Chapter 178
Chapter 178
Ever since the first steam engine appeared in Suzhou in the 44th year of Huayuan, a steam engine craze has swept across Tianqi State.
Whether the steam engine drawings are obtained through formal channels or through special channels.
They all made the same choice.
Research.
Craftsmen research.
Research by scholars.
Some big names in science and engineering are also researching it.
After everyone knew that this thing had saved countless abandoned mines, they all made the same choice.
Continue research.
Why?
Because the advantages and disadvantages of this thing are very obvious.
Besides, everyone in Epoch said that the maximum power of the steam engine has not yet been unleashed.
After he said this, people from all over Tianqi country began to conduct strange research.
The first thing that comes to mind is definitely to use steam engines to replace horse power.
Everyone in Tianqi knows the word power.
So, would it be faster if steam engines replaced horse power?
So no one needs to raise horses anymore?
After this idea came up, many people began to experiment.
The steam engine is so big, how to install it on a carriage?
But the boiler is really too big, it directly blocks the view. How can the carriage move then?
There was a craftsman in Lu who made such a steam car. After only a few steps, the steam car veered off course and crashed into a big tree next to it.
Yuedi changed the direction and put the boiler at the back, using a series of parts such as gears so that even though the boiler was at the back of the car, it could still move forward.
The problem was that the car he made couldn't withstand the heat of the boiler and was destroyed.
In another place in Tianqi Kingdom, the problem of vehicles not being strong enough was solved, but then the steam engine was not powerful enough and stopped on the road.
It's too difficult.
This thing is not even remotely suitable to replace a horse!
Many horse-breeding businesses breathed a sigh of relief.
It seems that it will take some time to replace horses.
Research on steam engines in various places also became a topic of interest among the people in Tianqi State.
At the same time, it also accelerated the construction of engineering disciplines in various places.
Especially for students taking the college entrance examination, the speed at which they switch to engineering seems to be faster than anyone imagined.
While Ji Yuan was building the cement factory, he was also corresponding with the Minister of Rites, Lord Xu, and he understood the matter.
main reason.
Or is it because the imperial examination is too difficult nowadays!
The word "juan" was even used in Lord Xu's written correspondence.
Jiyuan feels that if future generations see these, will they think that this is just a compressed package of ancient times?
In fact, it is a completely modern catchphrase.
But the word is indeed vivid enough.
Lord Xu is in charge of the imperial examinations for students all over the country, and he talked about the current situation of the imperial examinations.
The most obvious one is probably the number of candidates.
When the Jiyuan County examination was held, more than a hundred people were selected from thousands of people and passed.
After seven or eight years, the number of people participating in the provincial examination has increased from a few thousand to more than ten thousand, almost doubling.
After all, there are children's examinations every year, and many more scholars emerge every year.
These scholars take the exam every three years, and there are definitely not as many who pass as those who stay.
The number of scholars doubled, the number of juren also increased, and there were also quite a few jinshi.
For example.
It's just a single-plank bridge, and at most ten people can walk on it in a day. If more and more people cross the bridge, the shore will definitely be overcrowded, and maybe even a fight will break out.
At that time, Nie Shiming said in the Zhengrong County Government Office that there are now too many scholars, but the local scholars are still indignant.
If we talk about it now, everyone will just nod.
yes.
There are really too many scholars nowadays.
In fact, there was already a trend of too many candidates at that time.
After so many years, it has naturally become more serious.
It is just right that official schools have established engineering departments.
Lord Xu also said in the letter that many scholars who had no hope of passing the imperial examinations had originally planned to give up studying literature and go into business, but now they are giving up literature to study engineering, which is also a change.
The letter also asked Ji Yuan how he thought the current imperial examination system should be reformed.
It is already extremely difficult to pass the imperial examination and become an official.
Some students do plan to give up being scholars and go into business, after all, they have to make a living.
A poor scholar who knows nothing might as well find another way out.
Moreover, a group of scholars who can read and write but do not work together is actually a great disaster.
This issue was mentioned during the Ji Yuan period, saying that scholars were between the common people and the gentry. They were neither down-to-earth nor truly wealthy, and could easily become social scum.
Mr. Liu, the scholar who visited prostitutes in Zhengrong County, was one of the representatives of this kind of scourge.
As the number of scholars increased, this scourge had become a problem in many places.
The existence of engineering now shares this pressure.
Let Lord Xu have other ideas.
Can today's official schools revive the six arts of a gentleman?
Or increase the emphasis on teaching other subjects?
Medicine is one aspect.
They can also be divided into doctors who treat humans and veterinarians.
