Next, the two of them talked and laughed and went out. A carriage was already ready outside the door. However, Liu Pei did not ride in a carriage, he was already used to riding horses. He rode a horse and followed the carriage, chatting with Bao Dezhi while hurrying away.

It didn't take long for them to come to the river. There is a small workshop on the side of the river. The workshop was guarded by a battalion of guards. The captain was very excited when he saw Liu Pei coming, and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

After Liu Pei returned the salute, the captain retreated with a very eye-catching look. Liu Pei said, "Mr. Bao, what is this place?" How could there be such a tight guard? It was actually the guard battalion standing guard in person! ”

Bao Dezhi said: "There are four things here that are being modeled, and they will be placed in the sample room when they are ready. As for what to do, the big handsome will know when he looks inside. ”

Liu Pei didn't say much, smiled and went directly into the courtyard. This workshop looks huge from the outside. The utilization rate inside is also high. The yard was filled with several huge houses. Liu Pei entered the first house under the guidance of Bao Dezhi.

As soon as he entered the door, Liu Pei saw the raw materials and said, "I know, this is the mint!" ”

Because there were several huge smelting furnaces in this room, and there were many silver ingots, silver nuggets, and other auxiliary materials piled around them. A silver alloy is dissolving in the furnace. When Liu Pei entered the door, he happened to see that a furnace had been smelted and was about to be poured.

The craftsmen hooked one side of the crucible and dragged the chain to lift it up. The viscous solution flows into a shallow, flat mold. Later, some workers lifted the mold and put it on the iron shelf next to it to cool.

Bao Dezhi explained: "This workshop is a raw material workshop. These furnaces are specially responsible for melting and casting silver plates. After the hard board is cooled and formed, it will be sent to the next workshop for stamping. ”

As soon as he heard the word stamping, Liu Pei became more interested. At this time, the coinage method of the Ming Dynasty was very troublesome. First you have to make the mother money, and then you have to make the sand mold, which is very troublesome. Moreover, the mother money will wear out after a long time, and the money will be very blurry and not good-looking. And stamping solves this problem. Not to mention the low cost, the speed is also fast.

The two of them walked into the largest room. This workshop is located right next to the creek. Liu Pei found that a small dam had been built on the river. There is a water wheel on top of the dam, which is constantly turning under the impact of the current. The water wheel is always attached to a huge machine in the center of the room. The water wheel rotates continuously, and the force is amplified by the conduction of the gears, lifting a heavy hammer with a die high.

When the hammer is lifted, several workers will come over and spread the silver plate underneath. When the worker leaves, the other person pulls the mechanism, causing the hammer to fall and smash hard

On the silver plate below! The lower mold was closed, and a batch of silver dollars was smashed out. As the workers moved the mechanism, the hammer was hoisted again, and the workers would go over and take the silver dollars, and take the silver plates, which were full of round holes. And so on and so forth. Stacks of silver coins were thus stamped and manufactured.

Liu Pei was overjoyed and said: "This machine is amazing! How many silver dollars can be produced per day? ”

Bao Dezhi shook his head and said, "I didn't do statistics on this. You need to ask the shopkeeper of this factory. But the point I'm going to show you is on the press! With this stamping machine, it will be much more convenient for you to make armor in the future! ”

Liu Pei patted his head and said, "Yes! Right! Right! I'm concerned in the wrong direction! I lost the watermelon and picked up the sesame seeds! See the smile! ”

Bao Dezhi said: "There are four models to be put out in this factory, guess which four? ”

Liu Pei thought for a while and said, "The dam counts as one." The stamping machine counts as one. The crucible counts as one. There's another one I can't think of. ”

Bao Dezhi pointed to the beam and said, "Can't the pulley group be counted as one?" ”

Liu Pei was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud and said, "It seems that my eyes are a little small!" I didn't even think of such an important thing. Maybe it's because this pulley set is so common, I've seen it a lot before, and I can't remember it. ”

