Daming: The system rejected my request for salted fish

Chapter 1102

Sun Chang and Song Zhong had already figured out the basic design of the three-expansion four-cylinder reciprocating steam engine.

It is not impossible to replicate the Titanic, it just takes a long time to design and build.

If they could even build the Titanic, let alone a steam locomotive, it would be too easy.

For the Ming Dynasty today, the real trouble is not the locomotive, but laying the tracks for the train to run.

Although Zhu Biao didn't know the extent of the Academy of Science and Technology's steam power technology, he knew that trains needed rails.

So after hearing Wei Wu's answer that he could do it, he immediately asked a follow-up question.

"It would be best if we could get the train out, but getting the tracks isn't going to be that easy!"

"Yes, it's not easy to build a railway track. That's why I came to find my big brother."

Wei Wu nodded and acknowledged what Zhu Biao said, but then he continued to express his thoughts.

"Brother, there are several difficulties in completing the laying of the railway tracks, namely materials, manpower, land, construction, and interests."

"First of all, let's talk about materials. Laying rails requires a huge amount of steel, so the steel smelting capacity must keep up."

"But this is also why I came to find my eldest brother. If we want to expand steel smelting capacity, we must order the court to increase the number of iron foundries."

"We also need to find a mine that can mine more iron ore. I know where it is, but I still need the court's cooperation."

The Ming Dynasty also attached great importance to iron ore, so Zhu Biao raised his brows after hearing Wei Wu's words.

"That's right, Xiao Wu, you are from the future. You must know where the iron mines are. So, where is the iron mine you are talking about?"

Wei Wu did not hesitate at all and immediately answered:

"In fact, we have quite a lot of it in the territory of the Ming Dynasty, but it is better to leave this resource in the ground for the benefit of future generations."

"We are now strong enough to preserve our own resources and use external mineral resources to build the Ming Dynasty."

"Take Japan for example. Although there aren't many of them, even a small ant is still meat, and it's our territory now."

As for the Japanese Kingdom, Wei Wu was unwilling to give up any of its usefulness, and he must take it back as long as he could.

But this was just an appetizer, and Wei Wu then announced the main course.

"Apart from Japan, all the small countries around us have iron ore. For example, there are several places in Goryeo where iron ore is produced."

"I won't talk about other small mining areas, but there is an iron mine in Goryeo that was later regarded as one of the largest open-pit iron mines in Asia."

"The reserves are as high as 3 billion tons, and open-pit iron ore mining is easy and low-cost, so a large amount of iron ore can be obtained in a short time."

Having said this, Wei Wu suddenly stopped, and after thinking about his words, he continued:

"Korea accepted the imperial court's canonization and became a vassal state of the Ming Dynasty. According to regulations, Korea must pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty every year."

"But that little bit of wealth is of no significance to the Ming Dynasty. It would be better to directly order them to pay tribute with a huge amount of iron ore."

"This way, we don't have to mine, and Goryeo doesn't have to worry about money. They can just use iron ore. How great is that."

Zhu Biao didn't say anything for a long time, but he agreed with Wei Wu's idea in his heart.

Although the Ming Dynasty was not too harsh, the surrounding small countries did have some headaches when paying tribute every year.

Tribute must be both valuable and unique. Although the number of items offered as tribute is not particularly large, the total value is not low.

If iron ore, which can be dug from the ground, could be used as a substitute, the rulers of those small countries would surely be very willing to do so.

Anyway, there is no need for them to dig. Once an order is passed down, the lower-class people will naturally carry it out.

Zhu Biao nodded unconsciously while thinking about it. At the same time, Wei Wu continued to speak.

"Also, there are large iron ore mines in Annan. Although the quantity is smaller than that of Goryeo, the quality is higher and it is closer to us."

"That place used to be called Taiyuan Prefecture, but now it should be called Taiyuan Road. Counting from the Jiangxi border, the straight-line distance is only a little over 100 kilometers."

"The tribute sent by Annan is nothing more than some rare and precious animals. They are useless to the Ming Dynasty. We can also ask them to send iron ore instead."

After Wei Wu finished speaking, Zhu Biao had no objection. Compared with rare treasures, he valued practical development more.

But just as he was about to open his mouth to agree, he found that Wei Wu's eyes and expression became unusually sharp.

Immediately afterwards, Wei Wu's tone of voice became much colder.

"In the future, when our railway reaches the north and we can quickly transport troops, we can directly destroy the Northern Yuan Dynasty and completely occupy its territory."

"After that, we will continue to build railways and conquer all the surrounding small countries, so that wherever rivers flow and wherever the sun and moon shine, all will be Han territory."

"In the future, there will only be one voice speaking on this continent, and that is the voice of the Ming Dynasty!"

Zhu Biao could clearly hear Wei Wu's ambition from his words, but Wei Wu's ambition was at a higher level.

Zhu Biao understood Wei Wu and knew that he did not like power, but instead pursued national prosperity and national pride.

If it were in the past, Zhu Biao would really not agree with Wei Wu's idea. After all, no matter how big a country is, it will perish if it is warlike.

But now, the Ming Dynasty's treasury is abundant, there is enough food, and there are also magical items like potatoes, and its military weapons are advanced.

It is foreseeable that there will be a population explosion in the future, which will require more land for people to live.

With money, food and guns, if we don't expand our territory in this great situation, who knows how future generations will deal with it.

In fact, Zhu Biao’s thoughts were similar to Wei Wu’s, but now was not the time for him to start exerting his strength.

So after Wei Wu finished speaking, Zhu Biao immediately expressed his attitude.

"When my eldest brother ascends the throne, you and I will make this our goal, and truly make every place where rivers flow and where the sun and moon shine become a bright land!"

"hey-hey!"

As soon as Zhu Biao finished speaking, Wei Wu chuckled and said something.

"Brother, Uncle Zhu will do the military expansion and conquest, but your responsibility is to create a prosperous Ming Dynasty that surpasses the Han and Tang Dynasties!"

After hearing what Wei Wu said, Zhu Biao did not continue the conversation, but brought the topic back to the main business.

"Alright, whether it's expanding the territory or the prosperity of the Ming Dynasty, it's not something we should consider now. Let's talk about it later!"

"Now let's talk about the other difficulties in laying railroad tracks besides the materials!"