Turning, milling, planing, grinding, and drilling, these all belong to industrial mother machines, that is, machines that can make industrial tools!
But in the initial stage of industrialization, there was one kind of machinery that was the basis of all mother machines, and that was the forging machine!
The human iron smelting industry is always inseparable from hammering. The red-hot steel plates gradually deformed under the hammering of strong blacksmiths. This is how metal parts such as swords, guns, swords and halberds, horseshoes, rifle triggers, etc. are produced.
But manpower is always limited, and you can't find a legendary giant to be a blacksmith to forge larger parts!
Before the industrial revolution, steel products weighing more than 100 kilograms were basically cast, and there was no way to forge them.
It's a simple reason, because humans can't afford such a big hammer!
Casting products are inherently defective. The internal structure of the metal cannot be all stable and dense, and there will always be impurities in the molten iron.
Just like when we knead dough, the dough that has just been mixed with water will have gaps inside and the water will be uneven. Only if you keep kneading the dough vigorously will the structure of the dough be even and the texture will be better.
This is especially true for large forged parts. Casting can only produce some simple and crude large parts. If there are higher requirements for the pressure resistance, elasticity and wear resistance of the parts, they can only be manufactured by forging.
The representative of this is the gun barrel, especially the main gun of the battleship, which requires a very large professional forging machine to manufacture!
This was already a power beyond the control of the Qing Dynasty. The hydraulic forging process coupled with the power of the steam engine, this complex machinery was completely beyond the knowledge system of the Qing Dynasty.
The hydraulic forging machine that Mr. Qing saw was not the largest one. It was only the entry-level 10,000-ton machine, and it already dazzled him.
Thousands of kilograms of steel ingots are like dough under such a machine, and they can take whatever shape you want!
"Power! This is power! People in the imperial court only look at foreign guns and cannons. Who has ever really studied where the real power is hidden?"
"Actually, it's right in front of us, in the special zone not far from the capital. Why doesn't anyone study it properly?"
"You, Guiziliu, are also known as the Wise King. Why don't you come and inspect it yourself?"
On the way from Tanggu to Shanghai, Fu Qing could barely sleep for an hour a day. He kept thinking about the industrialization of the Qing Dynasty, the reform of the government, his relationship with Ci'an, and his daughter in the far north.
Qing Sanye is already a man who has outgrown his vulgar tastes. He has no interest in women. To be honest, Ci'an alone is enough to satisfy him.
A good man can steal a queen mother in his lifetime. This exciting feeling is more exciting than having a group of wives and concubines!
Enough, the excitement for women has come to an end. As for money, let alone money, he can buy products from all the factories in the Northern Special Zone, and even some hardware factories are Qing Sanye's industry.
All high-ranking officials and dignitaries in the Qing Dynasty who wanted some distribution rights had to follow his path!
There was also the Telegraph Bureau. Although the Qing Dynasty Telegraph Bureau was a brand new institution, it was a super-profitable company. To send a ten-character telegram from Shanghai to Beijing, one silver dollar was needed.
What about the cost? In fact, except for the initial showdown cost of infrastructure investment, the remaining costs are basically zero!
A one-time investment can earn a hundred years of income. This business is a huge profit!
Fu Qing managed the Daqing Telegraph Bureau like his own back garden. With Ci'an's support, no one could take away this piece of cake!
The money is enough, really enough. Now all Fuqing's thoughts are to change, to leave a name in history, and to do a big business!
In this era of great changes, let the Manchus take a breath and leave a way out!
In 1871, the tenth year of Tongzhi, it was September 6th in the golden autumn!
On this day, Shanghai's streets were empty. Along the Huangpu River, there were foreigners and Qing people watching the excitement. People stretched their necks and looked into the distance.
A channel has been cleared on the Huangpu River. Today, no ship dares to occupy the main channel. Everyone is waiting anxiously.
"Could it be that Long Live Lord is back?" someone in the crowd asked anxiously.
"No...it will take a few more days, Long Live My Lord. I heard that the advance team of the head of state who went on an expedition to Europe to defeat the French has returned. The first batch of fleets to return home..."
"Oh... the iron army that penetrated Europa, I really want to see it today."
"You have no idea. The people who came today are not only here to see the Iron Army, but also to see the money! It seems that the first batch of French war reparations has been escorted back!"
"Have you not noticed that the prices of all Chinese-related stocks and bonds on the market have increased in the past two days? There are also many fewer people holding Nanqiao to exchange for cash..."
The crowd was talking a lot. Since ancient times, the commercial town has been well-informed. As they talked, they looked at the Chinese central bank building that stood in the bustling area of the Bund. The six-story bank building, which dominates the Bund, overshadows the foreign bank's imposing manner. They were all compared to each other.
It was lively outside, and it was also lively inside the central bank. The marble-paved hall was crowded with prominent businessmen from the south of the Yangtze River. At the window on the sixth floor, Fan Jian, who had snow-white hair, was standing by the window watching the boats on the Huangpu River.
"Why haven't you come yet? Why haven't you come yet? Don't be surprised..." The old shopkeeper was really old, and he was a bit nagging. The big businessmen Liu Henzhen, Hu Xueyan, Zhang Xiaowen and other big merchants nearby persuaded him with a smile.
"Ships entering the Huangpu River must slow down, don't be anxious, old shopkeeper, don't be anxious..."
"Don't be anxious? How much effort did I put into stabilizing the people in Jiangnan? During the time Xiao Letian went to Europe, I struggled to maintain market confidence, and I have exhausted all my efforts..."
"As long as he comes back, I will go back to my hometown to retire... I won't work anymore, I really have to rest!"
As people get older, they become smaller, and Fan Yan actually brought out a childish tone in his words!
Don't blame the old shopkeeper for his temper. The son-in-law has a character that sets the general direction and leaves it alone. He sets tasks for the people who are left behind, and then turns around and goes to Europa to eat, drink and have fun, without paying any attention to these people who are left behind. How difficult it is for people.
Of course, the old shopkeeper also knew that my uncle was in trouble every step of the way in Europe, but it was not easy for those who stayed at home!
News about the war situation in Europe changed three times a day, all kinds of rumors flooded in, and the market almost collapsed several times... In the end, Xiao Hexin had to take advantage of the chaos in Europe to quickly occupy Luzon Island.
Spending money was like running water, and Jiangnan's economy was almost drained. In the end, to be honest, it was just the news of victory that hung its life.
There was even a premeditated financial strangulation, forcing Ryoma Sakamoto to reveal his power to mobilize troops!
Thinking of Lord Longma, the old shopkeeper suddenly turned his head and said, "Where is the great monk Longshi? Why haven't you seen him since yesterday?"
"The great monk said that he would retreat to chant Buddha's name and pray for the head of state... He would not join in the excitement, but the great monk also said that he could just give him a bottle of good wine during the lunch banquet..." Liu Hezhen said with a smile.
Hey... the old shopkeeper sighed, "This is a really capable person! It's a pity that he was forced to become a monk... Tsk, tsk!"
Just as Fan Yan was sighing, suddenly a distant exclamation came from outside the bank building, followed by the roar of mountains and tsunamis.
"It's coming... Look, it's coming... The ship is coming..."
