"San Bao, I will give you two bodyguards. Find a few reliable people in the residence and prepare well today. Tomorrow, you will leave for Bashu and help me find the vanadium mine!"
The reason why Li Zexuan didn't want to waste time with a brat like Li Yuanchang was because he had more important things to do. This more important thing was to continue building his industrial blueprint!
Looking back at his actions in the first year of Zhenguan, other than the big event of Yanhuang College, he had only done some experimental experiments, such as voltaic batteries, telegraph machines, electric lamps, generators, and so on!
Among them, some things had already been created, while some were still in the theoretical stage due to various practical reasons. But in general, these things had yet to be mass-produced!
Therefore, Li Zexuan had set a few small goals for himself this year:
First, the "three acids and two bases" needed for the foundation of the chemical industry must be mass-produced.
Second, the hydropower station on the Ba River must be started. It could be completed, but it must be started this year.
Third, the generator must be built successfully. Although the first generation generator might be ugly, cumbersome, expensive, inefficient, and unstable, these weren't problems. The first generation generator was just a transition. Once the first generation generator was installed on a stone culvert or a small dam, it would be able to generate electricity. With electricity, it could be refined into copper, and this was the time to prepare for the second generation generator. Once there was a stable and efficient second generation generator, he could continue to develop technology.
Fourth, he would start to focus on developing the metallurgy industry. In this year, he would send people out to search for all kinds of metal deposits. Then, he would use the copper, iron, coal, and so on in his hands to produce crude copper, crude iron, and other metals. Then, he would use electricity to refine all kinds of metals, and finally produce all kinds of alloy steel.
Fifth, with the alloy steel and electricity, he could consider manufacturing the mother machine — the machine tool! At that time, Tang Dynasty's industrial foundation would undergo a qualitative leap! Then, all kinds of advanced technological products would become possible …
Well, from the looks of it, the second year of Zhenguan was definitely a full year for Li Zexuan. His schedule couldn't be more full!
"Young Master, what does the vanadium mine look like?"
San Bao frowned and asked.
Before the New Year, San Bao, Ah Fu, and the rest had stayed in the workshop for a period of time because they were making fireworks. It could be said that they had gained experience at the "basic level". Most importantly, Fubin could not leave the Shanxi mine. Otherwise, that lad would definitely be more experienced in finding ores.
Li Zexuan took out a small booklet and handed it to San Bao. I have recorded the appearance and characteristics of the vanadium ore here. Prepare well today. It would be best if you can set off tomorrow! "
San Bao took the booklet and flipped it open. There were colorful illustrations with textures and lines, as well as some descriptive words. It was really quite detailed. He closed the booklet, scratched his head, and smiled.
"Hehe! Young Master, it's a good thing that I've been learning to read since last year. Otherwise, San Bao wouldn't be able to understand a single word on this! "
Li Zexuan laughed and said, "Haha! Young Master, I told you to study more when you had nothing better to do. It was still useful, right? "
San Bao nodded and said, "Yes, yes! It was useful! This time, San Bao will bring a dictionary to Sichuan. If I come across words that I don't know, I can look it up myself! "
Now, because of the widespread distribution of the Tang Dynasty Dictionary, more and more people in the Tang Dynasty could read. According to Kong Yingda, Fang Xuanling, and the rest, the number of people participating in the Tang Dynasty's Imperial Examination would increase by a lot in three to five years!
"Haha! You're worth teaching! "
Li Zexuan laughed heartily and said, "Sanbao, this mine search is also a kind of experience for you. In the land of Sichuan, all kinds of forces are tangled and complicated. You all need to be careful on this trip and try not to provoke the local forces. Once you have ascertained the location of the vanadium mine, come back immediately. At that time, this young master will naturally ask His Majesty for an imperial edict and then open the mine legitimately!"
The ancient Sichuan referred to the modern Sichuan Basin and some of its neighboring areas. It was not only a geographical concept, but also a cultural one.
The land of Sichuan was surrounded by mountains. To the north was the Qinling Mountains, to the northwest was the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, to the south was the Yungui Plateau, and to the east was the Yangtze River. It was very inconvenient to travel outside. In the north, only the Boxie and Ziwu roads were connected to Guanzhong and Guandong. In the south, there were many valleys, and in the east, there were mountains. The East Sewer was also very dangerous, and only the western plains were slightly more convenient. Hence, the land of Sichuan became a relatively isolated geographical unit far away from the mainland.
Although the Bashu region had been incorporated into the political system of the central dynasty a long time ago, due to the geographical isolation and the distance from the political center, as well as the large number of Di, Qiang, Man, and Liao clans living in Bashu and around the basin, the land of Bashu had actually become the 'edge' of the dynasty. In this place, sometimes, the words of a clan leader might be more useful than those of Li Er!
Since the Han Dynasty, the Sichuan region had many separatist regimes and large-scale rebellions. Hence, it formed the impression that the people of Sichuan were chaotic. Especially the local powers represented by the Sichuan tribes, which were said to be strong. At the end of the Sui Dynasty and the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, the world was in turmoil. However, the land of Sichuan was relatively peaceful. However, that was only relative to the outside. Inside, there were many powers. Especially between the various tribes, the relationship between the powers was really complicated. In the future, if a vanadium mine was found in Sichuan, how to mine it peacefully would be a tough problem.
San Bao obviously understood the importance of this matter. At this moment, his face was not as happy as before. He nodded and cupped his hands, "Young master, don't worry. I will be careful!"
Li Zexuan patted San Bao's shoulder and encouraged him, "En! San Bao, do well. If you do well, I will be assured to give you more important missions. As for you, you will also be able to enjoy endless wealth! "
To his own 'employee', it was necessary to give him some 'chicken soup for the soul'!
As expected, San Bao was instantly pumped up. He held his head high and said, "Young master! San Bao doesn't want wealth. As long as I can help you do your job, San Bao is satisfied! "
"Haha! Okay! Stop sucking up! Go and prepare! "
Li Zexuan laughed and said.
"Yes! Young master! "
San Bao left. Li Zexuan was deep in thought. The metallurgy industry in Tang Dynasty was not very developed. The metals that had been mined were gold, silver, copper, and iron. This was definitely not enough. It seemed like he had to train a group of talents to search for ores all over the country!
…
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