Steam Daming: Stop calling me to supervise the country

Chapter 71 Yongle Award

As the date appointed by the emperor approached, the craftsmen in Zheng He's house became more and more nervous. Of course, they were not nervous about not being able to complete it. Even the current steam engine and paddle steamer were enough for the emperor.

Everyone's nervousness is that they are involved in an incredible invention, and their names may also have a chance to stay in the history books.

Nervous about what the emperor and prince will think of them.

The autumn was high and the air was refreshing. Zhu Zhanchang left the palace today. He did not go to Zheng He's house, but followed Zheng He to the direction of the Yangtze River.

"His Royal Highness, the paddle steamer has been officially tried on the Yangtze River, and it is running well. We have a shipyard on the edge of the Yangtze River, and the next steam engine factory will be placed nearby."

Now Zheng He's mansion can't meet the needs of steam engines and paddle steamers. After trying small boats on the lake, it is now necessary to try big boats. After all, steam boats are not driven on small calm lakes, but have to endure large rivers and rivers. There is the test of the waves of the vast sea.

The carriage stopped by the bank of the river, where a huge treasure ship was leaning against. Zheng He said proudly, "This is a treasure ship sailing to the Western Seas, 44 feet long and 3.33 feet wide." In the Ming Dynasty, one foot was about 140 meters, which The boat is more than 60 meters long and [-] meters wide.

Such a huge ship, in this era, how much manpower and material resources have to be spent to build it, and how much will it cost to maintain it later.

Zheng He's fleet consisted of 62 ships. Although it was not as huge as this treasure ship, it was much larger than an ordinary ship.

The moment Zhu Zhanchang saw the treasure ship, he understood why Zhu Gaochi felt that it was too expensive to go to the West. It was too expensive to build such a treasure ship, and the trip to the West was an annual activity, which was indeed time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Moreover, the wind and waves at sea are uncertain, and the loss of any ship is huge, and it is impossible for one to sink.

Zheng He took about 7000 people on each voyage to the West, and [-] people is equivalent to bringing nearly three divisions of troops. The food, clothing, and life of these people are all spent.

A drift at sea may be counted in months, casualties, not directly looting property after arriving at the place, and fighting a few battles in the Western Ocean, and even a small loss, these are all consumption.

The first time took two years, the second time was two years, the third time was two years, and the fourth and most recent time was three years. It took an extremely long time, but I have to say that the voyage to the West made the Ming Empire prosper overseas.

The appearance of the steam engine can greatly shorten this time, and the personnel supply consumption will be greatly reduced if the time is short.

There are only two ways to make money in such maritime activities in this era
The first type of slaughter and plunder is to snatch a large amount of gold and silver ballast to return to the country. Only relying on the amount of tribute paid by the local country and local specialties is not enough to support such a fleet.

After all, the tribute is limited, and the requirements are beyond the local limits. People are not fools, and they will give you the whole family. As for the special products of spices, these things are indeed valuable in Daming.

But the essential reason for the high value is that I don’t have it in my family. This thing is a rare item. Once I bring it back, it will depreciate.

The second is to establish colonies, obtain cheap labor through powerful slavery, establish colonies overseas, and squeeze cheap labor to obtain sufficient returns.

From another point of view, if you really go to the West to make a lot of money, some people say that it violates the interests of wealthy businessmen, but the infringement also means that these wealthy businessmen and gentry must have the strength to carry out maritime trade or maritime plunder.

There should have been the Great Navigation Age of the Ming Dynasty, but there was no Great Navigation Age in history.

From the prosperous age of Yongle to the rule of Renxuan and the later change of the Ming Dynasty God of War, Tumubao, there were at least two or 30 years of prosperity and prosperity. Why did Renzong stop going to the West?Except for the first time, other voyages to the West are basically difficult to get a full return.

With the talent of Emperor Renzong, can he really control the high officials of the court and the clan?In just ten months of his reign, Renzong called to stop the Western Ocean, and Xuanzong came to power and started again.

Because Xuanzong wants to be like his grandfather in Weijiahai.

After seeing Zheng He's treasure ship, Zhu Zhanchang felt a drum in his heart. To drive such a treasure ship, the steam engine had to be built very large, and the requirements for craftsmanship were even higher.

Zheng He was keen on steam engines, that is, those who valued steam engines could greatly shorten the voyage time. As long as the voyage time was shortened, it would become possible to trade between Ming and Western countries, and such activities in the Western Ocean would have the opportunity to get full rewards.

Zhang San and the others trotted over and led Zhu Zhanchang onto a small boat that had already been built. The size of an ordinary boat was about ten meters in length. The steam engine was started, and the paddle wheel was turned, and the boat was easily started. stand up.

"His Royal Highness, we have tested it. Even if such a ship is fully loaded, the steam engine can easily drive the ship to sail, which is more than double the speed of a normal ship." Zhang San and others were very excited.

If the boat can do it, this boat can give Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi tasks. Zhu Zhanchang raised his head again and looked at the treasure boat. The ultimate goal is to let the big boat go.

"Master Zheng, the steam engine will inevitably be continuously improved by the emperor's grandfather. I think we have to treat steam engines and ships in a more formalized manner from now on."

Zheng He knew that Zhu Zhan was about to start talking, so he hurriedly asked someone to take a note next to him.

"This shipyard is very good, and there are official roads leading to it, but according to the scale, the treasure ship should not be built here."

"Yes, His Royal Highness's treasure ship is temporarily docked. This shipyard cannot build a treasure ship."

"Maintain the original scale, and plan a place next to it to build a steam engine factory and an iron smelting plant. At the same time, we need talents from all over the country, whether it is smelting or mechanical research, and the brain must be smart. Dare to think."

Zhu Zhanchang talked about it here and said: "After returning to the palace this time, I will report to my father and grandfather to apply for a grant to reward all innovative people, and the reward may be hundreds of taels or even more. A thousand taels."

When this statement came out, everyone was in an uproar.

Zhu Zhanchang firmly believes that there are many talented people in China, but he has to try his best to find these people. What is the best way, there must be brave men under the heavy reward.

What kind of Nobel Prize is there in modern times?

No, I can't name it after my own name. It's too strange. In order to get the emperor to allocate money, the emperor must be counted, and he would be happy even if he allocated the money.

In view of Zhu Di Yongle's illustrious character who likes to fight and hope to be famous, Zhu Zhanchang has an idea.

"Yongle Award and Yongle Science and Technology Medal, just apply for this name first."

After Zheng He heard his idea of ​​spending money to find a capable person, he said, "Your Highness, I know a very thoughtful person, but his brain is sometimes not very good. If you don't mind, you can meet me. ."

"Who?"

"He himself is not famous. His grandfather is relatively famous. His original name was Tao Chengdao, and he was called Wanhu."

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(End of this chapter)