Technological advancement is a technical job. Although Luo Ke did not study engineering in college, there are many engineering talents in this era. As long as you are willing to spend money, many things can be achieved.
For example, the weapon steel requested by Roark. Although Roark does not know the specific formula of weapon steel in the 21st century, Roark knows that "chromium" can effectively increase the wear resistance of steel. In this way, the laboratory of Favalte Steel Plant
With the research direction in hand, they used to slowly experiment and find ways to increase the wear resistance of steel. Now they only need to study how to coat it with a layer of "chromium".
It is said that the chrome plating process was not invented by the Germans until 1937, and the Americans did not invent the relevant patent until 1950.
But this chrome plating process is really not unfamiliar to the Chinese. In March 1994, a batch of bronze swords was unearthed from Pit No. 2 of the Terracotta Warriors and Horses. There were 19 bronze swords in this batch. Archaeologists found that the internal structure of this batch of swords was dense, and the swords were bright and smooth.
, the blades have fine grinding patterns, and the textures come and go without interlacing. They have been sleeping under the loess for more than 2,000 years. When they are unearthed, they are as bright as new and extremely sharp.
When cleaning the first passage of Pit No. 1, archaeologists found that a bronze sword was bent by a 150-kilogram pottery figurine. The bend was more than 45 degrees. When people removed the pottery figurine, the sword was bent.
A surprising miracle occurred: the narrow and thin bronze sword rebounded straight in an instant and recovered naturally.
After testing by scientific personnel, it was discovered that there was a layer of chromium salt compounds 10 microns thick on the surface of the sword. This discovery immediately caused a sensation in the world, because this chromium salt oxidation treatment method is the legendary chrome plating process.
Wasn't the chrome plating process invented in 1937?
Why did the Qin people more than 2,000 years ago do this?
Many times, the combination of traditional experience and modern technology will burst out with unparalleled energy.
Why was Cao Laosi able to enter the laboratory with his blacksmithing skills, and receive a salary of more than 200 pounds per year like those students who graduated from Cambridge and Oxford?
It is because Cao Laosi contributed the secret book that the Cao family has treasured for generations: quenching fire with horse urine.
If you want to ask Cao Laosi why horse urine is used for quenching, Cao Laosi will definitely not be able to tell you 123. However, after the scientific researchers in the laboratory knew this, they immediately conducted research on horse urine, and the final conclusion was: horse urine is used for quenching.
The salt contained in it will effectively increase the hardness of the steel.
Is this information valuable?
It is true. The Cao family has been working as blacksmiths for hundreds of years relying on this secret. This information is indeed valuable to the Cao family.
But for the Fawalt Steel Plant, this information is really not of much value, because before Cao Laosi "honestly confessed", the staff in the laboratory already knew that salt quenching can increase the hardness of steel, so this is very important to Cao Laosi.
The secret that the family must "keep to the death" is worthless to the Fawalt Steel Works. The laboratory now has better quenching materials, and the effect is better than quenching with salt water.
It cannot be said that it is worthless. The laboratory used different materials for experiments, and salt was just one of them. In order to obtain this result, the laboratory probably paid a cost of about one hundred pounds.
Thanks to Mr. Cao's "timely explanation", I was able to find a job in the laboratory. Otherwise, when Cao Laosi spent all his money to build a blacksmith shop, he found that the farm tools, weapons, etc. were not even produced in the factory.
It’s not as good as any of the big-name products, and I don’t know if Cao Laosi will regret it in the future.
This is the power of industry.
Rock doesn't care about the progress of the laboratory. Henry will naturally supervise this aspect of the work. In fact, there are really not many secrets in weapon steel. Until the 21st century, the best weapon steel is nickel-chromium stainless steel. Ordinary street goods use high manganese.
Steel is enough, and the worse weapon steel is even carbon steel. Considering that it is 1903, Rock really doesn't have to go to that trouble, just use high manganese steel.
High manganese steel is now available in Fawalt, and the helmets used by the Northern Rhodesian Division are made of high manganese steel.
This may be too luxurious for other countries, but it is normal for the Transvaal. At one time, more than 80% of the world's manganese ore was in the Transvaal. Later, with the increase of mineral resources,
With the continuous discoveries, the proportion of manganese ore in the Transvaal in the world is gradually declining, but even if it drops further, the manganese reserves in the Transvaal still exceed 1.5 billion tons, and Rock can use them however he wants.
Most of the time, Roque got wind and rain in Johannesburg, but sometimes it wasn't as expected. Shortly after the new First Cavalry Division was established, Philip asked Roque at a family dinner.
It was proposed that the proportion of whites in the new First Cavalry Division should be appropriately increased.
"After all, they are Transvaal troops, not Rhodesian troops, so we still have to pay attention to the impact." Philip was still relatively vague and did not directly state that the Northern Rhodesian Division was Rock's private army.
