The Rise of Ming Dynasty 1646

Chapter 275 Restarting the Shipyard
In fact, Zhu Linmei had already learned about the situation of Fujian Shipbuilding Industry a while ago.

Although the Ming Dynasty had officially lifted the sea ban since the Longqing Dynasty, in fact, only one treaty port of Yuegang was opened, and large ships with three masts and above were prohibited from entering the sea.

Under such a policy, the shipyards and craftsmen who built large ships for a living had to switch to transforming small ships.If things go on like this, not to mention the folks, even the navy's warships are getting smaller and smaller.

During the Yongle period, Fujian only took half a year to build a nearly 70-meter-long boat with a displacement of more than [-] tons.Up to now, only a few shipyards in Fujing, Guangdong, and Zhejiang can build large steamships of about [-] tons. As for larger ships, it is almost impossible for Ming Dynasty to produce them.

Since he had decided to advance the priority of the construction of warship navy, he didn't delay any more. He went to the study to take out the detailed plan of the navy in the "Development Outline", and then ordered Shi Lin to send the project to the Ministry of Industry. The officer in charge of shipbuilding called.

About half an hour later, Shi Lin brought the two of them back to the palace.

The leader was Wai Lang, a member of the Ministry of Industry named Pang Zhu.Since Song Yingxing and Xu Erlu were both busy with the process standardization of the Ordnance Bureau, and Fang Yizhi was in charge of the construction of Fujian Gewu Institute and supporting laboratories, he was the highest official of the Ministry of Industry at this time.

After the two went forward to salute, Pang Zhu introduced the person behind Zhu Linmi, "His Royal Highness Fuzheng Wang, this person is Guan Xiangyun, the head of the Dushui Qingli Department, and he has been in charge of shipping since the Longwu Dynasty until now. "

Zhu Linmei had some impressions of Guan Xiangyun. He was one of the few former officials of the Ministry of Industry who were still in office, so she nodded and said, "Which are the relatively large shipyards in Fujing?"

After hearing the words, Guan Xiangyun hesitated for a while before saying: "Return to Your Highness, there are shipyards in Huangqi, Tong'an, Yongbeili, etc."

"Which one of them can build a warship with a thousand materials?" The thousand materials he mentioned was a common unit for shipbuilding in the Ming Dynasty. If converted into an official-made blessing ship, the displacement would be about [-] tons.

Guan Xiangyun was embarrassed, "Your Highness, the shipyard under the Ministry of Industry, only Yongbeili can build ships with [-] materials..." He then continued, "Nan'an can still build warships with [-] materials."

Zhu Linmi frowned, "What do you mean, the shipyard in Nan'an is not owned by the Ministry of Industry?"

He immediately remembered, isn't Nan'an Zheng Zhilong's hometown?
Sure enough, Guan Xiangyun replied: "Your Highness, it was built by Zheng Ni privately."

"It doesn't matter if it's Zheng Zhilong's, as long as it can build warships. By the way, what's the situation in the shipyard and when will it start construction?"

Guan Xiangyun hesitated but couldn't explain why, how could he understand the situation of Zheng Zhilong Shipyard.

Zhu Linmei let out a sigh of relief, and suddenly thought of someone, so she turned to Shi Lin and said, "Go and find Damu."

"Yes!"

He asked Guan Xiangyun again: "How long does it take for the shipyard in Yongbeili to build a [-] material ship?"

Guan Xiangyun thought for a while before he said vaguely, "Returning to Your Highness, at least half a year, at most ten months."

It's no wonder that since he became the head of the Dushui Qingli Department, the imperial court has not given any shipbuilding tasks. He spends almost every day in the office, and he doesn't know much about the shipyard.

"How long will it take to expand the shipyard to be able to build thousands of ships?" What Zhu Linmi urgently needs right now is a large warship that can compete with the Dutch.And the [-]-pound ship is too small for a merchant ship, and I'm afraid it can't even hold an [-]-pound gun, and it can't be used at all in battle.

