The most arrogant in history

Chapter 436 International Trade.

"Twenty taels is more appropriate."

Ye Kun laughed.

If five hundred pocket watches were sold, wouldn't that be another ten thousand taels of gold?

This rare and practical gadget is the favorite of Yu Guinong and other members of the Jiangdong Group.

He Tiantian continued to report:

"Master Ye, we have also solved the steering problem of the four-wheeled carriage, that is the differential you mentioned. The prototype is perfect, and we are just waiting for mass production."

For so many years, He Tiantian has always called him Lord Ye and can't change it.

Ye Kun nodded and went to see the four-wheeled carriage samples brought by He Tiantian and others.

Ye Kun started the research on four-wheeled vehicles a long time ago, which can be traced back to the Hirano County era.

He Tiantian and others simply selected manufacturing materials, made parts, and conducted multiple tests based on Ye Kun's drawings.

The four-wheeled carriage designed and produced by the institute has excellent performance in terms of flexible steering and load-bearing capacity, which can be regarded as a major technological advancement.

Ye Kun affirmed the design of the four-wheeled carriage: "It's a very good product, and it can be mass-produced. Sell some to the rich first, and then slowly reduce the price and sell it to ordinary people."

Unfortunately, the research on external combustion engines has not been successful yet.

Due to material limitations, the external combustion engine can start and do work, but it cannot last long.

The best external combustion engine only ran for three days and then misfired.

We don’t know when we will be able to develop the internal combustion engine and put it into industrial use.

Pang Jia, Sun Yi and He Tiantian are now the general managers of the technical department.

They are responsible for all technological research and development.

Sun Yi was also almost broken by this internal combustion engine and said, "Brother, this internal combustion engine is so troublesome and expensive to manufacture, is it worth it?"

Ye Kun pointed to his pocket watch:

"Your team of over a hundred people has been working on this simple pocket watch for five or six years, right? During these five or six years, how much money did the watch team spend, how much food did they eat, and how much material did they waste? Do you think it was worth it?"

Pang Jia thought for a moment and said, "It's worth it. This thing has changed the way humans tell time and made it more convenient."

"Yes, this is an example. The same is true for the internal combustion engine. If we work hard on research, once we make a breakthrough, it will change the world."

"Got it, Senior Brother. Let's stop digging into this."

"I believe you will figure it out."

Ye Kun nodded and asked, "How many people are there in the internal combustion engine research team now?"

"About one hundred and twenty people."

"Recruit another 200 people and select skilled craftsmen. Then divide them into several groups with the original team. The group that develops the internal combustion engine first will be rewarded with 5,000 taels of gold!"

Ye Kun increased the reward amount and the investment in scientific research, and said: "When I have time in the future, I will personally invest in research. Even if I have to work until my beard turns white, I will develop the internal combustion engine!"

The invention of the internal combustion engine marked the beginning of the industrial age.

The hydraulic lathes developed in the past were only considered "handicrafts" and not real industries at all!

Ye Kun hopes to develop internal combustion engine-powered trains and ships during his lifetime.

Then you will be worthy of your profession.

During the New Year, Ye Kun did not hold any celebrations.

Apart from some major sacrificial activities that Ye Kun could not refuse, most of the time, Ye Kun stayed with the scientific research team, checking their results and working on problems together.

He Tiantian thought well and said:

"Master Ye, the industrial plan you mentioned is based on steel. So we need to keep improving iron and steel. Steel products need to be classified more carefully, and steel with various properties needs to be designed."

Ye Kun smiled bitterly: "I know some steels are very powerful, such as tungsten steel and some special steels, but it's a pity that they can't be made. But your suggestion is very good, and I have been urging steel research."

In fact, ironmaking technology has made great progress.

The lathes that were made in Hirano Prefecture before now look like garbage.

Steel springs were also made and are barely usable.

Steel bearings have also made great progress and I believe they will be put into large-scale use soon.

In terms of electricity, light bulbs and batteries have already been made.

The large battery generates weak electricity, which can light up small lamps and barely solve the lighting problem in underground coal mines.

But it doesn't mean much.

Because there are too many coal resources in the north and they cannot be used up.

Ye Kun has already ordered that the scale of coal mines in the south should no longer be expanded, and even transferred more than half of the coal talents and workers to the north to mine coal.

The former large coal mine in northern Guizhou now has only 3,000 people working there, digging coal to support iron smelting in the area around Chongqing.

The coal blocks in Huainan and Huaibei are also being developed to support the Jiangnan region.

After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Ye Kun convened a meeting to deal with state affairs.

The Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Finance reported that there was too much steel and that it could not be used or sold, and asked what to do.

After occupying the Central Plains, they seized too many swords, spears, and armor, as well as a huge amount of refined steel in Xiahou Chang's stockpile.

Now that we have thoroughly cleaned up and registered it, we realize how abundant steel is.

Ye Kun smiled and said:

"Since there are too many, let's sell them cheaply. Xiahou Chang's armor is all in pieces. Hammer them and beat them up, and make them into hoes, kitchen knives, and shovels, and sell them wholesale at a low price.

Broken swords and guns are no longer needed. They can be melted down and made into iron pots. Iron pots are still a rare commodity in the Central Plains. "

Wu Qiong nodded and said, "The Indian Kingdom has sent a fleet to the Qiantang Port to buy our iron pots and other ironware. Do you want to sell them?"

"Sell it. Sell it as long as there's money to be made. Sell everything except guns and cannons."

Ye Kun thought about it, and suddenly said, "Wait... I don't want money, I want things. Tianzhu country, what did you bring? Is there anything good?"

Ye Kun felt that it was not worthwhile to sell ironware to foreign countries in exchange for gold and silver.

Gold and silver cannot be eaten, nor can they be made into tools. So what can you do with a lot of them?

Wu Qiong presented the letter sent by carrier pigeon from Qiantang Port, which was clearly written.

The Indians brought a large amount of gold and silver, as well as soybeans, rice, sugar, and other treasures.

Ye Kun looked at it and smiled:

"We don't want treasures, gold or silver. Let them exchange food for ironware. I want rice, wheat, cereals, and sugar. We can sell everything except guns and gunpowder."

Wu Qiong said: "In this case, we can also organize a team and go to their place to do business."

"Maritime transportation is very risky." Ye Kun disagreed and said thoughtfully:

"For now, let the Indians come by themselves. They will bear the transportation risks themselves. Our caravan will have to wait a little longer, probably around next year."

Ye Kun had just recovered the Central Plains and was still short of food, so he started international trade.

In another half a year, agriculture in the Central Plains will be fully restored and there will be no shortage of food.

At that time, I had everything I needed, so it didn’t matter whether there was international trade or not.

Besides, the Jiaozhi Peninsula and the Tianzhu Peninsula are both pieces of meat on Ye Kun’s lips, and he will take them down sooner or later!

Just as they were about to move on to the next item of the agenda, Xiahou Chang sent another envoy.

Ye Kun summoned him and asked:

"Xiahou Chang is herding sheep and raising horses in Liaodong. Is he doing well? I heard it's very cold there. Do you want me to give him two winter coats?"