The New Year of the sixth year of Zhengde comes in peace.
Compared with the chaos in the first half of the year, after the rebellion was suppressed and Liu Jin was eradicated, the government and the public became extremely calm. After the reorganization and distribution of power, the interests of all parties were taken care of. Liu Jin's death also shocked all parties to a certain extent.
, we should be more or less cautious in our actions and competitions.
Compared with Liu Jin's methods, the Outer Court Civil Service Group and the new generation of noble groups are a little more elegant in their appearance. At least they will not use some dirty methods to treat others with some personal and insignificant things.
Based on the criticism, not to mention fabricating, framing and throwing dirty water.
The atmosphere of the New Year is very strong in the city of Nanjing. After the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, the city began to be filled with the atmosphere of the New Year. The heritage of the capital is still there, and the people here are living a pretty good life. All walks of life are pretty good.
Prosperity. Especially the Flower Street on the Qinhuai River is famous all over the world. Rich people flock to it, which drives the development of various related industries and also drives economic prosperity.
Of course, for Zhang Yanling, it was normal to spend time in the shipyard building ships and personally supervising the construction progress of the invincible treasure ship. After returning from visiting the tomb in the winter solstice, Zhang Yanling concentrated on the shipyard.
Seeing the big boat on the log frame in the No. 1 pond starting to take shape bit by bit, Zhang Yanling was naturally very happy.
During this period, there were indeed many problems. Many related problems also arose during the shipbuilding process. According to the treasure ship's drawings, it would certainly be possible to save some effort. But what Zhang Yanling wanted was a modified armored warship. How to convert the armored warship into a modified one?
Nested with wood, how to solve the problem of corrosion of iron armor after encountering sea water. How to transform the second-level cabin and build a firing space for the Tiger Howl Cannon. How to solve the problem of ship counterweight and balance after adding and reducing so many facilities.
problem.
All of these are obstacles that cannot be circumvented. This is not something to be imagined or taken for granted. Any shortcomings of a large ship will be infinitely magnified in the sea and eventually lead to tragedy. Therefore, every problem needs to be solved
Proper solution.
In fact, the hardest person was not Zhang Yanling, but Xu Gao.
As a promotion to the Bao Shipyard, he is equivalent to the director of the Bao Shipyard. Not only must he coordinate all aspects of manpower and material resources, but he must also solve technical problems. For example, purchasing wood. Such a large ship requires a large-scale wood called iron pear wood.
Materials need to be purchased and transported from various places. The iron armor used for ships cannot be thick or too thin, and the problem of seawater corrosion needs to be solved.
Just solving the problem of seawater corrosion was a headache for Xu Gao. This was really not a problem that he, a master, could solve. His solution was to apply paint and oil and use wood anti-corrosion methods, but it obviously didn't work.
Fortunately, Zhang Yanling gave the answer to this question, which is to install some zinc plates throughout the hull. Xu Gao naturally did not understand the principle, and Zhang Yanling could not explain to him what it meant to use the characteristics of seawater to make steel
It forms a battery with the zinc block. Because zinc is more active than steel, it is zinc rather than steel that corrodes.
To explain this kind of thing, Xu Gao defined Zhang Yanling as nonsense. And it was a waste of words. Therefore, it is better not to explain.
Xu Gao was hesitant at first and naturally refused to believe it. It was not until Zhang Yanling dissolved sea salt in water to simulate sea water and placed the steel plate and zinc block in it. After seven or eight days, the zinc plate was mottled and the steel plate was as good as new. Xu Gao was speechless.
Zhang Yanling secretly felt ashamed. Fortunately, she had not completely thrown away these junior high school knowledge. Chemical principles that were extremely simple in later generations were mysterious means of solving difficult problems in this era.
The final plan was to cover the hull with thin steel plates and fine steel rivets. Although the half-inch-thick steel armor cannot completely protect the hull from damage when it is attacked, the protective effect is definitely there. Steel armor that is too thick will not work.
Yes, the ship will probably sink directly. Ordinary thin iron will not work either.
Fortunately, Xu Gao had been prepared beforehand. The thin skin of refined iron smelted has good protection, and there are only traces of gunshots. The problem is that the several kilograms of finished products shipped not long ago are only enough for one boat. At present, the rivers in the north are frozen, and the land route is blocked.
It was also blocked by wind and snow and could not be transported from Wild Dog Ridge. Besides, the cost of building a large number of ships and transporting them thousands of miles from the Xishan Arsenal was too high.
So, Xu Gao racked his brains to think of a way. Fortunately, there is no road ahead. There is a place called Ma'anshan in Dangtu County across the river, which is where the Ming Dynasty officially produced iron ore.
