Chapter 719 Is this how the steam engine was built?
The Kingdom of Majapahit was very powerful and could be said to be the king of the islands in Southeast Asia.
Almost all island countries had to pay tribute to Majapahit.
Paying tribute and paying tribute to the Ming Dynasty are two different things. The tribute trade of the Ming Dynasty is more about supporting and helping small countries.
Paying tribute is like collecting taxes.
For example, Manlajia must pay tribute to a certain amount of goods every year, as well as forty taels of gold to the Ayutthaya dynasty.
At the same time, tribute should also be paid to the Majapahit Kingdom.
Now the interests in the Strait of Malacca have also been annexed by the Ming Dynasty, and its own development has been greatly restricted.
Naturally, Paramesura did not want to submit to the three families at the same time, so he hoped to submit to the Ming Dynasty, get rid of the Majapahit Kingdom, and pay tribute to the Ayutthaya Dynasty.
It's just that these things are really not too big for Zhu Ying in Ming Dynasty.
Because the Ming Dynasty's navy and naval force were too powerful.
It is far from being comparable to the early Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties.
In fact, speaking of it, the strength of Ming Dynasty's navy has a relationship with Meng Yuan that cannot be ignored.
Before the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty occupied the Southern Song Dynasty, they suffered a lot because they had no navy.
In the second year of Jiaxi of the Southern Song Dynasty, the Meng Yuan Dynasty went to Hubei to fight. The Meng general Jie Cheng, who was good at water warfare, designed and captured thousands of Song army warships.
The Mongolian army immediately built its first naval force with these thousand battleships as the core.
This was the beginning of the Meng Yuan navy.
Although the former Song Dynasty was decadent.
However, the strength of the navy cannot be ignored. Mongolia has just started to play with the navy, how can it compare with the Song Dynasty.
At this time, Kublai Khan, who had not yet ascended to the position of Great Khan, was personally participating in the war against the Song Dynasty.
The Song army was famous for its weakness. Kublai Khan, who thought he could end the battle quickly, suffered a lot under the Song army's navy, artillery, and fortified walls.
Kublai Khan, who had personally experienced the war, knew very well why it was difficult to win the Southern Song Dynasty.
Therefore, after Kublai Khan ascended to the position of Great Khan, he paid more attention to the construction of the navy. The Mongolian navy, which was already developing rapidly, has since entered the fast lane.
At the beginning, the Mongolian Navy began a frenzied and inhumane construction phase.
First, Liu Zheng, a fallen general who was good at naval warfare, was ordered to build a naval force, requiring the construction of 5,000 warships and 70,000 sailors who were proficient in naval warfare.
Two years later, Kublai Khan gathered manpower to build 2,000 warships in the Han River Basin and trained 50,000 naval troops.
Kublai Khan still felt that this was not enough and continued to build ships crazily.
At this time, the number of Mongolian naval forces gathered on the front line of Xiangyang reached 160,000, and the number of warships exceeded 10,000.
The Mongolian army that annexed the Southern Song Dynasty also captured a large number of warships.
By this time, the Mongolian and Yuan navy was already invincible.
This led to the subsequent campaign against Japan, Annan, Champa, Java and a series of coastal and island countries.
The most interesting thing is that Kublai Khan's navy was so powerful, but in the end he failed to defeat any of them. Instead, he caused heavy casualties to a large number of Mongolian elites, which laid the foundation for the decline of the Mongolian Yuan.
Go against the Japanese countries, you will be unlucky. Go against the land and island countries in Southeast Asia, they will not adapt to the climate.
The Japanese country really had no choice. The two divine winds caused heavy losses to Mongolia, and they did not dare to do it a third time.
Compared with these small countries in Southeast Asia, the Japanese country is obviously much stronger. After all, they have been learning from the Central Plains since the Tang Dynasty, and they also have a unified and complete political system.
But why do even small countries in Southeast Asia and the Mongolian army, which is so powerful on paper, still fail to connect?
The biggest reason for this is naturally that the Mongolian army is not good at fighting in the tropics.
The Mongols are a nomadic people who come from the Mongolian Plateau in northeastern Asia.
The climate types of the Mongolian Plateau in later generations were mainly temperate desert climate, temperate steppe climate and subarctic coniferous forest climate. However, during the Mongol Empire, the earth was in a cold period.
Most areas of the Mongolian Plateau have a subarctic coniferous forest climate.
The Mongols from the subarctic region could rely on the superiority of their cavalry to conquer Siberia, which also had a cold climate, but they were unable to adapt to the hot climate in the tropics.
