The nobles of the Tang Dynasty were very rich, but only Ang Lee's processing plant could produce tempered medicinal jade. It was a unique business, and the price was ridiculously high, almost dozens of times higher than the cost. This made many nobles flinch at the thought of tempered medicinal jade, and they could only choose the relatively cheap translucent silk.
A very small number of extremely wealthy nobles would also choose to purchase some tempered medicinal jade to build greenhouses. However, due to the limitations of cost, they could only build one acre of land at most to satisfy their own needs for winter vegetables.
Of course, if these nobles knew that the cost of tempered medicinal jade was ridiculously low, and that only sand and soda ash were used to make it, they might vomit blood in anger!
In Chang 'an, the only people who knew the inside story of the medicinal jade were those barbarian merchants from the Western Regions, except for Li Longji. However, they would certainly not expose it, because they had been in the business of medicinal jade for so many years, and the price was almost the same as Ang Lee's. If they dared to expose the truth, the nobles of the Tang Dynasty would definitely be angry and skin these big liars who had cheated them for decades alive.
In addition, once the truth was exposed, not only Ang Lee would suffer losses, but these barbarian merchants would also lose their profitable business of medicinal jade. After all, at present, although Ang Lee also sold medicinal jade products, the products were completely different from those sold by the barbarian merchants in the Western Regions.
Ang Lee sold practical goods that could improve the living standards of the people of the Tang Dynasty, while the barbarian merchants in the Western Regions mostly sold ornaments that could only be appreciated. Just like the peddler who sold iron pots and the peddler who sold iron spears, there was no competition for business between them. They could completely get along peacefully.
Moreover, although the Western Regions had invented medicinal jade long ago, their technology was surpassed by Ang Lee's, especially the small mirror of medicinal jade, which had not been produced in the Western Regions yet. For this reason, many barbarian merchants proposed to buy medicinal jade mirrors in large quantities and ship them to the Western Regions for sale and profit. Of course, Ang Lee was happy to do this very profitable business. In order not to expose the fact that the medicinal jade was cheap, the barbarian merchants in the Western Regions did not bargain with Ang Lee. They directly bought medicinal jade mirrors in large quantities at wholesale prices and shipped them back to the Western Regions.
With the unique business of medicinal jade, Ang Lee's wealth was so great that he could not spend it all in ten lifetimes, and it would only increase.
Of course, wealth was not Ang Lee's highest pursuit. What Ang Lee pursued was higher. He wanted all the people of the Tang Dynasty to live a good life. He wanted to completely change the current fate of the Tang Empire and make the Tang Empire stronger, richer, and larger.
The development of farming machinery and pumping machinery required funds and various resources. Moreover, the demand was unusually large. However, after the autumn harvest, due to the implementation of the two tax laws and the sale of explosives, the national treasury was extremely rich and was fully capable of supporting these big projects.
Since the invention of the steam engine, the first practical machine to be built was the steam locomotive. Steam ships were also being developed. Now, farming machinery and pumping machinery had also begun to be developed. Soon, a steam power family would be formed.
Under such circumstances, the demand for charcoal would continue to increase in the future. Therefore, the imperial court issued a timely order to prohibit the people from buying charcoal mines. Not only charcoal mines, but all unowned mineral resources would belong to the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty to prevent the loss of national assets.
Ang Lee was one step ahead. Before the policy was issued, he bought the charcoal mines near the capital. This could be said to be a big bargain. This was a huge asset. He bought it at the price of cabbage. The other nobles did not realize the great role of charcoal. The remaining charcoal mines all belonged to the imperial court of the Tang Dynasty.
The development of various steam machines was relatively boring and difficult. For this reason, Ang Lee had to stay at the R&D Center for at least six hours every day to help the researchers break through their ideas and walk towards success step by step.
Ang Lee believed that since the extremely complicated steam locomotive could be developed, it was impossible for the steam farming machinery and pumping machinery not to be developed. Moreover, the speed of development would be much faster.
In order to develop these steam machines, Ang Lee had to take time to go to the R&D Center every day. For this reason, the inspection task of the two railway routes to the surrendered city and Jade Gate Pass completely fell on the relevant staff of the Railway Bureau.
These staff of the Railway Bureau were originally technical staff of the Ministry of Works. It was because the emperor wanted to establish the Railway Bureau that they were transferred from the Ministry of Works to the Railway Bureau.
