Chapter 529: Efficiency, That Is What This Is

Latest URL: "Nian Yuyan..."

Changle Junzhu was stunned for a moment, and suddenly her eyes turned slightly red.

That's right, she is Nian Yuyan, not Zhao Yuyan.

How could she have forgotten her true identity?

Then, she looked toward the Yan Wang in front of her.

Although several years had passed, she recognized this Ninth Prince of the Great Song at a single glance.

Moreover, compared to before, this Ninth Prince no longer had a shred of weakness; what radiated from his entire being was a kind of self-confidence.

And a kind of calm and indifference that could only be tempered on the battlefield.

"Greetings, Your Highness Yan Wang," Nian Yuyan said.

Frowning slightly, she added, "Why did Your Highness say that Changle Junzhu is dead?"

Zhao Xu was also sizing up Nian Yuyan; she was indeed a Beauty.

Hearing this, he explained Zhao Heng's Imperial Edict and the memorial he had submitted.

Nian Yuyan revealed a look of gratitude, "Many thanks, Your Highness, but by doing this, is Your Highness not afraid of offending the Emperor?"

"You need not worry about this. If you can truly, as stated in the letter, provide this Prince with important intelligence via Tianxiang Lou, it will be worth it." Zhao Xu sized up Nian Yuyan again.

Although he had saved Nian Yuyan.

For the time being, he would continue to keep some distance from Nian Yuyan, just as he did with Xu E.

Not until he figured out the ins and outs of Tianxiang Lou.

Would he consider how to get along with them.

For now, just letting them stay in Yancheng would suffice.

"There is a reason why Your Highness can gain a foothold in Yanzhou after all." Nian Yuyan did not see a single ripple of emotion in the Yan Wang's eyes.

It was as if, to the Yan Wang, she, a Beauty, did not exist at all.

Now, she finally understood why Xu E always had a look of resentment when speaking of the Yan Wang.

Encountering such an iron-willed man, it truly left the women of the world helpless.

However, perhaps it was precisely for this reason that the Yan Wang was able to rise in these chaotic times.

Otherwise, if he were to indulge in female beauty like the current Emperor, how could he gain a foothold in the dangerous Yanzhou?

Thinking of this, she continued, "Since Your Highness saved my life, I will certainly fulfill my promise."

Zhao Xu nodded, no longer mentioning this matter, but instead said, "Do you need this Prince to arrange a residence for you?"

Nian Yuyan shook her head, "No need, Xu E has already bought a secluded courtyard in Yancheng."

After performing a salute, she added, "Thank you again, Your Highness, for the grace of saving my life. I shall not disturb Your Highness any further now; if there is an important matter, I will come to visit Your Highness again."

To her, her relationship with the Yan Wang was very awkward right now.

Since the identity of Changle Junzhu had been discarded, she could no longer address the Yan Wang as a brother.

In the identity of Nian Yuyan, she had once had a marriage contract with the Yan Wang; thinking of it was truly embarrassing.

Added to that was the connection to Tianxiang Lou, and she feared the Yan Wang still held a shred of wariness toward her.

Thus, the longer she stayed, the more constrained she felt; it was better to leave.

"Very well, this Prince will not keep Miss Nian," Zhao Xu said.

He could see that Nian Yuyan was somewhat unnatural.

After performing another salute, Nian Yuyan departed.

At this time, Xu E and Xiao Huan had already heard the news and rushed over.

Boarding the carriage, the three of them left.

"Yancheng is truly becoming more and more lively," Feng'er suddenly said, "One who once had a marriage contract with Your Highness, and one whom the Princess Consort has already taken a fancy to; and every one of them is a Beauty. Luan'er and this servant are put to shame by comparison."

Having said this, she pouted, looking quite sour.

Zhao Xu rolled his eyes at her and ignored her.

For him right now, it was not the time for romantic entanglements.

Yanzhou was still facing layers of crises.

Furthermore, Yang Susu had come following Yang Feng, and Changle Junzhu was here because of a marriage alliance.

