Daming: Apocalypse of Longevity

Chapter 209 Steam Paddle Steamer

Although Xiong Wencan only mentions it lightly in this memorial, it is not difficult to see that the reason why Xiong Wencan wrote this memorial to himself has a lot to do with Zheng Zhilong.

After all, Mao Wenlong was making a living as a pirate in the East China Sea, plundering the coastal cities of the Japanese country, and it could not hinder Xiong Wencan, the governor of Fujian. On the contrary, Zheng Zhilong, who was well-established in Nagasaki, the Japanese country, must have suffered a lot from this, so the real I'm afraid Zheng Zhilong is the one who is anxious.

The plan to acquire the Zheng Group was originally planned to be carried out next year, but now it seems that it can be moved forward a little bit.

Zhu Tianqi then called for Sun Yuanhua and asked about the R&D and production situation of Daming No. [-] Machinery Factory.

Nowadays, major state-owned factories have completed construction and officially started production. The production efficiency has naturally reached a level that shocks everyone. They all marveled, "These big guys spraying hot air are really good at making things." And fast!”

At that time, in order to complete the construction of the state-owned factories as soon as possible, the production equipment needed by the major state-owned factories was directly purchased by Zhu Tianqi in the Krypton Store. If there are too many, you can't always buy them in the Krypton Life Store. In that case, your life span will be stretched again.

Therefore, for the development and continuation of science and technology, Zhu Tianqi specially built the First Machinery Factory of the Ming Dynasty, which was specially used to develop various machinery to meet the production and military needs of the Ming Dynasty.

Now this machinery factory is mainly managed by Sun Yuanhua, and the people who carry out R&D and production work in it are mainly Taixi people. It is not easy to find people who understand "machinery" from Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Tianqi provided Sun Yuanhua with many books on steam engines and mechanical engineering for reference by Sun Yuanhua and his Thai and Western people. He even bought several samples from the Krypton Life Store for them to dismantle and study.

The First Machinery Factory of the Ming Dynasty was built not far to the east of the Imperial College, which should now be the Shuntianfu University of the Ming Dynasty. It can also be regarded as a large-scale experimental and practical base. In the university, people learn mechanical related knowledge and research on this topic. Students can go to the machinery factory at any time to conduct field research and inventions.

The principle of the original steam engine was not complicated, and with the reference materials and samples given by Zhu Tianqi, it was not difficult for Sun Yuanhua and his Thai and Western people to imitate a new steam engine.

But they soon discovered a big problem - tightness.

The sample Zhu Tianqi gave them was bought from the Krypton Life Store. Even though the construction was simple, the materials used were advanced for the Ming Dynasty at this time. The Ming Dynasty now has no way to make rubber.

Without rubber, the sealing problem of the steam engine could not be solved well, so Sun Yuanhua and his Taishi people began to desperately look for substitutes for rubber.

Fortunately, Daming's current sealing technology is very mature. Although there is no rubber, you can find other glues, such as Eucommia gum, which are even better than rubber.

But after all, due to production constraints, it is impossible for every steam engine built in the future to use Eucommia gum, so raw lacquer, cloth, etc. can only be used instead. Overall, the expected effect can be achieved.

Now, after more than half a year of research and development and production, Daming No. [-] Machinery Factory has successfully developed several models of steam engines. Taking advantage of the opportunity to enter the palace, Sun Yuanhua also reported to the emperor about the recent progress of the machinery factory. situation and R&D results.

After reading Sun Yuanhua's memorial, Zhu Tianqi was very satisfied with the results they had achieved in the past six months, but it was obvious that the steam engine they could produce now was completely unable to meet his psychological expectations.

As of today, Li Banghua's shipyard has built three more Galen ships and two Karak ships. In addition to the previous three ships, there are four Galen ships and four Karak ships, enough to form a fleet. .

However, by imitating the warships of the Taixi people, I am afraid that there is no way to defeat the Taixi people. Now that Ming Dynasty lacks shipbuilding talents, it is impossible to develop and manufacture warships that are more advanced than Galen ships and Karak ships. "Physical plug-in"!

Zhu Tianqi planned to equip these eight warships with steam-powered systems as auxiliary power.

As we all know, in the naval battles of this era, maneuverability and sailing speed are a key factor that can determine victory or defeat, and in this age of sails, wind direction has become the key to victory or defeat.

