Uncle Guo had obviously been waiting for a long time, and when he saw Fang Xiu, his eyes burst into light, and he hurriedly came up, and called out respectfully: "Fang Xiang." ”

Fang Xiu nodded and asked, "Uncle Guo is visiting, what are you doing?" ”

"Fang Xiangke still remembers when he was observing the steam engine some time ago, saying that he wanted me to continue my research and strive to make this steam engine practical as soon as possible?"

Uncle Guo looked at Fang Xiu with excitement in his tone.

Could it be that he had already worked out the application of the steam engine?

Fang Xiu was slightly stunned, nodded, and replied, "Naturally remember, where does Uncle Guo plan to use the steam engine?" ”

Uncle Guo said: "What Fang Xiang said before has given me a lot of inspiration, I have started to use the steam engine in cars and ships, but I have not made progress yet. ”

No progress to say a fart!

Fang Xiu's brows furrowed slightly, and he was about to ask what he was trying to do.

Before he could speak, he heard Uncle Guo follow closely:

"However, in addition to these two items, some progress has been made, and I have heard that many mines and mines have a problem when they dig to the back, that is, they will produce stagnant water, and this cleaning up the stagnant water is troublesome and time-consuming, so that work has to be stopped every once in a while.

In addition, there are some mines and caves, because there is too much water to mine, so I wondered if I could use a steam engine to drain the water in these mines.

In this way, it saves time and manpower, after my unremitting efforts, the machine that removes stagnant water has been designed, I sent someone to try it several times, and the effect is not bad! ”

When Uncle Guo said this, his face was full of pride.

Used to drain stagnant water?

Fang Xiu didn't expect the steam engine to have this effect, and was slightly stunned.

Seeing that he was at a loss, Uncle Guo hurriedly said: "That machine is in a mine somewhere in the suburbs, do you want to take a look?" ”

Fang Xiu thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Since Uncle Guo has invited me, the minister will go with you to take a look." ”

"I'll lead the way!"

Seeing that Fang Xiu agreed, Uncle Guo's face was overjoyed, and he was busy leading the way in front.

An hour later.

Fang Xiu looked at the steam engine in front of him, his face showed a look of approval, and said, "It's really good. ”

Receiving Fang Xiu's appreciation, Uncle Guo showed excitement, feeling that his efforts had been rewarded, and he also felt that his talent had been displayed, and said excitedly: "With Fang Xiang's support, I will not eat, drink or sleep, and I will strive to develop this steam engine ship and steam locomotive as soon as possible!" ”

When Fang Xiu heard this, he glanced at him, and saw that his face was flushed, as if he was reading some oath, he couldn't help but smile and said, "There are some things that can definitely be done without effort, just do your best." ”

"Fang Xiang is a lesson!"

Uncle Guo nodded heavily, looking like he was being taught.

Although he is the younger brother of the current Queen Mother and the dignified uncle of the country, he is still extremely humble in front of Fang Xiu, a powerful minister who has the power in the world.

Fang Xiu glanced at the steam engine, thought for a moment, and asked, "How much does it cost to produce a machine like this, and how long will it take?" ”

Uncle Guo thought for a few breaths and replied: "If the raw materials are sufficient, several skilled craftsmen can build it together, and such a machine can be produced in a month at most!" ”

“......”

When Fang Xiu heard this, the corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

One machine is produced a month, and there are so many mines and caves in the entire Daqian, when will it be equipped with one.

He was silent for a few breaths and said, "Tell the minister why the speed of production is so slow and which step is difficult." ”

Uncle Guo was slightly stunned, and muttered to himself: "One unit a month shouldn't be too slow......

After speaking, he suddenly came back to his senses, since Fang Xiang felt that he was slow, he only needed to find ways to improve efficiency, and the rest of the words were like complaining when he said them.

So, he hurriedly changed his words:

"The key is the lack of suitable craftsmen, a steam engine needs a lot of parts, and the parts need to be very precise, and skilled craftsmen can build them.

Such craftsmen are difficult to find in the entire capital, and I spent a lot of money to recruit a few from other workshops.

Moreover, even skilled craftsmen want to create all the parts and assemble them completely, it is not an easy task, they have to explore for a long time, practice for a long time, before they can produce one in a month.

