"Watching a good show?"

Looking at Yan Shaoshen's mysterious appearance, Li Liang and Li Da were a little puzzled by what kind of medicine was being sold in his gourd. It's just that when they wanted to ask in detail, Yan Shao didn't open his mouth, and Li Liang and the others could only leave with a stomach full of questions.

"One hundred and seventeen..." counted the documents that Li Liang brought back, and Yan Shao nodded with satisfaction. After this battle, most of the rubber plantations in Nanyang have fallen into the hands of Yan Shao. And they are the kind that can already produce rubber, not those leather bag companies built to make money.

"The harvest this time is good, but unfortunately it will be difficult to have such an opportunity in the future."

Putting all the contracts into a briefcase, Yan Shao took the elevator down to the first floor.

The staff who were busy in the lobby saw Yan Shao hurriedly stepped forward to say hello, and Yan Shao also nodded his head to greet him, anyway, there were more than 20 people in the lobby, and he didn't need to have less time.

Walking out of the gate, Yan Shao was a little unaccustomed to the colorful appearance of the office building.

"When will this celebration stop..."Pointing to the office building behind him, Yan Shao asked Yan Yongnian beside him.

"The county government means that the longer the better, but if it's inconvenient, it's okay to hang it for another three days." Gently lifting the gold-wire glasses on the bridge of his nose, Yan Yongnian replied with a glance.

"That's..."Turning his head, Yan Shao showed a helpless expression.

Originally, the position of personal secretary was held by Elaine, but now the group's shop is getting bigger and bigger. She has more and more things to do. So as a last resort, Yan Shao had no choice but to choose a new secretary to come out, originally Yan Shao was interested in Lu Ying, after all, they were very familiar with each other. And Yan Shao also trusts her very much.

It's just that Yan Shao was strongly opposed by Elaline and Caterina as soon as he proposed this candidate, and for the two of them, they were already a little worried about how to take precautions, if they agreed, wouldn't it be equivalent to sending fat meat to Yan Shao's mouth.

There are various reasons for opposition, but after summing it up, there is actually one meaning, that is, resolute opposition.

Seeing that the two of them disagreed, Yan Shao could only ask them to recommend one, but who knew that they recommended Yan Yongnian.

God knows. Yan Shao is not good at dealing with this kind of person who does things with a clear eye, not to mention that this Yan Yongnian is still a man. found a man to be Yan Shao's secretary, so wouldn't Yan Shao have to do something with a secretary. Didn't do anything to do the secretary's life to say goodbye?

It's a pity that his opinion was strongly suppressed, and Yan Shao could only reluctantly accept it.

However, although he is a bit rigid in life and work, this person's ability is still very good, and everything can be organized for Yan Shao in an orderly manner. It's been a long time. Gradually, Yan Shao accepted it.

"Since the county government won't have any opinions, you can have people remove all those things tomorrow."

"Good boss...", nodding his head, Yan Yongnian took out his notebook and wrote it down.

After talking to Yan Yongnian about it, Yan Shao boarded a car parked at the door.

At this time, the car had some practicality, especially after Ford introduced the Model T in '08. The introduction of the Model T made 1908 a significant year in industrial history, because the model made the car a practical tool into people's homes at a low price, and the United States became a 'country on wheels'—————— which was relatively cheap, because the Model T was originally priced at $850. That's just over £210.

More than 210 pounds, more than 2,100 silver dollars. Even if the United States was much richer than China at this time, this kind of car was not something that ordinary people could enjoy. However, compared to those cars that cost $2 or $3,000 in the same period, the price of this car is indeed very low.

From its inception in 1908 to its discontinuation, more than 15 million models of the Model T were produced, which is staggering.

The sedan in front of Yan Shao was not a Model T, although he asked someone to buy a few from the United States and brought them back for Li Yin to study, but he didn't use it himself. Because this type of T-car is still too simple for him, if he has to use this kind of car, it is better to take a horse-drawn carriage.

What he saw in front of him was a car that Li Yin assembled last year, although it was very simple in all aspects, but it was actually not inferior to other cars of the same era, but because it was handmade, it was somewhat high in cost—————— in fact, it was not much, at most it was 2 or 3 times that of the same type of car...

————————————————————

In the car, Yan Shao returned to the manor.

"Sir, you're back..."

Seeing that Yan Shao was back, the servants in the manor hurriedly stepped forward to salute and say hello.

"What about the two young ladies?"

"The two young ladies are visiting Miss Otsuki Kaoru, and Steward Lu is also there..."Hearing Yan Shao ask about Elanon's whereabouts, one of the servants took two steps forward and whispered.

Hearing that Elano and the others were now at Otsuki Kaoru, Yan Shao nodded and didn't say anything. Maybe it's out of motherhood, both of them love Fumiko very much, and they often bring something to see her and Kaoru Otsuki.

