The Spring Festival is coming in a blink of an eye.
Song Yang has been busy recently, making steam engines, experimenting with glass, and daily teaching work. These things are inseparable from Song Yang.
Several versions of the steam engine have been modified, and the prototype came out a few days ago, but the effect is not ideal and needs to be modified.
The progress of glass firing is not great, but it is not without progress either.
Blacksmith Xiao Wang added a tempering process to the glass, which finally improved its strength a lot.
The main problem Gongsun Mo is currently trying to overcome is too many impurities.
This kind of thing can only be done through continuous experimentation and improvement of processes and formulas.
All work stopped on December 25th.
Jiangzhou is on holiday across the country.
Annual leave, ten days.
"My lord, I have tried several versions and the effect is pretty good."
Now among the factories and workshops, only the explosives workshop is still working.
Wang Dabiao is also developing new products recently.
Under Song Yang's guidance, Wang Dabiao made the explosives smaller and smaller.
It is now about the size of a little finger.
Twist the small explosives together with fire to make a string of one hundred.
"Crack!"
The fire was lit, the firecrackers exploded, and it was festive and lively.
Song Yang recently asked Wang Dabiao to do the evolution of firecrackers.
Progress is rapid.
Firecrackers will continue to be modified, but now they are still too big and can easily hurt people.
But this is not too difficult, just reduce the dosage.
As for fireworks, they are ready to be launched into the sky and explode.
Just use the Crouching Tiger Cannon as a fireworks tube.
Unfortunately, the success rate of fireworks is not high.
Dumb bombs or bombs that explode too late often occur.
But the overall situation is improving.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, within two or three days at most, we will be able to make fireworks that meet your requirements. They are guaranteed to be used on New Year's Eve!"
Wang Dabiao is full of confidence. After a period of training, his use of gunpowder is becoming more and more pure.
In hundreds of attempts, Wang Dabiao gradually figured out the various methods of using gunpowder.
He is not a smart person, but he is very persistent.
With Song Yang's full support and constant experiments, Wang Dabiao became a gunpowder expert.
"We still need to try the colors of the fireworks, and try all kinds of materials, mainly salty minerals."
Song Yang gave Wang Dabiao some suggestions, hoping to make colorful fireworks.
Song Yang knew that the colors of fireworks are generally composed of metal salts, such as sodium salts, barium salts, copper salts, etc.
But these things are not readily available.
Some mines have something similar, but Song Yang doesn't know how to extract it, and the encyclopedia doesn't record how to prepare the materials for colored fireworks.
"Yes! I have tried to concentrate the materials, and now I can produce blue flames." Wang Dabiao nodded.
Some time ago, Song Yang asked him to implement it. After a period of trying, he was able to come up with some different colors, but they were not bright and dazzling.
Song Yang knew that in order for fireworks to be bright, some magnesium and other substances must be added.
Unfortunately, I don't have any in hand, and there are no magnesium ores nearby.
"Okay. That's it, study it slowly."
"Mark it clearly."
After coming out of the gunpowder laboratory, Song Yang returned to the office. Fang Zhe, Yu Ming and others were already waiting.
I have a small meeting to hold before the Spring Festival.
"My prince's holiday arrangements have been made."
Yu Ming handed Song Yang a holiday arrangement.
In fact, it is the duty schedule of defense in various places.
Although it is a holiday and various industries have to rest, the People's Zhuang and the Fuxing Army still have people on duty.
The bandit group in Jiangbei is expanding, and Song Yang already knows about these things.
Ma Cheng is now not only in charge of intelligence along the Yangtze River, but has also developed a spy agency in Jiangbei.
Later, Song Yang simply handed over the intelligence work completely to Ma Cheng.
Ma Cheng has more and more manpower under his command, and Ma Cheng has figured out the general trends of the Jiangbei Luo Xin Group.
In order to prevent Jiangbei bandits or Tanzhou bandits from carrying out sneak attacks, more than 30% of the Minzhuang and Fuxing Army on duty must be kept on patrol in each place.
Song Yang took a quick look and found that Yu Ming's arrangements were in place, including who was patrolling and who was on duty.
The days on duty and days off are arranged clearly.
"I'll do as you wish." Song Yang put down the duty list easily.
"The wages of those on duty will be doubled to cheer them up," Song Yang emphasized.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will send pork to them when the time comes." Yu Ming agreed with a smile.
"Well, you can just arrange it."
"I have been busy for more than half a year in the blink of an eye. Time flies so fast." Song Yang said while leaning on his chair and drinking tea.
"Yes. This year, under the leadership of the prince, we have built Jiangzhou into a comfortable and prosperous place. This is all due to the prince." Fang Zhe said.
"Ha! I have long said that development depends on everyone. I can only achieve today's results by myself." Song Yang waved his hand.
"Your Majesty is the leader. Without Your Majesty's guidance, how can we take the right path?" Fang Zhe said with a smile.
This guy's flattery skills have improved a bit lately.
Yu Ming also said: "That's true. If it weren't for the leadership of the prince..."
"Okay, okay, let's not talk about this anymore. My ears are getting calloused."
"By the way, when I mentioned roads just now, I remembered. When will the construction of the highway from Jiangzhou to De'an start?"
