Next to Guanshishan Academy, there is a small barren mountain.

There are neither mineral deposits nor beautiful scenery on this hill. Until the establishment of Guanshishan Academy, the situation here did not change.

However, when Li Kuan was planning to set up a mechanical workshop under Gewu Academy, Xu Jingzong thought about it and suggested this location to Li Kuan.

The workshop is built in an academy, which is not very suitable.

The workshop is built too far away from the academy, which is not very convenient.

Next to the barren mountain, there is a large open space at the foot of the mountain. It seems to be a good choice to encircle this area as the location of the mechanical workshop.

Today, the machinery workshop has become a favorite place for students of Gewu Academy.

"Your Majesty, what do you think of this sample coin?"

Li Kuan proposed to Li Shimin in the Daming Palace to establish the Royal Bank of the Tang Dynasty. Naturally, it was impossible for everything to end after the proposal was made.

On the contrary, because this plan was proposed by Li Kuan, who was the founder and actual manager of Donghai Fisheries and an important shareholder of Datang Royal Bank, Li Shimin simply asked Li Kuan to be responsible for the relevant matters.

Of course, it is necessary for the Ministry of Accounts to arrange necessary personnel supervision.

Even if Changsun Wuji didn't bring this up at the time, Li Shimin would still do it.

"The face of the coin is still not clear enough, which will make everyone doubt the value of the gold coin."

Li Kuan is planning to buy gold coins or silver coins.

Naturally, it is impossible to use pure gold and pure silver to make them, nor is it possible to use enough gold and silver to make one-tael gold and silver coins.

Referring to the gold and silver coins that appeared in later generations and making these currencies a symbolic thing, this is what Li Kuan hopes to achieve.

Of course, considering that in this era, everyone's acceptance level was still relatively low, Li Kuan was not so radical in creating banknotes.

However, it is still feasible to use a certain amount of gold and silver to create a currency with a fixed exchange ratio.

One gold coin can be exchanged for ten silver coins.

A one-yuan silver coin can be exchanged for one thousand copper coins.

This is what Li Kuan wants to do now.

As for the two-yuan, five-yuan, and ten-yuan gold and silver coins, this will have to be done later. It will only be possible to succeed after everyone accepts the monetary system of the Datang Royal Bank.

Otherwise, the gold content of the ten-yuan gold coin may only be several times that of one yuan. Who would use it foolishly?

"Your Majesty, this gold coin is much clearer than the best Kaiyuan Tongbao on the market. It is basically the highest level that current casting technology can achieve."

Dai Quan said with a sad look on his face.

The casting level of mechanical workshops has been greatly improved through the development of bearings and gears.

However, Li Kuan was still not satisfied.

If gold and silver coins simply exert the original properties of gold and silver, it doesn't matter whether the coins are exquisite or not, as long as they are heavy enough.

However, if you want gold and silver coins to assume certain virtual attributes in the future, it is best to do it right from the beginning.

"So, I have an idea. Can you make a mold? First cast the gold coin into a simple shape, and then press it into the mold into the shape we finally need."

Li Kuan thought of the stamping process he had learned, although it would be impossible for later generations of presses to produce it now.

However, it is still possible to make a few simple molds and refer to the principles of later presses to come up with a crude stamping mechanism.

In order to extend the life of the mold, Li Kuan even developed a carburizing process.

"It sounds feasible, but it has never been done before. I have to organize a craftsman to try again. However, in order to press out the shape we want in the mold, we need to have enough and uniform pressure, which is more troublesome.

"

The copper coins for this idea were all minted. This was the first time Dai Quan had heard of Li Kuan's plan.

However, it sounds quite innovative.

Considering Li Kuan's unfailing record in the past, Dai Quan had no doubts about the possibility of this plan.

"In this way, we can be divided into two groups, one group is responsible for making the mold, and the other group is responsible for making the pressure mechanism. In order to easily verify the feasibility of this plan, we can first carve the mold from hardwood and use pure gold to make it.

To confirm the stamping effect of gold coins."

In later generations, with the assistance of various advanced equipment, it was also very time-consuming to make a set of molds.

Although the molds needed in today's workshops are very simple, if they are made of fine steel, the results cannot be achieved in a day or two.

