Hongwu Survival Guide

February seventeenth.

Just after Yinshi, the boy Pingzhang's mansion on Xuanwu Lake began to be lively. Xieyi and Luoshui led a group of maids to help their adults get up, take a bath, change clothes, and eat meals... After a series of procedures, the dazed Zhu Yuan finally wide awake.

Let Xieyi take the pocket watch and look at it, the time is only [-]:[-] in the morning.

It was still dark outside.

I really want to continue to sleep.

However, there is no way, today is His Majesty's personal plowing ceremony, if you don't participate, even Lao Zhu, who has always been lenient and doting on him, will inevitably say a few words.

Put away the pocket watch and let Xieyi check their clothes for the last time. After confirming that they were correct, Zhu Yuan left Xuanwu Lake.

Instead of entering the palace again, he drove directly to Xiannong'an in the south of the city in a carriage.

The process of the plowing ceremony is to worship first, then plow the fields, and then entertain the officials and elders at the Xiannong Altar. After such a complete process, the time will be past noon.

Young Pingzhang's carriage entered the city from Taiping Gate, passed through Taiping Street, which was already a bit lively even though there were not many people in the early morning, left the city from Zhengyang Gate in the south, and continued westward for a while, and arrived at Xiannongtan.Along the way, Zhu Yuan occasionally lifted the curtain to look outside, not only would he meet the accompanying court officials and horses, but the common people who watched the excitement today also appeared on both sides of the road early.

The first farming ceremony of the new dynasty, although not as lively as His Majesty's ascension to the throne last year, is still worth watching.

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

Seeing that a young man named Pingzhang, who was more ostentatious than some other officials, rushed past in his carriage, several people who came from the city to watch the grand ceremony on the side of the road began to discuss.

"I also heard that it was the second brother of my sixth uncle's family who worked in the machinery factory in the north...the paper workshop on the other side, tsk tsk, it is said that the thing, called... steaming or something...machine, was also proposed by the little county king " A middle-aged man with a round face gestured with great interest: "When that thing moved, the sound was so loud that it could be heard from a long distance. out."

Beside the middle-aged man with a round face, another old man said: "Sun San, listen to you, isn't this just a waterwheel? I've been stepping on that thing since I was a child, what's so strange?"

Because of the many hills in the south of the Yangtze River, in order to introduce the river water into the high farmland, various water pumping vehicles either driven by cattle or pedaled by manpower appeared very early.

Of course Sun San also knew what a waterwheel was. How could he let someone say that with the knowledge he had learned so hard? He waved his hands quickly: "Qi Bo, it's not a waterwheel, it's not a waterwheel."

The other person who was watching also noticed the problem: "Qi Bo, Sun San has already said that the water is drawn from the well, which is different from the waterwheel."

"If it's just a well, how much water can it produce? What's the use if it's just irrigating a dozen or twenty acres?" Qibo said, shaking his head: "Look at this day, it's been dry for more than a month. , it happens to be the spring plowing season, if there is no more rain, this year's harvest... I'm afraid it will be ugly again."

"That's right," someone echoed, "I only hope that this time His Majesty will be able to move the heavens and pray for rain."

People in this day and age believed in this, and when they heard people say it, everyone showed pious expressions one after another.

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

Sun San, who started the conversation, obviously deviated from the point when the audience said this, and wanted to argue a few words, but...he had never seen the pumping equipment after all, but only heard about it, so he really couldn't explain why.

Even as he talked, Sun San doubted himself a little.

When the people talked about the rumors about the water pump, Zhu Yuan was also being dragged, and the topic was also the water pump.

However, unlike ordinary people who can only guess, at the moment, Zhu Yuan is next to the yellow steam engine beside the plowing field.

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

There are other officials watching around.

Having dealt with several times, and because Zhu Yuan recognized his ancestors, Li Zhen was very kind to Zhu Yuan, but when talking about this steam pump, his words carried the same unbelievable inquiry: "Yuan Son, this thing... can it really pump that underground water to the ground continuously, and if it is true, how much land can it irrigate in a day?"