Genghis Khan's westward expedition to India to the Indus River Valley was forced to retreat because he could not bear the heat. Mongol Khan's failure in Sichuan was largely due to the severe heat in the Sichuan Basin in summer, which severely reduced the combat effectiveness of the Mongolian cavalry.
In the summer in Sichuan, it was like a stove. The Mongolian army was so hot that it made them stick out their tongues. There was no air conditioning at that time, so they just hammered it.
During the Mongol Khanate period, as a nomadic regime, the Mongol Khanate had very low war costs. The cavalry relied on carrying dry food to fight, and supplies basically relied on plunder.
However, after gradually completing the unification of the Central Plains, Kublai Khan, the ruler of the Mongolian and Yuan Empire, had to consider the affordability of the Central Plains people. The Mongols were a minority with a very small population at that time, and the Mongols who entered the Central Plains might not even be as large as
Millions of people.
What they are facing are the Han people with a population of more than 70 million. What they did in the grassland will definitely not work anymore.
In fact, during the Mongol and Yuan rule, most of the people actually responsible for the administration were Han Chinese.
Even in the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasty, the number of Han officials was very large.
Kublai Khan fought everywhere on the sea and failed everywhere. This made Kublai Khan learn from the pain. Remembering the time when he fought in the Southern Song Dynasty, he became even more crazy about the navy.
Wherever you fall, you get up.
Even if Kublai Khan died in the end, the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty has always followed Kublai Khan's policies and has always provided great support to the navy.
The Ming Dynasty is able to have the world's largest navy, which has a lot to do with the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty's vigorous development of the navy in the past hundred years.
However, after the death of Kublai Khan, the Mongolian Yuan Dynasty was internally decayed, rebel armies from various places were fighting one after another, and the entire Central Plains region was in chaos. Even though it had been developing its navy, it never launched another external conquest.
But after a hundred years of development, there is no doubt about the strength of the navy.
Of course, this does not mean much to Southeast Asian countries.
Whether it was in the early Mongolian Yuan Dynasty or in the current Ming Dynasty, they have never won a war on the sea and have always been crushed.
In the Ming Dynasty Palace.
Huang Guan is reporting to Zhu Ying.
"Your Highness, I have now selected a list of one hundred and eight students. These students are often the thorns in the academy and are often the thorns in the trouble."
"Colleges in various places have issued explicit orders to notify them of their expulsion. We have kept the news within a small scope. The students are quite open-minded about this matter. Most of them are the second sons in the family."
Zhu Ying nodded and said: "Let the college and the government help them promote their reputation. Don't send them directly to Champa. It is best to join in Ming Dynasty and then be sent there by the gang."
Huang Guan bowed slightly: "I understand."
There are many gangs in Champa City, and it already has a sense of familiarity with the young and Dangerous boys of later generations.
In the future, Champa will inevitably be included in the direct rule of the Ming Dynasty and become the granary of the Ming Dynasty.
Only in this way can we better cope with the disasters caused by the Little Ice Age and allow more Ming people to survive.
Although this has little to do with Zhu Ying now, we must also consider it for the future Ming Dynasty.
The undercover plan was launched.
"It seems that Huang Aiqing still likes Water Margin very much." After the serious conversation, Zhu Ying said with a smile.
Nowadays, the Ming Dynasty's economy has prospered, so the people's spiritual entertainment culture has also improved. Water Margin is very popular in the market. Basically, most teahouses will invite storytellers to tell this story.
Huang Guan replied: "Not only do I like it, but the students also like it very much."
For undercover agents, belief is also a very crucial part.
Next, Zhu Ying and Huang Guan talked about some things about Liubu.
Huang Guan was very intelligent and had a good character. Zhu Ying would often chat with Huang Guan and pass on policies, methods, and strategies from later generations.
Compared with Zhu Yinglai, Huang Guan is actually more familiar with the officialdom of the Ming Dynasty. Zhu Ying's position is too high, and it is difficult to see many things with his own eyes. He has never been involved in officialdom in his previous life, so he needs someone to help with some detailed system rules.
Make improvements.
The main responsibility of James Mansion is to assist, which can also be regarded as Huang Guan's job.
And now Huang Guan has also served as Donggong's companion, that is, Xiao Wencheng's teacher.
Zhu Ying still has a lot of experience in giving speeches and brainwashing, but when it comes to teaching and educating people, she is a little behind.
Anyway, Huang Guan is a hexagonal warrior. If you have any troubles, just throw them to him and he can basically find a solution to the problem.
After talking about six parts, we talked about today's steam engines and the design of flintlock guns.
