The small blacksmith workshop located in the valley on the western outskirts of the city is no longer the small business it once was.
It has at least tripled in size.
Even the number of cement houses for living has increased by several rows.
The entire valley was leveled and turned into a workshop.
The tall chimneys were emitting thick smoke.
The surrounding trees were listless.
In iron smelting, environmental pollution is inevitable.
Last year, the eunuch Ma Xiaoliu was ordered to return from the northwest and has been stationed in the small blacksmith workshop ever since, living and eating with the craftsmen.
"Manager Ma, it worked! It worked! The waist knife made of fine steel finally worked."
If the dagger that Gu Jiu gave to Yang Ji was an accidental gain.
At this moment, small blacksmith workshops produce fine steel waist knives in batches.
From refining fine iron, to refining fine steel, to mass production, to making waist knives, it took two years, and the craftsmen have fully mastered all the technical processes.
Ma Xiaoliu took the steel knife and gently scratched the blade with his fingers, causing blood to flow.
He doesn't care at all.
He swung the steel knife and chopped directly at the original iron knife.
Bang!
There was a harsh sound of metal rubbing against each other and sparks flew.
There was a chip on the iron knife, but the steel knife was intact.
Ma Xiaoliu shouted, "Good! Very good! There are rewards, everyone will get a reward."
The craftsmen were overjoyed and cheered together.
However, Ma Xiaoliu's next words poured cold water on the craftsmen.
"The steel furnace will be shut down from today! From now on, we will only produce refined iron!"
The craftsmen were stunned and couldn't believe it.
After finally mastering the complete process and having a qualified steelmaking furnace, we were asked to shut down the furnace.
“Why is this happening?!”
"Manager Ma, you know exactly how difficult it is to build a steel furnace. If this flame goes out, the furnace will be useless!"
"Yes! Now that the furnace is broken, it will be very difficult to build another qualified steelmaking furnace."
"Manager Ma, don't turn off the engine!"
The craftsmen were talking at once.
However, Ma Xiaoliu was extremely determined.
"We must shut down today. This is the decision from above."
Ma Xiaoliu always remembered Gu Jiu's instructions: when fine steel was refined, the furnace fire should be extinguished. This matter was not negotiable.
What Gu Jiu wants is technology, not fine steel.
Doesn’t Gu Jiu need fine steel?
Of course not.
But the environment does not allow her to refine fine steel at this time, it is too taboo.
Especially since Liu Zhao is currently training troops in the northwest, this is a big taboo.
At any rate, the fire must be extinguished.
The weapons made of fine iron alone are hundreds of years ahead of Beirong's technology.
Fine iron weapons are enough.
Ma Xiaoliu's attitude was firm and would not be questioned.
The craftsmen could only extinguish the steel furnace with tears in their eyes.
The moment the fire went out, dozens of craftsmen fell to the ground and cried.
After so much effort, we built a steel furnace, but it was forced to shut down.
I'm not willing to accept this!
Ma Xiaoliu also felt uncomfortable and his eyes were wet.
But he still hardened his heart and destroyed all the information.
Only ten fine steel waist knives were made and all were locked in the warehouse, waiting for the lady's arrangement.
He wiped his eyes and said, "Today is a day off. Tomorrow we will start smelting fine iron and producing four-wheeled carriages."
The bearing problem has been solved and is also made of refined iron.
The technology for the four-wheeled carriage is fully mature and is only waiting for mass production.
There are several finished four-wheeled carriages in the warehouse.
The carriage wheels have a cold and eerie temperament, yet they are eye-catching.
Ma Xiaoliu caressed every inch of the four-wheeled carriage.
Don't underestimate the inconspicuous four-wheeled carriage. It is a technological revolution and an innovation in the manufacturing industry of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
This day will surely be recorded in history books.
The small blacksmith workshop will surely go down in history.
…
It's a cloudy day today.
The streets of Beijing are busier than usual.
It's a cloudy day, so the weather isn't that hot and everyone is happy to go out for a walk.
Then countless people began rubbing their eyes.
"Am I dazzled?"
"I feel dazzled, too."
"That's a carriage."
"How did you make a carriage with four wheels?"
"It's turning, it's turning, look everyone."
"Oh my god, how come the turn is so smooth? I thought the carriage would get stuck."
"Look at the wheels. Are they connected together with something?"
"Oh my god, the wheels are not made of wood, but iron. How much does it cost?"
"How many pounds of iron must be used to make four wheels? An iron pot costs two or three taels of silver. Wouldn't these four wheels cost dozens of taels of silver?"
"I wonder whose carriage it is?"
"Why haven't I heard of any carriage company selling a four-wheeled carriage?"
"Are you all blind? Don't you see the emblem on the carriage?"
"The emblem looks like Sihai, but not like it."
"It's not like it. Is there someone imitating Sihai? When did a business in the capital dare to challenge Sihai?"
The four-wheeled carriage drove through the streets and alleys of the capital, sparking heated discussions.
Countless people dropped their work and ran to the streets to see the wonder.
"It's really a four-wheeled carriage! I thought it was a hoax."
“It’s so rare!”
"Look, sir! A four-wheeled carriage."
In the restaurant, noblemen gathered to drink.
The servant's exclamation drew a round of laughter.
"Are you blind? There's no such thing as a carriage."
"Sir, it's a real carriage, it's on the street outside. Look, it's about to turn."
All the nobles ran to the windows to see what was happening.
