Chapter 1003 Rice Transplanter and Taro (Part 2)

Luo Chong nodded upon hearing this. It was indeed as he said. The staple food of the Han tribe was rice, wheat, corn and sorghum. Corn was a coarse grain and could only be stored for three years, so it was not considered a staple food. Peanuts and soybeans were considered oil crops. In addition, they were used as side dishes and were not considered staple food. Although sorghum could be considered a staple food, its taste and texture were not as good as rice and flour, so it was currently only used for brewing wine.

Among these hulled staple foods, rice was planted the most because it had the largest per-acre yield. However, the current rice transplanting process of the Han tribe still relied entirely on manual transplanting, which was inefficient. If a practical rice transplanter could be developed, it would definitely be a great achievement that would benefit the country and the people, and it should indeed be rewarded.

In addition, the Power Research Institute of Xingang County was also developing various agricultural machinery, and it seemed that such talents were most needed, so Luo Chong asked.

"What's your name?"

"Me? My name is Yang Dashan. Why are you asking this? Are you going to tell someone? Brother, you can't do this. You just promised to keep it a secret."

Yang Dashan's eyes widened immediately, and he looked at Luo Chong and the two strong men with long swords hanging on their waists who followed Luo Chong in with vigilance.

"Why are you yelling nonsense? I said why are you so nervous? I just asked you a few questions. Do you know how to read? Can you write? How many can you write?" Luo Chong looked at Yang Dashan with contempt and asked again.

"Well, how many can I write? Not many. I didn't go to school. I can't write many words. I learned arithmetic from the master at the shipyard. What do you want to do? The two people following you are carrying swords. Are you from the government?" Yang Dashan answered the question and asked another question tentatively.

Luo Chong nodded and said casually, "I guess so."

After a pause, Luo Chong asked again, "Do you know the Power Research Institute of Xingang County?"

"Of course I know. The steam engine was built by the Power Research Institute. We have more than a dozen of them in our shipyard. The steam-powered circular saw is more convenient than the windmill sawmill. It can also drive the air compressor. Now we use air hammers to nail nails in our shipyard. How could I not know about it?

"By the way, there is also the train from Xingang County to Weishan County, which was also built by them. I had the honor to see it once, but I have never ridden it. This year they have developed a water pump. Now the fields are all built with well houses. I heard that there will be no more worries about water irrigation in the future, and

the harvest will be guaranteed regardless of drought or flood. "Everyone there is talented, smart and capable, and ordinary people can't get in. What, are you from the institute?" When Yang Dashan mentioned the Power Research Institute, his tone was full of admiration and envy.

"Haha, I guess so. Do you know what the Power Research Institute has done this year?" Luo Chong did not answer, but continued to ask.

"They should still be building trains. I seldom go there, so how do I know what they are doing?" Yang Dashan shook his head, indicating that he didn't know.

"Do you want to go? Join the institute." Luo Chong looked at him and asked again.

Yang Dashan's eyes widened immediately, and he looked at Luo Chong excitedly, "Can you let me go? But, but I, I can't write. I heard that they recruit new people from schools, and they have to have the best grades. I, they don't want me."

"The Power Research Institute has recently been doing research and development on agricultural machinery and other engineering machinery. Just a few days ago, they just completed the initial test of a steam-powered tractor, which has the ability to replace oxen for farming. It is very efficient. At present, in terms of arable land, dozens of oxen are no match for a tractor.

"They will also develop other automatic agricultural machinery, such as seed drills and harvester-threshers, but they don't have rice transplanters yet. I think you will definitely be able to make a difference if you go there.

"When these agricultural machinery are successfully developed in the future, people will no longer have to work directly in the fields no matter what they grow. They can just drive their cars to do farm work. They can do everything by just going around the fields. It is also very efficient. One hundred percent mechanical farming, one person can replace the workload of thousands of people. Are you interested in this?" Luo Chong did not reply, but directly introduced the research projects that the institute is currently doing.

"Ah? This, are you serious? The institute already has machinery for farming? And it wants to make other agricultural machinery?!" Yang Dashan was surprised and shocked, and for a moment he was a little incoherent.

"Can you let me go? But, but I don't understand steam engines. I may not be able to do anything if I go. This, alas." He sighed to himself.

