A large group of ironclad cavalry, escorting Xie Anran, the commander of Danyang County, Dong Xianliang, the commander of Moling County, and dozens of officials of the county government, such as county officials, Du Wei, and water conservancy officials, arrived in Danyang County and came to inspect the drought situation in Danyang County.

Originally, their entourage was full of doubts, wondering why Danyang County had high terrain and few rivers, and there was no rain, so why there was no shortage of water for irrigation.

However, after entering Danyang County.

They quickly understood.

Everywhere you look, you can only be shocked.

Along the way, wherever you see the river, you can see huge waterwheels standing on the embankment.

The water level of the river has dropped dramatically, and although the water level is very low, the giant waterwheel towering in the middle of the river can still hook the low level of the river.

These waterwheels "gurgle" and turn, and the water pumped up, "rumbling" splashed and made a loud sound, and the water flowed along the huge ditches, bamboo and wood drainage canals, to the high fields.

Even the paddy fields ten miles away can still be irrigated.

The smaller watermill is one or two feet high.

The tallest is ten zhang huge and twenty or thirty meters above the ground.

More than a dozen farmers gathered next to the waterwheel, chatting and chatting. In the fields, farmers fiddle with the dirt in the ditches and guide the flowing river.

The farmers worked very easily, looking relaxed and comfortable, and their faces were beaming, without the anxiety and anxiety on the faces of farmers in other counties.

All the way to the county seat, at least dozens of such giant waterwheels can be seen in Danyang County.

As for the small water wheels, there are hundreds of them, and they can't be counted.

People stand under the giant waterwheel, like ants, watching the water flow of the waterwheel fall from the sky, like a waterfall, rumbling and deafening, and changing color.

The officials of the Danyang County Government looked at each other, and they all changed color in shock, and their hearts were greatly shocked.

They had seen water trucks and small water wheels, which were very short, only one or two feet tall. Many even use artificial foot force to draw water.

Compared to the behemoth in front of him, it is simply not worth mentioning.

Such a huge water wheel of ten zhang can carry water day and night, enough to carry water to the fields more than 1,000 farmers. Huge labor is saved.

Moreover, even if the river water drops a lot, as long as there is still water in the river, there is no fear of running out of water to irrigate the farmland.

"How did you build this giant waterwheel?"

Shui Shui Cheng exclaimed.

Shui Shui Cheng knew very well that the craftsmanship level of the Great Chu Dynasty would never be able to build such a huge waterwheel.

It's not that I can't think of it.

But the wooden waterwheel can hardly withstand this huge water force.

The waterwheel is spinning.

The larger the waterwheel, the more vulnerable it is to damage.

The huge force of water rotation is severely worn, and it will soon crush the shaft of the waterwheel, causing the waterwheel to collapse.

The cost of such a huge water wheel must be extremely expensive, and it is an unbearable loss if it is quickly destroyed in a few months, or a year and a half.

No county can afford this loss.

"Let's see how this watermill was made!"

Xie Anran was taken aback.

The officials walked into the giant waterwheel and took a look, and then they saw it clearly.

The middle load-bearing shaft of the waterwheel is actually a thick steel ring. All key parts are firmly tightened with steel nails. Then smeared with tung oil to prevent corrosion.

Such a huge waterwheel needs to consume a lot of steel in critical parts to make this giant waterwheel extremely strong and not break down quickly.

"To withstand such gravity, this must be the best steel!"

Shui Shui Cheng trembled with excitement.

How expensive is the price of stainless steel~!

This Danyang County Order, good... I'm so willing to spend money on water conservancy!

If he can work under such a county commander, he will not hesitate to do it.

...

The county Cheng Li Dangnian heard the report from the soldiers, and the county guard Xie Anran came to inspect Danyang County, and was on the way, he hurried out of the county ten miles away to welcome the arrival of the county guard.

But his heart was full of doubts.

What are you doing in Danyang County if you have nothing to do?

Looking for an uncle to catch up?

However, my uncle is not in Danyang County... Except when my uncle took office, he never came to the county seat since. What are the ideas, a letter is coming.

But despite this, my uncle is the "Qingtian Lord" of Danyang County, from the county officials, squires, to the common people, there is no one who does not praise it with all his might.

Since my uncle took office, in just half a year, the income of every household has increased several times.

Whoever dares to speak ill of the county magistrate will definitely be beaten to death with a stick.

"Danyang County Cheng Li Dangnian, see Lord County Guard! ... Well, the county ordered the adults to take sick leave in Jinling and failed to greet the adults. ”

Li Kangnian was on the post road, and saw Xie Anran and his entourage from a distance, so he hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to salute, slightly embarrassed.

His status as a county official is too low, and it stands to reason that he should be greeted by the county commander in person.

"Li Kangnian, when were these waterwheels built? Why are there so many of them?! ”

Xie Anran didn't have time to talk nonsense, and immediately asked.

"After the spring ploughing, when the farming was slack, my aunt sent someone to send a design drawing of a giant waterwheel and ordered the blacksmiths and carpenters in the county to build it together. Over the past few months, many have been built one after another. ”

Li Kangnian replied.

"Little Dusk Hou knew there would be a drought?"

Xie Anran asked in surprise.

"It's not because of the drought, it's mainly because of the shortage of manpower in Danyang County.

Irrigation of farmland consumes too much manpower, so my uncle simply built a water wheel, so that irrigation takes almost no manpower. ”

Li Kangnian shook his head and said.

