February XVII.

Just after the end of the hour, the young man Pingzhang's house on Xuanwu Lake began to be lively, and Freehand and Luoshui took a group of maids to serve their adults to get up, bathe, change clothes, and eat...... After a series of processes, the dazed Zhu Yuan finally woke up.

Let Freehand bring a pocket watch and look at it, the time is 4:15 in the morning.

It was still dark outside.

I really want to go back to sleep.

However, there is no way, today is His Majesty the Emperor's pro-cultivation ceremony, if you don't participate, even Lao Zhu, who has always been lenient to him and spoiled, will inevitably say a few words.

Put away the pocket watch, let them last check their clothes, and after confirming that it was correct, Zhu Yuan left Xuanwu Lake.

did not enter the palace again, but took a carriage directly to the Xiannongtan in the south of the city.

The process of the pro-ploughing ceremony is to worship first, then plough the fields, and then invite hundreds of officials and elders to the first agricultural altar, so that the whole process is down, and the time will be past noon.

The carriage of the young man Pingzhang entered the city from the Taiping Gate, passed through the Taiping Avenue in the early morning, although there were not many people, it was already a little lively, and went out of the city from the Zhengyang Gate in the south, and continued to walk west for a while, and arrived at the Xiannongtan. Along the way, Zhu Yuan occasionally lifted the curtain to look outside, not only did he encounter the chariots and horses of the court officials who were traveling with him, but the people who were watching the excitement today also appeared on both sides of the road early.

The first pro-ploughing ceremony of the new dynasty, although not as lively as last year's accession to the throne by His Majesty the Emperor, is also worth seeing.

What's more, there have been rumors recently that at this ceremony, the imperial court will demonstrate some kind of magical pumping equipment, which can quickly pump water from underground wells out of the ground to irrigate farmland.

Seeing that a certain young man's carriage, which was much more pompous than some other officials, rushed past the carriage, a few people on the side of the road who had come from the city to watch the ceremony began to discuss.

"I also heard that it was the second brother of my sixth uncle's family in the machinery factory in the north of there...... The papermaking workshop on the side is working, tsk, it is said that the thing is called ...... What is steaming...... machine, it was also the little county king who brought it up. A round-faced middle-aged man gestured with great interest: "That thing, when it moves, the sound is earth-shattering, and it can be heard from afar, and it is sudden...... And then, that water ...... And he drew it out of the well. ”

On the side of the round-faced middle-aged man, another old man said: "Sun San, listen to you, isn't this a waterwheel, I have stepped on that thing since I was a child, what is so strange?" ”

Because of the many hills in the south of the Yangtze River, in order to bring the river water to the farmland on the heights, various water collection and irrigation trucks were driven by ploughing oxen or pedaled by human feet very early.

Of course, Sun San also knew what a waterwheel was, and he had finally heard the insight, how could he let people say that, and hurriedly waved his hand: "Qi Bo, it's not a waterwheel, it's not a waterwheel." ”

Another person who was listening also found a problem: "Qi Bo, Sun San said that it was from the well that the water was pumped, which was different from the water wheel. ”

"If it's just a well, how much water can it produce, just irrigate a dozen or twenty acres, what's the use?" Qi Bo said, and shook his head: "Look at this day, it has been dry for more than a month, and it happens to be the spring plowing season...... I'm afraid it's ugly again. ”

"Yes," someone echoed: "I just hope that this time His Majesty the Emperor will personally plough and move the heavens and ask for a rain." ”

In this era, everyone believes this, and when they hear what people say, everyone also shows pious expressions.

After a while, someone added: "The pumping thing, even if it is really magical, there must be water first, the river near my family's field has bottomed out recently, and it won't rain anymore, alas......"

Sun San, who provoked the conversation, said this, obviously deviating from the point, and wanted to open his mouth to argue a few words, but ...... He hadn't seen the pumping equipment before, but he had heard about it, and he really couldn't say why.

Even, as he spoke, Sun San had some self-doubt.

When the people talked about the rumors about the pumping machine, Zhu Yuan was also being pulled, and the topic was also the pumping machine.

However, unlike the people who can only guess, at the moment, Zhu Yuan is next to Huang Chengcheng's steam engine on the side of the field.

