The Ming Dynasty’s Prodigal Son - Chapter 1216

[1216. Chapter 1161 Divine Weapon]

The launch of the steamship took place in a lake near Gyeonggi Province.

Because this steam boiler was loaded on a river boat, this flat-bottomed boat was slowly transported by countless people using rolling logs. Because it was too big, the officers of Shuntian Mansion were even mobilized to clear the way for it.

Fang Jifan and Zhu Houzhao were already waiting here.

This is a steam wooden ship. Under the current technical conditions, making an iron ship is almost a dream.

After all, the power required by an ironclad ship is too great, and it cannot be solved by current steam boilers.

In order to house the boiler, the ship was very large, nearly twenty feet long.

From a distance, the hull of the ship looks long and narrow, with… a chimney on top.

At the bottom of its ship is a hidden wheel.

That is to say, a steam engine is used to drive a hidden wheel to provide power for ships.

This thing…even though it is just a wheel blade, it has gone through many detours in history. At that time, people also tried to make steamships, but at first, they were made of paddle wheels. The so-called “paddle wheels” were installed There are large wheel-shaped paddles on both sides of the ship outside or at the stern. The paddles rotate backward and hit the water, using the reaction force of the water to push the ship forward. However, using a paddle wheel for propulsion is less efficient. Especially when encountering large winds and waves, the oars will often come out of the water and spin, causing the boat to shake violently while driving.

It was not until fifty years later that people realized this huge drawback. Some people tried to make improvements, and finally invented a propeller that resembled both a windmill and an electric fan blade to replace this paddle wheel, which greatly improved the efficiency of the paddle wheel. The efficiency of steam utilization increased and the speed of navigation was increased.

Fang Jifan stared straight at the ‘hidden wheel’ loaded on the stern of the ship, and couldn’t help feeling that the so-called technological progress was actually just a process of constant trial and error.

From the paddle wheel to the hidden wheel, it actually only requires a thought, and the technical difficulty required is not high.

But just such a thing was delayed for fifty years. Only with the advent of the hidden wheel did steam ships have the possibility of large-scale application.

The design method of this hidden wheel was suggested by Fang Jifan.

Fang Jifan really didn’t want his money to go down the drain. It was all money, money in vain.

The ship began to launch slowly, and then the tugboat slowly towed the human scum Wang Bushi to the middle of the lake.

Zhu Houzhao was already dancing excitedly and was extremely happy.

This area of water has been explored by people. In most places, the water depth is enough to allow such a huge ship to pass.

He pulled Fang Jifan: “Let’s go on the boat.”

“Is there any danger?”

Fang Jifan looked at the giant thing in the middle of the lake with some worry.

Zhu Houzhao said: “You still can’t trust me.”

Fang Jifan trembled, but he was pulled onto a small boat by Zhu Houzhao. Many small boats loaded with sailors and helmsmen set off together and arrived at the scum of the world. Wang Bushi, and then people boarded the ship one after another.

Fang Jifan stood on the deck and looked back at the huge chimney.

Fang Jifan asked: “How many times has your Highness tested the water?”

Zhu Houzhao said: “This is the first time.”

Fang Jifan: “…”

He thought that Zhu Houzhao had done experiments with other ships before.

At least…it should be verified.

At this time, Zhu Houzhao held up a small flag and waved it.

Immediately, the sailors in the distance received the order. In the boiler room, a group of sailors began to light the stove. As the stove burned, steam began to come out. Fang Jifan felt a slight tremor under his feet, as if he was standing on a boiling boiler. Under the lid of the pot, he silently thought to himself, it’s okay, it’s okay, human progress comes from technological progress, and this progress begins today when we succeed to the vassal.

These words… make me sound like Tan Sitong.

Somewhat tragic.

At the bottom of the boat, the paddles finally began to rotate, and the entire boat slowly began to move. It slowly began to splash in the lake.

The power seems to be quite sufficient.

Zhu Houzhao was already dancing with excitement. He rushed to the wheelhouse, pushed the helmsman away, and turned the helm happily. The entire hull began to tilt slightly, and the tilt began to become more and more severe. Fang Jifan felt a force pushing him away. Going into the water, just when his face turned pale, the ship finally began to slowly become stable again.

The ship turned its direction and still moved forward slowly, and the speed began to increase. Because of the emergence of inertia, the ship began to feel no resistance.

This huge hull began to move along the lake.

It was not until evening that Fang Jifan got off the boat in a daze.

When they got to the shore, someone shouted: “It’s not good, it’s not good, Duke Qi has fainted… hurry… call the doctor.”

Fang Jifan gasped for air, and finally felt a little better. He opened his eyes slightly and shook his head. Waving his hands: “No, seasickness!”

Zhu Houzhao said happily: “You will also faint when walking in the lake, your body is so weak…”

Fang Jifan suddenly became excited, stood up and wanted to pinch Zhu Houzhao’s neck: “Your uncle, turn around What’s going on? Can we sail the boat well?”

Zhu Houzhao murmured: “Look, the others are fine.”

