Chapter 1

The development of technology should generally follow a spiral pattern. Continuous improvement until one day the improvements no longer have any effect. The entire tense spiral is constantly squeezed under external pressure until one day it bounces to a new height. And the technological achievements of each stage should be the result of mutual support among the technological level, productivity level, and technological imagination of the time. But the current situation is not like this.

In terms of technological imagination, Ye Tao's ideas are already at the level of the Industrial Revolution, and even stepped into the modern and quasi-modern technological fields in Ye Tao's memory. The number of sheep raised by the many tribes on Benlang Plain is quite large. Although there is no Merino sheep breed that specializes in wool production like those in Ye Tao's mind, there are indeed several breeds of sheep that produce particularly good quality wool. If the wool textile industry can be developed, it will have immeasurable significance for the tribal people in the north of Yunzhou, and even for incorporating those northern tribes who were originally enemies. As long as the wool textile industry can be scaled up and generate sufficient benefits, the centripetal force of the northern nomadic people towards the Central Plains Continent will be greatly strengthened. Moreover, due to the leading nature of technology and creativity, this interest group led by Yunzhou and Dongping will last for a very long time.

The research and development work that Ye Tao is presiding over is actually steadily lowering his huge lead in creativity to a level that can be supported by the two short handles of productivity and craftsmanship. His so-called lowering is also a huge challenge for the many craftsmen in the Ye family workshop.

For example, the huge three-piece inclined impeller on top of the windmill workshop, from material selection to installation, has as many as seven hundred and forty-two production and installation steps after repeated attempts by the craftsmen, involving all aspects. But the enormous power generated by the only three wind turbine impellers used to connect the test wool textile machinery has moved everyone.

In a highly limited technological environment, putting into practice those advanced ideas and methods that have been proven effective and reliable through long-term industrial production verification is an irresistible challenge for Ye Tao as an industrial designer. Because he knows that once it succeeds, then, with the continuous updating and growth of technology and productivity, the extension of these two short handles supporting technological creativity will continue to push their common fulcrum of creativity higher and higher, until the three are almost the same length. And each increase in this fulcrum is the best proof of the designer's creativity, is defining a new height for a designer, and will raise the focus of people's admiration time and time again. Not just Ye Tao, is there any designer in the world who can resist this temptation?

In fact, in terms of time limit, Ye Tao is also doing his best. He works nearly eight hours a day, mobilizing all the technical forces of the Yunzhou branch of the entire Ye family workshop, and promoting the progress of wool textile technology research and development with extremely high efficiency. In fact, the current progress is nine days ahead of the timetable that Ye Tao had set in advance. It's just that the feeling that he must rush to do things makes Ye Tao particularly anxious.

"Lord Ye, Princess Chang and Mr. Sun Jin have been waiting at Leiting Cliff for five days. Today, the steward of the Chang family personally came to the workshop to urge you to leave, saying that they hope to return to Danyang as soon as possible to prepare for Concubine Lian's trip home." While waiting for another round of general assembly and linkage debugging, Ye Tao lay sprawled on the leather soft chair in his workshop, listening to a report from a secretary of the Jinglue Manor. This time, Feng Zi was going to Chunnan together. This trip to Chunnan had a bit of a meaning of showing the achievements of Dongping's civilization in front of the many scholars and literati in Chunnan, who was recognized for its prosperity of civilization. Even Feng Zi, who was knowledgeable and had a strong memory, was actively preparing at this moment; while Liu Qing was busy dealing with various general affairs in Yunzhou, especially the summary report of local criminal cases, and had no time to spare. The report of daily affairs had to be carried out alternately by several secretaries of the Jinglue Manor's secretariat. Without an assistant who could block most of the unnecessary things, Ye Tao had to personally listen to this kind of summary.

These clerks who could directly face Ye Tao were all from a big background, loyal, reliable, and outstanding in ability. Only in this way could they survive and develop in the secretariat, which did not have much power but had a very high right to know. Ye Tao was not a difficult boss to serve, but these clerks quickly felt why Liu Qing and Feng Zi were so important and useful to Ye Tao. Liu Qing's ability to summarize, organize, classify, and summarize various documents and put forward conclusions was extremely outstanding. He could provide Ye Tao with various data for reference without any of his own views; and Feng Zi dared to do anything he thought was right, and was not afraid of anyone's criticism or attack. For example, in this arrangement of time and schedule, this clerk did not have the courage to stop the urging of the steward of the Chang Mansion.

"I don't cooperate with anyone's itinerary." Ye Tao stretched and said, "You ask someone to tell that steward that if they feel it's too late, they can leave first. ... Also, did Danyang get the schedule of activities in Chunnan over here?"

