Zheng Zhilong, who had just stepped onto the deck of the new warship, was immediately surprised when he heard this. He immediately asked curiously: "Is such a powerful warship just a transitional ship type?"
Song Yingxing waved his hands to the people on the ship who greeted him, indicating that they should return to their posts. Then he turned his head and introduced to Zheng Zhilong with a smile: "Yes, Your Majesty said, this kind of paddle wheel is the driving method of this ship's wheel.
, the limitations are very large, and it is easy to be attacked by the enemy. Even if it is protected by an iron shell, it is not very suitable. His Majesty said that there is a type of propeller-type warship, which hides the propulsion power underwater and is not easy to be destroyed.
It’s considered the next generation of warships.”
Zheng Zhilong was greatly surprised when he heard this. If he had heard about this a few years ago and said that the emperor was doing this, he would not have believed it at all.
But now, what Emperor Chongzhen did has been seen by all, and the authority of his words is beyond doubt. After hearing this, Zheng Zhilong quickly asked curiously: "What is that like?"
After Song Yingxing heard this, he immediately smiled and said: "Your Majesty didn't tell me, and I don't know either."
After a pause, he stepped on the boat under his feet a little harder, and then said: "Your Majesty said that we should test the Ming Dynasty's paddle steamers first, and after they have been modified, we will talk about propeller-type warships later. This paddle steamer
, whether it is a warship or a civilian ship, it is urgently needed. If nothing else, it can be used in many places without taking into account the wind direction and current!"
Of course Zheng Zhilong knew that, and immediately responded with emotion: "Yes, with this steam engine paddle steamer, there will be great changes in the Ming Dynasty's sea routes or waterways!"
While talking, Song Yingxing had already arrived at the cabin. Song Yingxing gestured and said: "Let's go and see the steam engine!"
This is the core thing of this kind of warship. Of course Zheng Zhilong was interested and immediately followed him and got down to the cabin to take a look.
"Huh?" Zheng Zhilong said a little surprised when he saw the steam engine, "Is this different from the steam engine on the steam train?"
"Of course!" Song Yingxing listened and nodded matter-of-factly. "In fact, the first steam engine in the Ming Dynasty was not used for locomotives. This steam engine is more common, much smaller than that used for trains.
We are still experimenting now to see how large a steam engine can be used to meet the needs of the sea, and try to reduce the size of the steam engine as much as possible."
Zheng Zhilong listened, nodded, then looked at a pipe extending from above through the deck, and asked curiously: "What is this for?"
"For delivering orders!" Song Yingxing heard this, walked over with a smile, patted the pipe and said, "It leads to the captain's cabin."
After finishing speaking, he motioned Zheng Zhilong to look down and said: "This foot switch here is a device used to disconnect the paddle wheel and steam engine outside the ship. There are two on the left and right sides. In this way, the steering can be achieved."
At this point, after a pause, he said with a little regret: "However, judging from the current experiments, the ship disconnects when the speed is fast, which is not very controllable, and the turning arc is still relatively large, even if the speed exceeds
Fast, it will also affect the crew members and be thrown out."
After listening to the introduction, Zheng Zhilong looked down at the switch on his side, and tried to step on it with his foot. He had to use more force, and the gear connected to the steam engine was loosened. As soon as his foot was loosened, the gear was closed again.
.
Seeing him trying, Song Yingxing pointed at the gear again and said: "If there is too much steering, it means there is too much loosening and closing, which consumes more gears. I plan to prepare more replacement parts on the ship in the future!"
Although Song Yingxing was introducing the shortcomings of this ship, Zheng Zhilong already felt that this ship was very powerful. Even he had a look of envy on his face.
If at the time of the Battle of Luowan, all of his men had this kind of steam paddle-wheel warships, then why would he have issued a Jianghu Order and offered rewards to all Jianghu forces to help him defeat the coalition of Hongyi and Liu Xiang pirates?
"Coal is stored near this machine room." Song Yingxing didn't know what Zheng Zhilong was feeling, and still introduced to him, "In the future, supply points will be set up along the coast of Daming, not only to replenish fresh water supplies, but also to provide
This coal will do. This coal will be used in more and more quantities!”
Having said this, he walked elsewhere. When Zheng Zhilong saw him, he reluctantly looked at everything in the computer room before following him.
"This floor is where artillery is deployed." Song Yingxing introduced, "For the time being, do we not have as many artillery pieces as those on the Xiyi ship?"
When Zheng Zhilong saw it, he immediately nodded and said, "Yes, they do have more artillery on board than this."
Having said this, he added: "It's because our Ming Dynasty ships are different from their Western ships. Relatively speaking, they want to sail on the ocean, while we only use them in coastal waters. If they have fewer cannons,
, I guess I can’t reach such a far place!”
