Chapter 883: Congenital Insufficiency

The new battleship was officially named Suez, and it was unexpectedly incorporated into the European fleet. The accident is just an outsider's opinion, and insiders know that although the Ming Empire has enough sea power to defeat the world, it is still not fully prepared.

More unexpected things are still to come, Prime Minister Chen Xie went south under the stars after the cabinet meeting. The bitter thing is Chen Pu, who has just arrived in Beijing, and he has to go south with him. Of course, his treatment is coveted by many people. Directly accompanied by Chen Xie's side along the way, this treatment of the young men of the Ming Empire, they had to grab their heads.

The train stopped to add water, Chen Pu looked outside, in the hazy morning, the bustling city street lights had been extinguished, and there was a touch of fish belly white on the horizon. Look at the watch, it's been five hours of walking, look at the sign on the platform, "Tianjin" two big characters. Chen Xie got on the train late at night last night, and Chen Pu could only glance at the old man who was still walking like a fly in the crowd, and he couldn't talk face-to-face. For this reason, Chen Pu didn't sleep well this night, this time was really terrible, just used to sleeping in the ups and downs of the sea, and had to adapt to sleeping in the bed at home, which would sleep on the train, it was really difficult to adapt.

Tianjin officials were blocked, and they didn't know what the guards had said. A large group of officials did not dare to leave, and stood silently on the platform, watching the train continue to move south. In a daze, Chen Pu fell asleep again, and when he woke up again, it was already three poles in the sun. I secretly screamed in my heart that it was not good, and quickly got up and dressed and freshened.

As soon as it was done, a woman came to call Chen Pu, and she met several times, but she didn't know what it was called. Over the years, the service team around Chen Xie has entered newcomers again. Look at what it means. This woman is not very old, and she should not be Chen Xie's personal person. Despite this, Chen Pu still greeted very politely.

The woman said slightly: "Hello Young Master Pu, the master is waiting for you in the dining car, please come with the slave." The title of slave maid made Chen Pu a little uncomfortable. In that part of North America, there are no Ming people who call themselves slaves and maids. Stand up to the sky, a sentence of "slave family". Men of lower status call themselves "small". The women in the Jiangnan family do not call themselves "slaves" now, because the laws of the Ming Dynasty do not allow Naming people to be slaves, and the maids all have employment contracts.

Breakfast is very simple, just a bowl of porridge boiled with fresh sea fish and two steamed buns, which the Prime Minister has asked for to eat. It's never too high. The first assistants of the Ming Cabinet are probably the one in front of them who have the lowest requirements for food. Chen Pu stepped forward to greet him, Chen Xie raised his head and smiled, pointed to the opposite side and said, "You eat slowly, I'll read a document." ”

Only then did Chen Pu notice that Chen Xie had actually eaten well, a bowl of porridge was eaten cleanly, and the steamed buns moved twice.

Eating fast is a habit developed in North America. Chen Pu's eating appearance has nothing to do with his background, after eating in three or two. When he put down the chopsticks, Chen Xie reviewed a document, stood up with a smile and said, "Let's walk around the carriage together and consume food." ”

"You're familiar with the development of North America, so I'd like to hear your opinion." Chen Xie is not idle, looking for someone to walk with. Asking as he walked, this was what Chen Pu expected. "North America is developing rapidly, but in Pu's view, it still needs to be accelerated. The main reason is that North America is too big. Millions of people right now. It's inconspicuous to be lost in such a large area. So far, the largest city, Jinshan, has a resident population of only 50,000. Another point is that there are many governors, which certainly plays a role in decentralization and balance, but as far as the current situation is concerned, it is better to centralize power and focus on developing in one direction. ”

These answers have been thought of countless times in my heart, and Chen Pu naturally came as soon as he opened his mouth. Chen Xie didn't speak immediately when he heard this, but continued to walk forward for a while, and walked back for a while, before he slowly spoke: "Centralization of power is definitely beneficial in the short term, but it is not appropriate in the long run. I've thought about all of what you've said. The question now is how to choose the strategic layout of North America. It is a question of whether it is better to carve up the Americas with the Europeans, or to dominate the Americas. If we do not make arrangements on this issue as soon as possible, we will inevitably pay the price for the current strategic layout in the future. ”

