportation, he feels that it is definitely not a good thing.

Because the minister of transportation probably won't be able to make any political achievements in a few years, and it will affect Lu Buwei's continued promotion at that time.

But what they didn't expect was Lu Buwei's next answer.

After hearing this question, I originally thought that Lu Buwei would show a face of helplessness and complain a few words by the way, but I never expected that a proud expression appeared on Lu Buwei's face.

"The two prime ministers don't know that the train is running well. I went to report to His Majesty just now, and His Majesty even praised me a few words."

After listening to Lu Buwei's words, the two prime ministers were stunned at the same time.

Xu Li couldn't help but said: "From what you said, the train is running very well. How good is it?"

The two prime ministers are more concerned about the train. After all, the cost of more than 7 million is here, and it is difficult for anyone not to care.

Lu Buwei didn't talk nonsense, and directly threw out the explosive number.

"It's good to teach the two prime ministers to know that our train has signed a contract with Datong Coal Group, and it is now operating at full capacity. According to the current situation, we can earn 3,000 million yuan a month."

After hearing the number that Lu Buwei said, the two prime ministers were shocked at the same time.

"3,000 million, Minister Li, are you kidding us?"

Pang Nuan couldn't help but speak.

Lu Buwei laughed, and said very seriously: "Prime Minister Zuo, stop joking. This is a major national event. You are giving me 10 courage. How dare I joke in front of His Majesty and the two prime ministers."

After saying this, Pang Nuan immediately had nothing to say.

Indeed, as long as Lu Buwei is not a fool, it is impossible for him to joke about such matters related to his political achievements, not to mention such a huge number of 3,000 million a month, it is not something that can be forged casually.

In other words, that is what Lu Buwei said, and it is indeed a true fact.

After learning of this fact, Xu Li and Pang Nuan looked at each other, and both could see the shock that could not be concealed from the other's eyes.

Is this train so profitable?

This is definitely something that the two prime ministers have never thought about beforehand.

Lu Buwei smiled, cupped his hands and said, "You two prime ministers, I still have some things to do, so I will leave first. If the two prime ministers want to know more about the situation of this train, I can send someone to send a file to the two prime ministers later. Over there at the prime minister's office."

Xu Li nodded subconsciously, and stood there in a daze.

It wasn't until Lu Buwei had left for a while that Xu Li said: "I didn't expect this train to make so much money. It seems that we miscalculated this time."

Pang Nuan's mood was also very complicated, and he said after a while: "If calculated according to the figure of 3,000 million a month, His Majesty only needs two years to recover the cost, and he will be net every year. made money."

The cost can be recovered in two years, and the net profit will exceed 3 million every year. No matter who evaluates this project, it is definitely an excellent project.

Xu Li swallowed, and said with some difficulty: "This is only a 300-mile railway. If His Majesty can build more railways in the future, won't he have more financial resources?"

After these words were spoken, the mood of the two became more complicated.

You must know that this project was proposed by Zhao Kuo, hoping that it could be spent from the national treasury.

If it is the money from the treasury to build this project, then all future proceeds will undoubtedly go to the treasury.

But now, Zhao Kuo built this project privately, and all the money came from Zhao Kuo's small treasury, the Shaofu, which means that all the income of this railway now belongs to Zhao Kuo.

Xu Li said somewhat dumbfoundingly: "It seems that His Majesty's words are correct. This railway is indeed a good thing that is very easy to make money. It's just that you and I have completely ignored this point."

Pang Nuan also slapped his thigh very annoyedly, and said: "That's all right, we actually pushed a layoff that can earn hundreds of millions a year, and even billions or tens of billions in the future, to His Majesty. Yes, the future treasury managers, if they know about this, they will scold us to death."

The two prime ministers stood there blankly, not knowing what to say.

Regret, in general, is regret.

The two prime ministers reacted belatedly at this time. In terms of social development and progress, Zhao Kuo's predictions are actually rarely wrong.

It's like what stock exchange, what steam engine, and overseas exploration, etc. all proved Zhao Kuo's accurate foresight.

Xu Li was silent for a while, then sighed helplessly and said, "Perhaps this can only be blamed, the cost of building this railway is really too high."

Pang Nuan nodded helplessly, agreeing to this matter.

To be honest, if the construction of the railway is only one or two billion yuan, then the two prime ministers will definitely not object.

But the cost is 5 million yuan, and the actual cost is more than 7 million yuan. It takes courage to take out such a large amount of cash from the treasury at one time and invest in a project with unknown risks.

It was at this time that a voice suddenly sounded.

"It's great that the two prime ministers are here."

