Daming Crazy Emperor

Chapter 765 Aluminum worth as much as gold

The placement problem of the Black God Army has been solved, and the next step is to take down Pernambuco as soon as possible and investigate the specific situation of the anti-Habsburg alliance army.

Taichang stared at the map brought by Luo Sigong carefully for a while, and then asked: "Are you sure the anti-Habsburg alliance army is still in Bahia?"

Luo Sigong slowly shook his head and said: "Your Majesty, this humble minister is still uncertain.

Wei Chen only interrogated the lord of Paraiba, learned the general situation from him, and then sent someone to secretly investigate a few farms in the north of Pernambuco.

At this moment, the farm on the Pernambuco side is still very calm, and the nearby primitive tribes have not seen any people coming to the farm.

This shows that Pernambuco should still be under the control of the Duke of Braganza.

As for Espiritu Santo and Minas Gerais in the south, because there is a huge Bahia in the middle, I really can't step over to check the specific situation.

Therefore, I don't know whether the colonies in the south were conquered by the anti-Habsburg alliance army. "

Well, this analysis is quite rigorous.

Taichang nodded slightly and said, "Why do you think the anti-Habsburg alliance army didn't take down Pernambuco, which has only 2000 people stationed there?"

This is indeed a bit strange.

Logically speaking, no matter how good the terrain of Pernambuco's two cities is, they would definitely be unable to defend under the siege of an army ten times larger.

The anti-Habsburg alliance army has at least [-] infantry. If there is a fierce attack, it will definitely be no problem to take down Pernambuco.

After all, their weaponry was better than that of the Portuguese colonists.

Luo Sigong thought about it carefully, and then estimated: "I feel that either the anti-Habsburg alliance army is just like the Paraiba lord Andre said, and they don't want to suffer heavy casualties, so they didn't attack Pernambuco. .

Either the army of the anti-Habsburg alliance feels that it is not of much benefit to win Pernambuco, and there is no need to work hard for it.

Weichen couldn't think of anything else. "

This analysis does make sense.

If you look at it from the map, the combined area of ​​Pernambuco, Paraiba and the original Natal is not half the size of the Bahia colony.

Moreover, Bahia was the first colony developed by the Portuguese, and it was also the capital of the Governor-General of Brazil. It must be much more developed than a remote territory like Natal.

Although Pernambuco and Paraiba are also more developed than Natal, there must still be a certain gap compared with Bahia.

In other words, the anti-Habsburg coalition army may feel that Bahia's resources are enough for them to plunder and develop for a period of time, and there is no need for them to pay a heavy price to win a small Pernambuco.

Only this explains it.

Otherwise, with the greed of the colonists, if Bahia doesn't have enough resources, they might try their best to take down Pernambuco.

Taichang nodded slightly, thought about it carefully, and then said decisively: "Then take down Pernambuco first, remember, we should use Carinho and De Xieira to carry out sneak attacks.

Don't make too much noise, so as not to be noticed by the anti-Habsburg alliance army in the south. "

Hearing this, Luo Sigong couldn't help asking cautiously: "Your Majesty, what should we do if the anti-Habsburg alliance army comes over? Should we give in or fight directly with them?"

It is impossible to back down.

There is no need to fight hard.

Taichang shook his head slightly and said: "There's no need to give in, and you don't need to fight hard, just let Deixeira lead his men to defend the city in the interior of Pernambuco.

Don't show your heads in the south, just send a few thousand people to camp behind the city.

If they don't come over, you can take the opportunity to send out a scout team and use the cooperation of the local primitive tribes to investigate the situation in Bahia.

If the anti-Habsburg coalition army comes over, you let the army enter the city to assist in the defense.

You said, they don't want to attack a city stationed by 1000 troops. Will they attack a city stationed by 6000 or [-] troops?
Of course, in this way we will be exposed, which will definitely arouse the vigilance of the Habsburg Alliance army.

