What's wrong with building a steel torrent in a dungeon?

The eight families certainly knew of Fulan's plan. She wanted to use Huang Silang's assets to make them fight each other. But even if they knew, what would happen? Huang Silang's assets were so attractive!

Back then, the Yellow Wolf Chamber of Commerce had basically reached into all the profitable businesses in Orila City. Now that the Yellow Wolf Chamber of Commerce has collapsed, these places are like unclaimed gold mines, and whoever occupies them first will own them. In this situation, who would still consider peace?

So in the period that followed, the eight major families quickly became bloodthirsty, with various thugs openly fighting each other every day, and even making sneak attacks on the clan leaders.

While the eight major families were busy fighting each other, Fran began her own plan.

Now that the practical steam engine has been invented, the next step is to transform it into unparalleled productivity, and then use this productivity to crush the crumbling eight families.

In order to show respect for Kreltz, Fran named the first finalized steam engine Emerald Type 1. After all, without the various technologies dug up from the Emerald Empire, it would be impossible for the workshop to tinker with the steam engine in such a short time.

This decision touched Krelz greatly. In order to repay Fran, the goblin worked day and night (voluntarily working overtime) and soon designed a machine for preliminary sorting of ore and forging iron ingots. At the same time, other craftsmen also designed many strange machines based on steam engines.

However, most of these machines remain at the drawing stage.

The question now is not what can be done with a steam engine, but what should be done with a steam engine.

Which fields will see revolutionary breakthroughs after the steam engine is invented, and which fields will be less affected (for example, in brothels, you can't tie the guests to a steam engine and make their bodies move automatically, right?) This needs to be decided by Fran.

Chapter 91: Dwarf Repair Method

"Is this the ore crushing machine?" Fran arrived at the workshop and was immediately attracted by the rough, black, hard and strong iron lump in front of her.

"That's right!" Gorronil said confidently, "This is a perfect work of art designed by the teacher himself and carefully crafted by me! It can be said to be the most sophisticated and advanced machine in the entire Aurora City! No, it is the most sophisticated and advanced machine in the entire Holy Roll Empire."

Uh? If you insist on calling it a work of art, it can only be classified as abstract art.

Looking at the uneven hammer marks and crooked appearance of the object, Fran was even a little hesitant to get close to it, for fear that it would explode.

As if he could see Fran's worry, Goronil said, "You can't just look at the appearance of others! Just like the magic weapons forged by the dwarves, they look ordinary, but you can only know their goodness after using them. If you really only care about the appearance, you might as well go to the elves! Their weapons are good, and there are even hollow patterns on their armor.

But do you dare to wear this kind of armor?"

"Although...the sales of weapons and armor produced by the elves are higher than those of the dwarves." Fran said.

"That's because the buyers were deceived by the fancy appearance!" Goronil blushed and said, "Those nobles don't understand war at all! They only care about the appearance and the attraction of the opposite sex, so they buy elves' weapons. Have you ever seen a serious army purchasing elves' weapons? Right!"

Fran also knew that what Gorronil said made sense, but she just liked to see Gorronil's blushing face explaining, and she couldn't stop. Fran teased her for a while, until Catherine couldn't stand it anymore and reminded her, Fran nodded and said, "Then start the experiment!"

"Okay! Let's get to work!" Goronil said immediately after hearing this.

Following Gorronil's order, all units immediately took action, some adding water, some igniting fires, and some putting in ore.

Not long after, the machine began to shake violently, accompanied by a huge noise. The staff around it covered their ears out of habit.

Looking at the crumbling machine, Fran instinctively took another step back.

After an unknown amount of time, countless broken stones finally flowed out from the other end and fell into a huge pit, causing dust to fly everywhere. Fran looked and saw that the raw ore had indeed been broken into pieces, which obviously saved a lot of effort in the subsequent sorting.

However, the machine had not been running for long when there was an unpleasant metallic friction sound, and then it stopped.

"Ah, what's going on? Is it stuck?" Fran's eyes widened.

"Uh...Goronil was embarrassed for a moment, and said quickly: "This should be that large particles of dust entered the machine and stuck the internal gears. I will go and fix it now."