The two prime ministers looked up subconsciously, and found that it was none other than eunuch Ling.

Eunuch Ling smiled and said, "The two prime ministers sent me to you two, saying that there is an important matter about the railway that I want to tell you."

After hearing this sentence, the two prime ministers immediately looked at each other, and at the same time showed a wry smile.

Xu Li sighed, and said, "Understood, let's go see His Majesty right now."

Xu Li at this time, he simply thought that Zhao Kuo should have come to show off, but this is also normal, who made Xu Li and others not optimistic about this railway project from the beginning.

But what Xu Li never expected was that after Zhao Kuo saw Xu Li and the two of them, he actually proposed another thing that made Xu Li feel unbelievable.

Chapter 1220

When Zhao Kuo saw Xu Li and Pang Nuan, his mood was quite good.

With this kind of good mood, Zhao Kuo used a very brief description to describe what Lu Buwei said just now, and then said with a smile: "How is it?

Did I tell you this before?

Trains and Railroads is a really nice baby indeed. "

Of course, Zhao Kuo has reason to be happy. After all, even Zhao Kuo himself did not expect that the cost could be fully recovered in only two years.

And if more trains can be added, the time to recover the cost will be shorter.

Xu Li and Pang Nuan looked at each other, and then said: "But His Majesty is indeed wise in this matter, and the old minister's judgment is wrong."

As the prime ministers of the Great Han Kingdom, the two of them are not the kind of people who are stubborn and refuse to say anything after doing something wrong.

Zhao Kuo smiled slightly and said: "Actually, this matter is just a truth I want to tell you, that is, our world is in a future of continuous improvement, and there may be many such things happening. Cost, high return will likely become the mainstream in the future.

As the prime minister of our Great Han Kingdom, I hope you can adapt as soon as possible. "

After hearing this sentence, the two prime ministers nodded in unison and chose to agree.

It is true that the world is constantly improving, and the two prime ministers, as the backbone of the Han Dynasty, sometimes feel that they can't even catch up with the speed of social progress.

Zhao Kuo said with a smile: "Okay, in fact, I didn't call you here today just to show off or show off to you. I mainly want to discuss something with you."

Xu Li said: "If your majesty has anything to say, just say it, all the old ministers are listening."

Zhao Kuo smiled and said: "That's right, I plan to nationalize this railway and trains. After all, this is also a very huge project for people's livelihood. If it is in my hands all the time, it will be somewhat unfair." It's too plausible."

After saying these words, the two prime ministers, Xu Li and Pang Nuan, were immediately stunned.

After a long while, Xu Licai was the first to come back to his senses and said, "Is Your Majesty really sure?

This is no joke. "

Even though he knew Zhao Kuo's character well, Xu Li couldn't help but want to make a determination at this moment.

This is because the interests involved in trains and railways are obviously too great. We must know that a railway with a distance of only 300 miles can generate more than 3 million yuan in revenue a year, so how considerable will the income generated by the railway be in the future? ?

Zhao Kuo actually took the initiative to propose to nationalize this railway, which is definitely an earth-shattering thing.

Zhao Kuo laughed, and said to Xu Li very seriously: "Of course it is true, because I think it is better for railways to be brought back to the country, and you may have some misunderstandings about railways. "

Can railroads make money?

The answer is of course yes, but not every railway can make money, let alone every railway can make a lot of money.

The first "Emperor Railway" built by Zhao Kuo was mainly because it connected the two most prosperous cities in the Central Plains, Emperor Capital City and Daliang City, so it was able to achieve the effect of making money every day, but other railways Obviously, it is very difficult to have this effect, or even completely ineffective.

To put it simply, if the country invests, it must lay railways everywhere to ensure that troops can be deployed to any corner of the country in the event of an emergency.

Under such circumstances, many railways cannot only consider economic benefits, but also consider their military role. For example, laying railways on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is definitely a very loss-making business, but it is also a must. things.

After comprehensive consideration, Zhao Kuo felt that it would be better for the state to do such a thing.

After listening to Zhao Kuo's words, Xu Li and Pang Nuan were very excited.

Perhaps Zhao Kuo’s theories about state investment are correct, and perhaps the state will indeed engage in some loss-making business in railway investment in the future, but it must be declared that at least at this stage, this railway is definitely a Huge cows can bring countless cash in a steady stream.

However, Zhao Kuo is willing to hand over such cash cows to the treasury, which is enough to prove that Zhao Kuo is not a person who cares about money very much. What he really cares about is the interests of the entire country and Huaxia Ming.

Thinking of this, Xu Li couldn't help being awed, and said to Zhao Kuo: "Your Majesty is indeed worthy of being an emperor through the ages. Xu Li really admires your noble sentiments."

