Wang Ning'an returned to Youzhou in early summer. It took four months to develop the steam engine alone, and now the autumn harvest has passed.

As expected, this was a very serious disaster. In the entire north, except for a few places, production was generally reduced by 10% or 20%. In Qinfeng Road, Yongxingjun Road, and Hebei West Road, half of the prefectures reduced production by more than half, and twenty counties had a failure.

The number of people affected is even greater than expected at the beginning of the year.

The entire north was filled with refugees, and the Song Dynasty was hit hard.

All the officials in the Political Affairs Hall were extremely anxious. Even Wen Yanbo, who had just returned to Beijing, shook his head and sighed, and his beard was so angry that he raised his beard.

This bad guy Wang Ning'an, when something good happens, doesn't think about me. If something bad happens, I will definitely bring me aside!

Did we have a grudge in our previous life?

Lao Wen was full of anger, but he had no choice but to find a way to raise food.

He even transferred 500,000 stones of grain from the Western Regions, Hexi and other places to save the victims of Qinfeng Road and other places. Fortunately, this drought did not affect the Western Regions.

The food in the Western Regions was not only not affected, but also had a bumper harvest. Not only could it supply the garrison, but it could also be used for sale and even to provide relief to the mainland, which was much more gratifying.

At the beginning of the year, Sima Guang discussed a complete set of disaster relief measures with Wang Ning'an, and now it is just in time to implement it.

Although there are many victims, they are generally stable.

There was only one thing that Sima Guang had unexpectedly expected.

This drought has severely hit the rural economy. Many farmers who have always regarded land as life have also chosen to work in the city. It is not reliable to rely on the weather to make a living, and to rely on strength to make a living, at least they can fill their stomachs.

The large number of refugees flocked to cities, which made the city that was already under great pressure even worse.

Moreover, their initial plan was to transport grain to the countryside. As a result, the victims entered the city, and the granaries in various places had to be adjusted, and things were in a mess.

Fortunately, several ministers in the court were very capable and had various plans, so they would not have lost all their limits.

However, as disaster victims flocked to the city, the city could not provide so many employment opportunities. Often, dozens of people competed for each other, making it very fierce and hot.

"It's not only that, because the disaster victims are influx, and the bosses of various business banks are also beginning to deliberately lower their salaries. Even the people in the city who have jobs are complaining, and there are more and more conflicts between citizens and disaster victims... In Xijing alone, there are dozens of conflicts every day, and many people are beaten to the head and blood, and some are even injured and killed."

Su Shi, under the order of Sima Guang, ran to Youzhou and showed Wang Ning'an the disaster. Anyway, Sima Guang also recognized it. Wang Ning'an must have a better solution for what he had no idea about. If even his master could not solve it... Then what else should he do!

"The job opportunities that cities can provide are limited, how can I get as much as possible? I am not the God of Wealth, and I can spend money all over the world."

Su Shi laughed and said, "It's useless to throw money all over the world. Haven't you said that the value of currency lies in exchange. If there is no commodity, just with currency, currency is worse than stones!"

Wang Ning'an nodded, "Okay, you are still a good student! Then I will teach you something more!"

"What?" Su Shi said curiously.

"Industry upgrade!"

...

Wang Ning'an took Su Shi to see the true face of Mount Lushan in the steam engine.

Since the first time I successfully pulled the three carriages, Xu Yang and the others have become busier and green. The steam engine needs to continue to improve and improve efficiency. In addition, the train is slow and has a lot of noise, so we must find a way to solve it.

In addition, rails are prone to deformity and require better steel.

It's all in all, no easier than before.

However, the most difficult step has come out, and no matter how difficult the rest is, it is not a problem.

Because of the finished product and after it is proven to be feasible, all kinds of funds and talents will flock to help them overcome all difficulties.

Before the steam engine appeared, the most complex machine was only dozens of parts, but the steam engine appeared, and there were at least a thousand parts in a train!

Moreover, it involves different kinds of materials and completely different processes, which require processing, assembly, verification, formal use, and someone needs to repair and maintain... When the entire industrial chain is running, the number of workers required is more than a hundred times!

In fact, before the emergence of steam engines, it could not be called industry at all, at most it was the level of a home-handshop.

Even though Wang Ning'an promoted standardization and developed a military factory with thousands of people, in essence, it simply connected the home workshops together. If they were disassembled, they could still operate on their own.

Just like those textile workshops, you have a thousand looms or ten thousand looms. As long as you disassemble, every weaver can weave a complete cloth.

But after the steam engine appeared, the situation completely changed.

To build a steam engine, a family workshop is completely ineffective. Hundreds of workers are required. If you want to build trains and lay tracks, the workers you need will be even more amazing, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands... It can be increased to astronomical numbers!

There are not many refugees nowadays. As long as they operate around the industrial system of steam engines, they can easily digest all their labor.