"Grandpa, pumping water is sure to be able to pump water, but... I won't lie to you... Well, I haven't pumped water for one day in a row. These machines have just been made not long ago, and they need to be carefully explored before they can be popularized. practical."

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

When he arrived at Zhu Yuan's place, because Lao Zhu was sure that Zhu Yuan was a generation lower than Zhu Biao and Zhu Xi, he called Li Zhen uncle.

Zhu Yuan felt awkward at first, but Li Zhen is a very honest person, and she treated him well after meeting him a few times, and gradually got used to it.

Now, when Li Zhen asked about the newly born steam pump, Zhu Yuan also told the truth.

When Li Zhen heard Zhu Yuan's confession, she was immediately disappointed, and subconsciously tightened her big hand holding Zhu Yuan's small hand: "Sure enough, sure enough...it depends on God."

"Actually, this is already a very good beginning." Zhu Yuan is a person who doesn't like to talk too much, but he doesn't want to disappoint Li Zhen too much. After thinking about it, he said: "We have only used this steam engine for less than a year. , has already been built, and in the future... It is conceivable that it will only get better and better. The ancestors also ordered yesterday that 3 to 100 people should be organized to build this machine. So many people work together, and after two or three years, not only This steam machine will have a better chance, and the quantity will be more, even hundreds of units a day will be no problem. Even if calculated as 3 units a day, there will be more than [-] units a year. If this number can be achieved, it will take three years Afterwards, at least... around 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 raised expectations, then remembered something, and said: "I was at home... I also read the 'Three-Year Plan', if you say it is true, The 'three-year plan', why didn't this 'steam engine' be included in it?"

"Grandfather, the projects in the three-year plan are all based on safety, and my ancestors also hope to make a good start. For example, compiling "Yuan History", this must be done well, and the 'Jianghuai Canal', which is also There was a reference earlier, we just need to follow the plan left by the previous dynasty.” Zhu Yuan explained patiently: “In comparison, this steam engine is related, because it is something that has never existed before, so it is not included in it. However, although it is not included, the ancestors still attach great importance to it."

Li Zhen nodded again.

After Lao Zhu ascended the throne, Li Zhen was conferred the title of "Marquis of Grace" as the consort's captain. Li Zhen doesn't know about the 'three-year plan' and other things.

At the moment, facing her younger generation, Li Zhen couldn't help asking a few more questions: "Yuaner, there is one more thing, even if this steam engine can produce tens of millions of units, but... can the water in this well be pumped all the time? Won’t it dry up if you smoke too much?”

When Li Zhen asked this question, some officials around him also showed curious expressions.

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 on the groundwater layer.

Groundwater... of course is limited.

Zhu Yuan has seen relevant reports before, because of excessive pumping of groundwater, and even the entire city has subsided.

However, at the moment, or... for a long time to come, the speed of human extraction will not exceed the speed of groundwater replenishment, so it can be said to be almost unlimited.

The reason is simple, but it is not something ordinary people can understand.

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

Everyone was talking here, when suddenly an officer of etiquette rushed to inform that His Majesty's carriage was approaching, so he hurriedly left and rushed back to the main hall of the inner altar of Xiannongtan.

After the court officials and elders who watched the ceremony lined up in order, His Majesty the Emperor also appeared in front of the hall.

At this time, the sky was a little brighter.

After saluting, Lao Zhu began the sacrificial process.

The sacrificial ceremony on the Pro-Growth Day is also an occasional sacrifice. After all, in this era, there are many gods involved in wanting a good weather for a year, including Xiannong, Tai Sui, Fengyun, Thunderstorm, Five Mountains, Four Seas, etc. No god can be left behind. .

Therefore, it is also conceivable that the process is cumbersome.

As usual, Zhu Yuan lined up behind Li Shanchang, standing among the crowd of officials, watching from a distance that Lao Zhu was busy offering incense and worshiping with the assistance of some ritual officials. After half an hour, he finally came to the end and recited the table.

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

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

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

It should be considered unlikely.

Even, if it weren't for the current occasion, some officials of Yushitai might jump out to refute His Majesty's lies.

