Chapter 192 Hearts of Iron 4
Guy Burns did not answer Paul immediately. He was thinking quietly, as if he didn't know where to start.
After a long time, he said: "My lord, have you ever carefully observed windmills and waterwheels?"
"Windmills? Waterwheels? Oh, aren't those very common things? , our blower will be driven by a water tanker."
"Yes, they are very common things, everyone thinks so."
A flash of excitement suddenly appeared on Burns's face.
“However, I think they are all very great inventions. Unfortunately, the people who invented them did not even leave their names in history. When I told my colleagues about my views on these common devices When listening..."
"Were ridiculed?"
"Yes, we were ridiculed. Lord Earl, what kind of people do you think we are? "
Paul thought carefully and expressed his opinion: "A group of people full of fantastic ideas and ingenuity."
Burns smiled to himself.
"Haha, whimsical ideas? Ingenuity? Indeed, we often have some weird ideas in our minds, and then fiddle with something that others think is extremely magical. But..."
Burn paused, "I think the artificer industry is developing in the wrong direction."
"Why do you say that?"
"You know The way we judge each other now is not to see who makes something more useful, but to see who makes something with more complex structure and more exquisite structure."
"Gorgeous but not practical?"
"Yes, the small, thin, and complex are admired, while the large, thick, and simple are abandoned."
"Look too much You hit the nail on the head.”
“But what makes me even more angry is that the entire industry is trying so hard to please the upper class. They use their brains to create exquisite toys just to get an invitation to a noble banquet. They would rather use their knowledge to create useless gadgets than spend a little time thinking about what all living beings really need. ”
“Windmill? Watermill?”
"Yes, they are things like windmills and waterwheels that can bring convenience to ordinary people. Although they have simple structures, they can push stone mills and irrigate fields. They are much more useful than music boxes that can play three kinds of music. The nobles and wealthy people have a large number of slaves to work for them, but the lower class people can only rely on their own hands. If we can make something that allows them to easily complete the work they rely on to support their families, that will be it. What a meaningful thing!”
“You mean that knowledge and technology should benefit the majority of people, instead of becoming playthings in the hands of a few!”
“No! Wrong, that’s what it means. This is exactly what I have wanted for a long time.”
Burns suddenly felt like he knew Paul. He slapped his thigh and almost jumped out of his seat with excitement.
Paul suddenly felt that the person in front of him was very respectable. What Burns hoped for was 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 shouted: "Bona, bring the wine!"
The chief secretary quickly served two glasses of wine to the two of them.
"Mr. Burns."
Paul raised his glass to Burns, "I want to toast you!"
Burns was flattered and quickly picked up his That part, "Sir, you are serious..."
He didn't know what to say, so he had to follow Paul and drink all the wine in the glass.
Bona on the side immediately filled their empty glasses with wine.
Paul patted Burns on the shoulder and said: "Your ideas coincide with mine."
"The reason why I want to build an iron plant and increase iron production is to It allows most people to use iron tools. Do you know that many farmers in my territory still use wooden plows and wooden hoes? I don’t know how they can endure it.”
“Sir, Ever since I saw your harvester, I knew you would agree with me. ”
The two clinked another glass, and Bona continued to fill the glass. "So, let me guess, this is why you teach those children from poor families?"
"Yes, after I teach them knowledge, they can use it according to their own needs." We need to create and improve tools according to our own needs, not things that are just for viewing and playing with, but tools that can really be used to solve practical difficulties.” It should be kept private. Many people in our industry would rather put their craftsmanship in the coffin than share it with others. I respect their personal wishes, but I never agree with this approach.”
“Well said, let’s have another drink!”
...
After a few glasses of wine, both of them were a little drunk, and Paul held Burns' hand.
“It would be a pity for a person with enlightened ideas like you not to be... not to be a supervisor. The director of the Huxin Town Machinery Factory is the person who manages all the affairs of the machine factory for me. His position is It's still available, are you interested?"
"Huh?" Burns was surprised. He immediately declined: "No, no, Lord Earl, this is too difficult for me. I am only suitable for this. Work on technology, tinker with machinery and so on.”
“I will arrange a sufficient number of affairs officers to work under you. All you have to do is decide the direction on major matters and continue working on it at other times. Things you like.”
"This..."
"After becoming the director of the factory, you can allocate more resources."
"Lord Earl, I will definitely live up to your expectations."
"Hey, now you have the right to learn about other things being developed in the factory, which will definitely interest you."
"Honestly, I can't wait anymore ”
"However, you just said that 'knowledge should not be kept private'. Although I agree with this statement, at this stage, if certain technologies are leaked, it may endanger my territory, so it should be kept confidential from unrelated people. You still have to keep it secret, otherwise, I will have to ask Cecil to visit you."
Burns was shocked. Director Cecil seems to be managing intelligence work for the count, including. Catch spies.
He raised his hand and swore: "Your Excellency, before I was transferred to the factory, I had already memorized the confidentiality regulations. Now that you are my employer and lord, I will naturally be worthy of my salary and fulfill my duties." "
Paul was very satisfied.
“Squeak——squeak——”
Just in time, the kettle standing in the fireplace boiled water, and the lid of the kettle squeaked upwards due to the steam.
Burns saw a playful smile on Paul's face.
The Earl pointed at the kettle and said: "Burns, did you see the kettle boiling?"
"Huh? Oh!"
" You can take a closer look when you're free, maybe you can see something. Oh...it's still too early."
"Uh...yes!"
Burns was a little confused and couldn't figure out what the other party meant.
Paul stared at the pot lid in a daze for a while, then suddenly turned his head.
"Okay, Burns, I won't keep you for now and go back to work."
"Yes, then I will leave first."
After the artificer walked out of the office, secretary Bernard heard the count sigh.
“Alas~ I have to do it step by step.”
(End of this chapter)