It will soon be the second day of February when the dragon raises its head, and Wei Cheng has to go back to modern time and space to deliver a batch of jadeite stones to Uncle Hua Sanshu.
Just two days ago, Sun's people sent over the rough stones. There were more than thirty pieces in total, of different sizes, all of which were carefully selected for half-open windows.
The quality of this batch of rough stones made even an inexperienced person like Wei Cheng feel valuable when they saw those green windows.
But just such a batch of treasures that are priceless in modern time and space are incomparable to a cart of potatoes in the Three Kingdoms time and space.
After Sun received the potato seedlings and high-yield rice seeds provided by Wei Cheng, in addition to these rough stones, he also gave a large number of tropical specialties.
In their opinion, the value of these stones was far less than the seedlings and seeds provided by Wei Cheng.
Wei Cheng didn't bother to explain that if he didn't take advantage of the bastard, that would be a problem for him.
Besides, the jade mine can be regarded as a national asset, and it’s just a trip for Sun’s fleet and caravan, so it’s not a loss for them.
However, in order to feel at ease, Wei Cheng still gave Sun a batch of sewing machines and looms.
Jiangnan produces mulberry and hemp. With these machines, the Sun family can develop rapidly even if there are no men to control the business.
In addition, now that Sun Ce has been named the King of Wu, in the territory of Yangzhou, the three of the Sun family are one person and more than ten thousand people. Even if the people of the Wu family want to take advantage, they must also consider what will happen after Sun Ce returns. as a result of.
Smart people all know that at this time, when dealing with the Sun family and the three sisters, they can only be flattering and not greedy.
"Mom, with these looms, we can slowly get rid of the shackles of the Wu family. Why aren't you happy?"
On the official road back to Yangzhou, young Sun Quan took his mother's hand and asked with concern on his face.
When Sun Wu heard this, she smiled kindly and explained: "I'm not unhappy, but we are a family after all, and your uncle... Well, in short, I hope you brothers and sisters are well. As for the rest, I'll just let you go. It’s natural.”
After all, Sun Wu was born in the Wu family. How could she feel better when she saw her son avoiding his mother's family in such a way.
Fortunately, Mrs. Sun Wu is not the kind of woman who doesn't know what is called. She obeys her husband when she is married, and her son when her husband is dead. Moreover, this huge family fortune was obtained by the eldest son Sun Ce at the cost of his life. No matter how foolish and filial she is to her mother's family, she still has nothing to do with her family at this time. I won't do anything to disgrace my son.
However, in the past two days, her brothers always talked to her, implying that Sun Quan was still young and unable to take charge of the overall situation.
Looking at her nine-year-old son, Mrs. Sun Wu didn't know for a moment whether she should listen to the advice of her elder brothers and temporarily leave some of the government affairs of the fief to her mother's family.
"Auntie, I'm hungry~"
The little girl who was sleeping soundly rubbed her eyes and lay in her mother's arms acting coquettishly. When she saw her second brother was there, Sun Shangxiang stretched out her hand.
Sun Quan's serious expression immediately softened, he took out an oil paper bag from his arms, and said with a smile: "How did you know that there is delicious food here, second brother?"
Sun Shangxiang chuckled, took the oil paper bag, smelled it, and said in surprise: "It's pineapple shortcake!"
Sun Quan helped her untie the rope of the oil paper bag, spread it out, nodded with a smile and said, "Eat slowly, don't choke."
"Uh-huh."
Sun Shangxiang picked up a piece of pineapple cake and was about to eat it. Suddenly he remembered something, turned around and brought the pineapple cake to his mother's mouth, "Mom, you eat it."
Mrs. Sun Wu's heart trembled. She looked at her charming and cute baby girl, and then at her smiling second son Sun Quan, her eyes burning unknowingly.
Holding her daughter in her arms, Sun Wu said firmly: "Quan'er, just go ahead and do it. Mother will always support you."
Sun Quan was overjoyed when he heard this, paused, and asked, "What about uncle and the others?"
Sun Wu said in a low tone: "Mother will make it clear to them."
Sun Quan looked at the determination in his mother's eyes and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as his mother was no longer bound by the family ties, it would be a great joy for him.
The younger sister is indeed my mother’s weakness now.
Sun Quan's expression remained unchanged, but he actually said "I'm sorry" to his mother and sister quietly in his heart.
Yes, this scene of a loving mother and a filial daughter was all planned by Sun Quan. The purpose was to let his mother see clearly where she belonged now.
Otherwise, my mother would always be induced by several uncles, and one day she would sell the Sun family to the Wu family.
This is not what Sun Quan wants to see. The Sun family will always be the Sun family!
As for why a nine-year-old boy has such scheming intentions, anyone who is familiar with the Three Kingdoms must know that this boy is already precocious.
