Facts have proved that this kind of mortar is very effective in building roads, and its effect is even greater than the volcanic ash that was originally transported from the volcanic palace. Then, farmland water conservancy facilities in the Wuhu area and the northern region have also begun to fully use this building material. Due to the start of a large number of construction projects, although large-scale mortar yards have been built in the seven prefectures distributed in various parts of the empire, the output of mortar yards in the seven prefectures is still difficult to meet the needs of these large-scale projects. The empire had to withdraw special funds from the government bonds to build the second batch of mortar yards. Due to the popularity of raw materials, raw materials can be found in almost all regions. The construction of the second batch of mortar yards focuses on the Indian and German areas and the southwest regions.

With the blooming of mortar farms, the construction of farmland water conservancy facilities in Wuhu and the north has also started in full swing. It can be said that these two projects are Wufeng's most scored in the imperial land gentry. Although the imperial land nobles, who have always advocated agriculture as the basis, could not openly oppose the empire's policy of paying attention to industry and commerce, they agreed that the continued drought in the northern region and floods in the southern region were unanimously believed that the Tanghe Empire did not attach enough importance to farmland water conservancy construction. The empire's use of issuing treasury bonds to raise funds to build water conservancy facilities also made the empire conservative gentry, which mainly produced soil output, quite satisfied. It believed that the empire encouraged the development of industry and commerce while also taking into account their interests.

The empire's comprehensive launch of water conservancy facilities construction in the north and south has also won the support of the vast number of landless farmers. Although immigration solved the survival problems of a considerable number of affected refugees, many people who are unable to leave their hometowns are still more willing to stay in their hometowns. However, the disaster has made them lose their source of living, and large-scale engineering construction has found a way out for them. The large-scale demand for labor has enabled the population who are not of gender to participate in this construction project. It is initially expected that at least two million laborers will be attracted on the construction sites of the northern water conservancy facilities alone to work hard on the construction sites of various prefectures. This not only greatly alleviates the pressure of local governments in the northern county governments, but also finds a best way out for a large number of poor people to survive until Xiaochun this year.

"Xiao Tang, Su Qin, come on. This is my classmate Plovland, a famous visiting professor invited by Mr. Harting from Heidelberg University where I once visited. He is also an honorary citizen of the City Republic of Willes. He is now teaching at Imperial University. I will also invite him to stay at Northwestern University for a while, so that the teachers and students of Northwestern University can also listen to his theories. Mr. Harting, these two are my two prime ministers, Prime Minister Xiao Tang, and Deputy Prime Minister Su Qin."

Xiao Tang and Su Qin's eyes both fell on the old man with wrinkles on the face and a pair of wide-edged black framed eyes. Although this guy had wrinkles on his face, from the other party's vigorous spirit, this guy was also very healthy. He could actually travel across the ocean to the empire, which made Xiao Tang and Su Qin admire him.

After a greeting, Xiao Tang and Su Qin obviously didn't know what Wufeng had for recruiting them to meet this guy in his private study. Wufeng didn't point it out, but just smiled and said, "Xiao Tang, Su Qin, Mr. Harting just came from Luxor. He had a suggestion to me. I don't know much, so I need to consider it. This is what you two can tell me.

"Oh, I don't know what advice does this Mr. Harting have? Your Majesty is open-minded and admonished. It seems that even the Western Continent knows that this is a great thing." Xiao Tang became alert when he heard this. Although he was polite, he was thinking carefully about what suggestions this silver-haired old man had worthy of his Majesty's recruitment of him and the other two to discuss.

"Two Prime Ministers, I suggest to Your Majesty that I have proposed to establish a stock exchange and futures exchange in Luxor, the capital of Meli County, which has become part of your country. I have discussed this matter many times in Luxor for the then Grand Duke of York, but Grand Duke of York has always been hesitant and failed to make a decision. Now most of Meli's areas have belonged to the Tang Empire. I have made this suggestion to Your Governor Qin Tieliu of your country. He accepted my opinion, but he said that he could not make a decision on this matter, so he wrote a letter of recommendation to me to come to the imperial capital to hand it over to His Majesty the Emperor." The silver-haired old man seemed polite, and his awkward Tang language sounded less authentic, but there was no difficulty in understanding it.