These people participated in the inspection and laying of the railway from Luoyang to Chang 'an and accumulated a lot of experience. It was no exaggeration to say that their current ability was not inferior to Ang Lee's. They were fully capable of performing the inspection task given by the emperor. Moreover, they would definitely be able to complete the inspection task with quality and quantity.
"Assistant Minister Li, Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon and the others are here again."
Ang Lee was thinking about how to improve several core components of the farming machinery when Li Yu and Li Qiu came again.
"The two of them haven't come for a long time."
Ang Lee put down the work in his hands and walked out of the laboratory.
"Assistant Minister Li, have a cucumber to quench your thirst."
Li Yu and Li Qiu each took a cucumber and handed one to Ang Lee.
As the tempered glass greenhouse had been completed, more fireplaces were added inside. For this reason, even in the coldest weather, it could completely simulate the environmental temperature most needed for cucumbers to grow. The cucumbers planted by Ang Lee were divided into batches. After one batch withered, the next batch matured. Therefore, fresh cucumbers were produced no matter the time.
Li Yu and Li Qiu did not stand on ceremony. Every time they came, they would pick a few more cucumbers. In addition to eating them now, they would also bring a few back. This really made Ang Lee lose a lot.
"Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon, Shiro, you haven't come for a long time."
Ang Lee took the cucumber and ate it. He had been tired for more than two hours and was indeed a little thirsty.
"Assistant Minister Li, we have been busy with homework recently. After finishing a batch of homework today, we took the time to come over."
"Oh, what kind of homework do you usually do? Is it difficult?"
"It's difficult, of course it's difficult. Left Zhuan, Records of the Grand Historian, The Analects of Confucius, Mencius, and many other books. We have to learn all of them. Moreover, we have to memorize all of them. Don't you think it's tiring? Is it difficult?"
Li Qiu complained.
"Wow, it's really too tiring to have to learn so many things. Anyway, I don't know any of them, and I won't learn them. It's too boring."
At the thought of those obscure ancient texts, Ang Lee felt a headache coming. Although the knowledge related to machinery manufacturing was also very boring, it could be used to invent many useful things. Moreover, it could be seen and touched.
On the other hand, those ancient texts were different. They were difficult to read and even more difficult to memorize. Li An would rather reduce his lifespan by ten years than learn those deceptive ancient texts. Fortunately, he was not a prince, otherwise, he would have been tortured to death.
Looking at Li Yu and Li Qiu in front of him, Ang Lee was suddenly full of sympathy. It was not necessarily a good thing to be born in a royal family. At least, those obscure knowledge could torture people half to death. Moreover, he did not see the use of learning these things at all.
Li Yu and Li Qiu saw that Ang Lee did not need to learn homework but could invent all kinds of strange things. Instantly, they were full of envy and jealousy. They also hoped that they could be like Ang Lee and not have to learn homework. Moreover, they were already adults. It was really a pain in the ass to be troubled by these useless things.
"By the way, Assistant Minister Li, have you invented anything interesting recently? Let us see it."
As expected, Li Yu and Li Qiu were not here to learn about machinery. They were here to seek novelty. They were not interested in the boring principles of machinery. Ang Lee had taught them about reflection and refraction, but they did not listen at all. They only cared about burning ants with magnifying glasses. Therefore, Ang Lee did not teach them. Moreover, they were the imperial descendants. It was enough for them to learn the ability to control people. They did not need to learn physical science at all.
"There is nothing interesting. Ever since I accompanied His Majesty back to the capital, I have been researching and developing machinery for farming and pumping water. I have not invented anything else, let alone anything interesting. I have disappointed you."
Ang Lee was speechless. He was not a god. How could he keep inventing interesting things? Li Yu and Li Qiu had high expectations of him.
Sure enough, when the two heard that Ang Lee had not invented anything interesting, they were slightly disappointed. However, they soon returned to normal.
"Assistant Minister Li, what are the machinery for farming and pumping water that you mentioned? What are they used for?"
Li Yu asked. Since he had come here, he naturally could not return empty-handed. Even if he did not get anything interesting, as long as he knew that Ang Lee was inventing something, it could be considered a small gain. This way, when he returned to the Baisun Courtyard, he could tell others what he knew and use it as something to show off in front of others.
"Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon should know that the people of the Tang dynasty used oxen and plows to farm. One oxen, one plough, and one or two people could at most plow five mu of land a day. Moreover, they had to be strong and healthy oxen. However, the tiller that I am going to invent only needs one person to operate it. It can plow 200 mu of land a day, which is 40 times more efficient than oxen. It saves both oxen and manpower, and it will definitely greatly improve the spring plowing and autumn harvest."
Ang Lee introduced proudly.
"A machine that can plow 500 mu of land a day only needs one person? Is it really so powerful?"
Li Yu and Li Qiu were both shocked. They reckoned that others would also be extremely surprised if they heard this.
"This is still a conservative estimate. If two people take turns to operate it and plow it day and night, it is possible to plow 300 to 400 mu of land. Therefore, His Majesty also attached great importance to this machine and asked me to quickly develop it. It will be useful during the spring plowing next year."
Ang Lee explained with a smile.
"Assistant Minister Li, what about the pumping machine? How much water can it pump? "
Ang Lee said with a smile, "It can pump all the water in the Supreme Liquid Pond in a few days. Isn't it amazing?"
"Wow, it's actually so amazing that it can pump all the water in the Supreme Liquid Pond?"
Li Yu and Li Qiu were even more shocked. They admired Ang Lee's ability very much. Of course, since the train was put into operation, all the people of the Tang dynasty, and even all the envoys and businessmen who knew about this matter, were full of admiration for Ang Lee. They felt that Ang Lee was a godly person.
"Assistant Minister Li, great news! The test of the steam ship is successful. The test has been successful. "
At this moment, the news of the successful development of the steam ship came.
"What? The development of the steam ship has been successful? Really? That's great. "
Ang Lee was ecstatic when he heard this. He paced back and forth on the spot to suppress the ecstasy in his heart.
"Assistant Minister Li, the pond in the R&D Center is really too small. Should we move the steam ship to a larger water area? That way, we can better carry out the test."
Ang Lee stopped and nodded. "Qujiang Pond. Immediately move the steam ship to Qujiang Pond. I want to test the performance of the steam ship in Qujiang Pond."
"Yes, Assistant Minister Li."
"Assistant Minister Li, the steam ship must be very interesting. Let's go and take a look."
Li Yu and Li Qiu were very interested in the steam ship.
The newly built steamship was not very big, so it could be transported into the Crooked River Pool using certain methods.
The reason why Ang Lee chose Qujiang Pond was because it had the largest water area near the capital. It was relatively convenient to transport the newly developed steam ship there. Moreover, before the development of the steam ship, Ang Lee had already built a mobile platform with a wheelchair at the bottom. It could realize the movement of the ship on land.
After more than two hours, the successful test steam ship was successfully transported to Qujiang Pond. Ang Lee, Li Yu, Li Qiu, and the others had also arrived at the bank of Qujiang Pond. They were ready to sit on the steam ship and experience the feeling.
"Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon, Shiro, let's board."
Ang Lee took the lead and walked into the steam ship. Li Yu and Li Qiu followed. In addition, several researchers also walked up.
Although it was a small ship, it was not small. It could only be said that it was very small among the steam ships. However, it was still much bigger than the fishing boats.
This steam ship was ten feet long and thirty feet wide. The cabin was divided into two levels. It could easily accommodate more than thirty people.
At least seven or eight people had to work together to start a steam ship. Some were responsible for adding coal, some were responsible for steering, and some were responsible for observing the water situation. All in all, it was more troublesome to control.
In addition, there were many boats in Qujiang Pond. However, most of them were pleasure boats for pleasure. They were mainly for the nobles and the rich. Their speed was mainly driven by manpower. Not only was it difficult, but it was also very slow. On the other hand, the steam ship was driven by steam. Of course, its speed was much faster.
"Okay, let's set sail."
Ang Lee gave the order to set sail.
"Foul, foul, foul …"
As thick black smoke suddenly rose from the top of the ship, the steam ship began to move forward. Its speed was very impressive. It was much faster than the pleasure boats.
"Assistant Minister Li, this steam ship is really cool when it is driven! Look at the pleasure boats next to it. They are all left behind. Awesome, really awesome. "
Li Yu laughed happily.
"Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon, do you know what I invented this steam ship for?"
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