Holding Zhu Yuan's little hand was Li Zhen, the marquis of Enkin, Li Wenzhong's father, and the brother-in-law of His Majesty the Emperor.

There were a number of other officials around.

has dealt with him several times, and because Zhu Yuan recognized his ancestors and returned to his ancestors, Li Zhen was very cordial to Zhu Yuan, but when he talked about this steam pump, his words carried the same incredible inquiry: "Yuan'er, this thing...... Is it really possible to continuously pump the water from the ground to the ground, and if so, how much land can be watered in a day? ”

"Uncle, pumping water will definitely be able to pump water, but ...... I won't hide it from you...... This, pumping water for a day in a row, has not been before, these machines, have just been made not long ago, and they need to be carefully explored in order to promote practicality. ”

Li Zhen is the husband of the second sister of the old Zhu, counting from the generation of Zhu Biao and Zhu Zhang, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should call Li Zhen his uncle.

When he came to Zhu Yuan, because Lao Zhu was sure that Zhu Yuan was a generation lower than Zhu Biao and Zhu Zhang, he wanted to call Li Zhen his uncle.

Zhu Yuan felt awkward at first, but Li Zhen was a very sincere person, and he treated him well when he met a few times, and gradually got used to it.

At the moment, Li Zhen asked about the steam pump that had just been born, and Zhu Yuan told the truth.

When Li Zhen heard Zhu Yuan's confession, she was immediately disappointed, and the big hand holding Zhu Yuan's small hand subconsciously tightened: "Sure enough, sure enough...... It's up to God. ”

"Actually, this is already a good start," Zhu Yuan is a person who doesn't like to talk too much, but he doesn't want to disappoint Li Zhen too much, thinking about it and saying: "This steam engine, we have actually built it in less than a year, and it will ...... in the future." As you can imagine, it's only going to get better. The ancestor also ordered yesterday to organize 20,000 or 30,000 people to build this machine together, so many people work together, and after two or three years, not only will this steam machine be better, but also the number will be more, and even hundreds of machines can be built a day. Even if it is calculated according to 100 units a day, there will be more than 30,000 units a year, and if this number can be reached, after three years, at least ...... In the vicinity of Gyeonggi, this steam pump can be widely used, and the people will no longer be troubled by drought. ”

"Three years, three years......" Li Zhen suddenly looked forward to it again, and then remembered something, and said, "I'm at home...... I also read the 'three-year plan', if you say this is true, then the 'three-year plan', why not include this 'steam engine'? ”

"Uncle, the projects in the three-year plan are all based on safety, and my ancestor also hopes to get off to a good start. For example, the revision of the "Yuan History", which must be done well, and the "Jianghuai Canal", which has also been referred to earlier, we only need to follow the plan left by the previous dynasty. Zhu Yuan patiently explained: "In comparison, this steam engine is related, because it has never been included, so it is not included." However, although it is not listed, the ancestors still attach great importance to it. ”

Li Zhen nodded again.

After Lao Zhu ascended the throne, Li Zhen was named 'Enqin Marquis' as a lieutenant of the horse, although he was a relative of the emperor, but he did not interfere in the government at will, therefore, many things happened in the imperial court, except for the more important 'three-year plan', Li Zhen did not know.

At the moment, facing his own juniors, Li Zhen couldn't help but ask a few more questions: "Yuan'er, there is one more thing, even if this steam engine can build tens of millions of units, can it ...... Can the water in this well be pumped all the time, will it be pumped too much and it will dry up? ”

Li Zhen asked this question, and some of the officials around him also showed curious expressions.

At the beginning, only a few court humerus could participate in the demonstration of the steam engine in the mansion on the lake, and most people naturally did not hear Zhu Yuan's discussion of the aquifer.

Groundwater...... Limited of course.

Zhu Yuan has seen reports of over-pumping groundwater that has caused entire cities to subside.

However, the moment, or ...... For a long time to come, the rate of human extraction will not exceed the rate of replenishment of groundwater, so it can be said that it is almost unlimited.

The reason is simple, but it is not something that ordinary people in this era can understand.

Therefore, Zhu Yuan explained in detail to Li Zhen and some officials around him, about the formation of groundwater and so on, which is a kind of water system that is quite different from the above-ground canals, so there is no need to worry.

