Strange skills and tricks refer specifically to those luxury goods that are exquisite in appearance and have frustrating skills but are of little use.
As for practical technologies such as waterwheels, water mills, and curved shaft plows, they have never said anything, but are encouraging.
The agricultural books in history were basically compiled by scholar-bureaucrats, such as "The Complete Book of Agriculture" and "Wang Zhen's Books on Agriculture".
In the late Ming Dynasty, scholar-officials resumed their interest in exploring science and technology, and the rise of the Jurchens in the Northeast led to the spread of a strong trend of "managing the world for practical purposes."
In other words, a group of scholar-bureaucrats headed by Xu Guangqi, like the Westernization Movement during the Manchu Qing Dynasty, were thinking about saving their country and their own imperial court.
To sum up, the butt determines the head. As long as it can promote agricultural production, increase food harvests, and stabilize the rule of the court, no matter how bizarre the technology is, it will be accepted and endure forever.
Just like Ming Xizong, if he was not studying carpentry for his own entertainment, but developing artillery technology to benefit the country and the people, you can see how many people would oppose him.
Therefore, compared to the late Qing Dynasty, today's society is more tolerant, and Xu Guangqi can believe in Catholicism, which was unimaginable during the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
People’s minds are not so imprisoned. From a social perspective, this is excellent for the development and utilization of technology.
Regarding the steam engine, Zhu Yixi did not know its specific structure, but one thing he confirmed was that, like the stone mill, it uses the energy of water.
Just one that uses the kinetic energy of water, while a steam engine uses water vapor.
"Just like the story in the book, Watt saw the water being boiled and the stopper popped up, and invented the steam engine. Although it is a bit nonsense, the principle is the same."
Thinking of this, Zhu Yixi felt like she wanted to show off her skills.
Who doesn’t understand piston movement?
If steam engines are used to solve the problem of rice shelling, then the use of steam engines will naturally become widespread as time goes by.
Didn’t China’s textile technology also start from scratch?
"Yan Yingyuan, as the governor of Shuntian Prefecture, I will leave it to you at this time. If there is anyone who disobeys, the farm will be confiscated directly."
The emperor's mind was full of thoughts and he couldn't wait to start research on technology.
"Wei Chen obeys the order!"
Yan Yingyuan responded loudly, looking very excited.
Zhu Si on the side was a little envious.
As a retainer, it is a luxury to be appointed to the imperial court.
"You go and supervise the imperial village and military fields and demolish them directly."
"yes!"
After the disbandment, Zhu Yixi became busy.
First, he ordered someone to make an egg-shaped iron container, and then got some iron pipes to serve as water vapor pipes and transported them to a narrow iron box.
Finally, place a piston in the iron box.
Boil water, and the water boils into steam. The steam is transported from the pipe into the iron box, thereby pushing the piston up and down.
The next step is simple, just install an iron ring and iron wire on the piston, and then connect the grinding disc.
Therefore, as long as water is continuously added, boiled, and steam is generated, the piston can continue to move, push the millstone to do work, and dehull the rice.
The iron box is connected to the water tank with a pipe, and the cooled water vapor turns into water and flows back into the water tank.
A perfect closed loop was formed.
"Simple yet not simple."
Zhu Yixi muttered as she looked at the masterpiece she had been working on all afternoon.
As we all know, there are seven things to do when opening a door: firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, tea, firewood comes first.
Fire, and its fuel, are still the biggest consumer goods in cities.
Food was only one of the factors that limited the scale of ancient cities, and fuel was the second factor.
Although the coal in Mentougou has been excavated and made into briquettes, which is cheap and easy to use, the cost of using steam engines cannot be underestimated.
There is also the issue of efficiency.
This steam engine is too crude and its utilization rate is too low, so he just burned dozens of kilograms of media and only ground two hundred kilograms of rice.
What the hell, one pound of rice hulled by the media is five pounds of rice.
One pound of rice costs three coppers, and five pounds of rice is worth fifty coppers. The cost of shelling is only 6%, which is relatively low.
But I can’t stand it compared to Shui Nian!
It's just a manufacturing cost, put it in the river, and then make money continuously without running costs at all.
Therefore, the power must be higher and the operating cost reduced to replace the water mill.
The sealing is not good, the iron pipe is too thick, the water tank is heated unevenly, there are problems with the size of the piston, etc., there are countless problems.
So we must improve and continue to improve.
"Your Majesty, you can actually grind rice by boiling water. This slave is really eye-opening."
Tian Ren covered his mouth in an exaggerated manner, his eyes full of shock.
He didn't see it that way.
Because this matter seems so bizarre.
Just boiling water can make the stone mill move by itself. This is probably a magical trick!
Zhu Yixi turned around and saw that the craftsmen and guards were all kneeling down, their faces full of piety and a miraculous look.
"Let the princes come and see."
Sighing, Zhu Yixi instantly felt a sense of accomplishment, and then said to several kneeling craftsmen: "You must improve. If you can burn less coal and grind more grain, I will not be stingy with rewards."
Seemingly feeling that this was too vain, the emperor increased the reward: "If you satisfy me, you will immediately be given a ninth-grade official status."
Suddenly, the craftsmen became a little panicked and looked uneasy.
Zhu Yixi was puzzled and looked at Tian Ren aside.
"Your Majesty, some of them have already graduated from the eighth grade..." Tian Renze lowered his head and explained.
Who would be happy to be demoted even though they have made great contributions together?
"A-class official will be promoted to the third level, B-class will have a house in the capital, C-class will receive 500 silver coins, and D-class will receive 100 silver coins."
"These four grades are your rewards, are you still satisfied?"
"Your Majesty!" One of the craftsmen raised his head and said, "I wonder if this thing can be disassembled?"
"Of course, it's up to you."
Zhu Yixi glanced at the ugly primary steam engine, or the large kettle: "As long as it can be improved, don't be stingy with all the materials."
After a while, the concubines of the harem also arrived and looked at the product of the emperor's busy day.
An iron shell that can grind itself.
The women looked at the iron box in surprise one by one, looking back and forth, still curious.
Although they were delicate, elegant, and graceful, the emperor was used to them and was tired of aesthetics.
The princes also stopped studying. When their father called them, they all ran over and looked at the iron box, their eyes almost bulging out of their heads.
"This thing relies on Qi to operate."
Regarding her son, Zhu Yixi taught her patiently: "When the water is boiled, it turns into Qi, and then it accumulates more and more, pushing the stopper and driving the stone grinder behind..."
Seeing these little guys, Zhu Yixi still didn't understand, so she directly ordered someone to bring a kettle.
When a kettle without a spout is boiled, the lid will pop open.
"This is anger——"
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