On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, the weather is fine. The first armored treasure ship is about to be launched today.
In the front section of the No. 1 pond, colorful flags were fluttering on the tall colorful shed. Zhang Yanling invited officials from various ministries in Nanjing and generals from the garrison to watch the ceremony. Nearly ten thousand people from Nanjing and nearby areas came to witness this historic event.
One.
At 4 o'clock in the morning, after making detailed arrangements and inspections, Zhang Yanling ordered the iron gate of the No. 1 pond to be opened. As the iron gate opened, turbid river water poured into the pond.
Everyone watched the situation in front of them with bated breath. Although everyone in the shipyard had great confidence that the treasure ship was built without any problems, entering the water was the first step, and floating was the success.
There has been a precedent for a large ship to capsize after being launched into the water. This was due to an unstable center of gravity. Although this treasure ship was restored based on the drawings and had a successful structure, after all, the addition of iron armor would cause it to collapse.
If it capsizes, no one dares to guarantee it.
On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, when the moon is full, the water level on the river is the highest, which is a good day. The pond is more than five feet deep. If there are no problems with the ship construction, the water level is enough to float the armored treasure ship.
The turbulent river water poured into the pond, and within half an hour, the water level in the pond rose visibly. The big ship with colorful flags was soon surrounded by the river, but it still sat on the ship's tire frame.
I don't know at what moment, the big ship seemed to move. Then, the entire hull began to move slowly, moving slowly in the direction of the inflow of water.
"It's floating, it's floating." Everyone shouted with joy.
Xu Gao and others observed the posture of the ship with excitement. There were people on the left and right sides of the pond and near the horizontal head measuring and observing the posture of the ship. Finally, when the water level of the pond was as high as the water level of the river outside,
, the whole big ship floated steadily on the water.
"Reporting to the Duke, the armored treasure ship is in the correct posture."
"Report to the Lord Protector, the ship will be balanced left and right!"
"Reporting to the Lord Protector, the ship is straight forward and forward, and stable."
"Reporting to the Lord Protector, the deck is straight and not tilted."
"Reporting to the Lord Protector, there is no abnormality, no leakage, and no abnormal noise inside the ship."
Reports came from various observation points around the pond, as well as from observation points on the decks and cabins of the ship. They were all good news.
This also means that the big ship was launched successfully without any mistakes.
Zhang Yanling announced the result with excitement. For a moment, there were thunderous cheers and the crackling of firecrackers, which was deafening.
On the colorful shed, all the officials congratulated Zhang Yanling one after another.
"Congratulations to the Lord Protector, the treasure ship has reappeared. This is auspicious."
"Yes, I can't believe my eyes when I look at this big ship. The beast's head is high, its brows are angry, and it's majestic. From here, it looks like a giant dragon about to emerge from the water. It's really amazing."
"Exactly, if Eunuch Sanbao were still alive, he would probably be filled with emotion when he saw this armored warship."
Zhang Yanling accepted everyone's congratulations and compliments with a smile. He also felt that this big ship was really majestic. The broad-headed beast's bow was raised high, the body was slender and graceful, and the armor all over its body exuded a cold light. The huge mast towered into the sky.
Yun, the dozens of shooting muzzles on both sides of the ship are like the outline of two muscles.
"Lord Protector, I need to reflect on myself. When the Lord Protector came, he said that he would rebuild the shipyard and rebuild the treasure ship, but I thought it was impossible. Such a huge project would waste countless manpower and material resources. Lord Protector
When he said that he would see the treasure ship within three months, I really thought that the Protector was bragging. Facts have proved that the Protector slapped me in the face so hard that I will never dare to judge others by myself again. I am convinced.
Already."
An official said this while stroking his gray beard. This is a very clever flattery. It makes people feel so comfortable.
"Master Wen, it's not just you, we are all like this. But we forgot one thing. This is a matter presided over by the Protector. How can it be compared with us? There is nothing that the Protector has not done.
Success? Starting from today, our Ming Dynasty may be able to regain its former glory. The emperor must be extremely happy when he knows this." Others said one after another.
Wang Hua was also very happy. He pointed at the treasure ship and said, "Duke Protector, give this treasure ship a name. How can such a mighty warship be nameless?"
"Yes, yes, give me a name." Everyone said one after another.
Zhang Yanling nodded and smiled, watching as the large ship was slowly pushed to the exit of the pond by dozens of small boats and docked at the riverside dock, where it would soon be outfitted and installed with artillery, turning it into a real maritime warship.
"Everyone, this big ship has been built. It's just the time of its birth. Its mission is not to park here for people to watch. In the future, it will sail on the sea and experience the baptism of sea storms and battles. This moment is just the beginning. In the past
In the year, our Ming Dynasty treasure ship sailed all over the world and shocked the world. In the future, we will rely on such a big ship to once again reproduce the glory of that year. And
Moreover, we will go further and do more. We will reach places we have never reached before, and we will spread the majesty and kindness of my Ming Dynasty to every corner of the world. This moment is just the beginning of the journey. So, this
The ship, I want to name it Star. Because our journey is the sea of stars, the vast world, and the wild places all over the world. What do you think?"
