In the simple world view of the ancients, it was impossible for iron to float in water.
Therefore, from ancient times to the present, both large and small ships have been made of wood.
Although people from the Academy of Sciences have long popularized relevant knowledge, they have also used experiments to prove that containers such as iron basins and iron pots can float on water.
However, when this giant ship of 10,000 tons really stood in front of everyone's eyes, such questions inevitably arose in everyone's mind.
This ship is made of countless steel. Just imagine, if you throw the rails, trains, and large boilers into the water, will it float?
Although Jin Ying is the governor of the shipyard and has focused all his energy on the Ming Dynasty's first armored ship for more than two years, he is not professional after all. It is the first time he has faced such a huge steel behemoth. If it really
I really don’t know if it will sink when I start it.
Maybe... it won’t sink?
To him, this battleship is like a child raised by himself, but after all, it is made of steel. Although it is floating in the water now, who knows what will happen after the big boiler is started?
All I can do now is pray for everything to go well, countless dollars, countless people, countless days and nights...
It can’t sink!
At this moment, he secretly made a decision in his heart. If the ship sank, he would not have to apologize, he could just follow the ship and sink to the bottom of the sea!
Although Zhu Qizhen understood the principles of steam engines, he had little experience in shipbuilding.
He knows very well that he is at most a guide. Whether this giant ship can be launched will ultimately depend on the efforts of thousands of technicians and craftsmen.
Looking at the huge chimney standing on the ship, it feels like a boiler room in the backyard of a school...
At this time, a large number of carefully selected sailors and crew members were already lined up on the deck, waiting for the next instructions.
Zhu Qizhen raised his eyes and saw that these people had straight bodies, dark skin, and looked very energetic.
"My fellow soldiers, thank you for your hard work!"
Everyone immediately replied in unison: "Long live the Emperor!"
Zhu Qizhen was very satisfied. Those who have been to the sea are different. This momentum is very strong.
"Now, according to my will, everyone returns to their posts and prepares for the trial voyage!"
"Yes!"
A uniform shout came from the deck again, and then everyone immediately dispersed and rushed to their posts.
Following Zhu Qizhen, Bei Lin was originally engaged in scientific research and was very interested in shipboard steam engines. She couldn't wait to see what the ship would look like in operation.
Tang Xinggu's expression was a little strange. He had no interest in science at all. He just supported whatever the emperor liked and admired, and that was it!
But, is this ironclad ship really unsinkable...
"Your Majesty, no!"
Just as Tang Xinggu was hesitating, someone beside him spoke.
He turned around and saw that it was Cao Yi, the chief envoy of Zhejiang Province.
Zhu Qizhen said dissatisfied: "Why not?"
Cao Yi saluted and said: "Your Majesty, this armored ship is anchored in the port. If there is any problem, it can be rectified in time. But once it leaves the port, if something goes wrong, what should we do...?"
Immediately afterwards, Zhang Chunye, the prefect of Ningbo, advised: "Your Majesty, please think twice!"
These two people were both Jinshi during the Yongle period, and could be regarded as senior figures of the Four Dynasties.
Not only do they, old scholars like them, not understand science, but they resist it from the bottom of their hearts.
In the capital, there were also a large number of scholars, including political dignitaries, who openly opposed natural science and regarded these people as aliens and a shame for scholars.
However, with the rollout of railways, many people consciously kept their mouths shut.
On the contrary, in local areas, especially in affluent places like Jiangnan, where there are many big houses, they are more opposed to science.
In fact, this is easy to understand. The reason why these families can rise is mostly through reading.
They will naturally regard Confucianism as a sacred and inviolable truth.
With the implementation of the New Deal, a large number of various natural disciplines have emerged, which has shaken the dominance of Confucianism, which they cannot accept.
Therefore, neither Zhejiang Governor Cao Yi nor Ningbo Governor Zhang Chun really supported the construction of ironclad ships at Ningbo Shipyard.
With these 30 million taels of silver, wouldn’t it be better to build more treasure ships?
If a treasure ship goes to sea, you can earn money back. What can this big iron lump do?
Now that they heard that the emperor wanted to test the sea in person, the two of them quickly dissuaded him.
Let’s not talk about the performance of this iron lump. We don’t understand it. However, it would be nice to have a crew for the trial voyage. You are the emperor. Do you have to put yourself at risk?
Even if you can't think about it, don't let anything happen in Ningbo!
If the ship sinks and everyone is gone, what will we do?
