"If the train doesn't follow the tracks, it seems like it's easy to get into trouble!"
Liu Jin looked at the expressions of the two people and smiled in his heart.
Because of the existence of himself as a time traveler, Ming Dynasty's technological development can be regarded as a cheat.
Take the steam engine as an example. If we didn't take the initiative and allocate special funds for people to study this thing, to be honest, we don't know how long it would take for this steam engine to be developed.
Although the principle of the steam engine is very simple and cannot be said to be of high technical content, sometimes this thing needs someone to click on it before it can come out. Under normal development conditions, I am afraid that it will be very difficult in the soil of Ming Dynasty.
Difficult to conceive.
Even if the rapid development of capitalism and colonialism has promoted the improvement of productivity, it will probably take a long time to build this steam engine.
There are also new looms and spinning machines, the same principle is true.
There is no doubt about the importance of these two things. Without these two things, the textile industry of Ming Dynasty would not be able to develop rapidly.
The textile industry is the most rapidly developing industry in the Ming Dynasty, and it is also the most capital-oriented industry. More and more large factories and workshops have begun to take the form of factories of later generations.
Normally, the invention of these two things requires accidental discovery.
But it was different with the time traveler Liu Jin. Not only was he invented in advance, but it also became popular quickly under Liu Jin's promotion, promoting the development of the textile industry in the Ming Dynasty.
The same is true for the development of steam locomotives and steamships now. They are all led by Liu Jin, and they are also key things. In many cases, Liu Jin himself does not need to think hard and study these things.
Just give some hints on key points. This is what the time traveler should do.
The people of Ming Dynasty are no worse than any other nation in the world, and are even smarter, smarter, and have more skilled craftsmen than most other nations. As long as these skilled craftsmen are given a platform to display their abilities, Ming technology will naturally be promoted.
of rapid development.
The biggest problem faced by the Ming Dynasty is not the lack of smart people, nor the lack of people who are good at thinking and discovery, but the social system of the Ming Dynasty. Under the system of recruiting scholars with eight-legged writing, the thoughts of the entire society are firmly controlled.
, rejecting new ideas and new things, this is what hinders the development of Ming Dynasty.
The development of Confucianism has gone astray. The long-term monopoly rule of this land has stopped the development of Confucianism, and it has gradually become self-contained and extreme rejection of other doctrines, hindering the development and progress of the entire society.
This is why Liu Jin opened a new school, because new things must be injected and new ideas and theories must arise to bring new vitality and development to this ancient land.
"By the way, tell me about the research on steamships."
Steam locomotives should be available soon. With high-power steam engines and rails laid, trains will soon be available.
Of course, trains alone are not enough. The vast territory of the Ming Dynasty, even the Pacific Ocean is an inland sea, and it is definitely not possible without fast sea navigation tools.
Therefore, Liu Jin also asked about the research status of steamships to see what difficulties they encountered and whether he could give some advice based on some experiences of later generations.
After hearing what Liu Jin said, Ren Siheng said helplessly: "Mr. Liu, you'd better come with me and take a look."
After that, he took the lead and walked to the location of the steamship research project. As he walked, he said: "For steamship research, we mainly cooperate with Tianjin Shipyard, and the main location of the project is also located in Tianjin.
"
"However, the most important thing about this steamship is not the ship but the steam power. Here in the capital, we are also studying how to apply steam power to the ship."
"Our ships have always used sails to provide power. When it comes to relying on steam power, the first thing we thought of was to use paddles, use steam engines to drive paddles, and then use paddle boats to drive ships."
"..."
Ren Siheng explained their research ideas and directions to Liu Jin in detail.
There are naturally huge differences between steam ships and traditional sailboats. People from the Mechanical Research Institute, Tianjin Shipyard and Shipbuilding Institute have been conducting joint research for a long time.
Soon, under the leadership of Ren Siheng, Liu Jin and Zhu Houzhao also came to the steamship research project team.
"Mr. Liu, this is the paddle we developed~"
In the huge laboratory, Ren Siheng pointed to a row of long oars and said.
This paddle has many paddles and is connected with a long screw. When connected to a steam engine, these paddles can be driven by steam power.
"At first we used wooden oars, but wooden oars are very fragile, especially when the steam power is strong enough, they will break easily."
