Why can the assembly line plagiarized by Lu Yuan greatly improve production efficiency?
Because the assembly of a foreign gun involves more than a dozen steps.

It will take at least half a year for an apprentice to master all the skills.
However, if you only specialize in one process, you may be able to do it in ten days or half a month.

In other words, after a short period of training, a dozen skilled apprentices can be as skilled as a dozen master workers, or even faster.
This also means that more than 200 apprentices were transformed into skilled workers within half a month.
According to this assembly line model, the entire arsenal has 2,000 people.

Including guns, ammunition, grenade launchers, mortars, and all kinds of clothing, shoes, socks and supplies.

In less than half a month, the output increased more than five times.
Not only did it greatly ease the reorganization and training of the Far East Army, it could also increase the amount of arms exports to revolutionaries in other regions.

Of course, this is not only about optimizing efficiency, but also about significantly reducing costs.
For example, the pure import price of a foreign gun is no less than 50 taels of silver.
A semi-domestic foreign gun like this one, assembled from imported parts,
Including the depreciation of the machine and the labor cost, it was less than 30 dollars.
As for bullets, grenades and rifle grenades, they can be saved even more. After all, these are consumables and are used in much higher quantities.

Although the board of directors was very satisfied with this, Lu Yuan was still not satisfied.
The density of firepower determines the tilt of the war.

So he decided to develop a five-round bolt-action rifle and a Czech light machine gun.

Combined with the existing grenades and grenade launchers, it forms the “four-in-one” standard firepower configuration for grassroots company and platoon teams.

To be honest, the rotary machine guns of the great powers are too bulky.
It is large and very conspicuous, making it an easy target for enemy artillery fire.

The blueprint was already in his mind, and he could finish it in minutes.

In order to facilitate sustainable combat, he unified the barrel and ammunition caliber of bolt-action rifles and light machine guns.

To this end, he had to carry out industrial standardization reform.
To give a simple example, the most basic screws and nuts,

Previously, they were all rubbed by hand, and even if they were from the same batch, after being disassembled, there would be an embarrassing situation where they did not match each other.
After standardization, the same equipment broke down.
The good parts removed can still be assembled into useful equipment.

It not only avoids waste and improves war security, but also establishes a good production chain ecology, killing two birds with one stone.

When the Far East Board of Directors forcibly promoted industrial standardized production,
Not only did the original capitalists not understand, but even the merchant groups of the great powers protested.
Elizabeth, Barov, Ximen Youbei, and even found Lu Yuan and asked him to put the standardization on hold.

why?
Because the production standards vary among the powers,
Especially in the Izu Island, although they implemented the Meiji Restoration and fully accepted Westernization,

But the funny thing is that there are also many factions in their country.

For example, Kansai and Kanto adopted different industrialization standards due to historical reasons.

A typical example is power grid equipment. Kansai uses Europa 50 Hz, Kanto uses Damei 60 Hz.

There is also the world-famous conflict between the navy and the army. The prejudice is so deep that it is not an exaggeration to describe it as a “lifelong feud.”

Well, why are foreigners so anxious about implementing standardization in the Far East?
The author has to say that the powers have a very keen sense of smell.

The driving force behind the opening of the door to Thaliade by the great powers was, of course, interest.
What kind of benefits?
Cheap goods produced on a large scale by industrial means are in great need of a sales market.
The continent of Xis is known as the center of the world. Its geographical environment is unique and very suitable for population growth.

Therefore, the Tifa cultural circle and the Indian cultural circle of the northern Greek subcontinent,
With a population of nearly one billion, China has become a dumping market that the great powers cannot afford to give up.
When Lu Yuan pushed forward industrialization with all his strength, the business groups of the powerful countries were happy to see it.
After all, you can make money by selling machinery and equipment, as well as spare parts.
However, Lu Yuan developed his own standardization.

As long as it is fully implemented, their equipment and products will soon be squeezed out of Tifa.
Once they lose the Tifa market, their domestic capitalists and factories will suffer huge losses.
If the skin does not exist, how can the hair be attached?
Therefore, the three representatives rushed into Shen Beixuan’s office anxiously.
Elizabeth put it bluntly:

“Chairman Shen, your standardization is a monopoly and is not in line with the spirit of business!”

Ximen Youbei also questioned indignantly:

“You promised free trade, but now you are clearly trying to use this standard to interfere with private trade. This is absolutely not allowed!”

Barov also joined in and said sanctimoniously:

“The nine merchant groups are united in our belief that this move has greatly damaged the interests of the great powers. If you forcefully promote it, you will inevitably face equal retaliation!”

In fact, the Golden Horde’s trade with Tifa cannot be compared with that of industrial powers.

Their export commodities are mostly concentrated in raw materials such as food, minerals, energy and timber.

The implementation of standardization in the Far East had very little impact on the Golden Horde.
But this country has always been greedy. It will take a bite if there is benefit, and it will also take a bite if there is no benefit.

