Chapter 964: Bicycle

"What about the construction of thermal power plants in other prefectures and counties?" Zhao Xu asked again.

An official from the Ministry of Works thought for a moment and said, "The craftsmen from various prefectures and counties who came to participate in the construction and training for the thermal power plants returned half a month ago. They have basically mastered the main technical difficulties and can independently carry out the construction of the buildings within the thermal power stations. According to the plan, the capitals of each prefecture will build thermal power plant structures simultaneously, followed by the industrially concentrated counties."

Zhao Xu understood.

Zou Rong did not come to see him yesterday; it was said that he had gone south to supervise the construction of the thermal power plant buildings.

Liu Fu had only mentioned the thermal power station in passing; after all, there had been no major progress yet, so he did not report on it as a priority.

"The thermal power plant is of great importance; there must be no errors in quality. Do not be careless," Zhao Xu exhorted, then spurred his horse and returned.

The current thermal power plant was still just an empty shell, with nothing much to see.

Leaving the thermal power plant, Zhao Xu went straight to the Research Institute.

Last time, Qu Sheng had transported the rubber back.

Thus, Great Song now had rubber products.

And with rubber products, some goods that could not be produced before could now be manufactured.

He arrived at the Research Institute.

Qu Sheng and Wang Chong immediately came out to welcome him, both of them wearing smiles on their faces, as if they had eaten honey.

"Why, are you so happy to see this Prince return?" Zhao Xu teased.

"We are naturally happy that Your Highness has returned, but what has made us even happier during this period is the rubber products," said Qu Sheng.

After saying this, he impatiently led Zhao Xu to a Chemical Laboratory.

"Your Highness, please look. Now, glass instruments can be connected with rubber tubing, making experiments much more convenient in the future," Qu Sheng said with an excited expression.

Chemical experiments, especially those involving gases, often require conduits as channels for the gas.

Before, when there was no rubber tubing, they could only manufacture special glass vessels with long gas-conducting tubes.

But now, they only needed to manufacture standard vessels and connect them using rubber tubing.

Even experiments that could not be conducted before could now be easily completed.

Wang Chong remarked with emotion, "Just as Your Highness said, this rubber really brings significant changes to industry. After Qu Sheng turned raw rubber into rubber products, the conveyor belts for the Steam Engine and the Electric Motor were all replaced with rubber belts, which are much easier to use than the difficult-to-shape cowhide belts."

After a pause, he added, "And now, the Electric Wire for the Generator has been replaced with insulated wire, which is much safer."

"Furthermore, after the news that rubber could be used to make shoe soles spread, merchants from shoe-making workshops flocked here, and the price of rubber has been driven up. The rubber plantations Your Highness captured during this trip south are truly equivalent to gold mines."

Having said this, Wang Chong laughed.

Zhao Xu felt happy inside; he had anticipated that the arrival of rubber would bring some changes to the industrial products of Great Song.

Now, the changes had already begun.

"That is true. This Prince never does business that loses money. But isn't it a bit wasteful to send rubber to make shoe soles now?" Zhao Xu glanced sideways at Wang Chong.

If this kid couldn't come up with something that satisfied him, he was going to criticize him.

Seeming to understand Zhao Xu's meaning, Wang Chong chuckled, "When have I ever let Your Highness down?"

He winked at a student beside him.

The student left, and before long, a crisp ringing sound was heard.

When the student returned, he was actually riding a Bicycle.

"Is this what Your Highness wanted?" Wang Chong said triumphantly.

After Qu Sheng transported the rubber back, he had immediately thought of a Bicycle.

A thing like a Bicycle could actually be manufactured even with the level of the Steam Industry.

The only problem was the tires.

Of course, one could ride on iron wheels without tires.

But compared to tires made of rubber, the experience of riding would be far inferior.

Thus, he had set the Bicycle aside.

This time, once he had rubber, he immediately had the parts workshop manufacture the gears, chains, frame, and so on, specifically to build a Bicycle.

If the Yan Wang gave his approval, they could immediately prepare a Bicycle workshop.

"Hmm, this is more like it," Zhao Xu revealed a satisfied smile.

At this moment, the student pushed the Bicycle in front of Zhao Xu and yielded the handlebars to him.

Wang Chong was about to ask if Zhao Xu knew how to ride.

He saw Zhao Xu perform a graceful back-leg swing, mount the Bicycle beautifully, push off with one foot, and dash out like the wind.

Wang Chong and Qu Sheng were both dumbfounded.

The two of them had fallen and bruised themselves several times just to learn how to ride the Bicycle.

Yet the Yan Wang was so familiar with it, riding even more skillfully than they did.

Zhao Xu did not notice their expressions, simply circling the courtyard on his own, feeling the performance of this Bicycle.

This Bicycle had a top tube, meaning there was a horizontal bar between the seat and the handlebars.

This bar made getting on the bike difficult.

But the reason for this design was not because Zhao Xu did not understand the convenience of the contemporary V-shaped structure.

It was because adding this bar allowed for carrying many things, whether it be people, grain, or other items.

In other words, the Bicycle of this period had to prioritize practicality.

This was also the reason why, in addition to the top tube, this Bicycle had a basket in the front and a long seat behind the main saddle.

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