Therefore, Li Kuan thought it would be better to use hardwood to verify the feasibility of the plan first.

Anyway, pure gold is soft enough, so there is no need to worry about the wooden mold not being able to withstand it.

"Your Majesty is wise, this is indeed a good idea. It's just that this pressure organization has no clue at the moment, so it will probably take a while."

"Bring a pen and paper, I will draw a rough outline for you, and you can improve the pressure mechanism according to this direction."

At this time, Li Kuan no longer hid his clumsiness.

In his previous life, due to work needs, Li Kuan visited a factory that produced automobile body stamping parts and saw various stamping equipment.

There are single stamping machines, continuous stamping machines, and multi-station presses of various tonnages.

Although each manufacturer's presses are different, the working mechanical principles are actually the same.

At this time, we don’t expect to make a complicated stamping mechanism. We will be lucky if we can build the simplest single stamping machine.

Li Kuan started to draw pictures while thinking about it.

The press is mainly composed of working mechanism, transmission mechanism, operating system, energy system, support part and auxiliary mechanism. But in these days when no one knows anything about electricity, whether it is the energy system, the transmission mechanism, or the operating system,

, there is almost no need to think about it.

Li Kuan just drew the support part of the press and a simple working mechanism on the picture.

To put it bluntly, the original stamping machine in Li Kuan's picture is basically four pillars, a slider and some connecting mechanisms.

The slider is pulled up and down by manpower to complete the stamping of gold and silver coins.

Of course, without an energy system, the pressure can only rely on the weight of the slider itself.

In order to pull the slider to move up and down, there is a pulley block next to the press and a certain limit mechanism.

Otherwise, if the slider is smashed down directly, the mold will probably be damaged.

"Okay, that's the general principle. You first arrange for a craftsman to make a wooden set and see how it works."

In a mechanical workshop, the most indispensable thing is the carpenter.

Especially after the carriage workshop was built, it almost included the top carpenters in Chang'an City. Dai Quan knew it with just a brief glance.

"Prince, don't worry, it can be made in up to three days."

…

In a blink of an eye, it was already November 11th in the 11th year of Zhenguan. This was the first anniversary of Li Kuan’s marriage. Of course, there was no such thing as an anniversary this year.

However, Li Kuan felt that it was very special to have so many eleven together.

In addition, the temperature was already close to zero, and Li Kuan was not interested in going out for a walk, so he simply stayed at home with Cheng Jingwen and the little girl.

"Your Majesty, this little guy is a money addict. He is so interested in gold coins."

Cheng Jingwen watched Li Kuan holding her daughter and playing in the special baby room, with a happy expression on her face.

Li Kuan started to renovate this nursery before his daughter was born.

Floor heating and wooden floors are standard, and glass windows are also essential.

The most important thing is that he asked the carpenter in his house to make a bunch of various toys, even a slide.

Called a baby room, this is simply a small children's paradise.

Of course, the little girl who is only two months old basically doesn't know how to play anything yet. She just lies on the floor and plays with a few gold coins.

She doesn't want a wooden horse, she doesn't want a rattle, and she's not interested in any of the carved puppies or kittens.

When Li Kuan took out a few gold coin samples that Dai Quan had just sent this morning, she loved them very much.

What a little money addict.

"Hehe, she, Aye, makes so much money, she needs a money lover to help look after the house."

Although he knew that this was a child's unconscious preference, Li Kuan was quite happy to chat with Cheng Jingwen.

"But this gold coin is really beautifully made. Even I can't help but want to hold it in my hands and play with it."

Cheng Jingwen said as she picked up a gold coin.

The front of this gold coin is surrounded by six large characters of Datang Royal Bank, with a circle engraved in the middle, and below is a line of small characters for the eleventh year of Zhenguan.

As for the back, there is only one simple big character - Tang.

Originally, Li Kuan wanted to put Li Shimin's head on it, but he had to make it clear, which virtually made it more difficult to carve the mold.

This is not the most critical thing. The trouble is that in this era, the emperor is sacred and mysterious in front of the people. He engraved Li Shimin's head on the gold coins and passed them around in the hands of businessmen and common people every day...

As soon as Li Kuan proposed this idea, everyone around him unanimously dissuaded him.

Finally, Li Kuan gave up this idea.
To be continued...