"We turned to metal to make paddles. Metal paddles are more durable than wooden paddles, but because of the steam engine-->>
Because of this, when we were on the ship, there was a terrible vibration, which caused the ship to be damaged. The entire ship was destroyed by the earthquake after it could not be used for too long."
br/> “In addition, the wear of this bearing is very severe, and it will be damaged after being used for too long. The most important problem is that when such a device is installed on a ship, the speed of the ship is very slow, and even
Worse than a sailboat."
When he said this, Ren Siheng couldn't help but shake his head.
To be honest, the research on steamships is the biggest problem he has encountered now. There are so many problems that many people involved in the research believe that steam engines cannot be used on ships at all.
The vibrations generated by the operation of the steam engine are enough to shatter the ship. It is difficult for wooden ships to withstand the operation of the steam engine. Especially after the horsepower of the steam engine increases, the structure of the wooden ship cannot withstand the powerful vibrations.
.
Secondly, there is the problem of loss. The paddles are not durable, the bearings are easy to break and wear, and there are many reasons such as low efficiency, too slow speed, etc., which make everyone think that steam power is not suitable for use on ships.
The progress of research has been very slow, and it has never been possible to develop a satisfactory steam ship.
Liu Jin listened carefully and then looked at the paddle in front of him. To be honest, he was a little dumbfounded.
"Is this a paddle?"
"Shouldn't it be the propeller?"
"Do you need more oars?"
"The limitations of this thinking are too great. I even thought of using the method of dragon boat racing and getting paddles on both sides of the boat to push the boat. With such a long wheelbase, no matter how good the bearings are, it can't stand it. It's so powerful.
The energy will also be wasted.”
Liu Jin couldn't help but shake his head.
The ships of later generations were all propelled by propellers, and the propellers were not large. Even the propellers as huge as an aircraft carrier were very small compared to the huge body of the aircraft carrier.
Looking at the paddle in front of him again, Liu Jin suddenly wanted to laugh.
However, Liu Jin still held back.
People like Ren Siheng are taking a path that has never been taken before. It is understandable that after feeling the stones and referring to existing experience, they created such a paddle.
Development requires a process, and at the beginning, many things may seem ridiculous.
Just like an airplane, the first airplane looks very simple and ridiculous, but as long as you continue to explore, you can create more and more powerful airplanes.
The same is true for the development of ships. The first ship may be a piece of wood or even a tree, and then slowly develop into a canoe, and finally develop into the large aircraft carrier of later generations.
Although the propellers in front of us are far from the propellers of later generations, they are the result of the hard work of Ren Siheng and others.
Well, you can't laugh, you absolutely can't laugh.
Liu Jin said silently to himself.
"Ren Siheng, actually you don't need to get so many oars, nor do you need to get such long bearings."
"We can change our thinking and get a propulsion device directly behind the butt of the ship, and then the long screw can also be turned into a short screw."
"Well, maybe the screw can be made into a blade shape to give it a spiral shape. If you try it this way, it might have different effects."
"Experiment more, use more new methods, try something new, and don't be limited and restricted in your thinking."
"Why does this power have to be used on both sides of the ship?"
"It's okay to be on the back of the boat."
After thinking about it, Liu Jin also told Ren Siheng to explain the concept of propellers for later generations.
If Ren Siheng continues to research this kind of paddle, who knows when he will be able to develop a steam ship that can be put into use and use steam power on traditional paddles.
It is such a waste of steam power, the long connecting bearing is very easy to be damaged, and the paddle is also very easy to break.
"Short screw?"
"The screw is made into a blade shape?"
"Make it look like a spiral."
"Put it in the back of the ship?"
When Ren Siheng heard this, he couldn't help but widen his eyes slightly, feeling that Liu Jin's idea was a bit unreasonable, but he still quickly remembered Liu Jin's words.
Although Liu Jin is not engaged in these studies, Liu Jin is a disciple of an expert, and his constant guidance has made their research progress by leaps and bounds.
This is not only true for their Mechanical Research Institute, but also for the Iron and Steel Research Institute, the School of Engineering, the School of Chemical Engineering, etc. Many things can quickly make huge progress through Liu Jin's guidance.
"The words of a disciple of an expert must contain profound truth!"
Ren Siheng firmly remembered it, while Zhu Houzhao on the side frowned.