Everyone was talking here, and suddenly a courtesy official hurriedly came to inform him that His Majesty the Emperor's carriage was approaching, so he hurriedly left and hurried back to the direction of the main hall of the inner altar of Xiannongtan.

When the hundreds of officials of the imperial court and the elders who watched the ceremony lined up in order, His Majesty the Emperor also appeared in front of the palace.

At this time, the sky is slightly dark.

After giving the ceremony, Lao Zhu began the sacrificial process.

The sacrifice of the pro-ploughing day is also an occasion sacrifice, after all, if you want to have a smooth wind and rain in this era, there are many gods involved, including Xiannong, Tai Sui, Fengyun, thunderstorm, Wuyue, Sihai, etc., which god can not fall.

Therefore, you can also imagine the cumbersome process.

Zhu Yuan lined up behind Li Shanchang as usual, standing in the crowd of hundreds of officials, watching Lao Zhu busy entering the incense and offering worship with the assistance of some ritual officials, and after half an hour, he finally came to the end, reciting the expression.

This time, the letter was written by the Ministry of Rites, and it was much longer than the one when Lao Zhu ascended the throne last year.

Zhu Yuan listened very carefully, and also found a relevant narrative about the yield of 4 stones and 3 buckets per mu of the Guangzhou experimental field that happened to be sent to the capital yesterday.

At the same time, it was also found that when Lao Zhu read this paragraph, some officials around him who only knew the news at the moment were inevitably a little commotion.

I think it's unlikely.

Even, if it weren't for the current occasion, some officials of the Imperial Historical Observatory might have jumped out to refute His Majesty the Emperor's false words.

This kind of thing, how can you talk nonsense!

This is deception!

However, I probably thought of it too, and after thinking about it again, His Majesty the Emperor would not be stupid enough to talk nonsense about this kind of thing, right...... Is it true that one mu produces 4 stones and 3 buckets of grain?

Of course it's true.

Zhu Yuan was in the crowd, feeling the restlessness of the people around him, and could only pout.

What's the point?

The current 4 stones and 3 buckets, Zhu Yuan knows, there is still no husked rice, not hulled rice, which is about 600 catties later.

If memory serves, after a few hundred years, the highest yield per mu of hybrid rice ...... It should be more than 3,000 pounds.

If these words are said now, I am afraid that they will be regarded as nonsense.

Well.

It seems like......

Hybrid rice!

Suddenly, I grabbed another one.

This thing, now...... I think it can be done.

Zhu Yuan is not an agricultural expert, and he has not even planted land, but just by virtue of the words 'hybrid rice', in fact, he can probably sort out an operation process.

Hybrid!

After all, there is no genetic modification involved.

From all over the country...... Even overseas, it is only a matter of time before a variety of different rice varieties are selected.

After a little distraction, this matter was confirmed, and on the other side, His Majesty the Emperor also finished reading the statement.

In the sound of ritual music, the sacrificial process ends.

In early spring, the sky was also completely lit up.

Everyone moved to the outside of the main hall, and the next thing was to plow.

Later, there was always a 'one acre and three points of land' saying, that is, from the size of the land area cultivated by the emperors of the past dynasties, it happened to be one acre and three points, which is said to be one, three, five, seven, nine such singular numbers, in ancient times also called 'yang number', the emperor as the ninety-five respect, belongs to the body of the sun, pro-farming farmland, to some extent, the numbers should also match, five, seven, nine and other numbers are too big, so take 'one' and 'three', as 'one mu and three points', listed as the emperor's His Majesty's pro-cultivation of acres.

During the observation of the hundred officials and the elderly, the ceremonial officials presented whips, and His Majesty the Emperor, dressed in dragon robes, walked into the field, skillfully held the plough, shouted, and carefully selected the ploughing oxen that were controlled by the ceremonial officials and began to move.

While the emperor was ploughing the plough, there were also ceremonial officials who sprinkled seeds in the back.

This goes back and forth three times, and the pro-ploughing is over.

If it was in the past, His Majesty the Emperor would have finished plowing in person, it would be a matter for hundreds of officials, but this time, there is still a process.

A certain teenager Pingzhang proposed.

Parental planting.

Lao Zhu also agreed to come down at the beginning.

