Chapter 157 The War Machine Gradually Starts
The islanders of Castres have been feeling something is different lately.
The lord shut down half of the olive oil factories and three-quarters of the soap production lines. He also recruited a large number of workers and started work at multiple construction sites at the same time.
The islanders were a little surprised, as they could recognize most of the newly built construction sites, which were also factories, but on a much larger scale.
Are we going to build a new factory? At the same time, the content of the night literacy class has also been increased. It is said that a lot of knowledge from the advanced class has also been transferred to the literacy class. The school has integrated them into a "general education" course, which is compulsory.
But the general education course taught something a bit outrageous. It actually said that there was a steel machine that made an incredibly loud noise. What was the steel machine? The students in the advanced class told them that it was a steam engine, like a stone mill that could turn by itself, and all you had to do was fill it with fuel and water.
Everyone has seen a stone mill. People use it to grind olives and squeeze out oil. But it can rotate by itself. This is a bit unbelievable.
Unexpectedly, the next day, a machine nearly two people tall stood in front of the school gate. The heads of various factories also organized workers to visit. Finally, under the onlookers, a group of students in the advanced class disassembled it into parts and reassembled it with their own hands.
Xius came to the scene in person and explained it to everyone.
He took a rag, wiped the grease off his hands, looked at the workers around him and said loudly: "See? This is a steam engine. Boiling water in the boiler pushes the piston to move - you should have learned this in your course, right?"
Even after learning so much, seeing such a huge metal structure with its lines that exude industrial beauty still gave them a huge shock.
"There will be an exam soon, and the question is about the steam engine. Those who fail the exam will not be able to work in the factory in the future. But don't worry, from now on, this steam engine will be disassembled and assembled by students all the time, and you can come anytime to see its principles with your own eyes."
The crowd was a little agitated. They couldn't work in the factory? They were counting on working to earn some money. Besides, the atmosphere in the factory was different from other places. The lively and chaotic atmosphere, with everyone working hard, was something they had never experienced before.
As long as you work well enough you can earn money, as long as you work hard enough you can climb up the career ladder, and before you know it the people of Castel have gotten used to this kind of life, where every day is fulfilling instead of just sitting around in the sun and getting bored - they can't really tell why, as they watch new factories being built, see more and more goods being produced, see the food on the table gradually becoming more abundant, they seem to feel happy even with the hard work.
Their efforts are making everything better.
Therefore, even if the lord was right in front of them, some people still dared to ask, "If we learn it, will there be any reward?"
"There are so many rewards. Knowledge is the reward." Hughes said with a smile, "You will understand when the new factory is built. These steel machines will do the heaviest work for you. What you need is to cooperate with and maintain them. Of course, your salary will be paid according to the machinist apprentice."
There was a sudden commotion in the crowd. They didn't quite understand what the word "mechanic" meant, but recently many students in the advanced classes who came to teach them had mentioned that this was a position that only students who graduated from the advanced class of mechanics could apply for.
Machinist apprentices are those who have not yet graduated from the mechanics principles course. They need to go to the factory to participate in learning and receive an additional salary subsidy of one rio per day.
A Rio every day!
People's eyes lit up. This amount of money was not small, and it was extra income, added to their original wages.
Besides, since he is a mechanic apprentice, will there be a chance for him to become a regular employee?
Hughes looked at the workers around him and couldn't help laughing. "As long as you work in the new steam plant for a certain period of time and pass the exam, you can get the status of a mechanic. You may not be familiar with mechanics, so I'll just tell you directly - the salary is eight lios a day."
Eight Rio.
The workers fell silent instantly.
This salary can easily support the expenses of a family of three, and if you are alone, you can live a pretty good life.
This number was so shocking that the workers didn't know how to react for a moment.
Hughes smiled secretly in his heart. Eight Rio was indeed a very high salary for this era, but for his industrial capacity, it was nothing.
This was the case when he had no channels to sell his goods yet, and he did not have much money at the moment, so this was the price he offered.
If it really goes as he expected, the salary of a mechanic who can repair equipment independently would have to start from more than ten rios.
The production capacity of industrial society is completely unimaginable to the local natives. Even though steam engines have not yet been used, relying solely on advanced systems and assembly line production, Castres' warehouses are filled with all kinds of goods, greatly enriching the lives of the islanders.
With the start of the steam engine, Castell's development speed will be much faster than before, and this is just the beginning.
Unfortunately, Xiusi sighed lightly. There was going to be a war here. All production capacity had to be tilted towards the war. Heavy industry had to be developed first. The days of stable development were gone forever.
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Hughes looked at the islanders around him and said, "People of Castel, the steam engines in front of you will soon be shipped to various factories to drive your millstones and forge steel for you. You have already seen the efficiency of the factories, and steam power will double and double this efficiency. Steel can reach a level that human power cannot reach."
“You may not understand it now, and you may be afraid, but you will eventually understand what the development of technology means—in fact, you have already seen some of it.”
"Fried fish! Soap!" Someone shouted, and laughter came from the crowd.
"Yes, this is the abundance of material things. Oil has become cheaper, and frying food is no longer a luxury. I promise you that in the future, food, clothing, housing and transportation will be like this. Cheap and high-quality goods will slowly become more and more abundant with the roar of steam."
People listened quietly, their expressions fascinated.
Zeus always told them about such a bizarre and beautiful future, so beautiful that people could not believe it, but he could make it come true every time. Gradually, people had an almost blind trust in Zeus, and "The lord never lies" had become a common saying.
They look forward to such a life, they yearn for the future that the lord talked about, they will not allow anyone to take away this beauty, if someone hinders their steps -
"Unfortunately, we have to stop now." Xius said slowly.
(End of this chapter)