Rows of railroad tracks had already been laid in the south of the Southwest Barbarian.
Two steam engines were placed on the railroad tracks, and there were more empty carriages.
Usually, there was a wall around this place, and no one was allowed to see it. The carriages and engines were manufactured in the west of the Li Family Zhuangzi and assembled here.
Today, the wall was removed, and many people stood on the wall to look at the engines.
The people already knew about the train. The introduction was written in the newspaper with pictures.
Countless people were used to build the railroad.
Looking at the heavy railroad tracks, the people also talked about how many iron pots and kitchen knives were used to build the railroad.
People from Gyeonggi Province, Guannei Province, Shannan East Province, Shannan West Province, Huainan Province, Hebei Province, Henan Province, and Jiangnan East Province all participated in the construction of the railroad.
Jiangnan East Province was especially poor in Li Yi's Fujian Province. It was said that building the railroad made money, and the laborers brought their household registration and certificates issued by the government. They didn't even bring dry food with them.
The work at home was handed over to their parents, wives, and children. Brothers came out together with dry food, afraid that the family would starve.
They ate free food at the relay station along the way. When they worked, they were paid according to the day.
Temporary workers were allowed. Because temporary workers worked for a short time, they weren't given jobs with relatively high skills, and their wages were low.
For example, newbies couldn't carry the railroad tracks. If they couldn't keep up with the rhythm, they would die.
The buckles that connected the rails to each other were even more technical.
Just the ingredients for the railroad workers' meals drove the local economy along the railroad tracks.
It was impossible to eat pork for every meal. There weren't many pigs.
It was no problem to eat chicken, duck, and fish. There was an unlimited supply of rice.
The people didn't slack off. As long as they were paid, they didn't eat less. Other than sleeping, they worked.
They worked shorter than the estimated construction period, and they were given extra bonuses. According to the ratio of working days, those who worked for a day and quit might be given an extra one percent or even no bonus.
Those who worked from the beginning to the end received the same amount of bonus as their wages.
Skilled jobs had higher wages. If one wanted to do skilled jobs, they needed to be literate and do simple calculations.
"So fast! Great people. "Li Yi expressed his admiration and pride.
The only tools were wheelbarrows, carriages, iron frames, wooden frames, hand gourds, crowbars, earth baskets, shovels, pickaxes, and so on.
Without any advanced tools, the people used these things to build a railway from Haizhou to Chang 'an in less than a year.
He stood with the others on the platform, the concrete platform.
"Money! Thirty million! Bi Gou wasn't surprised. He had spent all the money that he had earned with great difficulty last year.
Five years ago, all the income of the entire Tang dynasty in four years was used to build a railway.
"All the expenses are labor costs. Mining iron ore, mining coal, smelting, laying the tracks, and repairing the carriages. The locomotive was contributed by the Li family's farmstead. You didn't give me the money for the materials, labor, or technology for the locomotive."
Li Yi made things clear. The commoners had received the 30 million taels, and the commoners had to spend the money they received.
The quality of life of the common people improved, and the government's money once again circulated in society.
Unless they threw the coupons into the water, burned them, and tore them apart for fun.
Otherwise, the exchange coupons would always exist, and the old ones would be replaced with new ones.
Every time the money was circulated, there would be profits. When the money was collected, it would slowly become the government's revenue.
"Then inflation." Song Jing added.
Li Yi did not even turn his head and pretended he did not hear Feng Yu. You all can continue to cause trouble. I gave you all the books, and you all really don't want to read them?
Li Longji clasped his hands behind his back and waited for the auspicious time. There were red flowers and ribbons on the locomotive.
In addition, the people from the Imperial Astronomer wanted to link this matter to the astronomical phenomenon, so that people who heard it would feel that it was true.
"As long as productivity increases, there will be no devaluation of the currency.
For example, the railway can save a lot of time, and some fresh goods will be sent to Chang 'an along the way.
The food and fodder consumed during the journey, and more work will be taken into account. Overall, if the development is good, the currency can still appreciate. "
Li Longji was reading the book, and he did not pretend he did not understand.
"Xiao Yi! How much tax do you think should be collected? "Bi Goo wanted to recoup his losses after spending the 30 million taels.
"We have invested 30 million taels in the railway. How can we pay taxes? If we pay taxes, when will we be able to recoup our losses? "Li Yi asked from the perspective of the investment.
"How will the railway's profits be calculated?" Bi Goo changed his perspective.
"The railway's maintenance costs will be deducted. The railway is a new department, and only profits will be given to the Ministry of Revenue.
After this railway is repaired, we will raise funds to build the next railway. Didn't we agree on this previously?
It's good that we did not borrow money to build the railway. Otherwise, we will have to pay interest. "
Li Yi's words made Bi Goo's blood pressure rise.
Then, he laughed: "There will be taxes. The tax will be deducted from the freight. Other than visiting relatives or students, the commoners will be bringing goods to Chang 'an. For example, they will bring a basket of eggs to other places. In winter, there are many greenhouses in Henan Province, and fresh cucumbers will be sent to Chang' an.
As long as the profits after deducting the fare is higher than the local profits, the commoners will be willing. There is also the time cost to be deducted.
We will let the commoners have profits, and the fare will also have profits. The gross profits will be taxed at 30%. "
Li Yi stopped joking. It was true that taxes should be paid.
Bi Goo did not care about the passengers' taxes. He stroked his beard: "The bulk of the profits are from the merchants' goods. It's good in winter, but the Yellow River cannot be traveled in winter."
Bi Goo's blood pressure dropped. He was anticipating the arrival of the Yellow River's dry season.
Merchants could only take the railway. They would suffer losses if they traveled by land.
It would take 20 days to transport a cart of goods by land. The cost was 50%. The precondition was that it did not snow. It might snow for a few days.
If the goods were placed on the train, the freight would be 50%. It would take one day to reach the destination, or two days to wait at the station.
Merchants would definitely choose to transport goods by train. In summer, the travel time of the ship and the cost of hiring a tracker was still better.
Bi Goo cared about winter. In summer, there was water transport. If the water was not used, he would feel that it was a waste.
If the trackers did not pull the fibres, they would have to find other jobs. What about the boatmen on the cargo and passenger ships?
As they spoke, the steam engine started to be tested. It burned first, and the washed coal still emitted thick smoke.
The tender behind the engine was hooked up with the Zhan's coupler.
Without Li Yi, this coupler would not have appeared in such a short time.
His steam engine train bypassed all the detours. Just like him, it should not have existed in the Tang dynasty.
"Don't push. If you have time in the future, feel free to look. Be careful when you step on it. Why are you rushing to the front? Come back. "
The 16 guards, who were in charge of the safety of the people, stopped and dragged them. They had been told in advance that the 16 guards in that area would be punished if someone fell to the ground and was trampled to death.
"The auspicious time has arrived." The people from the Imperial Astronomer looked at their watches and shouted at the most appropriate time.
Then, they began to talk about what happened to the stars last night. They related the current situation to the emperor and mentioned Li Dongzhu.
After the people from the Imperial Astronomer finished talking, Li Longji and the others dressed in court attire cut the ribbon. Li Yi temporarily became a Grade One official for a day.
Today, he was not called the Imperial Emissary. Today, he had a new name. He was called the Overseas Transportation Supervisor of the Tang dynasty. Anyway, it was only for a day.
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