With the entry of 20,000 slaves into the Eagle's Hand mining of copper and tin ore, the source of raw materials for the ore was again greatly increased, doubling. The production of bronzes of the Zhoushui tribe has also increased rapidly from 3,000 bronzes per day to 6,000 bronzes per day.

The rapid growth of bronze production has greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of all players in the Zhoushui Alliance. All industries, businesses, and players responsible for security are actively preparing for the next long-distance trade in a few days, bringing back more slaves and food from other walled cities, and getting more harvest.

Situ planned to invest in the bronze industry controlled by Qin Xiaobai, which surprised Qin Xiaobai. Although he was not short of money, considering that Situ represented the political background of the three NPC nobles of the Great Chieftain and Guo Kui, Situ Mansion, Ji Mansion, and Guo Mansion, he still gladly accepted the investment.

For the first time, Situ took out 200,000 copper coins as the first capital investment, and wanted to see the effect of the investment, and then decide on the follow-up investment plan.

Qin Xiaobai thought about it for a long time and decided to use the money to set up a Zhoushui Academy.

He told Situ about the idea.

Situ was surprised: "Running a school? It's a private school, right? It's a lot of money, and I don't think it's very profitable. ”

Qin Xiaobai said: "No, I definitely make money, and I earn a lot of money." However, I still need a favor from Master Situ. This academy is not only for us to participate, but also for the nobles, heroes, and talented people of the entire Zhoushui tribe. If this school doesn't make money, I will advance money into it myself, and I will definitely not let Master Situ suffer a loss. I served as the dean, and I also invited Situ, Sikong, Sigong, and Sima to be the honorary presidents. ”

Situ was a little worried: "Actually, we already have a high-level private school in Zhoushuicheng, in Guo's mansion, why should Xiaobai open it again?" If you want to use a private school. I'm going to say hello to Guo. ”

Qin Xiaobai said with a smile: "There are too many restrictions in the private school of the Guo Mansion, and only nobles and heroes can enter the study. But what I needed was a large number of ordinary craftsmen who specialized in various techniques. In Guofu, I'm afraid it's not very appropriate. ”

Situ nodded and said, "The high-level private school in the Guo Mansion really only teaches nobles and heroes, and how much money can your academy earn by recruiting very few students?" ”

Qin Xiaobai, hehe, what Old Man Situ cares about is money.

"The minimum profit of 30%, if it is not enough, I will make up for it!"

"Oh. That's it! Okay, let's start another school. Situ's eyes were shining, he thought about it for a while, invested 200,000 in return of 260,000, and finally agreed. Since Xiaobai guarantees such a high profit return for this institution, he might as well take a look at the effect.

After Situ consulted the Great Chief, he was approved by the Great Chief. Qin Xiaobai's group was officially allowed to establish the Zhou Water Science Institute, and provided strong support from the government.

After Qin Xiaobai received special permission, he began to set up the school.

He took out 100,000 copper coins himself, and purchased the title deed of ten acres of land in the central urban area of Zhoushui Walled Land from the hands of an NPC nobleman, and built a large number of buildings. A luxurious courtyard was built, and the plaque of "Zhoushui Academy" was hung on the gate.

This school is funded by a private person, and the ownership belongs to Qin Xiaobai. Szeto provided the funds for other purposes. And receive a return. This is a purely private school, but not many players know this, and many people even think that it is run by the Zhoushui government.

Zhoushui University is divided into three departments: University, Scientific Research Institute, and Technology Asset Management Department.

University - Specialized in teaching basic knowledge, common sense, and the six arts to NPCs in the university.

Scientific Research Institute - Invests funds for the study of various techniques by craftsmen.

Technical Asset Management Department - Craftsmen research out the technology and sell it publicly. Convert into funds.

Zhoushui University does not have any restrictions on entry, as long as it is eligible; When the university was established, it was not too conspicuous. There are a lot of buildings built in Zhoushui City during this time. It's just one of them. But soon. It's hard for players not to pay attention to it.

The Guo Mansion took the lead in making a surprising decision to dissolve the higher private school in the prefecture. There are more than 10 teachers in this private school. That is, more than ten students of Guo Kuidi, all of whom went to teach at the university of Zhoushui Academy. You must know that Guo's private school is the only high-level private school in Zhoushui Walled City, and all NPC ordinary heroes who want to get the best knowledge enlightenment must be here to get the best enlightenment education.

