"In this transaction, I received 700,000 taels of silver coins. The arms trade brings in money quickly.
Six hundred thousand taels of silver coins were used for military expenses to speed up the replacement of troops.
Allocate one hundred thousand taels of silver coins to form a well-drilling team.
The technologies of steam engine drilling rigs and steam engine water pumps have become mature.
Spring plowing has now been completed in most places.
In Shaanxi and Gansu regions, many villages have difficulty accessing drinking water for people and animals.
This is not possible. In villages that can be solved by drilling wells, drilling steam engine wells can solve the drinking water problem.
The local township office is responsible for the maintenance of the steam pump, and the Qin Palace provides special funding support.
This is included in the assessment of local officials.
No water can be produced by drilling wells, and the surrounding villages have no water supply, so they can only be relocated near the water source.
It would be better to form a new township around the steam engine shaft."
When Wang Zhongce heard Su He's instructions, he immediately wrote down the matter and made it the first plan to be implemented by the cabinet.
…………………………
Zhang Dezhi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, looked at Li Yan, the new scholar.
"Li Yan, are you afraid of hardship?"
Li Yan said in a sincere tone: "Zhang Shangshu, I am not afraid of hardship.
No matter how hard or tiring it is, I can persevere."
Zhang Dezhi was very satisfied when he saw Li Yan's statement.
Prime Minister Wang Zhongce assigned the task of drilling wells to the Ministry of Industry.
Zhang Dezhi arranged for officials from the Ministry of Works to be responsible for coordinating well drilling tasks in a region.
"Li Yan, our Ministry of Industry received the task of drilling a well assigned by His Highness King Qin.
Now you are responsible for leading the well drilling team to dig wells in this area of Yan'an Prefecture.
The well-drilling team is only responsible for digging wells. They don't care about anything except digging wells.
It is your responsibility to contact the local government and coordinate the arrangements after drilling the well."
When Li Yan heard about this mission, he was extremely excited.
"Please rest assured, Zhang Shangshu, I will be able to successfully complete this task."
The task of digging wells was a task that Qin King Su He paid personal attention to.
If you do this well, you will even perform well.
You can make King Qin have a good impression of yourself. This is Jane in the heart of the emperor, and you will definitely become famous in the future.
After Li Yan settled down at home, he followed the well-drilling team and headed north to Yan'an Prefecture.
…………………………
Fushi County, Yan'an Prefecture.
"Everyone, hold on, Hulu Township will be here soon."
"Pooh!"
After Li Yan finished speaking, he spit out a mouthful of sand.
The wind and sand here in northern Shaanxi are so strong that even when I talk, I get a mouthful of sand.
When a strong wind blows, the sky is filled with wild sand.
Along the way, he saw many places with abundant water resources. He followed the orders of His Highness King Qin and planted a large number of trees, hoping to improve the environment.
The capital of Yan'an is in Fushi County. When he arrived here, he was received by Li Shengyun, the prefect of Yan'an.
Li Shengyun provided them with information on water-scarce villages in Yan'an Prefecture.
Fushi County is the county with the most serious water shortage, even more serious than the villages near the Great Wall.
Li Yan plans to dig wells in one county according to the county's water shortage.
This will allow for better coordination with the government.
Work like digging a well requires assistance from the local government.
The drought is the most serious in Fushi County. Most of the rivers in the county have stopped flowing. Those that have not stopped flowing are expected to stop flowing in the near future.
Basically all villages have difficulty drinking water.
Most of the population here are immigrants from Henan, Shanxi and other places.
These immigrants have very unstable minds. Seeing the extreme drought here, some are ready to flee.
Li Shengyun, the prefect of Yan'an, was frowning every day when he saw Li Yan arriving with the well-drilling team.
As if seeing a savior, he immediately provided the best support to Li Yan.
Li Shengyun handled all the coordination work personally.
The only requirement is for Li Yan and others to act as soon as possible to solve the rural water problem.
Irrigation is no longer expected and it is past the time for farming.
Drinking water for humans and animals must be ensured.
Li Yan also realized the urgency of the situation.
He immediately took the well-drilling team and the patrol sent by Prefect Li Shengyun to protect them.
They went to Hulu Township, where the drought was the worst.
Li Yan saw that the prefect Li Shengyun arranged patrols to accompany him, and these patrols were also equipped with guns.
He knew that the situation in Fushi County was already very tense.
Many of their well-drilling teams are armed with guns.
The well-drilling team often works in the wild, and the chance of encountering wild beasts and bandits is much greater than that of other people.
Especially in newly recovered areas like Shaanxi, where the local bandits have not been completely wiped out, it is simply not feasible without guns.
The prefect Li Shengyun sent patrols mainly because he was afraid that local people would be impulsive, and these patrols acted as a deterrent.
They approached Hulu Township and looked at the dry river on the roadside.