In fact, in this era, the control over private soldiers is relatively relaxed. Even the mines in Johannesburg can raise private soldiers. It is simply abnormal for Baron Rock of Nyasaland not to raise private soldiers.
Even Henry formed a mercenary force of more than a hundred people in Favart.
After all, Fawalt still has a small number of people. Most of the people are employees of steel plants and cement plants. One hundred or ten people are enough.
"I also want to recruit white people to join the new 1st Cavalry Division. Unfortunately, the British look down on the new 1st Cavalry Division. I don't want Boers. There are still few soldiers qualified to join the new 1st Cavalry Division. My company
Africans are not rejected, let alone have prejudice against white people." Roque explained in detail that there are now about dozens of Africans in the newly formed 1st Cavalry Division, and they are organized into a dissatisfied company, specially used to deal with conflicts with Africans.
People-related matters.
In many cases, Rock cannot make a decision with just one word. Just like the Johannesburg Police Department, the newly formed 1st Cavalry Division cannot completely reject the presence of Africans.
In fact, sometimes Africans are good. The Transvaal established the new 1st Cavalry Division. Although Rock also served as the police chief, anyone with a discerning eye can see that Rock's focus in the future will definitely be on the new 1st Cavalry Division.
In terms of division, many Chinese policemen in Johannesburg were unwilling to join the new 1st Cavalry Division, but the attitude of the Africans was very determined.
Soon after the new 1st Cavalry Division was established, Yaya took the initiative to find Roque, preferring to work as Roque's servant in the new 1st Cavalry Division rather than hang out in the police station.
What else could Rock say, so the new First Cavalry Division had an additional African company.
"It's not that I'm being harsh. Look at the performance of those Boers in Natal. I feel humiliated for them." Owen added jealousy to the side, but he only dared to point the finger at the Boers.
Phillip didn't say anything, and struggled with the steak in front of him. He scratched it with his knife while glaring at Rock and Owen.
It feels like a left-behind old man!
"Okay, okay, I'll form a Boer company later." Rock couldn't stand Philip's resentful look. It's just a company.
In fact, what Philip said is correct. There is also political correctness these days. Adelaide has not noticed the personnel structure of the new 1st Cavalry Division yet. If Adelaide notices this problem, Adelaide will probably remind Rock.
Philip was obviously very satisfied with Roque's statement, and his eyes were filled with relief when he looked at Roque again.
A son-in-law is half a son, and sometimes a son-in-law is more considerate than a son.
After leaving the mayor's mansion, Owen went to Roque's office to sit for a while.
"Now I finally know why you and Henry stayed in the police force. It's so easy for you to make money." Owen couldn't help but sigh.
Rock knew that Owen was talking about the "protective umbrella". When the umbrella was first established, Rock invited Owen to participate. Owen was a little unwilling and did not want to be associated with the "mercenary leader".
Now Irving is really good. Compared with the real benefits, he can be regarded as a "mercenary leader".
Rock just smiled and said nothing. The biggest role of the Umbrella Company is not to make money. Don't forget that the heads of the Umbrella Company have received agent training at the base of the War Office. So if all the mines in Johannesburg sign an agreement with the Umbrella Company, then in the future
Johannesburg has no secrets for Rock.
"The Cape election is about to begin." Owen didn't notice Roque's watch, but took out a bottle of wine from the wine cabinet next to him and poured it for himself.
Rock knocked on the table in dissatisfaction, and Owen laughed and poured Rock a glass as well.
Roque finally said: "Let's see, the Progressive Party should win this time, but it's hard to say about the future."
Rock is not optimistic about Cape's future.
In another time and space, the Boers had the upper hand in the Transvaal and Orange, and many Boers in the Cape migrated to the Transvaal and Orange again. Even so, the British had no advantage in the Cape.
How long does it last?
Now that the Transvaal is dominated by British and Chinese people, the Boers who were supposed to be in the Transvaal were shunted to Orange and the Cape. That is to say, many Boers did not have the right to vote in this election. Otherwise, the Progressive Party
You can't win even this time.
"What should we do?" Owen's smile no longer appeared on his face, and he sat in a chair worried.
"What should I do?" Rock didn't react for a while.
"Elections, there will definitely be elections in the Transvaal in the future." This is the reason for Owen's irritability.
Although Adelaide once vowed that London had the final say on when to implement a democratic representative system in the Transvaal, it seems that the situation is really not good now. After the Zulu rebellion in Natal, London did not immediately respond.
This attitude speaks volumes when it comes to sending troops to Natal.
"Don't worry about the Transvaal, I can guarantee the stability of the Transvaal in the future." Roque was extremely firm, but he seemed to have answered the question incorrectly.
The word stability also depends on how you understand it. There is a difference between the stability controlled by the British and the stability controlled by the Chinese.