At the moment, it was also carefully prepared in advance, and a plot on the side of Xiannongtan was selected, and His Majesty the Emperor personally planted a mulberry tree.

Regarding the pro-planting link, Zhu Yuan also asked yesterday.

Different from pro-farming, planting for one year, next year on the same piece of land can be repeated, if you plant pro-planting...... Ten years of trees is not a one-year cycle.

Therefore, the plan discussed by the Ministry of Rites is exactly ten years.

Xiannong altar has an inner altar and an outer altar, the area is very large, the emperor adds a hundred officials, ten years is not satisfied, the plan is ten years later, the trees become talents, the court is unified to cut down, and then by the emperor His Majesty to reward the ministers, the first agricultural altar here, the place will be vacated again, the formation of reincarnation.

His Majesty the Emperor finished planting and turned to the viewing platform on the north side of the field.

Next, it is the performance of hundreds of officials.

Zhu Yuan practiced yesterday, and at the moment, although he was still a little nervous, fortunately, with the careful help of the ceremonial officials around him, he successfully completed his own personal cultivation.

And......

Subsequent parenting is even simpler.

The location of the pro-planting is also determined by the Ministry of Rites one by one, and each person has a pit, which cannot be bad at all.

The parent planting is over, and the sun has risen high.

The spring sun is no longer the pale and weak of winter, although it is morning, it has also revealed a little warmth.

The officers relined up.

Traditionally, even if today's event is over, the next thing to wait for is that the gods worshiped today can give some face, such as ...... The next spring rain or something.

However, since today's pro-cultivation ceremony is different from the previous dynasty, and there are more pro-planting links, then, of course, more details are also a matter of course.

After the re-lining was completed, everyone in the Xiannong Altar, who had also been informed of the process in advance, was looking forward to it with curiosity, and the ceremonial officer sang again.

"Irrigation—irrigation—"

Soon, the sound of 'Tututu' sounded at the same time not far away, 12 steam pumping machines were operating at the same time, and the ground even trembled slightly.

In this trembling, His Majesty the Emperor, the officials of the imperial court, and the elders of the Guanli looked at a huge water tank led by the steam pump, and on one side of the sink, clear well water gushed out from the 12 leather pipes together, quickly filling the tank, and then, through the bamboo pipe waterway that had been built in advance, poured into the large fields that everyone had cultivated before.

His Majesty's 'one acre and three points of land' was of course at the forefront, and soon water gushed out from the bamboo pipes, filling the furrows that had been ploughed before, and then, gradually, other fields.

The mulberry trees planted by the emperor and the hundred officials together were also irrigated.

Seeing this scene, not to mention the officials who had not experienced it before, even the central ministers who had seen the pumping machine pumping water in advance, it was inevitable that they would be amazed again.

This......

It's beyond the reach of manpower.

It's a miracle.

Some of the officials who were still tired of the cumbersome rituals of the pro-ploughing ceremony before had no other thoughts at this moment, let alone felt the length of time, but listened to the sound of the heavenly 'sudden' with intoxication, and the continuous flow of water, irrigating the farmland that everyone had just cultivated.

This world...... Should there be such a thing?

How could it be!

Can...... In front of him, no one can question it. Because, that's what is happening.

In the crowd of hundreds of officials, Li Zhen, who had many doubts about the row of steam pumps before the ceremony began, looked at the continuous bubbling water, turned to a certain teenager a few times, and couldn't wait to turn his gaze back.

As a member of the royal family, Li Zhen is of course more concerned about the future of the Ming Dynasty than the court officials.

I can't help but think of those days.

The great drought in Huaixi has lasted for so many years, and the people are struggling to make a living.

His Majesty the Emperor's relatives died one by one in the natural disasters of that year, and the Li family, which is a world friend of the Zhu family, is not the case?

In order to survive, he was floating around, if he hadn't heard that the child's uncle had an incident in Huaixi and came here, Li Zhen didn't know how long he could hold on with a son and a daughter.

Now, the great cause has been accomplished, and Li Zhen, like Lao Zhu, does not feel that this is the time to relax.

Li Zhen also knows that governing the world is much more difficult than fighting the world.

