It was almost the end of April, and the scenery in Lin'an City was excellent. This is the mid-spring season in the south, and all kinds of flowers bloom one after another, and the city is full of flowers. The trees are crazy with green shade, and the city is verdant and beautiful.

In the time of waiting for the award, Fang Zi'an was actually not idle, he was entrusted by Su Heng to draw a three-dimensional diagram of all the parts of the steam engine, and accurately mark the size, shape and arc of the parts. Su Heng has already started to make parts molds, and the data of these three-dimensional drawings is the key to making molds. So Fang Zi'an checked the drawings every day, writing and drawing with a ruler and charcoal, and was very busy.

In the afternoon of this day, when Fang Zi'an was busy in the study, Lao Huang came to report that Liu Lao from Wantou Village and Wan Da Faucet from Wanjia Village had come. Hearing this, Fang Zi'an hurriedly rushed to the front hall, and sure enough, he saw Liu Laotou and Wan Dahai sitting in the hall drinking tea.

"Oh, what kind of wind blew the two old men here? Did you make an appointment to come together? Fang Zi'an smiled and stepped forward to salute the two.

Liu Lao put down the teacup with Wan Dahai and got up to return the salute. Wan Dahai said angrily: "What wind?" Southeasterly wind. If you had listened to me, we would have come back on the way back. ”

Fang Zi'an was stunned, and then smiled: "What's the matter?" Wan Da Faucet has such a big temper. I can smell gunpowder. ”

Liu Lao shook his head and smiled: "Young Master Fang, aren't you asking knowingly?" Brother Wan has been waiting for you at home for a few months, and you won't give a word. Of course he was in a hurry. Don't you know? This going to sea is addictive, before you didn't ask him to go to sea, it's okay, but now you invite him once, aroused the addiction, and you don't let him go to sea again, of course he is not happy. It's itchy like a cat scratching. No, I really can't help it, when I arrived at my house, I dragged me to the capital to ask you for an explanation. That's why we're here. ”

Fang Zi'an smiled, looked at the two old men's dusty appearances, and asked, "Shouldn't you come by yourself?" Didn't you ask someone to come with you? ”

Wan Dahai said angrily: "It's not that we can't walk, why do we want them to accompany us?" ”

Liu Lao shook his head and smiled: "My work there is not over yet, so naturally I can't ask someone to accompany me." Brother Wan went to me alone, and his son didn't accompany him. I came to see you on the spur of the moment. Early this morning, we set out, took an ox cart carrying grain, and walked more than ten miles. Actually, we arrived at noon, but the two of us were so dizzy that we couldn't remember the way we came last time, and forgot whether your house was in the east or west of the city. I inquired about it and asked about it. ”

Fang Zi'an was shocked when he heard this, it turned out that the two old men actually came by force, and they must have suffered a lot on the way. These two old people are not very convenient for their legs and feet, and they have suffered along the way.

"Gee, that's great. The two old men are coming, send someone to inform you, and I will send a car to pick you up, how can you be tired and walk so far. It really makes me feel uneasy. Fang Zi'an said.

Wan Dahai said: "What is this? What's the point? We're not papier-mâché. It used to be common for me to walk sixty or seventy miles a day. Zi'an, don't say anything else, just say when you will go to sea. I'm not idle, my bones hurt. ”

Fang Zi'an smiled: "The two of you shouldn't have eaten yet, no matter what, you have to eat first." I'm going to be prepared. ”

Wan Dahai was still about to say, but Liu Lao said: "Brother Wan, it's all here, what's the hurry?" You're not hungry, I'm hungry with my chest on my back. It's not too late to eat. ”

Wan Dahai had no choice but to give up, and then Fang Zi'an ordered people to hurry up and prepare the meal. Chunni Wenxun came out of the inner house to greet the gift, personally fried a few side dishes for the two old men, and cooked a pot of soup. After the meal was served, the two old men were really hungry, so they sighed and snorted to eat, and ate a few dishes and a pot of soup cleanly. Wan Dahai ate two large bowls of rice, even half a bowl more than Liu Laotou.

After eating and drinking, Wan Dahai's anger seemed to be a little smaller, and the previous anger was also due to hunger and fatigue along the way. Now I speak, and my tone is much softer.

"Young Master Fang, I know that you are worried about our safety and refuse to let us take any more risks. But we're the ones who run the boat and go to sea, and those things don't really matter at all. We are not afraid of such dangers. Besides, what is it for us to sit at home with the money you gave us? We are not white eaters. If we take people's money, we will do things for others, otherwise we will not be able to eat or sleep, and we will feel guilty. It's been a few months, and you haven't moved here, and I can't stand it anymore. If you're not going to let us go to sea, then don't send us new water, and I'll dismiss the boatmen when I turn around, and you can't eat for nothing, can you? ”

Fang Zi'an smiled and said, "Uncle Wan, don't think so. I really don't want you to take that risk, because I can't let you fight for something outside of me, and if something happens, I'll be at peace for the rest of my life. Naturally, I want to send the new water, because I don't want you to go to sea, and when I think I can go to sea, I will naturally allow you to go to sea to trade. Wan Da Faucet, to tell you the truth, in the future, you will go to sea more frequently, and it is not known that you may have to go to sea for trade three or four times a year. So, don't be in a hurry, okay? ”

"Three or four trips? You don't coax people like this, how can you make three or four trips? So how can it be done? "Wan Hai Dao.