If you want to improve the efficiency of assembly, it seems to me that there is only one way, and that is to recruit as many craftsmen as possible, hone them, and train them, but this requires a lot of silver and a lot of time. ”

When Fang Xiu heard this, a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

After a long silence, he suddenly spoke: "Have you ever thought about letting a craftsman make only one kind of part, and then having the craftsman assemble all the parts together?" ”

"Let one craftsman make only one part......"

Uncle Guo was slightly stunned, and then his face was thoughtful.

After a while, he seemed to be enlightened, and his whole body was in good spirits.

"What Fang Xiang said is extremely true! That's true! ”

"Let the craftsman make only one kind of part, so that it does not take much time and money to train the craftsman, and the craftsman is easier to learn, and the various parts of the steam engine are built by different craftsmen, and finally assembled by a certain craftsman, which will definitely greatly improve the efficiency!"

Uncle Guo's face flushed excitedly, looked at Fang Xiu, and said in an almost adoring tone: "Fang Xiang is really a god!" A casual sentence solves such a major problem! Fang Xiang is simply a heavenly immortal, it is ......"

"Okay, there is no need to say these words, after you go back, do as the minister says, and try to improve the efficiency of the production of steam engines.

When the time comes, the household department will fund the establishment of a workshop specializing in the production of steam engines, and the profits earned will be divided according to thirty-seven, thirty percent will go to you, and the other seventy percent will go to the state treasury. ”

Fang Xiu said.

When Uncle Guo heard this, he waved his hand hurriedly, and said with a flustered face: "How can this work, the idea of the steam engine was put forward by Fang Xiang, and the drawings were provided by Fang Xiang, including this application and production, are all Fang Xiang's ideas!"

I just found a few craftsmen and put them into practice, and the silver used by hiring craftsmen is still provided by you, and the profit of 30% is too much, I really can't afford it! ”

"Put forward the idea to put it into practice, it's just a short sentence, but if you want to do it well, it's not easy, you have paid a lot of effort for this steam engine, I know this, you don't have to speculate, thirty percent of the dividend is what you deserve."

Fang Xiu looked at Uncle Guo and spoke softly.

When Uncle Guo heard this, he was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly knelt down and said: "How much I have paid for this steam engine, I know in my own heart, and the dividend of thirty percent is too much!" Please take back the fate, and it will be enough for Uncle Guo's Mansion to take half of it! ”

Fang Xiu hurriedly helped him up and said, "How can Uncle Guo give such a big gift to the minister, the minister can't afford it." ”

Uncle Guo said with a firm face: "If Fang Xiang doesn't agree to my request, I will keep kneeling." ”

“......”

Fang Xiu looked at him and sighed inexplicably in his heart.

If someone else can get a 30% dividend, he may still feel less, even if he doesn't think it is less, he will never refuse like him.

It seems that this uncle is quite a simple and honest man.

However, it is such a person who can calm down and delve into these machines.

If you change to a person who is anxious for quick success and quick profit, I am afraid that he is full of thoughts about how to earn more silver, and he will not pay attention to things like steam engines that cannot produce any profits in a short period of time.

"In this case, according to what Uncle Guo said, half of Uncle Guo's mansion will be completed, and the rest will be returned to the national treasury ......"

Speaking of this, he paused and said with a smile: "Let's discuss how to distribute dividends here, if we can't sell it and have no profit, it will be embarrassing." ”

Uncle Guo got up from the ground and said busily: "Please rest assured, this steam engine is so easy to use, it will definitely sell well!" ”

Fang Xiu nodded, said no more, and said, "Whether it can be sold or not, the production of the steam engine will be handed over to Uncle Guo." ”

"We will live up to the trust of the prime minister!"

Uncle Guo saluted with a serious face.

The two chatted for a while, and then planned to go back.

This time.

A miner suddenly rushed out of the pit, knelt down in front of Fang Xiu and Uncle Guo, kowtowed heavily, and said loudly: "Two adults, please save the little ones!" ”

Almost at the same time.

