Upon learning that the Marquis had arrived, everyone came out to greet him. Surrounded by everyone, the carriages and horses slowly climbed up the broad main road up the mountain to the top of the mountain.
There was no time for too many pleasantries, so Zhang Yanling and his party, led by Zhao Laoji and others, spent more than an hour touring all the workshops in Wild Dog Ridge.
In the past few months, in addition to the basic construction, six more smelting workshops were added. A logistics repair workshop and a casting test workshop were also added. The scale of the entire Wild Dog Ridge Arsenal has been further expanded, and the division of labor has been further expanded.
Further refinement. Everything is in order and thriving.
Although Zhang Yanling was pleasantly surprised, Xu Gao was the most surprised.
In his heart, Xu Gao is a craftsman, but he is more skilled than others and covers a wider range of fields. Now he sees the scale of Wild Dog Ridge and the conditions of various workshops. Seeing the tall smelting furnace, it has become a large-scale
Smelting room, forging room. Seeing the large amount of iron ingots and raw materials piled in the three underground caves that have been formed, and seeing the busy and unhurried work of many craftsmen, Xu Gao has been in a state of excitement.
Just like a gourmet seeing delicious food, this kind of temptation is irresistible. Especially when he has skills, but has never had the capital and manpower to concentrate on some manufacturing and research that he is interested in. This is what he sees in front of him.
All temptations for him can be imagined.
The reason why he accepted an official position in the imperial court and joined the Ministry of Industry as an official was actually because he hoped to fulfill his ambition. His own resources were limited, and the imperial court's resources were enough for him to realize his wish.
However, contrary to expectations, it was only after he became an official that he realized that this was not the case at all. Not only did he fail to get more resources, but he also wasted a lot of time on things he didn't like. He exchanged favors and formed cliques.
, intrigues, and even being used as a weapon. His various suggestions and ideas, all of which were paid for, were basically rejected. This made Xu Gao full of frustration and loss.
At the moment, everything in Wild Dog Ridge is right in front of you. Perhaps to others, this is a boring and noisy world. But for Xu Gao, this is a paradise and his paradise.
The sun is in the sky and there are no clouds in the sky.
Zhang Yanling and Xu Gao climbed to the highest point on the top of Wild Dog Ridge, on the platform at the top of the tower that was transformed from an abandoned beacon tower.
The golden wind blows, and the surrounding scenery is panoramic. The mature rice fields are golden, like flat carpets spread around the hillside. The long river is like a belt, and the trees are like brocade. The smoke of charcoal fires rises from the workshops on the hillside. In the courtyards of various workshops,
People pushing cars and moving things back and forth are busy. All this is the most beautiful picture in the world.
"Master Xu." Zhang Yanling couldn't change his words for a while. "As you can see, this is the whole picture of the Yegouling Arsenal. You can also see that it has taken me more than a year to achieve this scale and manpower.
It cost me nearly two hundred thousand taels of silver. Almost all my net worth was invested here. That’s why we are in the current situation. What do you think?"
Xu Gao breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice: "Master Hou, please forgive me for asking you a few words. I don't know if it's okay."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Just ask, why are you so polite?"
Xu Gao nodded and said: "You spent so much money and so much energy to build this place and make firearms. For what purpose? In my opinion, you don't need to do this at all."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Everyone who knows what I do will ask me this question. Some of them even suspect that I have evil intentions and want to do something treacherous. It is really dumbfounding."
Xu Gao thought: I actually have some doubts.
"Actually, I do these things, firstly for the court, and secondly for myself. The power of firearms has not been truly recognized by others. Although my Ming Dynasty has more than a dozen types of firearms, none of them are truly practical.
It's a lot of money, and it's extremely wasteful of money and manpower. It's reasonable for the court to be unwilling to spend money on this. But in the future, firearms will definitely be rampant.
In the era of the Ming Dynasty, firearms will eventually become the protagonist of military weapons. If we, the Ming Dynasty, do not take the lead in laying out the plan, and if the enemy country takes the lead, the country will be in danger. Therefore, if the court does not do it, I will do it. In the future, the technology will mature and the cost will be reduced.
, we can offer it to the imperial court and manufacture large quantities of equipment, soldiers and horses. This is not only for the sake of the country, but also to protect the people of our Ming Dynasty."
Xu Gao nodded and said: "So you think so too. I have always believed that firearms have not yet shown their true power. All that needs to be done is to improve the materials and craftsmanship. The power of firearms has been seriously underestimated. But, I don't have you
I think so far, but I am not as sure as you."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Everyone has a different opinion. This is just my personal opinion. In addition to thinking about the court, of course there is also my personal selfishness here. The more powerful the firearm, the more dangerous it is. If we don't develop powerful firearms, others will sooner or later
It will also be made. More and more people will understand the power of firearms. Once this technology is mastered
In the hands of others, it is extremely dangerous. Just like a sharp knife, if held in the hands of a gangster, it will kill people and kill endlessly, but no one can stop it. But if it is held in the hands of a kind person, it is different.
Therefore, I want to control it in my hands. Even if it is presented to the imperial court in the future, I can also restrict it in terms of craftsmanship and technology to ensure that it will not overflow."