Li Yan asked Liu Guangshou, the leader of the well drilling team: "Captain Liu, the weather is so dry, the underground water layer should be very deep. Are you confident in pumping out water?"
Liu Guangshou looked at the worried Li Yan and said with a smile: "Our steam drilling rig can reach a maximum depth of 1,200 meters.
If we reach this depth and there is still no water in the ground, we will have no choice but to drill somewhere else.
In most places in Shaanxi, if you dig a deep well several hundred meters deep, you should be able to produce water.
In most places, about 100 meters is enough for water.
In plain areas such as Hanzhong and Sichuan, water can be produced by drilling to a depth of more than ten meters.
Traditional wells are generally at this depth."
They must be digging deep wells, and the local villagers must have dug shallow wells before.
There is a well in the village, so there is no need for them.
Li Yan and Liu Guangshou were chatting. This was their first time to officially dig a well.
Both of them were a little uneasy, fearing that the failure to dig the well this time would have bad consequences.
People who are already desperate will not have too much mood swings.
If you give a person in despair a glimmer of hope and then plunge them into despair, this person's spirit will easily collapse.
They went to drought-stricken villages to dig wells and gave the villagers hope.
When the well drilling failed, the villagers fell into despair again, not knowing what would happen.
Li Yan, Liu Guangshou and other well-drilling teams have been getting along for such a long time.
He already knew the identities of these people, most of them were recruited craftsman apprentices.
Only Liu Guangshou, the captain of the well-drilling team, is a veteran. His right thumb was cut off and he was discharged due to injury.
…………………………
Li Yan and the well-drilling team arrived at the Hulu Township Township Office, and the villagers watched this strange team.
He communicated with the local township chief Hu Lu and presented official documents provided by the Ministry of Industry and the Yan'an Prefecture's Yamen.
The policemen in uniforms and guns next to Li Yan can prove their identities.
But he must follow the procedure and produce complete official documents.
The township head Hu Lu was very excited when he heard that Li Yan was here to help them dig a well.
"His Royal Highness the King of Qin has not given up on our place, and I hope you can really draw out the water.
We have been without water here for half a month.
If the weather continues to be dry, people will die of thirst.
I organized villagers in each village to go to the river thirty miles away to fetch water.
A round trip of sixty miles, plus the heat.
You use a wheelbarrow to transport a large bucket of water, but when you come back there is only half a bucket left.
The only job every day is to carry water to the river, so there is not enough water to drink.
Some families who raise chickens and pigs can only watch these livestock die of thirst.
Wherever you need to fetch water, our village will definitely cooperate."
Liu Guangshou asked: "Is there any mountain spring or old well?
Mountain springs and old wells are usually located on water veins, and the success rate of drilling wells in such places will be higher."
"There is an old well in the yard in front of the township office.
Our township office is about the same distance from every village, so it’s a good place to dig a well.”
Li Yan and Liu Guangshou followed the mayor to an old well.
Liu Guangshou observed the terrain here, nodded and said: "The space here is not bad, let's try drilling a well here first."
Members of the well-drilling team immediately drove the mule cart here.
They unloaded a small boiler from the mule cart.
He picked up a few iron pipes from another mule cart and assembled them, and soon an iron frame was erected.
Several team members began to carry the drilling steam engine and put it on the iron frame.
Drilling steam engines consist of two parts, the traditional steam engine and the drilling machine.
The two machines are not connected by traditional belts, but by gear sets.
The speed and direction of rotation can be adjusted through gears.
After Liu Guangshou saw that the machine was built, he personally connected the steam pipe of the boiler to the steam engine.
There are a few mule carts left, hauling water and coal, which are used to ensure the operation of steam engines and drilling.
After the drilling equipment was set up, the drilling team began to add water to the boiler.
The sound of scooping water attracted the attention of villagers around the township office.
Several young and strong men immediately surrounded him.
"Water, there is water here."
They walked forward and immediately knelt down here.
"Sir, please give us some water. The children and cows at home have not had water for a day.
We can survive for two days if we drink urine, but children and cows can’t survive without water!”
The township head Hu Lu stood up and scolded: "Don't disturb the work of the messenger. This is specially sent by His Highness the King of Qin to dig water wells in our village.
If you didn't go to the upper reaches of the river to get water, why would you be out of water?"
The young and strong man picked up a bucket of nearly dried mud from the wheelbarrow.
He wailed and said: "My lord, the river upstream has also stopped flowing.
People there began to go to places fifty miles away to get water.
It is impossible for us to walk another fifty or eighty miles without making it back in one day.
Even if water is brought back from eighty miles away, how much will be left when it comes to the village?"
"I should have known that there would be such a day. It has not rained for three months and the sun is still so poisonous.
The river will dry up sooner or later, I didn’t expect this day to come so quickly.”
Township head Hu Lu looked at Li Yan and Liu Guangshou.