A middle-aged man with pigtails in his hand followed, panting and said, "Dog, you want to die!" ”

"Bold! Who are you to dare to be so presumptuous in front of Fang Xiang! ”

Hearing the voice, the middle-aged man reacted, looked at Fang Xiu and Uncle Guo, knelt down with a plop, and said in a trembling voice: "The little one should be damned, it disturbed the two adults, please punish the adults!" ”

Fang Xiu glanced at him, put his eyes on the miner's body, and asked coldly, "Tell me, what happened to you, and you want to save you?" ”

The miner knelt on the ground, his head pressed against the ground, and said loudly:

"The foreman of the mine did not regard the little ones as human beings, but walked around the mine with a whip on weekdays, and when he saw anyone stopping to rest, he would be a whip, and he would not spare anyone, and if anyone dared to return the mouth, he would be beaten badly, and only the skin and flesh would be opened.

The little one came to the mine for only two months, and he was beaten three times, one of which was lying in bed for four or five days, but he couldn't recover, and even so, he still forced the little one to get up and work! ”

As he spoke, the miner took off his coat, revealing his bruised back.

Seeing this, Fang Xiu's brows furrowed slightly, he looked at the uncle on the side, and asked, "Does this mine belong to the imperial court or to a businessman?" ”

Uncle Guo replied: "Hui Fangxiang, this is a copper mine, according to the law, it should be the mineral of the imperial court. ”

When Fang Xiu heard this, his face became a little ugly.

Uncle Guo looked at the miner and asked, "Why are you still working under the miner, if the miner is abusing you so much?" ”

When the miner heard this, his face showed grief and indignation, and he said in a desolate voice:

"First, because there are old mothers and children in the small family who need to be supported, and when the farm is slack, they need the wages from the mine to subsidize the family, so even if they are scolded and beaten, they want to get paid, so they endure it.

The foreman told the little one that since he had come to the mine, he would have to work in the mine for three months, and if anyone left during this period, not only would he not get paid, but he would also be sent to the yamen and detained! ”

When Fang Xiu heard this, his face became even more gloomy.

In fact, as soon as the miner knelt in front of him, he probably understood what was going on.

With so many mines and caves, it is almost inevitable that the foreman will oppress the miners.

Every once in a while, the Metropolitan Procuratorate sent a few imperial historians to inspect everywhere, but it could only reduce the occurrence of similar things as much as possible.

But.

He didn't expect that this mine was so close to Chang'an, and the foreman of the mine would dare to oppress the miners so blatantly.

"In that case, why do you dare to stand up today and accuse the foreman, aren't you afraid that after I leave, you won't get paid?"

Uncle Guo looked at the miner and asked again.

The miner said desolately: "It's really small that can't survive, digging in this mine for two months, eating less and less every day, doing more and more every day, like this, the small one is afraid that he will not live to receive the day of wages, in fact, the small one understands in his heart that those people want to force the small ones to leave in this way."

The small ones left at this time, which is equivalent to doing these two months of work in vain, and even if they arrived at the Yamen, they also had a reason, nothing more than to say that they told the little ones that they could only get their wages after three months of work, but the little ones stayed here for two months, and they didn't see a few people getting paid at all! ”

Speaking of this, the miner's face showed a look of determination, and he said loudly: "The little one believes that the two Qingtian masters can give the little one the master!" Of course, if the big man can't be the master, the little one can't do anything, and since the little one is kneeling here, he is determined to die. ”

Side.

The middle-aged man with the whip turned pale with fright, his head was pressed against the ground, his mouth trembled, and he couldn't say a word.

Fang Xiu looked at the middle-aged man and asked, "Is what he said true?" ”

"Little ..... Small...... Small ......"

The middle-aged man was so frightened that he couldn't even say a complete sentence.

"Answer truthfully!"

On the side, Uncle Guo raised his voice and said coldly.

"Genus...... It's true......"

The middle-aged man obviously knew the identities of the two adults in front of him, and knew that there was no point in justifying, so he could only confess.

Fang Xiu was silent for a few breaths and asked, "Who is the backer behind you?" ”

When the middle-aged man heard this, his body trembled, and he didn't know where he got the courage, so he replied: "Return, if you go back to the adult, the small one is just a small foreman, and he is bolder on weekdays, where did he come from." ”

Fang Xiu sneered: "With your timid appearance like a mouse, you dare to do such a thing without a backer?" ”

Speaking of which, raise your voice and shout:

"Say! Who are your backers! Answer truthfully, and you will be spared death! ”