Back to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty

Chapter 244 Improving Shipbuilding Technology

"Okay, that's exactly what it should be! But what I want to know is, where do you plan to build it, and how much silver do you need?" Feng Yao asked happily.

"Shipbuilding must be very close to the seaport, and it is convenient to transport materials, so I plan to build a shipyard on the strait between Qushan and Yuzhoushan! The silver used is estimated to be at least 10 taels!" Yuan Ao said.

Feng Yao knew that the strait was the place where the Mi family fought at sea the day before yesterday. The strait was almost ten miles wide and tens of miles long from the coast to Yuzhou Mountain. It was indeed a natural safe haven. The factory is indeed very good.

Feng Yao nodded, and said: "Well, that place can be used as a shipyard, but I want you to make the shipyard as large as possible. I have checked the current seagoing ships, and they are all flat-bottomed, which is very unfavorable for sailing at sea. , when a wave hits, the boat will be heaved up and down by the waves, so I ask you to design a sea boat with a pointed bottom and a pointed tip! This is more conducive to breaking the waves!"

"Also, the largest seagoing ship is only five feet long, which is too small. I want the ship to be ten feet long!"

"What? The one with a pointed bottom? Will it not fall over? Can it stand firmly in the water?" Surprised expressions appeared on everyone's faces.

"Yeah, I've never heard of a boat with a sharp bottom, but I believe my lord must be right!" Dai Ling said suddenly. He was the first person to follow Feng Yao, and he knew Feng Yao very well. , anyway, no matter why, Feng Yao's words must be correct!

Seeing that everyone was puzzled, Feng Yao explained: "The point is only the part of the bottom near the front that is pointy, not the entire hull from top to bottom is pointy."

"Yes, my lord, I understand!" Yuan Ao suddenly shouted happily, "I think I can build the boat you mentioned! But I still have one problem, which is to build a ten-foot-long boat. The keel is too hard to find! Such a tall and straight tree is very hard to find! If you want to build one or two big ships like this, you can think of a way, but if you want to build a large number, I’m afraid it won’t work, right?”

Feng Yao pondered for a while, although he knew that even iron boats could float in the water, but the key is that the current technology cannot do it. After thinking for a while, he asked again: "If it is spliced, can it be done? Row?"

"No, that way the ship will be easily disconnected from the place where it is easy to splice. It is better to build a small point ship!" Yuan Ao said.

"Then we can make the splicing parts double, or simply make the whole ship double-layered, and use more compartments to make it stronger!" Feng Yao suddenly remembered a movie he had seen in it. Regarding the structure of the boat, although the boat in the movie is made of iron, this method can be used on wooden boats.

The more Feng Yao thought, the more he was right, his voice became louder, and he continued excitedly: "Now our boats are all single-deck, once they are broken, the whole boat will be flooded. If a certain place is damaged, the seawater will also enter other compartments, and will not penetrate the cabin on the second floor! This not only solves the problem of materials, but also makes the ship stronger!"

Everyone was overjoyed when they heard the words, and they cupped their hands in congratulations, full of admiration for Feng Yao.

Yuan Ao said with a smile: "My lord, all the problems I thought of have been solved, please give me half a year, and I will definitely be able to build the boat that my lord wants!"

Feng Yao nodded: "Gongrong, this time I got a lot of wealth from the Mi family. I plan to leave you one billion, that is, 100 million taels of silver, for shipbuilding, and another 50 taels for the construction of the technical department. But this I think the technical department should be built in Yuzhou Mountain. The entire island where Yuzhou Mountain is located should also be isolated, and only relevant personnel engaged in technical research and their families are allowed to live on it. This can better protect our country. The technology will not be known by the enemy!"

"Obey! My lord! I will never let my lord down!" Yuan Ao said loudly.

160 billion, nearly 150 million will be spent in the celebration rewards, plus the [-] billion to be given to Yuan Ao, there are still [-] billion, Feng Yao calculated in his mind.

"Ziheng!" Feng Yao looked at Lu Fan.

Hearing this, Lu Fan immediately cupped his hands and said, "My lord, what are your orders?"

"You only have an army of 20 in your hands now. I hope you can quickly expand the army to [-] and defend Xuzhou for me! I will order the soldiers to send [-] stones of food and grass and one billion yuan as military pay!" Feng Yao said.

Lu Fan nodded vigorously, "My lord! Xuzhou will always belong to my lord!"

Everyone discussed for a while, and Feng Yao decided to promote the current Chengfu county magistrate to be the prime minister of Pengcheng, and the former Chengfu county magistrate to be promoted to Chengfu county magistrate.

Finally, he personally wrote a letter to his father Yuan Shu, placing Guangling under the management of Yangzhou, and suggested appointing his brother-in-law Huang Yi as the prefect of Guangling.

For the remaining 40 shi of grain and grass, people were ordered to send 20 shi to Puyang and 20 shi to Shouchun to boost morale.

at night
After returning to the mansion, Zhu'er had been looking forward to Feng Yao's return at the door, and when she saw Feng Yao's appearance, she threw herself into Feng Yao's arms, and shouted sweetly: "Husband!"

Feng Yao picked up Zhu'er and kissed her on the face. When he was about to speak, Gong Du came to find Feng Yao alone.

"Zhu'er, you go back to your room first, I have something to do!" Feng Yao put down Zhu'er in embarrassment.

"Father-in-law, what's the matter with looking for a son-in-law?" Feng Yao saluted Gong Du.

"My son-in-law, I want to talk to you alone, you are free now!" Gong Du said.

Feng Yao hastily invited Gong Du into the study, and walked away from the left and right, a little worried: "I don't know if my father-in-law is blaming me when he sees me taking concubines outside? But it's not like that. When he took Cao Yanran as his concubine last time, my father-in-law Also very happy? Is it because Zhu Er has no money?"

After sitting down, Gong Du said: "Son-in-law, Xuzhou has been pacified now, but Liu Biao's attack in Jingzhou has not slowed down. I am worried that if one of the roads is not defended, the enemy will attack Pingyu City! Now I The army has arrived here, it is best to take advantage of the emptiness of Cao Cao's troops in Yanzhou, and join forces with Marquis Wen to drive Cao Cao out of Yanzhou!"

Feng Yao breathed a sigh of relief. He thought Gong wanted to blame him, but he didn't expect it to be about military affairs.

"What my father-in-law said is very true. My son-in-law is also hesitating over this matter these days. If he doesn't rush back to Runan, he is also worried that Liu Biao will send reinforcements again. We will not be able to resist the enemy. If we return to Runan now, we will not be able to fight again. I am not reconciled to Cao Cao still occupying half of Yanzhou, which is extremely unfavorable to us!" Feng Yao said.

"Hehehe! So, that's why I came here today!"

Gong Du laughed happily: "I want to lead the troops back to Pingyu and defend our base! Attack Liu Biao's army!"

Feng Yao's eyes lit up, if Gong can return to Pingyu, that would be the best, who else can reassure Feng Yao more than Gong?As Gong Du said, Xuzhou has been leveled, and with the support of Lu Fan, Cao Bao and other cronies in the rear, there is no need to worry about the supply of grain and grass.

(End of this chapter)