How can you talk nonsense about this kind of thing!

This is deceiving God!
However, I probably thought of this, and after thinking about it, His Majesty the Emperor would not be so stupid as to talk nonsense about such things. Could it be...the fact that one mu produces 4 stones and 3 buckets of grain is true?

of course it's true.

Zhu Yuan was in the crowd, feeling the restlessness of the people around him, so he could only curl his lips.

Where is this going?
The current 4 stones and 3 buckets, Zhu Yuan knows, is still unhulled rice, not hulled rice, which is roughly equivalent to about 600 catties later.

If I remember correctly, hundreds of years later, the highest yield per mu of hybrid rice... should be more than 3000 catties.

If these words are spoken out immediately, I am afraid that they will be regarded as nonsense.

Ok.

like……

Hybrid rice!

Suddenly caught another one.

This matter, now... should be possible.

Zhu Yuan is not an agricultural expert, and he has never even planted land before, but he can probably figure out an operation process just by relying on the four words 'hybrid rice'.

Hybrid chant!
After all, it does not involve genetic modification.

From all over the country of Ming Dynasty...and even overseas, select various rice varieties, and then, it is only a matter of time.

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

Amidst the ritual and music, the sacrificial process is over.

The sky in early spring is also fully lit.

Everyone moved to the outside of the main hall, and the next step was to cultivate.

Later, there was always a saying of "one mu and three parts of land", which refers to the size of the land cultivated by the emperors of all dynasties, which happens to be one mu and three parts. In ancient times, it was also called "yang number". Take "one" and "three" as "one mu and three points" and list it as the number of acres cultivated by His Majesty the Emperor.

While the officials and elders were watching the ceremony, the officer of ceremony presented a whip, and His Majesty the emperor in a dragon robe stepped into the field, skillfully held the plow, yelled, and started to move the cattle that were carefully selected and controlled by the officer of ceremony.

While the emperor was helping the plow to cultivate, there were also ritual officials who sowed the seeds behind.

Going back and forth like this three times, the plowing is over.

In the past, His Majesty the Emperor would finish the plowing by himself, and it would be a matter for all the officials. However, this time, there is another process.

It was proposed by a certain teenager Pingzhang.

Pro plant.

Lao Zhu also agreed at the beginning.

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

Zhu Yuan also asked about the pro-planting process yesterday.

Different from plowing by yourself, planting for one year can be repeated on the same land next year. If you plant by yourself...Ten years of trees are not reincarnated in one year.

Therefore, the plan discussed by the Ministry of Rites happened to be ten years.

Xiannongtan has an inner altar and an outer altar. The area is very large. The emperor added hundreds of officials, and he was dissatisfied even after ten years. Here, the place will be vacated again, forming a cycle of reincarnation.

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

Next, is the performance of Baiguan.

Zhu Yuan had rehearsed yesterday, and at the moment, although he was still a little nervous, fortunately, with the careful help of the etiquette officer around him, he successfully completed his own farming.

as well as……

Subsequent pro-planting 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 hole, which can't be bad at all.

The planting is over and the sun has risen high.

The sunshine in spring is no longer the paleness of winter, and even though it is morning, it has already revealed a bit of warmth.

Hundreds of officials lined up again.

Traditionally, even if today's event is over, the next thing to wait 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 taken for granted.

After re-queuing, everyone in the Xiannongtan who had been informed of the process in advance was curiously looking forward to it, and the ceremony officer sang again.

"irrigation--"

Soon, the 'chug chug' sound was heard not far away at the same time, 12 steam pumps were operating at the same time, and the ground even trembled slightly.

While trembling, His Majesty the Emperor, the court officials, and the elders watching the ceremony looked at a huge water tank led by the steam pump. On one side of the water tank, clear well water gushed out from 12 leather pipes, and quickly filled the water tank. , and through the bamboo pipe waterway built in advance, they rushed to the large fields that everyone had personally plowed before.

His Majesty's "one-acre-three-point land" was of course in the front row, and soon the water in the bamboo tube gushed out, filling the furrows that the plow had passed through before, and then, gradually, other fields.

