The most arrogant in history

Chapter 746: Soft and hard persuasion.

Jiang Yourong thought about it and said with a smile: "One hundred taels per share, I will invest in one thousand shares, which is one hundred thousand taels of silver."

Jiao Nu smiled and said, "I will also invest 100,000 taels!"

Wei Caiqin, Xiao Ruliu and others also responded.

The ladies still have money.

Ye Kun smiled and said, "How about this, we will form a major shareholder in the palace and manage it in a unified manner. Anyone with 100 taels of silver can become a shareholder. All princes and princesses, even eunuchs and ladies-in-waiting can participate.

After you buy the shares, you will get a railway stock certificate. This certificate can also be transferred at a negotiated price."

In this way, the first stock of the Han Empire was listed.

Jiang Yourong became more interested and said with a smile, "Okay, let's mobilize and discuss it first."

In two days, the palace collected 800,000 taels of silver.

It's all private money.

In the Science and Technology City, we also collected 300,000 taels of shares.

What Ye Kun didn't expect was that Wu Qiong also invested 5,000 taels of silver!

"Lord Wu, if you don't think the railway will have a bright future, why do you want to invest in it?" Ye Kun said jokingly.

"Investing in railways will definitely make money. The west does not have water transportation conditions. Once the railway is built, it will be the economic lifeline of the west and we can make a lot of money." Wu Qiong laughed:

"This five thousand taels is my pension. When the railway makes money in the future, I will get dividends every year, which will be enough for me to eat and drink, and I can also leave it to my descendants. This is clean dividend income, I don't worry no matter how much I make."

"Master Wu is really smart." Ye Kun was puzzled: "You know that the railway can make money, why doesn't the Ministry of Finance and Taxation support it?"

"I personally invested five thousand taels and took the risk myself. If I approved the funding, the risk would have to be borne by the whole country, and the consequences would be different."

Wu Qiong sighed: "The emperor has placed the burden of the country's finances and taxes on me, and it's not easy for me either. Not approving the funding is a sign of my persistence in my work; private investment is a sign of my support for the emperor."

Ye Kun was very touched and nodded:

"I see. Don't worry, there is no risk. Our promise is that after the railway is completed in three years, we will pay dividends every year, no less than the interest on bank deposits."

"I think the annual dividend should be 20 percent."

Wu Qiong laughed, said goodbye and left.

The construction of the western railway finally began in full swing.

The laborers who participated in the construction were all paid; some officials and wealthy families kept foreign laborers and sent them to the construction site to earn money.

This was also the first time that a large-scale national project actually employed paid laborers.

Because in every dynasty, free labor was conscripted.

Even those who participated in the labor had to bring their own dry food.

Of course, it is also because of the large-scale promotion of sweet potatoes and potatoes and the increase in grain production that Ye Kun dares to be so arrogant.

Wu Qiong, this guy, still spoke for the imperial court, exempted the land fee, and secured a 7% stake for the imperial court.

Ye Kun arranged the affairs of the Western Railway and was also preparing for the trip to Izu Island.

Sang Buyi disagreed and said with a fist:

"The Taiwan-Penghu Strait may not seem far away on the map, but the sea conditions are bad. Even with a steam-powered ship, it would take three days to cross the strait. The vast ocean and unpredictable risks, how can Your Majesty take the risk?"

Ye Kun insisted: "Izu Island is also Chinese territory. As the emperor, I must go there in person to declare sovereignty. It's a small strait, only a few hundred miles away, and we can reach it in one day. What's there to be afraid of?"

A steam-powered ship can indeed cross the channel in one day and one night.

There is no danger unless there is a typhoon.

The nine ministers basically opposed Ye Kun's trip to Izu Island.

Ye Kun was anxious: "How about I abdicate now and let the prince ascend the throne. I can go to Izu Island as a free and easy person, right?"

Everyone had no choice but to give in and agree to Ye Kun's trip to Izu Island.

Ye Kun added: "The prince has grown up and can govern the country. If something happens to me, you can let the prince ascend the throne and continue to govern the country."

Everyone clasped their fists together and said, "May the Emperor be blessed with great fortune and will surely return safely!"

In the midsummer of June, Ye Kun led 28 large ships and more than 30 warships to Izu Island.

Jiang Yourong and Dai Xi, as well as Princess Mingzhu and Prince Ye Lesheng, all accompanied them.

This time, there are tens of thousands of immigrants.

This was also the last immigration to Izu Island.

As for the future development of Izu Island, it all depends on the ability of Prince Ye Lesheng.

Before leaving, Ye Lesheng offered sacrifices to the heavens at the Yanhuang Altar and swore:

"I, Ye Lesheng, swear here that I will protect China's Yizhou Island from generation to generation. I will promote Chinese characters and Chinese language on the island from generation to generation, take China as my suzerain, and be loyal to the Han Empire forever.

If the Han Empire is in trouble, I will lead the people of Taiwan and Penghu to provide assistance with all my strength..."

This is an old rule for immigrants.

Every group of people who immigrate overseas will swear an oath here.

Ye Kun crowned Ye Lesheng and warned him again:

"A family has fathers and sons, a country has monarchs and ministers. If you and your descendants betray the Han people, the Chinese continent will definitely destroy you! If you have second thoughts, the Chinese court will take back your throne and royal power at any time!"

Ye Lesheng swore to his father and Crown Prince Ye Feng: "Ye Lesheng promises that from generation to generation, there will be no second thoughts!"

The journey across the channel was quite smooth.

In just one day and one night, we arrived at the great island of Izu.

Chinese immigrants on the island welcomed them and held a grand ceremony at the port.

Ye Kun offered sacrifices to the heavens at the seaside, carved stones and erected a monument to declare his sovereignty.

Arriving at the newly built Taiwan-Penghu Palace, Ye Kun told Ye Lesheng:

"The palace is not big, but it is enough for you to live in. You must not build a large-scale project that will waste people's money and labor. You should focus on construction and population development. Only when the population increases, your feudal state will be truly powerful."

Ye Lesheng nodded and kept it in mind.

Jiang Yourong looked around and smiled, "I thought this island was small, but I didn't expect it to be so big."

Dai Xi also said: "Looking at it on the map, it looks like a big taro, only enough for one meal. After climbing up, I realized that this is also a world of its own."

Ye Kun took Jiang Yourong and Dai Xi to wander around:

"This is not just a piece of land, but a very large one. Now we have sweet potatoes, potatoes and corn, together with rice and grains, which can feed 10 million people.

There are big mountains, big rivers and big plains on the island, and the resources are extremely rich.”

Jiang Yourong nodded: "I heard that Xiao Dequan really wants to stay on Izu Island forever, right?"

"I miss you so much, I'm going crazy."

Ye Kun shook his head and sighed, "I gave Izhou Island to Prince Lesheng this time, but I offended Concubine Liu. Concubine Liu tried to persuade me for a long time to leave Izhou Island to the prince she gave birth to, but I never agreed. Now, she even transferred Xiao Dequan back."

Dai Xi was very touched and bowed to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty, this is your care for me and Le Sheng. We, mother and son, will never forget it. And Princess Mingzhu will also always remember you as a great father."

"I am not great, because I also have selfish desires." Ye Kun sighed and looked at the blue sky:

"The princes have all grown up, and arrangements need to be made for each of them. I am very reluctant to send all the children overseas. Now, Huang Jingzu is in Dayuan, Shusheng is in the Persian Gulf, Ye Chan is in Hanhuang Island, and Lesheng is in Yizhou Island. It can be said that they are separated from each other by thousands of miles. It will not be easy to see each other again in this life."