Chapter 1,696 Iron-hulled Ship

Zhong Ji said: "This exercise highlighted that logistics support is the key to the new army. The number of nine motor ships is still too small. If we want to effectively divide the states in the southern part of the Liao Kingdom at the same time, the Economic Strategy Department believes that at least

Eighteen more ships are needed, with every nine ships controlling one river. Only by occupying the Sanggan River, Luan River, and Liao River systems can we be fully confident."

Su You shook his head: "It's not enough. Using gunboats to pull the ships is a temporary measure. What I mean is that the steamers are responsible for logistics and the gunboats are responsible for escorts."

"Therefore, five gunboats and nine steamers should be deployed on each river to ensure that everything is safe."

After speaking, he smiled at a few people and said: "The army will gather together and then disperse to return to the army. This military exercise is almost over."

"I'll invite a few of you to Yunzhou tomorrow. I've prepared some surprises for you next to Liangshan Park."

The next day, at the invitation of Su You, the generals took a steamer and headed towards Yunzhou.

From Damingfu to Yunzhou, just follow the old eastward flow of the Yellow River to Bozhou and then go south through the canal. Nowadays it is very convenient and fast, and it can be reached by steamboat in half a day.

At the Liangshanbo Shipyard in Yunzhou City, Zhong Ji felt a little dizzy when he saw the gunboat in the dock: "This... this is..."

Su You smiled triumphantly and said: "This is a new type of iron-hulled boat. Compared with the old boats, it is quite impressive, isn't it?"

Zhong Ji couldn't care less about Su You's pretense anymore, and crawled into the cabin on his hands and knees, and then a dull voice rang inside: "There are no rivets! There is no wooden shell! How... how is this done?!"

Su You introduced to the generals: "This is the latest technology in science and engineering - electric welding. Electricity is used to melt the iron core of the welding rod and the iron plates can be welded together."

"The iron plates are inherently strong, so there is no need for a wooden hull. In fact, it is much lighter than the original ship."

"But to build this kind of ship, electric welding is not the key. Cutting steel plates is the key."

Leading everyone to another workshop, Su You introduced to everyone: "This is the cutting workshop. The technology for iron-hulled ships is to first cut the iron plates needed for the hull into the required shapes, and then use electric welding to connect them. Everyone can

Think of it as sticking to a lantern, pretty much the same thing."

"But the paper here has been replaced with iron plates."

Wear sunglasses on everyone and watch the workers operate: "Now we can produce calcium carbide. Because it is produced by electric furnaces, it is called 'carbide'."

"When calcium carbide meets water, it will produce a flammable gas called calcium carbide gas."

"This year we built a water plant in Yanshan, using hydropower to generate electricity, and then using the electricity to electrolyze water and separate it into hydrogen and oxygen."

"Hydrogen is used in the ammonia synthesis industry. Oxygen is pressed into cylinders and transported here. Together with calcium carbide gas, the calcium carbide gas is ignited through a spray gun to obtain a high temperature of up to 3,000 degrees, which is used to cut steel plates."

"The technology is still being explored. Currently, thick plates cannot be cut and large ships cannot be built. However, it is not difficult to manufacture gunboats with simple structures."

Liu Weijian didn't understand science and engineering, so he found it strange: "Iron is no better than wood. It sinks when it enters the water, but how can it still float on the water?"

Su You laughed loudly: "The supervisor will go back and put a copper bowl in the vat and you will understand this."

"The steamer you came to Yunzhou to ride on this time was made like this. Why, do the supervisors feel unsafe?"

Liu Weijian simply admired the way of science and engineering: "With such a water-based ritual vessel that is invulnerable and fearless of fire attacks, the Liao people's wooden village water masters, native chickens, tiles, and dog ears!"

Chaogu also sighed: "Suppose the Kuizhou type and Hangzhou type battleships of the Song Dynasty can also use this method..."

Su You shook his head: "There is no hope for the time being. Although the steel production capacity of our Song Dynasty has doubled year after year, it is not as luxurious as that."

"A giant ship in Hangzhou, not to mention the difficulty of design and construction and the lack of power, according to calculations, the hull alone will consume 700 tons, which is 1.4 million kilograms of steel."

"If one sergeant is armed with five kilograms of iron, the steel consumed by a Hangzhou-type iron ship is enough to equip an army of 300,000 people."

"If we were to make a riding sword, one would weigh three pounds and seven taels, which would be 400,000 swords."

"Yuan Xiu, would you rather choose 400,000 cavalry swords, or a Hangzhou-type iron ship?"

Chaogu couldn't help shaking his head and laughing: "The accounts cannot be calculated in detail... but with a genius like Mingrun, one day, I, the Song Dynasty, will want both!"

Su You also laughed: "Yuan Xiu really thinks highly of me, but I don't dare to think about it. Let's start from a young age..."

