Li Longji's group finally returned to Lu Zhou's harbor. This time, there was no welcoming party at the harbor.
However, it seemed very busy. People were constantly moving goods onto the ships, and from time to time, people were leaving with goods that were transported from other places. It was a bustling scene.
Xu Mingyang was the only one who came to welcome them. He did not even bring a page boy or a yamen runner with him because everyone in the mansion was busy.
This year, it suddenly rained in Lu Zhou. It had been raining for five consecutive days, and the water level of the two main rivers was gradually rising.
Those who were free were busy keeping an eye on the river embankment. As for the sea embankment, they did not pay much attention to it. They had never heard of a heavy rain causing the water level to rise unless it was an earthquake or a typhoon.
It was raining today as well. The rain was not light, and it smashed onto the concrete floor of the harbor like beans. Water droplets splashed everywhere, and the air was filled with mist.
On the way back, they were very worried about a storm. In the end, the old men said it did not look like it. Hence, they carefully sailed along the shore, avoiding the reefs, and returned in the rain.
Xu Mingyang was already wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat. He did not bring an umbrella with him as it did not seem to be useful in this weather.
When he saw the Emperor's group arriving at the harbor, Xu Mingyang hastily walked over. His main purpose was not to look for the Emperor, but to talk to Xiao Bei and the others. As long as they spoke, he would feel relieved.
He did not believe that the Emperor did not know that he had gone to meet the Emperor's mother. Now, he wanted to confirm if the Emperor still hated him.
As for Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, he did not think that they would hold a grudge against him. He had already expressed his attitude and apologized. Based on the two of them, they would always leave a way out for others. He did not continue to oppose them. Moreover, he had arrived just in time, so there should not be any major problems.
Sure enough, when Xu Mingyang went up to greet them, he spoke to the Emperor. When he looked at Xiao Bei, who was also wearing a special straw raincoat, Xiao Bei glared at him and snorted, "You're smart."
These four words were like the sound of nature to Xu Mingyang's ears.
After greeting Li Longji, they didn't dare to continue following behind him. Instead, they went to a tea stall at the docks and asked for a pot of tea. After gulping down two mouthfuls of tea, they heaved a long sigh of relief and felt completely relieved.
"I'm still the smart one. I know when to advance and when to retreat. I'm more than twice as smart as the Ning family. A real man knows when to yield and when not to lose face. You didn't lose face in the slightest. You schemed against them once, and you actually used your intelligence to reconcile with them. "
Xu Mingyang held a bean in his hand and whispered to himself, praising himself.
"I don't feel comfortable letting him go just like that," Lil 'Bei said to Li Longji and the others as they sat in the car.
She pouted, looking very dissatisfied, but there was nothing she could do. Her brother and sister had already said it was okay, so she had to listen to them.
Hearing Xiao Bei's complaint, Li Longji chuckled and said, "Could it be that you want to kill everyone who offends your family? Or even a search and seizure? If that was really the case, then if someone deliberately offended you today and you killed them, then when you killed too many of them, someone might offend you unintentionally.
When that time comes, other people will already know your way of doing things and will think that you still want to kill them. So, before you say anything, they will help you deal with them first. When that time comes, do you want to deal with the people who help you?
If you really deal with them, they will think that you are temperamental and hard to talk to. If you don't deal with them, they will think that you are conniving. When you kill too many people and someone accidentally blocks your car one day, you might not care anymore and just kill them.
Habits are slowly formed, and they will become more and more serious. As time goes on, you will get lost in them. When that happens, it will be time for your brother or sister to personally deal with you. "
"I didn't say that I was going to kill them. Can't I let them eat salted vegetables for a few more days? They already bought their own rice and noodles. Even if they don't have salted vegetables, can't they go to the beach to cook salt and catch some fish to make salted fish? Salted fish can be eaten with rice and noodles. It tastes pretty good, but my brother won't let me eat too much. It's addictive. "
Xiao Bei found excuses for herself. In fact, she really couldn't bear to kill them. It wasn't that she was soft-hearted, but because she had an unborn child in her mother's womb. It wasn't good to kill too many people.
Li Longji chuckled. "Now, you can let them eat salted vegetables for a few more days. They won't dare to disagree. If you don't believe me, you can try."
