Next, there was Liu Yuan from Shenyang Yituo.
Four trains were already in the warehouse, ready for immediate use. Each train, excluding the locomotive, consisted of eight carriages, capable of carrying 1000 people or 400,000 jin of goods.
In addition to this, the craftsmen at Yituo had combined lead-acid batteries and motors to create electric vehicles.
"Your Highness, we have manufactured five two-wheeled electric vehicles and five four-wheeled electric vehicles. I have brought them with me; they are parked outside the manor."
Liu Yuan spoke with pride.
In terms of innovation, Yituo was the first to achieve results.
"Your Highness, what they have done is merely a new application for existing objects; it cannot be considered innovation," Zhou Zhi said, disagreeing somewhat and standing up to object.
"Your Highness, the bird-head pickaxe project from last time has also produced samples. They are extremely effective for mining and road construction."
"I have also brought a few samples with me, which are parked outside the manor."
Innovation was the primary work attitude Fang Er demanded, and all the craftsmen in the workshops understood this. Therefore, they were all striving to compete, afraid of being beaten to good results by others.
Shen Fei was working on a new engine but had not yet produced any results.
Tan Zong presented a thick stack of documents to Fang Er: "Your Highness, these are the alloy formulas I have developed. We now have nearly four thousand different proposals."
"The properties of various alloys are marked on them, and you can choose according to your needs."
Some say there are no ugly women in the world, only lazy ones.
The same applies to alloys; there are no unusable ones. They can be as soft as mud or as hard as diamonds; they all have their uses.
While a suitable use might not exist at the moment, keeping them could prove crucial someday.
Ma Tao from the cement workshop had developed a new type of material that could use plant-based raw materials like rice husks and act as concrete without firing.
Furthermore, compared to concrete, it reduced construction time, was lighter, and offered comparable fire and water resistance when building houses.
"Hahahaha, excellent! Excellent! Excellent!"
After years of cultivation, these craftsmen, who had only been able to make simple objects, could now lead independently and drive innovation. This truly made Fang Er very proud.
He raised his cup once more and stood up.
"All the workshops have done very well!"
"For anyone who achieves innovation, whether a low-level apprentice or a foreman!"
"As I said before, I will not be stingy with rewards as long as results are shown!"
"The research institute can be put into use after the New Year. All craftsmen participating in innovation will be transferred to the institute."
"In addition, each person will be rewarded with five hundred taels of silver!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!" All the foremen stood up together and returned Fang Er's salute.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
After the banquet, Fang Er accompanied everyone to the manor gate, where more than a dozen new vehicles were parked.
The five four-wheeled electric vehicles were modeled after the Jihu electric car, although their specifications were quite different.
With lead-acid batteries and aluminum alloy bodies, their range was less than 150 li, and a full charge took an entire day and night.
However, the electric two-wheelers were impressive. Due to their smaller size and the removal of the batteries, which accounted for 70% of the weight, the frame weight was less than 40 jin. Their overall range reached 90 li, and charging took only eight hours.
Fang Er casually glanced at these vehicles, offered some words of praise, and then turned his attention to the other vehicles.
These were modified tractors.
A normal four-wheeled tractor has the engine in the front, the driver sitting behind, small front wheels, large rear wheels, and a transmission device at the rear that could accommodate different machinery.
The ones before him, however, had their seats rotated 180 degrees, and the gear lever and steering wheel had also been adjusted accordingly.
Zhou Zhi explained: "Your Highness, the new pickaxes are powered by tractors."
"A large amount of lubricating oil is injected between these two cylindrical sleeves to reduce the recoil and noise during operation."
"Previously, our tractor's transmission system was at the rear. With this addition, it is inconvenient because we cannot see the impact point during operation."
"Therefore, after joint research with Yituo, a new plan was developed."
"Now, after modification, the tractor can operate normally without compromising the visibility of the work."
Fang Er was stunned. He felt like he had seen this before!
Wait a minute, hydraulic breakers?
Had these fellows figured out the hydraulic system?
He exclaimed with great joy, "Let's go! Find a place to test them!"
The new electric vehicles came in handy. Everyone found one and followed the breaker vehicles towards the iron mine ten li away.
The iron mine, after years of extraction, had a significant gap.
As the breaker vehicle approached the foot of the mine, Zhou Zhi skillfully aimed the pickaxe at a large boulder and pulled a control lever under his seat.
"Dong dong dong dong~~"
The pickaxe instantly began to move up and down, striking the stone repeatedly.
The sound was crisp, but much quieter than everyone had imagined.
As the pickaxe struck, cracks quickly appeared on the stone, and small pieces of rock began to break off.
"Your Highness, is it satisfactory?"
After completing the demonstration, Zhou Zhi jumped down from the tractor, looking expectantly at Fang Er.
Fang Er stepped forward, inspected the pickaxe, and before answering, he turned to Hao Jianshe.
"What do you think?"
Hao Jianshe nodded repeatedly and said joyfully, "Your Highness, this thing is useful!"
"With this, whether for paving roads and bridges for us or for mining for Elder Tan and his colleagues, it will definitely be useful!"
Fang Er smiled, patted Zhou Zhi's shoulders a few times, and said with satisfaction.
"Did you hear that? They are the users!"
"It's only truly good when the users say it is good."
"From now on, this will be called the 'Da Li Hao' (Mighty Pickaxe). Let's produce one thousand units first. Tan and Jianshe will each get five hundred units."
Zhou Zhi was overjoyed and patted his chest enthusiastically, promising, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will complete the task with the fastest speed, ensuring quality and quantity!"
After inspecting the Da Li Hao, the work report concluded. Just as Fang Er was about to announce the dissolution, he suddenly remembered something and called Hao Jianshe back.
"Tomorrow, you will find Jiang Shi and designate an area in the eastern part of Shenyang city."
"Construct four cement runways, each 2000 meters long and 20 meters wide. The surface should be no less than 50 centimeters thick, and the foundation must be as solid as possible."
"Additionally, at one end of the runway, build an airfield covering five mu."
There were a stack of fixed-wing aircraft parked in the spatial dimension. Although they looked imposing, without a runway, they were just scrap metal.