Chapter 642 Hydraulic Research
Chapter 642 Hydraulic Research
After inspecting the mine, Xiao Xia returned directly to Jingkou. After getting off the boat, he went directly to the hydraulic factory not far away. The owner Cao Yousi came out to greet him upon hearing his inquiry.
"I, Cao Yousi, pay my respects to Your Highness!"
Xiao Xia asked with a smile: "Does Master Cao have any new inventions recently?"
"Your Highness, I am experimenting with water-powered spinning!"
Xiao Xia's eyes lit up and he said with a smile, "Take me to see it!"
Cao Yousi brought Xiao Xia to a large room. In the middle of the room was a large platform with more than a dozen wheels rotating at a constant speed. In front of each wheel stood a young lady, busy rubbing the hemp fibers in the basket in front of her into very thin hemp ropes. As the wheels rotated, the ropes were wound around wooden spindles.
Cao Yousi pointed to the rotating wooden pole and said, "There is a small gear at the bottom and a large gear in the middle. The rotation of the large gear drives more than a dozen small gears to rotate, and then the thread can be spun."
Xiao Xia nodded and asked, "This place is at least ten feet away from the river surface. How do you transmit the power? Do you use gears?"
Cao Yousi shook his head and smiled, "I have an idea. I made a long belt out of cowhide. When the gear rotates, the belt above it rotates as well. The belt then drives the gear on this side to rotate. It sounds simple, but it is actually very difficult. I tried many times before I finally succeeded."
Xiao Xia really praised him for thinking of the principle of the transmission belt. This businessman was not an ordinary person.
"Any business? I mean, is there anyone buying your water-powered device?"
Cao Yousi nodded and said, "The Foundry has ordered fifty hydraulic bellows from me. This is the largest order I have ever received."
Xiao Xia was puzzled and asked, "The bellows move back and forth. How did you do that?"
Cao Yousi scratched his head and smiled, "Didn't His Highness tell me? The connecting rod can turn left and right rotation into front and back rotation!"
"Yes! Connecting rod."
Xiao Xia suddenly realized, patted the arm of this smart businessman and praised him: "You are the smartest businessman I have ever seen. Why don't you come to the General Administration Office to be an official? I will set up a hydraulic power research institute and you will be the director."
Cao Yousi said somewhat embarrassedly: "I am a businessman and have no right to be an official!"
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "This is not a government official, but a seventh-rank technical official. Just like many craftsmen in the Military Equipment Department have become seventh-rank managers. This is normal. If a craftsman can be a manager, why can't a businessman be a manager? The key is that you have the brains, and the government has abundant resources. You can use iron and copper to make equipment, and the copper and iron gears you make are more accurate than wooden gears. How about it? I personally appointed an official, and no one dares to say anything."
Cao Yousi was really tempted. The government had a monopoly on copper and iron, which imposed many restrictions. He could not use copper and iron to make machines, and he could not hire high-level craftsmen. High-level craftsmen were all official craftsmen. If he could enter the government, it would be of great benefit to his research.
Although Cao Yousi was a businessman, he was actually an avid enthusiast of hydraulic technology. He had been fascinated by studying various hydraulic equipment since he was a child. He inherited his father's mill and oil press, which he handed over to the shopkeeper, and invested all the money he earned into the research of hydraulic drive.
He invested tens of thousands of dollars over the past decade but didn't make a penny. Everyone said he was an idiot, and some even cursed him behind his back as a money-loser. Until he met Xiao Xia, Xiao Xia had a keen eye for talent and took a liking to this madman who was ahead of his time and became his mentor.
Cao Yousi was extremely excited and bowed, saying, "I am willing to serve Your Highness at my utmost!"
Xiao Xia nodded, "After the establishment of the research institute, the first task I taught them was to automatically transport the ore down the mountain without having to carry it down the mountain by manpower."
Cao Yousi thought for a moment and asked, "Is there a river?"
"There is a stream!"
Cao Yousi smiled and said, "I did something similar for a quarry in Wu County ten years ago. At that time, I thought of three ways. The first one is the simplest. Pull a rope, make an iron hook on the basket, hang on the rope, and use your own strength to slide down directly from the top of the mountain."
Xiao Xia praised: "This is a good idea, keep going!"
"The second method is to make a wooden capstan and use a mule to pull it. There is a wheel at the bottom and top of the mountain. A rope is constantly rotating up and down on the two wheels, and then the basket is hung on the rope." Xiao Xia nodded, "This method is also good. What about the third method?"
Cao Yousi smiled and said, "The third method is to use the belt on the spinning machine. Pour the ore directly onto the belt, and the belt will rotate to send the ore down the mountain."
This is the belt transmission that Xiao Xia thought of. Xiao Xia said happily: "You can use all three methods. After the research institute is established, you can take the craftsmen to the ore county to check it out."
"I obey your orders!"
Xiao Xia then wrote a letter of appointment and handed it to Cao Yousi, saying, "The day after tomorrow morning, you will report to the Ministry of Personnel. With the letter of appointment, the Ministry of Personnel will make arrangements, and then the Shangshu Xingtai will discuss with you the details of the establishment of the research institute."
"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I will definitely live up to your kindness!"
When Xiao Xia returned to the office, Liu Wenjing came to see him immediately.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from Luoyang, stating that the Emperor is sending Vice Prime Minister Yin Shishi as an envoy to Jiangnan."
"Didn't you say what it was?"
"The imperial court probably wants to take back the Shandong Peninsula, so of course they are here to negotiate."
Xiao Xia thought for a moment and said, "Qi County, Beihai County, and Gaomi County can negotiate, but Donglai County cannot, even if they turn against each other."
"I think so too. We have invested nearly 300,000 strings of cash in Donglai County. How can we give up so easily?"
"It's not just a matter of money. Donglai County is our strategic support. Otherwise, how can we connect with the Liaodong Peninsula?"
"Your Highness is right. I have forgotten the Liaodong Peninsula."
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "The other three counties will be exchanged for Xiangyang County. I've been waiting for this opportunity!"
Liu Wenjing suddenly understood and said with a smile: "Your Highness is thoughtful and far-sighted. I understand."
After saying this, Liu Wenjing was about to leave, but Xiao Xia stopped him again, "There is another thing I need you to do."
"Your Highness, please give me your instructions!"
Xiao Xia pondered for a moment, then told Liu Wenjing about his idea of establishing a hydraulic power research institute.
Liu Wenjing had also visited Cao Yousi's Hydraulic Institute, but he was not optimistic about hydraulic drive. He smiled and said, "Your Highness, do you think hydraulic power has a great effect?"
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Cao Yousi has already started to use water power to spin yarn, and he has also created a water-powered blower. This is a very good start. I believe there will be greater development in the future. I want to plant this seed and wait for it to take root and sprout."
"I understand. I will make arrangements right away. When Cao Yousi arrives, we will discuss the establishment of the research institute together."
Xiao Xia nodded, "I'll leave this matter to you, Lord!"
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I will definitely make arrangements!"
Liu Wenjing bowed and left.
(End of this chapter)