Flintlock guns can now be made by hand, and the short-barreled flintlock gun in Zhu Ying's hand is the best example.
It's just that it's expensive, takes too long, has too little flint and is unstable.
"I recently observed the production of the Scientific Research Department and designed a steam engine. The effect is much better than the previous one, but it still cannot achieve what His Highness said."
"I have made some calculations and found that it can now be used as a steam ironclad ship. However, the sailing distance is too short and the coal consumption is too large. If it travels to Shanghai, even if it is fully loaded with coal, it will only be enough to sail for less than ten days. In fact,
Probably shorter."
Speaking of the Scientific Research Department, Huang Guan talked about his recent achievements.
Before Zhu Ying could react, he said: "This is a problem of condensation, if there is any"
Zhu Ying suddenly froze, turned to look at Huang Guan, and couldn't help but ask: "You mean, you have already made the steam engine?"
"Why didn't the Scientific Research Department report such an important matter?"
There was some doubt in Huang Guan's eyes: "I made it according to the plan described by His Highness."
Zhu Ying suddenly understood.
When Huang Guan was in the Scientific Research Department, he must have said that he had made the design drawing, and then the Scientific Research Department thought he already knew about it, so he did not report it.
"Quickly, take me to see it." Zhu Ying lost her previous calmness and looked more excited. She stood up and urged Huang Guan.
Huang Guan obviously did not realize how epoch-making significance the emergence of the steam engine was.
He just understood what His Highness said before, integrated it, and then made some improvements to the steam engine in the way His Highness said.
In a sense, this was all taught by His Highness the Grand Sun.
A minister is responsible for carrying out His Highness's instructions. Isn't this what a minister should do?
Zhu Ying was also confused.
What did he tell?
He did talk about the steam engine, but it was based on his shallow understanding of later generations, and he made a specious statement in bits and pieces.
What is the loss of heat, insulation, and the reciprocating piston movement of the cylinder?
Then drive the gear.
Then I talked about the air valve.
In short, after the coal is burned, the water is boiled to insulate the steam. The pipes must also be insulated, so as to maximize the power of the steam and reduce the heat loss of the steam.
With these fragmentary stories, Huang Guan built a steam engine?
Can it theoretically drive an ironclad ship to sail?
It may actually be less than ten days?
Zhu Ying couldn't believe it at this moment.
"Guo Zhong, prepare the dragon chariot and set off for the Scientific Research Department!"
Zhu Ying couldn't wait any longer this time and drove the dragon chariot directly to open the way.
Soon, the dragon chariot arrived directly at the entrance of Qianqing Palace, and Zhu Ying went in directly from the back door of Qianqing Palace.
At this time, the old man was delivering a batch of memorials in the Huagai Hall. From a ritual perspective, he, the grandson, could not enter the Qianqing Palace privately when Zhu Yuanzhang was not around.
It's just that the grandfather and grandson never seemed to care about this.
When the eunuchs and maids of the Qianqing Palace saw the grandson breaking in, they were not surprised at all and saluted respectfully.
"Come on, come up." Zhu Ying stepped onto the dragon chariot and urged Huang Guan.
"This minister is not allowed to come."
This is a dragon chariot. How can Huang Guan get on it? Wouldn't it be trespassing if he got on it?
"What nonsense are you talking about? Hurry up." Zhu Ying said angrily.
Seeing this, Huang Guan could only muster up his courage and go ahead.
"Did you really build a steam engine?"
After getting on the dragon chariot, Zhu Ying calmed down and confirmed to Huang Guan again and again.
Huang Guan also didn't expect Taisun to attach such great importance to it, and replied: "If it is what His Highness said, it must have been created."
Zhu Ying turned to the guard driving in front and ordered: "Hurry up and notify the guards to clear the way. I want to go to the Scientific Research Department immediately."
The guard driving the car immediately shouted: "Taishun decrees, the guards clear the way to the Scientific Research Department!"
As the guard shouted, the guard in the distance also shouted loudly.
The sound is naturally faster than the carriage.
The guard at Fengtian Gate saw the dragon chariot coming from a distance, quickly opened the gate, and then shouted to convey the Taisun's order.
To the left and right of the Meridian Gate, there are Tiqi ready at any time.
Hearing the shouts, the guards immediately mounted their horses to clear the way for the dragon chariot.
The Scientific Research Department is next to the military camp on the outskirts of the city.
Therefore, if Zhu Ying wants to go there, the fastest way is of course to take Zhengyang Avenue.
The development of Zhengyang Avenue has changed a lot from the beginning.
Thirty feet is divided into three lanes in total.
The one in the middle is called the Royal Road.
