The babies were born, but the team couldn't go back immediately. They still had to wait for the Zhang Wong Clan to finish their confinement. The four babies also needed time to adapt. Although babies had a higher chance of surviving in extreme environments than adults, that was overdrafting their vitality.
When the telegram was sent back, Zhang Zhong and Wang Juan's father were very happy, but they couldn't come to visit in person. The two of them had been busy with the Ministry of Works, and they emphasized the safety of production and development and the safety of the guards.
Similarly happy were a group of officials led by the Minister of Revenue, Wang Bei, who were unfriendly to the Zhang Wong Clan.
When they found out that the Zhang Wong Clan's two pregnant women were also going to the place where the Emperor was going, they were furious. It was obvious that the Emperor needed to wait for the babies to be born before returning.
They didn't want the Emperor to go out in the first place. If it was in the past, it would be easier. Going to such a distant place was a waste of money and manpower. Moreover, important matters in the capital couldn't be reported in time. The officials would coax the Emperor together. If the Emperor really wanted to go out, he could only stroll around Gyeonggi Province.
At this moment, neither of the two excuses were valid. The Emperor didn't need the financial funds of the imperial court to go out, and he didn't even need to use the palace treasury. That damned Zhang Xiaobao took care of everything. He could be said to be rich and overbearing. He supported a team of more than 30,000 people without even frowning. There was also the supply team behind, which required at least 50,000 people.
Based on the calculation that each person spent at least 100 copper coins a day, that was 5,000 strings of coins. 150,000 strings of coins a month. If there were special circumstances, they would have to pay extra. With so much money, how many merchants would be scared to death in the Great Tang? If it was in Japan, it would be more than half a year's income.
This was because Japan was doing business with the Great Tang. Otherwise, Japan wouldn't be able to get 3 million strings of coins a year. They wouldn't be able to do it even if they worked themselves to death. How much did the Great Tang get in a year?
However, Zhang Xiaobao didn't care. He traveled all the way, solved all kinds of hidden problems, and dealt with Japan in passing.
Wang Bei really wanted to impeach Zhang Xiaobao. The reason was that Zhang Xiaobao spent so much money. Wouldn't it be better if he spent it on the people? Was 150,000 strings of coins a month a joke? Why should it be spent by Zhang Xiaobao?
Halfway through the memorial, Wang Bei realized that Zhang Xiaobao was not spending the imperial court's money. He was spending his own money. That's right. He didn't know when he started to think that the money of the Zhang Family and Wang Family was the imperial court's money.
"Who asked these two families to always take out money to provide research for the Ministry of Works and the Sitong Temple? Who asked them to always transport things to disaster areas at the fastest speed? Who asked them to … Anyway, it's their way of doing things. They give people the impression that it's easy to get money from them to help the Great Tang. It's their fault. Yes, it's their fault."
Wang Bei selectively forgot the grievances in his heart and pushed all the blame onto the Zhang Family and the Wang Family.
"Husband, who made you angry this time?" While Wang Bei was struggling, his wife came in with hot soup. She heard the noise and asked with concern.
"It's the Zhang Family and the Wang Family. They came to Lu Zhou to give birth to a child, and they actually delayed His Majesty in the south in the name of the child. They're harming the country. The child has just been born, but he's already started to harm our dynasty. What will happen when he grows up? They're a family of villains. Hmph! "
Wang Bei blamed the baby. When he lowered his head and saw the soup sent by his wife, he asked, "What's the soup?"
"It's the 'Flying Dragon' soup made of birds sent from the northern part of Hebei Province. They said it's delicious and nutritious, so I made an extra bowl and sent it here," Wang Bei's wife replied.
"Oh? They're kind enough to send something to my family? Didn't they stop all the benefits before? "Wang Bei sneered.
"It's all because Qing 'er is pregnant. Her body is weak, and the doctor gave her a prescription, saying that the Flying Dragon soup is suitable. So, the Zhang family sent this bird, saying that the political views of the adults are different, and it has nothing to do with the child. They also said that the child is never wrong. It's too despicable to put the grudge on the child, and the Zhang Family and the Wang Family disdain to do it."
Wang Bei's wife explained that Qing 'er was the eldest daughter-in-law, and she had been pregnant for seven months.
Wang Bei's face turned red when he heard this. Just now, he had accused the other family's child of harming the country and the people. Then, his wife gave such an answer. He felt that his face had been slapped more than 200 times. It was burning hot. Who was the gentleman and who was the villain?
As a minister, Wang Bei had trained his face to be thick-skinned. He immediately calmed down and said to his wife, "Put it down. I'll think about the heavy snow again. The Ministry of Revenue is going to allocate money again, at least part of it."
After his wife left, Wang Bei took a deep breath and murmured, "They want to bribe me with small favors, I … forget it, I don't want to speak ill of people behind their backs."
No matter how thick-skinned Wang Bei was, he knew that he was in the wrong. It was not good for him to say anything more about this matter. He carefully looked around, afraid that he would be discovered. If it was leaked, once it was reported, he would be drowned in the spittle of the people of Tang.