After saying this, without waiting for Fran to react, Goronil took out a huge hammer and smashed the machine several times.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The machine made an inaudible protest sound, but it miraculously started working again. Fran and her group were stunned.

Is this repairing?

Fran finally understood where the many uneven hammer marks on the machine's surface came from.

After more than ten minutes, the machine finally processed all the ore inside, and the staff shut down the machine in time.

Fran couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief. After all, the noise was really torturous.

"How is it?" Goronil looked at Fran expectantly.

"Well, the effect is not bad." Fran said, "At least it can save a lot of manpower in sorting ore."

"Is that so?" Gorronil said, "Not only that, I also plan to make an automatic mining machine, an automatic casting machine for muskets! Eventually, the entire production line will be mechanized, without any human intervention! After we have the steam engine, we have so many machines we want to make. What about an automatic seed sowing machine?

Machine! A machine that automatically writes and copies homework...”

"Stop, stop, stop!" Fran interrupted Goronil as she saw that she was going on and on. If she kept going on, she might even come up with a steam engine that could eat and take care of its physiological needs automatically.

As the designer of the machine, Krelz did not say a word from beginning to end. She was observing Fran's expression, but it seemed that Fran had not shown any surprise from the beginning to now. So he asked curiously: "City Lord Fran does not seem satisfied?"

"Ah? You're still not satisfied?" Gorronil said unhappily after hearing this: "It obviously saves so much manpower! This is a great invention."

Fran said, "I wonder if you have ever considered one question when designing the machine. That is, whether the manpower saved by the machine can make up for the cost of the machine itself and the cost of its operation."

"Forehead....."

After this was said, the scholars present looked at each other in bewilderment. They had indeed not considered this issue.

Fran continued, "The biggest role of the steam engine is to replace simple muscle labor, thereby expanding production and reducing labor costs! But what if the thing you replace does not require much labor? For example, the steam engine that automatically sows ore, in the process of growing mushrooms, finally the release is clearly loosening the soil, etc.

Seeds only take up a small part of the manpower. Using machines instead will not only not save manpower, but may even increase manpower. Isn't it? "

Hearing this, the scholars all nodded.

"Another point is that the accuracy of our steam engines is not very high, which is particularly prominent in the manufacture of firearms, especially in the manufacture of barrels and rifling. Do you think that we can make a qualified musket with the current steam engine?"

Most of these scholars had designed and modified muskets, and some had even participated in the forging of muskets, so they certainly understood the requirements for precision. Gorronil also fell into deep thought.

Indeed, with the precision of today's steam engines, it is impossible to draw straight lines on steel plates, let alone engrave rifling.

"Then, how should we design it?" a craftsman asked curiously.

“You can be imaginative when designing machinery, but you also need to consider the actual needs. Instead of designing in the laboratory, it is better to visit various industries and even work with them in person. Only in this way can you design machinery that meets production needs.”

"Thank you for your advice, City Lord."

"What the city lord said makes sense."

The craftsmen nodded like chicks pecking at rice.

It's over, why do I feel more and more like the production team leader and political commissar, Fran couldn't help but think to herself.

"Then what aspects should we design?" Gorronil raised his hand and asked, "The Lord Mayor has said so much, but he didn't give any direction."

"I came here this time, firstly, to see what kind of machines you guys created with your wild imaginations. Secondly, I do have my own ideas." Fran took out a scroll and spread it on the ground.

"I recognize this thing! It's a spinning machine!" Goronil said immediately.

"And it should be a spinning machine produced in the Volsas Plain." Krelz said, "I saw it when I traveled through the Dwarf Empire four years ago. It can spin six threads at the same time. The efficiency is much higher than the spinning machines in the human world, and it is not the most advanced spinning machine. That's why the cloth produced in the Dwarf Empire can be sold to

We are the continent of Calradia, and we have no rivals."

"Then why don't humans copy it?" Goronil asked at this time.

"The Dwarf Empire said that if they find any force copying their machines, they will impose an embargo on that country, or even start a war or support their opponents," said Kreltz.

"We are far away from them, and we are not afraid of the so-called embargo." Fran said, "This is the analysis diagram I bought at a high price on the black market. Of course, I don't want you to copy it, but I hope you can understand the principle of this machine and then connect it to the steam engine."

