The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 524 External stability ensures internal stability
At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke.

"We already have this steam engine. You said before that it could be made into a steam train, but we would need to lay railways along the route!"

"If that's really the case, building a road out of iron would definitely consume a lot of steel, which would absolutely impact the national strength of our Great Ming. So we're discussing whether this is necessary. What do you think?"

Everyone turned their attention to Zhu Xiong Ying, since it was Zhu Xiong Ying who brought up the matter, so it was most appropriate for him to speak on it.

Zhu Xiong Ying thought about it carefully and realized that if there were railways, it would be of great benefit to the Ming Dynasty in transporting goods or troops.

However, this thing is very difficult to make.

Although they had reformed the steel technology, the gap was still very large.

He said this after thinking of this place.

“Grandpa, we can try this out, but I don’t recommend deploying it now!”

Everyone was extremely shocked when they heard this.

It should be noted that this idea was proposed by Zhu Xiong Ying, who should have highly praised it. So why did he reject it instead?

Zhu Yuanzhang frowned, then looked at Zhu Xiong Ying and said.

"I remember you were the one who proposed this before. Why don't you want it to be rolled out more widely?"

At this moment, Zhu Xiong Ying spoke.

"Currently, the steel production of our Great Ming Dynasty is far from reaching this level, and the quality of the steel it requires is also extremely high!"

"For the Ming Dynasty at present, the consumption is too great. Instead of building such railways, it would be better to first complete the paving of cement roads connecting the whole country!"

"This type of train plays an extremely important role in transporting goods, but it's not always the case!"

"At present, ordinary cement roads are more suitable for the Ming Dynasty. The number of cement roads that our Ming Dynasty has laid is far from enough!"

"So instead of doing those things, we should improve the infrastructure. Once the infrastructure is fully in place, we can start further development!"

Everyone nodded in agreement. According to Zhu Xiong Ying, the current strength of the Ming Dynasty was insufficient to support such a foundation.

Therefore, there is no benefit to building such a railway now.

Prince Zhu Bai of Xiang felt somewhat disappointed upon hearing this.

"Doesn't that mean that all our hard work and research has been for little use?"

Zhu Xiong Ying shook his head upon hearing this.

"That's not the case. The steam engine still has a very important role to play, it's just not suitable for today!"

"Although it cannot be used on trains, it can be used on large machines. When these things are used on machines, there will be no need for manual labor. Your steam power can drive these machines to operate!"

"Imagine if our steel-making workshops used this stuff, how much more steel production could we increase!"

Upon hearing this, their eyes lit up. The reason why they couldn't widely lay railways was because their current steel production and quality were not up to standard. Now, the Ming Dynasty needed this stuff in many places.

Road construction is an extremely energy-intensive process, but if it increases steel production, then it would be a good thing for them.

With increased steel production, they could use it to create more things. Just then, Prince Xiang, Zhu Bai, turned his gaze to Zhu Xiong Ying.

"U.A., I remember you mentioned before that there was something even better than steam, something like oil?"

Is this thing any good?

Upon hearing this, everyone turned their gaze to Zhu Xiong Ying.

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded after hearing this.

"Oil is indeed widely used and can power all sorts of things, but with our current technology, it's difficult to achieve. However, we can let the craftsmen and people in the academy study it!"

"And how's your research on electricity coming along?"

Upon hearing this, Prince Zhu Bai of Xiang was immediately put in a difficult position.

He shook his head and said.

"There hasn't been much progress on this matter yet. After all, there's still so much for us to research. Although you, U.A., have provided us with a lot of knowledge, we feel that making full use of electricity is not an easy task!"

"Making a simple generator is easy, but converting it into kinetic energy and storing it over a large area is not an easy task!"

"This thing can be used, but its widespread use is not so simple!"

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded after hearing this. The use of electricity is much more extensive than that of steam, and it is also much more complex.

It's a pity that I didn't learn a lot of knowledge when I was in school. If I had known more clearly, these people wouldn't have to go through so much trouble and keep experimenting.

After this matter was resolved, Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Prince Xiang, Zhu Bai, with a puzzled expression.

"Didn't you say there was a second, very important thing? What is it?"

After seeing these words, Zhu Bai, the Prince of Fragrance, sighed. After some deliberation, he gritted his teeth and said...

"The second thing, and the one with the most serious impact, is that we are now fully implementing the land tax reform and the gentry's tax payment system. In fact, many academies have been opened in various places, and the textbooks compiled by Xiong Ying have been widely accepted by most people!"

"There weren't any major problems during the pilot phase, but now that it's being rolled out nationwide, those problems have surfaced!"

"In many places, people outwardly comply with the imperial court's orders but inwardly defy them, and in many places, resistance has already begun. Moreover, many of these people are preparing to rebel!"

Zhu Yuanzhang was extremely shocked upon hearing this, and he said with a face full of dissatisfaction.

"What are they trying to do with these chores? Do they think they can rebel?"

Zhu Bai sighed.

"I'm afraid they really dare to oppose the imperial court. Many of their families have already united, and they've begun to amass power. It seems they're truly going against the court!"

Upon hearing this, their expressions turned extremely unpleasant. Previously, because the Ming Dynasty was engaged in wars everywhere, its main focus was on the border, and it was too lazy to pay any attention to these people.

Who would have thought that these guys would go even further, which made everyone extremely unhappy.

"We didn't have time to deal with them before, but now that these guys dare to act like this, we have to teach them a lesson!"

(End of this chapter)