Accompanied by the whistling northwest wind, Chang'an City officially entered the winter mode.

However, this winter is not deserted all day.

Every now and then, a fleet of ships returning from America and Australia docked at the Weishui Wharf, bringing everyone various surprises.

Although there is no news about corn and sweet potatoes yet, many of the proven things such as peppers and potatoes have been brought back.

What made Li Kuan and Li Yan even more happy was that a large amount of rubber was brought back to Chang'an City.

Among them, it is said that a batch of rubber tree seedlings were left in Zhonghe Yazhou, Puluo and have begun to be planted.

This laid the foundation for the large-scale production of steam engines.

"Prince, with these tens of thousands of kilograms of rubber, our sealing needs for the next year will be fully met, and we can also open it to carry out various experiments. At that time, the second-generation steam engine will definitely be researched faster."

At the Steam Engine Research Institute of Guanshishan Academy, Li Yan was very excited to tell Li Kuan about the arrangements in the institute.

Since the Mingzuo Railway was officially opened, Li Yan has been working hard in the research institute again, hoping to make a better steam engine.

"Well, this rubber has a very wide range of uses. It is not only the best material for sealing, but also some shock-absorbing parts that can be reviewed and replaced. You can set up a rubber research institute under the School of Chemical Technology to develop more rubber products."

Li Kuan knew that the rubber industry was an industrial category with an important position in later generations.

Whether it is seals, tires, or other daily necessities, there are many places where rubber is used extensively.

Even the condoms that scumbags are essential for traveling at home are made of rubber.

"Your Majesty, in Chang'an City, I have come to us to buy steam engine use authorizations, and there are more than ten institutions. In less than a few years, the annual output of Datang's steam engines will definitely reach 100 units, or even 1,000 units.

At that time, there will definitely be a lot more rubber seals needed, and the performance requirements will be much higher. It is indeed necessary to set up a special research institute.

In fact, in my opinion, it is not only necessary to set up a rubber institute, but also to set up a casting institute, forging institute, or even stamping institute to help the production of various parts.”

Although the Steam Engine Research Institute is a research and development institution, it has now built its own steam engine workshop to start producing steam engines on a large scale.

This is definitely not the same concept as producing one or two steam engines and producing dozens or hundreds of steam engines.

Before, many things were made one by one by one by craftsman.

Although many workshops in the workshop city have begun to launch marked parts, the steam engine has returned to a relatively primitive state.

All parts are almost made by hand, not only with high costs, but also with low production efficiency.

Now Li Yan naturally has to consider changing this situation.

"No problem, Liu Jie can arrange it and organize the teaching and students to establish corresponding research institutes."

Guanshishan Academy now wants to have its own independent institute teaching, but there are a lot of them.

After so many years of training, many talents have been discovered, laying a certain foundation for the industrial revolution of the Tang Dynasty.

Now the technology of steam engines has begun to spread. In a few years, the industrial revolution of the Tang Dynasty will really begin to show its own power.

At that time, purely handmade workshops will definitely experience a wave of bankruptcy.

Those who can adapt to changes will definitely become stronger.

Those who are self-confidence may be swept into the dust of history.

"No problem, I will make arrangements right away!"

Liu Jie, who has been following Li Kuan and has not spoken, naturally has to stand up and express his attitude clearly at this time.

"I heard that the Agricultural College has made the scale of greenhouse construction very large. After reading the Steam Engine Research Institute, let's go to the Agricultural College Research Institute for a walk."

Visiting various research institutes of Guanshishan Academy is an activity that Li Kuan likes very much.

If you give a quick tip to those teachings, the Tang Dynasty may have a new breakthrough in some aspects of its technology.

"The territory of the Agricultural College is the largest in the entire college. Not only do they occupy hundreds of acres of land within the college, but they also have thousands of acres of experimental fields on the bank of the Wei River next to the college.

Among them, more than 100 acres of experimental fields are made of greenhouses made of glass, used to provide research on crop breeding and other aspects."

Liu Jie does not have any innovative ability, but he has strong execution ability and is also very familiar with the situation of the academy. He is a complete butler.

Soon, he took Li Kuan to appear in the greenhouse of the Agricultural College.

"Your Highness, why are you here?"

As soon as Li Kuan entered the greenhouse, he saw Fan Ren Tang coming towards him.

Tang Jian's third son did not live his life as a second-generation official, but instead became obsessed with agriculture.

Although he has been promoted to the Sinnong Shaoqing by Li Shimin, he still runs to Guanshishan Academy all day long.

As one of the earliest students of Guanshishan Academy, Tongren Tang is now a senior teacher in the Agricultural College and has his own independent research project.

However, in the past two years, his interest has gradually shifted to the cultivation of new crops. The entire greenhouse he was responsible for planting strange plants, and he has cooperated more with the beast garden.

