Chongzhen: Why is the emperor's head square?

Chapter 31 Rails, Redstone

Zhu Youjian walked down the steps.

He walked to Cheng Guoxiang's side.

"As I have said before, I will cover the shortfall in the military pay for the 120,000 additional troops proposed by Minister of War Yang Sichang."

"Why did you submit this memorial? Do you know what it will bring you?"

They borrowed rent from nobles, wealthy merchants, and gentry in the capital.

The current situation of the Ming Dynasty is more akin to robbery than borrowing.

Officials are in arrears with their salaries, how can they possibly repay the loans?

If we really do as Cheng Guoxiang says...

Cheng Guoxiang's political career is bound to come to an end.

Offending powerful and influential figures is bound to have a difficult outcome.

After pondering for a moment, Cheng Guoxiang explained, "Your Majesty, I simply feel that when Your Majesty's treasury is depleted, military pay will be needed. With the imperial treasury empty, the only option is to increase taxes on the people."

"With heavy taxes and frequent disasters, the people simply cannot afford it."

"Instead of taxing the poor, why not tax the rich?"

"As for what Your Majesty said, I am but a commoner. At worst, I can simply go home and farm."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youjian glanced at Cheng Guoxiang, a hint of appreciation in his eyes.

He was highly capable, came from humble origins, and was from Southern Zhili.

Cheng Guoxiang's family background had also been investigated by the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

He was an honest official.

Given the current state of the Ming Dynasty, it is truly remarkable that Cheng Guoxiang, holding a high position, could remain so poor.

Many officials in the Ming Dynasty were corrupt. Some of them came to the government with the intention of embezzlement from the very beginning, while others initially failed to uphold their original intentions and joined the corrupt officials because the court was in serious arrears with salaries.

It is truly rare for someone like Cheng Guoxiang to be able to uphold his original aspirations and not embezzle funds when the imperial court frequently defaults on salaries.

After pondering.

Zhu Youjian said, "From now on, you are no longer the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

Upon hearing this, Cheng Guoxiang's breathing quickened and his body trembled slightly.

His eyes were filled with resentment, but he eventually calmed down.

Cheng Guoxiang slowly removed his official hat and took off his official robe.

Then he kowtowed to Zhu Youjian a few times.

He then prepared to turn and leave.

Seeing this, Zhu Youjian smiled faintly: "What are you doing, Minister Cheng?"

Cheng Guoxiang was slightly taken aback, then turned to look at Zhu Youjian: "Wasn't I dismissed from my post?"

"I am removing you from your post as Vice Minister of Revenue because there are more important matters that I need to entrust to you."

He is good at accounting and is an honest official.

Just these days, Zhou Liang has been frequently requesting that someone be sent to help him.

There's just too much to calculate.

Cheng Guoxiang has a heart for the people, so he can be put to use.

"Something more important?"

Zhu Youjian turned his back: "Well, but you must think carefully, my dear minister. This matter is my secret. If you agree, you must be prepared to not be able to go home for a long time."

"Would you... be willing?"

Cheng Guoxiang stared at Zhu Youjian's back.

After thinking it over, Cheng Guoxiang nodded and said, "Your Majesty, I am willing."

Zhu Youjian turned around: "Aren't you going to ask me what I've asked you to do?"

Cheng Guoxiang shook his head.

"Since this is Your Majesty's secret, it is best that this humble subject does not know."

Although his original aspirations remained unchanged, he also understood the ways of officialdom.

Zhu Youjian nodded.

"Go home and say goodbye to your family. Then come to see me again."

Cheng Guoxiang bowed and took his leave.

……

The next day.

In the Wuying Hall, Zhu Youjian activated the MC driver.

Leading Cheng Guoxiang, they entered the light screen.

When visibility is clear.

A whole new world came into view.

Before Cheng Guoxiang could even gasp in surprise, Zhou Liang stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty."

"Zhou Liang, didn't you want someone to share your burden? I've brought him." Zhu Youjian turned and introduced, "Cheng Guoxiang."

Zhou Liang stepped forward and reached out his hand, and Cheng Guoxiang quickly followed suit.

Cheng Guoxiang was still somewhat bewildered.

Looking at this world where everything is square and even people are square, I feel a little lost.

"Your Majesty, what exactly is going on?"

Zhu Youjian raised his hand to interrupt.

"I know you must have many questions in your mind. You can ask Zhou Liang about them, and he will tell you."

"Have the latest accounts been calculated?"

Zhou Liang immediately nodded in agreement.

Although there was no writing brush or ink in this world, Zhu Youjian would bring them with him every time he came.

This makes it convenient for Zhou Liang to keep accounts.

There are no items like pen and ink in the Minecraft game.

But it can still be brought in and used normally.

"This is the latest account."

Zhu Youjian took it and glanced at it.

Then we arrived at the place where the grain was stored.

Everywhere you look, there are large boxes.

They were all used for storing grain.

After two days and two nights of investigation, Zhu Youjian discovered that some accounts did not match.

He frowned slightly, looking at Zhou Liang: "This month's grain production could probably fill 100,000 large boxes, but nearly half of the large boxes are empty."

It's impossible for me to embezzle.

With such a large sum, where would Zhou Liang put the money he embezzled? It's meaningless.

Even if Zhou Liang embezzled a single item of food from his inventory, it wouldn't matter.

Each person's inventory has only one size.

It's fine even if it's full.

Zhou Liang sighed and explained, "Your Majesty, as the cultivated land expands, the time and cost of transportation are also increasing. The grain that is in short supply is on its way, but the transportation efficiency remains low."

Zhu Youjian pondered, "Didn't I recruit eight hundred new men for you?"

So far, I have recruited three people in my world.

Currently, there are at least 1,600 people in my world.

Zhou Liang shook his head slightly.

"Your Majesty has forgotten that we have opened up 1.5 million new farmland plots."

"It would take two hundred days to transport food from the farthest station to here."

That is, four days in the real world.

Because of a lack of horses.

This is also the reason why the accounts don't quite match.

Zhu Youjian closed the account book.

Transportation is indeed a problem.

The current mode of transportation relies solely on foot and one's own inventory.

It's inefficient and slow.

Two hundred game days, and here I am, transporting a loaf of bread from one inventory.

It is estimated that a lot of resources will be consumed during transportation alone.

Walking will reduce your satiety level.

When you're not full, you can't walk.

To maintain efficiency, you must maintain satiety.

In other words, transporting food from the farthest place means that a large portion of the food in our inventory will be consumed.

No wonder the accounts don't match.

It seems we need to consider establishing an efficient transportation line.

An item popped into Zhu Youjian's mind.

【rail】

Although rail transport is not very fast, it is certainly faster and more efficient than transporting goods on foot.

However, making rails requires a lot of iron.

The village's current iron ore reserves are insufficient.

It is not just iron ore reserves that are needed.

A large amount of redstone is also needed.

Without redstone, even with rails, transportation efficiency won't be high.