The next day, Li Xin and Bai Fenglan arrived at the Academy of Sciences with the prepared booklet.

Wang Zheng, the president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the directors of a number of research institutes within the academy came to pay their respects to Li Xin.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Everyone quickly bowed in greeting.

"Rise, no need for such formalities!"

Li Xin waved and quickly helped Wang Zheng up, saying, "Elder Wang, please have a seat!"

Li Xin had never paid much attention to formalities. Especially when it came to these precious research talents, he treated them with exceptional courtesy!

After instructing everyone to sit down, Li Xin listened to the members of the Academy of Sciences report on the Academy's recent research achievements.

The greatest research achievements are still in the field of chemical engineering.

With the development of technologies such as three acids and two alkalis, and combined alkali production, the basic chemical industry has made very rapid progress!

Even products such as TNT and mercury fulminate have begun to be mass-produced.

Products such as smokeless gunpowder and nitrocellulose are also being mass-produced in factories.

For Li Xin, this was all very important and great news.

"Very good, very good, you did a great job!"

Li Xin nodded quickly and praised.

"His Majesty,"

Wang Zheng stroked his beard and continued, "Besides the rapid progress in chemical engineering, there has also been great progress in other mechanical fields. The multifaceted applications of the steam engine have also been invented. As per His Majesty's previous instructions, the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the Academy of Sciences has successfully applied the steam engine to various aspects such as farming, sowing, and transportation, and has already developed steam tractors and steam automobiles!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

Li Xin's eyes widened as he asked, "You've invented a steam tractor? A steam car?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Wang Zheng nodded and said, "The prototype is inside the Academy of Sciences. Your Majesty, would you like to come with us to take a look?"

"Let's go, let's go see for ourselves!"

Li Xin smiled and nodded.

Immediately, the group headed towards the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Upon arriving at the Machinery Institute, Li Xin immediately noticed several enormous machines placed on the open ground!

The towering chimneys are particularly eye-catching!

This steam engine is indeed much smaller than the steam engines on steam trains. Below it are several large iron wheels, which look quite impressive!

"His Majesty,"

Zhou Qing, the director of the Mechanical Engineering Institute, introduced, "This is a steam tractor. Compared with the steam engines previously used in steam trains, it is much smaller and lighter. However, it is still very powerful. Our Mechanical Engineering Institute has also developed a plowshare, which has been tested in the field. It can drive five plowshares at the same time and plow out a five-foot-wide area of ​​land in one go."

"Five plowshares?"

Li Xin nodded slightly and asked, "What kind of plowshare do you use?"

"Your Majesty, over here."

Zhou Qing led Li Xin to an open space nearby, where a large iron plowshare was placed.

Looking at this plowshare, the five plowshares are arranged in a staggered manner, and it is not much different from the plowshares seen in later generations.

However, the number of plowshares is still somewhat insufficient.

Looking at Zhou Qing, Li Xin asked, "You've done a very good job. But have you tried increasing the number of plowshares?"

"His Majesty,"

Zhou Qing explained, "We've tried it, but in terms of overall efficiency, it's not much different from five plowshares. This is due to the current energy efficiency of steam engines! Recently, our mechanical institute has been trying to improve steam engines to develop steam engines with different energy efficiencies so that they can be used on different equipment."

“Agricultural land naturally requires much higher energy efficiency.”

Zhou Qing continued, "However, ordinary steam cars don't need such high energy efficiency to carry a dozen or so people. But steam trucks, which carry thousands or tens of thousands of kilograms of goods, also need such high energy efficiency. During this period, all kinds of steam engines are being tested simultaneously."

"You did a great job!"

Li Xin smiled and nodded, looking at Zhou Qing in front of him, and couldn't help but admire the people of this era.

No matter the era, there are always clever people who can learn by analogy!

The research on the steam engine alone has expanded beyond agriculture and transportation to other areas.

"but,"

Looking at Zhou Qing, Li Xin said, "Now that the prototype is successful, we need to get it into mass production as soon as possible. We've just pacified the grasslands, and we need to manage and build things there, as well as reclaim wasteland for farming. Steam tractors will come in handy. We can first equip them with the Northeast Reclamation Army and use them in places like Yunzhong City and Lanhe City to reclaim wasteland, which will also improve efficiency!"

"And these steam trucks need to be put into mass production as soon as possible!"

“We need a lot of supplies to manage and develop the grasslands. Right now, our railway has only just reached the vicinity of the West Station in Beijing. From the West Station in Beijing to Xuanfu, Lanhe City, Yunzhong City and other places, the journey is long. If we rely solely on the militia for transportation, it will be too time-consuming. Fortunately, once steam trucks are mass-produced, it will greatly reduce manpower and allow us to carry more goods!”

Hearing Li Xin's words, Zhou Qing nodded hurriedly and said, "Your Majesty's teachings will be remembered by all! During this time, the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of the Academy of Sciences has joined forces with the Beijing Manufacturing Bureau to establish a tractor factory. A number of technicians have been transferred from the steam engine factory, and the setup has begun. The steam engine technology is mature. It is expected that steam tractors will be able to go into production in a month. As for plowshares, seeders, etc., the technology is relatively simple. Once the steam tractors are produced, these can also be manufactured."

"besides,"

Zhou Qing continued, "Steam trucks, steam cars, and other steam vehicles are also being planned and factories are being built; it's already on the agenda."

"very good!"

Li Xin nodded and said, "If you need anything, just let us know. The imperial court will definitely provide strong support for these matters!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Zhou Qing quickly thanked him.

Immediately, Li Xin and others from the Academy of Sciences held detailed discussions on the site selection and construction of the automobile manufacturing plant.

Li Xin selected a large area near the Beijing West Railway Station and the Beijing Manufacturing Bureau for use as an automobile manufacturing plant.

The area around Beijing West Railway Station has now become a major heavy industrial base for the country!

The Beijing Manufacturing Bureau and the Beijing Ordnance Manufacturing Bureau were located here, where steam engines, steam locomotives, machine tools, punch presses, and other equipment were produced.

Nowadays, steam tractors, steam cars, and steam trucks have also been added!

Not bad, not bad!

Li Xin nodded in satisfaction.

After seeing the steam tractor and steam car, Li Xin and the others returned to the conference room of the Academy of Sciences.