Lu Yuan laughed and asked:

“You all know the benefits of standardization even if I don’t tell you.
From a business perspective, I have to do this…”

The three representatives all looked unhappy. They didn’t expect that Lu Yuan would actually cross the river and then destroy the bridge. It was so despicable!
However, Lu Yuan changed the subject and continued:

“Of course, I will respect your interests.

For example, in terms of which standards to adopt, we are not unique…

The question is, do you have a consensus among yourselves?”

Elizabeth’s eyes lit up.
She understood that Lu Yuan would definitely promote standardization, but he could follow the systems of the great powers.
However, the nine powers have at least four or five standards.

Once the Far East selects the standards of a country, it will inevitably be of great benefit to the economy of that country.

She said without hesitation: “Of course according to Yingjisha’s standards!”

Ximen Ubei was not happy. There were two mainstream standards in Izu Province.

Even if they choose Yingjisha, it means that their industrial output will be reduced by half.

What he meant was that it would be best if Tifa had no standards, so that both specifications of the products could earn money from the people of Tifa.
In addition, Tifa is too big. If a single standard is adopted, it will greatly help Far East to unify the country.

However, a huge industrialized Tifa,
It’s like the sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of the people of Izu Island!

Therefore, he strongly advocated free trade and that the government should not interfere in industrial and commercial affairs.
The constantly chaotic, fragmented, weak Boss Tifa Kingdom is the good kingdom!

However, Lu Yuan ignored this guy.

He could smell the wolfish ambitions of the tiny island nation even from eight hundred miles away!

“It is imperative to unify industrial standards.
As for taking Yingjisha, Gaul, and Prussia, it is still very beautiful…

You go talk to the Science and Industry Committee of the Far East Yamen. I can promise that I will select the best candidates fairly and impartially.”

Adopting the existing standards of the great powers is in line with the principle of “taking what is available”.
And save a lot of time and money, these two are exactly the shortcomings of Far East,

After politely sending the three representatives out of the office, he continued to focus on the work of agricultural scale industrialization.
As the old saying goes, without business there is no wealth, without agriculture there is no stability.
In the Far East, 90% of the population lives in rural areas, which is a huge waste of labor.
If Far East wants to become the leader of Northern Tifa, it can only go the way of industrialization, and industrialization requires a large number of workers.
In the history of Yingjisha, there was a famous incident of “sheep eating people”.
However, it also established the status of Yingjisha as a veteran industrial power.
It can only be said that the establishment of every new era requires wading through a sea of ​​blood.

However, Lu Yuan will not adopt a one-size-fits-all approach. He will adopt a pilot strategy.

Take the lead in encouraging farmland annexation and mechanized planting within the Far East County.
The farmers in the county seat are more familiar with industry and commerce than with industry and commerce. The economic benefits of a farmer and a worker are worlds apart.

One mu of land, after a year of cultivation, can earn one or two dollars.

However, a worker, even a female worker, earns at least two dollars a month, which is a huge gap.

Therefore, as long as the farmers within the county seat are not stupid, they are more willing to sell their farmland.

According to Lu Yuan’s opinion, the Jidong government has successively issued agricultural policies.

At the same time, they negotiated with the Gaul representatives to import a large amount of cheap Jiaozhi rice and sugarcane as war reserve grain. Jiaozhi rice was harvested three times a year and was not worth much at all. It was shipped to the Far East by cargo ship and was 20% cheaper than local rice…

I didn’t expect Lu Yuan to be willing to import agricultural products…

It’s a big pie falling from the sky, and the Gaul representative is wearing Lego, which is so beautiful that it makes you snot!

He immediately agreed and gave a clear indication in return:
Gaul is willing to make friends with the people of the Far East and help the weak national industries in the Far East to achieve standardization.

“No matter what the other three companies offer, our price will be 10% lower than theirs!”

Hey!
This is called a win-win situation!
In the face of interests, the unity of the great powers is a joke.

Throughout history, Gaul has always been at odds with the European powers.

He fought a hundred years’ war with Yingjisha.

He also helped Da Piaoliang to incite the war with Yingjisha.
The hatred between them and Prussia was even deeper, even though they were both split from the Roman Empire.
By the way, the Gaul artillery emperor also attacked the Golden Horde and burned down their capital…

Of course, although Gaul’s overall strength is weaker than Yingjisha,
But its industry and civilization are no less advanced, and its colonies are also spread all over the world.

In particular, Gaul’s army is known to be the strongest on earth!
Give a chestnut,

The twelve-pound field gun he developed was invincible.
If it weren’t for a horseshoe at Waterloo, Gaul would have united Europe…

In addition, Dai Legao and Lu Yuan reached a secret military alliance agreement.

Send a military advisory group to serve as military academy instructors to assist in the training of the Far East Army.
In addition, five ironclad ships, 200 field guns, 500 trucks, and a large amount of military manufacturing equipment were allocated on a lease basis.
We will strive to have the ability to defeat the imperial court’s new army by the time the new year arrives.