Just like the previous dynasty, when fighting the world, it was invincible, and the Mongolian iron cavalry even hit the sky, far away, but ...... Compared with the Tang and Song dynasties and the Yuan Dynasty, Guozuo has not been able to survive even a hundred years.

Therefore, it is inevitable to think, Da Ming, what will happen?

At that moment, Li Zhen looked at the well water bubbling out through the violent roar of the steam pump, and watched the land that was still dry before being quickly soaked by the water, and only felt that with this magical thing, this Ming Dynasty and mountains, why worry about not having a hundred years and a thousand years?

On the viewing platform.

Compared with Baiguan, Lao Zhu's vision is broader, so he can better see the operation of the steam pump, see the twelve water pipes, the water flows out all the time, and through the bamboo pipe waterway, quickly irrigating the farmland under his feet.

This scene......

After studying diligently in private for so many years, Lao Zhu couldn't think of how to describe it for a while.

It's just...... Can't get enough of it.

Can't get enough of it!

I don't know how long I watched it in such a daze, and the ceremonial officer stepped forward to remind Lao Zhu to come back to his senses: "What did you say?" ”

The ceremonial officer repeated: "Your Majesty, this ...... It's been more than two quarters of an hour, and it's time to ...... It's time for a feast. ”

Lao Zhu waved his hand: "What kind of banquet to give, this good scene in front of you is not as hearty as that meal?" ”

When the ceremonial officer heard His Majesty the Emperor say this, of course he nodded, but after thinking about it, he still had to remind again: "Your Majesty, I'm just afraid...... After a long time, those elderly people who watched the ceremony couldn't support it. ”

Hearing this, Lao Zhu subconsciously looked in a certain direction.

It's not to look at the elders who were invited to watch the ceremony, but the twenty-third grandson of their own baby.

Oh, yes.

Yuan'er is weak, but he can't stand for a long time.

His eyes quickly found the figure of a certain teenager, standing beside a group of adults, thin and small, this scene made Lao Zhu suddenly feel more pity, and his attitude changed in a blink of an eye: "Then ...... Only...... This pump continues, give the feast, and come along. Not...... Later, the position was adjusted and let Yuan'er sit beside me. ”

The ceremonial officer wanted to say something inappropriate, but glanced at His Majesty the Emperor's expression, hesitated slightly, and nodded in agreement.

Lao Zhu thought about it and said: "Outside the first agricultural altar, there must be many people, and you also arrange for some people to walk in and take a look, and take a look at our Daming irrigation artifact, with this thing, the future will ...... Where will there be any major drought! ”

His Majesty the Emperor once again broke through the convention, but the ceremonial officer still agreed.

This......

It is indeed a good thing for the people to see it.

Saying this, among the elderly people watching the ceremony below, there was a sudden commotion.

Lao Zhu looked over, and at first glance, he thought that an old man was tired because of too long, but after careful inspection, he could tell that it was not tired, but an old man in plain clothes, who took the initiative to kneel down towards the steam engine, and was kowtowing very reverently.

It's like taking a head.

Some of the other elders soon knelt down as well.

Lao Zhu looked at the scene below from a distance, and for a while, he wanted to laugh, but he didn't laugh.

I can't help but think of myself.

If I was a peasant boy who didn't know anything a long, long time ago, when I saw this miraculous pump, I was afraid that I would like to kneel down and bow down.

This is, after all......

Almost took away the heaven and the earth.

After watching those old men bow down from a distance, it was obvious that everyone had not forgotten His Majesty the Emperor on the viewing platform, so they quickly turned around and bowed to Lao Zhu.

This time, Lao Zhu immediately ordered someone to help the old man up.

Myself......

But some can't stand it.

Even if it was, it should be that kid.

So he looked over again.

Well.

A certain teenager...... Probably really tired, some of them raised their little hands regardless of the image, and their spirits didn't seem to be very good, so they didn't look at the excitement around them, but hung their heads.

It's tired.

That's not going to work.

So he hurriedly ordered to quickly help his precious twenty-third grandson into the inner altar and rest first.

Zhu Yuan is indeed tired, but it is not as serious as Lao Zhu imagined.

It's just that I woke up a little early today and was sleepy.

I didn't expect that there would be a ceremonial official coming over, one left and one right, and he was so considerate that he was helped into the courtyard of the inner altar.

