Shangong is right, Li Qi is indeed going to the smelter, and the current population growth has hit a bottleneck, and can only rely on machines to make up for it.

"Wow! How many steam engines did you produce? ”

When he came to the smelting plant, as soon as he entered the door, Li Qi was immediately dumbfounded, only to see that there were brand-new steam engines inside, with red light in the dark, and it was completely a modern factory.

"Great Chief, we now have seventy-two steam engines." Ah Gu looked extremely excited, and he continued: "Only I have enough black iron, and we can produce more steam engines." ”

For a long time, they were all in research and development, how to produce steam engines, not to produce others, now the steam engine production technology has been very perfect, direct industrial production, so during this period, Agu they produced a large number of steam engines.

The factory was actually a steam engine factory.

Of course, Li Qi is also very happy, this is what the Huaxia Alliance is currently lacking, look around, today's steam engine is not the original simple cylinder, it can be said to be the third generation of steam engine, every detail is very good, the function is very perfect, it can already be sold as a product.

As he walked, Ah Gu suddenly jumped into a super-large steam engine in the innermost part and said, "Great Chief, we can now process deep holes." ”

Li Qi was fascinated by it, and did not come back to his senses, and said, "What did you say?" ”

Agu said: "It's deep hole processing!" We have now overcome the problem of excessive temperatures. ”

He pointed down as he spoke, and said, "Great Chief, please see, this steam engine is equipped with two large water tanks on both sides, and there is a small steam engine in the middle of these two water tanks, when this steam engine is moving, it can press water out of the water tank, and then shoot it out through the iron pipe, so that you can use water to prevent the temperature from getting too high while drilling holes." ”

Li Qi observed carefully, it was actually a very simple design, in fact, it was a manual water gun, and the syringe was the same principle, but the piston was moved back and forth with a steam engine, sucking the water from the water tank, and then shooting out, but Ah Gu was able to think of this method, proving that his talent was unparalleled, and Li Qi was also a little excited: "Then try it." ”

"Hey."

Ah Gu immediately asked someone to put an iron rod on, and said: "Great Chief, this is thanks to the fact that you gave us the purple lazuli stone, so that we can polish more accurate colorful boring knives, and now there is a special steam engine to polish these iron rods, you see this iron rod, isn't it very round?" ”

Li Qi nodded with a smile and said, "It's very round." ”

Ah Gu is extremely talented in mechanics, but he still seems very immature when he speaks, just like a child, when he encounters something happy, he always wants to share it with adults, and then get praise from adults.

After the iron rod was installed, Agu fine-tuned the machine again, and then let Rong start the steam engine.

Zizizizizi!

All I could hear was a cacophony of fire.

After drilling for a while, Ah Gu operated the machine, making the boring knife move back, and at the same time, the water pipes on both sides shot water to cool the iron rod, and then continued to drill, and the cycle continued.

Although it was boring, Richie was very excited to watch.

Because he witnessed the first barrel being made.

After a long time, the drilling was completed, but Agu, who was striving for perfection, immediately replaced with a boring cutter and polished the hole to make the inside smoother, which is actually the technology that produced cylinders at the beginning.

After the processing was completed, Rong took off the iron pipe and handed it to Li Qi.

Ah Gu raised his head and said expectantly, "Great Chief, do you think it's okay?" ”

Li Qi is not a professional, he doesn't say it, he can see the good and the bad at a glance, and he has to try it to know, but he said: "It's perfect." ”

Agu said: "Great Chief, it may not be perfect, if you give us time, we can do better." ”

Li Qi smiled awkwardly, nodded and said, "It's perfect now, but I believe it will be even more perfect." ”

Rong suddenly asked, "Great Chief, what are you producing this iron pipe for?" ”

There was a glint in his red eyes, and he looked at Li Qi expectantly.

Rong and Ah Gu didn't know what the iron pipe was used for, but Chi knew that it was intended to be a weapon.

