In today's Ming Dynasty, researchers belong to the high-income class.
Moreover, researchers not only have high incomes, but also have low social status.
A researcher who looks slovenly and unkempt might have a title awarded by the imperial court.
A seemingly inconspicuous guy with glasses may be promoted to a noble rank in the blink of an eye because he has overcome a major technical difficulty, leaping directly across classes and becoming a member of the Ming Dynasty's nobility.
This is the case for Huang Zhongqiu. Although he has not yet been able to obtain a title, his social status is very high.
Highly respected in many places!
After bidding farewell to his old wife, Huang Zhongqiu was ready to go out.
And behind him, there were two plainclothes attachés following closely.
These two attaches are the bodyguards assigned by the Ming Dynasty Royal Research Institute to treasures like Huang Zhongqiu.
One Dongchang and one Jinyiwei. While these two people were responsible for ensuring Huang Zhongqiu's safety, they also had a surveillance role.
…
Huang Zhongqiu took his entourage to one of the largest restaurants in Nanjing, Man Xiang Yuan.
As soon as he appeared outside the restaurant, someone came up to him and greeted him.
"Mr. Huang's grand visit is not welcomed at a distance, it is really a blessing that is not welcomed at a distance!"
This is a middle-aged man with a somewhat plump figure, and his facial features are not outstanding, even a bit ordinary.
But the aura of wealth and nobility in his body cannot be concealed no matter what.
This middle-aged man was accompanied by several entourages, including an acquaintance of Huang Zhongqiu's.
Seeing this, Huang Zhongqiu knew the identity of this person, so he took a few steps forward and spoke very politely without being too arrogant.
"You're welcome, Mr. Wang!"
While speaking, Wang Yuanwai gave up half of his body, let Huang Zhongqiu go in front, and led Huang Zhongqiu into the restaurant.
"I have reserved a private room in this Manxiang Garden. It is really a great honor for Mr. Huang to come."
"Today is a coincidence. A bear hunted from Liaodong just arrived in Manxiang Garden. Two of the four bear paws were ordered. We are in good luck today."
Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty does not say anything about protecting animals. As long as the game can be hunted, it can be eaten at will.
For wealthy people, eating wild bear paws is nothing. Even braised panda paws, braised alligator, vinegar-stewed Yangtze finless porpoise, etc., many people have eaten.
Because in this day and age, no one cares whether any animals are eaten to extinction.
Huang Zhongqiu also smiled and agreed.
The group of people soon arrived at the private room, and all the good wine and food were served.
While eating and drinking, they finalized the matter of hiring Huang Zhongqiu as a consultant for the Wang family's machinery factory.
Although the wine table culture is a bad habit, it is reasonable to exist.
It is easier to negotiate things over a wine table. This cannot be faked.
Wang Yuanwai, who was dizzy from drinking, took Huang Zhongqiu's hand with one hand and patted the table with the other.
"The imperial court wants to promote the development of industry and commerce, and this is obviously a big outlet."
"My Wang family has money and people, so naturally we can't miss this opportunity."
"But it's a pity that my Wang family has no skills. This machinery factory did spend money to repair it, but it only does maintenance and simple machinery production."
"As long as it's a little bit technically difficult, my Wang family can't do it!"
“I don’t know how many business opportunities I have missed!”
"Now, Mr. Huang can agree to be employed by my Wang family as a consultant to our Wang family's machinery factory and provide technical support for my Wang's machinery factory."
"In my heart, I am really grateful!"
"No more talking, it's all in the wine, it's all in the wine!"
While talking, Yuan Wang raised his glass to Huang Zhongqiu again.
When Huang Zhongqiu saw this, he did not refuse, clinked his glasses and drank it all.
Wang Yuanwai narrowed his drunken eyes and said to Huang Zhongqiu.
"Mr. Huang, I have something to do right now and I need your help."
When Huang Zhongqiu heard this, thinking that he had just received the money, he did not refuse and nodded directly.
"Wang Yuanwai, please tell me!"
Wang Yuanwai narrowed his drunken eyes and began to talk about the matter.
"My Wang family has invested in a carriage factory in Nanjing. It mainly produces some two-wheeled, three-wheeled, four-wheeled, and even some special carriages."
"Now, that carriage factory has been taken over by my son!"
"But my son was stupid and said that since the steam engine can make the train run wildly on the rails, it must also be able to provide power for the carriage."