As the name suggests, it is the place where the emperor walked.
Its width is divided by the center line, totaling six feet, and the ground is paved with stone bricks.
Except for 600-mile, 800-mile express, or with imperial permission, if anyone else takes the royal road, it is a crime of great disrespect.
Then there is the Imperial Guard Road.
This road is only one to five feet wide and is patrolled by the guards on duty.
The key role is to protect the royal road.
On the outside of the Imperial Guard Road, there are rows of stone pillars connected by big red hemp ropes. Anyone who crosses them will be jailed.
Next is the carriage road, each three feet wide, and goods are transported along this road.
What remains is the people's walk, which is seven feet and five feet wide on the left and right sides.
The inner side of the pedestrian road, close to the horse and carriage path, is also connected by stone pillars to prevent people from being accidentally hit by carriages and horses.
In fact, this is very difficult, because even if it is a carriage road, when you enter Zhengyangmen, you are driving at a limited speed. Racing on Zhengyang Avenue is illegal, and you will be jailed for several months at least.
Therefore, it is impossible for the common people to cross the chariot and horse roads and imperial guards roads and go to the imperial roads.
If there is such a person, it is not unintentional, but deliberately provoking the majesty of the imperial power.
Since the establishment of Zhengyang Avenue, nothing like this has ever happened.
Of course, this is also because the Imperial Guard Road is guarded twelve hours a day.
Nanjing is said to be a city that never sleeps, because the guards on the Imperial Guard Road also work in three shifts.
Each shift lasts four hours, which is eight hours in later generations.
From Zhengyang Square in front of Chengtian Gate to the foot of Zhengyang Gate, there is a total of three miles. Naturally, it is impossible to completely cut off the middle.
So Zhu Ying set up a crossroads.
Every three hundred meters, the guards are in charge, and there is a two-foot-wide road for the people to pass through.
This is the same as the traffic lights of later generations, except that artificial traffic lights are used here.
"Send the order, it's forbidden!"
Before Zhu Ying came out, loud shouts kept ringing out.
Zhengyang Avenue is under martial law. According to the rules, vehicles on the carriageway are prohibited from driving and must wait where they are.
The heralds all have loud voices. If they don't have a loud voice, they can't do this job.
The common people who were walking also stopped and subconsciously looked in the direction of Chengtian Gate.
Both sides of the bustling Zhengyang Avenue suddenly became quiet at this moment. Even when pedestrians spoke, they spoke softly, as if they were afraid of disturbing others.
"What's going on? Why was martial law suddenly imposed? Did something big happen?"
Many foreign businessmen and people were a little confused and had no idea what was going on. They could only whisper to the people next to them.
After all, most of the time, martial law rarely occurs.
Ordinary members of the royal family are not qualified to walk on the royal road. When Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Ying leave the palace, they usually travel in casual clothes rather than with great fanfare.
"Hush, no sound, the royal road is strictly guarded. Naturally, only His Majesty or the grandson will do it when traveling."
The people who understood it said so, and then they looked forward to Chengtianmen.
At this time, people near Zhengyang Square saw the main gate of Chengtian Gate slowly opening.
The first thing that appeared were rows of Tiqi, which were the Guards cavalry responsible for escorting.
Then a luxurious carriage appeared.
Appearing in front are eight snow-white horses. There are two figures on the carriage. It is too far away to see clearly. One of them is wearing a bright red robe. Anyone who has seen it will know that this is already the standard outfit of His Majesty and his grandson.
There is no need for the people to guess who is on the dragon chariot, because all the soldiers in Zhengyang Square knelt down on one knee and shouted loudly: "Welcome to His Majesty the Grand Sun for his trip!!!"
From the top of Zhengyang Avenue, we can see that the common people knelt on the ground one by one, and the soldiers shouted together: "Welcome to His Majesty the Grand Sun for his trip!!!"
The cries spread one after another, forming a huge echo.
Oh, this damn sense of ritual.
Zhu Ying felt a little regretful at this moment. She should have traveled in casual clothes, as this would make too much noise every time.
There are hundreds of thousands of people walking along Zhengyang Avenue.
Even many shopkeepers and restaurant guests came out to watch and then knelt down together.
Huang Guan sat in the carriage and felt the huge sound, which was truly deafening.
His mind was a little blank at this moment, his fingers were clenched and trembling slightly.
You know, it is a great honor to step on the dragon chariot and feel the cheers of the people.
Only those who have made great contributions to the country can enjoy such treatment.
The last time a minister was treated like this was when he won a great victory in the Battle of Lanyu Yuerhai and was granted the title of Duke of Liang.