Wang Juan missed the military exercises of that time. The only difference between this and a real war was that the soldiers did not feel the pressure of facing death.
Anyway, everyone knew that even if they died, it would be a fake death. Of course, this was excluding those who accidentally fell to their deaths.
That was much more fun than the sand table now, and it cost more. It was not like now, where they just needed to make some money.
At that time, the satellites in the sky really needed to cooperate. After the two sides came into contact, the first would be electronic warfare, followed by long-range warfare, and finally, an annihilation battle.
Tanks, rocket launchers, and other cannons would really fire shells, but the shells would not explode. They would emit electronic signals. If there were enemy forces around the place where the shells landed, they would explode according to the irregular signals. There would be a simulated signal of flying shrapnel. If one was injured, one would be injured. Some of the functions would not be used. If one was killed, one would leave the battlefield.
With a protective helmet on the head, even if the shell landed on the head, it would not be easy to die. If one was sniping from a tall tree and a shell suddenly landed on the head and smashed one down, then … one's name would be on the death list.
However, the current sand table deduction judgment, no matter how perfect it was, there would always be loopholes, and the ability of individual soldiers to fight could not be reflected.
For example, if one side used bows and arrows and flying knives, and the other side used guns, under normal judgment, within a certain distance, the one with the gun would kill you.
However, in reality, there might be a situation where the one with the bow and arrows and flying knives could get close to you and kill you with a flying knife without any rules.
A small team of elites could even determine the success or failure of a local strategy. The sand table could not accurately reflect, and the difference was very big.
The simplest example was to let Zhang Xiaobao lead the people of the protection team to carry out tactical cooperation. Under the situation where the opponent had guns and cannons, Zhang Xiaobao's 100-man team could appear and completely defeat the opponent's 300-man team or even 500-man team.
The individual qualities of the soldiers were not the same. How could you reflect it on the sand table? Did you want everyone to compete again?
Therefore, Wang Juan felt regret as she set the rules. She could only do her best. It was better than sitting on the left and right sides of the sand table and arguing.
Li Longji did not know about Wang Juan's regret. He thought that the current situation was already very good. Whether one was capable or not, one would know after a try.
He immediately arranged for people to inform the generals and let them prepare for the written test.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan left satisfied.
The generals were dumbfounded when they received the emperor's notice. It was just a normal war. How did they get involved with the common people? Could it be a joke?
Zhang Xiaobao didn't have time to consider what the generals were thinking. He left the Imperial Palace with Wang Juan and went straight to the Ministry of Works to find Zhang Xiaobao's father, Zhang Zhong, to discuss the business expansion of the family.
Before they arrived at the Ministry of Works, they received news that Zhang Zhong was not in the Ministry of Works. Instead, he had gone to the experimental site that the Ministry of Works had cordoned off. The two of them found a carriage and headed out of the city.
When they arrived, there were quite a few people gathered around to watch the show.
Zhang Zhong was also in the crowd. He held a pair of binoculars and looked at a diesel engine 200 meters away.
When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan got closer and took the binoculars from the person beside them, they saw that the diesel engine was operating normally and making a deafening sound. The other end of the engine was not connected to a hand tractor, but to a lathe.
The axle on the lathe was connected to the diesel engine. As the diesel engine rotated, the cutting tool on the lathe also rotated. Someone had painted a little dot on the blade.
What Zhang Xiaobao saw were lines of coils. After looking at them for a while, he felt that they were turning in the opposite direction. It was like a wheel. It was obviously turning forward, but the lines formed by the holes on the wheel were turning backward due to the rotation.
It was a visual deception. It was a very common thing.
Beside the lathe, there was a cabinet. Oh, no, it was a person. He was wearing armor made of some unknown metal. He was holding a metal rod in his hand and was approaching the cutting tool.
Zhang Xiaobao understood. This person was wearing armor to prevent the cutting tool or the metal rod from hitting him. It was also to prevent the diesel engine from exploding. It wasn't easy, hero.
The crowd was also watching. They watched as the person touched the rotating cutting tool with the iron rod. With a burst of sparks, the iron rod broke.
Suddenly, the crowd burst into cheers. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan felt that the diesel engine's noise was not very loud.