"It's not fun if I don't try. If the opponent doesn't resist, what's the point of bullying them? It's not like it's for the country's benefit. There's no point in bullying them to death. I'm going back to sleep. Sleeping on a rainy day is the most comfortable. I don't want to get up once I lie down."
Xiao Bei felt sleepy as she spoke. She yawned and narrowed her eyes, looking like she could fall asleep at any moment.
Looking at Xiao Bei's appearance, Li Longji seemed to be infected. He also fell into a trance. He was sleepy, and the sound of the rain outside was like a lullaby.
A cold wind blew in from the half-opened window, making him shiver. He suddenly remembered what he had been thinking about along the way. He stared at Zhang Xiaobao and said, "Where's your tractor? The hand-guided tractor. "
Li Longji actually did not know what a hand-guided tractor was, but he could guess that it was something that the Ministry of Works had developed from the diesel engine.
He had been waiting for this day for a long time. He had spent a lot of money, and now, it was finally time to reap the rewards. What exactly was a hand-guided tractor? Why was it called a tractor? Could it be because of its sound?
Ever since Zhang Xiaobao mentioned it, Li Longji had been thinking about it. He hoped that the Ministry of Works' tractors could be used in the military and the people's livelihood.
But now that he had disembarked from the ship, he was still sitting in the carriage. He did not see what the tractor looked like, which made him angry.
Zhang Xiaobao also narrowed his eyes and leaned against the wall of the carriage to rest. He was actually more anxious than Li Longji. Li Longji just wanted to see something new, but Zhang Xiaobao knew what the tractor's appearance meant.
This was the progress of an era. Even though it could not be mass-produced now, it provided a series of theories and practical data for scientific research. Even if it broke down after a few days, it was still a huge gain.
In any case, the thing was there. If there was steel, they could just throw it in. No matter how much money they spent, it was worth it. One day, they would be able to create something better.
The only pity was that the gasoline engine had been produced first. But because it was not good in a certain aspect, the diesel engine had been produced first. This made him speechless.
If only there were more advanced smelting and forging technology. This thing was much more convenient than the steam engine. It burned for a long time with the same volume of fuel as coal. It was also small in size, and the speed at which it provided power was much faster. The pollution it caused … Putting the pollution aside, would the environmental protection organization be able to pursue it to Great Tang? Their heads would be chopped off.
"Xiao Bao, We are asking you a question." Li Longji saw Zhang Xiaobao leaning against the wall and telling Weiwei not to speak. He glared at him and asked another question.
"Ah? Tractor? Alright, let's wait until we get back. There are too many people now, and it would not be good if a spy saw it. Your Majesty, let me introduce the hand-guided tractor to you. First, you need to know what a tractor is. The so-called engine refers to the diesel engine. As for dragging, it is naturally like a carriage. Dragging, pulling, how does it drag … "
Zhang Xiaobao explained to Li Longji in a daze.
But before he could finish his words, Li Longji interjected, "I don't want to hear it. I want to see how you procrastinate. I've seen it with my own eyes, so I'll naturally know. The more you speak now, the more anticipation I feel. You should sleep."
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Zhang Xiaobao leaned his head against the wall of the carriage.
Li Longji sighed. He had asked for nothing.
The carriage swayed as it moved forward. Just as Li Longji was about to fall asleep, they arrived at their destination. It was very uncomfortable.
"Uncle Emperor, do you feel very uncomfortable? When you want to sleep but can't?" Xiaobei looked at Li Longji sympathetically.
"Uncomfortable? Have you had such an experience before? Not letting you sleep? "Li Longji rubbed his eyes and asked.
"Yes. I was about to sleep, but suddenly, delicious food was delivered. Should I sleep or not? This is a problem. Let's get off the carriage and look at the tractor. "
Xiaobei said what he had experienced and jumped off the carriage.
"How fortunate. I can choose between eating and sleeping. Sometimes, even if I don't want to eat, I can't sleep in peace. Let's see how much the tractor can drag."
Li Longji sighed and also got off the carriage.
The rain didn't stop, and it didn't seem like it was going to let up. It was still pouring down, but Zhang Xiaobao couldn't care less. He took off his shirt and went to the place where the tractor was.
There were people guarding the tractor. There was even a shelter on top of the tractor. It was like a treasure.
