Tibet.

Chapter 1290 Bohai News
"Are there any disputes among you regarding asking Japan for help?" Li Ye asked again.

"There is a little controversy, but not a big one. I am against asking Japan for help. I have been to Japan twice and I can feel the Japanese's wolfish ambitions, but others cannot feel it and do not believe what I say, including our king. He supports asking Japan for help because Japan's reinforcements will come faster. The Tang Dynasty's reinforcements will arrive next year at the earliest."

"Do you think Japan will send troops to support you?"

Yang Chengqing nodded, "It is very likely. A few years ago, Fujiwara no Nakamaro, the ruler of Japan, prepared to invade Silla. He built 500 ships and stationed 30,000 soldiers. Later, the plan to invade Silla was cancelled, but their warships and troops are still in training and can cross the sea at any time. They can't find an excuse to send troops, but our request for help has given them a rare excuse. So these 30,000 Japanese soldiers may have already arrived in Bohai. I am worried about this!"

Li Ye walked a few steps with his hands behind his back and asked, "How big are your ships? How big are the Japanese ships?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the ships of Bohai are about 3,000 tons, with more than 200 ships, and their style is the same as that of the Tang Dynasty. The ships of Japan are about 2,000 tons, also known as turtle ships, which look like turtles and are more flexible!"

Li Ye thought for a moment and asked, "You came to the Tang Dynasty by sea from Bohai State, so you should pass through the Tsushima Strait between Japan and Silla, right?"

“Yes, that’s the way to go.”

"No storm at sea?"

Yang Chengqing shook his head. In fact, we followed the route of the Japanese envoys to the Tang Dynasty, which is to follow the land, first the coastline of Bohai Kingdom, then along the entire Silla Peninsula, across the East China Sea to Dengzhou. The whole journey was calm and there were no real storms. "

"Never met him?"

"Basically, yes. Our guide said he has been traveling this route for twenty years and has never encountered a hurricane."

Yang Chengqing paused and continued, "We met the Tang army on Jeonra Island and received supplies and fresh water."

Jeju Island is today's Jeju Island. It is a small link and branch line in the entire Liaodong strategy. It is a chess piece arranged in advance to destroy Silla. Five thousand troops and thirty ships from Donghai Island entered Jeju Island a few months ago.

In addition, Jeonra Island is also a strategic node on the sea route. Currently, the safest sea route to Silla, Japan and Bohai Sea is to follow the coastline to avoid sea storms. Jeonra Island is the transit and supply point on this sea route, which is a bit like the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.

"How is the garrison on Jeonra Island now?"

"Not bad. There was a pirate group on Tamra Island, but they were destroyed by the Tang army. The nearby waters feel safe now. Otherwise, we would always be worried."

Li Ye nodded, and then inquired in detail about Bohai's internal affairs and military affairs, and learned about the distribution and population of various ethnic groups in Bohai, including Mohe, Goguryeo, Han, Khitan, Xi, Turkic, and Shiwei, as well as the tax and agricultural conditions. He basically figured out the bottom line of Bohai.

Li Ye was very satisfied with Yang Chengqing's cooperation, so he asked someone to accompany him back to the East Pavilion of the Honglu Temple to rest.

Wei Jiansu stayed, and with him was the Privy Councilor Duan Xueshi, who was meeting Yang Chengqing.

Li Ye ordered someone to fetch the Liaodong map collected in the staff room.

There is currently no sand table in Liaodong. Only the Andong Protectorate drew a detailed map, which included the current Bohai Kingdom and Whale Sea, and even part of Japan and Silla appeared on the map.

This map has been revised many times and is currently the most accurate map of Liaodong. It has become the basis for Li Ye's strategic deployment in Liaodong.

It can be clearly seen from the map that the original Goguryeo territory has been occupied by the Tang Dynasty and became its territory. Basically, the boundary is today's Imjin River. South of the Imjin River is Silla, and north of the Imjin River belongs to the Tang Dynasty's Andong Protectorate.

But now the entire Liaodong has been lost, the territory of the Tang Dynasty has been compressed to Pingzhou south of the Liaoxi Corridor, and the Andong Protectorate has been divided between the Khitan and Silla. Silla's sphere of influence has expanded northward to the Yalu River.

