At this time, in the cold winter season, the river breeze is whistling, the trees on both sides of the Wei River have long since withered and withered, the river beach and the river embankment are also overgrown with barren grass, the black soil of the large crop fields is exposed, the winter wheat planted has begun to sprout, revealing a light green, some cattle, sheep and horses are gnawing on the dry grass on the river beach, and there are farmers in ragged clothes wrapped in leather felt and winter clothes working in the fields.

"Engong, what kind of place are you looking for?" After a group of people followed Chen Xu down the Wei River for seven or eight miles, Chen Xu looked all the way east and west, and sometimes stopped to stare at the river for a long time, making Yu Wuya a little unable to hold back.

"I'm looking for a place where dams and canals can be built to drive waterwheels?"

"Why did you build a water wheel? Do you have to farm? "The waterwheel Yu Wuya has been seen in Qinghe Town, it is designed by Chen Xu, erected on the side of the Xiaoqing River to carry water to irrigate the crops, you can lift the water from the river with your feet, it is very novel, and now it has become a famous building and scenic spot in Qinghe Town.

"This waterwheel is different, it can be called a water turbine, not to lift water, but to use water to drive the waterwheel to rotate, in the future, steelmaking and ironmaking to build ordnance can save time and effort, if it is repaired, the waterwheel rotates, and a knife blank or sword embryo can be created in an instant."

"Engong, you are talking big again, I see that it takes a day for Ma Zhu and two apprentices to build a sword blank, plus quenching and opening the blade to make the hilt scabbard, it takes three days to make a complete steel sword, no matter how powerful your waterwheel is, you can't create a sword blank with a bang, this is not scientific!" Yu Wuya has now also learned the unscientific Chen Xu's oral language.

"Who said it's unscientific, it's scientific if it succeeds, if it's not successful, it's not scientific, if it's not scientific, I'll set up an academy of sciences to do something, the ultimate goal of this discipline is large-scale assembly line operation, one day and one night to be able to continuously produce hundreds of sword blanks of the same size......"

"Impossible, Engong, you won't succeed!" Yu Wuya shook his head.

"When did you see that I didn't succeed, although the amount of work is very large and the production is very difficult, but in fact, the principle is extremely simple, do you dare to eat stone grinding and bet with me?"

"Well, forget it, when Engong says this, I also think you will succeed!" Yu Wuya hurriedly shook his head like a rattle.

"Brother Yu, don't bet, Lidian...... No, it is Hou Ye who will definitely succeed! As a die-hard fan of Chen Xu, the hemp pole behind him was the first to support Chen Xu.

"Yes, Master Hou is unsuccessful, I will eat stone grinding!" A public win is more dog-legged than a hemp pole.

And the entourage of a group of Academy of Sciences behind Chen Xu all had different expressions, but they didn't dare to interject.

"Master Hou, is this waterwheel you said really so convenient?" Zhao Qing was familiar with Chen Xu, and couldn't help but ask after walking another mile.

"As long as the water power is abundant, it will be extremely fast after the production is successful, but first of all, we must find a skilled craftsman who is proficient in water conservancy, and this matter must be troubled by Lord Zhao to help find it!"

"There are fewer people who are proficient in water conservancy, the Central Plains and the North, and there should be more in the South, so my subordinates will arrange for people to go to the South to inquire!" Zhao Qing nodded in agreement.

"Well, I heard that Li Bing, the county guard of Shuzhong, was proficient in water conservancy, and built Dujiangyan on the Minjiang River to quell floods and irrigate grain fields, making Shuzhong a rich land, and you can send someone to Shu County to visit the descendants of the Li family!" Chen Xu said.

"Hou Ye reminded that Li Bing is a master of water control, and it is said that he got the experience of Emperor Yu in his dream, and the younger generations must also have those who are proficient in this way, and his subordinates will immediately pass on Shu County to visit after they go back!"

"There is no hurry at this time, now it is the cold winter season, it may not be easy for Shu County to come and go, and it is not too late to find it after the beginning of spring!"

"Master Hou don't worry, you can enter and exit from the river in and out of Shudi, now the cold winter is when the water is gentle, just passable, if it is spring and summer, it is difficult to pass!" Zhao Qing said with a smile.

"Okay, then you can do this as soon as possible, but you must first prepare all the coal, iron ore, pig iron, graphite and other materials, and the craftsmen and helpers should also be called together as soon as possible, the waterwheel is not of great use for the time being, but the ironmaking workshop must be built first."

"Hou Ye rest assured, this matter has been arranged for someone to prepare, coal and iron will be produced in the two counties of Shangdang Hedong, and it will be transported in half a month at most, and the craftsmen and slaves have already gone to Nanyang County to collect, and they will not miss Hou Ye's big event!"

"Good!"

While walking, a group of people finally came to a river beach about ten miles away from Xianyang City and stopped, at this time the river wind was blowing wildly, and the people who followed were all flying with frozen snot one by one.

The river in front of you is divided into two, and there is a huge sandbar in the center of the river, about two miles long and about one mile wide, and the sandbar is full of trees and thorns, countless wild birds hovering and frolicking in the air, and you can also see some small fishing boats docked on the sandbar.

Chen Xu looked at the two bifurcated rivers, the one near was about thirty meters wide, the river was narrow and the water was turbulent, and the opposite one was more than a hundred meters wide, relatively gentle.