After reading it, Su Shi was so excited that he was at a loss.

Awesome, really awesome!

Unexpectedly, my brother-in-law disappeared for more than four months and actually made such an amazing thing, and finally got an explanation.

"Brother-in-law, is it now an order to recruit refugees?"

Wang Ning'an raised his eyebrows, "What are you recruiting them?"

"What else can you do? Make a steam engine, build a train, and build a railway!"

Wang Ning'an rolled his eyes. He is worthy of being a poet, Su Dacaizi, you are really romantic.

"What do you think those victims can do parts or know how to metallurgy?"

Su Shi was dumbfounded when asked, "This... I can't say it well, maybe there are experts in the people!"

"fart!"

Wang Ning'an couldn't help but swear, "Such a large system project cannot be done without systematic training. Over the years, the Baigong Academy, Youzhou, Cangzhou, Tianjin and other places have accumulated a group of qualified craftsmen, and other places, and other places are completely blank."

Wang Ning'an couldn't help complaining, "Even if he tried hard to promote engineering education, the people in the world still regarded studying, taking the imperial examination and becoming an official as the right way. All the best talents were learning to intrigue. No one was willing to calm down and invent and create. This was the most deadly thing in the Song Dynasty!"

Su Shi had no choice but to say that it was useless to lose his temper at me. There was Yan Ruyu in the book and a golden house in the book. That was what Emperor Zhenzong said. People in the world do not believe in the emperor and believe in you?

However, seeing the power of the steam engine, Su Shi became interested.

"Well, brother-in-law, I'm going to let Sumai study engineering. Are you optimistic?"

"Okay, of course, it's OK. If he can achieve some results and make an incredible invention, he will definitely contribute more than you!"

Su Shi laughed dryly, "Brother-in-law, I think so too. His father is so outstanding. Su Mai has no chance to continue to walk the civil service, so he must find another way! By the way, I will turn around and tell Wang Fu!"

Su Shi thought about it and then shouted again, "Brother-in-law, stop talking about idle things. Since refugees are not useful, how can I solve the problem of employment? Come on, make a decision. Your good student Sima Junshi loses hair every day. If there is no way, he will become the veritable Sima Guang!"

His words also made Wang Ning'an amused.

"Although refugees cannot make steam engines, they can still mine coal."

Wang Ning'an did some calculations. In the past, each mine in Xishan could produce about 1,000 dan per day. The main limitation was water accumulation and transportation capacity.

After all, in the mountains, some sections of road can only be transported out by small donkeys and then loaded into Youzhou. It is really impossible to be fast.

But if the railway is built, the transportation capacity can be increased by more than a hundred times! Who can refuse?

It is inevitable that steam engines are very popular.

Then, more steam engines, more trains, more tracks, and naturally more coal and more iron... Iron ore, coal mines, are also the big heads that consume labor.

"You go and tell Junshi now and ask him to draft a decree immediately."

"What law?"

"All coal and iron ore belong to the court and cannot be developed without approval. In addition, when it is discovered that there is indeed minerals underground, the court can collect land at an appropriate premium based on the local average land price. No one can refuse, otherwise the court has the right to enforce it."

The steam engine can be different from any ordinary invention, and the changes it can bring are almost earth-shaking.

Wang Ning'an found that he had to make too many plans and had to formulate more laws to adapt to future changes. An industrial revolution was coming.

It's really exciting!

However, compared to other matters, what is really important is two things, one is capital and the other is labor. Only by combining these two things with technology can we create value - this is how his good apprentice has given gifts.

Zhang Dun and Liu Yu returned from Japan with their fleet.

Facing the heroes, Wang Ning'an went out to greet him in person. After seeing Zhang Dun, he was shocked. When he went there, a very strong guy, why did he lose weight? It seems that the food in Japan is too poor.

"Zihou, it's good to come back. I'll invite you to eat roasted lamb and give you some good supplements!"

Zhang Dun nodded weakly, "Sure, remember to leave the sheep's waist to me!"

Liu Yu couldn't help laughing, "I said to Brother Zihou, if you listen to me and practice more kung fu, you won't be so weak!"

Zhang Dun gave him a blank look. You didn't deal with Genji's people. Everything pushed me forward. You are so energetic, and you dare to say sarcastic words to me!

You wait, we are not finished!

Zhang Dun shook his head hard, but it was still important to do the important thing. He cleared his throat and said, "Disciple has fulfilled his mission in this trip, and I will report it to his mentor!"

Zhang Dun pointed to the big ship behind him, "This is 1.8 million stones of grain, plus the 2 million stones transported back before, we squeezed 3.8 million stones of grain from Japan and Goryeo! Maybe it can relieve the master's worries." When Zhang Dun said this, he was full of energy and full of pride!

It's not wasted, I'm doing pretty well!
Chapter completed!