Zhang Xiaobao also treated the diesel tractor as a treasure. He stretched out his hand and gently stroked the head of the tractor. His movements were very gentle, as if he was afraid that he would damage the diesel engine.
Li Longji and the others also saw the tractor.
To them, this tractor was something they had never seen before. They looked at it curiously.
This tractor had three wheels. It looked better than the wheels of a carriage. In front of the tractor was a big rectangular head. The most eye-catching part of the head was the 'eye'. Then, there were two bicycle handlebars connected from the bottom of the tractor. They looked like they were connected to the wheels. They should be used to adjust the direction of the tractor.
At the back of the tractor was a metal bucket. It was fixed to the two wheels at the back.
The saddle was very high. If a person sat on it, they would feel like they were looking down from above. Other than that, there was nothing special. Oh, there was also a large chimney. There was also a 'hat' on top of the chimney to block the rain.
"This thing is the walking tractor that the Ministry of Works spent countless amounts of money and effort to develop? The highly skilled people in the Ministry of Works have spent countless amounts of money and energy to develop? It is clearly another type of bicycle. I finally know what a hand-guided tractor is. A hand-guided tractor is a handlebar that is connected to both sides of the tractor. Is the string connected to the handlebars of the tractor? A tractor is a tractor with something loaded at the back. Is this tractor worth nearly 10 million strings of coins? "
Li Longji roughly sized up the tractor and shook his head. He said to Zhang Xiaobao, who was still touching it.
Zhang Xiaobao stopped and brought over a wet towel. He wrung the water and wiped his hands. He replied, "Your Majesty is wise. It is indeed this tractor."
"Good. This tractor shall be this tractor. Let me use it. I will see if it is worth 10 million strings of coins." Li Longji was slightly disappointed. The hand-guided tractor's appearance was not very good. It was not as elegant as a sedan.
Zhang Xiaobao took a deep breath and stretched out his hand. The person next to him was stunned for a moment. Then, he reacted and handed over a curved metal rod. It was actually the starting handle.
Zhang Xiaobao received it and was about to start it when Wang Juan walked over worriedly. She was afraid that Zhang Xiaobao would not start the engine and instead break his arm. It looked a little scary, especially when it had not been scientifically proven.
"Xiao Bao, do you … know … how to drive?" Wang Juan asked worriedly. She wanted to say drive a tractor, but she also wanted to say ride a tractor. In the end, she chose to say drive.
Zhang Xiaobao waved his hand confidently and said, "No problem. Didn't the letter say that our hand-guided tractor is very powerful? It only needs two gears. One front gear and one reverse gear. The rest of the time, it uses a stepless speed change and a manual brake system. There are even shock-absorbing springs under the seats.
Not to mention anything else, look at its chimney. Did you notice? It is completely different from the cars you used to sit in. Your car is one meter deep. Can it cross? This tractor is fine. Do you understand? "
"What nonsense. Just because the chimney goes up, you think it can be used as a submarine? What's with the manual brake system? Just say that the manual brake is not enough. Two gears, front and back, stepless speed change. Because it is too difficult to put more gears, we directly use the accelerator to control it. If there is more fuel, it will go faster. If there is less fuel, it will slow down. If there is no fuel, it will stop, right? "
Wang Juan was really worried about letting Zhang Xiaobao drive such an advanced thing personally. What if it suddenly exploded? Other people's explosions were just cracks or burnt parts. This tractor could easily escalate to the level of explosion. "Yes, yes, yes.
We are still in the early stages of entrepreneurship, so we can only deal with it like this. However, it will not affect our testing and future development. Trust me, there will be a steering wheel, and there will be a car air conditioner. Now, we can also make a better shape for the exhaust pipe in winter and walk next to the driver's seat. It will become a heating system, but it cannot be too waterproof. Just watch me. "
Zhang Xiaobao said as he inserted the rocker handle into the tractor. He waved to the person beside him and asked him to press the oil supply system. It is the thing that looks like a manual brake.
Wang Juan took a few steps back and sneered. "You think waterproof depends on how tall the exhaust pipe is? If that is the case, any tractor factory can build a submarine. "
"Tractor factories can build tanks. When I am done with the tests, it is just a tank. When the time comes, we can just put a layer of metal on the outside. Eh? Can we change the exterior and make a beautiful cover? For example, a Mercedes-Benz. Who cares what is inside, right? Help me open the decompression valve. I was wondering why I could not shake it. "
Zhang Xiaobao tried to shake it with all his might and realized that he could not shake it with all his might. Then, he remembered that there is still one thing he did not touch. If he can manually increase the pressure to the point where the diesel can burn, he might become a god.
