Chapter 432: The Beginning of the Steam Age
"Grand Governor, is this a success?" Lu Gang asked Su Ze while looking at the steam engine that continued to work.
Su Ze checked the working status of the steam engine again, nodded and said, "It should be successful."
Lu Gang looked at the steam engine excitedly. When Su Ze first mentioned the steam engine, Lu Gang didn't believe it at first.
How could such a machine exist in this world that only needs to burn coal to continuously produce work?
And Lu Gang understood better than anyone that if there was such a machine, all workshops would be different.
For example, Lu Gang's own ironmaking plant requires a large number of people and livestock to push the bellows in order to increase the furnace temperature when smelting steel. This is not only time-consuming and labor-intensive, but also very unsafe.
If you have a steam engine, you can use the steam engine to drive the bellows. This is a continuous and stable source of power, and the manpower saved is so much!
In addition, the rails that transport molten steel, the mine cars that pull ore, and even the moving of molten iron that comes out of the pot are currently all done by people, and they are also shortcomings that restrict the production efficiency of the entire iron plant.
If the steam engine appears, then these tasks can be done by the steam engine, and how much manpower can be saved.
The most important thing about a steam engine is that it is a machine.
Machines are different from people. As long as they are carefully maintained and used according to the machine's instructions, the machine can provide stable and continuous power without worrying about being tired or injured like people.
This is an energy source that is more stable than running water!
And machines can make machines.
Lu Gang said excitedly: "Grand Governor, can this thing really be installed on a rail car and make the rail car run?"
Su Ze shook his head and said: "This one is not enough, its horsepower is too small, and it is too small. It's too big and heavy. Let's use it in the steel factory for a while first."
Lu Gang said excitedly: "The Governor wants to give this machine to me?"
Su Ze nodded and said, "Use it for a while first, and you can cultivate some Engineers who can repair it can use it on the railway in the future."
"Thank you, Governor!"
Lu Gang was like a child who got a toy. Then again, as long as he is a man, who can refuse a steam engine?
Su Ze looked at the steam engine he had built, but he didn't feel much excitement.
As a former history graduate student, in the education he received in the first half of his life, history seemed to have divided into countless key nodes. At this node, "the gears of history began to turn" and everything changed dramatically, as if as long as When this point comes, everything will be fine.
This applies not only to technological change but also to social change.
But in this era of change, these so-called nodes are nothing more than hindsight by historians, or they are deliberately sanctified points in time.
Nothing is achieved overnight.
The same goes for technology, and so does social change. There is no technology that emerges out of nowhere. Any technology is a qualitative change that occurs through repeated accumulation.
When a new technology is born, it is like a swaddling baby, which is extremely weak.
The cost and expense of this steam engine were high, and it was inferior to hydraulic equipment that did not cost much at all. It was also inconvenient to maintain and required the hiring of mechanics.
If Su Ze hadn't described to Lu Gang the prospects of so many steam engines changing the future, Lu Gang wouldn't have considered this machine to be of such great value.
As is the case with technological change, so is social change.
There is no social change where as long as something changes, everything will be fine.
The great changes in France did not make life better for the citizens of Paris.
Putting the King of France on the guillotine did not make life better for the citizens of Paris.
Putting Robespierre on the guillotine did not make life better for the Paris citizens.
Even every change will harm the interests of some people, and sometimes the losses suffered by society are far greater than the gains.
As the leader of the Southeast, even if Su Ze has the advantages of system and historical experience, he must be cautious and constantly adjust various policies to promote the advancement of the entire Southeast.
Just as the steam engine was being produced in the Dudu Mansion, Ren Fu's steam engine had been rumbling for half a day in the workshop in Hangzhou.
This steam engine is connected to a well. As the steam engine works up and down, several cylinders of well water have been pumped out. However, the steam engine still has no intention of stopping and is still pumping out well water steadily.
Lin An looked at the pistons that kept moving repeatedly, staring at this thing driving piles. It was exciting at first.
But no one can stare at this thing for two hours!
But Ren Fu stared at the Pistons with a smile for the entire two hours. This guy was so terrifying!
However, as coal was exhausted, the steam engine finally slowed down.