Chen Pu hesitated for a moment, and finally spoke: "North America is too big, and if you want to go to war with Europe, you need a railway across North America. However, at present, the technology we have mastered, bridge construction, tunnel excavation, etc., the weaknesses of North American railway companies are relatively obvious and need to be strengthened. Without a railway, dominating the Americas is an empty phrase. ”

For the vastness of the western part of the Americas, Chen Xie's memories are all western movies. When Chen Pu returned from the Americas, he must have had the deepest feelings about the local situation. "Well, what you said makes sense, in view of the current situation in the Americas, some people in the cabinet advocate that there should be a governing body that is directly responsible to the cabinet and the prime minister of the affairs of the Americas."

"Civil officials, you have to seize any power." Chen Pu subconsciously blurted out, Chen Xie smiled, this is not good, but it is true. There has always been this problem in the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty, as long as there is a benefit, any department wants to intervene. When there is a problem, they all shrink back and avoid responsibility. The same is true in North America, where after the country decided to increase its investment in North America, some people were worried about Prime Minister North America. In terms of status, this position can only be held at the level of a cabinet minister. It's not wartime in North America now, so go there and stay up for five years and come back, and the top three in the proper cabinet are ranked. In case of an accident, Chen Xie will be able to take over the position of prime minister.

"Don't say that, there is nothing wrong with man planning for himself. As long as you do things that are not purely for personal gain, there is nothing that cannot be accepted. After Chen Xie nodded flatly, he turned around and returned to the carriage where the office was located, beckoned Chen Pu to sit down, and said, "Do you plan to stay in China and take over the railway group, or do you plan to return to North America to continue development?" ”

This question may seem simple, but it's actually quite a multiple-choice question. The North American Railroad is very independent, and the domestic has been investing in the short term, and there is no demand for output. At this time, Chen Xie asked this question, just to let Chen Pu choose. If he chooses to go back to North America, it means to start anew, and completely cut off the North American Railroad, and it will depend on him in the future, how to develop and grow. If you choose to stay in China, it is a very safe choice, the development of the railway group to this day, the focus is no longer to repair the railway. Rather, it is technological development and technology diffusion to help domestic private capital enter this field.

"The railway group is so big that it can be spun off from many independent companies. Buildings can be independent, locomotive manufacturing can be independent, and R&D departments can be independent. Chen Xie said very casually, but Chen Pu listened to it like thunder in his ears. What does that mean? Want to split the railway group? Suddenly look up. Glancing at Chen Xie, who was expressionless, Chen Pu didn't know what to say.

"I know you'll be surprised, but it's imperative. Want to know why? Chen Xie asked with a smile, Chen Pu nodded, and Chen Xie continued: "Monopoly!" If the railway group monopolizes this market, it is conceivable that for the sake of profits, there will be no incentive for the innovation of related technologies at all. That is, the biggest disadvantage of monopolies. It is objectively hindering the pace of technological innovation. We have been at the forefront of the world, if we can't reflect the layout, to prevent the interference caused by the profit-seeking of capital, how many years can Daming lead the world? A hundred years? Or two hundred years? What Chen Xie didn't say explicitly was that in fact, in the past five years, the technological development of steam locomotives has come to a standstill. Is it a problem of poor R&D? In fact, the new locomotive was developed five years ago. However, it was not put into production for a long time. This is still when Chen Xie is here, what if Chen Xie is not there?

Maximize profits. This is the nature of capital.

"Do you have any ideas for politics?" A very sudden question, Chen Pu was stunned by the question. Chen's children, no one is in politics, it's almost a theorem. Suddenly encountering such a problem, Chen Pu was unprepared at all, and he was stunned.

"This. I'm just asking. Chen Xie added another sentence, Chen Pu breathed a sigh of relief, and blurted out: "If you are in politics, isn't it the most suitable one in Xinghai City?" This remark amused Chen Xie, and he smiled at the moment: "Congenital insufficiency." With a bad background, how could he be in politics. "Congenital deficiencies? How do you say that?

Fortunately, Chen Pu was smart and quickly thought of the current cabinet system of the Ming Dynasty, so it seems that Chen Jiye's princess mother is indeed congenitally deficient. has a relationship with the royal family, even if he is Chen Xie's son, it is impossible to become the prime minister of the Ming cabinet.