The Chunnan envoys in Danyang, and even Chang Hongquan, were caught off guard by Ye Tao's request for the schedule of activities. Now, even this kind of diplomatic activity with the nature of a state visit is arranged very casually. Roughly set a time, and then see how it goes. Naturally, Chang Hongquan did not have to personally arrange this kind of thing. In addition to setting an invitation for Ye Tao to visit his fief Jinzhou for about three days, he pushed everything to the current Chunnan envoy to Dongping. And that envoy and the group of officials, attendants, and imperial guards who had arrived in Danyang to welcome Concubine Lian had discussed for a long time, and finally came up with a very watery schedule. And this arrangement is now really in the hands of the clerk. The clerk took out that thin page, but arranged a schedule for nearly two months, and quickly read it.

Ye Tao frowned and said, "You reply that I'm not interested in visiting gardens. There's no garden in Chunnan worth my visit."

These words spoken by Ye Tao were full of pride. He personally took the lead in designing those buildings, from the earliest Zhan Garden, Jiao Ao Villa, and Xunfeng Pavilion, to the later Xiu Garden, Danyang New City, Seven Seas Pagoda, and even projects such as Tiecheng and Sufeng City. Not only were they changes in garden and architectural design, but also changes in construction technology and construction management. Any landscape architect or architect of this era who can preside over the construction of even one of these projects can be regarded as the highlight of their career, but Ye Tao has almost wholesaled these classic designs. Ye Tao is indeed qualified to say these words, despising the Chunnan gardens, which have rarely changed much in decades or even hundreds of years. Refusing to put boring social activities such as garden visits on his itinerary is a very, very strong and sufficient reason.

The secretaries of the Jinglue Manor all knew that after Ye Tao made a decision, it was their business how to implement it, and then they only needed to report the results. And dealing with small matters like the steward of the Chang family, Ye Tao was clearly more tough, so there was no need to discuss this issue any further. The secretary made a note in his notebook and continued to report: "After that, the entire border line bordering Northern Liao shows signs of increased troop deployment on the other side of the buffer zone. Northern Liao has successively increased its troops by nearly 5,000 on the Dalun Mountain side, while on the southeast side of Yunzhou, we only have one garrison battalion stationed there, and the opposite Northern Liao military force is close to 10,000. Although no signs of Northern Liao troops launching an attack have been found, nor have any preparations for launching an attack been found, the situation is quite tense."

Ye Tao frowned and asked, "When did this situation report arrive?"

"It just arrived an hour ago. It was issued in the name of Xu Yao, the deputy commander of the Jingyun Cavalry, and has been copied to Commander Dai of the Command Headquarters as required," the clerk reported.

"Call a meeting of the Command Headquarters at Leiting Cliff in six days. Make arrangements before leaving Yunzhou. As for the meeting preparations, I don't need to remind you again, right?" Ye Tao's expression was calm and composed.

Although this tense situation has appeared on the eastern line of Yunzhou, it can be regarded as relatively peaceful given the current situation around Yunzhou. The re-equipment and reorganization of the Yunzhou armies are also progressing very smoothly. I believe that Northern Liao will not be able to cause any trouble. And with tens of thousands of Dongping troops stationed on the Beining Pass line, according to the situation reported by the Intelligence Bureau, Northern Liao is currently still in a period of panic over the military strength of Beining Pass, and has not yet come up with a way to deal with it. Even if they want to break through from Yunzhou, their troops are quite limited. Ye Tao pondered for a moment and continued to order, "The Tieyun Cavalry Sixth Battalion should be re-equipping in the workshop now, right?"

The secretary flipped through the record book in his hand and replied, "Yes, sir. The battalion commander is Song Ye."

"Let them advance to the southeast after re-equipping and await further orders. Have Song Ye come to see me before departure," Ye Tao ordered. Being qualified for re-equipment means that this battalion has fully met the standards, and is only lacking familiarity with the equipment. And sending such a unit to the front line to complete this link in a tense atmosphere is a good choice in every respect.

"In addition, send a letter to the headquarters of the Intelligence Bureau, stating that from now on, it is hoped that all intelligence documents related to Northern Liao, regardless of the size of the matter, can be copied to the Jinglue Manor. The tone in the official document should be as polite as possible. I will personally go to Danyang to discuss and implement this matter with General Nie. The official document is just a formality." After thinking for a while, Ye Tao added, "Also, let the defense line on the Dalun Mountain side move around a little bit. Let those guys leading the troops take charge themselves. Just don't really start a fight."

Ye Tao's deployments took into account all aspects. In particular, the mobilization of a battalion left a lot of room for deployment after the Leiting Cliff military conference. Even if he claims not to understand military affairs, this thoughtful deployment cannot deceive people. He still has his own unique insights in strategic planning.

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I want to say that Ye Tao is no longer making things alone. Behind him is the entire IKEA team. Most of the time, he is just a proposer of ideas. As for realization, it is the repeated efforts of countless workers.