On the side, Pang Nuan also nodded repeatedly.

After hearing these words, Zhao Kuo couldn't help laughing: "Okay, okay, you flatterers should cut back on you.

Although I will hand over the railway to you, I also want to remind you that the investment in the railway in the future will definitely be astronomical figures with units of billions as the counting unit. You must be mentally prepared from now on. "

Xu Li was also in a good mood, and immediately smiled: "Your Majesty is joking, now that you have experience with the Emperor-Dalian Railway, as long as the railway is built in the future, the treasury will definitely support it!"

The monarchs and ministers chatted and laughed again, and then conducted in-depth discussions on the state-owned railway plan and formulated rules in detail.

For Zhao Kuo, since the first railway has been built, the second, third and even more railways must of course enter the planning stage.

Considering that it is already late autumn, winter will have a great impact on construction, so it is safer to spend a whole winter planning and then continue construction when next spring comes.

As for the direction of railway construction, Zhao Kuo also has his own ideas.

"First of all, we must ensure the construction of the railway in the Central Plains. After all, the Central Plains is the core area ruled by our Great Han Dynasty, and building railways in the Central Plains can basically guarantee that we will only make money and not lose money."

In the Central Plains area, there are many people, commercial trade is developed, and the demand for cargo transportation is also extremely strong. Under such circumstances, building railways in the Central Plains will definitely not lose money, and it can also accumulate experience for large-scale railway construction in the next stage. So Zhao Kuo's remarks were immediately approved by the two prime ministers.

"Secondly, we also have several railways that are losing money at this stage. After the construction of the Central Plains Railway reaches a certain stage, we should start working on it immediately.

At least one railway should be built in Lingnan, Southwest, Bashu, and the Western Regions. "

The places mentioned by Zhao Kuo are all places relatively far away from the Central Plains at this stage. Although the official government of the Han Dynasty has garrisons there, in general, the control over these places is definitely not as good as the control over the Central Plains. Tight.

If a railway can be built to these places, then the control over these places will be greatly improved in an instant.

Not only that, after these places have railways, the communication between them and the Central Plains will become closer, and it can also effectively restrain the centrifugal force of these places on the Central Plains.

It is not an easy task to rule this huge country of more than 100 million square kilometers.

After listening to Zhao Kuo's words, Xu Li nodded again and again. Suddenly, he seemed to remember something, and asked, "Your Majesty, what about the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau?"

Zhao Kuo paused slightly after hearing this question, and then said helplessly, "Let's fix the other places on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau first, and then consider that side."

Xu Li and Pang Nuan could only nod their heads when they heard the words.

Of course, this is not because Zhao Kuo doesn't want to build a railway on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but because the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is so special.

It is no exaggeration to say that there is no other place as special as the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau on the entire earth. The title of the roof of the world is not just for nothing.

In Zhao Kuo’s impression, later generations of China still regarded the construction of railways on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau as a major difficulty even after the popularization of high-speed railways in the 21st century. task.

Of course, in order to maintain the integrity of the entire territory of the Han Dynasty, and the possibility of crossing the Himalayas and attacking the South Asian subcontinent in the future, this railway will have to be built sooner or later.

It's just that what Zhao Kuo hopes is that the railway personnel of the Great Han Kingdom can challenge the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a place that is destined to be very difficult, after they have more experience, technology and materials.

Speaking of this, Zhao Kuo suddenly remembered one thing.

In other words, Sima Shang and the others were taught from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, so they should be almost there after all the calculations, right?

Sima Shang has indeed arrived, but he has not arrived at the Imperial Capital City, but at Daliang City.

Here, Sima Shang happened to meet Xiang Yan and Wang Jian who arrived earlier.

Sima Shang smiled and said, "I heard that you two arrived two days ago?"

Xiang Yan smiled and said, "Yes, it's just that they are all waiting for the general."

After all, Sima Shang is the main general of this army, so the two lieutenants, Xiang Yan and Wang Jian, are still very conscious. They will return to the imperial capital together after the main general arrives.

Sima Shang nodded with a smile, and then said, "By the way, there shouldn't be any major problems with your arrangement on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, right?"

Xiang Yan nodded and said, "There shouldn't be any problem, we have a full [-] garrisons."

When Sima Shang heard the words, he also nodded slightly, expressing his approval of Xiang Yan's words.

Five thousand garrisons may not sound like a strong force, but if it is five thousand musketeers, it is obviously not a concept at all.

It is no exaggeration to say that in this era, the power of [-] Musketeers is no different from that of a [-] army, and may even be stronger to some extent.