"Here, even if the berth is expanded, no craftsman will be able to build a big ship..."

Zhu Linmi suddenly felt dizzy. In the [-]th century, the era of great voyages, the Ministry of Industry of the Ming Dynasty couldn't even find craftsmen who could build [-]-ton sailboats.

He asked about the situation of the shipyard, and saw Shi Lin enter the room to report, "My lord, Zhu Shilang has arrived."

Zhu Lin was stunned for a moment before realizing that Zheng Chenggong had been promoted to the right servant of the Ministry of War, and immediately said with a smile: "Let him in quickly."

Zheng Chenggong entered the room to salute, "Meet Your Highness."

It was less than two quarters of an hour since Shi Lin left, Zhu Lin wondered, "Why are you here so soon?"

"Return to Your Highness, this subordinate is leading people to patrol the police in the city, and just happened to meet General Shi."

Zhu Linmin nodded. He asked Zheng Chenggong to be in charge of the restructuring of the former Jiang Zhengxi's department. Now those soldiers have been turned into policemen and are responsible for the security of Tianxing Mansion.

So he asked casually: "Is the transformation of the army going smoothly?"

"Returning to Your Highness, the more than 4000 people have been assigned to the eleven police stations in the city. The organization is clear, and the clothing and equipment are neat.

"The newly recruited police officers are temporarily led by the Dragon Guards on patrol, but they are quite orderly. They are drilled every other day by the officers of the Dragon Guards and explain the rules of the police. The subordinates estimate that in one or two months, these people will be there Can be used."

"Do the police officers have any opinions on the transformation?"

"Of course not." Zheng Chenggong said, "Now they only have to work for five hours a day before returning home. They don't have to be crowded in the barracks, and they don't have the risk of confronting the enemy on the battlefield. The salary, oh no, the wages are also higher than before. more than doubled.

"Yi Fei not only has no complaints, but also said that the transformation is the grace of His Highness."

"That's good." Zhu Linmei nodded in satisfaction, and then asked again, "By the way, what is the current situation of Nan'an Shipyard?"

Not long after Zheng Chenggong returned from Quanzhou, he was most familiar with the situation there, and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, when Zheng Ni fled Quanzhou, he burned the shipyard's materials and the like.

"It is said that he originally wanted to take the craftsmen away, but because Martyr Zhang Guoxuan attacked the military port at night and burned his rear fleet, it was too late for the craftsmen to board the ship.

"Now the berths and equipment are still usable, and there are still more than [-] craftsmen."

"Is it difficult to gather these craftsmen to build ships for the court?"

"Come as soon as you are called." Zheng Chenggong said, "After Zheng Ni fled to the north, the shipyard has been idle, and the shipwrights have no ships to build, so no one pays wages, and they are struggling to survive.

"His Highness Ruofu activated the shipyard, but he saved these two thousand craftsmen."

"That's very good." Zhu Linmi decided immediately, "You hand over the matter of the transformation of the army to Yu Xin, and follow me to Nan'an tomorrow."

"Yes!"

He looked at Guan Xiangyun again, "Master Guan, get ready and leave for Yongbeili shipyard immediately. By the way, ask Song Shilang to send a few people who are familiar with standardization of craftsmanship to go with you.

"When we arrive, the shilling craftsmen will stop all their work, prepare the wood, standardize the process, and wait for my follow-up instructions."

"The subordinate obeys the order."

After Zheng Chenggong, Guan Xiangyun and others left, Zhu Linmi asked Shi Lin to summon Zhang Jiayu and asked him first, "How many Dragon Guards can be mobilized in Xingfu today?"

Zhang Jiayu thought for a while, then cupped his hands and said, "Return to Your Highness, leave eight or nine hundred people to lead the police, and the rest can obey orders at any time."

"That's more than 4000 people." Zhu Linmei nodded and said, "You immediately call the Dragon Guards to prepare, and set off with me to Nan'an tomorrow morning. Fujing still has some troubles to deal with, so let's start from Quanzhou first."

(End of this chapter)