"Does the Lord Mayor mean that we should enter the textile industry?" Kreltz only took a look at the blueprint and said excitedly: "The spinning machine does not require high-speed control, nor does it require professional personnel to operate! You just need to keep turning the spinning wheel, which is indeed very suitable for the steam engine!"

"But we don't have that much raw material." A human craftsman said, "There are a lot of dark-skinned orcs in the sea area south of Volsas. The dwarves captured these dark-skinned orcs as slaves and opened a lot of plantations and pastures in the Volsas Plain. They can easily get a lot of cotton and wool (

Fried chicken, watermelon), but we can't, unless we buy wool from Baishajia. But those desert peoples don't get along with us. "

"I've already thought of this." Fran said, "We'll use something called blue sisal."

"Blue sisal?" The human craftsman's eyes widened. "Blue sisal can indeed be found everywhere, but clothes and pants made from it are extremely hard, uncomfortable to wear, and not beautiful. Ordinary people don't like it, let alone nobles."

"I don't plan to sell them to nobles either." Fran said, "I want to sell them to workers who do manual labor."

"The lower-class laborers? I get it!" the craftsman said excitedly, "Although these clothes are not so comfortable to wear, they are very durable and very suitable for them. Blue sisal was not popular before because it was too difficult to spin it into yarn. Once it was really made, the cost of a piece of clothing would even be higher than that of ordinary cotton and linen.

….But that’s not a problem for us!”

Gorronil also said: "Doesn't that mean that we can monopolize the entire blue sisal clothing business?"

"It's not a monopoly, it's a creation! Before this, there were almost no similar clothes on the market!" Fran said, "And we can't let go of other spinning materials! Although the Holy Roel Empire doesn't produce wool, it is still circulated in the market. As for other cotton and linen, there are even more! In a word, we must use the shortest time to completely

Take over the cloth and clothing market in Vienna!"

Chapter 92: Women Hold Up Half the Sky

After Fulan set the direction for the application of the steam engine, the research institute began to design it. With previous experience, the design of the second practical steam engine was easy to handle.

Of course, the steam engine was so useful that Fran would definitely not use it to develop only one field. The second field she chose was metallurgy.

If you were to ask what Fran currently has in abundance, it would definitely be various types of minerals.

Currently, he owns two mines and has a large number of manpower to drive them, so Fulan has never lacked raw ore, especially high-quality raw ore.

However, Fran did not like to sell low value-added products such as raw materials, so what bothered her most was not the ore output, but where to put the newly produced ore.

In the past, in order to solve this problem, the workers in the workshop had to work overtime to make various metal ingots and store them. However, after all, there were too many people working in the mine, and the workshop was also responsible for the production of firearms, so the raw ore they consumed was a drop in the bucket.

If the steam engine can be added to the casting sequence, reducing the manpower input in the casting process, this will not only reduce the pressure on the warehouse, but also reserve a large number of semi-finished metal products. One day, I will vigorously develop heavy industry, and I must have a strong mining-smelting foundation.

Moreover, most of Fran's craftsmen have a background in blacksmithing, and they know very well how to combine this traditional industry with steam engines.

Of course, the institute's main focus is still on the textile industry. She knows very well that once the textile industry realizes industrial production, the future profits will be very exaggerated. Only with considerable income can she support the development of more new technologies and the manufacture of more new machines.

So, relying on the relationship with the Shinra Church, Fran began to buy blue sisal, wool, cotton and other raw materials for making cloth in Vienna, and then transported these raw materials to Thermopylae by truckload.

In the city of Orila, Fran also began large-scale construction.

First, she cleared a large piece of vacant land and began to build factories and plan the land use in preparation for the future spinning mill, weaving mill and garment factory.

Then they searched all over Orila City for female workers who wanted to become tailors. Previously, the nine major families restricted and defrauded mainly male laborers. As for women, they basically stayed at home to take care of their husbands and children, do needlework, etc. Now, when they heard that someone was willing to teach tailoring skills and pay a lot of money, they rushed to join.

Come and sign up.

Finally, she asked her Jingxi Chamber of Commerce to buy various stores in Vienna in preparation for the future dumping of clothing.

