Guanshishan Academy Steam Engine Research Institute.

Li Yan even had a meal at home during the Chinese New Year, and could not stay there immediately, so he ran back to the Steam Engine Research Institute.

Under his struggles of forgetting to eat and sleep, the steam engine was improved very quickly.

From the opening of the Mingzuo Railway at the end of last year to the beginning of spring, the development of steam engine replacement has been basically completed in less than half a year.

"Master, this rubber is really easy to use. Whether it is used as waterproof or isolating air, it can have a very, very good sealing effect."

Zhao Xiaoer is now in the Steam Engine Research Institute, specializing in the sealing system design.

For a steam engine, this seems inconspicuous, but very meaningful.

The initial steam engine was because of the poor sealing effect, but the mechanical conversion efficiency was very low.

It was obviously a steam engine like a small house, but like a few horses, it could only bring a little bit of goods.

It was only after many improvements that the steam engine used on the Mingzuo Railway was found.

"It's really amazing. We have tried some other rubbers. Although some have similar properties, none of them can really compare with rubber.

Waiter, this rubber institute has been independent from the Steam Engine Institute. I think you can not only consider using rubber on the steam engine, but also considering the use of rubber on four-wheeled carriages, permanent bicycles, and other equipment.

In particular, His Highness the King of Chu taught us the rubber vulcanization method last year, which played a very important role in improving the performance of rubber.

In my opinion, the deep processing of rubber should be something worth your life."

Li Yan's knowledge is obviously not bad.

Although the contact time of rubber is not very long, the future of rubber is particularly important.

"Well, the last time His Highness of Chu was inspecting our institute, he said casually that he could consider using rubber to make wheels. I plan to regard this as the future focus of the Rubber Research Institute."

To make the rubber institute more important, we naturally need to find more places to apply rubber.

Moreover, the demand for rubber must be further increased.

Obviously, whether it is the wheels used on a four-wheeled carriage or the wheels used on a bicycle, once they are changed to rubber, the demand for rubber is definitely an astronomical figure.

At that time, the purchase of rubber and cutting of rubber in South America will become profitable and will turn from a niche thing to something that many people are looking for.

Of course, the matter of planting rubber will further attract a large number of nobles.

"Although His Highness the King of Chu just mentioned it casually, his views often exceed everyone's cognition. I think there is nothing wrong with setting one of the researches of the Rubber Research Institute as wheel research.

However, the application of rubber in seals is also very meaningful for the development of Datang's various industries. I hope you don't leave it behind."

Although Li Yan supported his apprentice to look for application opportunities in new fields, the greater the power of the steam engine, the higher the requirements for seals.

He obviously didn't want his own steam engine to become larger one day due to air leakage.

"Master, don't worry, we will advance together in these directions. Now, Guanshishan Academy has specially opened a rubber course to attract more students to enter this field.

His Highness of the King of Chu not only casually talked about the use of rubber on the wheels, but also said that he could consider using rubber to make rain boots, using rubber to make shock absorbing parts, and using rubber to make raincoats.

I am going to slowly study all these things. It’s just a pity that rubber is too expensive now.

I simply rely on the rubber brought back from South America by the fleet, and I feel like every experiment is burning money.”

When Zhao Xiaoer thought of the scene of purchasing rubber from a seafarer, he felt a little painful.

According to his understanding, this rubber is the gum cut from the rubber tree, which is similar to rosin.

Normally, the price of rubber should not be much higher than that of rosin.

But now, it costs at least one hundred cents to buy a pound of rubber in Chang'an City.

Sometimes the fleet brings back not much rubber, and the price can rise to several hundred cents per pound.

If rubber is made into the wheels of a four-wheeled carriage, even if it is not considered processing costs, the cost of simply purchasing rubber materials will probably cost more than a dozen cents.

Who can afford this?

"I heard that His Highness the King of Chu is already encouraging everyone to plant rubber trees in Southeast Asia. The climate in South America should still have many similarities to that there.

In order to review the possibility of promoting rubber planting in Nanyang, Zhu Tong from the Meteorological Research Institute went to Puluozhong last year, and I don’t know what the situation is now.”

Li Yan naturally knew how expensive rubber is now.

If it is just used in a small amount on a steam engine, it will be a little more expensive.

Anyway, steam engines are not cheap, even if it costs a few cents or even a dozen cents of money to buy rubber, it is nothing.