Xu Gao took Zhang Yanling and went there in person. In the name of Lord Protector, he reached an agreement with the mine in Ma'anshan. A smelting furnace was built in the mine and steel armor sheets were smelted nearby. This solved the long-distance problem.
Expensive transportation costs and huge demand are issues.
In order to keep up with the progress, work cannot be stopped during the New Year. Zhang Yanling ordered that the wages from the first to the seventh day of the new year should be settled at three times the wage rate to ensure the progress of the shipbuilding. The craftsmen had no intention of taking a break, and they were holding back a feeling of excitement.
If you work hard, you will insist on working even if you are not given extra wages, not to mention that the Duke is generous and gives you three times the wages.
This article was also written into the rules and regulations by Zhang Yanling and Xu Gao. Whenever work was done on holidays prescribed by the court, compensation would be paid at triple the rate.
In short, while others were busy celebrating the New Year, Bao Shipyard was still a bustling and busy scene. Zhang Yanling only had a New Year meal with his wife and concubines at home, and then rushed to the shipyard. Even officials from Nanjing came to visit and pay New Year greetings.
It was Xu Wanyi who came forward to receive him.
On the morning of the sixth day of the first lunar month, the two sections of the front and rear sections of the ship are closed together. This is a node in shipbuilding. The closing of these two sections of the ship means that the overall outline of the ship is formed.
With the pulling of dozens of chain winches, the sections of the bow and stern of the ship were getting closer little by little. Several master craftsmen watched the key points without blinking, until the reserved tenon was inserted and hooked tightly, and it fit perfectly.
Only then did everyone burst into cheers.
The large closing of the hull means that this big ship is very close to being launched. The ship has been formed, and all that is left is to strengthen the various joints and anchor the various joints with steel keels to make the entire ship become a whole.
The subsequent outfitting work, erecting masts, upper sails, and the layout of various cabins are matters for the next stage. In fact, those things have little to do with the overall structure of the ship.
The success of shipbuilding depends on the final assembly. Whether the joints and tenons are perfectly matched and whether the arcs and angles are consistent are the standards for testing the quality of this treasure ship. Various indicators
Such a perfect fit shows that all the hard work for so long has been worth it.
Everyone congratulated one after another, and all the stern faces relaxed at this moment.
Zhang Yanling was extremely happy in her heart, and announced loudly for the first time: "Thank you for your hard work, I have half a day off in the afternoon. I will treat you at noon today. I have enough wine and meat to celebrate the success of the merger. I will send someone to find a few restaurants in the city and let them deliver it."
Here comes the food and wine. Feel free to get drunk today at noon."
All the craftsmen and workers were overjoyed, applauding and laughing one after another. The Duke of Guo was in a grand manner, and people like him felt comfortable working. With such good wages and benefits, what’s even more rare is working comfortably and being respected, which is rarer than anything else.
Who has ever seen the Duke of the State carrying the keel along with everyone? Although it is only symbolic, it is also an attitude to show off.
Zhang Yanling looked at the crowd cheering and felt happy in his heart. Just when he was about to tell Chen Shiyi to send someone to buy food and drinks from a restaurant in the city, suddenly, someone laughed loudly and said, "Brother Yanling, do I have a share of this food and wine?"
?”
Zhang Yanling turned around and saw a young man wearing a simple cotton robe walking slowly, followed by a boy carrying a box and cage.
Zhang Yanling's eyes widened and she said in surprise: "Brother Shou Ren? Why are you here?"
The person who came was none other than Wang Shouren. He had a calm demeanor and a bright smile on his face. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, Wang Shouren, has met the Lord Protector."
Zhang Yanling greeted him with a big smile: "You're so polite. Didn't Wang Shangshu say that you encountered something on the way and wouldn't come back?"
Wang Shouren smiled and said: "It's just a month's delay. I wanted to rush back to celebrate the New Year, but I arrived on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year and missed the end of the New Year. I had a day off yesterday, so I'm here to see you today."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "It'll be good to come back, it'll be good to come back. We haven't seen each other for several years. Today's drink is scheduled. Brother Shou... Oh, by the way, I should call you Mrs. Wang. I heard that you created your own mind science
, opened a school to teach students, and became famous all over the world."
Wang Shouren chuckled and said, "Don't be rude to me. Speaking of which, my enlightenment in Longchang was inspired by some of your ideas when we had a long talk in the capital. I can't say anything about my own theory, but at least I have my own ideas.
Some of my own ideas. It’s not a discipleship, it’s just a group of like-minded people who have pursuits and study together.”
Zhang Yanling chuckled and said: "You don't have to be humble. I know the value of this. Come on, let's go drink tea and talk. The food and wine will come soon, and we won't stop getting drunk."