After Guo Fu took the lead, several other nobles in Zhoushui City opened primary private schools and intermediate private schools, and they also entered the universities of Zhoushui Academy as teaching teachers.

Players who want to gain knowledge enlightenment and open wisdom by NPCs must enter Zhoushui Academy to study, otherwise there is no place to learn knowledge. They immediately realized that powerful people must have interfered in these private schools, otherwise it would be impossible for all the teachers of these private schools controlled by the nobles to enter the school.

The person who can have this power is none other than the Great Chief, or a minister of an NPC. When they learned that the four ministers were all honorary presidents of Zhoushui Academy, they immediately understood that it was these ministers who intervened and strongly integrated all the scattered private schools of Zhoushui into Zhoushui Academy-this is also why many players mistakenly think that it is a government-run school.

Players are not opposed to such an action, because to their delight, the admission to Zhoushui Academy does not limit origin, in addition to nobles and heroes, ordinary NPCs are also allowed to enter it to learn knowledge, which is of course very beneficial to promote production. Because most NPC craftsmen have little knowledge, they are unable to understand some basic common sense questions, and even counting numbers is difficult. In such a situation, it is very difficult to create something good.

Of course. When you enter an institution to study, you will inevitably spend money. The hourly fee is 5 copper coins for junior teachers and 30 copper coins for senior teachers for one hour, and the efficiency of teaching is different. Senior teachers are able to impart knowledge in a very short period of time and to teach esoteric knowledge, culture, and ethics. Elementary teachers, on the other hand, can only teach simple things such as handwriting and counting, and they are very slow.

Each has its own benefits, and if players only want their NPCs to master simple writing and arithmetic, then use a junior teacher. There is no need to pay a high price for a senior teacher.

Zhoushui Academy has more than 40 junior teachers, more than 20 intermediate teachers, and more than 10 senior teachers in Zhoushui.

This is just a small beginning.

Qin Xiaobai didn't plan to let himself want to become the dean of a pure academy, his real purpose was to be based on the scientific research institute in the academy. The academy is just a plaque to cover up, reducing the resistance from all sides, and smoothly allowing him to establish the academy. And use the Academy of Sciences to study technology. And monopolizing technology is his real potential goal. He is using a good sign that will benefit most players, and he is very careful to disguise his extremely "evil" intentions.

The early fundraising work of the academy was basically completed, everything was on track, and Situ also sent 200,000 copper coins to the fund. Looking forward to the time when it pays off.

The Science Research Institute of Zhoushui University was officially opened in obscurity.

These 200,000 copper coins are actually not much, and Qin Xiaobai can easily take them out by himself. But this is a formal cooperation between the NPC elites of Zhoushui and the powerful forces of the players, and it has to be spent carefully.

NPC nobles are not so easy to fool, and they must come up with real profits to convince these NPC nobles and be willing to invest more money.

Qin Xiaobai transferred six or seven craftsmen from the Xiaobai tribe and the sheep tribe, including Dumb, who had the strongest research ability, to the Academy of Science to conduct research on "metallurgy, casting" and other aspects. In addition, he also brought in blood killing, thousands of miles without leaving a line. Discuss with them about "mining, transportation" and other aspects of the Eagle Hand Mining Area. These two are in charge of the mining area and have also invested in the "mining" industry.

He hopes to invest money in these two links, conduct research, and improve the efficiency of mining.

Bloody killings and thousands of miles do not stay, after listening. I was a little surprised.

Blood Kill hurriedly asked, "Xiaobai." You mean to do research on mining and transportation? But after the use of bronze, the efficiency of slave miners was already at its highest level. It's hard to go any further. How are you going to increase their production capacity? ”

Qin Xiaobai smiled and asked, "How deep is the mine now?" What is the way to transport land? ”

"Some copper mines have been dug hundreds of meters deep, and the slaves dig the mines and transport them on their backs. From the Eagle Hand Mining Area to the foothills of the Northridge Mountains, almost all of them were carried back by slaves. At present, about 20 percent, or more than 7,000,000 Shan Rong slaves, are used to transport ore over long distances. ”

