Chapter 65: Desire to End, Heart Broken, Ten Thousand Difficulties (Four)

  Zhou Wenbo originally knew about this machine, but unfortunately, he had forgotten its style and specific structure. However, thanks to the skill "False Innovation" rewarded when his intelligence value broke through 80 points, he was not only able to clearly remember the structure of this hydraulic machinery, but also drew it by hand.

  The spinning speed of this kind of water-powered machinery is about thirty times that of the hand spinning wheel, and its technical level is comparable to that of the spinning machines during the British Industrial Revolution in the 18th century.

  In this era, high-yielding cotton had not yet been introduced to the Central Plains region, and ordinary people at the bottom of society could only wear clothes made of hemp, flax and other materials. If such a water-powered spinning wheel were to appear hundreds of years earlier, Zhou Wenbo would be able to quickly manufacture full sets of hemp clothing that could cover their bodies for his soldiers, which would also be a kind of welfare.

  Zhao Tiejian and Wang Mujian looked at the design drawings for half a day, and when they didn't understand something, they asked Zhou Wenbo. After more than an hour, the two of them discussed it and finally agreed.

  "Master Wang, your design for this spinning wheel is truly ingenious! It can use water power to simultaneously rotate thirty-two spindles, not only saving labor but also producing a large amount of yarn. I discussed it with Zhao the blacksmith and if we bring our apprentices to work on it full-time, we should be able to make the first one in about three days!"

  "Alright, what do you need for the next few days? Let me know anytime. If you can make this spinning wheel within three days and put it into use smoothly, I will reward Wang Mujiang with 20 taels of silver, Zhao Tiejiang with 10 taels of silver! All apprentices who participate in the manufacturing process will also be rewarded!"

  Zhou Wenbo was originally worried that this Wang Mugong might not be able to complete this seemingly complex mechanical device, but after hearing Wang Mugong's confident guarantee, he realized that he had underestimated the working people of ancient times.

  Since Cui Hao took over all the civil administration work, old steward Zhou De was finally freed. He was also allowed by Zhou Wenbo to return to Luoyang City.

  "De Shu, this time back in Luojing City, I hope you can help collect more hemp and silk. Here, I will organize people to spin and weave, to make clothes, shoes and hats for the new soldiers. Also, please give my regards to mother and my two maidservants. In eighteen days, it will be my turn to enter the palace again, I will set out to return to the capital in half a month, let them not worry too much!"

  Zhou Wenbo still respected the old housekeeper who had dedicated his life to the Zhou family and had been diligent for many years, so he specially came to see him off when Zhou De returned to Beijing.

  "Young master, after the old master left, this vast Zhao Guo Gong Fu is relying on you to hold it up. I'm an old slave and being tired is nothing, but you must take care of your body, don't overwork yourself!"

  For several days, Zhou De had personally witnessed his family's usual gentle and pampered young master standing on the large drill ground for a whole day, and at night, he would still be studying the new recruits' enrollment data, as well as the civil affairs situation and financial statements handled by Cui Hao and Lan Zhi. At the same time, he had to make commands and decisions on both military and administrative matters at any moment. Such a day actually allowed for less than two or three hours of sleep, which made the old steward who didn't know that Zhou Wenbo was sleepless at night feel both admiring and worried.

  "I'll be careful, Uncle De, have a smooth journey!" Zhou Wenbo patted the old housekeeper's shoulder and said solemnly.

  On this day, with the latest recruits, Zhou Wenbo's new recruits finally exceeded one thousand people. The "Thousand-Man Army" task was only short of the last link, which was to use the Hu Fu symbol to cover a tiger head logo similar to a tattoo on each general and soldier, so as to obtain system recognition and complete the task.

  What was gratifying to Zhou Wenbo was that, in this week, due to the good leading role played by the soldiers recruited on the first day, all the new recruits were able to complete the basic training conducted by Zhou Wenbo seriously, and their progress was also beyond Zhou Wenbo's expectation.

  In fact, Zhou Wenbo also accidentally heard the conversation between two soldiers and learned the reason for his incredible speed in training.

  In Zhou Wenbo's previous life as a college student participating in military training, many people regarded this process as dull and uninteresting, and trained with an attitude of going through the motions, so progress was very slow.

  However, in the current Hu Tiger Army, Zhou Wenbo sets an example every day. It can be said that when new soldiers have time to rest, Zhou Wenbo does not have time to rest. Not only does he personally preside over training, but also eats with the soldiers every day. In addition, the dim light in the commander's tent at night is almost always on, and all new soldiers can feel that their commander works for nearly ten hours a day. The effect of this example is naturally extremely good, setting an example for many new soldiers.

  Moreover, due to Zhou Wenbo's past life, the idea of equality and kindness to others was deeply ingrained in his soul, allowing him to treat everyone with an equal attitude.