Li Qi smiled: "It's not sure yet, I'll tell you when I'm sure." ”

Rong Mu Ne sighed, he was not very curious, just asked casually.

After inspecting the room, they went to a studio outside, where there were so many steam engines that it was impossible to draw drawings here, but the studio was full of drawings, and they had to be careful when walking, let alone where they sit.

Ah Gu and Rong hurriedly cleaned up.

Li Qi smiled: "These drawings are very valuable, you can't just throw them around, you usually have to tidy them up." ”

Ah Gu hurriedly said: "It's not to blame, it's me... I'm not a big fan of tidying up. As he spoke, he scratched his head in embarrassment.

Li Qi smiled: "In that case, then I will arrange someone to help you clean it up at that time." ”

Many scientists in later generations are similar to Agu, they don't like to tidy up, someone has to help him tidy up, as long as you have the ability, of course there is no problem.

Ah Gu listened happily and felt flattered, but this was actually what he expected.

After Li Qi sat down, Ah Gu's excitement didn't seem to have passed, but it was no wonder, because here Li Qi knew how to appreciate his talent, and said excitedly: "Great Chief, I think this steam engine can help us do all the work. Speaking of transportation, I saw that we were struggling to transport it now, and I thought I could make a steam car to help us transport it. ”

Chi said excitedly: "Steam car? ”

Ah Gu nodded and said, "Yes, I think it should be possible, since this cylinder can drive such a big hammer, it can also push the wheels." You wait. ”

As he spoke, he stuffed his small body into the pile of drawings, flipped through them for a long time, found a drawing, handed it to Richie, and said, "Great Chief, you see, this is the steam car I designed, but this is only a preliminary design drawing, but I think it must be feasible." ”

When he looked at it, his eyes flashed, and he said excitedly: "If we can really produce this kind of steam car, then we will become even stronger." ”

He's always been cool, and there aren't many things that can excite him, but the steam car is enough to excite him, because human transportation is very troublesome now, and at present, he can only rely on a transport team rented from the White Horse Shenxing to be responsible for transportation, but people can also not rent it to you, and be subject to people, as if they are stuck in their throats.

Ah Gu just opened his mouth, and suddenly felt that Li Qi's expression didn't seem to be too excited, and he asked worriedly: "Great Chief, did I do something wrong?" ”

Li Qi was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly said: "Of course not, it's just... It's just that this drawing fascinates me so much. ”

"Really?" Ah Gu immediately became excited again.

Li Qi nodded, and suddenly changed his words, and said: "But I think this has to be done step by step, not in a hurry, just like we produce cylinders, if it wasn't for the fact that we improved the cylinder technology step by step, how could we produce so many cylinders in this short period of time, I think we still have a lot of shortcomings, such as the steam hammer, and stamping technology, we still have a lot of deficiencies, and after we improve these, the production of this kind of steam car, it will become very simple." ”

At the beginning, in order to produce bottle caps and cans, Li Qi took out a lot of technical information about stamping, but the stamping technology for processing large parts has not yet been perfected.

Agu nodded again and again: "The big chief is right, it's me, it's me who is a little too anxious." ”

Li Qi shook his head and said, "No, this can't be said to be in a hurry, this is a kind of wisdom, and I think it may be difficult for the Perfect Race to think of this." ”

Ah Gu's face turned red when he was praised, and he said, "We beasts can't be compared to the perfect race. ”

Li Qi smiled and said, "Next, we have to continue to improve the stamping technology and produce that kind of iron pipe." ”

Rong suddenly said, "Great Chief, our factory is still a little too small, and it is difficult to use a larger steam hammer. ”

Li Qi said: "Don't worry, I have already negotiated with Xiao Wu, and they will help us build a bigger factory." ”

In fact, this factory is only used for experiments, not for production, and it is really not easy for them to produce so many steam engines here.

Subsequently, Li Qi took out some information about stamping technology to Ah Gu, after Ah Gu got these information, he immediately ignored Li Qi, lay on the table and looked at it carefully, it can be seen that he is really very interested in the mechanical aspect, which is why he can think of steam cars, because no matter what he does, only by putting in 100% enthusiasm, even fanaticism, can he succeed.

