The steam engine has been developed, but it is the most basic and can do the simplest reciprocating movement, but it is not easy to control.

The emperor was helpless about this. Although he could make many suggestions to continuously improve the steam engine, due to the relationship between technical level and materials, the progress was not fast.

Of course, it is normal to go from the most primitive steam engine to the application to trains and ships for decades or hundreds of years. The emperor was helpless, but he was confident that with just this technology, the Ming Dynasty had already reached the world's leading position.

The emperor decided to repair the track first, not wood-made rails, but cast of steel, and may be changed to train tracks in the future.

Although Sun Yuanhua still specializes in firearms, as Shangguan, he also came to report the situation of the Academy of Sciences.

However, when Sun Yuanhua reported to the emperor, he seemed a little guilty, because the budget was too amazing.

The construction cost is very high, the manpower is required, and the cost is also very large. In the eyes of outsiders, it is inappropriate to save money to deal with major disasters.

"Such a huge cost?" The emperor was also surprised, blinked his eyes, and was speechless for a while.

Sun Yuanhua smiled bitterly and bowed and said, "I think the project can be shelved temporarily and make a decision depending on the serious situation of the disaster."

When the emperor heard the disaster, he frowned slightly. He had made a decision anyway. He looked at Sun Yuanhua and said, "The plan is implemented, and the start-up funds will be drawn from my treasury first."

Sun Yuanhua was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly bowed and said, "I obey the order."

In major disasters, we need to provide disaster relief and transport grain, and we also need to reduce taxes. This is originally meant to increase costs and reduce income. Building a large project seems to be a conflict and contradiction.

But what the emperor thought of was to use labor for relief, not only to build railway tracks, but also to build infrastructure such as water conservancy, roads, and afforestation.

Despite immigration and other policies, many ordinary people still have to live in their place, even if it is caused by disasters, or the harvest is very small.

It is obviously not scientific enough to just eat relief grain. Since you can't farm, you can work hard to do projects and you can still earn a meal, but you'll just change jobs for the time being.

Without idle food, the built infrastructure has enhanced the national strength and made the Ming Empire more powerful. Isn’t it the best of both worlds?

On the other hand, the wages paid for labor-for-relief are much lower than those in normal years. Can the affected people eat, eat enough, and even keep their families from hungry?

Sun Yuanhua is a technical official and devotes himself to scientific research. He is obviously careless about government affairs. He did not expect that in the long run, he only saw the huge investment.

The emperor did not take over the responsibility and took down all the railway construction projects. Moreover, it was not enough to take out all the treasurys.

Who is most beneficial to the convenience of road transportation is naturally the merchant.

When the emperor wants to raise funds, the target is naturally this group. Issuing bonds, setting up a railway transportation company, allowing investors to enjoy dividends, or obtain transportation convenience are all realistic methods.
Chapter completed!