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

Seeing this scene, not to mention the officials who have not experienced it before, even the central officials who have seen the pump pumping water in advance will inevitably be amazed again.

This……

It's simply beyond human reach.

This is a miracle.

Some officials who were tired of the tedious ceremonies of the farming ceremony before, at this moment, have no other thoughts at all, let alone feel the long time, just listening intoxicated to the sound of heaven The sound of "chug chug" and the continuous flow of water are irrigating the farmland that everyone has just plowed one by one.

This world... should there be such a thing?
how could it be possible!
But... in front of him, there is no room for anyone to question him.Because that's how things are happening.

Among the crowd of officials, the benefactor Hou Li Zhen, who still had many doubts about the row of steam pumps before the ceremony, saw the continuous gurgling water, turned his eyes to a certain boy, and then returned his eyes impatiently.

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

Can't help but think of that year.

The severe drought in Huaixi lasted for so many years, and the people were in dire straits.

His Majesty's relatives died one by one in the natural disaster that year, and the Li family, who was regarded as a family friend with the Zhu family, was not like this?
Back then, wandering around in order to survive, Li Zhen didn't know how long she could hold on with her son and daughter if she hadn't heard that the child's uncle had rioted in Huaixi and came here for refuge.

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

Li Zhen also knew that governing the world was much more difficult than conquering the world.

Just like the previous dynasty, when they conquered the world, they were invincible, and the Mongolian iron cavalry even reached far, far into the sky, but...compared to the Tang and Song Dynasties, and the Yuan Dynasty, Guozuo failed to last even a hundred years .

Therefore, it is inevitable to think, Daming, what will happen?
At the moment, Li Zhen looked at the well water gurgling out through the violent roar of the steam pump, and watched the land that was dry before being quickly soaked by the water flow. She just felt that with this magical thing, why would this great Ming Dynasty not last a hundred years? millennium?
On the farming platform.

Compared with Baiguan, Lao Zhu has a wider field of vision, so he can better see the operation of the steam pump. Seeing the twelve water pipes, the water flows out continuously, and then passes through the bamboo pipe waterway. Quickly irrigate the farmland under your feet.

This scene...

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

Just... just can't get enough of it.

Can't get enough!

I don't know how long I stared blankly like this, but the ceremony officer stepped forward to remind, and Lao Zhu came back to his senses: "What did you say?"

The ceremony officer repeated: "Your Majesty, it's... more than two quarters of an hour, it's... time to give a banquet."

Lao Zhu waved his hand: "What kind of banquet can I give, isn't this wonderful scene more enjoyable than that meal?"

The ceremonial officer nodded when he heard what His Majesty said, but after thinking about it, he had to remind again: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid...it will take a long time, and those elders watching the ceremony will not be able to support it."

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

Not looking at the elders who were invited to watch the ceremony, but the 23 grandchildren of my own baby.

Yes.

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

His eyes quickly found the figure of a certain young man, standing next to a group of adults, he was small and thin, this scene made Lao Zhu feel more pity, and his attitude changed in an instant: "Then... just... this water pump is still there. Go ahead, give the banquet, and come along. Well... later, adjust the position and let Yuan'er sit next to me."

The ceremonial officer wanted to say something wrong, looked at His Majesty's expression, hesitated a little, and nodded in agreement.

Old Zhu thought about it and said: "Then outside the Xiannong Altar, there must be many common people, and you also arranged for some common people to come in and have a look, and take a look at this irrigation artifact of our Daming. With this Things, in the future... where will there be any severe droughts!"

His Majesty the Emperor broke the rules again, but the ceremonial officer still agreed.

This……

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

As he said this, there was another commotion among the elderly crowd watching the ceremony below.

Lao Zhu looked over, at first glance, he thought that there was an old man who was exhausted because of too long time, but after careful examination, he realized that it was not exhaustion, but an old man in plain clothes who voluntarily knelt down towards the steam engine Going down, kowtowing very piously.

This seems to bring a head.

Other elders quickly followed suit and knelt down.

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

Can't help but think of myself.

