Chapter 427: The First Snow

“Wow, it’s so beautiful…”

When the first brand new four-wheeled carriage came out from the ‘assembly workshop’, everyone couldn’t help but marvel at it. Even Yan Liqiang who stood at the side was also staring at it with sparkles in his eyes.

This was a unique four-wheeled carriage. In terms of size, this carriage was thirty percent bigger than the first four-wheeled carriage that Yan Liqiang rode a few days ago and it looked more luxurious. The materials used and workmanship for the whole carriage had achieved the peak of what the manufacturing bureau was capable of. Yan Liqiang personally supervised every procedure and process of the carriage production in the manufacturing bureau. In order to build this carriage, Qian Su personally went to Pingxi City to invite a few skilled jewelry smiths to take part in the manufacturing process.

With the participation from the jewelry smiths, the appearance of this white carriage with pure gold dragon-themed carvings made it even more exquisite and dazzling. The interior of the carriage was even more luxurious. A large surface of the interior door panel was covered with colorful enamel and golden decorative boards. The seats and interior of the carriage were decorated by decorative motifs made from copper and silver. Every corner of the carriage glowed with a delicate and exquisite taste.

This carriage was unique as it was made based on Yan Liqiang’s requirements and was well worth the price.

“Let’s test it out…” Yan Liqiang said to Qian Su.

“Alright, let me do it!” Qian Su nodded and walked up to the carriage to wear the cotton overshoes that the craftsman passed to him from the side before getting on. He drove the carriage and made two turns within the huge ‘assembly workshop’. Then he went in the passenger carriage to take a look inside. Finally, Qian Su stopped the carriage and nodded to Yan Liqiang, “No problem with it. It’s better than the previous one…”

“Let’s make preparations to dismantle the carriage for packing…” Yan Liqiang nodded.

Qian Su waved his hand as he alighted the carriage. A group of craftsmen flocked over to carefully dismantle the accessories such as the passenger compartment, wheels, frames, and poles. They carefully wrapped them with cotton cloth, then with linen, and secured it using rope before placing them inside a product container. The whole process was as if they were packing fragile porcelain.

Everyone was extremely careful as they all knew that this carriage was to be delivered to the Imperial Capital by the Protectorate General as a gift to the Emperor.

“If we continue producing these four-wheeled carriages, I believe people will still want them even if we are selling them at ten thousand taels of silver each,” Qian Su sighed in amazement as he watched the group of craftsmen dismantling and packing up the carriage. Just a few days ago, Qian Su was still skeptical of selling the four-wheeled carriage for more than five thousand taels of silver. However, the experience from the past few days was enough to make him ‘bolder’.

“This specification of the carriage is not for sale. After this unit has been delivered to the Imperial Capital, we will build another similar unit to be displayed at the four-wheeled carriage exhibition hall that we will be setting up for customers to view…” Yan Liqiang showed a ‘wicked merchant’ smile to Qian Su, “Of course, if the members of the royal family come to place an order, it is even possible to ask for ten thousand taels of silver!”

“I really wonder where you learned your business strategy. You can think up just about anything!” Qian Su gave a Yan Liqiang a bizarre look. “I’ve never even thought of sending a four-wheeled carriage to the Emperor, but you had it planned already. Once this carriage is delivered to the Imperial Capital, our manufacturing bureau will no doubt be recognized to have the best four-wheeled carriage in the Great Han Empire whenever anyone mentions it.”

Yan Liqiang only smiled without saying anything. He then went outside with Qian Su.

As someone who had lived two lives, Yan Liqiang would have lived his previous life in vain if he didn’t even have the concept of ‘celebrity branding’. Commoners did not have the chance to give anything to the Emperor, but it was easy for him. Since the Emperor appointed him as the Qiyun Protectorate General, it was only natural for the Emperor to be informed of the things he did and his achievements in Gan Province. After all, a faithful official was one who thought of the Emperor first whenever he was in possession of good things.

The four-wheeled carriage could not simply be driven all the way to the Imperial Capital, so it had to be dismantled, packed, and reassembled in the Imperial Capital.

It was a long journey from Gan Province to the Imperial Capital. Yan Liqiang did not need to worry as his dear Uncle Lei had informed him that there would be no issues with arranging an escort. Yan Liqiang only had to get everything ready and send a few skilled craftsmen. They would then be escorted to the Imperial Capital along with the annual tax funds. The tax funds would be escorted by military troops, and they would be protected by the bureaucracy along the way. No one would dare to do anything to the tax funds that were going to be delivered to the imperial court either, so it would be a safe journey. Once they reached the Imperial Capital, they would go to Deer Villa to look for Eunuch Liu and he would arrange the rest.

Of course, the delivery to Imperial Capital was not only one but four carriages. The Emperor’s “Royal Model” was of course the one and only one model ⁠— the largest and most luxurious. The other three units were same as what the manufacturing bureau was producing now. One unit was for Eunuch Liu, one unit for Fang Beidou, and one unit was for Manager You at the Gan Provincial Guild Hall to return the favor for the carriage that Manager You had gifted to Yan Liqiang before.

Yan Liqiang couldn’t suppress his joy at the thought of having his four-wheeled carriages roaming the Imperial Capital’s streets and attracting the attention of countless onlookers in just a few months time.