The person picked up the broken iron rod on the ground and ran toward the crowd with it in his hand. However, his movements were very clumsy. After running for a dozen steps, he lost his balance and fell to the ground with a bang.
Immediately, some people who were not afraid of death rushed over and dragged this person back.
After helping to take off the person's' clothes', the crowd looked at the two pieces of the iron rod that had been cut in half.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also came forward and looked together.
After learning, the crowd did not stupidly touch the cut just now. They knew that it was hot.
"Not bad. The cut is very neat. The cut surface is smooth and flat. This means that the blade does not have a large horizontal surface." Zhang Xiaobao commented after looking at it.
Wang Juan nodded. The quality of the cutting tool was most directly reflected by the cut surface of the object being cut. Looking at the iron rod in front of them, the cut surface was not bad. It was just that they did not know how much the cutting tool was worn out.
After hearing Zhang Xiaobao's words, Zhang Zhong realized that his son and daughter-in-law had come. He quickly pulled his son and introduced, "Xiao Bao, look. This is steel that has just been smelted from the blast furnace. It is very hard. It will take a lot of effort to break it using normal cutting methods. Also, the cut needs to be polished again.
The people from the Ministry of Works were wondering if they could use diesel engines. In the end, they succeeded. Look at this cut. It is flat and smooth. It will increase the efficiency of the diesel engine. But the diesel engine is not very stable. We intend to produce more of this steel and use it to make diesel engines. "
Zhang Xiaobao nodded. This was how the industry worked. It was like a lathe. First, the finer parts were made by hand, and then the more finer parts were made by the lathe. Then the more finer parts were used on the lathe, and the more finer parts were used on the lathe. The process was repeated again and again.
There was nothing that could be created out of thin air without the development of a system.
"Dad, the diesel engine should stop." Zhang Xiaobao reminded.
"Stop? No. Wait for the oil to finish burning first. After it finishes burning, it will stop. If it does not finish burning and suddenly breaks down, we will know what went wrong. "Zhang Zhong told his son.
Zhang Xiaobao looked at Wang Juan, and Wang Juan winked. That means she knows how to spend money. Zhang Xiaobao was impressed by the technicians from the Ministry of Works. They knew it was not easy to build a diesel engine, but they still want the diesel engine to break down.
This was another version of the saying, "You are worried that the charcoal is cheap and the weather is cold."
Building over and over again, testing over and over again. Take one step at a time and steadily move forward. Bold ideas and careful verification. This was the spirit of science.
Other than their theoretical knowledge, they were not worse than the academicians from the Academy of Science.
Zhang Zhong was still excited and said to his son: "With the new steel, we can make better cutting blades. The lathe should also be replaced. Xiao Bao, why are you here?"
Zhang Zhong remembered that his son did not come over often. Today, he must be here for something.
Zhang Xiaobao was sure that his father had started to change from an administrator to a technician. Wang Juan did not give his father any lessons, but he had learned a lot.
He replied: "I have discussed with Cuckoo. We plan to expand our business and open more branches. We will come to the Ministry of Works to take a look at the waste."
"Waste? You mean the branches also need to produce steel? "Zhang Zhong asked in surprise.
Zhang Xiaobao waved his hand and said: "That is not the case. I was thinking that no matter how bad the waste from the Ministry of Works is, it is better than the farming tools outside. I want to make a few sets of things that the people can use and sell. This way, the Ministry of Works will not waste too much.
Many things do not need to be reheated. For example, if the cutting blades break, the quality is not good. It is not up to the standards of the Ministry of Works. But it is not a problem to use the shards to grind out some knives for carving. "
Zhang Zhong thought for a while and said: "That is true. But the parts cannot be sold casually, especially the parts with shapes. It is easy for others to get them. I don't care if we open branches at home. You ask your men to take note. If there is any meteorite, they must take it back.
Just like what you said, there might be some very good alloys inside. The Ministry of Works will take a look and choose the ones that can be used to produce new parts. Xiao Bao, do you think the newly produced steel can be used for the cold rolling that you and Cuckoo mentioned? "
Zhang Xiaobao's eyes widened. My father dares to think of anything. Cold rolling? Is there such a press equipment?