If I was also a farm boy who didn't understand anything a long time ago, when I saw this magical water pump, I'm afraid I would also want to kneel down and worship.

This is after all...

It almost took away the good fortune of the day.

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

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

Own……

But some can't bear it.

Even if it is, it should be that child.

So I looked over again.

Ok.

A certain young man... probably really tired, put his little hands up in disregard of his image, and seemed to be in poor spirits, instead of looking at the excitement around him, he lowered his head.

It's tired.

This will not work.

So he hurriedly ordered to help his precious 23rd generation grandson into the inner altar and rest first.

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

It's just because I got up a little early today and felt sleepy.

Unexpectedly, a courteous officer would come over, one on the left and one on the right, helping him into the courtyard of the inner altar so considerately.

In this way, he rested for a while in the inner altar, which was originally a dressing room dedicated to the emperor, and came out again, and the banquet had already begun.

Zhu Yuan's position was conspicuously placed on Lao Zhu's left.

A single table case.

This is out of etiquette!

However, when Zhu Yuan sat down with some trepidation, none of the surrounding officials and elders raised any objections. Instead, many people looked at him with various emotions in their eyes.

Everyone at the scene, including those elders who had just knelt down, knew that the water pump... actually came from a certain young man Pingzhang.

He is also the little county king of the clan.

This is definitely a great achievement.

Open up!
Therefore, His Majesty's arrangement, in their view, is completely taken for granted.

Not only of course, when the banquet started, an old man in a long gown dressed as a scholar stepped forward, and after toasting Lao Zhu, he solemnly turned to Zhu Yuan: "Pingzhang's water pump is enough to solve my difficulties in China for thousands of years, villain Boldly, for all the people in this world, offer a cup to Pingzhang."

After saying this, before Zhu Yuan could respond, the old man had already downed his full glass of wine in one gulp.

Zhu Yuan didn't expect this, glanced at Lao Zhu, saw Lao Zhu nodding with a smile, and followed suit with a drink, and said, "The old man has a great reputation, but the boy only proposed an idea, and his ancestors supported it, and the court's various ministries are responsible for it, which is why today's scene is happening. "

After being so polite, when the old man stepped back, seeing someone approaching him again, Lao Zhu had no choice but to say: "Yuan'er is weak, so don't persuade him to drink, just salute him."

So, coming and going, people began to salute Zhu Yuan.

It even made Zhu Yuan think of the fear of being constantly 'robbed' at the beginning again.

Superstition.

So I couldn't help but look at Lao Zhu.

The ancestors are blessed with great blessings, so I... also do a salute, take some from you, and transfer the payment, isn't it too much?

Ok.

Of course, it was impossible for Lao Zhu to know what his precious 23rd grandson was thinking. Seeing Zhu Yuan looking over, he smiled and said, "Don't overthink it, you deserve it."

Oh.

This is what I should 'win'.

Ok.

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

Old Zhu was very interested: "Yuan'er, I see this water pump, it...is very useful, huh?"

Zhu Yuan could feel the impatientness of old Zhu, and thought about it: "Before the ancestor came, Yuan'er was still talking to my uncle, and also mentioned the order of the ancestor yesterday, to send more people to make this steam engine. I just thought about it. In the future... Even if it takes three years, if the cost is not considered, after three years, it should be no problem to produce tens of thousands of steam engines every year. Tens of thousands of sets...enough to cover the capital. And then, to cover one province a year, I think it should be no problem."

Old Zhu quickly calculated: "To cover one province a year, this... I'm afraid it won't even take 30 years."

"It's just an ideal state," Zhu Yuan said, listening carefully, and said, "It's not bad this time. Until I just left, the 12 steam engines were still running. But, um, when I was still in Mingzhou, I It has been promoting a concept of 'durability', and this steam engine, including various components, is currently a major difficulty, and this is where it is."

Lao Zhu subconsciously repeated: "Durable?"

I opened my mouth, but I already remembered it.

When my baby's 23rd grandson was in Mingzhou earlier, he mentioned this in many letters.

One of the key limitations of the hydraulic workshop, and the steamship that shined 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 vehicles, ships, and workshop machinery. The core is also because of durability.