…

In Jiachen, the Lord of Liao first hunted in Shaling, and then stationed in Chileling to meet with the ministers of the South Courtyard.

Zhi Shi, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, was already very old and seriously ill, so he came to see him regardless of himself.

Yeluhong had outstanding achievements in his family and was loyal to the Liao Kingdom, so he received him.

Shi Chun met with Yelu Hongji and reported: "Now there is famine in the western part of Liao Kingdom, and there are repeated rebellions among the Tatars. Your Majesty keeps urging the Posoling Iron Mine to produce iron, which causes the material preparation period to be delayed again and again. If this continues, the steel industry will

The base will lose its meaning."

Yelu Hongji frowned and said, "Old Shangshu ignores government affairs and concentrates on public works, which is a bit biased."

"Trouble in the elbows and armpits should be cut off first. The left and right sides should not be more than a year old."

"When the grass grows next spring, the Tatars will naturally settle down."

Shi Chun said: Your Majesty, after several rounds of consultations, the final production capacity of the Song Dynasty Aid Liao Iron Works has been determined. After all is completed, the Liaoyang Iron Works will produce 100,000 kilograms of iron per day."

"But such a large factory consumes staggering amounts of coal and concentrate powder. It will consume hundreds of thousands of kilograms of coking coal and tens of thousands of kilograms of ore powder a day."

"If the mining and material preparation cannot keep up with the consumption, the iron plant will have to shut down, and more than three million pounds will be wasted."

"According to my calculations, the iron factory needs to prepare enough supplies for one year to be safe."

"Now we have finally prepared what we need for March. As a result, there is a war in the west, so Your Majesty used it to make weapons. This is a small loss, so the veteran has to recommend it."

Yelu Hongji couldn't help but feel a little angry, and said to Prime Minister Wang Jing: "Didn't you say that mining should be carried out quickly? How can we still cause trouble?"

Wang Jing quickly bowed his head: "Your Majesty, it's not because of my incompetence, but...the iron factory consumes a lot of money a day. Now there are several mining areas with a total of 80,000 workers. The daily consumption is two kilograms of rice and five qian of salt. Already

can not be less anymore."

"Even so, it still requires 160,000 kilograms of rice every day, which is 1,600 shi, and the annual consumption is 600,000 shi. This can be calculated."

"Even if one person mines 500 kilograms of coal and iron ore per day, it will only amount to 400,000 kilograms per day. After beneficiation, it will be less than what the iron plant consumes in one day."

"The people's strength is exhausted, but non-officials and others cannot do their best..."

This is not to mention wages and management fees. Yelu Hongji has no choice. He did not think carefully before. He did not expect that the miners would need so much, and the food consumption would wipe out more than 10% of the two major granaries.

Prince Yelu Yanxi said: "Father, if you use the Khitan headquarters, it will definitely not work. There is a great famine in the northwest. It is better to order Alusagudo to capture it and use it to fill several mines in the Posu Mountains. This will not only solve the shortage of manpower in the mines, but also solve the problem of illegal vehicles."

The troubles of Shiwei."

Wang Jing hurriedly said: "If they are prisoners, they are different from the subordinates of the military state below. In the past, our military system used to have the custom of 'grazing the grass and grains'. Every spring and autumn, we would attack the west. Once we came, we could train troops, and when we came, we could

Reduce grassland population.”

"These are Dingli. Instead of killing them, they are better used in industry and mining."

Yelu Hongji nodded: "This matter can be done, but it needs to be kept secret. The iron factory was provided by the people of the Song Dynasty. Situ in the Southern Dynasties has always been benevolent and righteous. If he wants to know, I am afraid that there will be additional details."

"I will send all the spoils from this expedition to Posuo Ridge. However, iron tools are needed to mine the mines. You must take good care of those people. There should be no mistakes in the hinterland of Liaoyang. Does the Prime Minister understand?"

Wang Jing bowed: "Old minister, I understand, and I also ask your Majesty to send an army to suppress the rebellion."

Yelu Hongji said to Yelu Yanxi: "The prince can arrange this."

Yelu Yanxi said: "Yelu Zuli was newly appointed envoy to the Holy Army, and the deputy envoy to the Privy Council is a talented person who also knows the affairs of the Privy Council. These two new appointees must be eager to achieve success and only look at the wishes of their father."

Yelu Hongji nodded: "Then let Yelu Zuli move to Changchun Continent. Prime Minister, what do you think?"

What else could be done? Now in Changchun, more and more Khitan soldiers and horses were dining in Liaoyang. Wang Jing was actually a little overwhelmed, but he absolutely did not dare to refuse the Liao Emperor's intention to send troops, and bowed and said: "So very.

Well, under the power of God, the prisoners in Whistle Ridge must be docile."

Yelu Hongji said: "One hundred and sixty thousand meters of food a day is too much. I can give you another fifty thousand prisoners, but I cannot add more food."
Chapter completed!