Ming Zhengzhi, I am Zheng Kezang

Although the roads in the shipyard have been repaired and smoothed with cement, after a heavy rain, the roads are still wet and slippery, and there are even small ponds in several low-lying places.However, this wet environment did not disturb the good mood of the children in the camp. More than 200 half-year-old children were happily preparing for the upcoming ceremony.

The sound of crackling firecrackers sounded, and a dozen boys beat the gongs and drums without a sense of rhythm. Amidst the chaotic and noisy sounds, Zheng Kezang walked to the altar and offered a chicken and a chicken to the statue of the Dragon King. Small animals such as ducks and fish.

Immediately, Zheng Kezang recited the prayer aloud: "The ocean is free, the boat is long, the dragon king protects, the waves are not prosperous"

After burning the prayer, Zheng Kezang led the crowd to burn incense and worship. After kowtowing to the Dragon King three times, he got up and announced loudly to everyone in the boat yard: "Today is a good day, the sky is high and the sea is wide. It is the time for boating. Yu Te Bestow Bingchen No. [-] Guangzhou ship as Dongshenghai! Now it is officially launched!"

Following Zheng Kezang's order, the Dongshenghai was slowly gliding on the mud-smeared beach under the traction of Ligong.Zheng Kezang watched the long and narrow warship from a safe position. Although he was not very satisfied with its tonnage and speed, it did not prevent him from admiring the No. [-] warship under the name of Tongziying.

"It's entering the sea!" When the red-painted bow suddenly lifted under the action of buoyancy, cheers resounded. In the past few months, these half-grown children have come to the boat almost every three days They also left their hard work on the Dongshenghai, and they are naturally qualified to cheer for this beautiful boat.

"This is a beautiful ship, with birds painted on both sides, which is very beautiful. Of course, the religious activities just now were also very solemn." The British craftsmen who also participated in the launching ceremony said in a hurry. "However, we still hope that when His Highness presides over the launching of the sloop in a few days, the launching ceremony of Yingguili can be adopted."

"There is no champagne for sale in your store." Zheng Kezang naturally knew what the British-style launching ceremony was. "If you can use rum instead, I can try it." Of course, this is not a problem. The British who like to pretend are just talking about a ceremony. It doesn't matter whether they use rum or champagne. "By the way, what do you guys think of this Chinese hard sailing boat just launched?"

Zheng Kezang deliberately asked this question in order to let Ma Yuan, Tang Tong, Wu Hu, and Li Ping standing behind him, the teenagers who finally agreed to give up their status as soldiers and study shipbuilding, but the shipbuilders of Yinggui and Li were honest and blunt. commented: "The hull is too narrow. Although it is possible to increase the speed of the ship, the stability is bound to be poor, and the design of the hull is to increase the speed of the ship. However, judging from the setting of the mast, there will not be many sails, which will inevitably reduce the speed of the ship. This is a contradictory strategy and an outdated and backward design.”

"The hull is too narrow and it is not conducive to the arrangement of artillery. If the plan of staggered distribution on both sides is adopted, the length of the hull will inevitably be wasted." The British continued to talk endlessly, and after finishing this one, they continued to comment on that one. "Of course, this is an unarmed boat with a load of only 15 tons. It can't carry too many artillery, but what if the tonnage of the ship is increased?" The British shook his head. "I can only think that this is a close-combat ship similar to the Spanish Armada designed for subsequent battles. It may be suitable for the waters of East Asia, but it will definitely suffer when encountering British warships."

Zheng Kezang listened carefully, completely ignoring Su Dajiang's blushing cheeks, and when the British, Guilian and Lebanese had finished speaking, Zheng Kezang thought for a while and asked, "There are only six people to operate the Dongshenghai. How many men are needed to make a dhow?"

"A 15-ton dhow only needs 7 to 8 people." The British guy probably realized something, so he explained. "However, in view of His Highness's request, we have designed two gun positions in class A, so the number of crew members has increased to 2, and the speed of the newly built dhow will be twice that of the Dongshenghai."

"That's right, speed is the advantage of a dhow," Zheng Kezang asked patiently instead of denouncing the exaggeration of the British queen. "But the dhow seems to be able to sail only along the coast. In comparison, is a slow ship like the Dongshenghai more capable of crossing the ocean?"

"Your Highness is very wise." The British seemed to know that he was exaggerating, so he hurriedly corrected it. "Of course a sloop can't travel the ocean like a long distance, but a schooner is different." The British guy talked a lot about the benefits of a schooner, but then he changed the subject again. "However, as His Highness said, in the future, we must build a large warship like the Galen for military use. But," the British said in a regretful tone. "However, tens of thousands of gold coins and thousands of boatmen are needed to build a military Galen, and His Highness neither has a suitable dock, nor enough craftsmen, nor qualified materials. To build a three-deck military Galen Galen is impossible."