But if rubber is to enter all walks of life on a large scale, it will definitely not be possible.

"It seems that I have to find several more application scenarios for rubber as soon as possible, so that more nobles can go to Southeast Asia to plant rubber.

Otherwise, everyone would think that rubber can be used as a seal on the steam engine, so there would be no motivation to try to plant rubber."

In Zhao Xiaoer's mind, he immediately felt that he should speed up the rubber research.

Even if you just take out some immature works first, it is OK.

At that time, an exhibition will be held to let everyone see the purpose of rubber, which should be very effective.

It seems that my life in 1970s will continue.

...

When Chang'an City has just ushered in the spring season, it is already extremely hot in Nanyang.

Yuchi Huan was wearing a short pants and a short jacket, and stood casually with Zhu Tong in front of an empty land.

"Yuchi Langjun, the climate here in Puluo is very hot, which should be very similar to the climate in South America described by those seamen.

Moreover, from the perspective of the globe, both should be from the same latitude.

So His Highness, the King of Chu, said, I fully agree with trying to plant rubber trees around Puluo."

Zhu Tong's dark face was full of confidence.

As the leading meteorological expert in the Tang Dynasty, he had this confidence.

"Your Highness the King of Chu is really right. I originally just proposed to plant a few hundred acres first to see if I could plant it, but he insisted that I use all the rubber seeds and seedlings I brought back in one breath.

In this way, at least five thousand acres of land will be needed to plant so many rubber trees.”

Yuchi Huan reads the "Da Tang Daily" every day.

Although the news from Chang'an City to Puluo is outdated.

But this is still a convenient way for businesses to understand the trends of Chang'an City.

Rubber-made parts are used on the steam engine as seals, which has been reported specifically in the newspaper.

Some newspapers have also reported that some fleets made a fortune by simply relying on transporting rubber from South America to Chang'an City.

Therefore, rubber has a useful value and is relatively expensive. Yuchi Huan knows this information.

But now Li Kuan hopes that the Yuchi family will shift the focus of the entire family's development to rubber planting, so he doesn't completely agree.

The main reason is that he doesn't think the Tang Dynasty needs so much rubber.

This year, the first batch of 5,000 acres of rubber plantations may be planted. Next year, 50,000 acres of rubber seeds will be brought back from South America. Will their Yuchi family have to plant them in the ground?

According to the growth rate of trees, it is impossible to turn into rubber trees that can harvest rubber without a few years of effort.

This means that the Yuchi family invests a lot of manpower and material resources every year to plant rubber trees, but they don’t see any profit.

Even though the Yuchi family has earned a lot of money over the years, they cannot withstand such troubles.

Although the land in Nanyang is like giving it for free, it almost costs money.

However, cutting down the original trees on the land and making room for planting rubber trees requires a lot of manual labor.

But in various parts of the Tang Dynasty, there are now shortages of manpower in all walks of life.

The most ordinary helper in Chang'an City has already increased to 300 cents a month.

It is normal for a helper with a little skill to get a monthly salary of one month.

For example, a helper who is above level 4 has even increased to five stagnant per month.

Even if the Yuchi family buys all slaves to make rubber tree seeds, the money they buy is an astronomical figure.

No wonder Yuchi Huan was confused.

"Mr. Yuchi, you have been with His Highness the King of Chu for more than ten years, right? When did the judgment of His Highness the King of Chu make mistakes over the years?

When did you suffer any losses when you work with His Highness the King of Chu? Since His Highness the King of Chu supports the Yuchi family to vigorously plant rubber trees, I think the Yuchi family will give it a try and expand the scale of rubber trees as much as possible. That's right.

When other nobles in Chang'an City reacted, it is estimated that the price of rubber tree seeds will be up to a higher level."

Zhu Tong now has a blind confidence in Li Kuan.

In fact, many people in the related industries of the Chu King’s Mansion have this kind of confidence in their hearts.

"What you said makes sense. When the Cheng family and Fang family were in Guangzhou, they were also very questionable. I, Aye, did not dare to plant on a large scale, and I missed the best time.

This time the rubber tree planting, our Yuchi family can’t miss it anymore.”

Yuchi Huan doesn’t really want to plant rubber trees, but he’s a little worried and wants to find someone to share.

Now that Zhu Tong said this, he soon stopped anxious.
To be continued...