Fortunately, the Emperor was coming back, and it was a happy thing.
Another thing that made the officials of the capital happy was that the first generation of diesel engines had been finalized. They had invested money in it, and there was no return yet.
The first generation of diesel engines was finalized, and ten diesel engines were produced, and they were distributed according to the streets.
The back of the hand-guided tractor was modified to have many seats, and it was used to transport the officials who invested in it to and from work. The speed was not very fast, and it was slower than the speed of the carriage. It was very bumpy, and smoke was coming out of it.
However, the officials who were qualified to ride it did not care. Instead, they were proud of it. The main reason was that others did not have it. No matter how smoky the tractor was when the wind was against them, it was also a symbol of status. Who cared whether they could breathe or not? They could only watch, and they did not know how it felt to sit on a tractor. Do you know how it felt to sit on a carriage that did not require a horse or a person?
The smell of the smoke coming out of the carriage was so invigorating, and it made one's breath stronger, especially when the wind was against them. Even if one was rich, one would not be able to experience it.
Therefore, the ten tractors made the investing officials feel better, and they felt that the money was well spent, even if the money for the diesel engines was paid out of their dividends and investments.
*****
When Li Longji heard about this, he found Zhang Xiaobao and asked if it was possible to ride a tractor on the way back.
However, he was strongly opposed by Zhang Xiaobao.
"Your Majesty, it's not possible. It's winter now, and the wind is basically from the north, northwest, and northeast. If we go back, there will be many opportunities to face the wind. The carriage is too small, and the thermal insulation is not perfect. Even if we extend the exhaust pipe and put it at the back of the carriage, we will not be able to smell the exhaust. The small carriage is not comfortable. Your Majesty, this is not a good thing."
Xiaobao told the truth. He would rather take a boat than a tractor. Being on a boat was not a big deal. After all, he had many yachts in the past. Even if he had an antique car, the antique car was not a tractor. It was a Rolls-Royce that was more than 200 years old. It could still drive at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. It was a symbol of status. What was the point of driving a tractor? Workers, peasants, and soldiers?
Wang Juan felt that it was reasonable. She also had an old car, but she would never drive a tractor, which was a symbol of workers, peasants, and soldiers. Workers, peasants, and soldiers sounded good, but they were worthless. In a country, officials were the most respectable. Although the slogan sounded good, it was a lie to say that the working class was the leader and the workers' and peasants' alliance was the foundation.
There was no democracy. It was a master-slave relationship. The simplest example was that many people in Beijing did not say that they were from Beijing. They said that they were from Sijiu City. The architecture was from the Ming Dynasty, but most people said that it was changed from the Qing Dynasty. If they were not slaves, then what were they?
Of course, slaves were a positive term in the Qing Dynasty, but later on, if you called others slaves, they would definitely not be happy. If you did not believe it, you could try it. See how many people would scold you for being crazy, and how many people would directly hit you.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan knew the advantages and disadvantages of a tractor, but Li Longji did not. When he heard Zhang Xiaobao's words and saw Wang Juan's expression of agreement, he was very disappointed.
"Can't I take a tractor back?" Li Longji asked one last time.
"Your Majesty, tractors are most suitable for farming. Anyway, they are bumpy. Your Majesty, do you know why they are called tractors? Because they are powered by a diesel engine, and they move forward by dragging. The shock absorption is not good, and it is not a trailer-type caravan. Can I make a better one for you in the future? "
In order not to be implicated, Zhang Xiaobao had to try his best to persuade him.
If it was someone else who tried to persuade him, Li Longji would definitely not believe it. However, he had to treat Xiao Bao and Cuckoo seriously. After thinking for a while, Li Longji finally gave up and said, "Okay, but what is a caravan?"
"Uncle Emperor, I know. It is our house. The one that was made of agarwood in the past, and now it is for my younger brother and sister to use. The one with mercury dynamic balance. It can also float on water. That is the only dynamic balance in the Tang Dynasty. Until now, there has not been a second one. My brother and sister have done a lot for us."
Xiao Bei immediately followed up and gestured as he spoke.
Li Longji suddenly remembered. Other people would provide their children with comfortable carriages, many people to look after them, or a large courtyard like the imperial family. However, he did not expect that Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan would give their younger brothers and sisters a moving house.
Moreover, that house was on land and had a mercury pressure converter under it. As long as the car could go up or down, the house would remain stable. This was the mercury dynamic balance. Until now, there had not been a second one. It was not that they could not make it, but that the investment was too big and not worth it.
However, the two of them thought that it was worth it. Just like the first delivery room, Xiao Bei and the others could laugh proudly at the world just because of this.
"When will our caravan appear?" Li Longji asked with jealousy.
"Wait … until the gasoline engine is perfected. Shock absorption is a problem. The five methods are not ideal." Zhang Xiaobao was troubled. What he meant by "not ideal" was that it could not reach his level, not even half of it.
"Which five?" Li Longji really did not know that there were so many shock absorption methods.
"Spring, spring plate, shock absorption material, air pressure, and hydraulic pressure. We can only use the first two. The third one is still in the process of being chosen."
Wang Juan replied.
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