And agriculture is also a subject.
Lord Xu wrote down his thoughts and sent them to Ji Yuan, also wanting to see what he thought.
Although the steam plant is under construction, Ji Yuan still took a lot of time to reply to Lord Xu.
To put it in the simplest terms.
That means there are 360 professions, and every profession has its top talent.
First of all, we need to popularize literacy, let more people know how to read, and make literacy an essential social skill, which will also create many jobs.
It is still feasible for those scholars to teach and enlighten people.
Then divide it according to each subject.
When Ji Yuan wrote this, he was literally copying the book with his eyes closed.
Compared with the essay he wrote during the palace examination, this reply was more detailed.
The topic of the palace examination that year was roughly how to better utilize talents.
At that time, Ji Yuan wrote a lot, and the reply now seems like a supplement to that time.
In the essays for the palace examination, Ji Yuan wrote that candidates were selected based on the meaning of classics, and what they learned were all Confucian principles, which were not good for guiding people in doing things.
There will be more and more scholars, juren and jinshi, but there are only a few positions, so there will definitely be an overabundance of them.
It must be resolved by then.
So how to solve it?
What I am writing now is how to solve it.
First of all, we need to improve the literacy rate. There is no need to say more about this, and the Tianqi court is also supportive.
It is good for both the country and the people if the people can read and write.
The following is to say that we should not focus on the examination, but should subdivide everyone's work.
Divided into liberal arts and science.
The liberal arts are further divided into various directions.
There are also countless subdivisions of science.
Let every student find his or her own strengths.
Finally, we achieve what the sages said: teach students in accordance with their aptitude.
So many words, so many articles.
It can be summed up in these four words.
Teach students in accordance with their aptitude.
There is no size of knowledge.
Whether from a practical perspective or according to the teachings of sages, this is feasible.
Epoch rarely attaches so much importance to an article.
Even the articles I wrote to defend the steam engine and rubber grass were not as detailed as this.
However, he also knew that when he handed the letter to Lord Xu, Lord Xu would definitely summon everyone in the Hanlin Academy to discuss the matter and come up with the most practical plan.
But what is foreseeable is that.
There was a beginning of engineering education being offered in various places.
The subsequent promotion will not be too difficult.
The new emperor will most likely not object.
After all, this was the question that the late emperor was thinking about when he was still conscious.
Otherwise, such questions would not have been asked in the palace examination that year.
It was actually a happy thing for the new emperor that he came to solve the problem that even his father had not solved.
The new emperor is only thirty-six years old this year. He may be too old to be the crown prince, but he is still in his prime to be the emperor.
As for the diehards?
Under the impact of wave after wave of new things in Tianqi Kingdom, the real diehards have long been unable to emerge?
Using religion to cause trouble?
Considering the matter of the late emperor, do you feel that you are not dying fast enough?
After Ji Yuan sends this letter, it is estimated that it will reach Lord Xu in early July.
Lord Xu had worked in the Ministry of Rites for many years and had also presided over many imperial examinations in various places.
If he pushes this matter forward, there is a high probability that it will be feasible.
Even if you can only pry open a hole, it is progress.
After Ji Yuan sent the letter, he couldn't help but look towards the direction of Dianzhou Prefecture again.
I don’t know whether the betrothal gifts have been sent.
He had no property and had to sell several calligraphy and paintings to raise a considerable amount of money.
He knew that the Cheng family didn't care about these things, but they were also his thoughts and concerns.
What Master Fang said back then really came true.
It is indeed much easier to make money by selling calligraphy and paintings.
Of course, he had asked people to take his paintings to Jiangnan to sell them before.
At least it's far away from where he is. No one here knows Qingtang's identity.
Ji Yuan thought about a lot of things, but finally shook his head and decided to build the factory quickly.
Only after the steam cement plant was built could he do other things.
It takes time to build a cement plant covering an area of more than 400 acres.
Even in modern times, construction would still take a long time, let alone in ancient times.
The warehouse is easier to deal with, the main problem lies in the construction of several steam engines.
In order to make work more convenient, the location of the steam engine is very important, and this huge factory requires at least three steam engines in the early stage.
One of them is used to stir the mixture.
One for transportation.
There is also one for crushing t ore.
The last steam engine requires extremely strong kinetic energy, almost as much as the previous two combined.
There is also the laying of steam pipes and connectors in various places.
It will take at least one or two years to complete this.
unless.
Unless you do it regardless of the manpower and material resources.
If three steam engines are built simultaneously, perhaps the construction period can be shortened to half a year.
As long as the steam engine is built.
We can talk about other parts of the factory later.
