Take the warehouse back to the end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 696 Vulcanized Rubber
Led by Liu Wenzhong, Zheng Yiguan and the others walked into the palace.

At this time, Zhao Wen did not choose to meet them in the imperial study room, but chose to meet Zheng Yiguan and the others in the Hall of Zhonghe.

The imperial palace in Xuanzhen is the smaller imperial palace in the capital city. In terms of the setting of the palace, it is similar to the imperial palace in the capital city.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the so-called Jinluan Hall, which is mainly used to hold great court meetings and some important ceremonies.

Zhao Wenduan sat on the throne in the Hall of Central Harmony. Because it was not a particularly formal interview, Zhao Wen didn't wear a dragon robe, but ordinary clothes.

Zheng Yiguan and the others walked into the Hall of Central Harmony, looked at Zhao Wen sitting on the throne, and bowed to salute.

When Zheng Yiguan and the others entered the palace, Liu Wenzhong briefly explained the rules to them.

In Zhao Wen's case, except for such important events as offering sacrifices to heaven, kneeling is required, other times, there is no need to kneel, just bowing.

Zhao Wen waved his hand, "Get up! Come here, give me a seat!"

Chen Donglai walked down from Zhao Wen's side, fetched a stool, and placed it behind Zheng Yiguan.

Zheng Yiguan thanked him and put half of his butt on the stool.

Zhao Wen said with a smile on his face: "Zheng Aiqing did a good job this time, a very good job!"

Zheng Yiguan hurriedly replied: "All this is thanks to His Majesty!"

"Haha, what are you talking about, what do you mean by my blessing?" Zhao Wen shook his head with a smile, and then said: "How is the situation in America now? How is the survey going on in the Americas? How are the statistics on terrain and so on?" How is it?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Wen couldn't wait to learn more about America.

Zhao Wen's longing for this piece of land is still the same, and he has long wanted to hold this piece of land in his hands.

"Returning to Your Majesty, after I went to America, I surveyed the coast of the Americas, and drew detailed charts along the way. With the charts, it will be much more convenient for me to go to America in the future.

Chen established about a dozen rubber plantations in America, and these rubber plantations produced a large amount of rubber.This time, Chen brought back all the rubber accumulated in the past two years.

The plantation is located in Central America. Near the plantation, the Saxons established several mines, and the minister snatched these mines.

In addition to robbing the mines, I also let people survey various mines in the local area, and the hard work paid off, and many veins were discovered..."

Zheng Yiguan sat in the main hall and talked about what happened in America in the past two years.

After Zhao Wen heard the word "Saxon", he suddenly became vigilant.

Saxons are the name of this era for the "shit stirrers" of later generations, and this era is when the shit stirrers expand.

As the Thirty Years War draws to a close, the restless country is heading overseas.Now they have set their sights overseas, and America has become their goal.

At this time, the shit-stirring sticks had already established colonies in the Americas. Although the colonies were not large, they paved the way for later large-scale colonization.

The Renaissance is over, and the Industrial Revolution is coming. In another five or sixty years, the Industrial Revolution will appear.

At that time, this shit-stirring stick will turn into a hungry wolf, relying on the weapon in his hand, to rampage in the world, and eventually become the empire on which the sun never sets.

If Zhao Wen hadn't come to this era, the rise of the shit-stirring stick would be unstoppable.However, Zhao Wen is here, and Zhao Wen will definitely not just sit and watch the shit-stirring stick develop.

"Saxons, Saxons." Zhao Wen muttered a few times, then looked at Zheng Yiguan, "there are not many colonies established by the Saxons in America today, but they should not be underestimated. This country is a country where money is paramount. For their own interests, they can do anything. If you meet them again in the future, you can't be merciful."

Zhao Wen's eyes were full of murderous intent. Zheng Yiguan didn't know why Zhao Wen's reaction was so strong, but he didn't ask.

"When I came back this time, in addition to the things His Majesty named rubber, I also brought some ores and local products from America. These things are now on the train, and they must have been transported. When I go back , present these things to His Majesty." Zheng Yiguan said.

"Don't be so anxious, these things can't fly." Zhao Wen said.

Although Zhao Wen wanted to see these things very much, but now that these things have arrived in Xuan Town, there is no need to be so anxious.