Li Ye's Liaodong strategy was to wipe out all forces in Liaodong, including Silla, within three to five years.

"Your Highness, the situation in Liaodong has become complicated!" Wei Jiansu whispered.

Li Ye nodded and smiled, "But the unrest in Liaodong is also an opportunity. When we get out of this, the overall situation will be decided." He said to Duan Xiushi beside him, "Immediately notify the Liaodong intelligence scouts to find a way to investigate the situation in Bohai. I want to know if the Japanese army is already in Bohai?"

"Wei Chen obeys the order!"

Li Ye thought for a moment and said, "Also, notify the naval forces in various places to gather ships with a capacity of more than 5,000 dan in Dengzhou."

"Follow the order!"

Duan Xiu bowed and left in a hurry.

Li Ye then smiled at Wei Jiansu and said, "It just so happens that there has been a breakthrough in the steam engine. Let's go and take a look together!"

Wei Jiansu said happily: "It is said to be a monster machine. I don't quite understand it. Let's go and take a look!"

The steam engine was making a lot of noise and was no longer in the engineering department. Instead, a large shed with a high wall around it was built on the bank of the Wei River north of Changmao.

Building a steam engine is certainly difficult. Even though Li Ye drew the schematic, it still took nearly two years to develop and cost tens of thousands of strings of money.

Currently, the production of steam engines is in the charge of Yao Chunshan, the director of the Military Equipment Supervision Office, and his apprentice Wei Jincheng, who is currently the deputy director of the office.

When Li Ye returned from Youzhou in August, 90% of the work had been completed. Now, two and a half months have passed, and it has basically been successful.

Li Ye and Wei Jiansu arrived at the factory and saw the boiler was burning. Steam poured into a huge iron cabinet through the pipe, driving a piston rod to move back and forth.

Yao Chunshan was a famous master of mechanisms in the Tang Dynasty. He designed many complex mechanisms. The secret room that Li Ye used in Wubenfang was designed by him.

The gravity clock that appeared last year was also made by him. He has trained a group of apprentices and has built hundreds of gravity clocks so far, with one in the capital of each state.

Yao Chunshan also experienced many ups and downs in making the steam engine. He understood many principles, but he could not make it because he did not have the right materials. For example, there were pipes for transporting steam and chimneys for exhausting steam and coal smoke. In the end, the pipes were made of white lead and copper alloy. White lead is zinc, which was refined in large quantities in the Tang Dynasty and was generally used to cast coins, Buddha statues and decorations. After being made into copper alloy, it has good ductility and is suitable for making pipes and chimneys.

Yao Chunshan sighed and said to Li Ye and Wei Jiansu, "There was an explosion at the beginning of the year, which killed two craftsmen and destroyed the completed steam engine. This was our worst experience."

"Why did it explode?" Li Ye asked.

"A large amount of steam could not be discharged, and the boiler could not bear it and exploded. Later, we installed a chimney and a valve. If the pressure is found to be too high, the steam must be discharged in time. Experienced boiler operators are very important, and we are training them specially."

Li Ye nodded silently. Without various instruments, he could only rely on experience.

Wei Jiansu asked, "How many have been built in total?"

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, a total of seven were built. In fact, the fourth one was successful. Since then, it has been continuously improved. Now it is the seventh one. I mainly observe how long it can run continuously. It started running yesterday. This is very important. If it breaks down at sea, it will be a big trouble."

"How long do you think it can run continuously?" Li Ye asked.

Yao Chunshan bowed quickly and said, "Your Highness, it will take at least two months. If the mortise and tenon joints are strong enough, then it will not be a problem to run continuously for more than three months, or even half a year. I am considering the worst outcome."

Li Ye nodded. The internal parts of the entire steam engine are all cast in copper. Like furniture, the most important thing about a steam engine is its sturdiness. Currently, there are no screws or nuts, so the outer shell can only be cast as a whole as much as possible, and the internal parts rely on traditional mortise and tenon technology, so that they will not suddenly fall apart after running for a period of time.

Li Ye said slowly: "I hope to hear the good news that you have successfully developed the product next spring."

(End of this chapter)