The person beside him wanted to laugh but did not dare to laugh. He helped to open the decompression valve. Zhang Xiaobao started to shake the tractor faster and faster. After shaking it to a certain extent, he suddenly pulled out the handle.
The diesel engine finally started. It sounded like a continuous drum beat in the rain. Billowing black smoke came out of the tractor.
Success. It was too easy. In the past, when he started his own car, it was not so easy. He still had to open the door, get in the car, and close the door.
Under everyone's gaze, Zhang Xiaobao turned over and got into the tractor. With one hand on the handle, he released the clutch and stepped on the accelerator.
Then, everyone saw the hand-guided tractor chirping cheerfully as it moved forward.
Fortunately, the condition of the road was not bad. It was a cement field used for drying grains. This was a big field. Now that it was sealed, outsiders were not allowed to enter. Zhang Xiaobao could use all his strength to speed up the tractor. 30 km/h was too easy for him to reach. Even if it was a truck full of people, it would not be a problem.
Li Longji looked at Zhang Xiaobao driving the tractor in circles around the field. He was puzzled. Didn't Xiao Bao say that there was a shock absorber? Why was the tractor still shaking up and down?
"The smoke is too thick. It will smell when the wind is against us. What is the reason?" Li Longji turned his head and asked Wang Juan.
"It is because of the oil. We have a different type of diesel here. Moreover, the refined diesel seems to be different every time. We need to see what the crude oil is like. It is not a big problem. Now, we need to see how long the diesel engine can last."
Wang Juan felt helpless about the development of technology.
Li Longji nodded in understanding and said, "It's fine. If you really can't handle it, wear a mask. Wear a few layers, or a gas mask with charcoal inside. It should be able to last for a long time without fainting."
Zhang Xiaobao did not care about the smoke. It could be seen, but it was uncomfortable to breathe in. In the past, there were many smokes that could not be seen. In fact, it was more harmful. The Chinese people's bodies were very tough. They could eat, drink, use, and breathe in poisonous things. They could still achieve the dream of a strong country.
Along with the sound of the tractor, Xiaobao drove around the crowd twice before stopping. He said to the crowd, "Come on up, let's go for a spin. I'll show you what speed is."
Li Longji was not a coward. He held the edge of the back of the tractor and jumped in. He stood behind Zhang Xiaobao and held the railing that was specially placed there. He looked into the distance, as if he was ready to fly.
Xiao Bei and the others also climbed into the tractor one after another. They each found a good posture and position. Some were squatting, some were standing, and some were sitting as they waited for the ride.
Zhang Xiaobao started again and led everyone around the grain-sunning field.
It had to be said that the effect was not bad. Other than Wang Juan, the others felt very comfortable, fresh, and excited. For a moment, they felt that the bumpiness was not as big as before. It was much less than riding a horse.
After one round, Zhang Xiaobao pressed the accelerator to the limit. The speed of the tractor suddenly increased. On the flat concrete ground, it made the people in the back of the tractor feel as if they were riding a horse. The raindrops fell on their faces. It was as if they were facing an army of thousands.
"How is it? Is it fast? Does it feel good? Isn't it much better than a normal horse carriage? " As Zhang Xiaobao drove the tractor, he kept turning his head to look behind. He also shouted loudly to suppress the sound of the engine.
Li Longji did not know if it was because of the smoke or the rain, but he felt as if he was riding a cloud. When he heard Zhang Xiaobao shouting, he also shouted. "It's so fast.
"Awesome! It's only a little slower than a horse sprinting. But when a horse is tired, it has to stop to eat grass. This thing is good. It only uses that, that diesel. It has a lot of strength too. It can still run so fast while carrying so many people. If it's equipped, it will be invincible on flat terrain.
Xiao Bao, why are you always biased? If you are more upright, I will be scared. Why do you need such a long handle? A bicycle is also shorter. Let the people from the Ministry of Works think of a solution. They are not doing their best. "
Li Longji thought of the war chariots used in war. Chariots were good, but they needed horses to pull them. How much protection did the horses need to be able to block the enemy's attack? Compared to the tractor, the chariot was much worse.