Cao Cao said: When you have a son, you should be like Sun Zhongmou, and Liu Jingsheng's son is like a dolphin's ears!
It’s not something you say casually.
···
Luoyang.
Wei Cheng was listening to Tian Feng's report in the study.
This spring plowing can be described as a nationwide mobilization, and no force from all parties dares to hold back.
Several leading families, such as the Yuan family in Runan, the Yang family in Hongnong, the Deng family in Nanyang, and the Dou family in Fufeng... all followed the imperial decree closely, so that the plan could be implemented smoothly.
And this is thanks to the military parade of the Shangyuan Festival. Not to mention the great cooperation of these aristocratic families, even the veterans in the court are now extremely well-behaved. Faced with the various orders issued by Wei Cheng, they meticulously carried out, No more objections.
This is what Wei Cheng has been telling Tian Feng and others, political power comes from the barrel of a gun. In the face of absolute strength, all governments are paper tigers.
"By the way, it's been a month since Yuan Zhi and Xiao Yi left, and no news has come back yet?" Wei Cheng suddenly thought of Xu Shu and Xu Shu.
When Tian Feng heard this, he cupped his hands and said: "There is no news yet. I only know that they entered Qingzhou on the eleventh day of the first lunar month, and then the news was interrupted. I think there will be news from the secret guards soon. ."
Wei Cheng frowned slightly, worried that Xu Shu and Sima Yi would be in trouble.
However, if you think about it carefully, it should not be the case. You must know that the equipment of the secret guards has always been the best. Even the previous Dragon Breath Guards were not as exaggerated as the secret guards. After all, this unit is Wei Cheng's eyes and ears. , just like Dongchang in the Ming Dynasty.
"Let's go and take you to see the real results of my retreat."
Wei Cheng said, stood up and called Tian Feng and Xun Yu to come to a main hall in the harem, where Wei Cheng retreated.
The place is heavily guarded and no one can approach it on weekdays. Not even Cai Yan and other women can enter at will.
Tian Feng and Xun You both looked curious, and both were looking forward to Wei Cheng's so-called results of seclusion.
The three of them walked into the palace, and the female guard at the door immediately closed the door.
At this moment, Wei Cheng pressed a button on the wall, and the entire hall suddenly became brightly lit.
Tian Feng and Xun or looked at the electric lights on the roof beams with surprise.
Wei Cheng said with a smile: "This is just a small trick. If you are surprised now, you may be shocked later."
Tian Feng and Xun You looked at each other and bowed their hands at the same time. They were even more impressed by Wei Cheng's magical methods.
Wei Cheng led the two of them directly to a small side hall on the east side of the main hall.
As soon as I walked in, I heard a strange noise.
Wei Cheng turned off the alarm, walked to an object covered with black cloth, and said, "This is the result of my retreat. I call it..." Wei Cheng pulled away the black cloth and said: "Steam engine."
That's right, what Wei Cheng showed to the two of them was a large steam engine.
It was the first time for Tian Feng and Xun Yu to see such a big thing made of pure metal. Both of them looked puzzled, not knowing what this big thing was used for.
Wei Cheng smiled and opened the stove, poured some igniting agent into it, lit it with a match, and said, "Yuan Hao, help me add some coal to it."
Then he opened the jar on the side and motioned to Xun or add some water into it.
Tian Feng and Xun You frowned slightly, and they both looked away from the matchbox in Wei Cheng's hand and looked at the steam engine.
"This steam engine has many uses, one of which is to increase transportation capacity. It can not only be used on land, but also can greatly increase the sailing speed of ships after modification."
Rumble, as the coal continues to burn, steam begins to be generated, and the machine roars.
Tian Feng asked curiously: "How can such a large steam... machine be used to increase transportation capacity?"
Wei Cheng laughed and dropped the bolt-operated device on the side. Steam spurted out, causing the roller to rotate.
When Xun You saw the wheel turning on its own, he exclaimed: "Why, how can this wheel move on its own?"
Wei Cheng signaled the two of them to be calm, then pulled a modified sewing machine over, installed it on the rollers, and connected them with rubber belts. As the rollers rotated, the sewing machine started running on its own.
"This..." Tian Feng opened his eyes wide.
Xun You said excitedly: "It doesn't need human power to drive this steam engine. I understand. I know what Wei Jun means. This steam engine is indeed amazing. According to this idea, not only sewing machines, but also looms and bicycles can be used." Let’s get it moving!”
"Young, yes, Wen Ruo actually thought of a bicycle!" Wei Cheng laughed and said, "Yes, it would be a good idea to shrink the steam engine and install it on a bicycle or carriage."
Tian Feng and Xun He shouted at the same time: "That's right, if you put the carriage on the carriage, you don't need a horse to pull it. It's amazing! It's amazing!"