Nodding and not saying anything, Yan Shao walked towards his bedroom.

Walking to the bookcase, Yan Shao broke off one of the wings of the twin goddesses on the side, and the bookcase that was originally placed in front of Yan Shao slowly moved away to reveal the safe hidden inside.

After putting all the thick stacks of contracts in the briefcase, Yan Shao closed the safe again.

"Master, do you want to go out?"

Seeing that Yan Shao seemed to be going out, a servant said a little strangely.

Hearing the servant's words, Yan Shao nodded.

"Well, that's right, if the two young ladies ask, they will say that I have something to do to go to the institute, and I may come back later today, so that they don't have to wait for me for dinner..."

"It's good, master..."Hearing Yan Shao's words, the maid hurriedly whispered.

After getting into the car, the car slowly drove in the direction of the research institute.

Since the opening of the 'Dangxiang Highway', Yan Shao has ordered the construction team to build a number of roads between Wuhu and Dangtu. Naturally, Wuhu is also impossible to let go. So now most of the roads in Wuhu have been paved with gray roads, so Yan Shao's car will not feel bumpy —————— cough when driving on the road, which is somewhat exaggerated. But it was much smoother than a carriage.

At this time, although it was already the end of the year, Wuhu, which is located in the south, did not feel much cold. Many pedestrians were walking on the road wearing not very thick clothes, and some children were also running around under the privet trees on both sides of the road, and they were not afraid of falling...

By the end of 1910, the group itself had grown tremendously.

The group has 8 cotton textile factories with an annual profit of more than 9 million yuan, and 1 iron factory. The annual output of crude steel is more than 50,000 tons. In addition, there are flour mills, garment factories, ash factories. Sharpener company, incandescent lamp company, shipping company, planting base with an area of more than 1.5 million acres and a professional construction team. Of course, we must also count the 117 rubber plantations that Li Liang brought back from Nanyang not long ago.

Nature. With such an important thing as a car, Yan Shao is unlikely to let it go.

In fact, Li Yin's research institute has been researching gasoline engines for automobiles for a long time.

After a period of research, the institute finally developed a gasoline engine capable of delivering 20 horsepower. And according to this engine, a car similar to the car of this era was studied, and later Li Yin and those people also drove the car out, and caused a lot of sensation in Anhui.

However, at this time, the structure of the car was somewhat rudimentary, so Yan Shao personally designed the shape of a car and asked Li Yin to redesign it according to this sketch.

It's just a shell, but it's not easy to redesign. So it took about three months to wait for Yan Shao to wait for Li Yin's news.

————————————————————

After driving on the road for about 20 minutes, the car arrived at the group's research institute. In front of the gate of the research institute, Li Yin and the others had been waiting for a long time.

"How's that for what I've ordered?" Getting out of the car, Yan Shao's first sentence went straight to the point.

"It's all done..."Li Yin, who was originally going to greet him, saw Yan Shao and went straight to the point. He also hurriedly led him to an open space behind the research institute building.

In the center of the clearing, a long object is covered under a canvas. After watching so many TV series in later generations, Yan Shao naturally guessed that the cover under the canvas was the purpose of his visit this time.

After seeing that Yan Shao had come, the two researchers guarding the car ripped off the canvas, revealing the car covered under the canvas, a four-wheeled car that was much more atmospheric than the cars of the same period.

This has also become the car in front of Yan Shao now.

'Rain Stone' car.

Yan Shao did study art in later generations, but that was when he was in elementary school, so he couldn't design anything good if he really asked him to design. It's just that the cars built by Li Yin and them are indeed too simple, so in the end, he followed the sketches of the shapes of some cars during World War II, and handed over the sketches to Li Yin.

And after three months of hard work, Li Yin and the others finally got the car on the sketch, which became the car in front of Yan Shao now.

'Rain Stone'

That's the name of the car.

Compared with the Model T born in 1908, the design from decades later makes the body look very full and trendy, and the black body gives the sedan a sense of mystery. Looking at the brand-new car in front of him, Yan Shao stood aside and nodded with satisfaction.

In fact, it was not only him, but even several other guards soldiers who came with him were also amazed after seeing this car.

"Very good, very good..."

Looking at the car in front of him, Yan Shao couldn't help but nod and praise.

However, hearing Yan Shao say this, Li Yin said a little twisted.

"This, boss, although the appearance of this car is much more beautiful than the original, but because of the weight gain, the car can reach 70 kilometers per hour, but now it can only be reduced to 53 kilometers, and the cost is much more expensive..."

Hearing Li Yin's words, Yan Shao frowned slightly. "How much more expensive?"

Unlike other industries, the automotive industry was a new industry at this time. There is no need to learn from Handan, learn from other countries, and there is no need to master the basics by copying other companies' products. So when someone in the research institute proposed to copy those T-type cars, Yan Shao did not agree.