However, trying to control the direction of the wind is not only unrealistic in today's Ming Dynasty, but it will also be beyond the reach of manpower a few hundred years later, so we still have to work hard on the ship.

After installing a steam power system on a ship, the ship's power no longer relies on sails. Not only can its speed and maneuverability be greatly improved, it can even do the "unnatural" thing of traveling against the wind and current.

When Ming's warships no longer depend on the direction of the wind, they can sail freely in the sea. In this era, which fleet can be the opponent of Ming?

Sun Yuanhua and the others were not in a hurry to develop steam power systems for eight warships. Zhu Tianqi had no choice but to go to the Krypton Life store and find out the relevant information about the "Yellow Hu" steamship and bring it to Sun Yuanhua.

The Huanghu is my country's first steam paddle steamer, and it is a product of the Westernization Movement, more than half a century later than Westerners made steam ships.

But if the Ming Dynasty were to take the lead in transforming four Galen ships and four Karak ships into steam paddle steamers, it would be nearly two centuries ahead of the West.

The so-called steam paddle steamer is a ship that uses a steam engine as power and a paddle wheel as a propulsion device. The paddle wheel here does not refer to the Ming Dynasty, but to the Ming brand. Simply put, the paddle wheel is hung on The sides of the boat allow the paddle wheels to be clearly seen, rather than hidden in the water.

In fact, this type of paddle steamer has been around for a long time, but it is powered by manpower instead of steam power. Existing paddle steamers are equipped with human pedals inside, which requires many people to pedal desperately in the cabin. board to provide power.

So if we switch to steam power now, simply speaking, we just use a steam engine to replace the human pedal. It is relatively easy for Sun Yuanhua to accept and understand, and it is much easier to transform.

Although steam engine paddle steamers have many shortcomings, Zhu Tianqi could skip the stage of paddle steamers and directly build propellers. But now Zhu Tianqi is more anxious to solve the problems in the East China Sea, so he can only make do with this relatively simple device first. .Zhu Tianqi planned to send the Ming Navy directly south after the eight warships were refitted, and take advantage of the opportunity of annihilating Mao Wenlong to completely conquer the Zheng Group, and then use the Zheng Group's foundation in the Japanese country to gradually infiltrate and slowly plan for it.

The Japanese country is indeed a land lacking in materials, but it is a large silver-producing country. Its silver output is second only to the Americas. Based on this alone, Zhu Tianqi has no reason not to capture it. Furthermore, when it comes to the Japanese country, who can Can there be no hatred between the country and the family?

Therefore, the next target after the Ming Dynasty occupied Siberia was the Japanese state.

At this time, in Siberia, the Ming army was engaged in a war with the Romanov dynasty's army.

After the Russian envoy returned to China, he relayed the arrogance of the Ming Dynasty to Mikhail, the tsar of the Romanov dynasty. Mikhail did not speak, but turned to look at his father, Filaret the Great Shepherd, who was sitting next to him. head.

Patriarch Filaret was under house arrest in Poland for many years. It was not until 1619 that his son Mikhail was released six years after he became czar. Mikhail also announced that Filaret had returned to the country after his return. Larlet has the same treatment and power as the Tsar, and Filaret's words are equivalent to the Tsar's edict.

So far, the real ruler of the country of Ross has become the "overlord" Filaret.

Philalet said expressionlessly: "Since the Ming Kingdom is so arrogant and rude, let us warriors from the Ross Kingdom teach them etiquette. I believe that the next time you go to the Ming Kingdom, the Ming Kingdom will It will definitely be much more respectful!”

Following Filaret's order, the Russian state quickly gathered an army of nearly 5 people. They set off from Moscow and headed straight for the Ural Mountains.

Although 5 people is not many, it is already the limit of the existing military strength of the Russian State. The Russian State not only needs a large number of troops to resist and prevent the invasion of Sweden and Poland, but also retain a certain amount of troops to maintain the Romanov dynasty. rule.

Nowadays, Philalet is exercising an iron-fist rule over the country of Russia, which has greatly suppressed the power and status of the great nobles of the country of Russia. These people have long been dissatisfied, and Philalet is naturally aware of this. How could we not be on guard against them?

