"Wow, it's so beautiful..."
When the brand new four-wheeled carriage was assembled for the first time in the "assembly workshop" of the manufacturing bureau, the onlookers could not help but exclaim in amazement. Even Yan Liqiang, who was watching from the side, had his eyes shining.
This is a unique four-wheeled carriage. In terms of size, this four-wheeled carriage is 30% larger than the first four-wheeled carriage that Yan Liqiang rode a few days ago. It looks more luxurious, and the materials and workmanship of the entire vehicle have reached the pinnacle of the current manufacturing level in the manufacturing bureau. Yan Liqiang personally supervised every manufacturing process and process of this carriage in the manufacturing bureau. In order to build this carriage, Qian Su also went to Pingxi City in person and invited several skilled jewelry craftsmen in Pingxi City to participate in the construction of this carriage.
Because of the participation of these jewelry craftsmen, the pure gold dragon patterns and carvings on the exterior of this white carriage now appear more refined and dazzling, and the interior of the carriage is also more luxurious, with large areas of enamel gold decorative panels on the door panels, as well as seats and patterns made with black copper and silver craftsmanship inside the carriage, all exuding refinement and sophistication.
This carriage is one-of-a-kind, and no expense was spared in its manufacture according to Yan Liqiang's requirements.
"Let's give it one last try..." Yan Liqiang said to Qian Su.
"Okay, I'll do it myself!" Qian Su nodded, and walked to the front of the carriage amidst the crowd, then took a pair of cotton shoe covers handed over by the craftsman next to him, put them on his feet first, and then got on the carriage. He drove the carriage around twice in this huge "assembly workshop", and then went into the carriage to take a look. Then he stopped the carriage and nodded to Yan Liqiang, "No problem, it's better than before..."
"Then let's prepare to dismantle it and load it onto the truck..." Yan Liqiang nodded.
Qian Su waved his hand after getting off the carriage, and then a group of craftsmen rushed forward and carefully disassembled the carriage, wheels, frame, carriage roof, and riding poles. They wrapped each component carefully with layers of fine cotton cloth, then covered the fine cotton cloth with burlap, secured it with ropes, and loaded the equipped cargo box. The whole process was like packing fragile porcelain.
The reason why everyone was so careful was because everyone knew that this carriage was to be transported by the Inspector General to the Imperial Capital and presented to His Majesty the Emperor.
"If we continue to produce such four-wheeled carriages, I believe that even if one carriage is sold for 10,000 taels of silver, there will be people who will buy it..." Qian Su sighed as he watched a group of craftsmen disassembling and assembling the carriage. A few days ago, Qian Su was a little skeptical whether a four-wheeled carriage could be sold for 5,000 taels of silver, but the experience of just a few days has made Qian Su more and more "daring".
"We don't take reservations for carriages of this specification. After this one is delivered to the Imperial Capital, we will assemble another one and put it in the four-wheeled carriage exhibition hall we are going to build. It will only be displayed for people who come to order a carriage to visit..." Yan Liqiang blinked and gave Qian Su a "profiteer" smile, "Of course, if a member of the royal family of the Han Empire comes to order it, it's not a problem for you to charge 10,000 taels of silver for a carriage!"
"I really don't know where you learned all these business methods. You have thought of everything!" Qian Su looked at Yan Liqiang with strange eyes, "I didn't even think of sending a four-wheeled carriage to His Majesty the Emperor, but you have already prepared it. Once this carriage is delivered to the Imperial Capital, our Manufacturing Bureau will be the undisputed number one in the entire Han Empire when it comes to four-wheeled carriages."
Yan Liqiang just smiled, said nothing, and walked out with Qian Su.
In his two lives, if he didn't even have this "celebrity marketing" brain, then he had lived in vain in his previous life. Ordinary people don't even have the opportunity to send gifts to His Majesty the Emperor, but it is very easy for him. His Majesty the Emperor appointed him as the Protector General of Qiyun. After he, the Protector General of Qiyun, came to Ganzhou, he should naturally let His Majesty know what he did and what achievements he had. He thought of giving good things to His Majesty as soon as he had them. This is what a loyal minister does.
Of course, the four-wheeled carriage could not just run all the way to the Imperial Capital City. Instead, it had to be disassembled and packed first, and then reassembled when it arrived in the Imperial Capital City.
Ganzhou is thousands of miles away from the Imperial Capital, but Yan Liqiang does not have to worry, because his dear Uncle Lei has already said that there is no need to worry about the escort issue, it is a trivial matter. He only needs to prepare the things and send a few skilled craftsmen to follow, and then he can escort the tax silver accumulated by Ganzhou this year to the Imperial Capital. The tax silver is escorted by the army and there are local government offices along the way to take care of it, so nothing will ever happen, and no one dares to take the tax silver sent to the court, so the journey is very safe. After arriving in the Imperial Capital, he will go to Luyuan to find Eunuch Liu, and Eunuch Liu will naturally make arrangements.
Of course, there were not just one carriage sent to the Imperial Capital this time, but four in total. The "Royal Model" of His Majesty the Emperor was naturally the one-of-a-kind, largest, best and most luxurious. The other three were the same as the other models currently produced by the Manufacturing Bureau. One was to be given to Eunuch Liu, one was to be given to Fang Beidou, and the other was to be given to Manager You of the Ganzhou Guild Hall, as a way of repaying the favor of Manager You for giving the carriage in the past.
Yan Liqiang couldn't help laughing when he thought about his own carriage running through the streets of Imperial Capital in a few months, attracting countless people to watch.