On the shore, there were already a group of students writing down the data. Finally, someone took a book and delivered it. In front of Zhu Houzhao.

Fang Jifan snatched the book and looked at it. He saw that the speed was pretty good. Compared with ordinary sailing boats, even boats sailing along the current and inland rivers, the speed was more than twice as fast.

The crew made calculations and based on the duration of the voyage, the maximum speed and average speed, and the remaining fuel, they finally concluded that the ship could sail for 23 hours and 570 kilometers with a full load of fuel. about.

Of course, this is a lake. If you travel against the current in an inland river, it will take fifteen hours and about four hundred kilometers. But if it goes smoothly… then… it will reach 41 hours and 800 kilometers.

Fang Jifan looked at the data and breathed a long sigh of relief.

There is still a lot of room for improvement. If the ship and boilers are renovated, it may be possible to sail for a longer period of time.

It would be great if we could make an internal combustion engine.

But then, Fang Jifan gave up the idea.

With Zhu Houzhao’s IQ, he will never see it in this life.

But that doesn’t matter.

As long as the voyage can be guaranteed, the problem of fresh water for steam-sea ships can be solved…

For example… steam-sea ships can travel along the coast. In fact, in this era, most ships originally traveled along the coast. Going into the deep sea is too risky.

As long as ports are built along the way, if the voyage can reach 600 kilometers, it will be enough to dock at any time for supplies.

Fang Jifan exhaled and opened his eyes slightly: “Start improving immediately. In addition, the ship must be launched as soon as possible. I will give you as much money as you want.”

With this achievement, Fang Jifan was already satisfied.

Isn’t it just money that belongs to me? Our successor is short of money?

Our successor is short of women.

He carefully raised his eyes and glanced at Zhu Houzhao.

Zhu Houzhao didn’t know how to read minds, so he said cheerfully: “It will be easier if you have money. Everyone in the Steam Research Institute is on standby, just waiting for what you say, Lao Fang. Come, come, come, you guys get on the boat, Continue to test the ship to see if there are any problems and where improvements can be made. In these days, you will die on the ship because of me. “

A group of workers and craftsmen dare not neglect. They are busy getting on the ship.

Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan were on their way back. Along the way, Fang Jifan’s heart… still ached a little when he thought about countless pieces of silver being thrown into the water, but now… it seemed like he was about to see the light of day.

If… a steamship can really appear, then… the distance from the Ming Dynasty to the Golden Continent will be greatly shortened. His father is still in the Golden Continent, but he doesn’t know…

thinking of this.

Fang Jifan exhaled, wishing that he could meet him a few more times in his lifetime.

………

Xingwang Mansion.

Zhu Houcong bowed his hands to several people with a well-behaved look on his face: “Hello, Uncle King of Jingjiang, Hello, Uncle Wang of Liao, Hello, Brother Wang of Changyang, Hello, Brother Wang of Xingshan…”

More than a dozen princes gathered together, and Zhu Houcong said hello one by one.

Jingjiang King Zhu Yueqi stroked his beard and smiled: “Houcong is such a good boy.”

As he said that, he and Xing Wang Zhu Youqi looked at each other and smiled.

Zhu Youqian said: “What are you talking about? Brother Wang is too flattering. Tomorrow…”The Case of the Beauty” will be performed at the Dongcheng Theater. Is Brother Wang interested?”

The young King of Changyang patted his thigh and said: “Yes, yes, yes , my favorite thing to watch is “The Beauty Case”, click it, it’s fun!”

Everyone laughed.

But Zhu Youqian smiled, took a tea cup, took a sip of tea, and then said: “Brother King Liao, I want to invite you here this time because I want to discuss some important matters.”

King Zhu Chong of Liao was stunned: “I don’t know what you have to say. “

I heard that you are still living in Honglu Temple?” The first person who couldn’t help it was Jingjiang King Zhu Yueqi.

When Zhu Chongshou heard this, he immediately lowered his head and remained silent.

On the other side, Xingwang Zhu Youqian smiled and said: “This is not a long-term solution. You see, Jingjiang King has bought a mansion with eighty acres, and is next to me; there is also Changyang King, Youxingshan King… we all I bought it, thinking that Brother Wang is still in Honglu Temple, we brothers and these juniors are seeing it, and we are also anxious in our hearts.”

Zhu Yueqi said from the side: “Yes, yes, the prince. , how can you live without a fixed place? Your family must have more than a hundred people. At your age, it’s okay, but you have to think about the prince. Now the price has risen again. Our land, An acre has increased by more than 1,700 taels. How much is this 100 acres of land?”

Several other princes also began to persuade: “Uncle Wang…”

Zhu Chongshou was furious when he heard this. Chu Lai: “It’s not that I can’t afford it, but I can’t bear it. I understand clearly that your Majesty has shares in Xishan Jianye, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has shares, and someone surnamed Fang also has shares. They summoned us, that is. To buy them a house, the ancestral system of Emperor Taizu and Gao will not be needed…”

(End of Chapter)