In the future, they could really make a chariot and add layers of armor. They don't even need to put any soldiers in the chariot. They only need a driver.
They can put long swords around the chariot and charge forward. The enemies will fall one by one. Flesh and blood will not be able to stop the chariot.
When they thought of this, they wanted to high-five each other, but they were afraid of being jolted off the chariot.
Zhang Xiaobao kept making the chariot deviate because he kept turning back. He had given up looking at other people's expressions. Zhang Xiaobao steadied the handle and shouted: "The people from the Ministry of Works are too stupid. They can't do a good job in the steering system. They should have fixed the rearview mirror for me. So stupid."
Zhang Xiaobao stopped the chariot and wiped the rain off his face. He said to everyone, "Let's go back first. Take a shower and change our clothes. When the weather clears up, we will run a few more laps. I will get someone to install a shed on the chariot."
Li Longji also climbed out of the chariot and stood on the firm ground. He realized that his legs were a little weak.
Xiaobei and the rest of the children were jumping up and down. Their eyes were shining, and it was obvious that they did not have enough fun.
"Brother, can you remove the chariot at the back and change it to a house? It will be fun inside. After a few jolts, I will fall asleep. "
Xiaobei thought of the house she had in the beginning. At that time, she was pulled by a horse. Now that there was a tractor, she could just put the house up. When the time came, she could travel very far in one breath.
Zhang Xiaobao waved his arms and said, "Sure, when the shock absorber technology improves a little more, I'll make a house for you. The front of the car should also be changed to two wheels, or else it'll be easy to overturn. The horse is not tired, but the driver is. My arms are sore."
"Can't the handlebars be shorter? I've already said so." When Li Longji looked at the tractor again, his gaze was different from before. He finally realized the great use of this thing. The simplest use was to transport goods.
Zhang Xiaobao gave it some thought and nodded. "Yes, you can use the steering wheel without the handlebars. However, you need two wheels in front. The structure isn't difficult."
"You don't have to tell me about the structure. I don't want to learn it. I know that it may seem simple, but it won't be easy to grasp the theory behind it. It'll be best if the weather clears up tomorrow. We'll try again."
Li Longji circled the tractor twice. Then, he waved his hand and walked toward his' home '. He looked up at the sky and grumbled inwardly.
The main reason was that Lu Zhou's roads were too good. The roads were wide and flat. Some were made of cement, some were made of crushed stones, and some were made of pure sand.
If it was a sunny day, Lu Zhou would be able to take a good look around on the tractor. It was much faster than a carriage. Moreover, there was no need to stop occasionally to let the horse rest when it was moving at high speed. This thing did not seem to know the concept of fatigue.
After the excitement subsided, the group of people went back to bathe and sleep. When it was midnight, they woke up to eat.
"Xiaobao, I've seen it. It's not bad. Although we've invested quite a bit of money, I know that it's only because we've spent a lot of money on research and experiments. When the technology gradually improves, the Ministry of Works won't need to invest more money in this area. We can even start to earn money. One year. Can you do it in one year?"
Li Longji was still thinking about the diesel engine when he ate. He had just taken a sip of his soup when he made a request to Zhang Xiaobao.
In his opinion, since the engine was produced, with Zhang Xiaobao's ability to make money, he would be able to break even in no time. Then, he would be able to generate profits.
Zhang Xiaobao put down his chopsticks. After giving it some thought, he shook his head. "I can't do it. This thing won't be able to generate profits in five years. It's not that it's impossible. I'll take it out and make a beautiful box. I'll put people in it and build a better road.
For example, from the capital to Luoyang, I'll board a boat when I cross the river. I'll collect money from the rich and take 20 people with me. The trip will cost 100 strings of coins, and the round trip will cost me 4,000 strings of coins.
However, I can't do that. Every time a diesel engine is produced by hand, research needs to be done. There will be lathes, boats, lifting equipment, and other things.
Also, it doesn't mean that there won't be any more investments after the diesel engine is produced. This is the first generation diesel engine, just like the steam engine. In the future, there won't be many developments in the steam engine, especially for small boats.