"Speaking of the Imperial Capital, the governor has ordered the Ganzhou Artisan and Machinery Camp in Ganzhou City to begin replicating the four-wheeled carriages used to transport goods. I heard that this time, the tax silver will be transported to the Imperial Capital by four-wheeled carriages..."
"Four-wheeled carriages are convenient for carrying goods. It's normal for the governor to think of this. But we don't have to worry. They can imitate the bogie of the carriage, but they can't imitate the key shock-absorbing spring. We will only build high-end four-wheeled carriages for pulling people, and leave the others to others. After I leave the manufacturing bureau, this will be handed over to you, Uncle Qian. As long as we master the secret of spring manufacturing, we don't have to worry about others being jealous. It's just that Uncle Qian will have to worry about the safety and confidentiality measures of this manufacturing bureau..."
"Don't worry, I will take care of this matter and keep an eye on it!" Qian Su nodded.
As the two were talking, they passed by a construction site in the manufacturing bureau. On that site, two dilapidated courtyards and several houses had been demolished. Amid the busy work of hundreds of craftsmen, the outline of a brand new building made entirely of bluestone had already emerged - this was the product showroom of the manufacturing bureau, and the four-wheeled carriage was only the first exhibit in the showroom.
The demolished yard and house were just the beginning. In the future, the manufacturing bureau would build four-wheeled carriages while gradually expanding and renovating the manufacturing bureau. In Yan Liqiang's plan, the area of the manufacturing bureau would be expanded more than ten times compared to now. The entire manufacturing bureau would be completely castled and have strong defense. In the shell of the castled iron turtle, the most profitable super manufacturing factory in the entire Han Empire would be born. Many new things would be born here, and the skilled craftsmen of the entire Han Empire would gather here. With this manufacturing bureau in Ganzhou, the Thousand Machine Hall of Lingshan School would no longer be able to surpass the past...
Thinking of Lingshan Sect's Qianji Hall, Yan Liqiang calculated the time in his mind and thought to himself that with Zhang Yourong's ability, Qianji Hall would have probably built the first steam engine prototype in a few months. He just didn't know what the first steam engine prototype of this era would look like. Yan Liqiang was full of curiosity...
"Master Supervisor, Master Supervisor..."
Hearing someone calling, Yan Liqiang and Qian Su stopped. When they turned around, they saw several jewelry craftsmen that Qian Su had invited from Pingxi City walking towards them.
The youngest of those craftsmen was in his forties, and the oldest was in his sixties. Although they were not well-known top craftsmen, in Pingxi County, each of them had excellent skills and could perfectly make what Yan Liqiang drew on paper.
"I wonder if you guys have anything to do for me?" Yan Liqiang asked kindly.
Several craftsmen looked at each other. One of them blushed slightly under the gaze of the others and mustered up his courage. "I wonder... I wonder if this manufacturing bureau is still recruiting craftsmen. We have discussed it... If... If the supervisor and the director of the bureau do not mind and are satisfied with our craftsmanship, we are willing to stay and work for the manufacturing bureau..."
These craftsmen were originally hired by Qian Su to work for money to help build the "Royal Carriage". However, yesterday at the Manufacturing Bureau, they were deeply shocked when they saw the manufacturing bureau paying dividends to the craftsmen according to their shares. They had never expected that there was such a place in the world. After discussing it all night last night, as soon as the "Royal Carriage" was packed and their work was completed, they all mustered up the courage to find Yan Liqiang and Qian Su.
Yan Liqiang and Qian Su looked at each other, with a hint of smile in their eyes.
Yan Liqiang's mind moved, and the thought snake in his head instantly figured out the thoughts of several people. These people were all simple craftsmen who wanted to stay in the manufacturing bureau and had no other thoughts.
Seeing Yan Liqiang nod slightly, Qian Su cleared his throat and said, "I'm sure you all know the rules of the Manufacturing Bureau. Although this place looks like a workshop, it is also in the military, a place where military rules and disciplines are enforced. If you make some mistakes, they will be handled according to military disciplines, and you may lose your head. Do you understand?"
“Clear, clear!”
"Well, you can stay here. According to your skills, your personnel level is considered level three in the Manufacturing Bureau. However, you are new here and your qualifications and contributions in the Manufacturing Bureau are not enough. So at the beginning, each of you will only have five shares. For every year you stay in the Manufacturing Bureau, you will have one more share. After five years, your shares will be the same as other level three craftsmen in the Manufacturing Bureau, which is ten shares. If there is a promotion opportunity in the future, you will enjoy the same opportunities and treatment as other level three craftsmen. How do you think?"
"That's great, that's great, we're willing to..." Several craftsmen nodded quickly, with smiles on their faces.
"Well, go find Manager Qiu to handle the formalities!"
Several jewelers and craftsmen left with many thanks.
"Oh, Uncle Qian, you should discuss this with a few foreman managers. Our manufacturing bureau needs to come up with a system to reward those craftsmen who can perfect their craftsmanship and technology, invent new things and tools, and improve production processes. We will commend and reward these craftsmen once a year, and use this as an important reference indicator for personnel advancement..."
"good… "
…
The things at the Manufacturing Bureau and Pingxi City were settled. In the afternoon, Yan Liqiang, along with a few guards, and Hu Haihe rode on rhinoceros horses, left the Manufacturing Bureau, and returned to Qinghe County.
Riding on the road on his rhino horse, Yan Liqiang suddenly felt a chill on his face. He stretched out his hand and a little snowflake melted into his hand. He looked up and found that it was snowing in the sky...
On November 17th of the 13th year of Yuanping in the Han Empire, Ganzhou in the Han Empire welcomed the first snow of the winter...
(End of this chapter)