Qin Xiaobai nodded and said, "Yes, this is the link, carrying ore on the back, which consumes a lot of slaves. Look, how about using wheels and rails in a mine? First, wheel rails were laid throughout the Eagle Hand mining area, connecting the various mine holes, and the ore was directly transported by wooden carts with the help of wheel rails. If the effect is good, even from the Eagle Hand mining area to our Zhoushui City, a wheel and rail will be built to transport ore quickly. ”

Qianli Bu Xing exclaimed: "We haven't even built a stone road yet, so let's use wheels and rails first?" ”

Blood Kill also exclaimed: "The wheel and rail seem to be a product of the steam engine era, can it be clear now?" ”

Qin Xiaobai smiled: "What does the wheel rail have to do with steam?" That is, some sleepers are only connected together with metal, and horse-drawn carriages and wooden carts can also walk on wheels and rails. Besides, we are not driving a train, just a small ore transport wooden car, the load is not high, the strength of the wheel and rail demand is not large, the current bronze technology should be able to make the wheel and rail for connecting the sleepers.

I have asked some of my most capable craftsmen to come, and you will also send your own craftsmen to the Eagle Hand mine to inspect the wheel and rail, to see how big the wheel and rail are needed, and strive to study the wheel and rail. Bronze properties and models required for the construction of wheels and rails. My craftsman will take care of the research. The rest is up to you craftsmen to study.

The research cost of 200,000 copper coins was invested in the early stage, which was dedicated to transportation. Once successful, you can save a lot of slaves on transportation and use them all for mining. As long as a small part of them is saved, 2,000 slaves, they can dig an extra 150,000 units of ore in one day, and in more than ten days, they can earn back all our investment, and the rest is all profit. ”

Blood Kill and Qianli Bu Xing glanced at each other. Nodding.

They also know that once the wheel-rail technology is successfully developed, it can be used not only in the Eagle Hand mining area, but also in many places, improving transportation efficiency, and ultimately reaping great benefits.

Blood Kill said with a smile: "Once the development is successful, we in Zhoushui may have another industry specializing in the production of wheels and rails and wooden cars for transportation." It's better for us to monopolize this industry in partnership, and it's not cheap for outsiders. ”

Qin Xiaobai stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "Okay, happy cooperation!" I'll take the bronze side, and you will share the rest. ”

If you don't stay for a thousand miles, hehehe, hehe. The hands of the three of them were very tacitly clasped together. As the scope of cooperation becomes more and more extensive, their interests are increasingly overlapping, and both are lost. All in one.

In the eyes of Blood Kill and Thousands of Miles Away, research is a big deal, and they even value this matter more than Qin Xiaobai, and immediately organized more than thirty NPC manpower to conduct special research. With the addition of Qin Xiaobai's six or seven bronze craftsmen, the total number reached 38

Qin Xiaobai demanded that these NPCs must join the "Zhoushui Academy of Sciences", and the technology researched would be owned by the Zhoushui Academy, and the technology would be resold to the three of them.

Blood killing and not leaving a line for thousands of miles are very clear about Qin Xiaobai. What game was played, agreed to the request.

The research of wheel and rail technology requires the cooperation of carpenters, bronzesmiths, and lathesmen, and in order to let them master enough arithmetic knowledge, even senior teachers are invited to teach these craftsmen.

Qin Xiaobai and others' requirements for this wheel rail are also very simple: laying bronze sleeper wheel rails on the ground can allow the wooden cart to move back and forth repeatedly and conveniently on it. The durability of the wheel rails is high. It won't be "clicked" after a few days of use.

If the above requirements are met, the research of this wheel rail is basically considered a success.

The sleepers are simple. The carpenters chose the hardest wood as the material, and designed the thickness, width, and length of each section of sleeper.

The more difficult is bronze, which requires bronze nails with sufficient toughness and hardness to nail the sleepers together to avoid failure due to long-term use. This requires extensive experimentation to determine the optimal bronze ratio.

Dumb and other five or six bronze craftsmen have already accumulated a lot of experience in casting bronzes in the previous bronze production, and can easily design a variety of bronze for different purposes. It is necessary to experiment repeatedly and pick out the best design.

In addition, there is also a transport vehicle for ore, which is different from a horse-drawn carriage, from the wheels to the body of the car must be specially designed. The most important thing is that the bronze hoops used in the wheels and wheels must be of high quality and can withstand repeated and high-intensity use.