Song Yang didn't want to listen to their flattery, so he looked up at Fang Zhe and asked.
"Your Majesty, we are currently investigating."
"I plan to go around some really uneven places."
When it came to business, Fang Zhe immediately answered seriously.
"It's best to go straight and not make too many detours," Song Yang said.
"Yes, I understand. This road is originally a straight road. In fact, even if it has to be detoured, it won't have too many bends." Fang Zhe explained.
The official road from Jiangzhou to De'an was originally straight, but after the big earthquake, there was a bulge three to five miles away from Maling caused by larger crustal changes.
Because it is close to Lushan Mountain, most of the raised parts are hard rocks, which is not convenient to level.
The most important thing is that there is an underground river underground at one end of the sinking, resulting in a large difference in soil quality on both sides.
So Fang Zhe planned to bypass this place.
"Well, you can do whatever you want."
"Your Majesty, the new line has been surveyed to a much better extent. After the Chinese New Year, we can gradually lay the ground leveling cushion. It is estimated that after spring plowing, the concrete pavement can be laid." Fang Zhehui reported.
Song Yang planned to build cement roads in various counties within his sphere of influence. This was a huge project.
The first step is to build an experimental road and demonstration road.
Song Yang chose De'an Guandao in Jiangzhou, which had a better foundation and was originally relatively straight.
Some time ago, the laying of cement pavement in Jiangzhou New Town was basically completed.
In particular, several main roads are completely hardened.
People in Jiangzhou gave unanimous praise to this kind of cement floor.
And most people have begun to use cement to lay the floors in their homes.
The application of cement has greatly improved the cleanliness of Jiangzhou City.
"Can the cement production in Pangqiu keep up? It's best to choose a place for them next year to continue to expand production." Song Yang asked.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, the place has been chosen. It's a wasteland in the south of the city. We will move there next year."
"A lot of cement for road construction has been stored now. They should be able to prepare enough cement during the period when the roads are laid for the Chinese New Year."
"Moreover, building roads is not something that can be accomplished overnight. It can be done while producing."
Fang Zhe also knows the situation of the cement factory well.
Song Yang thought for a while and said: "Okay. You can control the construction period. The best way is to have this road completed next year."
"These road construction personnel should be fixed as much as possible. They can serve as technical guidance for other prefectures and counties to build roads in the future."
"Our goal is to open cement roads in every county!"
Song Yang's plan is to first connect all the counties in Jiangzhou, Ezhou, Fengzhou and Yuezhou with cement roads within five years.
This project is extremely large and requires a lot of manpower and material resources.
However, he is confident that the food supply is sufficient, and in terms of manpower, the people can use food to pay for their labor.
Although the land has been divided, life in recent years is destined not to be easy. After all, there are few people and few livestock.
Farming efficiency cannot keep up, and land output will definitely not be what it was before the natural disaster.
Therefore, if people want to live a good life, they still have to work hard.
Song Yang will continue to provide various projects so that the people have something to do and receive wages.
This kind of project with labor remuneration will continue forever.
At the very least, we have to wait until people's livelihood has completely returned to the level before the natural disaster and all kinds of social production materials are fully supplied.
During this period, all parts of Jiangzhou will be in a period of rapid development.
"Your Majesty, Liu Min sent me a message and wants to come during the Spring Festival."
After Yu Ming and Fang Zhe finished talking, Ma Chengcai spoke.
Liu Min has actually always wanted to come, but after the autumn harvest, not only Jiangzhou, but also Xuanzhou has a lot of things going on.
Liu Min has already rebuilt Qiupu, and has been busy with the construction work to immigrate to Qiupu recently.
Qiupu is also an important town along the Yangtze River.
All the common people had fled before, and Liu Min did not have sufficient supplies of food and grass, so he could only temporarily abandon Qiupu.
Now that the autumn harvest is over, he has taken in some more refugees from Hangzhou and Changzhou.
So Liu Min started Qiupu again.
A small county town of 2,000 people was established in Qiupu, and a wharf was repaired to accommodate ships traveling between Jiangzhou and Xuanzhou.
After the autumn harvest, Liu Min had a lot of money, so he has been engaged in dock repair work along the Yangtze River.
In order to facilitate communication between Xuanzhou and Jiangzhou next year.
There are several large limestone mines in Xuanzhou, which can provide sufficient material supply for Jiangzhou Cement Factory.
Liu Min also knew about the construction of cement roads in Jiangzhou.
Some time ago, Tongling County Magistrate Guo Qi came to visit Song Yang on behalf of Liu Min. Song Yang had some chats with Guo Qi.
Song Yang also knew that there were limestone mines in Xuanzhou, so he asked Guo Qi and Liu Min to pay attention.
Guo Qi immediately promised that people would be arranged to mine next year.
In fact, limestone mines have been mined for a long time, and limestone is also used in some construction materials.
After Guo Qi returned, he told Liu Min about the matter.
Liu Min knew that limestone mining would become bigger and bigger next year.
That’s why the docks along the Yangtze River will be repaired in advance and used as stopping points for shipping next year.
"Liu Min is coming? Welcome. Haha. Now I can finally meet this capable person." Song Yang said with a smile.