Chapter 189： Hearts of Iron IV

Guy Burns didn't answer Paul immediately, he thought quietly, as if he didn't know where to start.

After a long time, he said, "My lord, have you carefully observed the windmill and waterwheel?"

"Windmills? Waterwheels? Oh, aren't those very common things? Our blowers are driven by waterwheels."

"Yes, they are very common things, everyone thinks so."

A look of excitement suddenly appeared on Burns' face.

"However, I think they are all very great inventions. It is a pity that the names of those who invented them have not been left in history. When I tell my colleagues about these common devices..."

"Have you been ridiculed?"

"Yes, I was ridiculed. My lord, what kind of people do you think we artificers are?"

Paul thought about it seriously, and expressed his opinion: "A group of people full of whimsy and ingenuity."

Burns smiled self-deprecatingly.

"Haha, whimsical ideas? Ingenuity? Indeed, we often have some weird ideas in our minds, and then tinker with something that others find extremely miraculous. But..."

Burns paused, "I think the artificer industry is developing in the wrong direction."

"how you said that?"

"Did you know? The way we judge each other now is not to see who makes things more useful, but to see who makes things with more complex structures and more delicate structures."

"Gorgeous but not practical?"

"That's right, the small, thin, and complex are admired, and the big, thick, and simple are rejected."

"Too fancy the aspect of 'Qi'."

"You really hit the nail on the head. But what makes me even more angry is that the entire industry is working hard to please the upper class. They have worked hard and racked their brains to create exquisite toys, just to be able to win the honors at the noble banquets. An invitation. They would rather use their knowledge to make useless stuff than spend a little time thinking about what the masses of people really need."

"Windmill? Watermill?"

"Yes, things like windmills and waterwheels that can bring convenience to ordinary people. Although they are simple in structure, they can drive stone mills and irrigate fields. They are much more useful than music boxes that can play three kinds of music. Yes. The nobles and the rich have their own large numbers of servants to work for them, but the lower classes can only rely on their own hands. If we can make things that allow them to easily perform the work that they need to support their families, it will be What a meaningful thing!"

"You mean that knowledge and technology should benefit the majority instead of being a plaything in the hands of the few!"

"Yes, that's what it means, and it's exactly what I've wanted for a long time."

Burns immediately had a feeling for Paul, and he slapped his thigh, as if he was about to jump out of his seat excitedly.

Paul suddenly felt that the person in front of him was very respectable, and what Burns hoped for was already very close to the "universal value" of the previous Industrial Party - to let people all over the world enjoy the fruits of industrial development.

He yelled, "Bona, bring the wine!"

The chief secretary quickly served two glasses of wine to the two.

"Mr. Burns."

Paul raises his glass to Burns, "I toast you!"

Burns was flattered, and quickly picked up his share, "My lord, you are too serious..."

He didn't know what to say, so he followed Paul and drank the wine in his glass.

Bona at the side immediately filled their empty glasses with wine.

Paul patted Burns on the shoulder and said, "Your philosophy coincides with mine."

"The reason why I want to build an iron factory and increase iron production is to make iron tools available to most people. Do you know that many farmers in my territory still use wooden plows and wooden hoes, and I don't know them. How can you bear it?"

"My lord, ever since I saw your harvester, I knew you would agree with me."

The two clinked another glass, and Bona continued to refill the wine.

"So, let me guess, this is why you teach those qióngrén children?"

"Yes, after I teach them knowledge, they can manufacture and improve tools according to their own needs. They are not things that are ornamental and playful, but things that can really be used and solve practical difficulties. tool."

"And I believe that knowledge should not be kept private. Many people in our industry would rather take their craft into the coffin than share it with others. I respect their personal wishes, but I absolutely do not agree with them. this method."

"Well said, let's have another drink!"

…

After a few glasses of wine, both of them a little tipsy, Paul held Burns' hand.

"It's a pity that someone with an open mind like you should not be a... supervisor. The director of the Huxin Town Machinery Factory—the person who manages the big and small affairs of the machinery factory for me. The seat is still vacant. Are you interested? ?”

"Ah?" Burns was surprised, and he immediately declined: "No, no, Lord Earl, this is too hard for me. I am only suitable for dealing with technology and tinkering with machinery."

"I will arrange a sufficient number of officers to work under you. All you have to do is to decide on the direction of the big things, and continue to do what you like at other times."

"this…"

"After becoming the factory manager, you will be able to deploy more resources Earl, I will definitely live up to your expectations."

"Hey, now you have the right to learn about other things that are being developed in the factory, which will definitely interest you."

"Honestly, I can't wait."

"However, you just said that 'knowledge should not be kept private'. Although I agree with this sentence very much, if some technologies are leaked at this stage, it may endanger my territory, so it should be kept secret from irrelevant people. It is still necessary to keep it secret, otherwise, I will have to ask Cecil to visit you."

Burns was shocked. Cecil seemed to be in charge of intelligence work for the earl, including catching spies.

He raised his hand and swore: "My lord, before I was transferred to the factory, I had memorized the secrecy regulations by heart. Now that you are my employer and lord, I will naturally be able to afford my salary and fulfill my obligations."

Paul is very satisfied.

"Squeak—cheep—"

It just so happened that the kettle on the fireplace boiled water, and the lid of the kettle squeaked and turned upside down under steam.

Burns saw a playful smile on Paul's face.

The earl pointed to the kettle and said, "Burns, do you see how the kettle is boiling?"

"Huh? Oh!"

"You can take a look at it when you're free, maybe you can see something. Oh...it's still too early."

"Uh...yes!"

Burns was a little confused, unable to figure out what the other party meant.

Paul stared at the lid for a while, then turned his head suddenly.

"Okay, Burns, I won't keep you here, go back to work."

"Yes, then I will take my leave first."

After the artificer walked out of the office, Bernard, the secretary, heard the earl sigh.

"Oh, I still have to take it step by step."