Bao Dezhi said: "Maybe so. However, I think you should promote the pulley set, especially on the docks, which are most useful for lifting heavy loads. It makes the shipment of goods faster. ”

Liu Pei nodded and said, "That's right." I think there should be a special group to be responsible for the connection between the Academy of Sciences and the Government Council. Some things can be promoted directly by the Government Council. ”

"It's a good idea. People like us often make things that we just know are happy and happy, and then we forget to promote them. You have to get it done as soon as possible. ”

Liu Pei said: "When I go back, I will arrange this matter immediately." Where do we go next? ”

Bao Dezhi said: "It's not far upstream. You should see it when you go out. ”

After the two went out, they walked around the factory, and Liu Pei saw a building not far away that was spewing out a large amount of black smoke. Liu Pei reacted immediately, happily waved his fist and said, "Blast furnace!" It's a blast furnace! ”

Bao Dezhi smiled and said, "That's right, it's a blast furnace." It's a small blast furnace though. It is mainly used to verify the formula and exercise the human hand. ”

Liu Pei was very happy after hearing this, and immediately said: "Well done!" How much steel and iron is produced there now? What are the difficulties? If you have a problem, you say, I'll solve it! ”

Bao Dezhi laughed and said, "There are some things you really can't solve!" I ask you, will you purify ore? Do you burn refractory bricks? ……”

Bao Dezhi's series of questions smashed down, and Liu Pei was smashed! He waved his hand again and again and said, "Mr. Bao, you are embarrassed for me!" I'll be that! ”

Bao Dezhi said with a smile: "It's not that I want to be difficult for you, I'm just giving you a heads-up!" I'm afraid that you will be in a hurry for quick success, and you will not be able to wait for the results of our Academy of Sciences, and then you will deduct our treatment! Now we are family after all! ”

Liu Pei said with a smile: "How is that possible! Why should I worry about such things? Besides, at least what you've done in terms of universal education is worth it. ”

Bao Dezhi said: "It's best if the marshal can have this kind of thought." You must know that the most important thing in science is that it is step-by-step, and various disciplines support each other. If there is a shortcoming in any aspect, the whole cannot be promoted. So! I've also been entrusted by you to give you a heads up. After all, we are all living on you now, and I am afraid that you will make a mistake and lead everyone to the ditch! ”

Liu Pei immediately understood Bao Dezhi's thoughts. It seems that they have figured out that they can't go back to modern times. Their life and death have been tied to Liu Pei. I'm afraid that Liu Pei will really have a problem and be defeated, and their heads won't be saved! So Liu Pei breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and said in his heart, it is best for them to recognize the reality, and they don't have to worry about them all the time.

Thinking of this, Liu Pei immediately arched his hand and said, "I've been taught!" Don't worry, Bao Lao, I know it! Let's go to the steel mill and have a look. ”

Two people ride on horseback, and those who get on the cart get on the cart. Along the way, Bao Dezhi also told Liu Pei about the work of the Academy of Sciences in the recent period. The main thing is how many difficulties have been overcome. Like what refractory bricks are fired repeatedly to succeed! How to make calculations in the construction of blast furnaces, and so on. The list goes on and on. Listening to Liu Pei, he nodded again and again.

Liu Pei could also understand why the Academy of Sciences was so slow at this time. After all, engaging in modern industry in a place where there is no modern science is not just about copying. The division of labor of modern people is too detailed, to the point that they don't understand what is needed in this industry! To take the simplest example, an engineer at a steel mill would never fire refractory bricks! He may know the firing process, but if you let him do it himself, it's a complete mess!

As soon as the two arrived at the steel mill, the shopkeeper, the captain of the guard, and some craftsmen surrounded them. The shopkeeper and the captain of the guards are fine, and they know how to salute Liu Pei. But those craftsmen didn't care about Liu Pei's presence at all, and greeted Bao Dezhi with warmth. A litany of questions were also asked. It can be seen that Bao Dezhi has a high status in their eyes.