Fire!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~~~
Ten consecutive shots, rockets trailing flames left the launch cradle, high-pressure gas expelled through the rear nozzles, causing the projectile to spin towards the mountainside.
Boom~~~
Through the telescope, explosions erupted successively on the mountainside.
Cracked stones, scattered branches, and steel balls flew everywhere, riddling trees within tens of meters.
Success!
Outside the hovercraft, Fang Er punched a nearby tree, letting out an excited growl.
Li Xiaogong and the others nearby, seeing his excitement, had no idea what it was about.
After all, hundreds of rockets had already been fired.
They didn't know that those were the hovercraft's own supplies.
What was fired now was genuinely self-produced material, signifying an endless supply of rockets in the future.
Upon returning to the Duke's mansion, he learned from the gatekeeper that Ma Fei from the trading company was waiting in the front hall. He told Li Ji and the others to find their own fun, while Fang Er headed to the front hall.
He suddenly realized it had been a long time since he left Shenyang, and it was time to meet and have them report on their work, and also to arrange the upcoming production tasks.
So he returned to the gatehouse and asked Su Feng to summon the managers from each workshop for a meeting.
By the time everyone had arrived, it was already an hour later.
The front hall.
The heads of the bank, trading company, and various workshops were seated on either side.
Fang Er swept his gaze over them and then smiled, "It's been a while since we sat together. I've called everyone here today for a small meeting."
"I've been gone for over a month. Let's start with the current situation of each workshop. Let's see, Fang Er."
Ma Fei, please go first.
Ma Fei of the trading company quickly stood up upon hearing this, bowed to Fang Er, and then took a small notebook from his embrace.
"Reporting to the Duke, the trading company's monthly sales are currently around five hundred thousand *guan*."
"The best seller is the bicycle. As of today, a total of seventeen thousand units have been sold, with an average price of twenty-five *guan* per unit, and there's still room for an increase."
"Recently, some merchants from the south want to purchase in bulk. I plan to use prefectures as regions for auction bidding. The highest bidder will be granted exclusive sales rights for goods within the corresponding prefecture."
"There are also tractors. In the past month, many shopkeepers have inquired about selling them. This requires your decision, Duke."
"Four hundred thousand a month, nearly five million a year," Fang Er exclaimed with joy upon hearing the figure. He looked at Ma Fei and smiled, "If tractors are to be sold externally, what do you think would be a suitable price?"
He didn't mention costs, and Ma Fei didn't ask, simply stating a figure.
"Three hundred *guan* for the tractor unit and one hundred *guan* for the trailer, that's the price for a complete set."
"If anyone needs to replace parts later, I suggest that the total cost of all parts to assemble a complete vehicle be two thousand *guan*."
"As for the specific pricing of each part, the Power Workshop and Shen Fei need to provide me with a list, detailing the role of each component in the vehicle. This way, I will have a clear understanding."
"Whoa~~"
"Is this a 5:1 ratio of parts to complete vehicle?"
"Indeed, Ma Fei's mind is truly built for business."
"The bicycles were previously sold for twenty *guan*, and after this fellow took over the trading company, he managed to increase the price by five *guan*, and still sold seventeen thousand units."
Fang Er didn't respond directly but gestured for him to sit down. He then looked at Liu Yuan from the Power Workshop.
"The name 'Power Workshop' isn't ideal. From now on, it will be renamed Shenyang First Tractor Factory, abbreviated as Shenyang Yituo."
"Liu Yuan, please report on the current production status."
Liu Yuan stood up and reported, "Reporting to the Duke, currently Yituo has a total of four thousand three hundred registered artisans."
"We can produce two hundred twin-cylinder engines per month. If we have enough machine tools, the output can be doubled."
Fang Er nodded and then looked at Zhao Gang, who had always been directly responsible for machine tools.
Zhao Gang quickly stood up upon seeing this, "Duke, if we are just producing machine tools, we can manage one per day."
"However, there is no suitable steel for making cutting tools. Sun Wukong's staff and the weapons left by his junior disciple have all been consumed."
"Alloy materials, that is what Tan Zong is responsible for. This is the most crucial link in the entire workshop industry."
Speaking of this, Tan Zong voluntarily stood up, took out several metal ingots from his embrace, and handed them and a table to Fang Er.
"Duke, these are the alloys I've been working on recently. They have corresponding serial numbers, hardness, and density, as well as toughness."
Fang Er took the table. As he had said, each serial number corresponded to different values. However, he wasn't sure if the toughness was what he understood.
"What does the toughness on this mean?"
Tan Zong quickly explained, "Reporting to the Duke, I feel that it's not enough to just look at the hardness and density of these materials."
"These don't represent all the properties of the materials. Take ironwood and steel, for example. Their hardness is similar, but if you prop up an ironwood board and a steel plate and place the same weight on them, the ironwood board will break, but the steel plate will at most bend and deform."
"Therefore, I thought this should also be represented by numbers, so that the purpose of each material can be more intuitive."
Fang Er's eyes lit up at these words. This only-works-but-doesn't-think Tan Zong had actually learned to use his brain, which was a complete surprise!
He had only mentioned a method for measuring hardness before, and he hadn't expected him to generalize and figure out a method for measuring toughness.
Truly, great ancient craftsmen are not to be underestimated!
Putting down the table, Fang Er stood up and said with a laugh.
"Hahaha, good! This idea of yours is excellent!"
"This is how things should be done. All characteristics that can be quantified should be recorded."
"Such innovation is an achievement, an achievement that will benefit generations to come!"
"I see this paper only records the toughness values of these alloys. After you return, you can select some artisans and form a research team dedicated to measuring the values of different materials."
"Once you perfect these, you will be rewarded with a thousand *guan*!"
After praising Tan Zong, he looked at the others.
"From now on, you all need to use your brains more. Don't wait for me to bring up everything before you act."
"Remember, you are the leaders, not just mere laborers!"
"As long as you have an idea, you don't need to ask for my permission. As long as it's safe, go ahead and do it!"
"No matter who it is, as long as you achieve results, I will not hesitate to reward you!"
"If the achievements are significant, and you are promoted to Grand Artisan, I will intercede with the Emperor for an official position for you!"
"Yes! We've taken note!"
Everyone quickly stood up and responded. At the same time, they envied Tan Zong in their hearts. A thousand *guan* was no small sum!
Tan Zong, on the other hand, was overwhelmed with surprise. He hadn't expected that something he had casually recorded would be so highly valued by the Duke.
An achievement that would benefit generations to come, hehehehe, this was something he could brag about for at least three lifetimes. His grandchildren could use this to show off, it was awesome!