Time waits for no one.
The court had already thought of letting him return to Beijing.
The prince also wanted him to go to Suixu City in Dianzhou Prefecture to accompany and supervise the battle.
These variables, epochs must take into account.
Therefore, speeding up the progress is the most important thing.
And counting from now, this is already his second year in Suzhou.
Even if the prince and others didn't let him go back early, time was still tight.
The next time you come out, it won’t be so simple and clear.
Although Beijing officials have become popular again nowadays.
It’s different from the last few years of the late emperor.
But there is still room for an era.
Many people are looking forward to his return to the capital.
So Ji Yuan gritted his teeth and recruited this year's labor from all over Suzhou.
We will still follow the standards in Ning'an Prefecture and will never treat you harshly.
Suzhou can now afford this amount of money.
No matter how many mines are restarted.
Even today, the trade in cooked rubber is still booming.
Both provided sufficient funds to the local area to build this steam cement plant.
However, ordinary factories can requisition labor.
The core work of the three steam engines failed.
Divide Mr. Gao and his team into three groups?
That number of people is not enough.
Who would have thought that as soon as Ji Yuan put forward this idea, many craftsmen signed up enthusiastically, saying that they would do the work without any wages.
To put it bluntly.
As long as they can learn the skills from Master Gao and others, they will have absolutely no objection.
After discussion, a group of technical talents were invested in the construction of the cement plant.
At the same time, three of the most advanced steam engines of the time were built.
Build a cement factory covering more than 400 acres.
This seemed incredible when construction started.
The prefect of Hexi Prefecture came to see it under the pretext of inspection.
When he arrived, it was already July and the three steam engines had been built a quarter of the way.
Countless precision parts and countless words that no one has ever heard of.
Even water wheels and fans were built for steam engines.
The water truck provides a constant supply of water, and the blower improves the speed and stability of combustion.
"This, this is a spectacular sight."
The word "spectacle" is not used in a derogatory sense here.
But even the most imaginative people in the world did not know that the steam engine could be played in this way.
While other places were still building single steam engines, here, they had already built super-large workshops.
And what we need to make is a novel adhesive.
The cement plant is under construction here.
Cement production experiments are also going on there.
Ji Yuan didn't have to worry about whether the cement formula could be successful. What he was worried about was the coordination between the steam engine and cement production.
So after he gave the formula to the construction craftsmen, he only came to check on them occasionally and had no idea how the craftsmen felt after making the cement.
When winter comes in Suzhou, the weather is extremely cold.
Therefore, after the cement is made, it needs to be protected from freezing, which means pouring water on it over and over again to test its solidity.
Taking the weather here into consideration, the formula given by Ji Yuan is antifreeze cement, which is also the strongest and most solid cement.
He is also following the construction of the cement plant steam engine.
The construction workers held on to the cement every day, and everyone had an expression of wanting to say something but stopping themselves.
They have seen excellent adhesives.
But I have never seen such a convenient and easy-to-use adhesive.
After it is made, you don’t even need any technology. Just mix it with sand and other materials in proportion and pour it. Within half a month, you can get an incredibly smooth road.
It can be said that cement is not necessarily the thing with the strongest adhesion.
But convenience, cheapness and availability are its greatest advantages.
This advantage can be magnified countless times in a human workshop.
It can also be used in conjunction with a steam engine.
"If we use a steam engine to make this, wouldn't the amount we make at once be enough for us to build a whole road?"
"Not only that, have you seen the huge steam engine in the cement factory? In my opinion, one boiler can even build a highway!"
"Such a good thing, why doesn't Lord Ji pay attention to it!"
It was not just Lord Ji who did not take it seriously. The eyes of people from all over the world were focused here, but no one paid attention to the so-called new adhesive.
The prefect of Hexi Prefecture came over but didn't ask many questions.
After all, there's nothing special about adhesives.
There is no place where it is not available.
All people were concerned about was rubber and steam engines.
No one cares about cement!
If Ji Yuan knew what they were thinking, he would definitely feel wronged.
He didn't pay attention to it.
Isn’t such a big steam plant just for making cement?
Cheap and convenient cement is his goal.
As for why you don’t come and pay attention?
It’s because I believe in the benefits of cement.
He doesn't need to take care of it at all. Once this thing comes out, it will be a best-seller throughout the Tianqi Kingdom.
That is, he and Cai Fenglan finally breathed a sigh of relief and made an appointment to come and take a look at the cement workshop.
If there were no steam engines, the cement workshop here would be where cement was produced, but nowadays, it is more like a cement laboratory.