"Are these the business representatives you told me about in the memorial?" Zhao Wen looked at the business representatives behind Zheng Yiguan.

Zheng Yiguan replied: "Your Majesty, these merchants are the representatives of the merchants I mentioned earlier."

Zhao Wen nodded, and looked at these business representatives with a smile, "You guys went to America with Zheng Aiqing this time, lived in America for two years, and cooperated with Zheng Aiqing to transport rubber and other things.

You have made a great contribution this time, regarding your rewards, the Senate will tell you after deliberation, so you don't have to worry.Before that, you can put forward what you need. "

As soon as Zhao Wen finished speaking, a businessman stood up.

Zheng Zhihu stood behind Zheng Yiguan. He looked at the businessman who stood up with dissatisfaction.

Standing up at this time, do you want rewards so much?Are you in a hurry?Even if you want to reward, you also need to score occasions, right?
Zheng Yiguan turned around with dissatisfaction on his face.

"Before I came here, I told you that this is not my place, and you should be more cautious in doing things. Are all my words fart? Just ignore my words. Really, it doesn't matter the occasion!" Zheng Yiguan slandered.

Of course, this businessman knew that it was inappropriate to stand up at this time, but he was a short-tempered person, and he wanted to ask some questions face to face, and he couldn't wait for such a long time.

The businessman's name was Lin Donghao, and he saluted Zhao Wen respectfully.

"Is what His Majesty just said true?" Lin Donghao asked.

Zhao Wen didn't feel anything, Zhao Wen still understood the truth that if you want the horse to run, you need the horse to eat grass.

"That's right!" Zhao Wen said, "Do you have any needs?"

"Your Majesty, the grassroots don't have any major needs. I just want to ask Your Majesty, can these light bulbs in Xuanzhen City be sold to the south?" Lin Donghao asked.

After seeing the light bulb, Lin Donghao was very concerned about this magical thing.

Therefore, after hearing Zhao Wen's words just now, Lin Donghao couldn't wait to ask.

As soon as Lin Donghao said this, the business representatives all looked at Zhao Wen with piercing eyes.

These businessmen had the same thoughts as Lin Donghao, and they also saw huge business opportunities from this light bulb.

"Haha!" Zhao Wen didn't answer directly, but laughed out loud.

Not only Zhao Wen, but even Chen Donglai couldn't help laughing.

Lin Donghao didn't know why, he didn't know why Zhao Wen laughed.

"I understand what you're thinking. Although the light bulb is good, it's not so easy to light it up. It needs electricity. As for electricity, it needs a power plant..."

Zhao Wen roughly talked about the conditions of use of light bulbs.

After hearing Zhao Wen's voice, these businessmen suddenly became depressed.

"So that's how it is!" Lin Donghao said with a dejected look on his face, "It's the grassroots being rude, please forgive me, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Wen waved his hand, "It's okay! How about it, now in my declared town, as long as the goods are allowed to be sold, you can sell them. For these merchants who are going to America this time, I can also lower the price."

As soon as Zhao Wen said this, the depressed businessmen became excited again.

"It's getting late, you guys go down!" Zhao Wen said to the people in the hall.

When the people in the hall were almost gone, Zhao Wen asked Zheng Yiguan and his brothers to stay.

Zhao Wen stepped down from the throne and came to Zheng Yiguan.

Zheng Yiguan hurriedly stood up from the stool.

"Go, walk with me!" Zhao Wen said and walked out.

Zheng Yiguan hurriedly followed behind Zhao Wen.

When Zhao Wen came to the imperial garden, Zheng Yiguan followed closely behind Zhao Wen, not daring to look around.

"You said how many people and how long would it take for me to completely control the Americas?" Zhao Wen asked as he walked.

Zheng Yiguan thought about it, and after a while, he said: "Your Majesty, a thousand well-equipped soldiers and horses are enough to bring down America. But if America is completely controlled, I am afraid that the population required will be a huge number." number.

As for how long, I can't say.If there are many people immigrating to America, the time will be short.The fewer people immigrated to America, the longer it took. "

"You're right. If you want to completely take America down, you need a huge population and a lot of time. If there is only one America, then I don't need to bother so much. However, Nuer Gandusi and Wa Kingdom also need a huge amount of people. Population. In this way, the population in my hands is simply not enough.

