In fact, it’s not that Zhang Ying doesn’t want to go back to Anqing!

But he can't go back!

After dozens of hours of sailing, due to the continuous impact of the steam engine, cracks began to appear on the hull of the Qianliju. As the crew reported this situation, Zhang Ying quickly drove the ship to the shore, which was considered to have completed the trial voyage. At the same time, Zhang Bin hurriedly contacted his friend's factory, dragged the ship into the dock, and inspected and maintained the Qianliju.

The Qianliju leaked.

Of course, the outside world knows nothing about this.

But Zhang Ying could not turn a blind eye. The water leak of the boat was not only unavailable, but it could even die!

After the Qianliju entered the dock, Zhang Ying ate and lived on the boat, checking the gaps while also reflecting there.

The hull is not strong enough.

Thin boat boards, sparse keel bones...

Zhang Ying picked out many shortcomings in the hull one by one.

"It seems that the sea ship should be renovated... No, it should be a new ship! Build a brand new hull, specially designed to cooperate with the steam engine."

While Zhang Ying was talking to herself that she wanted to build a new ship, Zhu Guoqiang and Fang Yizhi were blocked outside the shipyard.

"The boss said that the shipyard is not allowed to enter these days."

Fang Yizhi, who was blocked by the doorman, said.

"Please go and talk to your boss, and say that the old friends in Tongcheng are coming to visit."

Although the owner of Qinhuai Shipyard is from Anqing, he is considered a fellow villager with Fang Yizhi.

"An old friend in Tongcheng? I don't seem to have any old friend in Tongcheng? Tell him I'm not available."

Being entrusted by others, loyal to others, since my friend's ship is in his factory and he doesn't want the outside world to see the steam ship, Xu Maolin is naturally a little alert. He has been talking about steam ships everywhere in Nanjing these two days, and now someone has come to him, and he instinctively wants to keep him out.

An old friend in Tongcheng?

Who will it be?

Just as the concierge wanted to reply, Xu Maolin stood up and said.

"Wait a moment……!"

He walked towards the door and said:

"I'd better go there in person."

When he walked to the gate and just opened the side door, Xu Maolin was stunned at first, and then said in surprise.

"Ah... the little man has met the elder!"

Although it is impossible to make friends with a cabinet minister like Fang Yizhi as Xu Maolin, it does not prevent him from seeing this master from far away and saying carefully when he was rushing to greet him.

"Is this a villain?"

"Zhang Yingke is in the factory?"

Fang Yizhi asked casually.

“It’s here, it’s here…”

Xu Maolin realized that the elder's words were coming to visit relatives, so he hurriedly ordered someone to open the door and asked him to say.

"Ah, please come in, please."

When asked the Ge Lao to enter the factory, Xu Maolin carefully looked at the master who came with Fang Gexiang. Although the Ge Lao did not introduce the identity of the person, he could still guess that the identity of the person was not simple, otherwise how could the Ge Lao let the person walk in front of him?

Who would that person be?

Could it be that Duke?

Xu Maolin never dreamed that one day the emperor would come to his dock.

After a while, they arrived at the dock. When they saw Zhang Ying standing in the stone dock, they checked the hull. Fang Yizhi smiled.

"Dunfu!"

Listening to the shouting behind him, Zhang Ying looked back and felt familiar at first, and then said in surprise.

"Ah, my brother I have met!"

When Zhang Ying hurried out of Shiwu, Xu Maolin had already retreated tactfully.

"How can my brother have time to come here?"

After the ceremony, Zhang Ying said in surprise.

"Come and have a look with everyone."

When they were polite, Zhu Guoqiang had already arrived in the dock and asked at the steam ship with iron pulp in front of him.

"This is the "Qianlimak"."

"Yes,"

Although he was curious about the other party's identity, Zhang Ying did not ask. Since he came with the Fang cousin, this person must have been an ordinary identity.

"Why didn't I return to Anqing after the trial voyage, but entered the dock?"

Listening to this person's question, Zhang Ying turned her head and looked at her cousin.

Fang Yizhi said softly.

"Dunfu, just answer truthfully."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ying answered truthfully.

"Because I found that the hull was leaking during the trial voyage, it might be because of the vibration of the steam engine that caused the ash cracks on the shipboard to crack. I went to the dock for safety and repair."

For fear that the other party would suspect that the steam engine could not get on the ship, Zhang Ying explained again.

"This is not because the steam engine cannot be boarded, but because the hull of the Qianliju was transformed with an inland boat. The boards are thin and only one layer of ocean, and the keel bones are sparse. It is expected that this hull is not suitable for the steam engine. This time I was just conducting a boarding test on the steam engine. After returning to Anqing, I plan to redesign a steam ship with a stronger hull."

It was similar to what I guessed. Although it was different from the "Furden's Steam Boat Invention" mentioned in many books, the world's first steam boat was made by a French nobleman named Glad Francis de Chert de Chiffrey. The ship was called the "Peloskauff" and was launched on July 15, 1783. However, during the trial voyage, the hull cracked due to the continuous impact of the steam engine. Later, due to the influence of the French Dage and the death of the inventor, the steam boat did not develop further practically.

Now Zhang Ying's steamship has also encountered structural problems. Perhaps this is the will of heaven!

"Zhang Ying, if you want to build a ship, why bother back to Anqing? There is also a shipyard in Nanjing!"

Zhu Guoqiang said with wisdom.

"Fang Yizhi, go back and say hello to the Jinling Shipyard and ask them to provide Zhang Ying with everything he needs and let him study the steamboat there."

What?

Jinling Shipyard!

Zhang Ying looked at this man in shock. Jinling Shipyard is the largest shipyard in Nanjing. Where can I go to study steamships?

During this... Zhang Ying didn't even notice that when this man talked to his cousin, he called his name directly.

"Okay, I'll just say to the other side when I look back."

Looking at Zhang Ying who was surprised, Fang Yizhi thought to himself. This silly boy is blessed!

"By the way, Zhang Ying, just considering strengthening the hull is not the solution to the problem. Have you ever thought about improving the materials?"

“Improved materials?”

Zhang Ying said in confusion.

“Use oak?”

Oak is the best shipbuilding wood, but in order to reduce costs, many ship dealers use Taiwanese cypress or Northeast pine wood, which is cheap!

“Oak…”

Oak is oak. The oak from the Ming Dynasty either comes from Liaodong, or from the coastal area or North America. This kind of shipbuilding hardwood is not cheap! Shaking his head, Zhu Guoqiang said.

"I'm not talking about wood."

"Not wood? That's it?"
Chapter completed!