Song Yingxing nodded after hearing this and said: "Your Majesty said that we don't need to compete with them on the number of artillery pieces for the time being, and we must use the existing warships for modification. In the future, we will build battleships with bigger ships and more artillery pieces. As for aircraft carriers, we can only
Let’s wait until the prince or future emperor!”
Zheng Zhilong was very surprised when he heard this and asked quickly: "What is a battleship and what is an aircraft carrier?"
This title sounded a bit strange, but his intuition told him that this kind of ship was probably very powerful.
After Song Yingxing heard this, he immediately said with a smile: "I don't know either. I asked Your Majesty at that time, but Your Majesty didn't say anything. But I can see that Your Majesty seems to be very eager to own this battleship and aircraft carrier."
As soon as he heard this, an idea flashed in Zheng Zhilong's mind, and he immediately felt that he knew the truth: This must be something that only exists in heaven. When today's emperor knew about the existence of such a good thing through Emperor Taizu, it definitely was!
Thinking of this, he subconsciously became more in awe of Emperor Chongzhen.
No matter how powerful a person in this world is, can he be more powerful than an emperor with the help of Emperor Taizu?
While talking, Song Yingxing took Zheng Zhilong back to the deck, and then asked the captain who was following him: "Can we have sex?"
After hearing this, the captain pointed to a small boat floating on the sea in the distance and said: "It's ready!"
"Okay, let's demonstrate it!" After hearing this, Song Yingxing gave an order, turned to Zheng Zhilong, pointed at the boat in the distance and said, "Let me show you the condition of this artillery."
When Zheng Zhilong visited just now, he discovered that the cannons were not bronze cannons, but made of fine steel, so he looked forward to them with great interest.
The steam warship slowly drove out of the dock again. At the beginning, it could be felt that the speed was not very fast.
Zheng Zhilong was watching when he suddenly heard a "boom, boom, boom" sound, which startled him.
It's not that he hasn't heard the sound of artillery. In fact, the sound of artillery is too normal for him.
The reason why he was startled was because he subconsciously believed that the ship would have to drive a certain distance before it could fire. At this point, it was still too far away from the small ship.
So, I was suddenly startled.
What surprised him was that although the long-distance firing, which was beyond his understanding, did not hit the small boat, the impact points of the shells were all near the small boat.
Not to mention anything else, just the fact that the artillery could shoot so far was enough to shock him.
"Hold on tight!" A shout came from the captain's cabin, and a moment later, the ship began to turn.
As a pirate, Zheng Zhilong didn't have to catch anything, his feet could be firmly nailed to the deck.
After a while, as the ship turned, it was much closer to the small boat.
"Boom boom boom..."
The artillery on the other side also roared, but unfortunately, this time, it still missed the small boat. However, the bullet impact point was still near the small boat.
When Zheng Zhilong saw it, he still said with emotion: "At this distance, although it did not hit the small boat, it was already very powerful. This artillery and the artillery are powerful enough!"
After hearing this, Song Yingxing turned to look at him and said with a smile: "You don't know, our artillery bombardment cannot aim at the small boat. If anyone hits it, it will be hit by mistake!"
"..." When Zheng Zhilong heard this, he was a little dumbfounded.
Song Yingxing saw it and said with a smile: "There is no way, the court is poor, so all the money must be spent sparingly."
"..." Zheng Zhilong was speechless again after hearing this.
When he came back to his senses, he couldn't help but feel even more envious, and once again expressed to Song Yingxing the power of the artillery and the power of the artillery.
Song Yingxing listened, but nodded matter-of-factly and said: "Our steel smelting level has been greatly improved, and the quality of the forged artillery is better, which is reasonable. Also, the gunpowder is also under the guidance of His Majesty.
, has been improved and is better than the original powdered gunpowder.”
At this point, he looked at Zheng Zhilong with a surprised expression and said: "These artillerymen have all learned the artillery shooting method taught by His Majesty. Naturally, it is easier than ordinary people to master how to shoot artillery accurately!"
"Your Majesty taught you how to shoot?" Zheng Zhilong confirmed even more surprised after hearing this.
In his opinion, in terms of artillery skills, Xi Yi is the best. However, he sees that the artillery skills on this ship are definitely no worse than Xi Yi! They may even be better!
Such a skill was taught by Emperor Chongzhen, which really shocked him.
"Yes, what is ballistics called?" Song Yingxing nodded and said with a thumbs up, "There is also this simple measurement method. In short, I have never heard of it before."
Having said this, he looked at Zheng Zhilong and said, "If you stay in the capital for a while, you will know how powerful His Majesty is!"
"That is, that is!" Zheng Zhilong responded quickly, but his heart sank.
Because he knows that he is afraid that he has no trump cards. He can only do what the emperor says.
I just don’t know how the emperor will treat him?
With this heavy question in mind, Zheng Zhilong took the steam train back to the capital after visiting the new warships.