Chapter 775

"So, with the technology of building piers in the river, it won't be long before the Tang Dynasty will conquer the north and south of the river and the natural graben will become a thoroughfare." empress Chang Sun said with joy on her face.

Merton shook his head bitterly and said, "back to the queen, with the existing technology, it is only possible to build a bridge in the Yellow River. As for the Yangtze River, even in the dry season, there is a water level of two or three feet deep, so it is impossible to build piers. Therefore, my son-in-law is really powerless to build a bridge in the Yangtze River."

Merton didn't lie about this. Even the Yellow River will have the chance to cut off the flow once in a century. Even if he can't conquer the Yellow River Bridge in peacetime, there will be hope when the Yellow River cuts off. However, the water level of the Yangtze River is very deep, even in the dry season. Without modern equipment, it is impossible to build a bridge on the Yangtze River.

"Ah!" the eldest grandson queen immediately looked disappointed.

Princess Changle quickly comforted, "don't worry, my mother. Although I can't build a bridge over the Yangtze River now, my daughter believes that one day my Datang will be able to build a bridge over the Yangtze River."

Merton nodded: "although we can't do it with the current ink technology, our direction is right. Whenever we build a bridge on the Yangtze River, building piers is the top priority. With the continuous progress of ink technology, my son-in-law believes that this day will come."

Empress Chang sun's mood improved slightly. Now there are rivers in the whole Tang Dynasty, and bridges can be built. It's a great pity that the Yangtze River blocks the north and south.

Even Li Shimin can't help regretting that he failed to complete the first World War, which makes him a little depressed.

Merton suddenly had an idea and said, "although it is impossible to build a bridge on the Yangtze River at present, my son-in-law believes that there is a substitute comparable to the bridge, which may solve the dilemma of blocking traffic on the Yangtze River."

"Oh!" Li Shimin and empress Chang sun looked at each other with great interest.

"Ferry!" Morton said solemnly.

"Ferry, what is ferry? I've only heard of ferry." Li Shimin frowned.

Merton explained: "The ferry can only ferry people or carry a small amount of goods. In this way, it is very inconvenient to load and unload. However, the ferry is not. The bow is flat, flat with the ferry. The carriage is directly driven to the ship, and the carriage and goods are directly transported to the opposite bank. In this way, the carriage does not need loading and unloading. After arriving at the opposite bank, you just need to put on horses and start directly."

"It's really a wonderful method!" empress Chang sun exclaimed. In this way, it would save a lot of time.

Although Li Shimin was excited, he continued to question: "if you can transport goods with cars, this ferry must be huge. The Yangtze River is in a hurry. I'm afraid there are no sails and oars to row over."

"It's simple. We just need to put the opposite wharf a few miles downstream. Take the Yangtze River as an example. We build a West ferry at the upstream of the south bank. After the West ferry is fully loaded, the ferry goes downstream, and finally stops at the North ferry a few miles away. After emptying the carriages on the ferry, we fill the carriages and goods of the ferry again, and continue to go downstream at the North ferry The East ferry, which is several miles away from the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, will reach the shore. In this way, we only need to build three ferries in the East, West and North at the Yangtze River fortress. "Merton put his ideas out completely.

Princess Changle wondered, "what if the ferry reaches the East ferry?"

Merton explained with a smile: "when the ferry arrives at the East ferry, the task of this round is over. You can sail up the current to the West ferry and wait for the next ferry again. If the wind direction is wrong, the trackers on the shore can also pull back to the West ferry."

Li Shimin couldn't help nodding. In this era, trackers are not uncommon, especially in many sections of the Beijing Hangzhou Grand Canal. According to Merton's idea, it's only more than ten miles from the East ferry to the West ferry. It's still empty and not too difficult.

Empress Chang sun suddenly realized that the ferry was indeed much more convenient than the previous ferry. Although it was not as convenient as the bridge, it was much better than the previous ferry.

"What we need now is some larger and safer ferries. I believe this problem will not defeat the shipping Secretary of Datang," Morton said confidently.

"This is nature!" Li Shimin said proudly.

In the Treasury of the Tang Dynasty, there are many dragon boat drawings of Yang Guang's trip to the south of the Yangtze River. With these drawings as a reference, he believes that the ferry envisaged by Merton will soon appear on the Yangtze River.

"In this way, over time, we will have a smooth road in the Tang Dynasty, and the people all over the world will no longer have to be blocked by the rivers. Merton can make great achievements." the empress changsun said with a happy face.

Even Li Shimin had to admit that Merton really had two skills, and three or two times solved the problems that plagued all dynasties.

Princess Changle looked at Merton with admiration, and her face was proud.

"The queen doesn't need to praise him. With his tired and lazy character, she can't point her tail up to heaven." Li Shimin snorted coldly.

Merton said with a smile, "my son-in-law is indeed a tired and lazy character, but it is not a disadvantage, but an advantage."

"Merit!" Li Shimin said with a quick smile, "I've never seen such a generous person."

Merton held his head high and said impolitely: "My son-in-law believes that laziness is an advantage because the progress of the world is driven by lazy people from generation to generation. People are tired of walking, so lazy people invented cars, and people are tired of working, so they invented various tools. Even in the Mohist R & D department, in order not to take stairs, they specially developed elevator, so they can go upstairs and downstairs without climbing stairs ……”

"Er, er..." Li Shimin and others stared at Merton's serious nonsense and wanted to refute it, but they found that what Merton said was somewhat unreasonable.

"So you Mohists are all lazy people," Li Shimin asked.

Merton said without shame: "of course, the children of the Mohist school are not lazy. The Mohist school develops ink technology not because of laziness, but to save more time to do more work more efficiently. Therefore, the invention of the Mohist school is not because of laziness, but to be more diligent.

However, lazy people are the beneficiaries of ink technology. It is with this batch of "lazy people" that ink technology has a living space and a foothold. "

Although Merton's words are contradictory, Li Shimin understands what they mean. People all like leisure and hate work. Ink technology can make people do the same work with the least effort, which will naturally be welcomed. This is also the fundamental reason for the revival of Mohism.

Whenever Mohist ink technology is born, the biggest advantage is to simplify the originally heavy or difficult work. Who won't like such Mohist.

Soon, the imperial meal was ready and interrupted the conversation.

In the warm reception of empress Chang sun, Merton quickly integrated into the family atmosphere. Even Li Shimin took out good wine to drink with Merton for the first time. Of course, he used the crystal he sent to solve his worries.