Wang Juan continued: "Father, it is not possible for now. Let's continue with the hot forging. When the smelting technology is improved, we will see if there is the ability to produce a large press equipment. This matter needs to be done slowly. Come up with a theory and discuss it with everyone. Do not rush.
We will think of a way to find the meteorite when we go back. Actually, if we ask the Ministry of Works to mix different metals according to different proportions and smelt and forge, there might be different materials with different properties. For example, very hard, easy to mold, etc.
Since we have already thrown caution to the wind and are not afraid to spend money, then let's experiment with all our might. Every small step in the project is a big step in the industrial system. "
Zhang Zhong could not hide the disappointment on his face, but he still replied: "Oh, fine. Let's do as Cuckoo says."
After all, his daughter-in-law was the 'professional'. Zhang Zhong firmly believed in this point.
Wang Juan was embarrassed. Was she a professional? Her profession did not seem to be this. She pondered for a while and said to Zhang Zhong: "Father, isn't the oil used to separate various materials? You can ask someone to put it in the oil when annealing the steel and adjust the temperature to see what the effect is."
"You can put it in the oil?" This was the first time Zhang Zhong heard of this.
"Let's give it a try. Maybe there will be an unexpected surprise." Wang Juan said.
"Okay. Anyway, we have a lot of money. With all kinds of materials and all kinds of mixing methods, I don't believe that we won't be able to find something good. At least we can guess one or two things, right?" Zhang Zhong made up his mind.
Zhang Xiaobao quickly agreed: "Yes, yes, yes. Father, you are absolutely right. Science is developed by trying accidents again and again. Of course, we have to think about why it is like this. First, we have to guess. Then, we have to analyze the good things that we guess."
"I know, I know. There are experimental records. If we can't repeat according to the records, it means that we have missed something important." Zhang Zhong put on a scholar's face.
"Yes, father is right. Then, father, let's stop here. Cuckoo and I will go back first. We will summarize the theory and see if we can come up with something better."
Zhang Xiaobao saw that his father kept glancing at the experimental diesel engine and the lathe when he was talking to him. He knew that his father was not paying attention to him, so it was better to leave quickly.
"Xiao Bao, you and Cuckoo go do your work. I will take a look." Zhang Zhong waved his hand.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan left. They passed through the layers of defense and stood at the foot of the mountain.
Looking at the coachman who was sitting on the shaft and dozing off, Wang Juan asked: "Xiao Bao, do you think that when science develops, there will be a lot of people who will lose their jobs? For example, this coachman."
"How is that possible? The more science develops, the more industries are divided. There will be more people needed. It's just that technology has become more advanced. The coachman who drives the cart can be a driver."
Zhang Xiaobao was not worried about this kind of thing. The so-called "not being able to find a job" was relative, not absolute.
Those who could not find a job disliked the work that could be done easily. The low income was not a problem of ability, but a problem of perception.
"That's true. There are not many people in Tang right now. I am worrying too much. Let's go back." Wang Juan did not want to think about this matter anymore.
They woke up the coachman and took the carriage back home.
Xiaobei and the group of children had already packed up and were reading books. If there was something they did not understand, they would ask each other. The others did not know how to memorize it, so they would wait for their brother and sister to come back and learn.
Because Xiaobei's development direction was different, she did not learn much. She quickly memorized what she needed to memorize and told stories to Li Jun and Pan'er.
The two children were already more than two years old. They liked to listen, point at things and ask questions. They also liked to see something and run over to take a closer look. They were so serious that they seemed to want to do an atomic analysis of that thing.
After looking at it, they felt that it was not fun and ran in another direction. They would casually throw a rubber ball on the ground and they would be able to run for a long time. They were very happy.
Under the temptation of candy, the two children were now guarding Xiaobei's left and right, listening to Xiaobei's sister tell stories.
At this moment, Xiaobei finally understood how difficult it was for his brother and sister. He clearly knew things, but he could not let Li Jun and Pan'er understand them. He had to become as stupid as them. Telling stories became teaching vocabulary.
"Ball, rubber ball, gulu gulu, far away, rubber ball, gulu gulu, look, it's far away, right?" Xiaobei awkwardly organized his vocabulary and threw the rubber ball around on the ground.