After Ji Yuan gave them the formula, he also talked about the proportions of various materials. The general idea was to let them research different types of cement.
Suitable for wetter soil, suitable for drier soil, suitable for hotter climate, suitable for colder climate.
After mixing the different proportions, write them down so that different models of cement can be used in different places.
This thing is not difficult for skilled construction craftsmen.
But Ji Yuan and Cai Fenglan were still dumbfounded when they saw the scene before them.
Um, cement stool.
Not bad, we also have this thing nowadays, it is indeed cheap and convenient.
But what the hell is a cement bed!
Concrete steps are also fine.
Cement statues?!
And bricks made of cement?
This is not appropriate!
There are even dishes made of cement.
In short, everything you can think of is made of cement.
As for the different types of cement that Jiyuan wanted, they were directly divided into ten types from the highest hardness to the lowest.
Seeing that the cement laboratory was about to be in chaos, Ji Yuan held his forehead and thought, is this what it means to let things run wild?
It seems pretty good!
As soon as Ji Yuan arrived, he was surrounded by a group of people, who all said at once: "Cement is cheap and easy to use. In fact, we can make it in our workshop."
"Or let's build the road, using cement."
"Master Ji, you are really amazing. But people outside are really short-sighted and don't even pay attention to our cement."
Cai Fenglan has already taken a hammer to test the hardness of the cement.
He had heard Ji Yuan talk about the uses of cement, but when he actually saw it, he still felt incredible.
In particular, there is an area in the yard that is paved entirely with cement. It looks extremely smooth and very solid.
This thing is good!
Cai Fenglan could all imagine that this thing could be used on city walls and on roads.
What will the scene be like then?
Cai Fenglan was extremely excited just thinking about it.
Ji Yuan rubbed his head and said, “You can do it first.”
“But it is provided to cement factories.”
ah?
It seems that there is no problem for the cement made in the cement workshop to be used in the cement factory?
Can it even bring some publicity to cement?
“What a great idea!”
"Master Ji is really amazing. He solved this problem with just one sentence."
"With so many people watching the construction of the cement plant, it would be great if this information could be used in the cement plant!"
"Yes, they will definitely be able to see this magical item when they visit the steam engine."
"This way, the reputation of cement can be spread!"
Ji Yuan held his forehead with his hand again.
He doesn't mean that much!
He just felt that the steam engine did need a certain amount of cement to support it, at least to make the bottom more stable and secure.
And some cements are indeed strong and are not afraid of high temperatures.
But what everyone said is correct.
It’s not a good idea to wait until the cement is ready before building a reputation.
We are now using handmade cement so that people who visit the cement factory can also see the benefits of cement.
What will happen then.
Needless to say.
The construction of the steam cement plant is already at the most advanced level in Tianqi Country.
Now that better cement has come in, it has surprised countless people.
Lord Ji!
What other tricks do you have up your sleeve? Can you please show them to me?
The officials and gentry from all over Tianqi State who came to visit looked at Ji Yuan with increasingly strange eyes.
Are you still human?
How could they develop such a useful adhesive while building a steam cement plant?
When everyone came to their senses and looked at the steam cement plant, their mood became even more different.
I used to think that Epoch was just telling everyone how to use the steam engine.
Now we know that Ji Yuan not only tells us how to use it, but also makes us excited.
Such a good building material, such high-strength cement, will be used in all aspects of life in the future.
Wait a minute.
Will the speed of freight transportation also be improved due to the emergence of cement?
Over the years, two things have happened in horse-drawn carriage transport that have greatly increased the speed and weight of freight.
One is raw rubber.
The second is cooked rubber.
The emergence of each object has brought the carriage industry one step further.
This flat cement appears again?
When wheels are moving, aren't they faster and lighter?
One is a gravel road.
One is a flat concrete floor.
Is it even necessary to say which one carries more weight or runs faster?
It feels like everything is speeding up.
Champa rice grows fast.
The carriage was moving faster.
The steam engine even made the work process extremely fast.
Is this still the world they know?
When you are in it, you may not realize it, but once you step away from these things, everything seems so clear.
The changes in Tianqi State are truly terrifying.
In this situation, some people may be afraid, but more people will choose to follow.
What if?
What if they benefit from the change?
The steam cement plant in Suzhou has attracted much attention.
Now that the news about cement has spread, people are even more excited.
Such good things are not expensive, it’s exciting to think about it.
The news of how well the craftsmen in Suzhou were treated also spread.
In fact, the craftsmen are just that.
Mainly the labor done here.
The Tianqi State stipulated the prices of various labor services. For example, the daily wages for river labor ranged from three hundred to eight hundred coins.
