Chapter 264 Derivatives
Zhou Xu suddenly thought of developing bicycles. In the final analysis, it was because they were short of horses, but they could not find a herd of wild horses for the time being.
With no other choice, Zhou Xu could only set his sights on the messenger.
In order to deliver messages faster, each village always has two fast horses for messengers to use.
But in the actual implementation process, Zhou Xu found that not all messages were so urgent, and it didn't matter if some messages came slowly.
Under this premise, Zhou Xu came up with an idea, which was to reduce the number of fast horses in each village to one, and then arrange two bicycles for each of them.
For important news, a messenger on a fast horse was specially arranged to deliver the message.
As for less important news, just let the other two messengers deliver the message on bicycles. There is no need to be so anxious.
In this era, the bicycles made under limited conditions were certainly not as fast as a horse, but they were much faster than two legs or ox carts, and were sufficient for general communication.
After discussing the production of the bicycle with Zhuang Mengdie, Zhou Xu took the opportunity to talk to Zhuang Mengdie about another vehicle, which, to be precise, could be considered a derivative product of the bicycle.
"Look, this ox cart, while ensuring the 'carriage' part, replace the ox in front with a human-powered structure like a bicycle, and combine them together. Can it achieve the transportation effect of an ox cart to a certain extent?"
At this moment, Zhou Xu was talking about nothing else but the human-powered tricycle.
After returning from this trip, while observing the daily work of the logging team, I found that sometimes the ox carts might not work well.
The logging team's work location is basically at the logging site outside the village.
For the logging team, the main function of the ox cart is to transport the cut wood back to the village.
But to be honest, it would be a lot of trouble to pull a cow to transport the wood over such a distance. If we use a human-powered tricycle, wouldn't it be easier to move it at any time? It might be easier than using a bullock cart.
The same situation also occurred at the mine, and with some of the construction team's short-distance transportation work.
Zhou Xu's purpose is self-evident, which is to free up more ox carts for transportation between villages and for cultivating fields.
From this point of view, judging from the value that can be demonstrated at work, the benefits that human-powered tricycles can provide to them are far greater than those provided by bicycles.
Zhuang Mengdie, who realized this, was not at all vague. Under Zhou Xu's guidance, he drew up the design of the human-powered tricycle overnight.
We started making it the next day.
Since she can make both wooden carts and bicycles, she is not unfamiliar with the work.
The only thing that requires extra attention is the connection, but it is not difficult. According to the experience accumulated by Zhuang Mengdie along the way, she can easily handle it by herself without even Zhou Xu asking.
Soon the first tricycle was built.
Compared with bicycles, tricycles are more stable, but much easier to ride. Basically, all you have to do is sit on it and pedal.
This first tricycle was undoubtedly directly assigned to the Black Moon Village logging team.
After trying it, I found that although this tricycle is more laborious than a bullock cart, it is indeed less troublesome! After all, a bull is a living animal, and sometimes it is troublesome to drag it around.
But it’s different with a tricycle. You don’t have to take care of its emotions. Just stop there when you get to a place. It doesn’t matter if you ignore it because it can’t run away anyway.
If there is really something, you can tell it to the tricycle rider. You can explain it clearly and he can understand it. It is very convenient.
As a result, this tricycle, which was more tiring than a ox cart, was unexpectedly welcomed by the logging team.
Afterwards, two of the newly manufactured tricycles from the Equipment Department were sent to the mine in Yanhu Village. As expected, the miners at the mine also found the tricycles convenient and save trouble.
Zhou Xu successfully replaced the ox cart with the tricycle in these relevant departments.
This will allow more ox carts to be smoothly used in long-distance transportation.
After all, at this moment, the relocation of the original village and the construction of the new village have already begun in Huangshan Village.
In order for the work over there to proceed smoothly, the transport team here is under tremendous pressure.
Of course, during this period they were not only transporting supplies and building materials to Huangshan Village. There was undoubtedly also supplies being transported from Huangshan Village.
On this day, an ox cart stopped outside the Black Moon Village. The cart was filled with resources transported from the Wilderness Mountain Village, including, of course, the red ore that was discovered at that time.
The surface shapes of these minerals vary, some are flaky, some are scaly, or some are granular, but the only thing they have in common is that all of these minerals are red.
Needless to say, this was exactly the red ore that Zhou Xu had asked people to pick up from near the Red Stone Tribe's camp, and it was now being transported to him.
He didn't know what kind of ore this was, but Zhou Xu didn't worry about it. He would just smelt and purify it first, and then study it slowly after making it into metal ingots.
The forging department was familiar with this process and had all the necessary facilities, so they started smelting quickly.
It was unknown how long it would take for this red ore to burn, so Zhou Xu naturally had no intention of waiting the entire time. He went straight back to his residence, spread out a roll of animal skin, and began to draw a blueprint.
As for the smelting of the red ore, he didn't care about the process. Anyway, it would be made into metal ingots in the end and he could just send it to him for his inspection.
After finishing the drawings, Zhou Xu felt sleepy and took a nap. When he woke up, it was almost evening.
While getting dressed, he shouted directly to the door.
"Go ask how the ore is smelted. If it has been made into metal ingots, bring it here directly."
The new follower outside heard the order and hurried to the forging department to confirm.
Zhou Xu didn't have to wait too long. After running to the forging department to inquire about the situation, he came back to report as quickly as possible.
"Reporting to the leader, the ore has not yet been burned!"
This situation made Zhou Xu frown slightly, and he hurried to the forging department to confirm the situation.
"leader!"
When Zhou Dachui, the director of the forging department, saw their leader coming in person, he hurried forward to greet him.
"What's the current situation of the ore?"
While signaling the other party to excuse himself, Zhou Xu went straight to the point and quickly explained his purpose.
After hearing this, Zhou Dachui took action himself and took out the ore from the forging furnace.
"Chief, please look."
At this moment, the ores have been burned red and hot, but there is no sign of melting.
"The temperature of this forging furnace is not high enough."
The most direct reason why the ore cannot be burned is that it has not reached the melting point.
The forging furnace in the forging department never goes out and keeps burning. This means that after they start work, the temperature inside the furnace can quickly reach the current highest temperature, saving a lot of time.
Under this premise, the red ore has not been melted yet, and it would be useless to continue burning it.
To solve this problem, the temperature of the forging furnace must be further increased.
With this idea in mind, Zhou Xu pondered for a while.
"We need a bellows."
(End of this chapter)
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