Xu Gao looked at Zhang Yanling in surprise and hesitated to speak.
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Master Xu, please don't look at me like this. I know what you think. In short, it is safest to hold the murder weapon in your own hands, and others will be afraid of me. I can not harm others, and others will not even think of harming them."
I. Firearms manufacturing technology is a kind of deterrent. When necessary, it can save oneself and become a talisman to stabilize the situation."
Xu Gao nodded slightly. He understood and basically agreed with Zhang Yanling.
"If we talk about it further, there is a third reason." Zhang Yanling looked at the mountains and fields under the mountain in the sun and said solemnly: "From ancient times to the present, people have grown from eating hair and drinking blood to now having rich clothes and food. From living in caves and shacks,
Nowadays, we live in Guangsha Palace. From being illiterate, to poems, songs, and beautiful articles. Everything is evolving and changing. Promoting all these changes
It’s not just scholars, but thousands of ordinary people. The fact that our basic necessities, food, housing, and transportation have reached what they are today is all driven by technology. It’s all the result of the exploration and constant experimentation of many ordinary people and craftsmen.
Correcting mistakes and finding the right path. Only through improvement from generation to generation can we have today's palaces, rich clothes, fine food, and all kinds of ingenious skills."
Xu Gao looked at Zhang Yanling in surprise. He felt that Zhang Yanling seemed to have expressed some of his inner thoughts. As a technical official who was discriminated against in the court, he had been thinking, what is the difference between himself and those scholars? He felt
He was a little confused. Now that Zhang Yanling said these words, Xu Gao felt that he was able to see through the clouds.
"Because of this, exploring all kinds of impossibilities and exploring the direction of evolution is actually something that everyone should do. Today's exploration may be the direction of the future. Just like the first man on the rope in ancient times
The ancients who tied knots on their heads to record events led to the future language and other things that express their feelings. Just like Shennong tasted the first taste of grass.
medicine, then the birth of profound and profound medical skills. Every exploration is to lay the foundation for a better future. It may be in vain, it may be successful, it doesn’t matter. Thousands of people do this, but always
There will be the right direction. So, you can regard my purpose of doing this as a kind of exploration. That may be more able to relieve your doubts about this matter."
Xu Gao's mind was a little messy. He hadn't actually read many books, and his realm was not as unimaginative as Zhang Yanling's. What Zhang Yanling said today seemed to have taught him a lesson, and a new world seemed to have appeared before his eyes.
He became enlightened and felt a sense of sublimation. But after all, he had never been exposed to these words, so he felt a mixture of excitement and confusion, ignorance and enlightenment, which made him a little at a loss.
But what Zhang Yanling said next made Xu Gao even more confused.
"Master Xu, have you ever thought about what the future world will be like? I had a dream. I dreamed of the future world. There, ships the size of mountains sailed in the sea, using machinery instead of sails.
The driving force of the iron bird. It flies in the sky and can carry hundreds of people in its belly. It only takes a few hours from the capital to Lingnan. People on the ground can carry many
It is a horse-drawn vehicle, but a vehicle with four wheels that runs all over the ground without the need for human or animal power. The speed is faster than a thousand-mile horse. There, high-rise buildings reach into the clouds, and the barren mountains and rivers and seas are everywhere turned into smooth roads. People travel thousands of miles.
It can transmit sounds outside the world, and even the emperor can't match the food, clothing, housing and transportation. In short, such a world is a world that you, Master Xu, cannot imagine."
Xu Gao was petrified. He felt that Zhang Yanling was crazy. What nonsense were he talking about? What about an iron bird flying in the sky and a big ship running in the water without sails. Isn't this crazy?
"You are really dreaming. How could such a world exist? How could you have such a bizarre dream? I haven't had a dream in many years." Xu Gao muttered.
"How is it impossible?" Zhang Yanling turned around and said: "Mr. Xu, let me ask you, your ancestors built a water-moving instrument platform. They used the power of water to demonstrate the movement of celestial images and the spread of stars, accurate to the four seasons of the year.
There are fourteen solar terms, twelve o’clock every day, and the time is omitted. Does all this sound like a myth? I think it is impossible? However, as early as the Zhao and Song Dynasties, your ancestors worked together with others to create it. You
Tell me, what else is impossible?"
Xu Gao was speechless.
"Further back, Zhuge Kongming of the Three Kingdoms created a wooden kite that could fly in the sky for three days and three nights, and a wooden cow and a flowing horse. Before him, did anyone think it was possible? The wonders of physics are endless, and nothing is impossible.
.What do you think I said about ships that sail without wind power and
Are cars running on the ground nonsense? There is a thing called a steam engine, which uses the power of steam compression to push the crankshaft to link the paddles or wheels. As long as the force is strong enough, can't it be achieved? You are a master, you know what I am talking about is not
Nonsense." Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Xu Gao stood there blankly, his lips trembling slightly, speechless.
"Master Xu, I need someone to help me realize these dreams. Not all of them, even a little bit, I think it is a pioneering work. I can't do these things, but Master Xu can definitely do it. I will invest at least 100,000 yuan every year in the future
With two silver coins here, Mr. Xu can do anything you want to do and achieve anything impossible. I sincerely hope that Mr. Xu can join. You will do great things."