After all, river workers work hard, and laborers conscripted from various places also need to pay a portion of silver.
But the government regulations are the government regulations. How many places really pay money according to the regulations of Tianqi Kingdom?
If they really pay according to the regulations, then they will not even want the benefits.
Even if we take a step back and say that they don't want any benefits, is the money allocated by the higher-ups really enough for them to do this?
This has always been an unspoken understanding among laborers everywhere.
All the laborers who served had the same idea in their minds, that it would be enough to return alive and get some money.
Unless their families are really in financial difficulty and they come to work voluntarily, the other conscripted workers basically have the same idea.
Just go back alive!
But the laborers in Suzhou are different from those in other places.
Before they came, they had heard about the road construction in Ning'an Prefecture.
Just as craftsmen would hear about the Dianzhou Prefecture's logging association, anyone who had to perform labor service would hear about the labor conditions there.
Give money, food, and let them rest.
That's not forced labor at all; it's clearly taking advantage of the time to earn some money.
Therefore, before coming to Suzhou for labor service, they had certain expectations.
There are also people who pour cold water on you.
But even those who pour cold water on others are actually looking forward to it in their hearts.
"What if?"
“What if they are paid for their hard work?”
"At that time, Lord Ji was the governor of Ning'an Prefecture, and Lord Ji was the governor of Suzhou Prefecture as well."
Construction began in June and large-scale labor was conscripted in July.
Until now in September.
Everyone's heart was in their stomach.
Yes!
They are treated the same as those laborers in Ning'an!
The government recruited them with money!
Moreover, the Suzhou government also said that in fact, all of them should be given.
ah?
Should all?
Many people began to inquire about the details.
After asking many questions, I found out that the laws of Tianqi State stipulated that labor was divided into two situations.
First of all, all men between the ages of eighteen and fifty in Tianqi Kingdom had to perform labor service, without exception.
But it can be roughly divided into two types.
One type is the wealthy families, who can pay money to reduce their labor service. For example, if they have to perform labor service for one month this year, they have to pay 300 coins to the government that day.
In other words, if you pay an extra nine taels of silver a year, you don't have to worry about labor.
There is another type of poor people, and that’s them. If they have money, they can be exempted, but if they don’t have money, they must go.
However, the government funds and the extra money given by the wealthy should be distributed among them.
The specific number will depend on the local situation.
This, this, is there such a thing?
How come they don’t know!
It’s not that the lower-class people are stupid, it’s just that this information has been hidden intentionally or unintentionally.
They only know their obligations, not their rights.
However, when in Ning'an Prefecture, this hidden information was torn apart intentionally or unintentionally.
When they arrived at the highly anticipated Suzhou Steam Cement Plant, the scams that took advantage of information asymmetry were completely exposed.
But can we say that Ji Yuan did it on purpose?
That’s not the case either.
They are just doing their job impartially.
When loggers, miners, and even weavers from all over the place jumped out to cause trouble.
Laborers in various places also protested.
How to protest?
On strike!
Is it possible to kill them?
Otherwise, they would run to Suzhou and seek the protection of Lord Ji!
They don't ask for much, as long as they don't die while doing labor, and just want to eat a few more bites of food and drink a few more sips of water every day!
Can't this requirement be met?
As for lumberjacks and miners, they are still a minority in Tianqi Kingdom.
But that kind of labor is what the vast majority of people do.
All the peasants in the world had to perform labor service, and their number accounted for 90% of the world's population.
In this case, more government offices will be affected.
Most government offices will choose to increase some benefits.
Anyway, for them, it's just a loss of a little money. As long as they don't cause trouble, everything will be fine.
However, some government offices chose to completely close the news about Suzhou.
Any news coming from Suzhou is not allowed to be heard.
No matter what miners, what unions, what labor wages, you are not allowed to listen.
Anyone who spreads it will be dragged out and whipped ten times.
This kind of self-defeating behavior will only make the local people resist more fiercely.
If you don’t let others hear it, will others not be able to hear it?
It's a joke.
They are just struggling in vain.
The more you try to stop people from asking about Suzhou's affairs, the more people below want to hear about it.
What if it doesn’t work?
They moved to Suzhou?
I heard that the steam factory in Suzhou is still hiring.
As long as Lord Yuki is around, things will definitely get better and better, right?
Steam Cement Plant is indeed hiring.
Although the cement plant has not been completely completed, many facilities still need to be repaired.
But the three most important steam engines have been built.
The huge steam engine and chimney can be seen from ten miles away.
Such a huge building is more than just a spectacle.
Something that can change the world.
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