My father is Jiajing

Chapter 323 Prince Yu’s New Choice
Zhu Zaigui's visit to Xishan was not on a whim. He came to Xishan for follow-up matters of the capital's expansion project.

Now, after more than a year of construction, the underground drainage and underground reserved pipeline projects in the outer city of the capital have reached the final stage and ground construction is about to begin.

Therefore, in order to ensure the quality and progress of the ground engineering, Zhu Zaigui came to Xishan under the pretext of sightseeing and prepared to go to the Xishan lime factory to see the results of Teng Xiang's work.

During this year and more, Zhu Zaigui did not ask Teng Xiang for any overly demanding task guarantees. At the same time, in order to enable him to play the role of Xishan to the greatest extent possible, Zhu Zaigui also specially found Huang Jin and appointed him as the eunuch guarding Xishan, in charge of the management of various workshops in Xishan.

It can be said that Teng Xiang’s current power in Xishan is no less than that of a local tyrant.

Of course, power and responsibility have gone hand in hand since ancient times.

If one only wants power but does not want to take responsibility, such power is doomed to not last long.

Therefore, Teng Xiang was also very clear that even if Zhu Zaigui did not have any harsh demands on him, he could not relax his vigilance at all.

Having been with Zhu Zaigui for several years, Teng Xiang had witnessed both Zhu Zaigui's generosity and ruthlessness.

Zhu Zaigui's generosity towards servants who can get things done is also enviable.

However, Zhu Zaigui would ruthlessly dismiss those who betrayed Zhu Zaigui's trust and thought that they could rest easy after making contributions, and hold them accountable for dereliction of duty.

It can be said that under Zhu Zaigui's clear-cut governance of rewards and punishments, whether it is in Xishan or Shunyi.

Although the businesses of both sides are getting bigger and bigger, they have not yet fallen into the trap of "big enterprise disease" of bloat and inaction.

The fundamental reason, apart from the short time, is that Zhu Zaigui's punishment was too cruel.

After all, this was a feudal era with few human rights. In addition to punishing them, Zhu Zaigui also controlled their honor, disgrace, property and lives.

Therefore, under such high pressure, they have no choice but to work hard.

Because now there are many people who are ready to take over like wolves, and are watching them closely.

Therefore, in order to ensure their own status and power, they could only follow Zhu Zaigui's instructions and work hard to innovate and complete the tasks "casually" set by Zhu Zaigui to demonstrate their abilities and loyalty.

This time, Zhu Zaigui came to Xishan to test Teng Xiang’s work results.

Since Teng Xiang took over the Xishan limestone mine, Zhu Zaigui also granted his request. Not only did he assign the Xishan coal mine to Teng Xiang, but he also sent many Shunyi craftsmen to help Teng Xiang complete the industrial upgrading.

This greatly improved the production efficiency of the lime field. Now, not only was there investment in steam transmission equipment, but Zhu Zaigui also allocated a lot of animal power such as mules and horses to Teng Xiang.

The purpose was to enable Tengxiang to produce more lime and other building materials to supply them to the construction of the outer city of the capital.

After arriving at the Xishan Limeyard, Teng Xiang and the managers of the yard immediately came to greet them.

Zhu Zaigui looked at the dusty Teng Xiang and said with emotion: "Teng Xiang has worked hard. He has been here for more than a year and looks much thinner."

Teng Xiang was deeply moved when he heard Zhu Zaigui's sigh, and quickly replied: "It is not hard for this servant. It is a blessing for this servant to be able to work for the prince."

Zhu Zaigui said, "I feel relieved to have a loyal servant like you watching over me. When I return, I will recommend you to His Majesty and give you the honor and reward you deserve. Now take me to see the results of your hard work over the past year."

Listening to Zhu Zaigui's words, Teng Xiang was deeply moved. Apart from pursuing their so-called dreams, the greatest pursuit of slaves like them was to gain the sincere recognition of their masters and receive honors and gifts from their masters that were beyond ordinary people.

Now Li Fang from Shunyi Industrial Park has also been granted the honor of being a pen-holding eunuch by the Emperor Jiajing, and Chen Hong has long been promoted to the Silijian. It is said that he has recently begun to get involved in the affairs of the East Factory, and there is a great possibility of further advancement. Now only Teng Xiang is left standing still, how can he not be anxious?
So, after hearing what Zhu Zaigui said, Teng Xiang couldn't help but imagine whether he would be able to take a step further in the future.

Teng Xiang led Zhu Zaigui into an experimental area inside the limestone field.

Teng Xiang introduced: "Your Majesty, ever since you let me take charge of the Xishan Limeyard, I have felt a great sense of responsibility and have not dared to slack off for a moment. Moreover, under your instructions and encouragement, I have not forgotten the pioneering and innovative spirit of Shunyi Industrial Park, and finally tested a new type of building material at the Xishan Limeyard."

"This material is even stronger than the original lime, especially when combined with stones and iron bars. It is so strong that even the magic medicine from the Magic Medicine Palace would have to be dosed several times the original amount to break it!"

Zhu Zaigui listened to Teng Xiang's introduction, and he naturally knew what this new material Teng Xiang was talking about was.

Although Zhu Zaigui didn't know how to make this thing and didn't know what the formula was, the only thing Zhu Zaigui had in hand was a variety of experimental talents.

As long as Zhu Zaigui put forward conjectures and suggestions, these people could use an exhaustive approach, experimenting and exploring little by little, and there would always be someone who would experiment and explore the correct formula.

Therefore, Zhu Zaigui was not surprised at all that cement was created under Teng Xiang's hands after more than a year of hard work and experimentation.

After all, cement is not a product of overly high-tech achievements. As long as you are willing to spend time and money, results will naturally emerge.

Zhu Zaigui said: "This thing is very good, I wonder what you named it?"

Teng Xiang smiled shyly, "I haven't named it yet, I'm waiting for you to name it, Your Majesty."

Zhu Zaigui chuckled, these servants are really good at flattering.

Zhu Zaigui said without pretense: "Okay, if that's the case, then I'll give it a new name. How about calling it cement?"

"cement?"

Teng Xiang was stunned. He never expected that Zhu Zaigui would give such a confusing new name to this extremely strong new material.

However, as a slave, I naturally cannot question my master.

Therefore, the name cement was naturally decided.

Zhu Zaigui then asked Teng Xiang about the production situation and technical difficulties of cement, and Teng Xiang answered his questions one by one.

After listening to Teng Xiang's work, Zhu Zaigui also affirmed it and instructed Teng Xiang to build two other projects in addition to the Xishan limeyard. One of them was naturally a cement yard, and the other was a gravel yard for use with cement.

After all, it is difficult to rely on natural stones alone to meet the needs of major projects. Therefore, Zhu Zaigui had to let Teng Xiang continue to use the steam engine and let him lead a group of workers to build a large steam stone crusher to provide new building materials for the expansion of the outer city of the capital.

In this way, the hardened road envisioned by Zhu Zaigui could become a reality.

Otherwise, even in the capital, a place as good as the rest of the world, except for the old city area which has been paved with stone slabs for hundreds of years, the rest of the place is still dusty dirt roads.

If we want to completely replace this dirt road with a stone road, with today's productivity, it will take at least 30 to 50 years to transform the road surface of the newly built outer city of the capital from a dirt road into a stone road.

After all, today's production tools are just so-so, and it still takes a very long time to polish a stone slab. Zhu Zaigui absolutely could not tolerate such "slow work and fine work".

Therefore, before the ability to refine asphalt was available, hardened cement road was Zhu Zaigui’s first choice!
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(End of this chapter)