Chapter 1234: Hit It Off

After Bai Feng's explanation, Xiahou Dun could understand why Bai Feng said that coal was the best raw material for steam engines.

"Hanzhong Hou is right. It seems that coal should be used as fuel for steam engines."

Xiahou Dun said to Bai Feng, and he began to recall where coal was produced in Yizhou.

"Tomorrow I plan to take the craftsmen back to Hanzhong and try to manufacture the steam engine as soon as possible."

"It's not too late for the general to start preparing for coal now."

Bai Feng smiled at Xiahou Dun after hearing this.

Xiahou Dun nodded and did not continue to persuade Bai Feng to stay in Yizhou for a while.

"As far as I know, there is indeed a place in Yizhou that produces coal."

Xiahou Dun said to Bai Feng after thinking about it.

Bai Feng was quite surprised to hear this.

I didn't expect that Yizhou already had a mine that produced coal.

This made it convenient for Xiahou Dun to mine coal and saved a lot of exploration time.

"Hahaha, it seems that it is appropriate to start using steam engines in Yizhou first!"

Bai Feng is now looking forward to the manufacture of steam trains.

With steam engines and sufficient coal supply, steam trains and railway construction can be carried out simultaneously.

Bai Feng plans to return to Hanzhong to arrange the craftsmen in the R&D center, and then start to vigorously mine coal in Hanzhong.

The construction of the railway cannot be completed overnight, but it is not a big problem to build a railway between Hanzhong and Yizhou first.

After all, Bai Feng now has the mineral distribution map of the entire Hanzhong.

The location of the iron ore and the location of the coal mine have been clearly marked on the mineral distribution map.

What Bai Feng has to do is to send people to mine and transport.

After listening to Bai Feng's statement, Xiahou Dun also said to Bai Feng happily:

"Hahaha, then I will wait for good news from the Hanzhong Marquis."

As soon as the steam engine is in hand, Xiahou Dun will start to transform the water-powered loom in his workshop.

And for Xiahou Dun, even other officials and nobles in Yizhou could use looms equipped with steam engines in their workshops.

But the most critical fuel for steam engines, coal, was in Xiahou Dun's hands.

Both the improved looms and the sale of coal could make huge profits.

Xiahou Dun certainly supported Bai Feng's steam engine manufacturing.

Bai Feng and Xiahou Dun hit it off on the steam engine.

That night, Bai Feng, Liuli and Zhang Qiying rested in Xiahou Dun's house. The next day, Bai Feng took Liuli and Zhang Qiying to say goodbye to Xiahou Dun.

Xiahou Dun and the Yizhou officials and nobles who heard the news came to see Bai Feng off.

Bai Feng set off on the road back to Hanzhong with eighty craftsmen amid the farewell of everyone.

The carriages were prepared by Xiahou Dun and the noble officials of Yizhou.

Bai Feng and his party took only one day to return to Hanzhong by carriage.

After returning to Hanzhong, Bai Feng brought the eighty craftsmen directly to the R&D center outside Hanzhong City.

In order to accommodate more craftsmen, the R&D center built two dormitories and a canteen.

After the eighty craftsmen came to the R&D center, they were very interested in everything in the R&D center.

Whether it was the factory of the R&D center, or the dormitories and canteens, these craftsmen visited them one by one under the guidance of the first batch of craftsmen in the R&D center.

"This is where we eat. The Marquis of Hanzhong named it the canteen."

"We have three meals a day, and every meal has meat!"

"The Marquis of Hanzhong said that only when you are full can you have the strength to work!"

The person responsible for leading the eighty craftsmen from Yizhou to visit the R&D center was Li Tiedan.

Now Li Tiedan is very proud to show the environment of the R&D center to the new craftsmen.

These craftsmen from Yizhou were amazed at the neat dormitories and the canteens with meat every meal.

"These conditions are too good!"

"It's worthy of being the R&D center established by the Marquis of Hanzhong!"

"I will work here for Hanzhong for the rest of my life, and when my son grows up, I will let him come here too!"

Li Tiedan enjoyed the craftsmen's amazement at the R&D center and felt very proud.

When Li Tiedan brought 80 craftsmen from Yizhou to visit the R&D center and settled their accommodation, Bai Feng was talking with Geng Zhuzi outside the R&D center.

"This time I brought back a total of 80 craftsmen from Yizhou."

"Thirty of them are craftsmen from Yizhou officials and workshops of the gentry, and the remaining fifty are craftsmen from the Yizhou General Works Supervisor."

"This group of craftsmen can participate in the work of the steam engine production line, and can also participate in the subsequent manufacture of steam locomotives."

Bai Feng and Geng Zhuzi explained the origins of these craftsmen.

When Geng Zhuzi heard that they were going to start making steam locomotives, his eyes lit up.

"But please note that, except for our original craftsmen and students, this group of craftsmen cannot participate in the main manufacturing of steam locomotives for the time being."

"Even if new craftsmen are assigned to the steam engine production line, they must be screened."

Bai Feng began to instruct Geng Zhuzi.

Although these craftsmen live and eat in the R&D center, Bai Feng cannot prohibit their families from visiting the R&D center.

These craftsmen must also return to Yizhou to reunite with their families during festivals.

The reason why Bai Feng did not bring the families of these craftsmen to Hanzhong was not that Bai Feng could not afford the expenses, but that doing so would make the Yizhou nobles and officials who provided Bai Feng the craftsmen uneasy.

After listening to Bai Feng's instructions, Geng Zhuzi already understood what Bai Feng was worried about.

"I understand your arrangement, sir. Please rest assured, sir. I will carefully screen the situation of this group of craftsmen before deciding how to appoint them."

Then Geng Zhuzi assured Bai Feng.

After gaining experience in manufacturing steam engines and building steam engine production lines, Geng Zhuzi is now more confident in managing the entire R&D center.

After all, Geng Zhuzhu was originally an official in Chu State.

Now that I have become familiar with Wei Dynasty, I feel more at ease with farming Zhuzhu.

And Bai Feng also has great trust in Geng Zhuzi's ability and conduct.

With the system as a guarantee, Bai Feng would naturally not worry that Geng Zhuzi would betray him for profit.

"Hahaha, that's good!"

Bai Feng smiled at Geng Zhuzhu, and then the two of them came to the steam engine production line together.

At this time, the steam engine production line had been improved again.

"Sir, the current steam engine production line can already produce and assemble a steam engine in one day!"

Geng Zhuzi said to Bai Feng affirmatively while taking Bai Feng to inspect the steam engine production line.