My father Zhu Gaoxu

Chapter 837 Technology Diffusion

"Your Majesty, please calm down. It's not because the ministers are incompetent, but there are people in the court who colluded with the big men to help them hide their whereabouts, so even we have a hard time finding out the movements of those people!"

Facing Zhu Zhanji's anger, Xu Gong defended rather aggrievedly.

In fact, what he said is the truth. The Han infiltration into the Ming Dynasty was very powerful, especially among the nobles, many people were related to the Han openly or covertly. For example, the Duke of Wei, Xu Qin, married his sister to the Han The famous general Chang Wei had many similar marriages, and Zhu Zhanji had nothing to do with them.

With the help of these honorable men and nobles, the spies of the Han Dynasty would be able to penetrate every corner. Even Xu Gong's Jinyi Guards had spies hidden in the Han Dynasty. For this reason, he once had people investigate inside the Jinyi Guards, but in the end nothing happened. result.

"Rebellion, these people are simply rebelling. They don't take me, the Emperor of Ming Dynasty, seriously at all!"

Zhu Zhanji also slapped the table angrily when he heard this, but as soon as he finished speaking, he coughed violently. In the end, his face turned red and he seemed to be unable to breathe.

The waiter next to him hurriedly came forward and patted Zhu Zhanji's back. After a while, Zhu Zhanji stopped coughing, and then breathed a few times, and then he felt better.

"Your Majesty, calm down. The Han Dynasty sent spies to our side, and we also placed spies on the Han Dynasty's side, so I can get the news from the Han Dynasty in time."

When Xu Gong saw Zhu Zhanji's appearance, he immediately picked out a piece of good news and told it. He was also afraid of making Zhu Zhanji angry. If the other party got angry at him, that would be terrible.

Zhu Zhanji took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. The physical discomfort actually made him calm down. After pondering for a moment, he raised his head and asked: "Xu Gong, the big man captured Egypt. Will the national power increase greatly if the key Suez Canal is eliminated?"

"This one……"

Xu Gong was a little hesitant. He was afraid that telling the truth would irritate Zhu Zhanji again.

"Just say what you are told, no hiding it!"

Zhu Zhanji ordered with a cold snort.

"Yes!"

Xu Gong immediately agreed, and then organized his words to answer.

"Your Majesty guessed right. The Han captured Egypt and controlled the canal, allowing the Han's ships to enter the Mediterranean and opening up trade routes with Europe. This not only greatly increased the Han's national power, but also brought the Han's reputation to a peak. The surrounding countries have sent envoys to make friends with the Han..."

Following Xu Gong's narration, Zhu Zhanji finally had a clear understanding of the current situation of the Han Dynasty. Compared with the constant natural and man-made disasters in the Ming Dynasty, the Han Dynasty was at its peak. Not only was its territory expanding, but its influence was also increasing. Rising, it has suddenly become the overlord at the junction of Asia, Africa and Europe.

"Based on the current situation, the Han Dynasty's energy should be mainly focused on Europe. This is also their purpose of entering the Mediterranean. But that's fine. If they develop westward, our Ming Dynasty will have a lot less people. pressure."

Xu Gong finally concluded.

Zhu Zhanji pondered for a long time after hearing this, and then asked again: "I heard that a steam battleship appeared over there in Dahan. It is extremely fast. It only takes a month to get from Dahan to us. Is it true?"

"It's true. This kind of ship has appeared for several years. It first came from the Han Dynasty to Egypt, and then started traveling to Southeast Asia. Only in the past six months have steam ships begun to arrive in the Guangzhou area."

Xu Gong replied again.

Steamships are not for sale to private individuals, so the steamships now appearing on the sea are all official ships of the Han Dynasty, and the Han Dynasty is also actively opening up steamship routes. Now it can directly reach the Ming Dynasty, mainly for carrying people. After all, Today's steam ship transportation is not cheap. If it is used to transport goods, the freight alone will be very staggering.

"Is there any way you can get the steamship? Then let our Ming craftsmen make a replica of it!"

Zhu Zhanji immediately asked.

Although he has never seen a steamship, he also knows that this kind of fast ship is of great significance. After all, it only takes a month for the Han Dynasty to travel from the Ming Dynasty, which means that the Han army can return to the Ming Dynasty in a short time. With the Ming Dynasty's long coastline, it is basically impossible to Unable to defend.

That's why Zhu Zhanji wanted to get the steamship and let Ming craftsmen copy it, so that he could kill the big man in a short time and not be at a disadvantage even in a naval battle.

"Well... I think your Majesty is wrong. Even if we get a steamship, I'm afraid we won't be able to imitate it."

Unexpectedly, Xu Gong smiled bitterly.

"It's just a boat, what's so difficult to imitate?"

Zhu Zhanji was stunned for a moment and then asked. In his opinion, the craftsmen in the Han Dynasty all migrated from the Ming Dynasty. Since they can make steamships, the craftsmen in the Ming Dynasty can also do it.