"Let the vehicle move on its own without the need for an animal to pull it!"
"He wants to make a steam carriage. I wonder what Mr. Huang thinks about this?"
Huang Zhongqiu heard this, thought for a while and then spoke.
"In terms of thinking, there is nothing wrong with your young master's idea. Maybe this steam carriage can really be built."
"Do you have any drawings? Bring them to me."
Wang Yuanwai did not hesitate and said directly to a follower beside him.
"Take out the drawings and show it to Mr. Huang!"
The entourage nodded in agreement, then took out a stack of drawings from the briefcase and handed them to Huang Zhongqiu.
Huang Zhongqiu took the drawings and started reading them.
Looking at the steam carriage on the drawing, Huang Zhongqiu fell into deep thought.
"For now, I found three errors and omissions in this drawing!"
"The first is the transmission structure of the steam carriage. It is best not to use chains, because the probability of chain damage is really too high."
"Chain drives often cause problems when used on bicycles, let alone when used in cars."
"Maybe we can try using the drive shaft structure!"
After listening to Huang Zhongqiu's words, Mr. Wang sobered up a little, and with a very interested expression on his face, he asked.
"Then what?"
Huang Zhongqiu pointed his finger at the installation position of the steam engine on the drawing and said.
"Don't be limited by the existence of trains. As the power supply device of the vehicle, the steam engine does not necessarily have to be installed on the front of the car. The rear of the car may be more suitable."
"When a steam engine starts and runs, steam and black smoke will be produced. If the steam engine is installed on the front of the car, it will greatly affect the driver's sight."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "This will be a big safety hazard!"
Before Wang Yuanwai could ask further questions, Huang Zhongqiu continued to speak.
"The third and most important point is that the steam engine equipped with the steam carriage is really too big!"
"Such a big steam engine is very cumbersome to put on the car."
"Perhaps it would be more appropriate to choose a small steam engine!"
He was talking about a small steam engine, but what Huang Zhongqiu was thinking about was the internal combustion engine project that their research institute was currently working on.
Compared to the bulky steam engine, the envisioned steam carriage might be more suitable if it could use an internal combustion engine as its power source.
It's a pity that for now, the internal combustion engine is still a secret of the imperial court. Although Huang Zhongqiu drank some wine, he still knows what can and cannot be said.
When Wang Yuanwai heard this, he nodded his head. He felt that it was really worth spending fifty silver dollars a month to hire such a consultant.
"I would like to trouble Mr. Huang to help me redesign a drawing of a steam carriage. I wonder if Mr. Huang is willing to do it for me?"
Huang Zhongqiu couldn't help but frowned when he heard this.
"I'm very busy with work every day, I'm afraid I don't have time."
It won't take long to ask him to point out some errors and omissions in the design drawings, it's an easy thing.
For the sake of money, Huang Zhongqiu will definitely not refuse!
But if he were asked to redesign a drawing, the amount of work would be huge.
It might even take away from his working time!
Compared to such private work, Huang Zhongqiu obviously pays more attention to the technical research tasks in the institute.
When Wang Yuwai heard this, he hurriedly spoke.
"Don't worry, sir, I will definitely not let your work go in vain."
"As long as you can come up with the drawings, my Wang family will be very grateful."
When Huang Zhongqiu heard this, he just continued to evade with a smile.
"This design drawing is not a consultant's job!"
"With fifty silver dollars a month, I can take time out during my vacation to solve some technical problems for the Wang family's machinery factory."
"But for fifty silver dollars a month, you want me to design the blueprints for the Wang family's steam carriage. Where can you get such a cheap thing?"
Huang Zhongqiu is indeed a technical genius and a man of science and engineering, but men of science and engineering generally have low emotional intelligence, not low IQ.
Wang Yuanwai’s eating appearance is really ugly!
After all, redesigning a drawing requires a lot of work and is technically very difficult.
Do you want to do this for fifty silver dollars a month?
Want to eat shit!
Hearing Huang Zhongqiu's unhesitating refusal, Wang Yuanwai's expression also felt awkward.
But he still forced a smile on his face and said.
"Haha, I wonder what Mr. Huang means?"
Huang Zhongqiu laughed and said.
"I'm not very good at drawing design, but I know several colleagues who are good at mechanical manufacturing and design."
