Zhu Biao looked at this batch of coal and it already looked a bit like briquettes from later generations. If he studied it for a few months, it might be ready. However, time did not wait for us. It was already autumn, and mass production would also take time. Now that we have something similar, this year
Then use it first.
As long as the people in the north can spend this year's cold winter more comfortably, the effect of the Prime Minister on regaining the people's hearts will be far thousands of times more powerful than any form of edict to calm the people, and the people in the north will also increase their recognition of the imperial court.
Zhu Biao was overjoyed and rewarded the craftsmen with five hundred taels of silver. Not to mention that the craftsmen were extremely happy, even the minister of the Ministry of Industry on the side was a little envious. Five hundred taels of silver, according to the salary of a dignified third-rank official, he didn't even know it.
How many years will it take to save?
Zhu Biao ordered: "Start large-scale manufacturing immediately. The northern frontier army and the people need these. The rest of the work of the Ministry of Industry will be put aside for the time being. I will go to the Holy See for instructions later."
Everyone in the house immediately agreed, and Zhu Biao turned around and walked outside. It was still quite hot in the afternoon in the early autumn. After baking in the house for so long, it was really dry and hot.
The excited craftsmen were still kowtowing. No one dared to deduct the silver reward from the prince. Once they got it, they took the initiative to show their filial piety. The rest was enough for them to live a prosperous life and to pay for their children and grandchildren.
Get ready to study well.
Everyone in the world knows that only those who are educated are inferior in everything, because only those who are educated can become officials and prime ministers. In a time of peace and prosperity, who doesn’t want to be the number one scholar?
Zhu Biao and the Minister of Industry came out of the house together. Zhu Biao then ordered: "Just mines that are closer to the capital. For those farther away, especially those in the north, there is no need to transport raw coal to the capital. The Ministry of Industry will send craftsmen and officials to take a stand on the spot."
Recruiting workers to make coal.”
The Minister of Industry responded, and then hesitantly said: "Even though the cost of making coal is low, recruiting workers on such a large scale will probably cost a lot of money in the early stage."
Zhu Biao said: "There will be an order in a moment. Fifty thousand taels of silver will be taken out from the Ministry of Household Affairs and handed over to the Ministry of Works. I will also send someone to look at this money and make sure it is implemented in practice!"
The Minister of the Ministry of Works knew that His Highness the Crown Prince was trying to hit him, and immediately replied: "Don't worry, Your Highness, there will definitely be no corrupt people in the Ministry of Works!"
Zhu Biao nodded and said: "That's good. I have always been interested in the Ministry of Industry. You must not let me down."
Then the two of them walked to the lobby of the Ministry of Industry while discussing the deployment. After entering, a messenger brought warm water. Zhu Biao washed his hands and sat down. Coal research and development came to an end for the time being, but Zhu Biao was still not satisfied with the Ministry of Industry.
It took so long to produce coal, which shows that there are not many outstanding talents in the Ministry of Industry, let alone innovative talents.
The Ministry of Industry is the department responsible for the system of civil construction, the way of using utensils, the method of spacing canals and weirs, and the donation of billions of dollars to mausoleums. However, it seems that the thinking is a bit rigid at present, and there are too many officials and too few craftsmen.
It is not that Zhu Biao has never thought about setting up a scientific research department to enhance the status of craftsmen and stimulate their innovation with gold and silver official positions. However, it is not easy to rashly improve the social status of a group of people. The backlash of officials and gentry is a big problem.
What's more, after the independent department, the manpower and material resources required for scientific research are not so easy to obtain, and the court does not have so much spare money to invest in things with uncertain prospects, so it is better to temporarily rely on the Ministry of Industry, a large department with abundant resources.
After they sat down respectively, Zhu Biao took a sip of the tea served by Liu Jin, then looked at the Minister of the Ministry of Industry and ordered: "I will provide another 20,000 taels from the East Palace Treasury for the Ministry of Industry to recruit outstanding craftsmen from all over the Ming Dynasty.
Research and development must not be delayed for so long!"
The Minister of Industry's eyes lit up and he immediately responded: "Don't worry, Your Highness, I will definitely recruit good people."
Zhu Biao nodded and gave a few more instructions, then stood up and prepared to leave. The Minister of Industry sent him away respectfully, as if he was treating the God of Wealth.
Zhu Biao naturally knew it, and he didn't ask for anything from the 30,000 taels. The whole world was not owned by the royal family, and the Ministry of Industry, as an official government agency of the imperial court, did not have to pay any price to recruit craftsmen from the people.
At most, it's just a settling-in allowance. The thirty thousand taels he gave is more than enough no matter how you calculate it. The extra part is undoubtedly a reward for the officials of the Ministry of Industry. That's how human beings are. If you want the horse to run, just do it.
When giving grass to horses, you can't just crack the whip.
All the way to the cautious hall, several junior officials from the Ministry of Industry behind Liu Jin were holding several baskets of coal. After arriving at the local notice, Zhu Biao entered the hall smoothly. Comrade Lao Zhu was handling a thick pile of coal as usual.
Memorial.
After Zhu Biao entered the house to pay his respects, he asked the people behind him to put the coal basket aside. Naturally, Zhu Yuanzhang put down the pen in his hand out of curiosity. His son rarely came to see him with anything.
Even if I got any rare treasures from outside, they would be sent directly to Nei Bo and never show up in front of him. After putting down his pen, he walked down the imperial steps with interest and looked at the dark coals.
He even kicked it with boots embroidered with dragon patterns.
Zhu Biao looked on with a smile, knowing that his father had forgotten about this matter, which was correct. After all, it had been two years and Comrade Zhu was busy with many things, so it was indeed unlikely that he would still remember it.
Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it carefully but still couldn't remember that the quality of coal was quite average, similar to what the eunuchs and maids in the palace used during the winter. However, he also knew his son's character and would definitely not waste time with useless things.
Lao Zhu pondered and said nothing. When Zhu Biao saw this, he stopped pretending to be serious. Otherwise, Lao Zhu would lose his composure. Even if he didn't say anything at this time, he would have to torment him during the Chinese New Year. All those troubles would have to be put aside.
If he goes there, he might even be driven to Fengyang to offer sacrifices in the imperial mausoleum.
Zhu Biao was exhausted just thinking about it, so he hurriedly said: "Father, you still remember what happened when you discussed cotton with your ministers. The Ministry of Industry finally got results."
When Zhu Yuanzhang heard this reminder, he thought of cotton and quickly remembered it. His eyes lit up and he happily grabbed a piece of dark and heavy coal, weighed it and asked: "How much does this piece of coal cost? It can be used by farmers at home."
Can you afford it?”
Zhu Biao nodded and said: "It is affordable, and the cost of this large piece is not high, because the main raw materials are crushed cinders and yellow mud from coal mines. In the first two years, the court will subsidize more, and the people will spend a few dollars."
We can use the money."
Zhu Yuanzhang was so happy that he swallowed all the cold springs, and I groaned even more. He knew best how difficult it was for ordinary people to survive the winter. When he was young, the warm quilts at home only contained cheap and expensive materials such as kapok, straw, and reed catkins.
Plenty of warm items.
However, the straw is rough and has large gaps, making it rustle in the quilt and is extremely uncomfortable. The reed flowers sound wonderful, but are actually very thin. A quilt of reed flowers is not as warm as a pound of cotton.