"You don't need to understand. Even if you go there, everyone will do their own thing. You know teamwork, right? It's impossible for only one person to be responsible for each project. It's all done by a team, just like your shipyard. Those who make keels make keels, those who lay planks lay planks, those who do waterproofing do waterproofing, and those who do outfitting do outfitting. It's not necessary for everyone to be a jack of all trades and know how to do everything. Those are great craftsmen and master chefs.

"Even if you go there, you don't have to take care of everything. As long as you can make the rice transplanter, even if you spend the rest of your life just improving the rice transplanter, if you do this well, you will be useful.

"Look at this thing you made. The chains and gears are made of wood. They are not durable, right? You can't buy metal chains and gears. If you go to a blacksmith shop to order such delicate parts, the labor will be several times more expensive than iron.

"And the sled below, made of solid wood. If it is soaked in water again, how heavy will this rice transplanter be? It may not be convenient for operation, but if the skeleton is made of steel bars and a thin layer of iron sheet is welded on the outside, it will definitely be lighter.

"Instead of doing research here by yourself, you might as well go to the research institute, where there are funds and resources. As long as you can produce results, the tribe will pay for your research, and you can also get a salary. The treatment there is also the best, not worse than that of ordinary officials, and isn't it better than you working behind closed doors here?

" "What do you think? In one word, are you going or not?" Hearing that Yang Dashan was still hesitating, Luo Chong immediately induced him.

"You, can you really let me go? "

Yang Dashan asked, staring at Luo Chong immediately after hearing that. To be honest, he was really moved by what Luo Chong said just now. In the entire Han tribe, from school students to craftsmen in various workshops, who doesn't want to work in the research institute?

The two research institutes of the Han tribe are like the Chinese Academy of Sciences in modern times. They belong to the top few people with high social status, which is enough to be admired by all the people in the tribe. They are all people who have made outstanding contributions to the Han tribe.

However, the current members of the research institute are still a bit simple. At present, they are all teams composed mainly of senior technicians. This is also directly related to the level of science and technology. The higher the level of science and technology, the more complicated the disciplines are. No one can be proficient in all categories. Therefore, when the level of science and technology is improved, the research institutes and researchers will become more complicated.

The two research institutes of the Han tribe are still in the early stages, just doing work and research and development, but they have not made any academic contributions. If there are any academic achievements, the first comprehensive research institute is still at a higher level, especially the chemistry group and optics group of the comprehensive research institute. Ao Fei's theoretical science and academic research results on some light phenomena can be written into textbooks.

"You are really short-sighted. Haven't you seen the chief before you have seen money? There is a portrait of the chief on the coin. Now the chief is standing in front of you and you can't recognize him. You are still asking if you can. If the chief can't let you go, who else in this tribe can let you go?"

Seeing that Yang Dashan was still making a fool of himself, the guards next to him couldn't stand it anymore, and he directly told Luo Chong's identity impatiently. After that, he looked at Luo Chong carefully. Seeing that the chief didn't care, he stood up straight with relief.

"Ah? You are the leader?" Yang Dashan was startled, and looked at Luo Chong carefully.

Seeing him like this, Luo Chong laughed angrily, "Why, don't you look like him? Is there anyone here who dares to pretend to be the leader?"

"Please forgive me, leader, for my poor eyesight. I didn't recognize you. The leader is much younger than the portrait on the coin. It's related to the leader's dignity. Even if I doubt it, I dare not recognize you easily." Yang Dashan immediately bowed and clasped his fists to beg for mercy.

"Hehe, you are good at talking. Get up and answer my question just now. Are you going to the research institute?" Luo Chong waved his hand and helped him up, and then continued to ask.

"Go, since it is the leader's order, Dashan dare not disobey." Yang Dashan was delighted when he heard it, and bowed his hands and clasped his fists again.

"Well, is it convenient inside? Do you have paper and pen? I'll write you a note."

"Yes, yes, yes. My child is in school, so he can't be without paper and pen. Please come in, Chief." Yang Dashan immediately led Luo Chong and the other two into the main hall, asked Luo Chong to sit down, poured a bowl of hot water, and then hurried to the inner room in the west to get a set of pens, ink, paper and inkstone.

"Dashan, who's home?"

The loom in the east room suddenly stopped, and a woman's voice came to ask.