"I believe that while they are doing the tough tasks of the institute, they also don't mind taking on some private work."
"I can help Wang Yuanwai connect with my colleagues."
"But this money needs Yuan Wang to go out and discuss it with his colleagues!"
Wang Yuwai heard this and nodded in agreement.
"What Mr. Huang said makes sense!"
"In that case, just listen to Mr. Huang!"
"..."
…
After the banquet, Huang Zhongqiu said goodbye to Yuan Wang, then left Manxiang Garden and returned directly to his home.
In his home, his son and nephew have returned home from school and are waiting for him, the head of the family, at the door.
"The son has met his father!"
"Nephew meets uncle!"
"..."
Huang Luming and Huang Luzhuang saluted Huang Zhongqiu together.
Huang Zhongqiu nodded slightly, took his son and nephew to the study, and asked as he walked.
"No need to be polite, just tell me, what have you learned in school during this time?"
Huang Zhongqiu wanted to test the knowledge of his son and nephew to see what their learning results were.
When Huang Luzhuang and Huang Luming faced Huang Zhongqiu's questions, they both responded fluently.
Especially Huangluzhuang!
He is a true genius!
In the original historical trajectory, he had almost no formal training, but he still showed extremely high talent in scientific research.
Now, after experiencing the systematic training of Daming Royal University, his talents have been developed to the greatest extent.
In the eyes of many teachers, Huang Luzhuang is a well-deserved genius student!
Seeing his nephew answering questions fluently in front of him, Huang Zhongqiu seemed to suddenly remember something and spoke.
"My uncle took a private job, which was given by the Wang Machinery Factory."
"Ask your uncle to design a vehicle powered by a steam engine."
"Do you want to try this?"
Huang Zhongqiu looked at Huang Luzhuang and raised this topic.
When Huang Luzhuang heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up and he spoke.
"As for uncle, I want to try it!"
Huang Zhongqiu nodded slightly, then took out a stack of documents from his briefcase, handed it to his nephew, and said.
"These are some basic requirements put forward by the other party. Please understand them."
"Then I copied it down and thought about it."
"But I can't give you the original. Uncle, I have to take this to work with my colleagues."
Huang Luzhuang nodded vigorously.
He took the document and looked at the idea about the steam carriage, his eyes instantly brightened.
Obviously, the idea of a steam carriage interested him very much.
…
Shanghai, telegraph room!
With a ticking telegraph, the military order from the Fifth Army Commander's Office was conveyed to the camp of the East China Sea Fleet of the Ming Dynasty Navy on Chongming Island.
The call for emergency assembly resounded throughout the military camp, and the harsh electronic sound was transmitted through the loudspeaker.
An officer and soldier of the Daming Navy rushed out of the barracks and quickly assembled in the open space inside the camp.
The leather boots stepped on the cement floor, raising smoke and dust!
Wearing a red military uniform, he looks very energetic.
At the same time, an officer also came to the school field and trotted all the way to the front of their respective military formations.
Stand with your head up and your chest out!
Chen Ze, commander of the East China Sea Fleet of the Ming Dynasty, strode up to everyone.
He climbed onto the high platform, stood in front of the microphone, and spoke directly.
"Pass your Majesty's order."
"Go out to conquer the Qing Dynasty!"
In an instant, shouts erupted from each military formation.
"Faqing!"
"Faqing!"
"Faqing!"
"..."
Chen Ze listened to the cheers of the soldiers below, his expression remained unchanged, and he spoke again in a calm voice.
"Set off!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around and walked off the high platform with his guards, heading towards the warships in the military port.
Groups of Ming Navy officers and soldiers also began to board the ship in an orderly manner according to different organizations.
Large amounts of gunpowder, artillery shells, and all kinds of baggage required for the army's expedition are constantly being transported to the transport ships.
Chen Ze stood on the deck of his ship, looking at the densely packed Ming warships in the military port, with an inexplicable sparkle in his eyes.
Among these densely packed warships, there were three incompatible ships.
The ship is slender and beautiful, with pieces of metal armor riveted on the sides of the ship. At the rear of the deck, the thick chimney is very conspicuous...
But the most eye-catching thing is the rotatable turrets on the ship's deck.
The dark muzzle and the metal shell of the turret reflect the cold light under the sunlight!
…
ps: I’m going out to watch the Lantern Festival later, so that’s all for today. I wish all readers a happy Lantern Festival.