"Your Majesty, you don't know. The Han Dynasty not only has steam ships, but also steam cars. It is said that they can carry hundreds of people and travel hundreds of miles a day. Whether it is a steam ship or a steam car, the core of them is a steam engine. This kind of steam engine is extremely powerful. , can drive many machines, for example, many workshops in Dahan have already used steam engines."

Xu Gong saw that Zhu Zhanji didn't understand, so he gave him a detailed education.

Xu Gong actually read these contents from Dahan's newspapers, but Zhu Zhanji was very repulsive to Dahan's affairs due to his personal likes and dislikes, let alone reading Dahan's newspapers.

"In other words, whether it is a steam ship or a steam car, the most important thing is actually the steam engine?" Zhu Zhanji finally understood after listening to Xu Gong's story.

"Exactly, steam engines are a top secret in the Han Dynasty. Although private individuals can buy them, every steam engine purchased has detailed records. Even if the steam engine breaks down, it will be recycled by the government and is strictly prohibited from leaving the Han Dynasty. In addition, the steam engine is extremely heavy. , even if we get one, it will not be easy to transport it back to Daming."

Xu Gong explained patiently again.

"Isn't it easy? That means it's still possible. And you said just now that we can't imitate a steamship. Is it because steam engines are very difficult to imitate?"

Zhu Zhanji thought for a while and asked again.

"Exactly, although a steam engine is difficult to get, if we don't care about the cost, it is still possible to get it. However, it is extremely difficult to imitate because the structure of the steam engine is complex and the materials used are extremely demanding. Even a big man can produce it every year. The number of steam engines is also limited.”

Xu Gong paused for a moment before continuing.

"We Jinyiwei once sent people to Dahan and saw steam engines with our own eyes. According to their reports, it may take ten years or more to imitate this kind of machine. And even if it is copied, it is unknown whether it can drive cars and ships like Dahan. number."

"Is it so troublesome?"

Zhu Zhanji's brows also wrinkled into a knot. He did not doubt Xu Gong's words, because he knew that Zhu Zhanhe must have personally participated in the creation of such a thing as a steam engine. It would have taken him several years to do it. It is not surprising that it took ten years to develop it and put it in the Ming Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, the only way is to bring the craftsmen who made the steam engines from the Han Dynasty back to the Ming Dynasty. Only in this way can the steam engines be copied with confidence."

Xu Gong hesitated for a moment, and finally expressed his thoughts.

"Hmph, they are so strict with steam engines, let alone the craftsmen. Do you think you Jin Yiwei have a way to tie up those craftsmen?"

Zhu Zhanji narrowed his eyes and asked.

"This...is actually not impossible."

Unexpectedly, Xu Gong's expression flickered at this time. Although he seemed unsure, it was not impossible.

"What do you mean, can you really bring back the craftsman who built the steam engine from Dahan?"

Zhu Zhanji became energetic and immediately asked Xu Gong excitedly.

"Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. As you said, the big man is very strict with steam engines. The craftsmen who know how to make steam engines are closely supervised and protected by the big man. It is basically impossible to bring people back."

But Xu Gong shook his head and denied it.

"Then what do you mean?"

Zhu Zhanji frowned, and the excitement just now disappeared.

"Your Majesty, you don't know something. Those craftsmen who know how to make steam engines cannot be brought back, but it is not difficult to find some craftsmen who know how to make steam engines in Dahan. Especially some craftsmen who know how to repair steam engines. As long as they are willing to spend a lot of money, it is still possible to bring them back. Returning to Daming..."

As Xu Gong spoke, he explained his thoughts.

It turns out that although steam engines are good things, they are prone to breakdowns. Especially early steam engines, breakdowns were almost constant, and sometimes it was normal for them to break down ten or eight times a day.

Under this circumstance, a group of craftsmen specializing in steam engine repairs were born. These craftsmen received special training and were proficient in the principles and structures of steam engines. Their extensive practical maintenance also gave them a thorough understanding of the performance of steam engines. Although They have no experience in making steam engines, but if they are given enough materials and time, it is really possible to make a steam engine.

In fact, this is the diffusion of technology. When every new invention appears, it will be strictly kept secret by the inventor. But as time goes by, new inventions and new technologies will always spread slowly, and the steam engine is no exception.

"Okay! What a good idea. You can start taking care of this matter immediately. Don't be afraid of spending money. If necessary, you can even promise some casual officials!"

Zhu Zhanji waved his hand at the end. In his opinion, promising some officials to the craftsmen was already very generous. Unfortunately, he didn't know that Zhu Zhanhe directly promised a title in order to seek new gunpowder. In comparison, He is so stingy.

"Yes, I will do it now!"

Xu Gong immediately agreed, and then retreated.

"Cough cough cough~"

After Xu Gong left, Zhu Zhanji coughed violently again, which was particularly harsh in the empty hall.

(End of this chapter)