After all, at this time, everyone is actually on the same starting line. Even if you fall behind, you won't fall far behind. If you still have to learn from others at this time, then you will have to put a lot of effort into surpassing others in the future.

This is also one of the reasons why after Li Yin and the others built a car, Yan Shao asked them to change their appearance.

What is the selling point of the car? Brand, appearance, price, performance...

Needless to say, the automobile industry in various countries is in its infancy at this time, and even if there is a brand, it will not be too loud. The performance is similar, after all, the car at this time has only just entered the practical stage, so the most important thing left is the appearance and price...

What will the Model T sell later? It's because of the price...

And in addition to the price. Yan Shao also aimed at appearance, after all, it is also very important for cars.

That's why he combined the characteristics of some cars thirty or forty years later and designed a sketch. Let Li Yin change them according to the actual situation—————— although the sketch designed by Yan Shao seems to be very ...... But it's pretty good compared to cars from this period.

With a good appearance and price advantage, even if it is a new brand, I believe it can have good sales.

As for performance? Although the drop from 70 km to 53 km is really serious, it is after the body becomes full. The interior space has also increased. Compared with the cramped Model T, the comfort of this car is much higher, so Yan Shao does not care about the performance, only the price...

If the price is too high, then things can be a bit of a problem...

After all, if it is too expensive, no matter how good the performance is, fewer people will be willing to buy it.

As if seeing Yan Shao's concerns, Li Yin leaned in and said softly. "According to the sketch you gave, we redesigned the body. Although the interior space is much more spacious than that of contemporaries, the comfort of the car itself has been greatly improved. But the cost of the car itself has reached more than $4,000, which is more than 1,000 more than the cars of other companies and more than four times that of Ford's Model T..."

Although only the shell is similar to those later cars, the cost of the first car is as high as more than $4,000—————— there is no way, it is purely handmade, and there is only one, and the cost is inevitably a little difficult to control.

The cost of more than 4,000 US dollars is more than 1,000 more expensive than the cars of the same period, but the comfort level of the car is also much stronger than that of the same period of cars.

It's just more than 4,000 US dollars, which is not a small number, and after frowning, Yan Shao looked at Li Yin beside him. "Can't we find a way to reduce costs?"

Li Yin had already considered this question, so he replied without hesitation. "If it can be mass-produced, it may be reduced to 3,000 US dollars, which is already the lowest, and it is also because the labor cost on our side is lower than that in the United States..."

After all, the change in appearance is larger, and it is inevitable that there will be so many more.

"Is it so much higher..."

Saying this, after following his guard soldiers to inspect the car, Yan Shao personally went to the back seat of the car to try to sit. Compared with the car he was riding in when he came, the interior space of this car was indeed much more spacious, and Yan Shao also felt much more comfortable.

After circling the open space twice, Yan Shao, who got off the car, said to Li Yin. "There are no drawbacks other than being slower, and if you can develop a more powerful engine, will you be able to make up for it?"

"As long as the volume of the engine doesn't change much, it's theoretically fine, but it takes a long time to study the engine, so I don't know how long it will take."

This Yan Shao also knew it, so he didn't embarrass Li Yin.

"Well, you go ahead and test the car to find a way to improve the shortcomings that have been exposed, and then you design a car that's similar to the Ford Model T, well, it's the kind that has a simpler structure and a lower price, and you're designing a cargo truck and a tractor..."

The cost is more than 2,000 US dollars more than the selling price of others, so if you want to make a profit, you need at least 3 or 500 US dollars more, which may be nothing to Yan Shao, but it is a bit fatal to the average local gentry. So Yan Shao also plans to design a car that can be sold in large quantities like Ford—————— anyway, there are so many landlords in China, so he doesn't have to worry about not having a buyer.

As for cargo trucks and tractors, naturally, for ...

Hearing Yan Shao's words, Li Yin nodded. "It's going to take some time, but by next year, we should be able to come out with two prototypes..."

Neither a car nor a tractor is a high-tech thing, and it is not very difficult for them to get it as long as they have enough money. With Yan Shao's funding, the Institute's funds have always been sufficient. In fact, it is precisely for this reason that the institute can retain so many scientific research talents. After all, the most important thing for scientists is to have a rich sponsor...

"Okay, I'll send a telegram to the United States later, order two sets of assembly lines, and increase production capacity if the sales are really good, as for the name of the automobile factory..." Let's call it 'Rain Stone', and it's the same name..."

After speaking, Yan Shao looked at Yan Yongnian beside him. "Have you written it down?"

Putting down the notebook in his hand, Yan Yongnian nodded. "It's all written down, but, what is an assembly line?"

(Ford's Model T is powered by a front-mounted 177in3 (2.9-liter) four-cylinder engine that delivers 20 hp (15 kW) and 45 mph (72 km/h) of speed.) (To be continued......)