Chapter 776 The new artifact of the national teacher
Because the bearings have not yet been made, the bicycles made by Jin Feng are very different from those common in previous generations.
This bicycle does not have a chain, but has two pedals installed directly on the axis of the front wheel.
The two wheels are also of different sizes. The front wheel is as high as Jin Feng's neck, while the rear wheel is only as high as his calf. In this way, the front wheel serves as a driving wheel and can run about two feet in a circle by pedaling.
Above the front wheel, there is a direction handle, and above the rear wheel is a base, which can be used to carry people or carry supplies.
Because there is no rubber, the wheel is just an iron ring, which looks extremely crude.
There was nothing that could be done about it. Dakang's industry was too backward. It took Jin Feng and Zuo Zhiyuan and the craftsmen from the Ministry of Industry to work hard for more than a day to make these two iron wheels.
Although it is simple and crude, this bicycle is a big deal, and it is even the first bicycle in the world.
Whenever something new comes out, some people will question it. Jin Feng didn't care about Zuo Zhiyuan's reaction and pushed the car towards the door.
The best way to deal with doubts is not to explain, but to speak with facts.
Da Liu and his bodyguards waited at the entrance of the Work Department workshop for three days. When they saw Jin Feng coming out, they hurriedly greeted him.
"Sir, is this what you've been working on for three days?"
Da Liu circled the bicycle, scratched his head and asked the same question as Zuo Zhiyuan: "This bicycle only has two wheels. It will fall over without support. Can it really be ridden?"
"Wouldn't you know it just by looking at it?"
As Jin Feng spoke, he put one foot on the pedal and rode up.
In addition to the different shape of this bicycle from the previous bicycle, the biggest difference is that there is no ratchet.
The ratchet can keep the bearing running in one direction, so the bicycle in the previous life would move when pedaling forward, but the pedals would not move when not pedaling.
But making the ratchet was too troublesome and couldn't be done in a day or two. Jin Feng simply installed the pedals directly on the wheels.
Although it is simple to make, as long as the wheel rotates, the pedals will rotate along with it.
When Jin Feng first started riding, he was not used to it and almost fell down.
Da Liu, who was standing by, quickly led two of his guards to hold the back seat of the car, fearing that Jin Feng would fall.
Jin Feng had ridden bicycles too many times in his previous life, and this memory has been engraved in the depths of his mind.
After a few twists, he got used to this kind of bicycle, and he signaled to Liu to let go.
Then Jin Feng pedaled the car and circled in the open space at the entrance of the industrial gate.
Zuo Zhiyuan kept staring at Jin Feng closely. Seeing that he could really ride, his eyes were filled with excitement and confusion.
"How can two wheels not fall to the ground?"
Even though he saw it with his own eyes, Zuo Zhiyuan still couldn't understand this problem.
Da Liu and the others didn't think too much. Seeing Jin Feng getting faster and faster, they clapped their hands and shouted in excitement.
"Master Zuo, do you accept it?"
Jin Feng rode on his bicycle and shouted at Zuo Zhiyuan.
"I'm done with it!"
Zuo Zhiyuan recovered his mind and answered loudly with a smile.
"Just take it!"
Jin Feng laughed loudly and waved his hand boldly: "Da Liu, go ride a horse. Let's go into the palace to find your majesty!"
The bicycle is ready, and it’s time to find Chen Ji to fulfill his promise.
"okay!"
Da Liu also knew about the bet between Jin Feng and Chen Ji, so he quickly called his bodyguard to lead the horse.
"Brother Liu, lead one for me too!" Zuo Zhiyuan shouted.
When Da Liu and the others were on their horses, Jin Feng turned around and headed straight for the palace.
The section of the street between the Ministry of Industry and the Imperial Palace is one of the busiest streets in the capital. There are small vendors everywhere and there are an endless stream of pedestrians on the road.
Under the constraints of Jin Feng, the bodyguards had no urgent missions, never galloped around the city, and tried not to disturb the people.
But Liu was afraid that pedestrians would block Jin Feng's path, so he made an exception and asked people to ride ahead to clear the way for Jin Feng.
"Oh, what kind of car is this? It only has two wheels. Why won't it fall over?"
"I don't know either, I've never seen it."
"Look, the person riding on top is Mr. Jin!"
"No wonder this car won't fall over. It turned out to be Mr. Jin who cast a spell!"
"Stop talking, get out of the way and don't block Mr. Jin!"
…
Jin Feng has been frequently active in the capital recently, and many people have gotten to know him.
In the feudal era, people were prone to superstition. After further processing by the storyteller, Jin Feng became more and more powerful in the story, and many people regarded him as a god.
In the eyes of the people, Jin Feng can send people to the sky, so what's the fuss about riding a two-wheeled bicycle?
The people gave way and pointed at the bicycles.
The news that Mr. Jin, the national master, had made another magical weapon spread like wildfire. After hearing the news, more and more people came and wanted to watch the fun and see what Mr. Jin, the national master, looked like.
Fortunately, the people both admired and respected Jin Feng and did not dare to block the road. They only dared to stand on the roadside and watch.
Nowadays, the capital has long been dominated by spies. Jinfeng is still far from the palace, but spies have spread the news back to the palace.
Chen Ji was originally staying in the imperial study room with the Ninth Princess to correct memorials. After receiving Yinque's report, he threw away the cinnabar pen, got up and walked towards the door.
The Ninth Princess also knew about the bet between Jin Feng and Chen Ji. When she heard that Jin Feng could really make a bicycle, she quickly put down her memorial and followed Chen Ji.
The two of them rushed to the palace gate with a group of eunuchs and maids, and saw Jin Feng in the crowd at a glance.
The bicycle made by Jin Feng was really too high. When he rode on it, he was even higher than Da Liu and the others, making him stand out from the crowd.
"It's really two wheels!"
Chen Ji put down the telescope in his hand and said with excitement: "The Imperial Preceptor is worthy of being the Imperial Preceptor!"
The Ninth Princess frowned slightly.
Jin Feng made a bicycle and rode it to the palace with such fanfare, obviously to urge Chen Ji to fulfill his promise.
Chen Ji was only thinking about having fun and never thought about this problem, but the Ninth Princess had to worry about it.
Dakang had suffered a serious treasury deficit in the past few years. Now, although it has killed a number of corrupt officials, confiscated a lot of money and grain from their homes, and stopped paying tribute to Dangxiang and the Eastern Barbarians, the pressure has been reduced, but taxes have also been reduced a lot.
For a country to function, there are too many places where money is needed.
With Dakang's current tax standards, there is really not much money left in the treasury every year, which is far from enough to support the plan proposed by Jin Feng.
The ninth princess was thinking about what to do, but her thoughts were interrupted by Chen Ji's excited voice.
"Yinque, send someone to tell the Imperial Master to let him enter the palace through the Dingsheng Gate. I also want to try this two-wheeled vehicle!"
"Take the Dingsheng Gate?"
Yinque couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
There are several tower gates in the palace, but most of them are steps, and there are only a few flat roads to facilitate the emperor's carriage in and out of the palace.
Dingshengmen is one of the flat roads. According to Dakang rules, only the emperor and his relatives can walk on this road.
Although Jin Feng is a national master, he is not qualified.