"I'm afraid, not to mention the military Galen, but the small Galen single-class frigate frigate that is generally used for cruising. Even a few of you can't make it." Please generals are worse than radical generals, Zheng Kezang said to the blunt British guys. with. "Even if everything is in place, I think that with the abilities of you guys, I really don't need to think about large warships like n and royalsail." The arrogance of just now is gone: "Your Highness is right, even if there is no shortage of anything, we can only build e (cruise ship) at most. For such a result and His Highness's salary We are very sorry for the request at the time, if His Highness is not satisfied, you can dismiss us at any time."

dismiss?A joke, in this era, in East Asia, where can I find British craftsmen who can build light cruisers? Of course it is impossible for Zheng Kezang to do this: "I'm sorry, don't say it, and first build the ship that Yu requested. If you really feel sorry for Yu's salary, then if you have time, teach the young people behind Yu."

The British guy backed down obediently, Zheng Kezang then looked at Dagong Su: "Master Su, although Hongyi is a bit arrogant, he still has vision. Ship technology such as double rudders is far inferior to that of this dynasty, but they also have good things, so we can't ignore them."

Su Dagong is also a great craftsman who has made water friends boats. He was probably offended by the arrogance of the British just now, but now he has calmed down. Hearing Zheng Kezang's words, he nodded slightly: "Little old man understands, The eldest son wants these children to gather the strengths of the two families, and Yu will definitely not get in the way."

Dongshenghai is about 250 materials. If you don’t need to carry cargo, you don’t have to worry about being stuffed like sardines. It can load all the [-] Boy Scouts on it. However, Zheng Kezang will not be so inhumane. He arranged three trips Sailing in the Jiangnei sea made everyone crazy and addicted.

Mayinghe stood there looking at Zheng Kezang rather dizzily, he did not expect his fate to change again: "Elder Master, you want me to preside over the sailor team? Hand over all the ships to the sailors?"

"The general meaning is not bad." Zheng Kezang nodded. "But it's not for you to preside over the sailor team, but after the waterman introduced by the Yingguili Commercial House arrives, I will let you take the sailor team to learn how to handle the barge. Only you and the sailor team are qualified. This team leader Only then can I truly entrust it to you."

What Zheng Kezang meant was to get on-the-job training first and then give a real job based on the training results, but even so, Maying still felt that she had received a big pie from the sky. You know, there is still a foreman in the boy camp army. None, and suddenly he became the quasi-team leader, which is not a step up to the sky.

"Also, you are the team leader, but you are still the only one in the sailor team." Zheng Kezang continued to pour cold water on it. "The sailors are mainly selected from the boys who will be transferred to the main army next year. In this year's main army, you can also choose a few assistants, but the number cannot exceed ten." Zheng Kezang thought for a while. "The Hongyi boat has not been built yet, and you can choose whether to practice the Dongshenghai with the new navy instructor sent by the Ministry of War or stay in the camp and continue to practice the firecrackers."

"I," Ma Ying hesitated. After all, he was born in a fisherman's family, so it is very attractive to be able to get a boat by himself. "Battalion officer, let's practice the Dongshenghai with the navy instructor first." Zheng Kezang naturally had nothing to do. Just when Zheng Kezang was about to signal Maying to retreat, Maying suddenly made a request. "Battle officer, many relatives in my family are very good at swimming. Since there is no one in the sailor team for a while, can I go home and recruit them all?"

Zheng Kezang was taken aback for a moment, of course he understood that Ma Ying's suggestion was actually out of public interest.If you follow his suggestion, of course you can fill up the so-called sailors as quickly as possible, and Zheng Kezang originally intended to use the Boy Scouts as reserve naval officers, so he will not let them take on the duties of ordinary sailors for a long time. This suggestion is natural It's the best of both worlds.However, Zheng Kezang could not help worrying that if sailors were recruited from Maying's relatives or neighbors, it would create a dominance of the family, and he was even more worried that the Ma family who had first mastered Western-style ship handling skills would be like the later Fujian navy. Ground-level officials at all levels were emptied.

So Zheng Kezang pondered for a while and then made a decision: "Yes, but the number of people can't be too many. First recruit ten. If it is not enough, I will tell the Ministry of War to call in some veterans first, but you are still fledgling after all. Veterans can be self-important on the grounds that Zuer and others are officials, and send each other at will."

The 15-year-old Maying didn't know that Zheng Kezang's mind had changed a thousand times. When she heard that Zheng Kezang agreed to her request, she immediately expressed her attitude excitedly: "Don't worry, the battalion officer, I know how to do it."

"Of course, military discipline is the most important thing. If veterans refuse to obey discipline, you can also kill them to make an example!"

"promise!"