Li Yan signaled to Liu Guangshou not to delay drilling the well, and he would handle these matters.
Li Yan walked to the side of the township head Hu Lu and whispered: "This water is used to dig wells, and sending this water out is just a drop in the bucket."
Only by successfully drilling wells can the village be completely saved."
Li Yan and the head of the township, Hu Lu, took turns persuading them, and police officers were on the side to intimidate them, and the villagers quickly calmed down.
Liu Guangshou saw that the boiler had boiled and the pressure gauge pointer had reached the specified value.
He immediately opened the valve of the steam engine, and the steam engine began to run at high speed.
The drilling steam engine drives the alloy steel drill bit and begins to rotate the well underground at high speed.
The team members continued to connect the drill pipe and turned the head to continue drilling downward.
Liu Guangshou is most worried that the rock layer below is too hard and the drill bit will be damaged if it hits the rock.
In this way, the well would have to be dug far away, which would take a long time.
Deep water wells must penetrate the rock layer before water can be produced. It depends on which one is harder, the rock or the diamond drill bit.
He kept an eye on the condition of the steam engine, and if he found something was wrong, he would stop the steam engine immediately.
Many villagers gradually gathered here. They were all dejected, and many of them were carrying empty buckets.
When Liu Guangshou saw the unusual vibration of the steam engine, he looked surprised.
Liu Guangshou operated the gear of the drilling steam engine, causing it to drill in the reverse direction, and quickly pulled out the drill bit.
The moment the drill bit was extracted, a stream of water spurted out from the well.
When the villagers saw this situation, they were so excited that they wanted to rush over to get water.
Li Yan immediately stopped him and said: "Folks, don't worry, the well has not been installed yet."
Liu Guangshou saw the condition of the well and was able to spray water by himself.
But it cannot be left alone. A steam pump must be installed.
Now water is pouring out, but there is a certain pressure in the well.
These pressures will soon be released.
This well is too deep, 500 to 600 meters, and ordinary pressure wells cannot pump water, so they must rely on steam pumps.
Liu Guangshou used slender iron pipes as water pipes and quickly installed all the water pipes.
The water pipes were completed, the platform was built with masonry and plastered with cement.
The steam pump was placed on the stone base and the boiler was fixed at the same time.
The cement has not yet dried, but the masonry laid out can already hold the steam pump and boiler.
Li Yan is responsible for maintaining order and preventing excited villagers from rushing here.
Liu Guangshou was responsible for teaching the township leader Hu Lu how to use a steam pump.
He was also debugging a steam pump.
The first time they dug a well, they dug a well, which was a good start.
Liu Guangshou started the steam pump.
The roar of the steam engine drove the water pump to rotate rapidly.
At the water outlet of the water pump, muddy soup quickly flowed out.
"Go get the water quickly, there is water."
The people immediately cheered and rushed to get water with buckets.
When Liu Guangshou saw this situation, he quickly said: "It will take a while before the water becomes clearer."
"Sir, this water is already drinkable.
If you leave it for a while, it will be good water."
Li Yan looked at the people drinking turbid well water, and they smiled happily.
He felt that the burden on his shoulders became heavier.
The water at the water outlet of the water pump gradually becomes clear.
When the people received the water, they couldn't help but take a few sips.
"The water in this well is so sweet."
After receiving the water, the people knelt down and shouted long live the King of Qin, while kowtowing to Li Yan and others.
When Li Yan saw this situation, he quickly helped the people and calmed their emotions.
Let them deliver water to their homes as soon as possible, so that the people and cattle at home will not die of thirst.
The news that there was a pumping well in Hulu Township immediately spread to the surrounding areas.
Surrounding villages, even those located twenty or thirty miles away, came to Hulu Township to collect water with carts and burdens.
Li Yan and Liu Guangshou never rested and kept traveling around Fushi County.
They have dug more than 60 wells, basically solving the drinking water problem in Fushi County.
They were digging a well in Laojunmiao Village on the border of Fushi County and Yanchang County.
When Liu Guangshou felt that the well had been drilled, he immediately lifted the drill bit.
After the drill bit came out, Liu Guangshou was dumbfounded. What came out was not mud.
It's something dark and sticky.
"Crude oil, this is the crude oil used to refine fierce fire oil."
Liu Guangshou is a veteran. He was injured in the Battle of Jianmenguan and was discharged from the army.
After being discharged from the army, he worked in a factory as a worker and was responsible for refining fire oil, kerosene, paraffin and other things.
For some unknown reason, crude oil from overseas was cut off, and Liu Guangshou lost his job.
He just changed his career as a well digger.
Unexpectedly, instead of water being pumped out, a well was dug out from which crude oil gushed out.
"Crude oil actually comes out of the ground."
Liu Guangshou immediately reported the situation to his superiors and asked how to deal with the well.
Leave some manpower behind to manage this place.
He, Li Yan and others continued to dig water wells in other places.