Although I have formulated an order to encourage childbearing a long time ago, it will take at least ten years to see the effect. " Zhao Wen frowned tightly.

"Forget it, let's not talk about these things. These things can't be rushed!"

Zhao Wen shook his head and put the matter behind him.

"Have you explored the narrowest place in the middle of America?" Zhao Wen suddenly stopped and looked at Zheng Yiguan.

Zheng Yiguan said: "Your Majesty, the survey has been carried out. In the middle of America, the narrowest part is only more than 160 miles wide. This is the result of the survey sent by the minister."

"Have you ever thought about digging a canal here? Dividing America into two parts, North and South, once the canal is opened, it will be much more convenient, and the time to go to the other side will be greatly reduced." That thought was spoken.

In this era, the Americas are still connected, and there is no distinction between North and South America.

If there is no canal, it will take a lot of time to get to the other side.

Although it is too early to say that it is too early to dig a canal, there is nothing wrong with planning ahead.

"Dig a canal?" Zheng Yiguan's eyes widened. He really didn't expect Zhao Wen to have such an idea.

"Your Majesty, there are not many people in America now, and although the narrowest place is not wide, it is not narrow either.

A total of more than 160 miles in length, it may not be easy to dig out.Moreover, the current digging of canals does not seem to be of much use to the new dynasty. " Zheng Yiguan said.

"I know it's not easy, but sooner or later we have to dig. Although it doesn't seem to be useful now, it won't be so in the future.

The canal must be dug. When you return to America, I will dispatch a group of craftsmen to carry out detailed surveying and mapping of this place first. When the time is right in the future, we will start digging. " Zhao Wen said.

Zhao Wen asked some more about America, and Zheng Yiguan knew everything.

After Zheng Yiguan went back, it was already afternoon.

Zhao Wen originally wanted to stay with Zheng Yiguan for dinner in the palace, but Zheng Yiguan refused.

At this time, all the goods removed from the train station were also sent to the warehouse in Xuanzhen.

Before that, Zheng Yiguan also got out the various ores and native products in the cargo, and sent people to the palace.

Zhao Wen stood in the imperial study room, looking at the ores and souvenirs sent by Zheng Yiguan on the ground.

Because there were a lot of things, Zhao Wen only asked people to take some of each item.

The largest one on the ground is a piece of silver ore, which is a kind of silver ore called "argentite".

This ore has a high silver content, around 80.00%.Because the chemical formula is simple, it is easy to refine and the cost is low.

Zhao Wen squatted in front of the ore, stroking the two-foot-square ore.

The ore looked unremarkable, leaden gray.

"Tsk tsk tsk, it's just different. Any shot is a silver ore!" Zhao Wen looked at the silver ore, speechless.

"Okay, let's put all these things in the treasury of the palace as a souvenir." After Zhao Wen finished reading these things, he pointed to the things on the ground and looked at Chen Donglai.

Chen Donglai hastily led people to carry these things out.

Zhao Wen returned to the chair, and he took out some rice paper and his drawing tools.

Zhao Wen spread the rice paper on the table and fell into deep thought.

"Although rubber is an indispensable thing for industry, natural rubber cannot be directly used in industry. Natural rubber is not wear-resistant and has a soft texture. Without special treatment, its practicality is too low.

So, the vulcanized rubber has to come out.The vulcanization of rubber is not difficult. It is mentioned in the organic chemistry part of high school chemistry books of later generations. I also know about industrial vulcanized rubber. "

Zhao Wen recalled the content of industrial vulcanized rubber in the books of later generations.

Vulcanized rubber is a relatively large category, which includes unsaturated rubber and saturated rubber.

Among them, unsaturated rubber can be divided into six subcategories.The simplest and most versatile of these is vulcanization with sulfur.

The advantages of sulfur vulcanization are that it is cheap, easy to manufacture, and can be produced in large quantities, which is very suitable for Zhao Wen today.

Similarly, the disadvantages are also obvious, the most significant disadvantage is that the service life of this vulcanized rubber is not long at high temperatures.

But for the current Xuanzhen, this level of vulcanization is enough.

According to his memory, Zhao Wen wrote down the process of vulcanizing rubber in detail.

(End of this chapter)