After resting for a while in a dressing room in the inner altar, which was originally reserved for the emperor, he came out again, and the banquet had begun.

Zhu Yuan's position was very conspicuously arranged on Lao Zhu's left hand.

A separate table.

That's not polite!

However, when Zhu Yuan sat down a little apprehensively, none of the surrounding officials and elders raised objections, but many people looked at him with various emotions in their eyes.

Everyone at the scene, including the elders who had just knelt down, knew that the pumping machine was ...... Actually, it's from a certain teenager Pingzhang.

is also the small county king of the clan.

It's definitely a big deal.

Groundbreaking!

Therefore, the arrangement of His Majesty the Emperor, in their opinion, was completely taken for granted.

Not only is it a matter of course, when the banquet began, an old man in a long robe dressed as a scholar stepped forward and toasted Lao Zhu, and then solemnly turned to Zhu Yuan: "The pumping machine of Pingzhang is enough to solve the difficulties of my China for thousands of years. ”

After saying this, without waiting for Zhu Yuan to respond, the old man had already raised his head and drank a full glass of wine.

Zhu Yuan didn't expect this, glanced at Lao Zhu, saw Lao Zhu smiling and nodded, and also took a drink, while saying: "The old man has a good reputation, the kid just put forward ideas, or the ancestors support them, and the various ministries of the court are in charge, so this is where today's scene is today." ”

was so polite, and when the old man stepped back, seeing that someone stepped forward again, Lao Zhu had to speak: "Yuan'er is weak, don't persuade him to drink, just give a courtesy." ”

As a result, people came and went, and people began to pay tribute to Zhu Yuan.

even reminded Zhu Yuan of the fear of being constantly 'snatched' at the beginning.

Superstition.

Therefore, I couldn't help but look at Lao Zhu.

The ancestors are blessed with great fortune, and they ...... Take a courtesy, take some from you, and transfer the payment, isn't it too much?

Well.

Of course, it was impossible for Lao Zhu to know what his precious twenty-third grandson was thinking, and when he saw Zhu Yuan looking over, he said with a smile: "Don't think too much, this is what you deserve." ”

Oh.

This is what I should 'take'.

All right.

Of course, he knew what Lao Zhu meant, so he just smiled.

Lao Zhu was very interested: "Yuan'er, I look at this pump, this ...... It's already very usable, huh? ”

Zhu Yuan could feel Lao Zhu's impatience, and thought about it: "Before the ancestor came up, Yuan'er was still talking to his uncle, and he also talked about the ancestor's instructions yesterday to send more people to make this steam engine. Future...... Even if it takes three years, if you don't care about the cost, after three years, it should be no problem to produce tens of thousands of steam engines per year. Tens of thousands of ...... Enough to cover Gyeonggi. Then, covering one province a year, I think it should be no problem. ”

Lao Zhu quickly calculated: "Covering one province a year, this ...... I'm afraid I won't even need it for thirty years. ”

"It's just an ideal state," Zhu Yuan said, listened attentively, and said, "This time is not bad, until I just left, the 12 steam engines are still in operation." But, well, when I was still in Minnesotah, I was always promoting the concept of 'durability', and this is where one of the main difficulties of the steam engine, including all its components, is here. ”

Lao Zhu subconsciously repeated: "Durable? ”

I opened my mouth, but I already remembered it.

Earlier, when the twenty-third grandson of his baby was in Mingzhou, he mentioned this in many letters.

One of the key constraints of the hydro-powered workshop, as well as the steamers that had shone in the previous Daiqu victory, was the issue of 'durability'.

In addition, the ball bearing, a seemingly simple little thing, can improve all aspects of whether it is a vehicle or a ship or a workshop machine, the core of which is also because of durability.

Ball bearings can greatly improve the durability of various operating instruments.

It's like a ship.

Steamship is a type of ship that has appeared for a long time, but why it has not been widely promoted despite its higher operation efficiency, and has been dominated by sails and oars for thousands of years, the key ...... It is the traditional paddle wheel, which lacks the support of ball bearings, so it is very undurable, and it costs a lot more than the cost of a sailboat to make a ship, and as a result, in just a few months, the core paddle wheel system is in condition because of rapid wear, compared to those sailboats with a simple structure that can be used for three or five years or even ten or eight years, even if the latter is heavily dependent on wind power, how to choose, it is also conceivable.

