Daming 1805

Chapter 23 Go to Ask Your Majesty
As Zhu Jingyuan spoke again, the reception room where the Ministry of Engineering had just relaxed fell into a strange atmosphere again.

Many officials of the Ministry of Industry at the scene couldn't help but mutter in their hearts:
Your Highness, you have too many ideas, and the span of these ideas is too large, from land to sky to sea?

This is an idea accumulated over the years, and is it all brought out in one breath today?Why don't you come and mention it separately?

Zou Bingtai himself thought that the imperial decree that your Majesty gave you to act cheaply and make all the ministries cooperate, is that how you use it?
But no matter what they thought, they didn't say anything on the surface.

The old Shangshu Zou Bingtai reacted the fastest and said to a Qingpao official beside him:

"Mr. Wang, you are in charge of the battleship design by the ship department. Come and answer the question of His Highness Jingyuan directly."

The Ministry of Industry, Ministry of War and other central government offices are subordinate agencies to the "Pure Officials Division", and each division is responsible for a separate category of work.

When Zheng He went to the Western Ocean, the construction of the treasure ship belonged to the Water Division of the Capital City, and after the reorganization of Renwu, he established a separate ship division.

The chief officer of the Qing Li Division is "Langzhong", who is the fifth grade, and the second official is the "principal", which is the sixth grade.

The ship division designs and builds not just warships, but other types of civilian and commercial ships.

The officer in charge of the ship division responsible for warships may not be the best warship designer, but he is definitely the most familiar with the current direction of warship design.

Zhu Jingyuan, who prefers the navy, is also very curious about this shipbuilding chief, and looks forward to discussing the design of the warship with the other party.

So Zhu Jingyuan sat up straight and looked at the middle-aged official across from him with anticipation.

I saw Director Wang slightly bowed his hands to Zhu Jingyuan, and after a brief self-introduction, he asked:

"Wang Lai, the director of the Ship Division of the Lower Ministry of Works, dare to ask what type of design your Highness is referring to when talking about a fully equipped main gun battleship?"

Zhu Jingyuan explained as a matter of course:

"That is, don't install sub-caliber artillery, and use all the mature main guns of the current largest caliber, at least three, preferably four double-mounted turrets.

"At the same time, a unified fire control firing command center is used to centrally direct all main gun firing. Has anyone mentioned this design?"

Director Wang Lai nodded directly and said:
"It is true that some craftsmen have mentioned similar designs, but most of the craftsmen think that the design of this full-caliber main gun is too radical.

"The Military Aircraft Department and the Grand Governor's Office also believe that in actual combat, it is impossible to completely avoid the state of engagement of sub-caliber artillery."

Zhu Jingyuan had such an expression as expected, and after a brief consideration, he took the drawing tools on the table again:
"The main turret can be designed in such a way that the latter one is one step higher than the former, stacked like a staircase, saving hull space and armor size.

"Use a set of three or four main gun salvos to determine and correct the shooting of Zhu Yuan, and then use the form of salvos in turns to engage at a distance of more than ten kilometers.

"Then it's best to use a steam turbine, with a speed of at least 20 knots, and cover the main deck with horizontal armor to defend against falling shells from long distances."

Director Wang Lai looked at Zhu Jingyuan's picture and exclaimed in amazement:

"His Royal Highness's idea is indeed ingenious, and the idea of ​​long-distance calibration of multiple guns can also be tried and reasonable, and steam turbines must be gradually used on warships.

"But the design of the full-mounted main gun is considered too radical..."

"I know radical!"

Zhu Jingyuan directly interrupted Director Wang's words:
"But I now ask you to design like this, complete and start the construction with the fastest speed, and build a ship with the fastest speed to test the effect..."

Wang Lai was immediately stunned. His Highness in front of him was still so politely discussing with everyone, why did he become so unreasonable now:
"But Your Highness..."

Zhu Jingyuan stopped looking at Wang Lai, looked directly at Zou Bingtai and said:
"Da Sikong, even if I come out with the imperial decree, this matter has to be carried out like this. When it is really created, everyone will definitely be happy with the choice now."

Zou Bingtai was also a little confused. He didn't expect Zhu Jingyuan to suddenly change his personality, so he instinctively tried to persuade:
"His Royal Highness, the gold, silver, materials, time, and labor spent on building a warship are completely different from flying machines.

"And His Royal Highness is not a dedicated warship design master, the old minister thinks it is better to be more secure..."

However, Zhu Jingyuan still said very firmly and decisively:
"It's because of the huge cost of building a battleship that I asked to start building this new type of battleship directly.

"If it's not worth a few dollars, we will definitely choose to do the same as the flying machine and go directly to verify the effect.

"But the battleship thing can't be delayed. After this kind of battleship is built, all the old ships will be eliminated, even if it is a new ship that has just been launched.

"Building one old-fashioned warship is a waste of resources, including cruisers that will use this design in the future.

"Just stop work and start building new warships in order to truly save the resources of the imperial court."

In the face of Zhu Jingyuan's sudden toughness, Zou Bingtai and several subordinate officials were a little helpless.

The officials of the Ministry of Industry looked at Zou Bingtai, and Zou Bingtai looked at Zhu Jianyan. The meaning is obvious. Can you persuade your child, His Royal Highness?

However, princes all know the military. Through the design and use of the iron armored shield car, Zhu Jianyan already has confidence in his son's military talent.

The design and usage of the dreadnought described by my son is also very worth trying in my opinion.

Zou Bingtai and other officials of the Ministry of Industry should have similar views, but shipbuilding is a big project, and they are used to pursuing stability.

Therefore, at this time, Zhu Jianyan sided with his son after a little consideration:

"Da Sikong, I think what Jing Yuan said makes sense. We might as well build this kind of warship and try it..."

Zou Bingtai was immediately a little embarrassed.
"Would you like to ask His Majesty? As an example, the construction of a new battleship design plan was started, and His Majesty had to confirm it, but it is usually only after the design is completed that we go to ask for instructions."

Zhu Jianyan knew this rule, so he was speechless:
"Okay then, let's go and ask the royal father."

Zhu Jingyuan did not know this kind of rules, but the construction of the ship also allowed the emperor to decide, which is also an understandable operation.

It's just that Zhu Jingyuan is worried, how can he convince the old emperor...

For others, you can push the imperial decree forcibly, but for the emperor, you can only persuade.

Although my heart is somewhat uncertain, but it has reached this point, and I can only try it.

So Zou Bingtai first called the Minister of Communications and asked if the emperor had time now.

At the same time, as briefly as possible, the two princes Zhu Jianyan and his son proposed a new design idea for the battleship, and they disagreed with the ship commander, and they needed the emperor's advice.

The Secretary of General Affairs first went to ask the emperor, and then quickly gave a reply here, asking Zhu Jingyuan and others to wait at the Wuying Hall, and the emperor would pass by in a while.

(End of this chapter)