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

Like a steamship.

Steamship is a type of ship that has appeared a long time ago, but why it has not been widely promoted despite its higher operating efficiency. Instead, it has been dominated by sails and oars for thousands of years. The key...is the traditional oars The wheel lacks the support of ball bearings, so it is very undurable. It costs a lot more than a sailboat to manufacture a ship. As a result, in just a few months, the core paddle wheel system is out of condition due to rapid wear. Compared with those structures Simple sailboats can be used for three to five years or even ten or eight years. Even if the latter relies heavily on wind power, how to choose is also conceivable.

Now, the steam engine also faces the same problem.

Let's talk about the row of steam engines outside, the cost of each... Although I haven't estimated it carefully, it is thousands of units at least.

Such an expensive machine is not even that durable for the time being, and it would break down after a few quarters of an hour of operation before, so there is no possibility of promotion at all.

Lao Zhu was standing aside, seeing his ancestors asking a question, he was suddenly thinking again, Zhu Yuan waited for a while, and said: "Yes, durability is one aspect. Next, one of the main directions for craftsmen to study is how to make the The structure of the steam engine is more stable. In my opinion, it is rare for a machine to be able to operate continuously for a day. It is qualified if it can operate for a full month without major failures."

Lao Zhu nodded: "These... are all handled by you. If you need anything, just tell me."

Zhu Yuan agreed, and continued: "In addition to durability, there is actually one more thing, which is the cost."

this……

Lao Zhu also thought about it just now, and said with a smile: "I know, you said...to... well, expand the scale, the more you build, the lower the cost."

"This is called the 'scale effect'," said Zhu Yuan. "When it comes to steam engines, another key to reducing costs is materials. Ancestor, we still have to switch to making steam engines with steel as soon as possible."

The grandparents and grandchildren were discussing this at the banquet, but they didn't know that the outer altar of Xiannong'an, because of His Majesty's grace, group after group of people were able to enter and visit, and then, when they saw the 'chug' A row of steam pumps operating in an earth-shattering manner, many ordinary people are even more unbearable than the old people who knelt down and worshiped before.

Sun San and Qi Bo, who came here before dawn and met young Pingzhang driving a car, also followed the flow of people to enter.

When he saw the entire row of yellow steam engines and the twelve water pipes that were constantly gushing out water, Qi Bo, who thought Sun Sandao's hearsay was unbelievable, knelt down and said "God" while bang Kowtow to those steam engines bang bang.

How can this thing exist in the world?

In addition to many people who were so shocked that their legs went limp, there were also some gentry who boldly found the officials who stayed here to maintain the operation of the steam engine.

want to buy!

If you can buy one of these good things, your own fields will no longer suffer from the spring drought.

Therefore, as long as the imperial court asks for a price, even if it costs one or two thousand guan, some people will want to get one back.

Only one is needed.

Even if the water output from one is slower, it can continue to output water if you can't bear it.

I have already asked carefully, although this thing is currently burning coal, it can also be burned with firewood, because it only needs to boil water.

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

After dismissing the squire who was inquiring, Zhong He, who had been standing by, went up again and checked all the 12 steam pumps one by one. He didn't want to be entangled anymore, so he turned to the side a little further and joined Jin Sanhu , very satisfied with a smile and said: "This time is also God's blessing, the 12 machines have not broken down until now."

"That's right." Jin Sanhu looked up at the sky, and said with a smile, "This kind of...something that takes the power of heaven and earth, I just thought about it, whether it will be angered by God."

"How can something that benefits the people be angered by God?" Zhong He shook his head, turned to the people who were shocked, sighed or knelt down, and felt a little regretful: "It's a pity, just now a squire wanted to buy this steam engine, I can only buy it." Declining... How can I sell this thing."

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

Just yesterday, after Lao Zhu made a decision, Zhu Yuan also had someone notify the machinery factory of the matter as soon as possible.

In the initial plan, in the next three years, each machinery factory will increase to 2500 craftsmen, and the two will have a total of 5000 people.

In a blink of an eye, the number of places has expanded six times, reaching [-].