“Speaking of the Imperial Capital, the Provincial Governor has already ordered the Gan Province Weaponsmiths Quarter to start replicating the four-wheeled carriage for the delivery of goods. I heard that this time, those tax funds will be delivered to the Imperial Capital by a four-wheeled carriage…:”

“It is very convenient to deliver cargo using a four-wheeled carriage. It is only natural for the Provincial Governor to think about this. However, we do not need to be so worried. While they are able to replicate the steering wheel for the carriage, they will not be able to replicate the coil spring that is crucial for shock absorption. We should only focus on manufacturing high-quality four-wheel carriages for passengers and leave the rest to the others. Once I leave the manufacturing bureau, I will hand over this place to you, Uncle Qian. As long as we keep the secret of manufacturing the spring, we do not need to worry about others being jealous. Uncle Qian will have to put extra effort into the safety and security of the manufacturing bureau…”

“Don’t worry, I will keep an eye on this!” Qian Su nodded.

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The two of them talked as they passed by a construction site within the manufacturing bureau. Two shabby courtyards and a few rooms were being taken down there. With hundreds of artisans working hard, the outline of the new building made of limestone could already be seen. This would be the exhibition hall of the manufacturing bureau and the four-wheeled carriage would be the first displayed item in the hall.

The taking down of the courtyard and buildings was just the beginning. In the future, the manufacturing bureau would manufacture four-wheeled carriages while progressively extending the manufacturing bureau altogether. According to Yan Liqiang’s plan, the area would expand over ten times of what it was now in the future. The whole manufacturing bureau would be redesigned into a fort with strong defense security. Within the protective shell of this fort, the most profitable factory in the Great Han Empire would be born. A lot of new things would also be born here and all the skillful artisans in the Great Han Empire would gather here. With such a manufacturing bureau in Gan Province, the Soul Mountain Sect’s Thousand Engineering Hall would have to share the limelight…

At the thought of Soul Mountain Sect’s Thousand Engineering Hall, Yan Liqiang calculated the time in his heart. Given Zhang Yourong’s capability and these few months, the Thousand Engineering Hall should have created their first prototype of the steam engine. Yan Liqiang was curious about how the first steam engine would look like in this world…

“Protectorate Governor, Bureau Supervisor…”

Yan Liqiang and Qian Su halted in their footsteps when they heard someone calling them. They turned their heads and saw the jewelry smiths that Qian Su had hired from Pingxi City walking toward them.

The few smiths were at least forty years old, with the oldest being sixty years old. Although they were not famous top craftsmen, they were considered to have impressive craftsmanship in Pingxi Prefecture for being able to perfectly reproduce whatever Yan Liqiang had drawn on paper.

“Is there a problem?” Yan Liqiang asked kindly.

The few smiths exchanged glances. One of them was blushing as he mustered up the courage and spoke in front of everyone, “Is…is the bureau still hiring artisans? We discussed among ourselves that if…if… the Protectorate Governor and Bureau Supervisor wouldn’t mind and are satisfied with our skills, we are willing to stay and serve the manufacturing bureau…”

Qian Su had initially invited these smiths to work as contingent workers to help manufacture the “Royal Carriage”. Yesterday, these contingent workers saw the scene where the manufacturing bureau was distributing dividends to the artisans. They were shocked as they never thought that such a place existed in this world. After a night of discussion, they decided to muster their courage to look for Yan Liqiang and Qian Su after they packed the “Royal Carriage” and completed the day’s work.

Yan Liqiang and Qian Su looked at each other with smiles in their eyes.

Yan Liqiang focused and was able to instantly read the thoughts in these people’s minds with the Psychic Serpent in his head. These people were sincere and honest artisans for they did not have any bad intentions in staying at the manufacturing bureau.

When Qian Su saw Yan Liqiang’s slight nod, he cleared his throat, “I think you all understand the rules of the manufacturing bureau. Although it looks like a workshop, it is also part of the military which adheres to military discipline. Mistakes will be subject to punishment according to military rules and there is also the possibility of you losing your heads. Do you all understand?”

“Yes, we understand!”

“Good, then you may stay here. Judging from your skills, your rankings in the manufacturing bureau could be considered the third. However, since all of you are new here, your experience and contribution in the manufacturing bureau is still insufficient. As a start, all of you are entitled to five shares each. In future, for every year you stay in the manufacturing bureau, you will receive an additional share per year. If you stay here for more than five years, your shares will be the same as the other third-ranking artisans in the manufacturing bureau, which is ten shares. Furthermore, if there is any opportunity for promotions in the future, all of you will be given the same opportunities and treatment as the other third-ranking artisans. How does that sound?”

“This is good, this is good, we are willing…” the artisans kept nodding, and everyone had a smile on their face.

“Great, all of you should go look for Steward Qiu to go through the formalities!”

The jewelers and artisans expressed their gratitudes and left.

“Uncle Qian, I need to discuss with you and the chief weaponsmiths on coming up with a new system. We will reward the best performers, and those who can invent and innovate new things, new tools, and also improve the production process. In future, we shall honor and reward these artisans on a yearly basis. Furthermore, this can be an important target for others on their personal advancement.”

“Alright…”

…

By the time all the work in the manufacturing bureau and Pingxi City was complete, it was already afternoon. Yan Liqiang, together with a few bodyguards and Hu Haihe, got on their rhinodrake steeds and left the manufacturing bureau to return to Qinghe County.

As Yan Liqiang rode on his rhinodrake steed, he suddenly felt a chill on his face. As soon as he stretched his hand out, a snowflake melted in his hand. He lifted his head and noticed that it had started snowing…

On the 17th day of the eleventh lunar month in the 13th year of the Yuanping reign, the Great Han Empire’s Gan Province welcomed its first winter snow of the year…