Zhu Yuanzhang was truly concerned about saving face.
He spent the entire afternoon diligently learning to ride a bicycle. He was determined not to give up, even though Zhao Qingzhu was a woman, she had already learned.
If he, the emperor, couldn't learn it, wouldn't it be a disgrace if word got out?
Therefore, he had to learn it, even if he forced himself to learn it.
Unfortunately, I'm getting old; I'm getting old after all.
I spent the whole afternoon learning, but I still couldn't grasp the essence of riding a bicycle.
As darkness fell, Zhu Yuanzhang could no longer continue practicing. After riding his bicycle all afternoon, he was feeling unsteady on his feet.
If you end up not learning to drive and still can't walk steadily, that would be a serious problem, and you'd have to prepare to continue learning the next day.
That evening, inside the palace, Zhu Yunwen and Zhao Qingzhu dined with Zhu Yuanzhang.
At the dinner table, Zhu Yuanzhang said:
"Bicycles are great! Although we haven't learned how to ride them yet, we'll learn sooner or later. This thing should be promoted vigorously; its use will definitely be a major improvement to transportation in the future."
Nowadays, when people go out, they either ride horses, sit in sedan chairs, or take horse-drawn carriages. This horse is quite expensive, costing several taels of silver.
But now that you mention it, the cost of making this bicycle isn't high at all. It's much cheaper than a horse, and you don't have to feed it hay or worry about it getting sick.
As for carriages and sedan chairs, they go without saying. A carriage requires horses and an additional vehicle, making it even more expensive. As for sedan chairs, although they are not expensive, the wages of the people carrying them are a significant expense.
Grandson, didn't you previously implement reforms to address the issue of officials? You arranged sedan chair bearers for some officials who needed them.
We believe that if this bicycle were properly promoted and each official were provided with one, the expenses for sedan chairs and sedan chair bearers could be completely eliminated, saving the imperial court a considerable sum of money.”
Upon hearing this, Zhu Yunwen's eyes lit up. Yes, that makes sense. Isn't this the same principle as in later generations, where officials are provided with cars?
Let's not talk about how much a sedan chair carrier earns; a sedan chair carrier must make at least one tael of silver a month, right?
The standard arrangement was four sedan chair carriers, and an official would have to spend four cartloads of silver per month to travel.
But a bicycle can be sold for less than an ounce of silver.
Bicycles can be used for a long time; let's say a year, right?
It only costs one or two taels of silver a year, greatly reducing costs.
Previously, an official would spend more than forty taels of silver a year on sedan chair carriers, but now it only costs less than one tael of silver. With so many officials in the country, how much money can be saved?
Thinking of this, Zhu Yunwen said to Zhu Yuanzhang:
“Grandpa is right. However, I need to make some improvements to the vehicles used by officials. After all, some officials are getting old and may not be able to ride these two-wheeled vehicles. I will change them into three-wheeled vehicles.”
If you don't want to ride it yourself, you can sit inside and let one of the original sedan chair carriers ride it for you. Wouldn't that solve the problem?
This solves both the transportation problem and the issue of officials not having to ride bicycles themselves—it's truly a win-win situation.
In fact, the tricycles that Zhu Yunwen mentioned, used by officials, are just the sightseeing tricycles that are later seen on the streets with a canopy and more comfortable seats.
If this thing is made, it can meet the needs of some older people.
Moreover, the balance is good, and the comfort is definitely not bad.
Thinking of this, Zhu Yunwen then said to Zhu Yuanzhang:
"Then let's settle this matter. Tomorrow I will make an improved version, a three-wheeled bicycle, for officials to use for transportation."
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately burst into laughter, finding it very interesting to discuss these novel matters with Zhu Yunwen.
After all, constantly talking about national affairs and political issues is just rehashing old news and it's getting tiresome.
However, Zhu Yunwen was always able to come up with some novel ideas, which always caught people's attention and added something new to life, and even something new to the world.
...
So, the next day, Zhu Yunwen drew up a design for a tricycle and ordered the Ministry of Works to start making it immediately.
The Ministry of Works dared not delay, so it spent a large number of workers to produce a sample according to the drawings drawn by Zhu Yunwen.
After Zhu Yunwen reviewed it, he made some simple improvements and explained some details. Then, according to Zhu Yunwen's wishes, the improved tricycle was produced.
The improved tricycle basically met Zhu Yunwen's requirements, so Zhu Yunwen ordered that 100 taels be produced first. In addition, 100 two-wheeled bicycles that Zhu Yunwen had previously made should also be produced.
After all, these two items have already been produced and can be mass-produced and put into the market immediately.
The Ministry of Works was specifically responsible for the construction; a hundred bicycles and a hundred tricycles were a piece of cake for them.
After all, producing cannons is not a problem, let alone tricycles and bicycles that already have blueprints and production processes.
So in less than two days, they delivered all one hundred bicycles and one hundred tricycles to the palace square.
In the afternoon, after finishing his business, Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Yunwen couldn't wait to come and visit.
Looking at the bicycles and tricycles, Zhu Yuanzhang said with great satisfaction:
"Great, that's wonderful! This bicycle is more unique, easy to handle, and fast. This tricycle, on the other hand, is stable, imposing, and has a strong presence—it's excellent. Two different styles, suitable for different types of people."
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