Fang Zi'an thought for a while and said, "That's it, since the two old men are here, don't leave tonight." Drink a few glasses with the two of you in the evening. You have been in the capital for a few days in the past two days. I'll ask Chunni to buy you some snacks and snacks from the capital or something, and bring them back when you go back. ”

Liu Lao turned his head and said, "Young Master Fang, we are not here to play. We're here to get down to business. Not only the matter of going to sea, but my two ships are about to be repaired, and my apprentices are also going to rest. If you don't have work, do you eat white food? ”

Wan Dahai said: "Master Fang, if you have something to say, just say it directly, why don't you give a happy word?" ”

Fang Zi'an smiled bitterly: "I'll take the two of you to a place in a while, and when you get there, I'll tell you in detail." Drink your tea and rest for a while. ”

Half an hour later, Fang Zi'an led the two old men to the backyard of Su Heng's house, which was in full swing. Liu Lao and Wan Dahai looked at the towering black smoke blast furnace and the scene of more than a dozen craftsmen who were busy shirtless.

Fang Zi'an led them to a short distance next to the gourd-shaped blast furnace, just in time to see a furnace of smelted molten steel being poured out. The chains clicked, and the crucible filled with the hot and white molten iron was pulled from the blast furnace to the place where the mold was poured, and sparks flew as it poured, and the harsh roar and the sound of the molten iron boiling were terrifying.

"Young Master Fang, what are you casting?" Liu Lao asked with his head asked.

Fang Zi'an smiled: "Do you remember what I told you about the hope of replacing wind power and manpower with a kind of machinery?" That's what I'm doing right now. I have teamed up with Master Su Heng Su and am turning my dreams into reality. Once this is successful, it can greatly reduce the dependence on wind. Mounted on a boat provides a tremendous amount of power, not only will the boat sail faster, but it will also be able to sail without the need for wind. And when it comes to storms, you have more options, either to deal with storms with more agility or to take the initiative to navigate around storms. This is the reason why I have never let Wanda Faucet go to sea. The first thing I want to make is to put it on a big ship and go to sea. Then I can rest assured that Wan Da Long will take his boatmen to sea. Moreover, the speed of the voyage will be greatly accelerated. What used to take a three-month voyage is likely to be reduced to two months. It doesn't matter if there is a wind or not, it doesn't matter if there is a headwind or a tailwind, there is no need to borrow the wind, which greatly shortens the voyage. Go wherever you want. This is not only for the sake of safety, but also to speed up efficiency. This is called sharpening the knife and not cutting wood. Waiting for the things to come out, it will far exceed the efficiency and speed of going to sea before. ”

Liu Lao looked at Fang Zi'an blankly, he had indeed heard Fang Zi'an say this before, but he thought it was just Fang Zi'an's wishful thinking. Who would have thought that he was actually doing this.

"This ...... Can you really make that thing? I thought you were joking. It's incredible. Liu Lao said dumbfoundedly. www.99^9)xs(.co^m

Wan Dahai was also in a sluggish state, and he also understood what Fang Zi'an meant, Fang Zi'an was building a machine that could be installed on a ship, which could help the big ship sail. This matter is a bit ridiculous, and Fang Zi'an actually brought so many people here with great fanfare, which is both surprising and a little ridiculous.

"This, Young Master Fang, aren't you dizzy? How can there be such a thing in the world? That's what you're doing? Do you really think this thing can be made? Wan Dahai muttered.

Fang Zi'an smiled: "I don't know if I can make it, but how can I know if I don't try?" As for whether this thing is dizzy or not, I'm sure I'm not fainting, it's absolutely possible. If it fails, it's because of the making, not because of the machine I'm trying to build. ”

"What if...... Can't make it? So what to do? Liu Lao said.

Wan Dahai also looked at Fang Zi'an and said, "Yes, what if it doesn't work?" ”

Fang Zi'an smiled: "It will definitely be done." If it doesn't work, it will continue to be built until it is created. In short, this thing is not successful, Uncle Wan, I will not let you take risks. Uncle Wan, don't shake your head, trust me, wait a little longer. Maybe two or three months, maybe half a year, maybe a year. There will come a time when you will be amazed. I believe that it will not be long before you will be able to sail on a great ship that is unique in the world and can sail without the power of the wind. At that point, you'll discover what true sailing is. Old Boss Liu, don't be idle, those two ships are about to be completed, right? I'm afraid you'll have to remodel their aft and aft compartments. You must reserve a space to install this. The stern of the boat will also need to be remodeled, as it will be fitted with screw-driven propellers. In the evening, while we drink, I'll talk to you in detail. ”

The two old men looked at each other in amazement. There was a clang, and a huge piece of fine iron was knocked out of the mold, a grotesque, black gear-shaped disc. A craftsman carried a bucket of water and poured water on it, and the white mist evaporated in the sound of sizzling, covering a corner of the courtyard. Liu Lao and Wan Dahai both had a strange feeling in their hearts, feeling as if they were in another world.

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