At this time, Xiao Tang and Su Qin noticed a letter in Wufeng's hand, but it was difficult to see his mood from Wufeng's face. Although the stock exchange and the futures exchange are a new thing for the Empire, they are not unfamiliar with these two words as the two highest-ranking government officials of the Empire. It is said that the stock exchange and the futures exchange are in the Western Continent, the City Republic of Willes and the capital of the Leeds Kingdom Oxford. Because the distance between the Western Continent and the Eastern Continent is too far, both Xiao Su and others only have a brief understanding of these two institutions, but the purpose, significance, operating procedures and rules of the establishment of these two institutions are not very clear.

They only know that this stock exchange is used for investments in industry and commerce or speculators who trade shares in industrial and commercial investment, while the futures exchange is even more novel. It is said that some institutions that are almost like buying and selling goods orders or contracts, and their speculative and risky nature are stronger, and the two are not very clear about the specific situation.

"Mr. Harting, what do you think the establishment of such an institution in Luxor has a role in the empire? Why not choose to be in the imperial capital or Yuhang?" Wufeng asked while holding Qin Tieliu's letter in his hand.

"Your Majesty, please be honest. Although the Meli region was the last area to be included in the empire territory, the industrial and commercial economy there was quite developed. At this point, even the imperial capital might not be compared with it. Moreover, Luxor also has an advantage that is incomparable to both the imperial capital and Yuhang, that is, it faces the Baltic Sea and the Aegean Sea, and can be connected smoothly with the countries along the coast of the Central and Western Continents through the sea. When these two exchanges are established, it can easily raise wealthy funds from these areas."

"Although Zhongzhou is the capital of the empire, I think it is more like a political and cultural center. Perhaps its financial industry is worth mentioning, but it is still a consumer city to a large extent. Its industry and commerce are not as good as Luxor, and deep inside the empire also makes it difficult for it to attract funds from outside the empire. As for Yuhang, I climbed to the Eastern Continent from there, and I have been there for a while. The economic components there are relatively single or old, lacking a kind of vitality. Of course, its economy has reached a relatively high level. The most important thing is that people's concepts have not changed. If there are no participants, it will lose its meaning. I don't think that establishing stock exchanges and futures exchanges in Yuhang now can be successful."

The old man with silver hair still maintained the frankness and straightforwardness of the Western Mainland people, and rejected Wufeng's two options in one breath. This made Wufeng feel a little embarrassed and felt a long-lost intimacy. Wasn't it the same when he was studying in Heidelberg?

"Mr. Harting, do you mean that only the two exchanges are most suitable to establish them in Luxor?" Xiao Tang couldn't help asking. Although he didn't quite understand what kind of benefits the two exchanges could bring to the empire, he still felt a little uncomfortable when he heard the other party directly reject Zhongzhou and Yuhang. "Then can you tell us where Luxor's advantages lies? And if Luxor is established, what can the empire gain from it?"

"No, Prime Minister, I can only say that Luxor is the most suitable place in the empire to establish these two institutions. Of course, the empire has a vast territory, rich resources, and rapid economic development. Perhaps there are places that are more suitable for establishing stock exchanges and futures exchanges in the future, but this does not affect the establishment of Luxor first, and now Luxor can also accumulate experience for the empire to build in the future." The old man with silver hair still explained in an orderly manner.

"As for Luxor's advantages, there are many. First, it is an important port city at the intersection of the Baltic Sea and the Aegean Sea, with convenient transportation and developed shipping; second, its area is an important spice producing area, adjacent to the important grain producing area of ​​India and Germany. Spices and grain can become an important trading object for futures. Third, the developed industry and commercial economy and a good and long tradition of foreign trade; fourth, the financial industry is famous and has a long history and excellent scenery. The rich people on the Aegean Sea and the Baltic Sea like to come here for vacation. This is very important. Most of them are those with spare money or those with industries, including the Constantines and the pirates on the Marmara Sea. They are the best participants in stock exchanges and futures traders."
Chapter completed!