192: Chapter 192 The war against the Xiongnu cannot be delayed!

"Father!"

Zhao Fusu bowed respectfully.

"Mm."

The First Emperor nodded.

Influenced by Zhao Fusu, General Wang Jian's household had also switched to communal dining.

Zhao Fusu, the First Emperor, General Wang Jian, Li Si, and Feng Quji sat at one table.

As the banquet began, Zhao Fusu noticed beef on the table.

With the advent of the steam rotary tiller, plow oxen were being served on the tables of the nobility.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, their conversation shifted to the conquest of the Xiongnu people.

General Wang Jian said, "The war against the Xiongnu people cannot be delayed!"

"Mm."

"I know."

Zhao Fusu's view was consistent with General Wang Jian's.

Current public opinion supported his fight against the Xiongnu.

But if they were to fall into a quagmire of war that affected the people's livelihood, it would inevitably lead to public opposition.

The Nobles of the Six Lands were eager for Great Qin and the Xiongnu to fall into a war of attrition; only then would they have a chance to destroy the Qin state.

General Wang Jian did not say much more; he had already given the necessary reminders.

Zhao Fusu then explained his strategy for conquering the Xiongnu in detail.

"His Majesty the Head of State..."

"You say the price of one of your Wool Sweaters can be as low as ten coins?"

Li Si said in utter shock.

"Correct."

"If you don't believe it, you can visit the Cloth Workshop."

"Good!"

The First Emperor had long wanted to know how Zhao Fusu had managed to make the cost of Wool Sweaters so low.

Thus, the First Emperor, Li Si, General Wang Jian, Wang Xia, and Feng Quji formed an inspection group and arrived at the Cloth Workshop for an inspection.

When they saw that one Steam Textile Machine could draw out two hundred woolen threads, their eyes widened.

A Hand-cranked spinning machine could only draw out one woolen thread.

This one Steam Textile Machine was equivalent to two hundred Hand-cranked spinning machines; no wonder Zhao Fusu could drive the cost of Wool Sweaters so low.

The Steam Power Loom appeared to be modified from a Treadle loom.

Without the need for workers to treadle, the flying shuttle could weave the warp threads together.

Both the Steam Textile Machine and the Steam Power Loom were full of mechanical beauty while in operation.

Whether it was the First Emperor, Li Si, General Wang Jian, Wang Xia, or Feng Quji, they were all so transfixed they couldn't move.

With such highly efficient production tools, they now understood why Zhao Fusu could bring the cost of Wool Sweaters down so low.

After leaving the Royal Cloth Workshop, Zhao Fusu arranged the deployment work.

As he issued one command after another, messengers carried his orders to all parts of Xianyang City.

Great Qin Empire Academy of Sciences, Steam Academy.

A massive steam tractor was parked in the courtyard, with a large lamp housing installed directly in front of the steam tractor.

A kerosene pressure lamp was placed in the center of the lamp housing.

Elder Mos Team attached steel carriages to the back of the steam tractor.

There were four wheels beneath the carriages.

The wheel hubs were made of steel, and the tires were made of synthetic rubber refined from petroleum.

Tires made of rubber are more efficient than iron tires, mainly because rubber tires have a relatively larger contact area with the ground, fit the ground better, and have lower rolling resistance.

In contrast, iron tires are hard and create greater rolling friction when in contact with the ground; the vehicle needs to overcome more resistance when traveling, making it more laborious.

Six carriages were hitched behind the steam tractor.

Each carriage had a load capacity of about 5 tons.

After starting the steam tractor, the driver drove it first to the Aerospace Academy to load the Hot Air Balloons and Liquefied petroleum gas tanks into the carriages.

Next, the driver drove the steam tractor to the military camp.

Soldiers transported the pre-prepared five tons of Mortar shells, one hundred mortars, and explosive packs into the carriages.

Tens of thousands of Revolver soldiers escorted the steam tractor, leaving Xianyang and heading north along the Qin Straight Road toward Shangjun.

Elder Mos Team lived in the empty carriages.

It took too long to restart a steam tractor, so the steam tractor traveled toward Shangjun day and night without stopping.

Infantry marched at ten kilometers per hour, covering fifty to sixty kilometers a day.

Infantry could not keep up with a steam tractor running twenty-four hours a day, so besides sending a hundred Revolver soldiers to sit in the steam tractor and its carriages, Zhao Fusu also had over a thousand cavalrymen armed with revolvers accompany them.

Furthermore, Zhao Fusu notified the garrisoned troops in the commanderies and counties along the way to guard the Qin Straight Road to prevent the steam tractor from being attacked by bandits.

They also had to handle logistics, providing food and drinking water while also changing horses for the Cavalry to ensure they didn't fall behind.

The supplies carried by the steam tractor were the source of Zhao Fusu's confidence in conquering the Xiongnu people and absolutely could not be lost.

To ensure the steam tractor's range, Zhao Fusu had already set up dedicated supply points along the Qin Straight Road to replenish the steam tractor's coal and water tank.

This time, Elder Mo personally accompanied them, closely monitoring whether the steam tractor would malfunction under high-intensity, long-duration work, and guarding against cylinder explosions.

Although no safety accidents had occurred yet, Elder Mo did not dare to be careless.

According to what His Majesty the Head of State said, once a Steam Engine head suffered a cylinder explosion and caused an explosion, its lethality would be even greater than that of an explosive pack.

Elder Mo had seen the explosive power of an explosive pack.

If a cylinder explosion really occurred, his disciples sitting on the Steam Engine head would be blown to pieces.

Moreover, the carriages were carrying so many Mortar shells and explosive packs.

If the Steam Engine head exploded and detonated the Mortar shells and explosive packs, the consequences would be unthinkable!

With Elder Mo's occasional observations and maintenance, no accidents occurred during the day.

At night, although there were soldiers from the local commanderies and counties holding torches on both sides of the Qin Straight Road, the light was not particularly bright.

For illumination, Elder Mo had the kerosene pressure lamps lit.

Instantly, a massive beam of light shone forward, brighter than the headlights of a car, making the road a hundred meters ahead clearly visible.

"Puff puff puff, puff puff puff!"

"Woo woo woo, woo woo woo..."

The massive sound of the Steam Engine operating and the whistle echoed across a great distance in the dark night.

The Qin Army along the way were seeing this big guy for the first time, and they all gazed curiously at the steam tractor pulling six large carriages.

After the steam tractor had consumed most of its coal and the water in the tank, it entered a supply point to replenish its coal and water tank.

The Cavalry and accompanying personnel took the opportunity to rest and eat.

Once the steam tractor had replenished its coal and water tank, they continued on their journey.