Chapter 447: Slowly Advance

"Eighty million taels... What a joke..." Tan Xiaopei realized that his expression of opening his mouth was really indecent, so he quickly closed his eyes. "This is too much, are you sure you want that much money?"

"Your Majesty, you can calculate the current steel production in Dongping. This Ministry of Works must have numbers? According to the current output, the total output of the cross-shaped railway trunk you mentioned in cannot be saved in a year. In addition, the cost of short-term rush, the cost of training workers and operators, the construction of a series of stations and related buildings... Also, if the track is erected, there must be enough locomotives and carriages? This part of the expense is not small. Moreover, Your Majesty, not only the direct cost, you don't want to see it.

Because of the construction of railways, many industries that existed before have suffered losses, are the common people? The proper placement of related industries, etc. is also a cost. Even these can be ignored. Your Majesty, the cost is not only 80 million taels. It has occupied more than a year of steel production, the losses of all industries affected, the losses of national taxes, etc.... I said 80 million taels, which is a very conservative estimate." Ye Tao said lightly, and then added with a smile: "If you don't believe it, you can ask Xin'er."

Tan Xiaopei's brows were frowning. The railway was really attractive, but Ye Tao was right. The cost and the price were all things that Dongping could not afford. In an instant, Tan Xiaopei even split the entire railway system into many shares like Gondor and Xindu Danyang and sold to those big families who were able to participate in it... But, in just a moment. The railway system is too special. With Tan Xiaopei's current imagination, he can think of the value of the entire railway system to the country in the future. Whether it is Gondor or Xindu Danyang, the grounds are to be sold separately. However, the railway system is not directly in his hands, which really cannot be reassured.

"Come on, let's get on the bus." After sighing, Tan Xiaopei boarded the train. The front of the car that seemed to be more complete now is a passenger car, a private car and a freight car. Compared with the front of the car, these cars seem more mature. After all, technically, the manufacturing of the car is indeed simpler than the front of the car. The current passenger car is basically very suitable for transporting troops. It is full of long seats and tables between the seats. The entire car is full of eighty people, and the salutes of these people, that is, the armed forces of the soldiers, can be carried together. After a brief observation of the details in the car, Tan Xiaopei was extremely satisfied. He asked, "How many carriages can be hung on one car?"

Ye Tao shrugged and said, "The power of this experimental front is still low. According to the test records here, according to the design capacity of the passenger car, sixteen carriages can be dragged when people are filled. However, one carriage with coal and water must be added. Basically, it is the appearance of fourteen to fifteen cars. Not many. Moreover, since the railway is relatively short, it can only be tested to run. As for the rest, we are going to prepare the test while laying the rails. The new front is slightly stronger than this, so pulling twenty cars... However, my goal is not only that. For the time being, the first thing to achieve is to be able to load a reorganized battalion for movement." Ye Tao said proudly: "It is not so easy for a unit to visit each other."

Tan Xiaopei agreed with this idea, and nodded and said, "It should be like this." Tan Xiaopei seemed to be interested in everything in the car, asking questions about each detail.

What attracted Tan Xiaopei the most was that the carriage actually took into account the needs of the bathroom and had a flush design. The small bathroom used a lot of metal materials and realized almost all functions in the narrow space. Although Ye Tao did not make much contribution to this design, everything could only be attributed to him. You must know that Ye Tao and Tan Weixin had a personal understanding of the bathroom design of large passenger aircraft. Ye Tao could combine functions that other craftsmen could not imagine together and become what they are now.

The chassis of the truck compartment and the chassis of the bus compartment are different, and the shock absorption design is simpler. The truck compartment uses a classic metal frame with wooden boards and boards, but there are many small accessories on the metal frame, such as slots, hooks, etc. By adding some standard-size shelves or rope mesh, the car can be suitable for transporting various items. Even the outside board can be removed and replaced with a thick canvas cover cloth, which can also shield the wind and rain, but can effectively adjust the internal temperature. This is particularly important when transporting horses and some special items. The basic concept of this modular design is now well known to the craftsmen in the workshop, and everyone is already very skillful in considering how to use the best solution and take into account various needs.