Lu Yuan’s reward to Gaul was to open up investment in railways, mining, shipping, finance and other fields to Gaul.
At the same time, we agreed to the other party’s request to export labor services.

This one is because Gaul is short of people, which is not an exaggeration.
Among the world’s great powers, only Gaul used the “Foreign Legion” on a large scale.
It was to recruit young men from the colonies by using nationality or money to fight for Gaul, just like mercenaries.

Lu Yuan agreed to “labor export”, which is a way to make money.
There were obvious restrictions on the conditions for sending troops.
Only when Gaul itself was threatened with actual invasion would it send troops as an ally.

After receiving this assurance, Dai Lego was visibly relieved.

why?
Because, in the industrial age, the European powers
The country is full of contradictions, and is trapped both internally and externally, and is on the verge of collapse.

Especially Prussia, and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire, reached a military alliance.

Its politicians are becoming increasingly tough in their statements, and it sounds like they are sharpening their knives.

Historically, because of the proximity between Pugao and Gao, the situation of “one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers” gradually formed.
Therefore, as long as Prussia and Hungary started the war, there was no doubt that the first to be beaten would be Gaul.

An important indicator of war is the source of soldiers, which is also one of the few weaknesses of Gaul.

The reason why Dellega generously lent arms was to make up for this shortcoming. There were too many Tifa people!
Lu Yuan opened up the labor market to Gaul and also had plans to focus on “big agriculture”.

Gallic laborers earned five taels of silver a month…more than a minor officer.

Of course, this kind of thing comes from my mouth and enters your ears, and no outsiders know it.

Eager for the two sides to hit it off, the Far East Yamen and Gaul reached a strategic cooperation, and various plans were put into action.

The other eight merchant groups were naturally dissatisfied with this.

However, Gaul was too aggressive and determined to win, so other countries had no choice but to “fold their cards” in the end.

Elizabeth asked Lu Yuan privately with deep meaning,
“Do you have a secret agreement?”

Lu Yuan smiled slightly and said calmly:
“We have always advocated mutual benefit. In fact, Tifa is very big, big enough to accommodate the interests of every friend!”

Time flies, autumn goes and winter comes,
The Far Eastern naval officers and soldiers who went to Gaul,
Driving five new ironclad ships, they entered the Shiliupu Wharf in a mighty procession.

Lu Yuan was overjoyed and went to the military port to greet him personally.

The five armored cruisers equipped with rapid-fire naval guns were able to easily defeat more than 30 old Beiyang Fleet ships.

Six torpedo boats, which had been commissioned before,
With the addition of two supply ships and a troop transport ship, the framework of the Far East Navy was established.

The first Far East Navy Commander was Sa Bingzhen.

He followed the chairman and introduced the various equipment on the warship to him one by one.
Lu Yuan carefully inspected the warship from top to bottom, inside and out.
Finally, he said to Sa Bingzhen:
“True gold is not afraid of fire, want to know how strong the warship is?

The best way is to find a strong opponent to fight. The winner will stand, and the loser will fall down! “

Sa Bingzhen asked tentatively:

“The chairman’s intention is to go to war with Beiyang?”

Lu Yuan smiled and said:

“Why are you saying it so harshly?
I think it would be more appropriate to call it a ‘friendly visit’!”

“Yes! I will give the order to set sail immediately!”

“No rush, first hold a week-long ‘Navy Open Day’.
Let the people see our big warships and enhance the cohesion of the people!

After that, we will start a friendly visit!”

“Yes! Chairman, how are we going to organize the open day?”

“Well, you guys can do it the same way as the amusement park over at Ocean Beach!”

Sa Bingzhen was stunned for a moment, and asked subconsciously:

“You want to sell tickets?”

Lu Yuan rolled his eyes and walked away.
Song Sanmei said to the fleet commander with a smile:

“The chairman’s intention is to share the fun with the people, so there’s no need for tickets.

However, you can try to sell some food, souvenirs, toys, decorations, etc.!”

Sa Bingzhen seemed to have been enlightened and thanked the “Third Madam” repeatedly.

Three days later, the Far East Navy Open Day opened grandly.
Tens of thousands of citizens, bringing their old and children, came to the Shilipu Naval Port to have fun. It was a huge commotion!
This move not only increased the citizens’ sense of identity and confidence, but also brought the military and civilians closer together.
At the same time, the navy made a lot of extra money from its retail business, and everyone was happy.

The court was surprised and angry when it learned that the Far East Army had received five new warships.
As the governor of the Beiyang Fleet, Li Hefei was even more worried and proposed to quickly purchase an equal number of Yingjisha warships.
Although the court approved the funds, all of them were used to celebrate Queen Xingzhen’s 60th birthday.

Li Hefei was left empty-handed, without a penny.

Looking at the dilapidated and old warships in the Weihaiwei military port under the setting sun,
I can only sigh… Beiyang, can we still fight? (End of this chapter)