Although Chen Xu did not know how to build a dam, he also knew that in order to get sufficient water power, there must be enough water and the necessary drop, so that this place seems to be almost suitable, and it is not too far from Xianyang, it is convenient to come and go, and the terrain on the river bank is relatively flat and open.

"I'll choose this place for now!" Chen Xu pointed to the large farmland and forests around him with a horsewhip, "First collect 1,000 acres of land here by the river, the destroyed farmland will be compensated for the seedling fee, and the farmers who have lost their land will be compensated with one stone of grain per mu according to the number of farmland. Chen Xu said to Zhao Qing.

"Yes, Master Hou!" Zhao Qing hurriedly surrendered his hand.

"Let's go, go back, it's so cold!" Chen Xu's nose was red from the cold, and he turned on his horse and returned to Xianyang City with a group of people.

Coming slowly, going back quickly, returning to the house, Chen Xu hugged the stove and roasted for a long time before recovering, and then took out pen, ink, paper, and inkstone and began to plan the drawings of this ironworks.

Early the next morning, there were officials of the Academy of Sciences with soldiers with drawings to the place selected by Chen Xu yesterday to start land acquisition, and at the same time requisitioned 2,000 prisoners from the Inner History Mansion to cut wood, quarry, excavate soil and burn bricks, the huge movement immediately aroused the curiosity of the people of Xianyang, many people rode horses and even walked to see the excitement despite the cold.

By the time the construction of the steel mill began, the craftsmen and the transporters of the coal and iron ore had already set out, and no one dared to slack off in the slightest under the edict of the First Emperor's court demanding all cooperation.

Seven or eight days passed in a flash, everything in the Great Qin Academy of Sciences was going smoothly, and the news from everywhere also made him very happy.

The land acquisition has been completed, and the fence, factory, residential area, work area, canteen, smelting area, foundry area, roads, and green trees are all taking shape at a rapid pace according to his plan.

And Chen Xu has been watching the construction progress every day these days, and at the same time thinking about the design and production of the waterwheel.

It's really easy to think about, but it's really a huge scale and perfect use, and it's completely an anti-heaven project for today's Great Qin.

It seems that Hu Kuan, this guy, is proficient in wood and stone architecture, and it is too wasteful to be a steward in Wancheng, and it may be used to design a waterwheel when the time comes, so Chen Xu wrote a letter to Hu Kuan and asked him to send it to Wancheng as soon as possible.

……

Halfway through October, the weather is getting colder and colder, and a light snow fell yesterday, Chen Xu feels that he can freeze into a popsicle when he goes out to pee.

Nima, Xianyang is so cold, for Mao Daqin to set the imperial capital in such a ghost place where he dies of cold in winter and hot in summer.

At the end of the day, Chen Xu had just returned from the office of the Great Qin Academy of Sciences in a thick coat, and before he could take off his coat and put his slippers on the kang, the steward Huangfu ran in to report: "Master Hou, there are people outside the mansion who ask to see!" ”

"Who?" Chen Xu had no choice but to put on his shoes again, wondering if someone had recommended himself to be a guest.

"A young man, who claims to be a craftsman and a young man, Ling Mengyun!"

Meng Yun, what is he doing here? Is it to pay back?

Chen Xu was stunned for a moment, waved his hand and said, "Please let him in!" ”

"Yes, Master Hou!" Huangfu left without a while, and after a while, he brought in a young man, and sure enough, it was Meng Yun. He is tall and tall, his hair is neatly combed, he is wearing a delicate fur robe, a snow-white mink scarf around his neck, and a palm-sized piece of snow-white and warm jade is tied around his waist.

Looking at Meng Yun, Chen Xu was slightly distracted.

Nima, a man who looks like this, and makes no other woman live.

This is no longer as simple as a mother, just by virtue of this appearance, if you wear a set of skirts and stuff two big white steamed buns on your chest, it is estimated that you can charm countless men when you go out, and this figure is ...... For a lot of rude men, gender may not matter anymore.

Uh, has Lao Tzu been short of women for too long recently?

Chen Xu shook his head to drive away the strange thoughts in his heart, greeted him at the door and said with a smile: "It turned out to be Meng Gongzi, rude and rude!" ”

"Meng Yun meets the Marquis of Qinghe!" When Meng Yun saw Chen Xu this time, his eyes were a little evasive, and he no longer had the arrogant and domineering appearance of last time, and he looked very respectful.

"Meng Gongzi doesn't need to be polite, please sit down and serve tea!" Chen Xu led Meng Yun to sit down on the warm kang, and soon a servant served the fragrant hot tea.

Meng Yun seemed very embarrassed, and drank tea without making a sound.

"Meng Gongzi is here to repay the money today?" Chen Xu couldn't help but ask after taking a few sips of tea with him.

Meng Yun shook his hand and almost spilled the tea, and hesitated for a long time before he whispered: "This time Meng Yun is here to make amends to the Marquis of Qinghe!" ”

, Chen Xu's hand holding the tea couldn't help but tremble, I don't know how to describe this voice, I want to get pregnant after hearing too much, so I can only pretend to be puzzled and ask: "Meng Gongzi said that he was laughing, what is the crime?" ”