But the diesel engine won't do. It needs to be updated generation after generation. Don't think that there are only two types of diesel engines in the future. The technology needs to be researched, and it's not that simple. We still need to invest more. The diesel engine has just been produced, and it will generate profits in a year. To be honest, I don't even dare to think about this. "
After Zhang Xiaobao finished speaking, he took a bite of his mantou and did not say anything else. He really admired Li Longji for having such thoughts.
Li Longji frowned and sighed. "Are you worried that the diesel engines produced now will always have problems?"
Zhang Xiaobao shook his head.
"Why is that? Every year, we spend a lot of money on the Ministry of Works. Some of the officials in the Imperial Court are always complaining. It's not good. If we keep suppressing them, they won't have the mood to do anything else. "
Li Longji felt that the Ministry of Works was a bottomless pit. There were many things that needed to be researched, but they cannot be converted into money in a short period of time. What if they only research on one aspect? After researching on one aspect, they can start to research on the next when they can make money.
Wang Juan seemed to have guessed Li Longji's thoughts. She stopped eating and said, "Your Majesty, we really need time to settle down. There are many technologies that cannot be researched by just anyone. They need to be researched as a whole.
For example, the people in charge of the diesel engine research cannot do it. They also need to follow up on smelting, forging, and other aspects. Furthermore, even if they can produce a lot of diesel engines now, they cannot use them to make money.
Who can we earn money from? Earn money from the Imperial Court? Earn money from the military? At most, we can only earn money from these two aspects. We cannot earn money from the rich. When the military is equipped with more equipment, including small boats, land transportation, and cannons, we will need to wait until the second generation.
Only after researching on the second, third, or fourth generation can we bring out the first generation to use on the people's livelihood. We need to have some trump cards. Once we use it on the people's livelihood, others will know.
I know that you want to use it as a machine for farming, water utilization, electricity generation, transportation, and so on. It does have these uses, but we need to wait. "
Li Longji had thought of this problem even without Wang Juan saying it. No matter what technology it was, as long as it was produced, its first application would be in the military.
However, there was indeed pressure in the Imperial Court. Not everyone was so smart. Some people knew what was going on, but they could come up with a different theory that sounded convincing.
Thinking about how some people were targeting the Zhang Family and Wang Family, Li Longji felt vexed. He said to Zhang Xiaobao, "If the Ministry of Works uses the national treasury's money for research, there will be officials who will be unhappy. Even if they use my own money, in their eyes, my money is Great Tang's money.
They will always feel that we don't have enough money, even if our current income is a few dozen taels of decibels. After all, we also have other expenses. If we encounter some special situation and don't have enough money, they will panic.
If we don't use the national treasury's money and only use your family's money, they will object. The Ministry of Works is Great Tang's Ministry of Works. If we keep using your money, won't it become your Ministry of Works?
If you directly donate it to the Imperial Court, the officials in the Imperial Court will redistribute your money. They are willing, but if you directly put your money into the Ministry of Works, that won't do. Sigh, I can't do anything about the issue of status. "
Zhang Xiaobao looked at Li Longji and realized that Li Longji did have a helpless expression. However, he felt that Li Longji wasn't as helpless as he said. It seemed like he had some ulterior motive and wanted to use him as a scapegoat to kill his enemies.
This person was too unrighteous. He rushed forward when there was something good, but he insisted on letting him and Cuckoo deal with offending others. There were indeed officials in the Imperial Court who were against the Zhang Family, but the ratio didn't exceed those who supported the Zhang Family.
Who would dare to stop the research of the Ministry of Works? If there was one, they would kill one. If there were two, they would kill a pair.
There were indeed people in the Imperial Court who didn't allow the Zhang Family to spend money. However, that was in the beginning. Later on, didn't they set up a company together? Furthermore, they had invested a lot of money. After the company was set up, the money had to be spent by the Ministry of Works. At the same time …
Oh, I get it now. Li Longji must have seen the results, so he wanted to take them out first to shut the mouths of those who opposed him. He wanted to let them see hope and at the same time, prove how prescient Li Longji was.
However, he and Cuckoo had objected to taking out the diesel engine. If that was the case, wouldn't it mean that Li Longji's opinion was wrong?
So that was the case. He thought that it was something big.
Thinking of this, Zhang Xiaobao's eyes turned. He smiled and said to Li Longji, "Your Majesty, I just remembered that our investment group needs some results to boost the confidence of the people, right?"