Seeing that the water tank was about to burn to the bottom, Wei Cheng hurriedly put out the stove and said, "Yes, this is the magic of the steam engine."
At this time, Xun You suddenly pointed at the match in Wei Cheng's hand and asked, "Wei Jun, is this fire starter the result of this retreat?"
Wei Cheng was startled when he heard this and raised the match. Then he remembered that there seemed to be no fire starters such as fire sticks in this era.
Wei Cheng handed the match to Xun Yu and said: "This is the result of the previous retreat. I call it a match. If you like it, I will give it to you."
Seeing this, Xun You hurriedly took it and studied it over and over curiously: "How can such a small box ignite a fire?"
Wei Teng pointed to one side of the matchbox and said, "Take out a match, put the black end and strike it hard on the black sand strip on the edge of the box. The principle is similar to that of Lei Zhenzi. You can try it. "
Chi~
Xun You followed the procedures taught by Wei Cheng one by one, and he lit a match easily.
"It's so amazing!"
Xun You didn't expect that the small wooden stick would suddenly catch fire. He was so frightened that he quickly threw away the lit match.
Fortunately, the burning match fell directly on Tian Feng who was standing next to him, burning a hole in the mink's fur instantly.
There was a lake smell of burnt fur in the air.
Wei Cheng was startled and hurriedly picked up the bucket on the side and poured it on Tian Feng's mink scarf.
Hiss~
Looking at Tian Feng who was soaked in the rain, Wei Cheng laughed heartlessly and motioned for him to take off his cloak quickly.
Xun You awkwardly took out a handkerchief and handed it over: "I, I didn't mean it."
Tian Feng was not angry. He snatched the matchbox from his hand and lit a match according to what he had just done.
"Good guy, is this the legendary fire-making technique?"
Tian Feng was not afraid at all when he held the burning match. Instead, there was a glimmer of light in his eyes, as if he had seen something extraordinary.
Xun You also stared blankly at the burning match. The two of them looked exactly like the little match girls, with twinkling eyes.
Wei Cheng was confused by their weird atmosphere, and took out two more boxes from the cabinet on the side, and each threw one box to Xun or He Tianfeng: "I'll give it to you, come back to me when you're done. "
The packaging on the matches had been torn off by Wei Cheng. From the outside, nothing could be seen. All that was known was that it was a small box made of bamboo chips, and inside was a stick made of pine wood. As for the black ignition agent.
Tian Feng smelled it and asked curiously: "Is it sulfur? And saltpeter?"
Sulfur and saltpeter are also the main materials for producing thunderbolts, but the main material of the matches Wei Cheng took out was red phosphorus, which is necessary for the production of safe matches. It is extracted from white phosphorus in an oxygen-free environment.
White phosphorus is easy to handle, but red phosphorus is probably only Wei Cheng in the world can create, because people in this era don't know what an oxygen-free environment is.
Wei Cheng shook his head and nodded: "Sulfur and saltpeter are needed, but the most important formula is not them, but another flammable substance."
Tian Feng was very curious about this, and he was even more unfamiliar with the word 'flammable substance'. After hearing this, he just nodded thoughtfully, picked up a match and lit it, and stared at the flames in a daze.
Xun or took the match into his arms with great care. It was a convenient and fun thing to take back and show off.
Tian Feng suddenly said: "Is it possible to mass-produce these matches?"
Wei Cheng glanced at him and nodded.
Xun You, who was next to him, was also startled. His eyebrows were slightly raised, thinking about something. After a while, he said: "This match is really easy to use. It is more convenient than a fire sickle, but I don't know how much it costs?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Feng, who was in a daze facing the flames, also looked at Wei Cheng expectantly.
Xun or listened attentively.
Wei Cheng pondered for a while and shook his head: "I haven't calculated the specific cost yet, but..."
"But?" they both asked at the same time.
Wei Cheng made a rough estimate and said, "The three boxes I just gave you should cost less than one steamed bun."
】
"Not even two cents?"
Tian Feng and Xun You looked at each other, and they both saw emotions in each other's eyes.
Tian Feng said: "Wei Jun, we can definitely popularize this thing!"
Hearing this, Xun You hurriedly took out the matchbox in his arms, poured the matches inside onto the table and started counting them.
Wei Cheng saw this and said angrily: "No need to count, a box of fifty sticks, lit dozens of times is enough."
Xun You was stunned for a moment, put the matches back into the box, and asked in disbelief: "With the three boxes added up, does it really cost less than one steamed bun?"
Wei Cheng recalled that in later generations, a box of matches cost only a few cents, but a steamed bun cost one yuan. He thought the cost should be lower. He nodded slightly and said, "It should be about the same!"