On the contrary, it was a relatively exquisite private car. Tan Xiaopei glanced at it for a few seconds. How could he not know that this must be prepared to operate the railway in the future. However, for railways in the pioneering stage, this is really too far away. As for airships that limit the weight of luggage, trains that can carry a large amount of cargo on the same train will definitely attract many merchants to pursue. As for long-distance passenger transport, it may still be the advantage of airships in the future. Compared with trains, airships are faster, quieter, and shorter distances.

After reading it, Tan Xiaopei asked seriously: "I was anxious... But if I could really give out 80 million taels of silver, I would still let you complete it within three years. Now, you should have a plan, right?"

Ye Tao stood up respectfully, reached out and took a map with countless complicated marks from the servant following behind him and placed it on the table in the box. The place where Ye Tao's fingers point was the Ye's workshop where everyone is now. His fingers were drawn from Ye's workshop to where Gondor was. On that slightly old map, Gondor was just a hand-painted symbol. Ye Tao explained: "The first step is to connect Ye's workshop with Gondor. This is much lower than before, and it is more conducive to the confidentiality of the workshop... The exploration of this part of the project has been completed, and it is estimated to be three to four months.

Then, I think the second part is to connect Gondor and Danyang together. My suggestion is to start Gondor and go directly to Thunder Cliff and Dongjiaji line without passing Ningyuan. At that time, many of Ningyuan's popularity will be taken to Gondor and the railway line. After all, Ningyuan will no longer be the central city of the entire northern border, and decline is inevitable... It is a bit far to connect Gondor and Danyang, and now we do not have the ability to carry out segmented construction. I think it will take about two years or even longer to complete. Your Majesty, no matter how you calculate it, it is impossible to create a cross-center framework within three years.

"Another step... Your Majesty, Xin'er suggests that if you have enough energy, the railways in Dongping can be built at the same time, but more importantly, starting from Dongping and Zhenningguan to extend to the core of the northern Liao border. On the one hand, building a railway requires a large number of people, which can promote employment and serve everyone by hiring labor. On the other hand, as the railway extends to the hinterland of Northern Liao, it is more conducive to Dongping's deep control of Northern Liao. The minerals and other goods of Northern Liao can benefit the merchants and people of Northern Liao through communication with Dongping, but they will also rely more on the entire country's economy.

Their wealth can also show that our governance is appropriate. It is conceivable that in the first few years, there will inevitably be unbalanced circulation of money and goods. At that time, we must adjust and manage it well to avoid huge development differences in various places. But in general, we will still reach a relatively balanced situation in the end. Xin'er estimates that it may be five to eight years. In these five to eight years, we should have such a leeway to complete the construction of the cross-trunk framework of this railway. When the railway is completed, it will be time for us and Xiling, or Chunnan to showdown."

Politics, economy, military... Obviously, Ye Tao and Tan Weixin have considered a lot in railway construction. Although these considerations are just some preliminary opinions, they have already made Tan Xiaopei nod. But he immediately smiled bitterly and said, "I also hope to put the final showdown until we are ready. However, Xiling and Chunnan have never been so naive. Five to eight years... I guess the time is about the same in half. From now on, it will take about five years and we have to do a lot of things."

Ye Tao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty, turn what we can do into what many people can do, and what many people can do into what everyone can do... This is what we should do. Dongping does not lack the momentum of rapid development, but we should not be confused by the rapid development and the endless emergence of new technologies and new items. Naturally, there are some things I am not considering well here. However, since there is still time to buffer, we will at least start from this moment to get things right. Your Majesty does not have to worry too much about railway matters, and I will naturally find ways to arrange them properly."

With such a tone, Tan Xiaopei's heart was calm and even began to feel a little funny. Why, the lord of the country, he was so uneasy and asked Ye Tao, his son-in-law, to persuade him not to make a rash move. In fact, Ye Tao has done this more than once. It took only a little time for the five-mile railway to go back and forth. When they got off the train at the station of the Ye Family Workshop and walked onto the platform, they saw a messenger in a dark gray uniform, carrying a strong black leather bag, and wearing a short sword. The messenger this time was actually Lin Yihua, the deputy of Cao Pojun, and something must have happened. Tan Xiaopei took the letter and opened it casually. When he saw it, he couldn't help laughing out loud... This is actually a great thing.
Chapter completed!