I was the emperor in the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 289 Can save millions of stones of grain?

Everyone had never seen a boat with wheels on both sides. When they first saw it, they thought those exposed wheels were some novel decorations.

Yang Shiqi asked in a low voice,
"Your Majesty, is it possible that adding a few wheels to the outside of the ship can increase the speed of the ship?"

Li Tian looked around at the crowd and took a panoramic view of everyone's expressions. Seeing that they all had puzzled expressions like Yang Shiqi's, he couldn't help but secretly said,
"Of course it's not that simple, I've already thought of a way to drive these wheels without relying on manpower!

At that time, all the things will be installed on it. I can't guarantee that there will be more, but there is no problem in doubling the speed.

But this is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that as long as this new type of ship is born, it can sail at any time and in any environment.

You don't have to wait for the monsoon, you don't have to wait for the wind and waves to subside, you can help the court deliver various supplies throughout the year. "

Li Tian's words are rarely not fulfilled, and he rarely speaks those big words.

Just talking about this, more than half of the people have already believed Li Tian's words.

Especially Hubu Shangshu Xia Yuanji was so excited that he ran to the front of the treasure ship model regardless of his appearance, and kept touching and looking at this strange thing with several wheels.

Said, almost in a trembling voice,
"What Your Majesty said is true, this thing can really be unimpeded in all seasons, and the speed can be doubled?"

"Of course, when did I say big things?"

After receiving Li Tian's guarantee, Xia Yuanji suddenly knelt down in front of the treasure ship model and shouted loudly,
"Bless the heavens, I, Da Ming, can actually obtain such an artifact. It's the luck of the people, the luck of the common people!"

With his whining, not only did Li Tianxia jump, even the other ministers were almost incontinent by him.

Qian Yi, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials who didn't know why, stepped forward and pulled Xia Yuanji, and said in a low voice,

"Vigil, don't lose your manners in front of His Majesty, and get up quickly."

Xia Yuanji was considered to be the oldest among all the ministers present. Although everyone had similar official positions, respecting the old and loving the young has always been the tradition of the Chinese nation.

Everyone respected Xia Yuanji very much. Seeing that he lost his composure, they couldn't help but want to come up to comfort him.

But Xia Yuanji used all his strength to get rid of Qian Yi's hand,

"You don't understand at all, you don't understand the meaning of this thing at all."

"The imperial government's land tax is more than 3000 million shi a year, but the grain that can actually be transported to the capital and the nine sides has never exceeded 2000 million shi."

"If what His Majesty said is true, if the speed is doubled, then the loss during transportation can be reduced by more than double."

"That's millions of grains with white flowers!"

"Do you know how many more soldiers and people the imperial court can support in a year if there are more than a few million shi of grain?"

Hearing the astonishing data of several million stones, both the queen and the six ministers were shocked.

Only then did they understand that the one-meter-sized boat in front of them was not a wooden boat at all, but a treasure boat.

It is a cornucopia that can save the imperial court millions of stones of grain every year.

The birth of the steam ship is of epoch-making significance.

Among the benefits, even if you talk about the last day and night, you can't finish it.

The increase in shipping speed mentioned by Li Tian is just one of the most common benefits.

The biggest advantage of a ship over a sailboat is its ability to defy the sky without being affected by monsoons and water ripples.

Let's take a simple example.

There is a batch of melons, fruits and vegetables in the south to be shipped to the capital.

However, due to the impact of the storm, the ship was stuck somewhere and could not move for half a month.

In half a month, at least half of it will rot in this era without many fresh-keeping methods.

Shipping in the ordinary way not only delays the time, but also ships half as much.

If a ship is used, the wind and waves cannot stop it from moving forward, not only can it ensure that these things will not rot, but the transportation time can be more than doubled.

It is conceivable which is better and which is worse.

There is another important advantage, that is, with the steamer, the water transportation can not be limited to the canal, but can be more convenient and can carry more goods at one time.

As we all know, because of the width and depth of the inland river, it is impossible to sail inland, and the ship with too much load capacity.

Even in the dry season, even the riverbed may be exposed in some areas. In this case, not to mention transporting things, even crossing the river will become a problem.

But sea transportation does not have this trouble. The depth and width of the water are not a problem. As long as you have the courage and technology, you can build a ship the size of an aircraft carrier.

But didn't the ancients think of this? Didn't the ancients know that sea transportation is less expensive than canal transportation?

Of course they do.

But why for thousands of years, canal transportation is still the main force of imperial court water transportation.

The main reason is that the wind and waves at sea are stronger and are more seriously affected by the monsoon.

If the north wind blows all the time, it will be a dream for ships from the south to come to the north wind.

But with ships that are not affected by the wind, this problem that has plagued China for thousands of years is easily solved.

What is the advantage of shipping by sea.

Naturally, it is the cargo capacity. Even in the later generations with highly developed technology, bulk commodities are still transported by sea, so you can know the strength of sea freight.

The reason why Li Tian is so persistent is to get the ship out.

Exploring the world, looking for new crops, and throwing the prince out to colonize are all secondary priorities. Even water transportation is not his main goal.

What he really wants is to open up the world's trade channels and promote the flow of materials throughout the world after opening the sea.

Although Chinese people think that China is rich in products, the reality is that China actually lacks everything.

Whether it is precious metals such as silver and gold, or copper ore, iron ore, oil, these strategic materials, there are far more abundant reserves outside the world than in China.

With so many good things out there, no one would be able to sleep.

"Your Majesty, what Old Shangshu Xia said is true. Can this thing really save the imperial court several million shi of grain a year?"

Looking at these demented guys who have been shocked by this huge number, Li Tian proudly said,
"If Guochao can own 3000 such large ships, it is impossible for them to pay 3000 million shi when they board the ship and still pay [-] million shi when they disembark."

After hearing this even more exciting news, several courtiers who were over half a century old almost shed tears.

"This is the blessing of the imperial court and the people of the world! I wrongly blamed His Majesty earlier, and I am willing to be punished."

After saying this, the six ministers, cabinet ministers, and even the empress knelt down on the ground apologetically, begging for Li Tian's forgiveness.

(End of this chapter)