"Oh? There's such a thing? If you didn't mention it, I would have forgotten. Yes, how do we boost the confidence? Xiao Bao, do you have a good idea? "
Li Longji suddenly understood. At the same time, he was very satisfied and pushed the matter to Zhang Xiaobao.
Zhang Xiaobao pouted. He was almost speechless. Li Longji, can't you just say it directly? Why do you have to beat around the bush?
Sigh. "Your Majesty, this matter is simple. If we want them to earn money, it won't be possible in a short period of time. However, if we want them to enjoy it, it won't be a problem. To be honest, the wind turbine in their house and the hydropower station by the river are too lousy.
Not only do those things always have problems when they are used, but the wind and water are also very convenient. The electricity generated is very small and can't be considered stable. Many people use it to show others that they have it in their house to show their status.
However, now that we have a decent diesel engine, we can ask the Ministry of Works to build a few more and send electricity to their house. They can use it however they want. It's just a waste of diesel.
If they were to count the cost of the diesel fuel as part of the group's profits, they would be able to use the electricity whenever they wanted. Once the electricity was used, they would not be able to keep it. It would be a waste if they did not use it.
If there is excess electricity, we can use a wire to give to the rich. The profits will be used to maintain the generators. This way, they will be overjoyed. The company will give them some electrical appliances like electric furnaces.
This is not a problem. We can try all kinds of materials to see which is more heat-resistant and has higher resistance. They can use electric furnaces to cook, and the food should be very fragrant. At least, those who invite guests to their house will feel that the food is very fragrant.
These electrical appliances will also be considered as part of the company's profits, and I believe they will be willing. What do you think? "
Zhang Xiaobao suggested as he looked at Li Longji, waiting for his decision.
"Good. It's good to be able to generate electricity. I agree. When we return to Beijing, the Ministry of Works should be able to produce a lot of diesel engines. I will show them how good this thing is."
Li Longji praised. He had finally achieved his goal.
Wang Juan, who was beside him, added. "Also, we can build a few more tractors and cover the diesel engines in front. No one can see what is inside, and we will not have a bucket at the back. We can just use a shiny metal sheet to pick them up in the morning and at night.
We can arrange according to the routes and let them enjoy riding on horseback. The bumpy ride is also a form of enjoyment. At least, others will not be able to ride on the bumpy ride.
But this way, people from other places will know about Great Tang's new products. Hence, the speed of the tractors must be slow. Even if they know about it, they can still hide some of their strength. This is the best solution. "
When Wang Juan said that they can let others see the diesel engines, Li Longji hesitated. "This … let's put aside the tractors for now. We will see what they think. If they are satisfied with the electricity, we will not let them see the tractors. Based on what you all said, we can save money by not letting them see the tractors. Can we stop them from talking? "
"No. Not only that, I think the diesel engines will break down very quickly. After all, they are being used 24 hours a day. Just the wastage alone is not a small sum."
Zhang Xiaobao poured a bucket of cold water on Li Longji.
This time, Li Longji hesitated again. After thinking for a while, he said, "Since that is the case, let's consider other methods. Xiao Bao, you are smart. Think of a few more ideas. It is not worth it to waste the diesel engine manufacturing materials for them."
"Your Majesty, don't worry. It's worth it, very worth it. In fact, even if we don't generate electricity for them, the diesel engine has to be used in other places and not left idle. The purpose of the work is to see the extent of the diesel engine's wear and tear, so that we can determine where the material needs to be improved.
Using the diesel engines on them is killing two birds with one stone. Now, it is decided. Not only the diesel engines, but also the wastage of the wires and transformers.
To be honest, when we use electricity now, the voltage is not stable. We use the electricity directly on the electrical appliances, so the light bulbs will always break down. We cannot continue to do this in the future.
Now, let's treat it as giving them some benefits during the experiment. Who asked them to spend money? Yes, we can also use the diesel engines to make popcorn. The other type of popcorn is a long stick. Basically, any kind of rice will do.
If we really sell it, we will not be able to sell it for much money. But we will not sell it and give it to the people who invested the money. Tang Dynasty only has one batch of popcorn, and other places will not be able to eat it. They will not be able to measure the value of the popcorn directly. As long as it is not too overboard, we can just give them whatever they want.