"Mother, come out quickly, come out quickly, the chief is here, come and greet the chief." Yang Dashan came out with paper and pen, and immediately shouted to the inner room.

"Hey, don't bother, I'll write you a note and leave." Luo Chong stopped him for a while, stopping the other party from treating him like a monkey, and then asked the guards to fill water into the inkstone and grind it. He asked for Yang Dashan's ID card and started writing notes for him.

It copied the household registration information on his ID card, and then wrote a transfer order. It was more like a letter of introduction than a transfer order. Finally, he asked the guards for the imperial seal and stamped it with Luo Chong's special seal. This note allowed him to enter the research institute directly.

"Take this note and go to the manager of your shipyard and ask him to handle the resignation procedures for you. Then report to the Power Research Institute of Xingang County before December. After you arrive, go to Director Lin Feilin and ask him to arrange you to the agricultural machinery group. Don't forget to bring your invention.

"After you arrive at the agricultural machinery group, within two months before the beginning of spring, you must make a practical hand-cranked rice transplanter for me. Tell the team leader directly what resources you need, and ask the team leader to find you what craftsmen you need. Replace all your wooden parts with iron ones, and replace the solid wood boards with thin iron sheets. The current model is too heavy and not suitable for promotion.

"It's impossible for large rice transplanters to be popular in a short period of time, but this small one is affordable for every household. You should hurry up and make it. As long as you can make a practical rice transplanter, I will promote you to a higher rank.

"In addition, I'll give you one month to finish the previous work at the shipyard and arrange things at home." Luo Chong pointed to the unfinished loom in the yard again, "Finish the unfinished things. You can't delay the payment of goods after receiving the deposit."

"Yes, yes, yes, chief, don't worry. Thank you for the grace period. Chief, why don't you have lunch at my house before leaving? I'll ask the baby's mother to buy a few pounds of mutton." Yang Dashan nodded and greeted.

"No, no need. I have things to do. I'll leave now and won't have dinner at your house. "Luo Chong put away the jade seal and handed it to the guard, then stood up and left. Yang Dashan hurriedly followed him to the door, and his wife also followed him out holding a two or three-year-old baby, but Luo Chong only asked them to see him to the door and let them go back.

The three continued to go shopping. They found a talent, and the tribe was about to have a rice transplanter, which could at least double the efficiency of the tribe's rice planting. Luo Chong was still very happy.

The three were walking on the street when they suddenly saw a black-clothed clerk from the Liuyang County government office rushing towards them. He walked up to them and said

, "Chief, where did you go just now? I walked around the street twice and couldn't find you."

"What do you want to see me for?" Luo Chong asked briefly.

"The exploration team led by You Fu received a letter and sent a package. We opened it and saw a letter, a piece of coal and a fruit. I think they found a coal mine in the south. We haven't opened the letter yet, and we are just about to find the leader to take a look." The clerk said hurriedly, panting.

"Where is it? Take me there quickly. "Hearing that it was You Fu who found the coal mine, Luo Chong's eyes immediately lit up and he asked anxiously.

That was a coal mine, and it was a coal mine in the south. Now that he had this card, he could revitalize the entire political situation, industry, and economy in the south. In the past, because of the lack of such a coal mine, many things could only remain on the plan and could not be actually carried out.

"It's in the county magistrate's office. Please follow me, leader. Hey, hey, leader, don't be so anxious." The clerk hadn't finished speaking when he looked up again and found that the three people in front of him had disappeared. When he turned around, he saw that the three people had already walked away quickly, and he hurriedly chased after them.

When the group arrived at the lobby of the government office in a hurry, Luo Chong's voice was transmitted before he arrived.

"Where is the package sent by You Fu? Show it to me! "

As they were talking, the three of them had already entered the lobby. Luo Chong saw a blue linen package on the lobby table. The package had been unfolded, and inside were the three things.

A letter wrapped in a brown paper envelope, with the wax still unopened, and an irregular coal block that was as black as ink and had a metallic luster, and a round, egg-sized yellow fruit next to it.

Luo Chong looked at the things on the table with a strange look on his face. Just when everyone around him thought he was going to take the letter or the coal, he saw Luo Chong pick up the fruit and muttered,

"Isn't this a potato? Where did you get it from?"

(End of this chapter)