The most arrogant in history

Chapter 702: Can’t hold it.

Ye Kun looked at everyone and asked: "Will continuing to issue banknotes cause chaos in the monetary system?"

In fact, the current monetary system is already chaotic enough, and it has become a mess.

In the currency market, gold coins, silver coins, brass coins, bronze plates, paper money, and loose gold and silver were circulated. Even the people had the habit of using copperware as currency.

Sang Buyi said: "I think the time is ripe to gradually phase out brass coins and bronze plates, leaving only gold and silver coins and paper money."

Wu Qiong nodded: "Yes, keep one tael of gold coins, which is equivalent to ten thousand coins; one tael of silver dollars, which is equivalent to one thousand coins; half a tael of silver dollars, which is equivalent to five hundred coins. The rest are all paper money, with a face value of one hundred coins, fifty coins, twenty coins, ten coins, five coins, and one coin."

Ye Kun was a little worried: "Will this cause a shortage of gold and silver materials?"

Precious metals are naturally currencies because they have their own value.

However, currency is not a precious metal and may not always guarantee its own value;

Wu Qiong said: "If the emperor is worried, we will gradually replace them and test the market reaction."

"It's better to replace it gradually." Ye Kun pondered:

"You can issue one million, fifty, or twenty-cent treasure notes, but the quantity must be controlled. After the first batch is issued, more recycled copper coins will be printed at a one-to-one ratio."

Wu Qiong nodded and accepted the order.

Right in front of Gongsun Zhang's tomb, everyone discussed state affairs until the early morning.

Ye Kun slept for a while, and returned to the imperial city after dawn, taking Ayiman with him to visit Jiang Yourong.

It was a pleasure meeting you.

The sisters kept chatting with each other.

Ayiman brought gifts to everyone and received gifts in return.

Jiang Yourong hosted a banquet to entertain Ayiman.

Ayiman also extended an invitation and selected a date, inviting everyone to visit her Queen's Palace.

Ye Kun was fine. He rested for two days, looked at the various reports from the nine departments, and then went to check the progress of the science and technology city.

"Brother, you are finally back!"

Pang Jia opened his arms warmly and said with a smile: "You have been traveling around outside for more than a year. You are so happy!"

Ye Kun and Pang Jia hugged each other warmly: "Good brothers, isn't it because of you that I can go out with peace of mind?"

Sun Yi and He Tiantian also greeted Ye Kun and said with a smile, "Your Majesty looks good. It seems that this trip was very fruitful."

Ye Kun shrugged: "We have gained the Kingdom of Loulan, but the subsequent governance is also a headache."

The Loulan sand control project will cost money.

If the sand control plan fails, it will be a complete loss of both the wife and the army. I will be speechless facing Ayiman and the Ministry of Finance and Taxation.

He Tiantian smiled and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. The quality of our steam turbine water pump is very stable and can guarantee your Loulan desertification control operation."

Ye Kun nodded: "I know you won't let me down."

After entering the Science and Technology City, Ye Kun felt different.

Everyone is very happy and it seems that the recent results have been remarkable.

Of course, Ye Kun learned about most of the scientific research results through telegrams.

In the conference room, Ye Kun listened to He Tiantian's report.

He Tiantian said: "The steam engine production base in Beihai County has been fully built, with seven complete production lines working overtime day and night. Various models of steam engines are constantly coming out. Last month, the output of complete equipment was 760 units.

The total production this year is expected to be close to 10,000 units.”

Ye Kun nodded: "Ten thousand units, sounds like a lot, but is it enough?"

"Obviously not enough." He Tiantian shrugged and smiled:

"The steam engines produced in the early stage were basically eliminated or sent to water pumping stations, rice mills, for power generation or lathes. Most of the latest steam engines were taken by the Ministry of War and used on warships and ships."

There are too many places in the country that need steam engines.

Steam engines are used in mine ore crushing, cotton deseeding machinery, lathes, water pumping stations, rice mills, and power generation.

Steamships are even more inseparable from steam engines.

Over this year, more than a thousand steamships were built, all powered by steam engines.

Ye Kun nodded and asked, "Can the quality of our steamships be stable and can they meet the requirements of ocean voyages? What is their maximum speed?"

He Tiantian replied: "After actual testing by the Navigation Academy, the maximum stable speed of a steamship can reach 40 kilometers per hour. The speed of a small steam merchant ship on the canal is 30 kilometers per hour.

The fastest is the canal cruise, which travels at 55 kilometers per hour on the wide and straight river. Today, the Grand Canal is fully connected, and it takes only seven days to travel from Zhuo County to Qiantang County.

Ordinary people wrote letters from Zhuojun to Qiantang, and it took seven or eight days to arrive. Writing letters to Chengdu took only half a month.

Ye Kun nodded: "This speed is fine. Don't go too fast. We need to ensure stable quality and safe navigation."

The cruise ship has a maximum speed of 55 kilometers per hour, which is already very fast and can fully meet the communication needs of the people.

He Tiantian added: "There has been a breakthrough in the development of diesel engines. The latest diesel engine can run for ten minutes without load. The technical difficulty still lies in the sealing of the cylinder and the stability of the oil pump."

Ye Kun asked: "How long do you expect it will take to build the first mature diesel engine?"

"We have divided into five research institutes to conduct separate research. I estimate that we can overcome the problem and build a qualified diesel engine in half a year."

"Very good. With our experience in diesel engine manufacturing, we can also figure out gasoline engines."

Ye Kun smiled and said, “In two days, I will explain the principles of the gasoline engine to everyone, and then officially launch the project.”

Sun Yi asked: "Is there any difference between a diesel engine and a gasoline engine?"

"Both are internal combustion engines, but gasoline engines are lighter and more suitable for small-scale transportation." Ye Kun made another promise:

"If gasoline engine technology matures, an engine the size of a dog's head can drive a small boat carrying people at a speed of 100 kilometers per hour. It can also drive a light vehicle to travel 2,000 miles a day. It can even drive airplanes and usher in the era of aviation."

Sun Yi smiled and said, "Brother, explain the principle clearly and make a rough drawing. Leave the rest to me. I have been studying diesel engines recently and I am addicted to it."

Everyone laughed.

Ye Kun smiled and said, "The mechanical industry cannot be accomplished by one person alone. It requires many people to brainstorm and work together. You can take the lead, but the technical research and development team needs at least a hundred people."

The industrial progress of the Han Empire was due, on the one hand, to the knowledge brought by Ye Kun, and on the other hand, to the huge accumulation of manpower and financial resources.

In history, steam engines and airplanes were all developed by scientists working alone.

However, Ye Kun adopted the method of group army combat, which greatly increased the speed.

If there was no team, Ye Kun would probably only be able to develop a steam engine with Pang Jia, Sun Yi and He Tiantian in his entire life.

He Tiantian suddenly said: "Your Majesty, diesel engines require a lot of aluminum alloy materials, but our aluminum production cannot keep up."

Ye Kun asked: "What is the current aluminum production?"

He Tiantian smiled bitterly: "At full capacity, we can produce 100 kilograms of pure aluminum every day."

Ye Kun nodded: "Add a hydroelectric power plant and build a few aluminum smelters, is that okay?"

"Of course, but Wu Qiong won't pay." He Tiantian sighed:

"Lord Wu said that too much money has been spent on investing in steam engine production bases, and the science and technology cities in various places are all bottomless pits. The court can no longer afford it."