Infrastructure Throne

The afternoon sun penetrated through the gaps in the layers of green leaves, and the gray-white road was full of light spots.

Yan Zui sat on the back seat of the bicycle, with both hands tightly around Shen Qingze's waist, looking back and forth curiously.

Under everyone's astonished gazes, Shen Qingze stepped on the pedal, and with a drunken face, he started to go for a ride on the cement road.

The warm spring breeze was blowing, and Shen Qingze's long hair scratched Yan Zui's face, itching, he leaned his head on the other's shoulder, and the trees and flowers on both sides of the road were left behind in a blink of an eye. It's a bit similar, but not quite the same.

Smoother and more intimate.

It seems that this road will never end.

"Why do you always have so many weird ideas?" Yan Zui's voice came from behind against the wind.

Shen Qingze said slowly: "I'm just relaying the wisdom of my ancestors."

Yan Zui didn't speak, but the arm around the other's waist was tightened a bit.

Shen Qingze led him around, then turned back.

The bicycle that swayed left and right and looked very unstable, with the weight of two people, was riding extremely smoothly, and the speed was beyond everyone's expectations.

Although it is not as fast as a horse, it is much faster than walking. It is safe, labor-saving, and can stop and go.

Among the officials onlookers, Luo Xin quickly made a calculation in his mind. A bicycle, well maintained, can even be used for seven or eight years, and it does not need to be fed grass like raising a horse. The cost is spread, which is much more cost-effective than riding a horse.

If a new bicycle factory is built and bicycles are popularized, it will make a lot of money!

Thinking of the hot scene in the whole city, where everyone has a bicycle and the roads are full of traffic, Luo Xin blushes with excitement.

With this kind of means of transportation, coupled with the smooth and straight concrete road, the originally long distance between Yuanliu City and Nanji City was instantly shortened.

The time to travel between the two cities was shortened from the original several days of walking to one afternoon.

This means that it is no longer difficult for civilians living in Nanji City to come to Yuanliu City to find a job.

Even if Nanji City does not open workshops for the time being, relying on the large number of jobs provided by Yuanliu City, the plight of those idle laborers in Nanji City who have no source of income can be greatly alleviated.

Next is logistics.With the cement road as the main road and the improvement of the application of rubber wheels, the time spent on the road for caravans traveling between the two cities will be greatly shortened, and the cargo volume will also increase accordingly.

After the transportation cost is reduced, the low price of the original products in Yuanliu City will gradually cover Nanji City.

The people of Nanji City, on the one hand, have more sources of income, on the other hand, the prices of daily necessities are cheaper, and their living standards will naturally gradually improve.

This process is gradual and there will be no immediate results, but the accumulation of bits and pieces will eventually lead to qualitative changes.

The two came back from a circle, Shen Qingze tightened the brakes, and got out of the car together with Yan Zui.

Before Losing was the first to describe the great prospects of the bicycle factory, a group of people had rushed to gather around and praised this great invention.

Yan Zui cleared his throat: "Tell me, if we equip the guards with one, our Yuanliu City's army will attack Beiji City, wouldn't it be a matter of time? Kill him by surprise!"

Teng Changqing slapped his thigh and nodded excitedly. Xiao Meng obviously had the same idea. He was concentrating on observing the structure of the bicycle, eager to try and ride this "iron horse".

"The Allied Forces of the Three Cities, now only Beiji City has not been punished, and it is time for us to take the initiative to retaliate."

Yan Zui supported the handlebar of the car, gently stroked the cold iron beam with his right hand, and looked at Shen Qingze with burning eyes: "If you want Beiji City, I will send troops to fight it down for you."

Shen Qingze was stunned for a moment, and for no reason appeared in his mind those foolish kings in history who made smiles for beauties, and he couldn't help laughing.

Seeing his strange expression, Yan Zui asked, "What?"

Shen Qingze shook his head regretfully: "This bicycle is completely handcrafted by craftsmen. From the drawing to the actual product, it has been continuously improved, and now it can barely be put into practical use. Just the axle and the iron chain are not simple. thing."

"The efficiency of manual manufacturing is too low, and it is still far away from mass production."

At least wait for the production of higher-precision milling machines and lathes. These two things are the basis of the standardized production basis of mechanical manufacturing. All the grinding, drilling, boring and other processing of rotating workpieces cannot do without them.

At present, the factories in Yuanliu City's industrial area all use old-fashioned bicycle lathes, which have limited precision and slow processing efficiency. Only experienced old craftsmen can produce usable parts.

Because of this, the Hutong gun cannot be assembled on a large scale until now.

Shen Qingze hoped to improve the matchlock gun into a rifled quick-fire gun plan, so the progress was also slow.

The machining lathe has touched Shen Qingze's blind spot of knowledge, he can't do anything about it, he can only hope that the system's conscience will find out and give him the drawings and parameters as soon as possible.

※※※

Lu's firm, which came all the way from Beiji City, came into Shen Qingze's field of vision at this moment.

The city lord's mansion, the meeting hall.

Yan Zui went to the school grounds to inspect the fire commander and artillery drills, and only Fan Mizhou, Luo Xin and others were left in the conference hall.