"I heard that the entire Guanshishan Academy Agricultural College's new crops are all in this greenhouse. I naturally have to come and join in the fun and see what new crops you have cultivated."

Li Kuan and Fan Tang are quite familiar with each other and speak very casually.

"Then you are right. The new sausage we have cultivated in recent years is 7 or 8 kilograms per kilogram, which is definitely different from the sausage sold outside."

As the most classic dish on the tables of the people in winter, 白花花 is an indispensable vegetable in the daily life of the people in Chang'an City.

In particular, the method of storing sausages has been circulated from the Chu Palace. Even if it is not grown in a greenhouse, everyone can eat some fresh vegetables in winter.

"Seven or eight pounds per piece? That's really good. It's basically my ideal state."

Li Kuan personally led the cultivation of ginger vegetables back then, so he was naturally very familiar with its changes.

Whether it is drying vegetables, making pickled vegetables, or hiding them in a cellar to eat in winter.

The people of Chang'an City have already played with the vegetables.

After the large-scale planting of chili peppers this year, the chef of the Chu Prince's Mansion even began to make spicy ginger dishes, which is now the most popular side dish in Haidilao.

"Look! This, this, and that piece are several kinds of glutinous vegetables we are cultivating. Starting next year, a batch of seeds can be provided for farmers to grow. When everyone planted new glutinous vegetables, the yield could increase by at least 30% or 40%, making glutinous vegetables a real vegetable that every household can afford."

Fan Ren Tang really likes agriculture, otherwise he would not have fallen into this field.

You should know that even if you have your own independent research institute, even if you are already the leader in this industry, your working environment is destined to be relatively harsh.

It is normal to get to the ground in person.

Recording data in the fields all day long and observing the changes in the growth of crops is also considered a daily task.

Fortunately, Guanshishan Academy attaches great importance to the Agricultural College, and will tilt towards the teaching and students of the Agricultural College in terms of various funds and subsidies. Otherwise, the number of students in the Agricultural College will definitely decline significantly in recent years.

"Very good, these ginger dishes are better than I thought!"

In a trance, Li Kuan felt as if he had returned to his later generations.

Compared with the saury dishes in Chang'an City more than ten years ago, these rows of saury dishes are completely different.

On the contrary, it looks almost the same as those in later generations.

"We also tried to plant various seeds bought from Hu people before. Now we are confirming what can be eaten, what can be used for viewing, what can be used as medicine, do you want to visit there?"

Guanshishan Academy Agricultural College not only studies grain crops and vegetables, but also cooperates with the Medical College to study the large-scale planting of various medicinal materials. It also launches some flower potted plants to the market, which gradually gains some commercial atmosphere.

"Go and go and have a look!"

After hearing what Fan Tang said, Li Kuan immediately became interested.

Back then, he bought seeds from various Hu people at a high price, but he was Li Kuan's favorite.

Now that this task has fallen on the head of the Agricultural College, he also wants to go over and see if there are any surprises.

"This is the seeds bought from a Qiang man, and the flowers planted are very bright; this is the seeds bought by a Hu merchant in the Western Regions. It seems that cattle and sheep like to eat this grass.

The small piece next to it is a seed bought from merchants from Nanzhao Kingdom. It is said that this thing is an important medicinal material for some witch doctors in Nanzhao Kingdom. We are still studying its use with the medical school.

And these are the seeds given to us by the Japanese, saying that they are a unique lily. Not only is the color different from those of our Tang Dynasty, but they can also emit a relatively strong fragrance."

Fan Ren Tang introduced Li Kuan the crops in the greenhouse one by one.

Obviously, he really calmed down and studied it carefully, otherwise he would not have been so familiar with these things.

"Hey, where did this flower come from?"

Soon, Li Kuan followed Tong Ren into another greenhouse. Looking around, it was a yellow ocean.

"Your Highness the King of Chu, these things that look a little similar to yellow chrysanthemums, but their flowers are many times larger, are seeds bought from a seaman.

It is said that this seafarer was the first to come back from South America this year. At that time, people even extorted me dozens of stagnant money before they were willing to sell me the seeds."

Fan Ren Tang was obviously impressed by this thing.

Although Guanshishan Academy issued a reward, all those who brought back novel crops from overseas hope to receive generous rewards.

However, it is not that you just find some flowers and plants, and then say that this is found overseas, and you can get the reward immediately.

For example, the thing in front of him was actually a special chrysanthemum in his eyes. He was naturally unwilling to buy it at the sky-high price.

The seaman also picked some seeds on the roadside in South America, and just did it casually, so he did not put too much expectations.

"What chrysanthemum, this is a sunflower!"

"Sunflower? The name is really appropriate. This thing is really sunflower from the time it sprouts to the time it blooms.

Its leaves and flower plates follow the sun from east to west during the day. When the sun sets, the flowers slowly swing back. In the second half of the night, they start to turn east again, waiting for the sun to rise."
To be continued...