Now, the steam engine, facing the same problem.

Let's just talk about the row of steam engines outside, the cost of each one...... Although it has not been carefully estimated, it is thousands to say the least.

Such an expensive piece of machinery, even, is not so durable for the time being, and it will break down after a few quarters of an hour of operation before, so there is no possibility of promotion.

Lao Zhu aside, seeing that his ancestor asked, he was suddenly thinking again, Zhu Yuan waited a little, and said: "That's right, durability is one thing, next, one of the main directions that craftsmen want to study is how to make the structure of the steam engine more stable, in my opinion, a machine, can run continuously for a day, in fact, are less." It can operate for a full month without too many failures, and it is considered qualified. ”

Lao Zhu nodded: "These ...... It's up to you, whatever you need, just talk to me. ”

Zhu Yuan agreed, and continued: "In addition to durability, in fact, there is another point, which is the cost. ”

This one......

Lao Zhu also thought about it just now, and said with a smile: "I know, you said it...... Want...... Well, the more you build that scale, the lower the cost. ”

"This is called 'scale effect'," Zhu Yuan said: "When it comes to steam engines, another key to reducing costs is materials, ancestors, we must still turn to steel as soon as possible to make steam engines." ”

The two ancestors and grandsons discussed this at the banquet site, but they didn't know that the outer altar of the Xiannong Altar, because of the grace of His Majesty the Emperor, a group of people were able to enter and visit, and then, when they saw the row of steam pumps that were 'suddenly' and earth-shattering, many people were even more unbearable than the old people who subconsciously knelt down before that.

I rushed here before dawn, and I also met the young man Pingzhang, who was driving the car, Sun San and Qi Bo and others also followed the flow of people and were able to enter.

When he saw the whole row of yellow and clear steam engines, and then looked at the twelve water pipes that kept gushing out of the water, Qi Bo, who had only thought that Sun Sandao's hearsay was very untrustworthy, knelt down directly, and kowtowed to those steam engines while chanting 'God'.

How can there be such a thing in the world?

In addition to the many people who were shocked and weakened, there were also some squires who had the audacity to find the officials who stayed here to maintain the operation of the steam engine.

I want to buy!

If you can buy such a good thing, your own field will not suffer from this spring drought again.

Therefore, as long as the imperial court makes a price, even if it is one or two thousand, there are people who want to get one back.

Only one is needed.

Even if the water comes out slowly, you can keep the water out if you can't bear it.

I have asked carefully, although this thing is burning coal at the moment, but it is okay to burn firewood, because it only needs to boil water.

However, the result obtained, of course, is not to buy.

The squire who sent away the inquiry, Zhonghe, who had been guarding this side, came up to the front again, checked all the 12 steam pumps one by one, and didn't want to be entangled anymore, so he turned to the side a little farther away, and joined Jin Sango, and said with a very satisfied smile: "This time is also blessed by God, 12 machines, until now, have not broken down." ”

"yes." Jin Sango looked up at the sky, also smiled, and said, "This is ...... It's a thing that has the power to conquer heaven and earth, and I just thought about it, will it be wrathed by the heavens. ”

"How can things that benefit all the people be angered by the heavens," Zhong He shook his head, turned to the people who were shocked or sighed or bowed down, and had some regret: "It's a pity, just now a squire wanted to buy this steam engine, and I could only refuse politely...... This thing, how can it be sold. ”

"In a few more years, it will be fine."

Just yesterday, after Lao Zhu made a decision, Zhu Yuan also let people notify the machinery factory of the matter for the first time.

In the next three years, the plan was to increase the number of craftsmen in each machine shop to 2,500 craftsmen, with a total of 5,000 people in the two buildings.

In the blink of an eye, the quota has expanded sixfold and can reach 30,000.

Even, Jin Sanhu couldn't help but think that as long as the two of them could handle it, let alone 30,000 or 100,000 people, His Majesty the Emperor would allow it.

After all, this thing is so useful.

Not to mention the irrigation at the moment, the two did not forget the demonstration they gave to hundreds of officials in the Juvenile Pingzhang Mansion last year, if there can be thousands of steam engines, this Ming Dynasty will also turn the world upside down, and it is the industrial age that the Juvenile Pingzhang said.

