Datang: Li Shimin begged me to rebel

"Your Highness invited so many aristocratic families and businessmen to watch the ceremony today, is that why?" Someone among the officials asked.

"Yes, the operation of the train needs profit. At the beginning, the passengers of the train must be mainly family members and businessmen, and the second is the goods they need to transport. For goods, the timeliness of business can often bring to great benefit."

"The funds earned from the operation of the trains can not only supplement the needs of the Tang court for the construction of railways, purchase of trains and other aspects, but also allow the railways to have certain operating authority." Li Ke said with a smile.

"It seems that the treasury is going to have another profitable business." Huang Fulin said with a smile. As a minister of the Ministry of Finance, he naturally wants to have more money, the better. Although the money belongs to the state, but He has money in his hand, so his status is high.

Now that there are so many departments in Shangshu Province, who can't call him Huangfu Shangshu?

"If that's the case, your Highness, did you invite so many aristocratic families and businessmen here, do you want them to participate in the construction of the railway? Then give them some shares and give them dividends?" Fang Xuanling hesitated and asked tentatively road.

"Forget it, I don't want to cheat them." Li Ke shook his head with a smile.

"Hit them? How do you say that?" Fang Xuanling and the others were stunned.

Pit money?This is not a pit, who can't see the advantages of this railway?It takes at least a month or even two months for a normal business to transport goods thousands of miles away, but you only need three days.

Even though the freight for these three days is relatively high, how much did the manpower and material resources saved in the two months actually cost?And the most critical time for many products is guaranteed. When doing business, doesn’t everyone hope that the money will be returned faster?

As long as the money is returned quickly, they can do more business, and their annual profit will naturally be higher.

So the profit of this train is obvious, how can this be called a scam?

"No, Datang's railway is destined to be a money-losing industry." Li Ke shook his head with a smile.

"Ah?" These words not only made Huang Fulin dumbfounded, but also made countless ministers and Li Shimin a little stunned, losing money?How do you say that?How could it be possible to lose money?

"I know that you think the railway can be profitable because it is completely handed over to the market-oriented operation, and its transportation is responsible for its transportation according to the relationship between supply and demand. In this case, of course it can make money." Li Ke smiled.

"What's wrong with this?" Everyone was a little dazed, isn't this normal?After the railway is built, isn't it for this purpose?

"No, it's not." Li Ke shook his head lightly, "Datang's railway will not aim at profit for quite a long time, and it will even lose money for a long time. This is an inevitable factor."

"Because Datang's railway is not built for profit, but as an artery to activate the entire Datang, a behemoth."

"If Datang is compared to a person, then the railway will become the blood vessels in the giant body of Datang, transporting blood to all parts of Datang's body, strengthening the connection between each part of Datang's body, the heart, and the brain. connect."

"This is the real function of Datang Railway."

"In order to achieve this goal, for a long time, whether the railway is used to transport or pull people, its ticket price will not be too high."

"In this way, the flow of people in Datang can be strengthened, especially for the professional workers and construction workers who will be needed in all parts of the country in the future in Datang. This is very important, because for these workers who are far away from home, they can return home once a year ,this point is very important."

"Home is what they care about."

"For the future development of Datang, it is impossible for every industry to be in an absolute dominant position, and everything is in a profitable state. This is impossible. We have to make choices in certain aspects, and the railway Construction is the best choice." Li Ke explained to everyone with a smile.

"And if we only want to make a profit, the advantage of the train will not be so great. Most importantly, the railway development of Datang will not be so fast, because for the largest number of people in the Tang Dynasty, they do not need started."

"For example, in terms of railways, we can use the three-vertical and three-horizontal new railway connection method to connect the territory of Datang. First build a few aortas, and then build local branch lines. A few aortas are enough for Da Tang Don becomes a complete whole."

Many courtiers nodded one after another. As expected of His Highness King Qin, this kind of strategic vision is His Highness King Qin's strongest point, which many courtiers can't compare to.

Indeed, as His Highness said, if all industries in Datang are for making money, you don't need to think about it. It is impossible for Datang's railways to develop so fast, because there are some places where there is no need to build them.

Because there is not enough profit.

If there is no profit, what is the construction of the past?Isn't it a loss of money?

But it has a very important strategic position, which is very important.

"Your Highness, speaking of it this way, our priority railway construction requires detailed planning, at least to allow it to pass through relatively large cities reasonably, and try to allow the railway to cover as many areas as possible." Yan Lide said.

"Yes, what Yan Shangshu said is right. We can try our best to cover as many areas as possible with the railway and connect as many people as possible. This is the most important thing. Of course, strategic railways must also be built, such as Speaking of building a railway from Chang’an to Yili, this is a strategic railway.”

"Because in the future Datang will target the Western Regions, especially the Western Turks, and the Silk Road, and wars with Persia will use these railways."

"Although this railway is difficult, and we will even need to build bridges across water and open roads across mountains in the future, even if it is a segmented construction, we must fully build it." Li Ke said seriously.

All the ministers were a little excited by Li Ke's words, building bridges when encountering water, opening roads when encountering mountains, what kind of ambition is this!Especially where is the Western Region?That is Tianshan!Kunlun Mountains!Can mountains like that also be opened?

"It's not that I'm questioning Your Highness, it's just that the opening of the mountain is...too difficult?" Yan Lide couldn't help but say something, he had no choice but to speak, because he was the minister of the Ministry of Construction.

After some road construction starts, there will be a construction period!He is responsible!