Every household in the county is busy smelting iron and making iron tools to make a lot of money, and the monthly income is almost half a year, who will spend time to go down to the field to irrigate!

These small jobs are all done by poor households and landless tenant farmers from outside.

"How much does a giant watermill cost?"

Shui Shui Cheng interjected and asked.

"It's not expensive, it's only a thousand taels of silver. The small ones are cheaper, and they are only a hundred taels of silver. One after another, dozens of giant waterwheels were built, and a lot of money was spent! ”

Li Dangnian said.

This money is not distressed.

After all, Danyang County is the territory of the county lord of Danyang, and all taxes belong to the county lord.

The waterwheel was built to increase production and income, and that was also the benefit of their own family.

Moreover, using their own steel, the craftsmen of Danyang County, the real cost of the giant waterwheel is naturally not one thousand taels, but only one or two hundred taels.

The money spent was also on the blacksmiths and carpenters in Danyang County, which greatly increased their income, and the people became richer.

There are other advantages, not afraid of drought, saving manpower for irrigation, saving the cost of irrigation, developing a mature giant waterwheel technology, and being able to sell waterwheels for money....

~!

The benefits are too numerous to count!

This giant waterwheel can be used for ten years, which is enough to make a million profits.

Because of these giant waterwheels, the people of Danyang County have almost no special feelings about this drought and almost forget about it. The days go by, and the fields are watered.

Li Gannian simply admired his uncle's wisdom and martial arts, his amazing skills, and his admiration.

"It's... Won't it cost forty or fifty thousand taels of silver? ”

Xie Anran, Dong Xianliang, and the officials of the county government were all dumbfounded when they heard this.

Thousands of counties in the Great Chu Dynasty, which county can take out tens of thousands of taels of silver in one go?

Unless it is a few rich counties, the vast majority of poor county officials have prepared thousands of taels of silver for emergencies. If you want to do something big, you can only apply for financial appropriation from the county government or the imperial court.

Otherwise, they can only collect money from the local squires, build bridges and roads, and so on.

Danyang County is so rich?

Ostentatious!

Just the waterwheel that irrigates the farmland is tens of thousands of taels of silver casually? There is no need for the imperial court to allocate funds, and they all pay their own money.

Li Kangnian looked at their faces, vaguely guessed the intention of their party to come to Danyang County, and hurriedly promoted the business.

"Lord County Guard, Dong County Order, do you need a waterwheel?

We in Danyang County can do you to build a waterwheel. The style and price, from one hundred taels to one thousand taels of silver waterwheels, you can choose at will.

Our waterwheel technology has been repeatedly tested and modified, and has become very mature, and the quality is far superior to that of craftsmen in other places.

And we have a lot of craftsmen, and we can make it in large quantities. Within two days, dozens of water trucks were supplied without any problems. Coupled with the construction of waterwheels at the riverside construction site, it is estimated that it will be completed in five to seven days. ”

He stayed in Danyang County for a long time and learned to sell business.

Tens of thousands of craftsmen in the entire Danyang County can stop other small iron-making jobs first to build a waterwheel that is in urgent need.

The faces of all the officials of the Danyang County Government were all happy.

Great, if the waterwheel can be built in seven days, the drought can be greatly alleviated.

However, when Dong Xianliang heard this, his face twitched.

He thought!

I can't wait to build a batch of water trucks to deal with emergencies.

However, how can there be so much silver in the treasury of Moling County? !

Dong Xianliang looked at Xie Anran pitifully and said, "Lord County Shou, Moling's finances are tight, can you allocate a sum of money to Moling County for emergencies?" ”

Xie Anran also had an incomparably headache.

During this time, the Danyang County Government repaired the city, built weapons and trained soldiers, which cost a lot of money and lacked silver.

As soon as this opening is opened, the county orders of other counties may also ask the county government for help.

"There is still some silver in the county treasury, I will allocate 10,000 taels of silver first, and give you an emergency!" When you go back, go to the Prime Minister's Mansion, your teacher, Master Kong, and apply for a sum of money to fight the disaster.

Otherwise, this drought in Danyang County will be difficult! ”

Xie Anran is not good not to give Dong Xianliang face.

After all, Dong Xianliang's mentor Kong Hanyou is still the prime minister of the dynasty and is extremely powerful. Kong Hanyou will definitely take action to help Dong Xianliang tide over the difficulties.

"Thank you, Lord Gunjo!"

Dong Xianliang was overjoyed.

10,000 taels of silver is not a lot, enough to build ten giant waterwheels to draw water day and night, it is estimated that it can cover a small half of the grain fields, and it is also enough to greatly alleviate the drought in Moling County for the time being.

The terrain in Moling County is much better, and it is easier to get water from the river.

"Li Kangnian, you hurry up and do this, and immediately supervise the construction of a batch of waterwheels. It is estimated that other counties will also need waterwheels. The county affairs are busy, so I don't go to Danyang County, I have to go to other counties to see the situation. ”

Xie Anran turned back to Li Gannian and said.

"Yes, greetings!"

Li Kangnian said happily.

In just a few words, a big deal worth tens of thousands of taels of silver was negotiated. Hurry up and write a letter to my uncle to show your merits. The county lord and uncle must have praised his ability.

If it goes on like this, it will be just around the corner to be promoted and make a fortune!

He led the small officials and officials in the county to swagger back to the county seat.