When the time comes, if nothing else, it's just farming.

According to the young man Pingzhang occasionally talked about in private, with all kinds of large machinery, in the future, from ploughing to harvesting, the whole process can be completed by machines, and one machine can be worth the efficiency of thousands of people.

What a sight it would be!

Jin Sango was fantasizing, and a few more people saw that they were wearing official uniforms, and they had the courage to come over and ask, and they wanted to buy the machine again.

Of course, I can only refuse.

This time, a group of ordinary people were not reconciled, what was going on with the good things, the court covered it, and one of the old men was still arguing, if Jin Sanhu and the two were unwilling to sell, they would go to see His Majesty the Emperor.

See the Emperor?

Jin Sango could only explain to the old man in detail, the steam pumping machine ...... Not only is it troublesome to build, but it is also very expensive, so it is not suitable for promotion to the private sector for the time being.

The old man still didn't follow, shaking his head: "My lord, I've seen it, isn't it just a boiler, a piston, plus the water pump, if it weren't for the imminent spring sowing, I was in a hurry to use it, and when I went back, let the descendants in my village slowly build some, and it could also be used." ”

Kim Sango: "......"

I have to say that the old man in front of him ...... It makes sense.

It's just a boiler, a piston.

The pumping ...... The structure couldn't be simpler.

But......

Jin Sanhu wanted to make things a little more difficult and talk more about them, but suddenly found that he ...... I can't refute it.

This steam engine is really simple.

Therefore, I also thought of some of the original remarks of the young man Pingzhang.

Probably, because the structure of this steam engine is simple enough, they were able to build this thing in less than a year.

Now, forcibly going to the complicated ...... It's a conscience.

Well.

Then let's not talk about it.

However, it still can't be sold.

This thing, which was demonstrated today, will be transformed into a machine tool when it is moved back to the machine factory, and it will be necessary to make all kinds of steam engine parts, and that is the important thing.

Jin Sanhu didn't agree, and the old man who introduced himself as an old man from Ningguo Mansion really went to see His Majesty the Emperor.

Lao Zhu heard the report of the ceremonial officer, and sure enough, he saw the other party.

Let's talk, steam engine...... Of course, it still can't be sold, but after listening to the old man, he just read it, and then asked the old man to read books, and his village is very good at making all kinds of tricks, His Majesty the Emperor took the initiative to send out an invitation, hoping that the old man and some clansmen would work together for the court and participate in the production of steam engines.

The two machine factories happen to have people.

The results are good.

Although the old man was still talking about spring ploughing, he listened to His Majesty the Emperor's promise, and gave him an eight-rank official on the spot, and quickly agreed.

The pro-ploughing ceremony on February 17 of the second year of Hongwu also ended successfully in this kind of successful liveliness.

However, the aftermath caused by this pro-cultivation ceremony has just begun.

Not only did the editorial department of Daming Monthly begin to prepare for next month's feature article after the ceremony, but also because His Majesty the Emperor specially arranged for the people to visit the steam pumping equipment at the site, for a while, the news spread like wings, from Jinling to Gyeonggi and then to the surrounding provinces, and even the whole world.

Hundreds of people also became aware that the imperial court had developed a very special pumping equipment that could continuously pump well water from the ground to irrigate the farmland.

Because too many people have seen it with their own eyes, the news is conclusive.

Although, after the pro-ploughing ceremony, God still did not fall a single rain, but whether it is Jiangsu and Zhejiang in the south of the Yangtze River or Lianghuai in the north of the Yangtze River, the people have inexplicably disappeared a lot because of the anxiety of not raining for a long time.

Since it didn't rain, the imperial court followed suit and introduced measures.

The core is that 'man will conquer the sky'.

Officials in various localities are required to actively organize the people to build water conservancy projects and ensure the basic irrigation needs of the spring ploughing season as much as possible.

On the other hand, in order to appease the people, His Majesty the Emperor also announced in advance that as long as the affected areas are affected this year, taxes will be reduced or reduced.

Not only that, on the basis of tax reduction, the imperial court will also provide relief to the people according to the specific situation.

When the imperial edict was issued, the whole world was full of thanksgiving.