  Upper and lower effectiveness, including officers such as Duan Shichen and Liu Meng, also paid attention to their behavior, and did not cause contradictions and hatred between new and old soldiers. The entire Hu Fu Army was warm and harmonious like a big family, giving many new soldiers who were used to life and death a sense of belonging and identity.

  These were originally villagers who came to join the army because they could not make a living, but now they can eat hot and filling meals and live in warm barracks. This kindness is almost equivalent to being reborn through one's parents, and no one does not think about repaying the kindness of Zhao Guogong.

  In this way, with both kindness and severity, he set an example for himself, allowing Zhou Wenbo to grasp the hearts of these new soldiers in the shortest time possible, and originally in this era's military, it was easy to breed arrogant and domineering behavior.

  So in just one week, many new recruits were able to complete the training content taught by Zhou Wenbo, such as formation, marching in step, and standing at attention, with high standards. A thousand new recruits stood on the large drill ground, forming a neat and tidy square formation, yet so many people remained silent, maintaining this posture for half an hour without wavering.

  This seemingly simple training brought changes to these muddy legs, which made Li Mutang, who had seen countless strong armies in the world, feel extremely unexpected and shocked. At the same time, however, a sense of pride that came from personally participating in it also arose.

  On the third day after Zhou De returned to Luoyi, which was also the tenth day of Zhou Wenbo's training with new recruits, Zhao Tiejian and Wang Mujian came together to pay their respects to Lord Fang.

  Zhou Wenbo guessed that the two men had come together, and he knew that there must be some progress on the water-powered spinning machine project. He was originally discussing some recent matters with Cui Hao, and now it was just right to receive these two technical experts from the territory together.

  "Your Excellency, we two have successfully completed the first water-powered spinning machine. We hope Your Excellency can come to the riverside to inspect it!" Wang Mujiang and Zhao Tiejiang's faces, originally full of wrinkles, were now smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum. It was clear that they had accomplished something great, but it was unclear whether they were excited because they had personally completed this mechanical device that surpassed the times, or because of the generous reward.

  Zhou Wenbo and Cui Hao hastily followed the two of them to the banks of the Luo River.

  Jun Jiang Ji was originally built along the Luoshui River, which is over 10 meters wide in this era. The river water is clear and deep, with rapid currents, and abundant hydropower resources.

  When the waterwheel drawn on paper was actually built and worked, Zhou Wenbo could understand why the two craftsmen were so excited and joyful.

  This large waterwheel is nearly nine meters long, three meters high, and almost as big as three rooms. From a distance, it looks like an old yellow cow lying on the Luo River, with its huge wheel rapidly rotating under the impact of the rapid river water. Under the drive of two leather straps, thirty-two spindles are spinning at high speed. As raw materials are fed in, strands of light brown hemp thread emerge from the bottom of the spindles. This spectacular scene has attracted countless onlookers. Zhao Ironsmith and Wang Woodworker's apprentices are intently watching this giant machine, some responsible for feeding the material, others for drawing out the silk threads, amidst a bustling scene.

  "How many small spinning wheels can this water-powered spinning wheel replace?" Zhou Wenbo turned his head and asked Wang Mujiang beside him.

  "This water-powered spinning machine has thirty-two spindles, and can operate continuously throughout the day, driven by water power, with a speed far exceeding that of manual spinning wheels. The daily output of silk is equivalent to that of hundreds of small spinning wheels!"

  With a proud expression on his face, Wang Mujiang had made a military order to complete the project within three days after receiving the drawings from Guo Gong. He was under great pressure and spent all day with his apprentices working on this project in order to finish it on time. Now that he saw the mechanical device he built with his own hands having such incredible effects, he naturally felt very proud of himself.

  "Good, those who have made contributions shall be rewarded. The two of you can go to Lan Zhi's place and receive the reward. As for all the disciples who participated in the manufacturing process, each one will be rewarded with one guan of silver!" Zhou Wenbo had so much gold coins from completing tasks that he couldn't even spend them all, and indeed, he was not stingy with this small reward. With a wave of his hand, the total amount of the reward reached as high as fifty guans.

  "Xuande, since the spinning wheel is now complete, all the ramie and other raw materials that I asked Uncle De to purchase have arrived. Organize all the tailors from the military workshop and those women who are skilled in sewing, weaving and embroidery to quickly make military uniforms and cloth shoes for our soldiers."

  Zhou Wenbo was waiting for Zhao Wang Erjiang to rush the production of the water-powered spinning wheel, and had already ordered Cui Hao to gather and hire at a high price the seamstresses and women skilled in making clothing from nearby villages, including those in Yiyang County town, ready to start mass-producing clothes quickly as soon as the spinning wheel was completed.