Zhong Yu was completely confused by Sima Qi's words.

In fact, Zhao Huan was referring to the business model of the 21st century. When entrepreneurs produce something that is not available on the market, they do not immediately mass-produce it. Instead, they first make a relatively rough product as quickly as possible and put it on the market for people to experience.

A typical example is the internet companies of the 21st century. When developing an app, they first develop the most basic functions. It doesn't matter if the appearance and interaction are ugly; they can iterate gradually later.

But you must take that first step.

Not only was Zhong Yu completely confused, but Sima Qi was also confused at the time, but he didn't dare to ask too many questions and could only go back and figure it out himself.

After pondering it for a while, I figured it out.

Then he locked himself in his room and marveled at the emperor's vision and perspective.

"The government wants the Academy of Sciences to build a steam engine, not to build the best steam engine right now, but simply to demonstrate its usefulness."

"Afterwards, the steam engine will undergo countless improvements, and Ye Chong's improvement is just one of them."

"You are so fixated on one particular improvement that it is unbecoming of an academician."

"Besides, what is the most important thing?"

"After the steam engine is improved, the government wants to mass-produce it. One hundred people can make one in five days. What if the government wants ten thousand? Should we find a million people?"

"Have you forgotten the concept of assembly line manufacturing that the official proposed at the Academy of Sciences two years ago?"

"Why are all the crossbows manufactured by the Ordnance Bureau of the Ministry of War of the same size? The method of manufacturing steam engines is not a secret. In the future, they will be manufactured by civilians. What is the most important thing?"

Zhong Yu was stunned; he had never thought of any of this.

"The manufacturing standards are the most important. Do you remember the iron nails that the government proposed? The size standards for iron nails were determined by the Academy of Sciences and the Ordnance Supervision Bureau."

“For the past two years, I have been trying out the assembly line manufacturing model that the government mentioned.” Sima Qi walked to the waterwheel model and pointed to the water in the waterway. “If all this water is a part of a steam locomotive, and they are arranged here, flowing like water, converging at a certain place, and then combined, it will definitely be faster than you are now using a hundred people to rush the work and then assemble it.”

"This is exactly what the Emperor wants, and it's something that the Song Dynasty will need when manufacturing many things in the future."

"The Academy of Sciences needs to create such a complete model and make it work like a steam engine. These patents are all in the hands of the Academy of Sciences."

"Teacher, when will such a model be built?"

"In the past, I always thought about the power of waterwheels, but since the steam engine and thermodynamics have made new discoveries, I have been thinking about these things in terms of thermodynamics. However, I don't know what can support steel and make it flow like water."

Zhao Huan was unaware that Sima Qi had already considered the assembly line production concept he had discussed with him.

When he brought it up, he was only pointing in a direction.

Ancient China had standardized production, but no assembly line production. Assembly line production requires very high standards for machine models; at the very least, the conveyor belt needs thermal or electrical energy to operate.

The material for the conveyor belt is missing.

As for the molds for manufacturing steam locomotives, they were not particularly difficult. After all, the Song Dynasty also had many molds for manufacturing iron products, so the technology existed; it just needed to be improved.

While Sima Qi and Zhong Yu were discussing, a servant's voice came from outside: "My lord, His Majesty has arrived and wants you to go to the front hall."

Sima Qi quickly straightened his clothes and said before leaving, "Zhong Yu, focus your mind on the right path."

"The student will heed the teacher's teachings."

Zhao Huan was warming himself by the fire, Shao Chengzhang was in charge of brewing tea, and Han Gonglian and Chen Gui were sitting opposite the emperor.

It was snowing heavily outside, and the north wind was howling from time to time.

Sima Qi strode over: "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

"Minister Sima, please sit down and have some tea."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"I heard from Tang Ke that six wealthy merchants have expressed interest in purchasing steam engines and have already paid deposits," Zhao Huan said. "However, the current steam engines still need improvement."

"Please enlighten us, Your Majesty."

"The size of the iron nails must be uniform, and the length and width of the steam engine must be uniform. I want every steam engine that is manufactured to be exactly the same, just like the horse-slaying sword and the divine crossbow of the Military Equipment Bureau."

"yes!"

That's easy to solve; with standardization, no one will disagree.

"Huaxing Trading Company has applied for a patent for a high-pressure steam engine. If the Academy of Sciences cannot improve it and come up with a better one, the Ordnance Bureau can purchase the right to use it from Huaxing Trading Company and start making production molds."

Zhao Huan picked up a cup of fragrant tea: "Minister Chen, I need two things: a high-pressure steam engine and a railway steam locomotive. Make the molds for these two things first. As for other uses for the high-pressure steam engine, you can figure them out yourselves."

"yes!"

Zhao Huan suddenly remembered something and asked Sima Qi, "How's the idea for the assembly line manufacturing mold coming along?"

Sima Qi then explained his thoughts in this way.

Zhao Huan was just asking casually; he didn't expect to be able to set up mass production right now.

But unexpectedly, Sima Qi had already thought of this step and blocked the transmission.

The transmission system is the skeleton of the entire production line. If the skeleton is not built, it is useless to assemble all the other molds.

Zhao Huan thought for a moment, then asked Shao Chengzhang to bring over some chopsticks.

Zhao Huan arranged the chopsticks neatly on the table, then rubbed them together with his hand, making each chopstick roll.

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!