Even Jin Sanhu couldn't help thinking that as long as the two of them can handle it, let alone 3, 10, His Majesty the Emperor will allow it.

After all, this thing is really useful.

Not to mention the current irrigation, the two of them have not forgotten the demonstration they gave to hundreds of officials in the mansion of the young Pingzhang last year. If there are tens of thousands of steam engines, this Ming Dynasty will be turned upside down. Said that the industrial age.

At that time, not to mention other things, it will only be farming.

According to what the boy Pingzhang said occasionally in private, with various large-scale machinery, in the future, the whole process from plowing to harvesting can be done by machines. One machine can equal the efficiency of thousands of people.

What a sight it would be!
Just as Jin Sanhu was dreaming, a few commoners saw them wearing official uniforms, so they boldly approached them, asked them, and wanted to buy machines again.

Of course you can only refuse.

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

See the emperor?
Jin Sanhu could only explain to the old man in detail that the steam pump...not only is troublesome to build, but also very expensive in itself, so it is not suitable for promotion to the general public for the time being.

The old man still refused, shaking his head: "My lord, I have seen it all. Isn't it just a boiler, a piston, and the water pump? If it weren't for the spring planting soon, I would use it in a hurry. When I go back, let me put it in the village. The younger generations slowly build some of them, and they can be used.”

Kim Sam-ho: "..."

I have to say, what the old man in front of me... is quite reasonable.

It is a boiler, a piston.

The pump... the structure couldn't be simpler.

but……

Jin Sanhu wanted to make things a little more difficult, and talk about some of the intricacies, but suddenly found that...he couldn't refute it.

This steam engine is really simple.

So I also thought of some of the young Pingzhang's original rhetoric.

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

Now, let's force it to be complicated...it's just unconscionable.

Ok.

Then don't talk about it.

However, it still cannot be sold.

This thing has been demonstrated today, and when it is moved back to the machinery factory, it will be transformed into a machine tool, specializing in the production of various steam engine parts, and that is the most important thing.

Jin Sanhu refused, and the old man who introduced himself from Ningguo Mansion went to see His Majesty the Emperor.

When Lao Zhu heard the official notification, he really met the other party.

Let’s chat, the steam engine… of course it’s still not for sale, but the old man just read it, and he analyzed the machine in a logical way, and asked again, the old man has read books, and everyone in his village is very good at making it With all kinds of ingenuity, His Majesty the Emperor took the initiative to send out an invitation, hoping that the old man would select some clansmen to serve the court together and participate in the production of steam engines.

The two machinery factories happen to need people.

Good results.

Although the old man was still talking about spring plowing, after hearing His Majesty's promise, he even gave him an eighth-rank official on the spot, and he quickly agreed.

The plowing ceremony held on the [-]th day of February in the second year of Hongwu also ended smoothly amidst such a complete excitement.

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

Not only after the plowing ceremony, the editorial department of "Da Ming Monthly" began to prepare for next month's feature article, but also, because His Majesty the Emperor specially arranged for the people to visit the steam pumping equipment on site, for a while, the news seemed to grow wings. After arriving in Gyeonggi, it spread to the surrounding provinces, and even the whole world.

Countless people are also becoming more and more aware that the imperial court has produced a very special pumping equipment that can continuously pump well water from underground to irrigate farmland.

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

Although, after the plowing ceremony, there was still no rain from the sky, but whether it was in Jiangsu and Zhejiang in the south of the Yangtze River or in the Lianghuai River and Huaihe River in the north of the Yangtze River, the anxiety of the people because of the long absence of rain disappeared inexplicably.

Since it was not raining, the imperial court followed suit with measures.

The core is 'man will conquer nature'.

Officials from all over the country are required to actively organize the people to build water conservancy projects to ensure basic irrigation needs during the spring plowing season as much as possible.

On the other hand, in order to appease the hearts of the people, His Majesty the Emperor also announced in advance that as long as there are disaster-stricken areas this year, taxes will be reduced or exempted.

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

When the imperial edict was issued, there were voices of gratitude everywhere in the world.