pdf-ebookys Chapter 702 This bastard, he's not even pretending anymore!
Chapter 702 This bastard, he's not even pretending anymore!
Perhaps he's developed an immunity from being fooled so many times that he seems less easily fooled these days.
Yang Shaofeng chuckled dryly twice, adopting a shrewish demeanor, and looked at Emperor Zhu, asking, "Father-in-law, do you mean we should get this steam engine?"
The Zhu Emperor was nearly driven mad with anger.
You're too lazy to even pretend anymore, huh?
What the hell is wrong with you, you smug, shameless bastard?!
"Do it!"
Emperor Zhu glared fiercely at Yang Shaofeng and said through gritted teeth, "We not only need to get our hands on this stuff, but we need to hurry up and get as much as possible."
"Once it's done, have someone send a few to the Ministry of Works and the Craftsmen's Camp, and see if they can figure out more uses for it."
"As for the problems you're worried about, we'll write to Biao'er, Li Shanchang, and Liu Bowen later and ask them to find a solution."
At this point, Emperor Zhu suddenly glared angrily at Yang Shaofeng, snorted coldly, and turned to leave, cursing as he went, "You bastard! All you do is cause us trouble!"
Emperor Zhu stormed off, but Yang Shaofeng smiled smugly.
Isn't it normal for me to cause you trouble?
It would be abnormal if I didn't cause you trouble one day!
However, on the other hand, Old Deng was indeed exceptional in his vision and understanding, as he was able to see the many benefits that the steam engine could bring.
Based on this alone, they are a thousand times, ten thousand times better than the Ma family.
Thinking of Ma Zi, Yang Shaofeng couldn't help but click his tongue again.
That pockmarked guy is amazing. He can brazenly utter such nonsense as "Do not let it be learned by the Mongols and Han Chinese," and in the end, he can still be praised as one of the greatest emperors in history. Not everyone has this ability.
Feeling increasingly disgusted, Yang Shaofeng decided to go and talk to Hu Weiyong.
"I've heard that there are many wild men in Liaodong."
Yang Shaofeng cut to the chase and asked, "I wonder how Councilor Hu intends to handle this?"
Hu Weiyong's eyes lit up, then he curled his lip and said, "Your Highness, don't talk nonsense. Liaodong is a good place, a future land of fish and rice. How could there ever be any savages there?"
"At most, some people will be willing to come to Dengzhou to work and earn money. At that time, we will have to trouble the Prince Consort to take good care of them."
"Even those of dubious origin or with ill intentions cannot escape the punishment of the Ming Dynasty's laws."
Hearing Hu Weiyong's explanation, Yang Shaofeng was immediately relieved.
That's right.
Liaodong is a virtuous land, a land of plenty, so it's impossible for there to be any wild men there.
This way of speaking is disrespectful to Lao Hu.
As for the fact that some people from Liaodong are willing to work in Dengzhou Prefecture, that's something worth studying carefully.
After all, Dengzhou is an open and international metropolis. It's not just people from Liaodong who come to work there; there are also Koreans, short people, and even monkeys from Annam who come to work there.
We'll still need to strengthen management then.
What if a fight breaks out between several groups of laborers from different backgrounds, and someone named Mengtemu is killed out of nowhere?
This situation must be prevented in advance.
Just as Yang Shaofeng was pondering this, Hu Weiyong looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Why did you suddenly think of asking about the situation in Liaodong? Are you perhaps planning to detain some laborers and send them to Dengzhou?"
That's not okay.
Everything else is negotiable.
However, it is absolutely impossible to detain the workers.
Those are laborers who are related to my entire family, how can I let you, Yang the Madman, detain them?
Yang Shaofeng waved his hand and said, "Counselor Hu misunderstands. I was just thinking that there are always some Koreans who secretly come to the Ming Dynasty to work, so I thought I would remind you. That's all."
Hu Weiyong chuckled and thought to himself, "I don't believe you for a second. You, Yang Dianfeng, are a very wicked person!"
If you're thinking about how to disgust people, I have no doubt whatsoever.
But you're saying you're thinking of me?
I'd rather believe the sun rises in the west!
While inwardly cursing, Hu Weiyong said with a smile, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will definitely pay close attention once I arrive in Liaodong."
……
Just as Hu Weiyong and Yang Shaofeng were arguing and discussing how to bring laborers from Liaodong to Dengzhou, Emperor Zhu had already returned to his backyard.
"I'm so angry!"
"That bastard, he's not even bothering to pretend anymore!"
Emperor Zhu, grumbling and cursing, recounted the steam engine story to Empress Ma. Then, he spat angrily and said, "What the hell is wrong with me? Which emperor is stupid enough to leave such a good steam engine undeveloped and instead hide it away?"
Empress Ma smiled and shook her head, saying, "Perhaps he's just deliberately trying to upset you?"
"After all, you dashed his hopes of becoming the Marquis of Champion and gave him the title of Duke with a vacant fief."
"It would be strange if he didn't try to make things difficult for you."
Emperor Zhu snorted coldly and said, "He's just taking advantage of our good temper! That scoundrel!"
"However, if this steam engine can really be developed, those women may indeed be affected, and we must be wary of this."
While doing her needlework, Empress Ma said with a smile, "It's inevitable that we'll be affected. After all, people can never compare to machines, just like a sickle can never compare to a harvester."
Speaking of harvesters, Empress Ma asked with a smile, "You must have deployed quite a few harvesters in the last two years, right?"
Emperor Zhu nodded and said, "Yes, quite a few have been released."
"According to the reports from the Ministry of Revenue and the Secretariat...the Cabinet, it's possible that at least five or six households could share one, if not every household would have one."
"In about two years, every household will be able to get one."
"but……"
Emperor Zhu then changed the subject, saying, "It seems that our Great Ming Dynasty is currently short of money."
"Whether it's the cabinet or the Ministry of Works, the recent memorials are all calling for an increase in iron and coal mines, and also for an increase in iron smelting workshops."
"Damn it, I wonder how much iron they need to wreak havoc."
Empress Ma simply smiled and shook her head, saying, "No amount of iron is enough—the harvesters haven't even been fully deployed yet, and now there are already extra water presses."
"The water pump hasn't even started to be promoted yet, and it looks like we'll have to add another steam engine to the mix."
"If this continues, no amount of coal or iron ore will be enough for him to squander."
As Empress Ma finished speaking, Emperor Zhu fell silent.
Yes.
If this continues, no amount of iron ore or coal mines will be enough in the future.
Moreover, there is an even more important problem that is difficult to solve.
people.
Because whether it's iron ore or coal, ultimately it requires people to mine and smelt it.
How many people are there in the Ming Dynasty now?
Thinking of this, Emperor Zhu suddenly sighed and said, "In the past, we were worried because our Great Ming had too many people, needed too much land, and needed too much food."
"Now things are really messed up, and we're worried about not having enough manpower again."
"What the hell is going on?!"
But as he spoke, a smile returned to Emperor Zhu's face.
"But it's alright. In another ten years or so, when this generation has grown up, we won't have to worry about not having enough manpower anymore."