Seeing this, Zhu Qizhen smiled calmly and said: "I had doubts before I came here, but after seeing you today, all doubts have been dispelled. If you two Qings are worried, you can go to the shore and wait." p>
Cao Yi and Zhang Chun looked at each other, oh, the emperor personally commanded the trial voyage, and we brothers are waiting on the shore?
If something happens, we still can’t save our heads!
To take a step back, even if everything goes well, how will we be human beings in the future?
"Your Majesty, I think that there are specialties in the industry. Since this is a trial voyage, we should find someone who knows how to sail. The Emperor has many things to do every day, and not everything needs to be done by himself."
"You said I don't know how to sail?"
"No, no..."
Cao Yi waved his hands repeatedly and said: "I... what I mean is..."
Seeing this, Zhang Chun hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, what Master Cao means is that the weather at sea is unpredictable. What should we do if we encounter wind and waves?"
Except for Bei Lin and Tang Xinggu, most of the accompanying officials did not want the emperor to board the ship.
Because...if the emperor boards the ship, they will definitely follow him!
Seeing Cao and Zhang stand up, others began to follow suit.
Zhu Qizhen turned his head and asked: "Jin Ying, tell me, how safe is this ship? Have corresponding rescue measures been prepared?"
Jin Ying nodded hurriedly and said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, the port has already prepared a search and rescue ship. I have learned how to swim a few days ago and am now proficient in it."
After hearing this, Cao Yi rolled his eyes in anger.
Why didn’t you tell me how early you learned to swim? Let’s learn it together!
What's the use of all this now? How come you can still save a whole boatload of people if they really fall into the water?
Seeing that the situation was not good, he rolled his eyes and said: "As the saying goes, a gentleman does not stand behind a dangerous wall. If the emperor insists on boarding the ship, and the Ministry of Rites and the Metropolitan Procuratorate find out, I am afraid he will have to..." p>
He knew he couldn't persuade him, so he simply pulled the Ministry of Rites and the Metropolitan Procuratorate out.
At this time, Tang Xinggu stood up and said: "The emperor wants to test the sea in person. There is a reason for it. The Metropolitan Procuratorate has no objection!"
Cao Yi suddenly felt a chill in his heart. Why didn't this guy follow the routine?
You are the dignified Censor of Zuodu!
Shouldn't the censor be against the emperor at all times and find problems no matter what?
What's going on?
"Tang Yushi, you must be responsible for what you say!"
"Naturally responsible!"
Tang Xinggu said expressionlessly: "No matter what the emperor does, the Procuratorate will support him!"
Cao Yi was shaking with anger, what are you doing?
Zhu Qizhen was no longer too lazy to talk nonsense with him, so he said with a sullen face: "Anyone else in the Qing family who wants to dissuade can just get on the ship and dissuade them! This ship is the first iron-clad ship of the Ming Dynasty, and countless people have devoted their lives to it."
I have worked so hard. If I don’t board the ship today, how can I know the suffering of the soldiers and the people? I am a real dragon, and a dragon cannot be drowned in the sea!"
Although he himself knew that feudal superstition was unacceptable, in this era, the identity of the True Dragon Emperor was still very useful.
Even if it is
People who don’t believe in ghosts and gods also like all kinds of beautiful meanings.
Everyone had no choice but to shut up, and Jin Ying immediately ordered them to go down and prepare to leave the port!
Zhu Qizhen still stayed on the deck, looking at the sea from here. The scenery was completely different as far as he could see, and his mood became broader.
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The waves hit the hull of the ship, but no shaking was felt under the feet. This shows that the waterline of the ship is already quite high.
There were orders everywhere inside and outside the cabin, and everyone was making final preparations.
"The power system is normal!"
"The gun bay is ready!"
"Everyone in the sail cabin has been assembled!"
"The mainsail is normal!"
"The jib is normal!"
"The helmsman is ready..."
At this moment, the busiest person is Jin Ying. He can no longer even care about the emperor, and he is fully devoted to the ship.
Finally, all equipment has been checked and all personnel are ready.
Jin Ying came to Zhu Qizhen and saluted solemnly: "Your Majesty, the preparations have been completed. Do you want to set sail?"
Zhu Qizhen nodded and said: "Pass on my will and set sail!"
"I obey!"
Jin Ying took two steps back and then turned around.
"The Emperor has a decree, let's set sail!"
In front of him, the messenger immediately shouted: "Sail - sail -"
Soon, the anchor was pulled up and the sail was lowered.