When Lu Sanshu and Lu Xin were led in by the attendants, they didn't expect that the legendary priest of Yuanliu City was sitting on the chair and received them personally.

Uncle Lu was so flattered that he didn't dare to glance around, and bowed respectfully to the other party, but the young master behind him, Lu Xin, looked at Shen Qingze without blinking, radiant, as excited as seeing an idol.

Shen Qingze never liked small talk, his eyes moved back and forth between the two, and finally fell on Lu Sanshu's face: "Your Excellency is the talker of the Lu family?"

"Yes, the old Patriarch is old, and I will take care of most of the affairs." Uncle Lu lowered his eyes and lowered his head.

Since the moment they chose to take refuge in Yuanliu City with their whole family, the Lu family had cut off the foundation of Beiji City. Now if they want to gain a foothold in Yuanliu City, they must be cautious and low-key.

As long as the officiant is true to the rumors and is fair and just to the businessman, the Lu family will surely make a comeback one day.

Shen Qingze seemed to have seen through his hidden worries, and said lightly: "Don't worry, Yuanliu City treats all those who sincerely contribute to it equally. Anyone who is willing to work and settle here, as long as he abides by the law, we welcome them all."

After getting an affirmative answer, Third Uncle Lu heaved a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that the other party would directly annex the Lu family's wealth by relying on absolute force.

He knew exactly what happened to the nobles in Nanji City.

Shen Qingze got straight to the point: "Mr. Lu's family has been rooted in Beiji City for generations, so he should know the situation there very well, right?"

Uncle Lu thought in his heart that he was going to attack Beiji City.

He thought carefully for a moment, and said: "Master, Beiji City is not like Nanji City. The loss in the beast tide is not that great. A group of nobles headed by the city lord have long been prepared to abandon the poor."

"They demanded food from the people in the city in advance, hoarded it in the warehouse, and then drove the poor, old, weak, sick and disabled out of the city. When the beast slaves attacked, they ate these poor people, and their stomachs were half full. "

"At this time, the nobles will throw some of the grain they plundered from the granary to the beast slaves, in exchange for a chance to breathe."

Uncle Lu said tactfully: "I don't know how the master priest forced Nanji city to surrender, but if you want to use the same method to subdue Beiji city, I'm afraid it will be very difficult."

Could it be that Yan Zui is really going to send troops to storm Beiji City?

That's a big waste.

Shen Qingze was noncommittal: "Go ahead."

Third Uncle Lu cleared his throat: "As far as I know, the upper echelon of Beiji City has been divided into two factions, one faction advocates peace, and hopes to negotiate with you and the city lord, and make compensation to Yuanliu City for the coalition attacking the city , even willing to cede part of the suburban territory.”

Shen Qingze silently raised one corner of his mouth, appeasement policy?

Uncle Lu observed his expression, and said cautiously: "The other faction is the diehard faction headed by the city lord. They want to maintain the status quo and have been recruiting troops to strengthen the city's defense."

"They think that Yuanliu City may not be able to deal with them after two consecutive wars."

Shen Qingze pouted secretly, this is true, every labor in Yuanliu City is precious, how can it be wasted on attacking the city?

Just when he was thinking about what method to use to deal with Beiji City, Third Uncle Lu suddenly raised his head and said solemnly: "My lord, the people of Beiji City are now on the verge of collapse."

"Whether it's the war faction or the peace faction, the price they pay will eventually be passed on to the civilians in the city. In order to unite the Mingzhu City with troops, the city's taxes have been increased, and the farmers outside the city are fleeing. "

Uncle Lu laughed at himself mockingly: "Why didn't our Lu family escape from disaster?"

"Master Officiant, I have been observing the life in Yuanliu City during this period of time. I thought that after two wars here, even if it is not like the tragedy of Beiji City, at least the people's livelihood is withered and the streets are depressed."

Uncle Lu sighed with emotion: "I didn't expect that this place is actually much more prosperous than when Beiji City was the busiest."

"If possible, I beg you, make sure to bring Beiji City under your rule, and save the people in the city who live in dire straits!"

Shen Qingze was speechless for a moment, he didn't expect that Uncle Lu, a big businessman, would be able to speak of attacking his hometown in a grand and righteous manner.

I don't know if he was sincere, or guessed his intentions, and deliberately offered a just reason.

Either way, this guy is a talent.

[System: The player triggered a side mission—a request from Uncle Lu. 】

Shen Qingze was taken aback.

【Uncle Lu told you about the miserable situation of the civilians in Beiji City, you can't help feeling sympathetic.In Beiji City, the upper-class nobles and the lower-class people are in serious conflict, and conflicts are on the verge of breaking out. You think this is a good opportunity to expand the territory.Uncle Lu asks you to send troops to bring Beiji City under your rule. 】

[Sub-task: Please occupy Beiji City with the least cost.Every time a soldier or civilian dies, the mission completion will be deducted. 】

Siege can't kill people, how can we fight?The terrain of Beiji City is high, not facing the water, and the ship guns are useless.

Shen Qingze kept a cold face, hehe, you are not numb to the system.