Both were victims of the Great Song's power struggles.

He was merely providing them shelter amidst the struggle.

To spare them from meaningless sacrifice.

It was not intentional.

Seeing that Zhao Xu ignored her, Feng'er gave a giggle and came over to tease him.

Just at this moment, the gatekeeper reported that Wang Chong had arrived, and Feng'er returned to a serious expression.

Before long, Wang Chong walked over with long, swift strides.

After performing a salute, he said, "Your Highness, the multiple sets of crankshafts you ordered the subordinates to develop are finished, and they are currently being used in the Armory Bureau."

Zhao Xu was overjoyed upon hearing this, immediately casting the matter of Nian Yuyan to the back of his mind, and pulling Wang Chong along as he headed toward the Armory Bureau.

Seeing this, Feng'er shook her head, looking as if he were rotten wood that could not be carved.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Xu and Wang Chong arrived at the Armory Bureau.

Wang Ying was already waiting at the entrance, his face full of excitement.

Once Zhao Xu arrived, the three of them went straight to the Workshop for rifling.

The Steam Engine was roaring simultaneously, but now, a long crankshaft almost spanned the east-west direction of the Workshop.

At least thirty broaches were connected to the long crankshaft.

Under the reciprocating motion of the connecting rod, the crankshaft also drives the broach to perform linear reciprocating motion.

It really has the feel of a large machine factory.

"Your Highness, the power of this Steam Engine is not great enough; otherwise, it could drive even more broaches," Wang Chong chuckled.

After taking the technical drawings back from the Prince's Mansion, he set about expanding the utility of the Steam Engine.

This multi-crankshaft assembly is just the simplest among them.

Next, he will also have the Steam Engine drive multiple drilling machines, multiple forging hammers, and so on.

However, besides driving multiple machines, the power output of the Steam Engine also greatly affects production.

Zhao Xu nodded.

The Steam Engines that Wang Chong provided to the Armory Department all belong to the small Steam Engine category, with very low power.

But this is the necessary path for the development of the Steam Engine; only by perfecting small Steam Engines can one build large Steam Engines in the future.

For example, a Steam Engine locomotive that pulls an entire train.

So he said, "Take it slow. The most important thing now is to use these small Steam Engines as a foundation to renovate the Armory Department and the entire Workshop, replacing past human, water, and animal power with steam power; in this way, production efficiency will rise."

Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Most importantly, we can research and build more types of lathes to process more precise parts, promoting the manufacturing of machinery, including the Steam Engines themselves."

Coming from the modern era, he knew deeply that the lathe is the mother of machines.

Previously, due to a lack of power, many lathes could not be put into use.

But it is different now; with the Steam Engine, he can build many of the old-fashioned lathes that appeared in the modern era.

As various types of lathes are put into production, machinery will sprout continuously like green grass in spring.

Wang Chong and Wang Ying were stunned; they had long understood the concept of the lathe.

Drilling machines, boring machines, and even broaches all belong to the category of lathes.

They had already witnessed the power of these lathes.

With more lathes appearing, Yanzhou will truly take off.

After all, the Steam Engine will make these lathes even more powerful.

"Your Highness, please do not fear tiring your subordinate; just hand the drawings to me," Wang Chong said with an excited expression.

He now wished he could spend all day and night researching and building these things with the students.

"Hahaha..." Zhao Xu and Wang Ying laughed at the same time.

Zhao Xu said, "Rest assured, you will have plenty to keep you busy in the future."

He then said, "Provide a few more Steam Engines to the Armory Department as soon as possible; my Rifled Muskets are counting on you and your son."

According to what Wang Ying said, one broach can rifle twenty-four gun barrels in a day and night.

Thirty machines would mean seven hundred and twenty in a day.

That would be twenty-one thousand six hundred in a month.

With such terrifying efficiency, only three Steam Engines would be needed to satisfy the production of Rifled Muskets.

In three or four months' time, he would be able to equip his army with Rifled Muskets in batches.