Doing things in such a high-profile manner will inevitably attract the curiosity of other forces.

The Imperial Palace of the Holy Roel Empire.

"You mean to say that Fran hasn't sold any goods recently?" Margaret looked at the report in confusion.

"Not only did they not sell any goods, but they actually bought a lot of wool and cotton from us, as well as a large amount of blue sisal," said Wallenstein.

"What is blue sisal?" asked Margaret.

"It's a weed that grows very vigorously. It's everywhere in the fields and wastelands. You can see this plant wherever there is land." Wallenstein said, "In the past, civilians would use it to make clothes. But this weed itself is hard, and it takes a long time to make it into yarn. The cost is too high, so it's not worth it.

There is almost no clothing made of blue sisal on the market.”

"Since making clothes is not worth the effort, why did Fran buy so much blue sisal? Is it to feed the pigs?"

"Pigs don't eat such hard grass." Wallenstein said, "According to the information obtained from the city of Orilla, Fran really plans to use them to make clothes. It is said that she has hired a large number of skilled tailors and female workers. I wonder what the city lord is thinking."

Margaret said, "What a strange city lord. He gave up his firearms business and started a clothing business. When her clothes are ready, I will buy a few to show my support, so that she won't be embarrassed if she can't sell any. By the way, you and your men should buy a few too."

"Of course, but the few pieces we bought alone are probably not enough." Wallenstein smiled and said, "She bought too much blue sisal! The price of the transport vehicles in Vienna has skyrocketed recently. Fortunately, blue sisal is everywhere and has almost no cost. I hope she won't lose too much, so as not to affect the production of firearms.

Produce.

"What about the ore? She hasn't sold any ore since the end of the war?" Margaret asked.

Wallenstein nodded and said, "All the ore that flows from Orila City to Vienna is smuggled. The Jingxi Chamber of Commerce enjoys the preferential treatment of zero tariffs. If Fran wants to sell ore, there is no need to go through the smuggling channel."

"Is she afraid that if she goes through normal channels, she will be boycotted because the ore comes from the city of Orila?" Margaret asked curiously.

"If it were other products, there might be such concerns, but for ore... ordinary people obviously won't buy this kind of thing. Only the various chambers of commerce need it. You also know the faces of the various chambers of commerce. They are only interested in profit and never care about the source of the goods." Wallenstein said.

Margaret rubbed her temples, not understanding what Fran was going to do.

"Then, Your Majesty, is our commodity dumping plan still implemented?" Wallenstein asked.

"Let's wait for a while. The armies of the Grand Dukes have already assembled, and even our lovely enemy has joined them. It seems that they really want me dead!" Margaret said, "It is not appropriate to attack our allies when the army is approaching, so we should maintain a close relationship with the city of Orila for the time being."

Aurora City, Dark Castle of the Dark Elves.

"Chief, the Lord of Flan has been acting weird lately." A dark elf said, "She gave a speech in the city called 'Women Hold Up Half the Sky', actively calling on the female monsters in Aurora City to devote themselves to production and construction and enjoy the fruits of their labor. The female monsters who heard the speech were very moved."

"Women can hold up half the sky?" Naranissoya's face was full of question marks, and finally she said, "She wouldn't want to learn from the elves and start a feminist movement. If I remember correctly, those white elves like to do these things, saying that men have persecuted them for thousands of years, and shouting slogans and marching to fight for more power.

"Um, I don't know about that." The dark elf said, "But at least Lord Fran didn't launch a parade. And when she recruited female workers, she paid them very well. Some female workers with high-level skills even received more than men."

"I think this must be Fran's helpless move. The best male labor force in Orila City is controlled by the eight major families, so she can only resort to this last resort." Nalanisuoya said: "Since she is willing to do this, let her do it. Anyway, it will not have much impact on our major families."

"Well, it's okay for the other big families, but for us... the dark elf said: "You know. Most of our people are women."

"Why? They all want to work for Fran?" Naranisuoya said, "Compared to human women and demon women, we dark elves have unique body and technical advantages. In the field of brothels, only succubus and white elves can compete with us. And my brothels are spread all over the place. They actually