Lin An then said: "Old Ren, do you want to mass-produce this machine?"
Renfu nodded and said: "Old Lin, you have also seen the power of this machine. Do you think mass production can make money?"
Lin An He said in a daze, "I don't know either."
Lin An didn't have Lu Gang's sense of smell. Currently, his match factory didn't have many areas that required high horsepower. Producing matches was still a job that required a lot of manpower.
The only place Lin An could think of where steam engines could be used extensively was in textile workshops that relied on water power.
But if you don’t have free water power, why buy a machine and burn coal to use a steam engine?
Lin An couldn't see through the future of this machine, and even thought it was a bit useless.
Renfu was not surprised by his friend's confusion. It was impossible to immediately see the prospect of any new thing that appeared.
Not to mention an epoch-making invention like the steam engine.
He said to Lin An: "Old Lin, where in your match factory requires a lot of labor?"
Lin An thought for a while and said: "Manpower? Currently, all matchsticks are made by hand, as are the mixed powder heads. There are also things like folding match boxes, attaching sparks, and installing matches that all need people to do."
Ren Fu thought for a while and said, "I'll go to the match factory with you tomorrow to see where steam engines can be used to replace labor. If it works for you, Buy one first?"
Lin An thought for a moment and realized that what Ren Fu received was also Mr. Yu's investment. Anyway, part of the profits from the match factory had to be handed over to Mr. Yu, so he considered it as supporting Mr. Yu's investment business.
He nodded and said, "Then go and see if there is anything that can be improved tomorrow." Yu
Zongyuan, who was watching a movie in a mansion in Hangzhou, yawned and had an ominous premonition.
But he has been losing money steadily recently? An additional investment of two thousand taels of silver was just made to Ren Fu's workshop, and several other unreliable projects were also invested.
Yu Zongyuan decided that as long as he did not expand the scale of his industry, Su Ze would not do anything to him. Second Young Master Yu laughed triumphantly. He had spent enough time thinking today. He continued to watch the new play on the stage and hummed happily.
All this happened on an ordinary holiday in April.
Tang Xianzu finished his bath and came to the office of the Railway Company outside the city again. He saw his immediate boss, Lu Gang, yawning and seemed even more tired than before his bath.
"Lord Lu."
"You're here, the second-best guy? Ha~" Lu Gang yawned again.
Tang Xianzu couldn't help but asked: "Didn't your Excellency have a rest yesterday?"
"Don't mention it. I was ordered by the Governor all day yesterday and was busy at the steel factory until midnight before I came back."
If others said this, Tang Xianzu would think it was bragging or intentional. It was a show off, but when Lu Gang said this, Tang Xianzu would only think that he was telling the truth.
Tang Xianzu also knew that his immediate boss had a close personal relationship with the Governor and could often come and go from the Governor's Mansion.
"This time the Governor has developed a great treasure! But it will take some time to test and improve it in the steel mill before it can be used." "
We'd better lay the railway first."
Lu Gang decided to sell it. He wanted to see Tang Xianzu see it. The steam locomotive looked surprised.
"Let's talk about business. The Xuzhou Railway is already making preparations. It's not a big problem. Now it's mainly about the Susong Railway."
When it came to business, Tang Xianzu also put on a serious expression.
Lu Gang said with a headache: "We still underestimated the difficulty of building the Su-Song Railway. At present, the budget is still not enough, and the Ministry of Revenue has refused to give money." "The water network in the south of the Yangtze River is crisscrossed, and the railway must cross the river.
This The cost is much higher than building on flat land."
"The compensation for the relocation of land along the way is also a large amount. Although we have bypassed densely populated areas when planning the railway, the population in Susong is still too dense."
Lu Gang rubbed his temples with pain. He would rather work at the steel factory for a day than face the officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs who were reviewing the budget.
Tang Xianzu listened very seriously. His immediate boss was very professional in business.
It can be said that no one knows railways better than him.
Lu Gang looked at Tang Xianzu and suddenly said:
"I'm going to Xuzhou tomorrow to watch the start of the Xuzhou Railway."
Tang Xianzu had an ominous premonition, and Lu Gang said:
"I will leave the matter of the Suzhou-Songsong Railway to you. You can go to the meeting of the Ministry."
