Late Ming Dynasty: Oops, I am surrounded by the Donglin Party

Having lived two lives, Zhang Shikang can almost be sure that no one understands the Ming Dynasty better than him, and no one understands the people of the Ming Dynasty better than him.

In later generations, distributing eggs can be said to be a trap for the elderly. They are idle anyway, and there are people to talk to them, serve them tea, and get eggs. Only a fool would not go.

Of course, with the current living standards and prices in the Ming Dynasty, eggs are very expensive commodities. In the minds of ordinary people, they are almost like luxury goods. Even if they have eggs at home, they will mostly sell them in exchange for food.

In order to prevent Johann Adam Schall von Bell and his colleagues from going bankrupt soon, Zhang Shikang thoughtfully suggested using steamed buns instead of eggs.

I think once the news gets out, there will definitely be a large group of old men and women going to get the steamed buns. In this way, Johann Adam Schall von Bell gains an audience, and the old men and women get the steamed buns.

The main theme is that you are fine, I am fine, and everyone is fine.

As for whether these old men and women will believe in their Lord, who knows? As long as there are steamed buns all the time, I think even if they don’t believe, they can still be pious.

More pious than anyone else.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Johann Adam Schall von Bell felt that this was very feasible based on his current understanding of the people of the Ming Dynasty.

Tang Ruowang and his European colleagues looked at each other and saw eagerness in each other's eyes, so much so that if Zhang Shikang had not been present, they would have planned to start working immediately.

After solving Tang Ruowang's troubles, Zhang Shikang discussed the promotion plan for the improved potatoes with Song Yingxing while eating.

Due to the insufficient stock, the newly cultivated high-yield potatoes could only be promoted within Shuntian Prefecture first, and then spread to Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, and even Shandong.

As for cement and blast furnace steelmaking, Zhang Shikang roughly selected the production sites in the southwest and south of Shuntian Prefecture, and asked Wang Zheng and Bi Maokang to send knowledgeable people to survey the sites.

These two directions are actually Hebei in later generations. Cement and steel have always been the foundation and top priority of industrialization. Zhang Shikang did not have the time to spend too much time on research and had to select a site and start construction as soon as possible.

As Hebei became the national steel production base in later generations, Zhang Shikang never doubted the strategic vision of future generations. Instead of conducting research himself, he would rather spend his time on how to increase production.

"Your Highness, according to your plan, building such a large steel and cement workshop will certainly cost a lot. I dare not lie to you, Your Highness. The Ministry of Revenue is already very dissatisfied with the expenses of our General Manufacturing Bureau."

Bi Maokang thought about it for a while and finally expressed his concerns.

Wang Zheng, Song Yingxing and others nodded in agreement.

Over the past year, the General Administration of Manufacturing has spent nearly six million taels of silver on the construction of various workshops, the recruitment of manpower, and the expenses of so many scientific research projects.

This does not include the expenses of the shipyard, military port, Dagu Fort, etc. borne by the Ministry of Industry on their behalf.

According to this plan, a large number of steel workshops, steel furnaces, and cement workshops will be built, as well as the Royal Academy of Sciences that Zhang Shikang just promised and more projects and high rewards for the projects in his reply to Lingjun's book.

It is conceivable that millions of taels or even more will be spent in the future.

Although the General Administration of Manufacturing was under the name of Zhang Shikang, it was they who asked the Ministry of Revenue for money after all. The Minister of Revenue, Hai Zhongqi, who was known as the most stingy person in the Ming Dynasty, was not someone to be trifled with.

"Don't worry about the money. In a few days, I will discuss with the cabinet and Your Majesty to tailor a five-year plan for the Ming Dynasty. Cement and steel production will definitely be included in this plan.

All you have to do is follow the procedures, research and development, site selection, construction, and production, and ensure that you complete this plan with guaranteed quality and quantity."

Zhang Shikang said very cautiously.

Bi Maokang immediately understood what was going on after hearing this. After spending several years together, they had a good understanding of Zhang Shikang's temperament. This sentence was enough.

After dinner, Song Yingxing took Zhang Shikang to inspect the General Administration of Manufacturing. When they came to a house with a strange smell, Song Yingxing suddenly remembered something and said to Zhang Shikang:

"Your Highness, this house is boiling Eucommia bark."

"Eucommia bark?" Zhang Shikang looked confused. In his impression, this thing should be a herbal medicine, and the General Administration of Manufacturing did not seem to have this item.

"Yes, Your Highness, you have been mentioning something called rubber, and I have been sending people to search for and research it.

A few months ago, I discussed this matter with Wu Youke, a famous doctor in the capital, and told him the characteristics of rubber that Your Highness mentioned. He said that a similar substance can be extracted from the bark of the Eucommia tree.

I have ordered people to collect a lot of this bark, and now we have a harvest, but I don’t know if it can meet your highness’s requirements.”

Zhang Shikang's eyes lit up when he heard this and he immediately ran towards the house.

There were several large furnaces in the room emitting steam, and several craftsmen were busy at work. When they saw Zhang Shikang come in, they immediately saluted.

Zhang Shikang's attention was quickly attracted by the pale yellow and light brown solids on the table nearby.

He pressed the solidified substance with his hand. Although it felt hard, it obviously had a certain resilience. He could press it in a little with his fingernail, but it would recover quickly after the force was stopped.

Zhang Shikang picked up a stick and scratched the solidified substance back and forth to test its toughness. After fiddling with it for a while, Zhang Shikang said excitedly:

"How heat-resistant is this thing? How can it bear weight? Has it been tested?"

Song Yingxing thought for a moment and said:

"Your Highness, boiling water does not change its shape; a higher temperature is required to melt it and reshape it.

As for the load-bearing capacity, taking this piece of rubber as an example, one or two people can press on it without any problem."

"Hahahaha! That's right, this is exactly what I want. Aside from the lack of elasticity, this thing is almost the same as natural rubber!"

Zhang Shikang laughed happily.

From a small perspective, Zhang Shikang was really fed up with the wooden wheels of the carriage, which had no shock absorption at all.

Generally speaking, rubber not only reduces the bumps of the carriage, but also reduces the friction of the carriage, allowing the horses to pull more supplies.

This is only a small part of the role of rubber. Rubber can also play a significant role in the shipbuilding industry, not to mention that with in-depth research and development, more functions of rubber can be developed.

"Your Highness, the yield of Eucommia bark to rubber is only about 10%. I consulted Wu Youke again, and he said that the current stock of Eucommia trees in Daming is not enough to support large-scale rubber refining.

The Eucommia tree has a long growth cycle. Even if it is planted now, it will take five to ten years before it can be harvested.

However, I have already found information about the rubber tree crop. This crop is found on the Luzon Island in the South Pacific, and it is said that it was introduced by the French from more distant overseas.

However, the journey across the ocean is long, and I'm afraid Your Highness will need to take some time to help."

"Then let's purchase domestic Eucommia trees to refine rubber. However, this thing is a medicinal material after all. So, when purchasing, add a clause that we must distribute the same number of saplings as the number of trees purchased. This requires sustainable development.

As for the rubber tree, now that its origin has been found, it's easy.

I'm going to Southeast Asia soon, so I'd like to bring some rubber trees back with me."

Zhang Shikang thought for a while and said.

However, Bi Maokang immediately said in surprise:

"What? Your Highness is going to Southeast Asia?"

……