The two children were clearly more interested in the way the rubber ball was rolling. As for what gulu gulu, after playing with the rubber ball, they might be able to learn a few words.
"So stupid, so stupid. Teaching them is too tiring." Xiaobei looked up and sighed.
Xiaohai turned to look at his sister and said, "Brother and sister have never said that we are stupid. We also grew up at this time."
"Okay, I won't say that they are stupid. They are smart. I can't remember when I was their age. The things I know seem to be very natural. What's going on?"
Xiaobei couldn't understand for a while and felt very confused. He watched Li Jun and Pan'er kick the rubber ball around, but they always missed. He calmed down.
When Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan came in, they saw Xiaobei in a daze.
"Xiaobei, are you done with the Candy House?" Zhang Xiaobao asked.
Xiaobei nodded, then suddenly turned around and asked, "Brother, when I was their age, how did you teach us? Was it very difficult? "
"It wasn't difficult." Zhang Xiaobao said with certainty, "Because you are smart. I, Zhang Xiaobao, have the best little brothers and sisters. You play first, I'll go in with your sister to discuss some things."
Zhang Xiaobao said this and went in with Wang Juan.
Bei Bei thought for a moment, then smiled and clapped her hands towards Li Jun and Pan Er, "Jun 'er, Pan' er, come here. Big Sister will tell you a story. You're both very smart. Big Sister Bei, my little brother and little sister are the best."
*****
"I'm very happy today. The technicians are all working hard. I believe that soon, we will have a new surprise." Zhang Xiaobao sat down and made tea. He helplessly pushed it in front of Wang Juan and poured himself a cup of water. He was afraid that the tea would hurt his stomach.
Wang Juan didn't hold back. She touched the handle of the teapot and said, "Yes, it's really not easy to build it bit by bit. Once the industrial system starts to be used, a lot of raw materials will be needed. Some can be extracted from oil, and some need to be refined from other things.
For example, from ores, plants, animals, and even aquatic products. When the time comes, I'm really worried that there won't be enough materials. If we can advance … "
At this point, Wang Juan stopped and began to size up Zhang Xiaobao. She looked at him from top to bottom, and then from bottom to top. Zhang Xiaobao's hair stood on end.
"My water is not as good as your tea. Do you want to change it?" Zhang Xiaobao pushed his own cup in front of Wang Juan. He needed to use his words and actions to relieve the psychological pressure under Wang Juan's gaze.
Wang Juan pushed the water back, "Aiya, Xiao Bao, my good husband, my good husband, you actually planned to hide it from me. Don't you see who I am?"
"You are my wife, my wife. What, what did I hide from you?" Zhang Xiaobao still didn't understand.
"Hmph, hmph, hmph!" Wang Juan coldly snorted and continued to stare at Zhang Xiaobao. When Zhang Xiaobao was about to run away, she said,
"When I asked you why you gave away your family's aquaculture technology to others for free, you didn't tell me. When Li Longji asked you what crops to plant as compensation, you also didn't say.
Do you really think I can't guess? I'm just giving you face. Now, I'll tell you what your plan is. You actually want to monopolize the industrial production technology. You're afraid of lacking raw materials. Is this how you act like a good person? "
"Ah ~!" Zhang Xiaobao heaved a sigh of relief. He thought it was something else, so he sighed and said, "If I had known, I wouldn't have gone to the Ministry of Works with you today. Women can't be too smart. I only had a little thought, but you guessed it. I was careless.
Actually, this is what I was thinking. When the industrial technology is applied, it can't be given to others. It can easily leak the secret. What can I do? I have no choice but to … "
"I have no choice but to trouble you, right? Then think about it. What should we do if we don't have enough raw materials? Alright, let's do a great kindness and give away the aquaculture technology that can be refined into raw materials for others to use for free. We also have to subsidize the farmers and let them plant specific things. "
Wang Juan followed along with Zhang Xiaobao's words. She had a smug expression on her face that said, "I can guess even if you don't tell me."
Zhang Xiaobao bowed and said, "My wife is really amazing. I only had this little thought, but my wife still saw through it. I'm impressed. I'm really impressed."
Wang Juan nodded in satisfaction. Then, she suddenly realized something and said, "No, if I really guessed everything, you wouldn't be like this. Tell me, what else is there?"
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