This is really, success is also born, and defeat is also born. Chen Jiye's background has decided that he will be a king in Java at most, or a king without any rights. Once Chen Jiye tries to get his hands on power, he will be strongly suppressed by the Ming cabinet. At the same time, it will also be besieged by today's emerging capitalist groups. It can be said that he didn't even think about it, and he could be a rich and noble prince of peace of mind, which was something he had set since the day he was born.

Chen Pu, who understood this, couldn't help but sigh. Once upon a time, everyone envied the little prince, but I didn't expect that his fate was already doomed. It's really touching the ruthlessness of politics. "Okay, don't think about it so much, it's better to base yourself on the present."

Chen Xie's words, Chen Pu returned to reality, shook his head and said, "I haven't thought about it yet." Chen Xie said: "Then think slowly." ”

The train continued to go south, getting off from Pukou, Chen Xie did not stop for half a minute for the wind and moon of the Qinhuai River after crossing the river, and immediately took the train to the east. Shanghai (Huating New District) is the terminus of Chen Xie's southern tour, and since the Ming Dynasty, no incumbent cabinet premier has left the key places of Beijing for a month or two. Chen Xie did just that, the problem is that the Ming cabinet is not chaotic. If you look closely, this is the power of the system, not to mention the clear responsibility, if there is anything that cannot be solved, a meeting will be held to decide, and the minority will obey the majority. Unless there is a national strategic level that everyone does not dare to decide, a telegram really happens.

This is the power of science and technology, and no one in the current Ming Dynasty officialdom is willing to go back to the past. The reason is simple: because the existing system is stronger, the state has a less objective understanding of the natural world than it used to be. In addition, Chen Xie's personal role is too great, and even if Chen Xie's system is no longer there, the emperor will not be able to turn the sky upside down. To tell the truth, after the Jingshi mutiny, Zhu Cihong was not allowed to abdicate, even if the cabinet members were kind. In fact, this emperor doesn't have much taste, but it's not okay to think about it.

I have to say that the Ming Emperor and ministers of this era, their lives are full of helplessness, and the existence of a strong cabinet prime minister who is too capable of living is a desperate thing for everyone. In the next 20 years, the pattern of the Ming Dynasty is fixed.

On the dock of the Songjiang Shipyard, the Suez is moored after sea trials and undergoes some partial modifications. The main thing is to dismantle the Montini machine gun and replace it with an improved version of the new machine gun, which is still an experimental product urgently sent by the Liaodong side. How to solve the problem of the bulky Montini machine gun, the technicians of Liaodong Heavy Industry have repeatedly conducted tests. Therefore, after Chen Xie made a request, he quickly took out some samples and urgently sent them to the Songjiang Shipyard to be installed on the Suez for testing.

Standing on the dock and looking at this new warship, Chen Xie's face was expressionless, but his heart was turbulent. After the steamship took that step, the day was predictable. Now that Chen Xie has seen this armored warship, he can be completely sure that in the next two hundred years, the Ming Dynasty will be invincible in the world. With these two hundred years of accumulation, even if someone Chen is long gone, the accumulation of the Ming Dynasty in the position of world hegemon is not something that any country can shake if it is shaken. Especially in North America in this time and space, the Ming Dynasty is already fighting for it. The powerful Ming Dynasty undoubtedly created a huge obstacle to the development of European capitalism. Without colonies all over the world, what is the accumulation of capital in Europe? Where did the British Empire come from?

Zhou Hao didn't mean anything, just stood quietly by Chen Xie's side, watching this "old man" look at the battleship with focused eyes. After walking back and forth along the wharf, Chen Xie was indifferent: "With the development of science and technology to this day, the Ming Empire has such an invincible warship, which is just the beginning. The warships of the future will have greater thrust, greater tonnage, and larger bodies. "I glanced at the helpless barrel of the main gun, which was much shorter than the ironclad ships in history, and the backwardness of metallurgical technology was the most helpless place for Chen Xie.

"In the future, if you want to build a real steel battleship, if I can't see that day, you must remember to tell me." Chen Xie said, Zhou Hao listened to it with blood boiling all over his body. All along, what he did didn't seem to get much attention, and now it seems that someone has been paying attention to him, but he just doesn't know it. (To be continued......)