In addition to these necessary troops, in order to defeat the Ming army in one fell swoop and let Ming know the power of the Rus' State, the Rus' State could be said to have brought in all the troops it could muster to make up the numbers. It is really hard to be able to gather these 5 people. He has tried his best, which is enough to show Filaret's determination to send troops this time.

However, let alone the 5 people who were cobbled together, there were [-] brave and capable Cossack mercenaries. The Ming Dynasty was not afraid of them. After all, in terms of the quality of the soldiers, the Ming army was no worse than the Cossack mercenaries. In terms of weapons and equipment, the Ming army was slightly better. One chip, so there is no reason to be afraid of them.

The 5-strong Ross army was divided into dozens of troops, led by different officers, and hurriedly rushed to station in front of the western foot of the Ural Mountains. Because these troops were temporarily recruited from various places, the quality of the soldiers varied. , and there is no organizational discipline at all.

It was better when everyone was busy on the road. Now 5 people have gathered together, and it has become a mess in an instant. Some people get together to make money, some drink and brag, some fight, in short, what are they doing? There are all of them, but it doesn’t look like they are here to fight.

In fact, this is not surprising. These Russian soldiers have no enthusiasm for this war, because this battle is meaningless in their opinion.

It's okay to start a war with the Ming Dynasty, so far away. After all, I heard that the Ming Dynasty is very rich, and maybe a lot of loot can be taken back from this battle. Thinking about it this way, I can still have some expectations for this battle.

However, the facts tell them that they are not going to directly attack the Ming country, but the Ming army stationed in Siberia. Even if he was temporarily captured as a young man, he was already very resistant to participating in the war. Now that there is no profit, who is willing to sacrifice his life?

After Man Gui got a report from the sentinel on the mountain that Ross’s army was gathering at the foot of the mountain, he hurried to the sentry fort on the mountain and observed the situation below the mountain with military binoculars. After all, the emperor had sent a letter to remind him that Ross might send troops to war against Daming. , preparing him to resist the attack of the Russian army.

Now it seems that this time the Russians are finally going to fight with me for real. With a glance, the troops at the foot of the mountain spread for several miles, at least 5 to [-] people, so they can no longer take it seriously.

Mangui immediately summoned the Ming troops from several nearby cities and strongholds to the Ural Mountains to prepare for battle. The Ural Mountains were used as the city wall, and no Russians were allowed to pass.

However, when the Ming army had gathered 3 to [-] people and was ready for battle on the Ural Mountains, the Russian army at the foot of the mountain had not yet restored order. It was still in chaos. Dozens of Russian officers who looked like officers gathered together. Know what you are arguing about.

In fact, what the Ross officers were arguing about was very simple, which was the issue of who would take the lead.

Of course, they are not trying to seize the opportunity to be the vanguard, but no one wants to be the vanguard. After all, if you attack the top of the mountain from the bottom, any fool knows that the soldiers in front are to be human shields.

At this time, the Ross officers were clearly divided into different classes. These officers near the central area of ​​Moscow believed that they were superior to others, including the Ross coach who was responsible for leading the army to attack the Ming army this time. His combat arrangement was to let the locals The legion is in the front, and the center legion is in the middle and behind as the main force.

But Russia is different from the Ming Dynasty. The Czar's rule over local areas is not that strong. The farther away from Moscow, the more so. Therefore, everyone naturally does not take this coach too seriously, especially when the coach arranges for them to go to the front. When you die.

The conflict between the two sides intensified instantly. Before the battle started, officers from dozens of units started to quarrel.

Mangui could only see Ross's officers arguing through the telescope, but he could not hear what they were arguing about. Of course, even if he could hear the sound, he might not be able to understand what they were saying.

Man Gui looked left and right. The soldiers of the Ming army were all lying on the ground one by one. They had set up their guns and lay on the hillside for a long time. If they waited for these Ross people to finish their quarrel, I really don't know when they would have to wait. At that time, everyone was lying on the ground until their bodies were numb, how could they still fight?

Mangui decided not to wait any longer. Since the Russians would not attack, he would "strike first to gain the upper hand." Anyway, the emperor had already said in his previous letter that the Russian envoy to the capital had declared war on the Ming Dynasty, so he still had no business with etiquette. ?

(End of this chapter)