Tang Xianzu immediately said: "Chief Secretary! This is inappropriate! I am just a small political scholar!"
Lu Gang said indifferently: "What's the matter? I A few years ago, he was just an ordinary craftsman in the steel factory! The governor once said, 'As long as it's useful, use it to death', oh no, it's 'You can't make a weapon without sharpening it'. Young people like you should train hard!" Tang Xianzu said at the corner of his
mouth Twitching, Chief, you must have spoken out what is on your mind!
Lu Gang relieved his burden and said, "You don't know those people in the Ministry of Finance. Every penny you spend must be clearly understood. Overspending on the budget is like eating their rice. This arduous job will be handed over to you." , Pass the Su-Song Railway's budget plan as soon as possible and start construction as soon as possible!"
After saying this, Lu Gang left the Railway Department quickly, leaving Tang Xianzu messy in the wind.
Encountering such a boss, Tang Xianzu could only accept such a mess and began the difficult journey to the Ministry of Finance to ask for money.
Arriving at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development in a carriage from the Railway Department, Tang Xianzu got off the car with a large amount of documents in his arms, and heard someone calling his name:
"Brother Tang!"
Tang Xianzu looked back and saw a young man also wearing the uniform of a Guanzhengjin sergeant. People are greeting him.
Tang Xianzu remembered that this was the same year he traveled with yesterday. Pang Xinyue was ranked tenth in the undergraduate tribute examination and was selected to watch the administration of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
"Brother Pang!"
"Let me help you."
Pang Xinyue was tall, took the document from Tang Xianzu's hand, and then said:
"Are you coming to the meeting with your Chief Lu? I heard that your budget has exceeded again. , The Minister is furious."
Tang Xianzu sighed and said, "Our Chief Lu is not coming, so he asked me to attend this budget meeting." "
What?"
Pang Xinyue looked at the young man with sympathy and envy. same year.
"I didn't expect that your boss, Mr. Lu, would trust you so much. He would hand over such important official duties to you so soon? I have been at the Ministry of Household Affairs for a month, and I am still learning how to use abacus from the old officials." Tang Xianzu did not answer
. , from yesterday's outing together, he knew that Pang Xinyue was the norm for a Jinshi to watch politics.
For a large department like the Ministry of Revenue, it would take ten days and eight months just to identify all the chief officials and important officials of each department.
Then there is the need to familiarize yourself with the departmental rules and regulations and learn the work procedures. For technical departments such as the Ministry of Housing, Criminal Affairs, and Works, you also need to learn relevant knowledge.
For example, the Ministry of Accounts needs to learn arithmetic and accounting knowledge, the Ministry of Punishment needs to learn criminal law, and the Ministry of Works needs to learn construction knowledge.
It seems that most people are "observing" politics, watching how the department operates while studying, not to mention the specific practice, and they have not even mastered the daily work.
For example, Tang Xianzu was the only one who took the lead from the moment he came up. He was the only Guanzheng Jinshi who took Lu Gang's place in meetings everywhere.
"This time our boss Huo will also attend the meeting. Maybe I will also have the opportunity to attend the meeting!"
Pang Xinyue said excitedly.
Tang Xianzu then remembered that Pang Xinyue was a Guanzheng Jinshi from the Finance Department of the Ministry of Household Affairs.
The Department of Finance is the department responsible for supervising the financial market. Tang Xianzu frowned. So is the Susong-Songsun Railway really going to use private fundraising to raise funds?
Tang Xianzu frowned even more. If the Su-Song Railway is built by issuing bonds, the Ministry of Household Affairs will definitely require the railway to make a profit as soon as possible so that the debt can be repaid.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development will definitely further reduce construction costs, and there will be another round of wrangling today.
Tang Xianzu could only cheer up and walked into the budget review hall.
At the same time, Gu Xiancheng, who was drinking tea in the Literary and Selection Department of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, suddenly received an order from his superior to report to the cabinet.
Are you going to report to the cabinet as a political scholar? Gu Xiancheng immediately became excited, quickly arranged his appearance, and quickly came out of the staff department and rushed to the cabinet.
(End of chapter)