Chương 753: Assigning Tasks

When loaded onto a ship, it becomes a diesel-powered vessel, eliminating the need to carry a large amount of coal and allowing it to travel farther and faster.

When installed in the fields, it functions as a water pump or tractor, saving half the manpower in farming.

It's incredibly flexible; you can use it anywhere.

"Finally, adding the chemical industry would be like adding wings to a tiger."

Fertilizer is available, increasing grain yield per acre; explosives are available, useful for mining and warfare; plastics are available, lightweight and strong, replacing copper and iron in many applications.

They can even make their own dyes for fabric, so they don't have to rely on others anymore and can dye whatever color they want.

He walked back to his desk and sat down, his tone resolute:

"To put it bluntly, once this round is over, our Han Dynasty's industry will go from 'being able to manufacture things' to 'being able to manufacture whatever we want, and manufacturing whatever we want to be ten times better than others.'"

The army's guns are more powerful, can travel farther, and can transmit messages faster; people's lives are more convenient, with more food and electricity and telephones in their homes.

The entire country underwent a complete transformation.

The hall was quiet for a few seconds, then a low murmur of discussion arose.

That's amazing.

The steam age was amazing enough, but the electrical age sounds like something out of a fairy tale.

But what His Majesty said has always come true.

From steam engines to trains, from flintlock muskets to steelmaking, His Majesty's word is law; he has never made a mistake.

So even though everyone couldn't understand it, they all believed it.

"I know some people are thinking: 'Since Your Majesty understands all this, why not just build cars, light bulbs, and ironclad warships directly? Why go through all this trouble with phased development?'"

Liu Ce chuckled, waved his hand, but his tone was very serious, not at all joking:

"I'm making this clear today: you can skip detours in technical skills, but you can't skip steps in the fundamentals."

I have shown you the way, so you know which road is the right one and can go straight to the destination without blindly groping and taking detours; But the foundation that needs to be laid, the machine tools that need to be ground, and the good steel that needs to be refined—not a single ounce can be missing.

Without precision machine tools, the internal combustion engine you build will break down in three days, it's as fragile as paper; Without special steel, the cannons you build will explode as soon as they're fired, killing your own people.

Without basic chemical engineering, you can't even make the outer sheath of electrical wires, let alone talk about electricity.

"If the foundation is not solid, the ground will shake. I hereby declare this, and no one is allowed to cut corners."

These words were resounding and the hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone abandoned their initial skepticism, realizing that this was no joke and a real, demanding project.

Liu Ce held up one finger, his expression serious:

"There are six stages in total, and we must proceed in order. No one is allowed to skip any stages. We must take it one step at a time and make sure we are on the right track before moving forward."

"I'll be with you, and we'll take it one step at a time and get this done."

Phase 1: First, build a scientific foundation, relying on principles rather than skills.

"In the first three years, don't rush to build anything big; do a few foundational things first."

Liu Ce looked at Song Yingxing and the officials from the Academy of Sciences:

"The Royal Academy of Sciences must compile all the booklets on electromagnetic induction, thermodynamics, and the periodic law that I gave you into proper teaching materials, and they can no longer be just scattered notes."

The Institute of Electromagnetic Induction, the Institute of Thermodynamics, the Institute of Chemistry, and the Institute of Physics should all be established, with sufficient staffing. If funding is insufficient, approval can be obtained from the Ministry of Revenue. Don't be stingy with money.

Stop telling me, "That's how old craftsmen do it." From now on, we'll talk about principles, formulas, and data.

Craftsmen's experience is invaluable, but relying solely on experience means you'll always be following in others' footsteps, and it's easy for that knowledge to be lost.

Only with a theoretical framework can it be passed down from generation to generation, and only then can one figure out new things independently.

Song Yingxing quickly stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I obey! I will immediately take charge of the compilation upon my return, and a complete set of teaching materials will be published within six months!"