Immediately afterwards, there was a rumbling sound under everyone's feet, and the whole ship was shaking.
Cao Yi and others were shocked. They started shaking before they started?
Even Fan Zhong, Yuan Bin and others had nervous expressions on their faces.
The only one who was calm was Beilin. The steam engine, such a huge steam engine, would be weird if it didn't make some noise!
The steam engine has been started, and the huge chimney is beginning to emit thick smoke.
The entire hull shook again, and then the hull tilted slightly to one side.
Cao Yi's face suddenly turned pale with fear, and Zhang Chun even let out a wailing sound.
Beilin glanced at them and said calmly: "Don't panic, everyone, the ship should be turning."
Ironclad ships are different from treasure ships in that they use a pointed bottom. The heavy hull moves slowly, causing huge waves.
In the boiler room, a large number of people are constantly replenishing coal.
These coals will be converted into heat energy, and then into power, which will drive the propellers to rotate and push the giant ship forward.
Although people in this era did not understand the principle of energy conversion, they knew that as long as coal was burned, the ship could move.
Along with the rumbling sound, the hull began to move.
At first, the movement was so slow that Zhu Qizhen felt a little disappointed.
The hull is too heavy and the power is simply not enough.
This was made with 30 million taels of silver. In the end, it is not just an embroidered pillow that looks useless.
Looking up, Ningbo Port is gradually fading away.
Slowly, you can see the whole shipyard. From this angle, it is quite spectacular.
The hull is still very stable, but this speed... is really not enough.
Zhu Qizhen called Jin Ying and asked: "Is this the biggest motivation now?"
Jin Ying said: "When I return to the emperor, there are four boilers in the power cabin, but only one has been started now."
Zhu Qizhen couldn't help but wonder: "Why only use one?"
Jin Ying hurriedly explained: "The original idea was to activate two units and have two backup units. At critical times, three or even four units could be activated. However, today is just a trial voyage. I think one unit is enough."
When Zhu Qizhen heard this, he immediately became interested: "How can that be possible? Let's start now.
Use two of them and let me see the effect."
Jin Ying had no choice but to do so, and soon the ship began to accelerate.
The shipyards in the port are also getting farther and farther away, and the speed has obviously increased.
This is only steam power, without sails, the effect is already very good.
However, some of the accompanying officials began to have reactions, feeling dizzy and nauseous. It looked like they were seasick.
Zhu Qizhen ordered people to send those who were seasick to the lounge or medical room, and then gave the order again to start the third boiler!
Jin Ying's face looked a little ugly, because no one could guarantee whether these boilers could operate normally, or how far they could go?
In case something breaks down along the way, there is still a backup.
The reason is obvious, the more boilers are activated, the greater the chance of failure.
However, whoever dares to disobey the emperor's will has no choice but to obey it.
The whole ship made a rumbling sound, and Zhu Qizhen felt that the speed had increased again.
Looking behind me, the escorting clippers were a little unable to keep up.
At this time, he became more interested and ordered again: "Open all four stations!"
Jin Ying's face has turned black. If this is all bad, there is no way he can go back!
He hesitated for a moment, and just when he was about to dissuade him, Zhu Qizhen said impatiently: "Go quickly, what are you waiting for?"
Jin Ying was helpless, sighed silently, and passed on the order.
The hull accelerated again, and the escorting clippers behind, even with their sails inflated, still became smaller and smaller, and eventually became black spots that resembled the lake.
At this point, everyone took a deep breath.
A body of steel, a carrying capacity of 10,000 tons, and a speed so fast!
It can be used to go as fast as the wind.
However, most people still have worries.
Because I am used to living on land, with the porcelain earth under my feet, and now I am a ship floating on the vast ocean, I will inevitably feel uneasy.
Jin Ying trotted over and said, "Your Majesty, nearly 30% of the fuel has been consumed. Do you want to return?"
Zhu Qizhen frowned and asked: "It has only been so long and 30% has been consumed?"
Jin Ying laughed along and said: "Your Majesty does not know. Since today is just a trial voyage, the servants are worried that too much coal will be loaded, which will affect the sailing speed, so they make their own decisions...the fuel tank is only filled with 20% of the capacity."<
/p>
Zhu Qizhen said dissatisfied: "I just want to see the true speed of this ship. If you packed less coal today, will you really pack less coal when you sail in the future?"
Jin Ying hurriedly knelt down and said, "My slave... I know I was wrong..."
Zhu Qizhen waved his hand and said impatiently: "Okay, let's not talk about it for now, let's return to sail!"