The crowd was silent for a moment, and then burst into warm applause. This applause was not flattery, they were moved by Zhang Yanling's words.
Our journey is the stars and the sea! Once upon a time, we only stared at the small land in front of us, worrying about gains and losses for the small gains in front of us. However, as human beings, we should also look at the world and explore the vast world and universe.
Exploring those places that have never been touched before. Perhaps that is the real ideal and goal of mankind. That is the ultimate romance and feeling.
The first battleship was completed, which accumulated valuable experience for subsequent construction. The optimization and overcoming of materials, processes, and some difficult problems were decisive in helping subsequent construction.
On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, construction of two armored treasure ships began at the No. 2 and No. 3 ponds. At the same time, other ponds also began to be emptied and drained, and the plan to build large-scale maritime trade merchant ships was also put on the agenda.
Because businessmen with a keen sense of smell have already begun to place orders for ships, Bao Shipyard will also accept these orders and build ships for customers.
In just ten days, Bao Shipyard received orders for as many as 32 sea-going ships. The first person to place the order was none other than Zhu Qingyi. Zhu Qingyi received Zhang Yanling’s advice, and at the same time she also trusted Zhang Yanling’s words and believed that
This is an excellent opportunity.
She had already established a maritime trading firm, named Chimelong Trading Firm. The first time the shipyard accepted the order, she placed an order for six large merchant ships. She immediately handed over a deposit of 100,000 taels of silver. Six sea-going ships
The cost was 300,000 taels, and she ordered it directly without even paying back the price.
Of course, Zhang Yanling himself placed an order for ten sea-going ships in one go. Of course, the order was placed in the name of Daming Sea Trading Company. All of this was to prepare for the subsequent sea-trading activities of his own fleet.
Several local merchant houses in Nanjing have also joined forces with foresight, which shows that they have become maritime trade merchants. Under the unified regulation of the Nanjing Shipping Department, they have joined the Maritime Trade United Chamber of Commerce to prepare for future participation in maritime trade.
A month later, the outfitting of the Star was completed. The thirty-eight Tiger Howling Cannons and one main gun that Xu Gao secretly transported from Wild Dog Ridge arrived with great pains. After the artillery was installed on the ship, the Star had become
A veritable super battleship armed to the teeth.
Zhang Yanling believes that in this era, the Xingchen at this moment is definitely the most powerful sea monster.
In order to facilitate the operation and movement of the howling gun in the cabin, sliding rails extending in all directions and riveting devices for the gun positions are installed in the second-story cabin. The artillery slides on the rails, and after arriving at the gun position, it can be used with rivets connected to the hull.
The locks are immediately fixed and there is no need to use iron drills to fix them anymore.
The advantage of the sliding track is that as long as three or four gunners push it, the howling cannon weighing seven to eight hundred kilograms or even one thousand kilograms will slide freely on the track. If the artillery somewhere is damaged, the artillery can be mobilized from elsewhere at any time.
When a war begins, in a short period of time, all artillery can hit the gun emplacement on one side through the slide rail, making great use of firepower and favorable shooting opportunities for attack.
It is worth mentioning the main gun on the bow deck. It is an old-fashioned muzzle-loading gun that Zhang Yanling asked the arsenal to cast. It is not made based on the principle of the Folang machine gun. It is a simple and unpretentious artillery piece.
.
However, what is different from ordinary artillery is that the barrel of this gun is thickened and lengthened, and it is equipped with a rotating base and a crankshaft that can be adjusted up and down. This main gun can shoot a thirty-pound solid iron ball five miles away.
.Although the rate of fire is a bit slow, each bombardment requires various operations and preparations, and requires seven or eight people to serve.
Although the price-performance ratio is very poor and even takes up a lot of the load of the big ship, even Xu Gao thinks it is unnecessary. But Zhang Yanling believes that this main gun is extremely important. It will carry out devastating strikes against long-distance targets, especially solid fixed targets.
.
It is a kind of belief that the heavy artillery can reach far away. Within the range of the heavy artillery, that is where the truth can reach. Compared with this giant cannon that weighs three thousand kilograms with its fine iron base, those imitation guns have a fast rate of fire but
Artillery with insufficient range lacks some domineering and majesty.
On the third day of March, the Star sailed out of the Yangtze River Estuary and entered the sea for sea trials and shooting training. Five hundred naval officers and soldiers accompanied it. Among them was Wang Hong, who was transferred from Guangdong and was newly appointed deputy admiral of the Ming Dynasty Navy.
As a talent familiar with naval warfare, Wang Hong, who had collaborated in retaking Tuen Mun Island in Guangdong, was entrusted with important tasks by Zhang Yanling this time. He was fully responsible for the maiden voyage of the Star and the test firing of its artillery.
As the Star went to sea, the two armored warships on the No. 2 and No. 3 ponds had completed the joining of their hulls within a month. Soon after, they will also be launched into the water.
Even so, Zhang Yanling still found it too slow. He used one word to describe the speed he wanted, and that was "making dumplings."