Bamboo has excellent toughness and elasticity and can effectively provide cushioning, but it is not hard enough to bear heavy objects.
So Yang Xuan directly asked the craftsmen to use bamboo to make the carriage.
In the past, carriages had to use high-quality wood. The quality of the wood basically depended on the standard of density. Wood with high density was strong and resistant to construction. However, as a result, the weight increased significantly, making the car body very heavy.
But if the carriage is made entirely of bamboo, the weight will be greatly reduced, even so low that when the carriage is running, the bamboo frame can even float from the ground.
Then Yang Xuan asked the craftsmen to add counterweights, such as wheels and axles. They were made of iron, which was strong and durable and could also increase the counterweight.
Originally, Yang Xuan wanted to use steel to make wheels, but the cost was too high, and it was simply impossible to build one-piece steel wheels with the current Dasheng Dynasty technology.
As for the assembled ones, they are definitely not strong enough.
What they are now preparing to test drive is the latest carriage made according to Yang Xuan's instructions.
The entire body is made of bamboo, and there are shock absorbers made of multiple layers of bamboo between the chassis and the wheels, while the wheels are one-piece cast iron wheels.
When His Highness King Chun saw this carriage, his face suddenly turned ugly: "Sir, this is too ugly."
From ancient times to the present, luxury has always been regarded as beauty. This carriage made of bamboo is really not very good-looking.
Yang Xuan rolled his eyes: "Why are you so anxious? This is not the finished product yet. If you think it is ugly, you can decorate it. By then it will be wrapped with a layer of fine Su Jin and it won't be ugly."
His Royal Highness Prince Chun was retorted and could only remain silent angrily.
"Today we are just trying out the comfort of this carriage. When you run around in the future, the mountains are high and the water is long. Sitting comfortably is the most important thing."
"What you said is absolutely true." His Royal Highness Prince Chun followed the good advice and got into the carriage.
It has to be said that the craftsmen of this Dasheng Dynasty were quite good. A bamboo frame, including the driver, could seat three people, and it was actually very stable.
They actually know how to distribute the center of gravity in different positions and avoid exerting force on the same place. Coupled with the strength of the cast iron wheels, this carriage can be said to run fast and stable, and it is not bumpy.
His Royal Highness Prince Chun narrowed his eyes in comfort: "In the future, if you travel across mountains and rivers, having such a carriage will save you a lot of the pain of traveling. This is really a good job for you."
However, Yang Xuan didn't seem to hear what His Highness Prince Chun said. He was frowning in thought when he suddenly raised his eyebrows: "Stop the car."
The coachman quickly stopped the car. After Yang Xuan got out of the car, he said to the coachman: "Remove the carriage frame from the horse's back."
The coachman did as he was told.
"Put this harness around your shoulders again."
The coachman still did as he was told, but His Royal Highness King Chun was surprised: "Mr. Nan, you want to use human power instead of horse power?"
"Why not?" Yang Xuan said and looked at the coachman again: "Try to pull it and see."
The driver pulled the frame and walked a few steps, and then under Yang Xuan's instructions, he ran another ten meters.
"That's it." Yang Xuan took out five taels of silver and gave it to the driver: "Thank you."
The coachman didn't dare to pick it up, but Yang Xuan forced it into his arms.
"Brother Lu, what is the most expensive part of a carriage?"
"Of course they are horses. Not only are they expensive to buy, but they also cost a lot to raise. They also need to be raised properly."
"If we replace horse power with manpower as we did just now, wouldn't everyone be able to afford this car?"
His Highness Prince Chun couldn't keep up with Yang Xuan's thinking. He frowned and thought for a long time before asking: "But this cart is heavy after all. It was difficult for the driver to pull the empty cart just now. How can he ride on it? Besides, people are needed to pull it.
How can everyone afford a car?"
"Brother Lu has a lot on his mind." Yang Xuan chuckled: "The frame is heavy, so we can make it smaller. As long as one person can sit in the car, it will be fine. As for the person pulling the car, we call it a taxi."
, just like a carriage and horse dealership also has rental business."
"taxi?"
"That's right."
Yang Xuan gestured and said: "Brother Lu, look, if an ordinary family has neither a carriage nor a bearer, then he can only walk on two legs. But when he went out, he saw a person like this
Do you think it’s convenient for you to take a rickshaw and take him anywhere in the city for only thirty or two cents?"
The reappearance of Yang Xuan's scene immediately made His Royal Highness Prince Chun's eyes light up. Let alone an ordinary person, sometimes he could only walk on two legs when it was inconvenient to use a carriage or sedan when going out.
"With only three taels of pennies, you can enjoy the treatment that is almost equivalent to that of a horse-drawn carriage. It is naturally convenient and cost-effective."
"If rickshaws can be seen everywhere in Yingtian Mansion, do you think it will be profitable?"
"Wonderful." His Royal Highness Prince Chun gave a thumbs up: "Sir, you can always come up with all kinds of money-making ideas unexpectedly. It's really admirable."
Yang Xuan waved his hand and said modestly: "It's just a random thought."
Rickshaws have appeared in many movies and TV series, so they are nothing new to him.
"Since Brother Lu also thinks it's feasible, let's make a batch and give it a try?"
"Just as the gentleman said, let's give it a try."
Yang Xuan nodded and looked at the craftsmen: "I am very satisfied with the carriage I tested today, so I decided to reward all the craftsmen who participated in the research and production of this carriage ten taels of silver each."
After hearing Yang Xuan's words, all the craftsmen present were stunned.
Among them, those who have a lot of money only have more than one tael of silver per month, and those who have less money only have three to five hundred cash and ten taels of silver, which is equivalent to their income for a year or even several years.
His Royal Highness Prince Chun on the side said with a smile: "Why don't you thank me quickly?"
Only then did the craftsmen react and knelt on the ground with a plop.
Yang Xuan hurriedly avoided: "Get up, get up, you deserve this. In the future, anyone who can create new technologies and apply them will be rewarded, and they will be much more than today."
Thanks again to the craftsmen.
Since ancient times, even if a craftsman is a skilled craftsman, he can only be at the bottom of society. After all, everything is inferior and only education is good. The profession of craftsman can basically be said to be a profession that is not respected.
Although your status is nominally higher than that of a merchant, having money in your pocket is the last word. Who will respect you without money?
Yang Xuan discussed the making of the rickshaw with the craftsmen again. Of course, he didn't know how to make it, but he only needed to give directions and requirements, and the rest was left to the craftsmen.
This is called leaving professional matters to professional people, and Yang Xuan knows this well.
After returning to the hotpot restaurant, not long after, the people sent by His Highness King Chun to investigate the elder brother's matter came to report back.