Li Qi and Chi didn't bother them, and quietly went out of the house to the lounge on the side, and he wouldn't leave here for the time being.

"You seem to have something to say to me."

Richie looked at the preoccupied equator.

Chi Yan was puzzled: "Great Chief, this weapon and transportation are the most scarce in us at present, if we have these two things, we humans will definitely become stronger, I think we should let Ah Gu and them quickly find a way to produce steam cars and weapons." ”

Although he was very rigorous in everything he did, he was still immature in many ways, and it seemed that I had to write down Sun Tzu's Art of War and give it to him. Li Qi was silent for a while, and then said, "You sit down first." ”

Chi sat down and looked at Li Qi with a little curiosity.

Li Qi said with a serious face: "Chi, as the supreme commander of our Huaxia Alliance, you have to think twice about everything, and you can't only think from your own point of view, but also from the perspective of other races, just like saying, you want to change the bed, but you can't just knock in the house in order to sleep peacefully tonight, you have to consider whether this will affect the rest of the people next door." ”

Chi seemed to understand something, but there was still confusion in his eyes.

Li Qi said again: "You are right, if we have more powerful weapons and self-controlled transportation, this will indeed make our Huaxia Alliance stronger, but do you think it can be so strong that even the royal family is afraid of us?" ”

Chi frowned slightly.

Li Qi glanced at him meaningfully, and continued: "Actually, weapons can still be produced secretly, because I can't let the situation of Gu Eagle happen anymore, we must have enough strength to protect ourselves, and at this point, we can only rely on ourselves." But in terms of transportation, we must be cautious, because transportation has always been controlled by the royal family, and if we really produce steam cars, it will definitely have an impact on the transportation of the royal family, and damage the overall interests of their royal family, they will not allow this to happen, and even if we build that kind of more advanced weapon, we will not be the opponent of the royal family. ”

Speaking of this, he smiled bitterly and said, "Actually, the royal family doesn't need to do anything, he only needs to impose a black iron embargo on us, and I can't do anything at all." ”

Transportation is definitely the core interest of the royal family, however, whether it is a steam engine or a steam car, a large amount of black iron is required, and it is impossible to paste it with paper, but the black iron is monopolized by the royal family, as long as it is embargoed, they have no play. In comparison, weapons may still be able to be produced, but Richie is not sure, but he must have secretly produced guns and artillery.

Chi thought for a while, and said: "I understand what the Great Chief means, but I think it's very contradictory, if we don't develop like this, we will never be able to become strong, and this situation will always exist, so what is the point of us doing all this?" ”

"You're right, I won't hide it from you, in fact, I've been thinking about this problem for a long time, but I haven't come up with any good way yet."

Li Qi shook his head and said, "But before we are absolutely sure, we must be cautious and act at the opportunity." Because our human race can't withstand any toss, even if their royal family loses once, they are still royal, even those second-class races, but if we lose once, we will be completely finished, and it may even affect all human beings, so when touching the core interests of the royal family, we must be cautious, otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable. Let's put it this way, we definitely have to take this step, but we have to think carefully about when and how to take it. ”

The rise of this human race is different from other races, other races are based on physical talents, and physical talents are definitely not able to catch up with the perfect race, but human beings rely on wisdom, and they don't know how many years later, Li Qi does not think that the royal family wants to see human beings develop a steam car, because this will have a great impact on the core interests of the royal family.

But humans have to do this, and if they don't, the transportation will be completely controlled by the royal family, and the human race will not be physically gifted like other races, which will be very uncomfortable.

Li Qi can only slowly try to eat meat for now, and the rest will have to be talked about later.

He is not in a hurry, because he knows that the rise of a race or a nation really needs the right time and place, and it is very likely to fail if you just rely on wisdom, and sometimes, you really need God's help.

As the saying goes, it is up to people to plan things, and it is up to heaven to make things happen.