With tears streaming down his face, Zhong Yu told a heart-wrenching story: Ye Chong had stolen his blueprints and built the steam locomotive.
He, on the other hand, was devastated by the loss of the blueprints.
Due to time constraints, only this steam locomotive could be temporarily constructed.
Ye Chongdao asked, "Sir, when were your steam locomotive drawings completed? And how were they improved?"
Zhong Yu looked at the steam locomotive, made a judgment based on its appearance, and said, "Shrink the cylinders, that's right, shrink the cylinders, shrink the body, this is my blueprint!"
"Logically speaking, this manufacturing method is very simple and takes less time, so how did you manage to build a larger one?"
Zhong Yu was speechless for a moment.
Ye Chong continued, "The real blueprints are here. It's not as simple as you say, like shrinking the cylinders or the car body."
Ye Chong took out the blueprints from his sleeve. He really wasn't used to wearing the long gowns that only scholars wore; he felt it was too awkward.
But there's no way around it; for this occasion, I have to dress formally to save face.
He presented the drawings to Xu Churen, who looked at them once but couldn't understand them at all.
He continued, "Lord Xu, this is the correct method for manufacturing this steam locomotive. I have already applied for a patent with the Ministry of Commerce!"
"What!" Sima Qi suddenly stood up, somewhat annoyed.
Xu Churen was also slightly taken aback.
Applying for a patent means that other trading companies that want to manufacture this type of steam locomotive must pay him a patent fee, or they cannot produce it.
Even the imperial court had to pay for production!
As a result, the budget of the Council of State Affairs will increase again!
This undoubtedly hit Xu Churen's sore spot.
Xu Churen pretended to be very calm, and Tang Ke on the side was also very calm.
Xu Churen said, "The Ministry of Commerce will review it carefully."
Ye Chongdao said, "Minister Xu, the Ministry of Commerce has approved it."
Everyone present turned green with shock.
Tang Ke almost jumped up.
Holy crap!
How did this thing end up in the hands of ordinary people?
Furthermore, it has been patented and is protected by the latest laws of the Song Dynasty!
This is really a pain in the ass!
etc!
Who the hell approved it?
Tang Ke's face twitched violently a few times. Wasn't this just shooting himself in the foot?
All eyes turned to Tang Ke, who was both angry and innocent, as he had no idea who had given him the pass.
It's okay, we can fix it later!
That's what Tang Ke thought, and that's what Xu Churen and the others thought too.
How could something so important be taken by a private merchant?
I believe the emperor wouldn't say anything, after all, if this guy really takes it, the court will have to spend a lot of money for no reason in the future!
Ye Chongdao said, "Master Xu, I heard there is a reward of 200,000 strings of cash?"
Xu Churen said, "Indeed."
Zhong Yu's lips twitched violently a few times. He was unwilling to accept that the duck that was right in front of him had flown away!
Several bigwigs from the Academy of Sciences felt somewhat ashamed, as this thing had actually been developed by private businessmen, while they had failed to create it!
This is truly a slap in the face!
Ye Chong boarded the steam locomotive again, bowed to Xu Churen, and said, "Minister Xu, this humble subject takes his leave!"
Then, amidst everyone's sullen expressions, Ye Chong drove away triumphantly.
The exhibition feast soon came to an end.
The people of the Song Dynasty have witnessed something new today, and the streets are buzzing with discussion.
Zhao Huan did not linger at the Academy of Sciences, but instead returned to the palace.
After what happened today, the entire Academy of Sciences was in an uproar.
Now that the emperor knows that the things jointly produced by the Academy of Sciences and the Ordnance Bureau are not as good as those made by a private merchant, where will he put his face in the future?
The bigwigs at the Chinese Academy of Sciences all seemed to have been provoked, as were the people at the Political Affairs Hall.
The first thing Tang Ke did was go to the Ministry of Commerce to check all the inventions for which patents had been applied in the past month.
Actually, there's no need to verify. In the present Song Dynasty, many people are unaware of the existence of patent law. Even if those merchants are aware of it, no one applies for it.
Therefore, there is only one copy here.
The application was submitted under Huaxing Trading Company, which in turn belongs to Yongsheng Trading Company.
In other words, this patent belongs to Yong Sheng Trading Co., Ltd.
Tang Ke then quickly checked the records of Yongsheng Trading Company again, but found nothing unusual.
Upon learning this, Tang Ke and Xu Churen hurried to the palace.
The emperor was having hot pot with Roujia when he saw Xu Churen and Tang Ke arrive. He deliberately asked indifferently, "What brings you two ministers here?"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, the steam locomotive is finally complete."
"Yes, I am very pleased."
Xu Churen said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say."
"Please speak freely, Mr. Xu."
"According to the new commercial law of the Great Song Dynasty, the latest patent for steam locomotives has been applied for by a man named Ye Chong."
The emperor raised his eyebrows and said, "This is a good thing; it encourages creativity among the people."
Tang Ke continued, "However, this means that if the imperial court wants to mass-produce these steam locomotives in the future, it must pay Ye Chong."
Xu Churen quickly added, "If that's the case, the national treasury will be even more strained."
Zhao Huan looked surprised and said, "Then I will trouble you, Prime Minister Xu, to replenish the national treasury!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Churen felt like vomiting blood.
Your Majesty, that's not what I meant!
Xu Churen chuckled dryly, "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the emperor; on the shores of the earth, all land belongs to the emperor. Your Majesty, although this latest steam locomotive was built by Ye Chong, it still belongs to Your Majesty, so..."
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