“It’s actually a real four-wheeled carriage.”
"Look at the carriage turning!?"
"It's so beautiful! I want a four-wheeled carriage too."
"Are the wheels made of iron?"
"Don't worry about what the wheels are made of. This young master must own the first, no, second four-wheeled carriage in the capital."
"Mr. Ma, you are so arrogant. I haven't even said a word yet, and you dare to say that you own the second four-wheeled carriage in the capital."
"Young Master Zhao, if you're not convinced, why not have a competition to see who can find the owner of the four-wheeled carriage first?"
"Okay, let's compete."
"Look, is the four-wheeled carriage going to the Shaofu?"
"Which direction? There's not only the Shaofu but also the Hubu."
"It must be the Shaofu. A four-wheeled carriage is such a rare item, could it be a new product from the Shaofu?"
"If the Shaofu had this ability, I would swallow the wine cup on the spot."
"Quickly send someone to the Shaofu to find out what's going on."
Gu Jiu sat in the four-wheeled carriage.
The space inside the carriage is more than twice as wide as that of a traditional carriage.
The carriage is equipped with springs for shock absorption, making it much more stable than traditional two-wheeled carriages. You can hardly feel the bumps.
The carriage drove through the streets and alleys of the capital, causing bursts of exclamations.
Through the car window, Gu Jiu saw countless people flocking to both sides of the street just to witness the miracle of the four-wheeled carriage.
This wave of publicity is very good and powerful.
Without spending a penny, the fame of the four-wheeled carriage spread.
Gu Jiu seemed to see gold and silver flashing before his eyes.
The four-wheeled carriage will be a new profit growth point.
Bringing in a profit of one million taels a year is no problem.
This is more valuable than copper ore.
"Madam, the Shaofu has arrived."
"Help my lady get out of the carriage."
The maid Aqing helped Gu Jiu get off the carriage.
Officials from the Shaofu Yamen ran out one after another, staring at the four-wheeled carriage and talking incessantly.
Prince Consort Huang also ran out.
"Oh, oh, it's the Madam. This, this, this..."
"This is a four-wheeled carriage!" Gu Jiu said with a smile.
"It's so rare!" Prince Consort Huang rubbed his hands. "Quickly drive the carriage into the stables in the backyard. Don't park it at the door to avoid causing unrest."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Master Jialing is right."
The coachman received the instructions and drove the carriage to the stable in the backyard.
The driver held his head high and chest out, as proud as a peacock spreading its tail.
He was the first coachman in the whole capital, and even in the whole world, to drive a four-wheeled carriage.
It's something he can boast about for the rest of his life.
Prince Consort Huang welcomed Gu Jiu into the Shaofu and sat him down in the signing room.
Instruct subordinates to serve tea.
"Use the Wushan Maojian tea that I treasure."
Huang Qubing ran into the signing room with an excited look on his face.
"A carriage, a real carriage. Madam, has the carriage you mentioned really been built?"
Gu Jiu nodded with a smile, "Yes, we finally made it. It was really not easy. Have you seen it? Are you satisfied?"
Huang Qubing was very excited. "I'm very satisfied. The space inside the carriage is more than twice that of a two-wheeled carriage. The four-wheeled carriage is so gorgeous and so rare. I believe that once the four-wheeled carriage is launched, it will be popular all over the country and everyone will flock to it."
“Cough cough cough…”
Prince Consort Huang coughed twice to remind Huang Qubing not to be too complacent.
Whether or not to launch the four-wheeled carriage and how to launch it require careful discussion.
The most important thing is to get the support of Emperor Wende.
Otherwise, the wheels alone would not pass muster, and the court officials would criticize the carriage to death, no matter how good it was.
Iron smelting and fine iron forging are never trivial matters.
The salt and iron monopoly is not just talk.
Huang Qubing chuckled, broke a chair and sat down.
"Madam, what do you say?"
Prince Consort Huang reminded him, "A four-wheeled carriage is a good thing. The key is how to convince His Majesty."
Gu Jiu smiled and nodded, "Master Jialing's words make sense. Now that the four-wheeled carriage has been built, if we want to promote it to the market and make it popular throughout the world, we still need the support of His Majesty."
Prince Consort Huang stroked his beard and asked, "I heard that the wheels are made of fine iron?"
Gu Jiu said frankly: "It is indeed made of fine iron."
“Trouble!”
Prince Consort Huang frowned, "You don't need me to explain in detail. Madam, you should know that refined iron is a controlled item by the Ministry of Finance. It is used to make wheels and it needs to be distributed throughout the country. The court and His Majesty must be worried that someone will dismantle the wheels to make weapons. This matter must be prevented."
Gu Jiu smiled and said, "The Lord Housekeeper's concerns are justified. But we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Kitchen knives and hoes can kill people, so does that mean the court should ban their use?"
"That's different. Common people cannot live without kitchen knives and hoes, but they can still live without four-wheeled carriages. Two-wheeled carriages have been used just fine for hundreds and thousands of years, haven't they?" Prince Consort Huang waved his hands repeatedly and refuted.
Gu Jiu chuckled, "The Lord Housekeeper is worried that someone might dismantle the wheels and make weapons. That's one reason. Let's think about this from a different angle."
"Madam, please speak. I am all ears."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－－
Too tired and sleepy!
The body has been hollowed out.
I really can't hold on any longer, so today's update is late. Please forgive me!
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