If their families want to earn more, they can sell the popcorn, and the money will belong to them. But there is a limit to the amount we can give them. If they want more, they will have to spend their own money. We will give them a price that is more suitable for the cost. Haha. "
Zhang Xiaobao finished and laughed. If they do as he said, the Ministry of Works can put the experiment in a way that will make them unable to refute.
"Good." Li Longji continued to praise without holding back.
"Xiao Bao, get someone to make the popcorn first. I will personally name it and set the cost. Good people, we are all good people. We will sell it at the cost."
Li Longji narrowed his eyes. He knew that Zhang Xiaobao was lying about the cost. Anyway, the popcorn was in the Ministry of Works, and they can't just casually go over to check the cost.
At the same time, the most important thing is that they want to live a better life. Seeing that they can't take out the money they invested and can't even get dividends, they can only do business. This way, when they are free, they will not spend their time finding fault with the Zhang Family and Wang Family.
"Alright. Since Your Majesty has agreed, I'll get someone to make a machine that can make popcorn when we return. It's not difficult. We'll use a diesel engine. One is for crushing, and the other is for heating. Speaking of popcorn, it's delicious. Children will definitely use that stick as a weapon to compare it."
At the mention of popcorn, Zhang Xiaobao was reminded of the past. Back then, the lives of the common people were relatively good. However, not only was popcorn not eliminated, but it was even more popular. It was cheap and tasted good.
The matter was settled during mealtime.
The next day, the sky finally cleared up. The common people who were looking at the river sighed in relief. They did not have to waste any more time.
Li Longji sat on the tractor driven by Zhang Xiaobao again. In the beginning, they drove the tractor around the grain-sunning field. However, they felt that the place was too small. After discussing it with Zhang Xiaobao, they sent soldiers to keep an eye on the people who came from other places. They avoided them and drove the tractor deeper into Lu Zhou.
The sound of the tractor rang throughout the entire journey. When the common people of Lu Zhou saw this, they were only curious. However, they did not ask about it. After all, they were familiar with Lu Zhou's situation. There were many things that they were curious about.
Every time they tested the weapons, they would be curious. However, they had developed the habit of keeping it a secret. They would not tell outsiders. Even if they were from Great Tang, as long as they did not belong to Lu Zhou, they would not tell them anything related to intelligence.
Jang Wong Clan's duo saw the tractor as well. Initially, they wanted to give it a try. However, they found the ride was very bumpy. Moreover, the sound was uncomfortable so they gave up. Moreover, they did not allow Zhang Xiaobao to drive the tractor closer to Lu Zhou. They did not want to hurt the child in her womb.
For the next few days, Li Longji would go out and ride the tractor every day. After six days, Li Longji lost the novelty of riding the tractor because he could not drive it himself. After sitting for a long time, he found that he would get carsick.
Hence, he suggested riding the tractor for the last time in the next few days. After that, he would not ride it for the time being.
The last time Li Longji would ride the tractor was when he asked Zhang Xiaobao to bring a group of people to the foot of the Hundred Thousand Mountains to take a look. He wanted to leave the tractor at the foot of the Hundred Thousand Mountains for the time being.
There were many man-made roads in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Although they were not wide or flat, it was not a problem for people to walk on them. Even if the terrain was dangerous, there were various safeguards.
Li Longji's purpose in entering the tractor was to shoot at the prey. He no longer used a bow and arrow. Instead, he used a rifle. Although he did not usually use rifles, he was better than most soldiers who had undergone shooting training. His hands were steady, and his eyes were accurate.
When Zhang Xiaobao saw Li Longji killing the two rabbits with a single shot, he could not help but feel impressed. The two rabbits were not standing still. Instead, they were moving without any pattern.
In the end, Li Longji found an opportunity and fired. The two rabbits were killed at the same time.
Zhang Xiaobao sighed inwardly. This was an awesome person. He did not lose his reputation at all. Wang Juan had said before about Li Longji's talent. No matter how muddle-headed he was in the later stages, he was still very impressive in the early stages.
He learned things quickly, and he was very good at them. At the same time, he was able to govern the country and scheme against the various Prime Ministers. No one could be the Left Prime Minister for too long until he became arrogant. After that, the Great Tang started to go downhill.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