But I don't think they should be so boring. After not fighting for so long, they suddenly attacked Pernambuco again.

Bahia should have enough resources for them to plunder for a while. "

Well, then rush up and take down Pernambuco first.

Luo Sigong cupped his hands without hesitation and said: "The general will understand."

Taichang thought for a while, and then slowly said: "This time, you will bring another [-] soldiers from the Shenwu Battalion, a dreadnought ship and ten Aegis ships. After all, it is not impossible for the anti-Habsburg alliance army Attack Pernambuco for a short time.

We must show enough people to deter them, and it is best to let them retreat.

"Sun Tzu's Art of War" has a saying, "Subduing others' soldiers without fighting is the best of the best."

You have to remember that this kind of attack or strategy involving the world level is to try every means to consume the strength of others, instead of foolishly thinking that I am the best in the world, and whoever catches and beats.

Those who think that one country can single out the whole world are often the ones who die the fastest.

Of course, if someone calls at our door, we can't back down.

We will beat anyone who dares to mess with us until they don't dare to mess with us. "

Luo Sigong heard the words, savored them carefully, then cupped his hands and said: "The emperor is wise, my humble servant has been taught."

Taichang thought for a while, then waved his hand and said: "Okay, you take down Pernambuco first, and then find a way to find out the specific situation of the anti-Habsburg alliance army.

There is still some business here in Xinmacheng, and I won't be able to leave for a while.

When I really want to fight against the army of the anti-Habsburg alliance, I will lead the army there. "

What he was talking about was exploring the Amazon basin.

At this moment, the main road of the Amazon River has not been explored, and he has not yet decided on a comprehensive development strategy.

The Amazon River Basin is a huge treasure trove. Once it is developed, Daming basically doesn't have to worry about money.

For such an important matter, he naturally couldn't give up halfway.

However, according to the current progress, it may take at least a year to explore the entire Amazon Basin.

He definitely couldn't wait for so long, so he decided to improve the way of exploration.

As for how to improve, the key lies in the hot air balloon.

The hot air balloon sent by Cheng Jiashuo is a good thing. Once it can fly to the sky, it will be able to overlook the primitive jungle below. It will not be too fast to explore.

The reason why he didn't use the hot air balloon immediately was because there was no takeoff and landing platform in New Horse City.

Once the hot air balloon is full of hot air, it will be tens of feet long. If there is no landing platform, it will not work. If it falls to the ground, it will be smashed, and it cannot be repaired here.

If such an important hot air balloon is broken, one will be lost, and if two are broken, it will be useless. Naturally, he must make sufficient preparations before using it.

Cheng Jiashuo had someone bring over the blueprint of the landing platform, and it was very simple to build.

However, it will take more than ten days to wait for the cement to dry completely.

That's why he first sent the rescued black slaves to Xin'anyang City in person.

After this round and round, the takeoff and landing platform should be almost usable.

Sure enough, when he led the fleet back to Xinma City, a [-]-foot-long landing platform that was almost as high as the city wall had been erected next to the port pier.

Moreover, officials from the Ministry of Industry have spread out a hot air balloon on it, ready to ignite it and fill it with hot air.

Seeing this, Taichang got off the boat with a group of accompanying guards, and hurried over.

At this moment, Du Linzheng was taking several directors of the Ministry of Industry to carefully inspect the sphere of the hot air balloon.

If such a large hot air balloon falls to the ground, it will naturally not need to be repaired. However, if it is only broken with a few small holes, it is still easy to repair.

Because the adhesive properties of rubber are very good, Cheng Jiashuo also prepared a lot of rubber sheets for them to repair small holes.

If there is a little tear there, they only need to roughen the area around the hole and the adhesive surface of the patch-like rubber sheet, then apply some gum, heat it up and then stick it, it will basically be inseparable.

Taichang watched them busy, originally he didn't intend to disturb them, but when he stood on the platform and looked down, he couldn't help it immediately.

Because he saw that the frame and fire shield of the hanging basket were all silver-white!