The craftsmen first designed a branch wheel and rail, a small wheel and rail 1 meter wide, and a small wooden cart, which went hundreds of meters deep into the mine and transported the ore dug out of the deep hole by the slaves out of the door of the mine. A small wooden cart can hold 200 units of ore, and the slave easily pulls it out of the mine. Originally, dozens of slaves were transported out of the mine, but now with wheels and rails, only two or three slaves can be used to transport them, and the degree is even faster, and the efficiency of transportation is greatly improved.

At the same time, the craftsmen laid this small wheel and rail in nearly a dozen mines for experimentation, and finally selected the most durable wheel and rail as the standard wheel and rail. Only 1 point of durability is lost in a day, and it can be used for more than 70 days before the durability of the entire wheel and rail will be exhausted. The effect of the wooden car is a little worse, but it can be used for about 50 days. The benefits are far greater than the costs.

The results of this excellent experiment greatly inspired Qin Xiaobai, Blood Killing, Thousands of Miles Without Leaving and others, and also inspired the craftsmen in charge of research.

The first step of the project was a great success and technically proved that laying wheels and rails was feasible.

At this point, only one copper coin is spent on the cost of research. A total of 20 protocols were experimented with for each NPC. There are still 86,000 copper coins left to continue the research on the main line wheel and rail, which is 2 meters wide and large wheel and rail, and a large wooden car, which will connect the entire Eagle Hand mining area with the main line.

Now that the whole wheel and rail technology has a bright future, it is already certain that it can make a high profit. This technology has created a value of more than one million copper coins in one month.

Since the research funds of the craftsmen were provided by the "Zhoushui Academy", the techniques they developed also belonged to the "Zhoushui Academy".

Qin Xiaobai, blood killing, and thousands of miles do not stay, the three of them invested 260,000 copper coins together, purchased all the technologies needed for the production of wheels and rails and wooden cars from the "Zhoushui Academy", and jointly established a workshop specializing in the production of wheels and rails and wooden cars.

The specific operation and management is carried out by a henchman brother under the Thousands of Miles Mission, who is not left behind, to act as an agent for the operation of this industry. Qin Xiaobai and Bloody Kill are both behind-the-scenes shareholders and are responsible for giving and collecting money. As more and more of the affairs they are in charge of, they all like to hide behind the scenes, and all kinds of things are solved by their younger brothers.

The first venture research fund, which was successfully operated.

Qin Xiaobai returned the 260,000 copper coins obtained from "selling" the wheel and rail technology to Situ, and said with a smile: "200,000 principal, 60,000 profits, time-consuming profits, a copper coin is not bad." ”

Situ received the copper coin, and he was very surprised, he received 30% of the profit in 2 days, such a return is not something that can be seen anywhere, even if the world drops gold, it is not so fast. Nor can such a windfall profit be made by loan sharks.

Situ was delighted, but of course he didn't forget to ask about the detailed earning process.

Qin Xiaobai roughly talked about the process of investing in technology. focused on the hardships, twists and turns, and difficulties in the research of technology, as well as the craftsmen who did not give up and went to the soup to carry out dangerous experiments, so that the technology was finally developed, and the technology was sold to a player at a price of 260,000. As for how much this wheel-rail technology is really worth, he will not say. 30% of the profit to the company; After listening to this, Situ cocked his thumb and exclaimed: "Gao, it's really clever!" No wonder the big chief said that by cooperating with Xiaobai, he would make no money, and that was indeed the case. ”

Qin Xiaobai laughed and said, "Pass the prize!" Lord Situ's money, I don't dare to lose it. ”

At this time, Situ took out more copper coins, and said with a smile: "Xiaobai's way of making money, I am relieved, and I will invest in the technical research of this water academy." This time it's 1 million copper coins, which is still a 30% profit. As for the time, I won't rush it, after all, the more money the more difficult it is to earn, Xiaobai, you can do it, as long as it's not more than a month. When we have earned enough, we will discuss the next investment. ”

Qin Xiaobai smiled lightly and accepted it, he wouldn't be too much money. There are too many projects that need to be researched by Zhoushui Academy, and this million is probably not enough.

"Okay, at the latest in a month, I will give Lord Situ a satisfactory return."