He had wanted to do this for a long time. In the past, everything relied on masters teaching apprentices, and many masters would keep secrets from each other, which would eventually be lost. With books and teaching materials, he no longer had to worry about these skills being lost.

"Furthermore, universities in various provinces should expand their enrollment in science and engineering colleges," Liu Ce continued.

"They will select bright students who are willing to study physics and train them in three levels: Those at the bottom become technicians, working in factories; those at the middle become engineers, doing design and production; and the top go to academies to conduct research.

In the future, our factories cannot rely solely on recruiting skilled craftsmen from the general public; we must have our own talent training system.

"Only with new talent every year can technology advance year after year."

An old censor hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, if all scholars go to study the study of things, who will take the imperial examinations and govern the local areas?"

The learning of sages must not be neglected.

Liu Ce laughed: "Who says that investigating things isn't a form of learning? We should learn the teachings of the sages, and we should also learn the study of investigating things."

In the future, the imperial examinations will also include the subject of physics. Those who excel in engineering can also become officials and bring honor to their ancestors.

Isn't Song Aiqing the Minister of Works, a high-ranking official of the imperial court?

There are 360 professions, and every profession can produce an expert. Don't always cling to old ideas.

The old censor nodded and went back.

Indeed, Song Yingxing rose to the position of Minister based on his skills and knowledge, which was no less than that of those who came from the imperial examination system.

"Furthermore, the patent system will continue to be improved," Liu Ce added.

"Whoever develops something genuine or a new technology will be richly rewarded, granted an official position, and given patent fees, so that scholars and craftsmen will have something to strive for."

Don't let others steal the fruits of their hard work and feel disheartened.

The more inventions and creations we make in the future, the faster we will develop.

The first stage involves building the framework, establishing the system, and cultivating talent.

It may seem slow, but it's actually the most crucial part.

Only when the foundation is solid can a tall building be constructed.

"Now that the basic sciences are in place, in the next five to eight years, we'll focus on improving our internal capabilities and upgrading our steel, machine tool, and mining industries."

Liu Ce said in a serious tone, "The crude steel and ordinary lathes of the First Industrial Revolution couldn't support the electrical age."

Just like building a house, you can't build a skyscraper on the foundation of a thatched hut.

He walked over to Li Ji, the Vice Minister of War, patted his arm, and said with a smile:

"Minister Li, you complained to me the other day that the newly made rifled cannons deformed after firing only a hundred or so rounds, and their lifespan was too short. Do you know why?"

Li Ji blushed slightly, a little embarrassed: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty was just mentioning it, I'm sorry to have troubled the Ministry of Works."

"No trouble at all, that's a good suggestion." Liu Ce nodded.

"Why? Because the steel won't do."

In the past, our steel was fine for making hoes, iron pots, and ordinary gun barrels, but we were far from being able to make guns, cannons, and precision machinery.

Like whole grains, they're fine for working and eating, but they can't handle fine work.

Next, we will improve both production volume and quality.

Special steels such as rail steel, tool steel, gun steel, and spring steel must be mass-produced, and any type of steel needed must be available.

"From now on, if your cannons, Li Ji, ever explode or break down easily, don't come to me; go settle accounts with the officials at the Ironworks Bureau."

Li Ji grinned and shouted, "Your Majesty, I obey! With this fine steel, I guarantee the cannons' power will triple!"

"Besides steelmaking, there are also precision machine tools." Liu Ce then looked at Song Yingxing, "Lathes, milling machines, grinding machines, drilling machines, all are being manufactured with high precision, capable of processing parts down to the micrometer level."

Bearings, gears, spark plugs—these small parts may seem insignificant, but if they aren't manufactured properly, internal combustion engines and generators will be nothing but scrap metal, breaking down after just a few days.

Machine tools are the mother of industry; this is no exaggeration. Without high precision in machine tools, everything else is in vain.

The Ministry of Works must put in tremendous effort, invest heavily in resources, and manpower to get this done.