These naturally cannot be made of silver.

It's not that they feel sorry for such a little silver. The main thing is that silver and copper have similar proportions. There is not much difference between making silver and copper.

Naturally, instead of taking off their pants and farting, they used silver to make the basket frame and fire shield, and nine out of ten of them used aluminum!

Has Song Yingxing smelted aluminum so quickly?

Seeing the silvery white, Taichang couldn't help but hurried down to the ditch below, and lifted the hanging basket with both hands to try it out.

He did bring it up.

The huge hanging basket can stand more than ten people in it, and the aluminum frame and the lightest wooden board are so light!
He can lift a corner, and the hanging basket is estimated to weigh more than 100 kilograms at most.

As soon as he carried it, he shook the hanging rope on it, and even the sphere of the hot air balloon was pulled and moved.

Seeing this, Du Linzheng couldn't help being furious.

Right now, he was lying on the sphere of the hot air balloon to inspect it carefully, so he could naturally see such obvious pulling.

Who is this, tell them not to move around, but there are still people rushing to move around.

He stood up angrily, and walked quickly to the edge of the ditch to have a look, he couldn't help being dumbfounded.

It turned out that the emperor brought a group of guards to watch the hanging basket below.

Uh, since you are the emperor, you can't scold him naturally.

He hastily cupped his hands and said: "I don't know that the emperor is coming, I'm rude, I'm rude."

Taichang smiled and shook his head and said: "What's the matter, aren't you busy, I won't let anyone disturb you.

However, since you are here now, come down, I just want to ask you. "

Upon hearing this, Du Linzheng quickly walked down the nearest steps.

Taichang pointed directly at the aluminum frame and asked, "Is the aluminum mass-produced now?"

Uh, how do you say this?

Du Linzheng thought about it carefully, and then said cautiously: "Your Majesty, forgive me, this humble minister really doesn't understand metal smelting very well.

However, Mr. Song said that this aluminum is quite difficult to refine. He combined the method of fire refining and water refining, and spent a lot of manpower and material resources to refine this aluminum.

At the moment, the output of aluminum is still quite low, and the Materials Research Institute can refine hundreds of catties a day.

Master Song also said that this thing is comparable to gold in terms of value. "

Historically, the price of aluminum was more expensive than gold when it was first refined!
At that time, the only use of aluminum was to make jewelry, because the color of this thing was similar to silver, and it was light in weight. Even if it was made into a large necklace, it didn’t feel like wearing it around the neck. Aluminum jewelry was popular among European nobles for a while. time.

Of course, at that time, it was just because rare things were more expensive, and aluminum jewelry was actually not as beautiful and durable as silver jewelry.

Aristocrats, they like to show off these rare things when they are bored.

The price is not a problem for them at all, it is too cheap, and they don't bother to use it.

They are simply pursuing expensive, the more expensive the better!
No way, they have too much money. At that time, the European colonial robbers plundered all over the world, and most of the world's wealth was concentrated in the hands of these nobles. They really had too much money, and they just wanted to spend it.

However, after aluminum was mass-produced later, aluminum jewelry was quickly eliminated.

No matter what, once it can be mass-produced, the price will definitely plummet.

Aluminum has dropped to be cheaper than silver, and European nobles naturally disdain to wear aluminum jewelry.

Taichang didn't know this, he just felt that the output of aluminum was too low.

What can I do with only a hundred catties a day?
If hot air balloons are mass-produced, with this amount of production, it is not enough to make basket frames and protective covers for hot air balloons!

He couldn't help asking: "Did Chang Geng say when mass production will be realized?"

Du Linzheng was a little ashamed and said: "The emperor forgives the sin, this humble minister really doesn't understand it very well, Mr. Song just said that the water used in the water refining is too difficult to prepare, and he is trying to solve it."

Well, people are aware of the reason for the inability to mass produce, just think of a way, and there is no rush for such a thing.

(End of this chapter)