Daming: I, Yang Xian, really govern Yang!

Chapter 203 Principles of Steam Engines
Yangzhou.

Duke Yang's Mansion.

In the backyard, Zhu Biao, Zhu Di, and Yang Xian were surrounding a stove with water boiling on it.

Zhu Di pointed at the lid of the kettle that was constantly being pushed open by steam, and said, "Mr. Yang Guogong, is this the secret of the homework you assigned to Lao Twelve and the others?"

After saying this, Zhu Di turned to look at Yang Xian with an expectant look on his face.

Sure enough, the wisdom of the ancients cannot be underestimated.

He discovered the secret of steam so quickly, but Zhu Di was still a little confused at this time and couldn't express it well.

Yang Xian simply stopped hiding it. This was originally his next goal.

"Do you know why the kettle lid was pushed open?" Yang Xian asked.

Yang Xian glanced at Zhu Biao and Zhu Di and saw their confused looks. Yang Xian stepped forward and picked up the lid of the kettle.

The next moment, white steam rose crazily.

"It's water vapor." Yang Xian asked and answered.

"Since water vapor can push the lid of the kettle."

Before he finished speaking, an idea suddenly flashed in Zhu Biao's mind, and his eyes widened involuntarily.

Since water vapor can push the lid of the kettle, it can naturally push other things too!
"What Yang Qing means is that as long as you make good use of the power of water vapor, everything in the world can be driven?!" Zhu Biao said.

Zhu Biao thought of many things at once.

The content of Yang Xian's class at that time was about productivity reform. In other words, in Yang Xian's view, this water vapor will be the next "iron farm tools and cattle"!
Yang Xian smiled and nodded, and said, "Your Highness, you still remember that I once told you and the Emperor that rail trains can still be improved?"

How could Zhu Biao forget this matter.

Because what Yang Xian said at that time was really shocking.

"Yang Qing said at the time that a real rail train could directly transport millions or even tens of millions of kilograms of goods in one trip."

Zhu Biao thought that he had naively asked Yang Xian how many war horses it would take to pull such a rail train. How could a rail train weighing tens of millions of kilograms be pulled by war horses alone?

Now it seems that this is what Yang Xian was referring to at the time, so everything makes sense.

"Yang Qing is saying that real rail trains are also driven by this water vapor?" Zhu Biao said excitedly.

It's no wonder Zhu Biao is so excited. If this steam train can be realized, it means that this steam can be used in all walks of life.

At that time, steam power will completely replace horses, cattle and other animal power.

The entire Ming Dynasty will undergo earth-shaking changes, just like the great changes in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

Yang Xian smiled and said, "That's true."

At this time, Zhu Di, who was standing aside, asked: "The steam in a pot of water can only open such a small lid. If you want to pull the train, how much water do you need to boil?!"

After listening to Zhu Di's words, Yang Xian smiled.

"So this is just an idea. Of course, it doesn't rely solely on steam, but also with the help of gears."

"An invention has to go through countless experiments from the idea to the implementation. This is not something that happens overnight."

Zhu Biao nodded and said in a deep voice: "If Yang Qing needs any help from the court then, just tell me and I will try my best to cooperate."

"Then I would like to thank His Highness the Crown Prince in advance." Yang Xian said with a smile.

There are still many technologies that need to be overcome to make a steam engine.

A steam engine is a machine that uses water vapor as power. It is usually composed of multiple components such as a boiler, a cylinder, and a transmission system. Through close connection and cooperation, these components enable the steam engine to effectively output power.

Therefore, sealing and buffering properties are very important in the production and use of steam engines.

There are many sealing materials, such as iron.

From the perspective of sealing, heat resistance and corrosion resistance, rubber is undoubtedly the best choice.

Rubber has all the above advantages, and coupled with its elasticity, it can well meet the sealing and buffering requirements of steam engine components.

Rubber is mainly used in steam engines to seal valves and pipe connections of the medium, as well as cylinder seals and other parts.

The use of rubber can effectively reduce steam leakage and improve the performance and life of the steam engine.

To sum up, the use of rubber in steam engines is necessary.

Without rubber, the steam engine would not be able to achieve maximum power output.

Yang Xian had already made preparations for this. After Shenji Trading Company's property in Qiongzhou was taken over by Mingji, Yang Xian had already sent someone to plant the rubber tree seeds redeemed by the system.

It's just that the water from far away cannot quench the thirst of near people. It will take at least 5 to 7 years for these rubber trees to grow up to the point where they can harvest rubber.

Now if you want to use the finished product, in addition to system exchange, you can only speed up the colonization process.

In order to truly realize steam power, in addition to air tightness, there is another problem that needs to be solved urgently: fuel.

Yang Xian is not worried about this.

Shenjia Industry has a complete coal mine.

Of course, it now belongs to Mingji's industry.

Just when Yang Xian was planning and preparing to launch the first industrial revolution.

Several wars in the Ming Dynasty were also in full swing.

There were no surprises on the Yunnan front. Under the leadership of Mu Ying, the Ming army fought steadily and eliminated the remaining forces of the Northern Yuan Dynasty while doing their best to avoid harming civilians.

On the Yunnan side, Mu Ying took the third prince Zhu Fan.

This end of the Liaodong front.

Zhu Yuanzhang also maintained his consistent strategy. While making Lan Yu the general, he also sent the second prince Zhu Ping to accompany him.

In fact, this model started when Yang Xian conquered Mobei and Zhu Di accompanied him.

During the conquest of Liaodong, Lan Yu hardly allowed Zhu Ping to participate in any decision-making, nor did he allow him to risk going to the front line. He kept him in the rear base camp, and even claimed to be protecting his safety.

All kinds of behaviors made Zhu Xi very angry.

But now he is in the army, and Lan Yu is the commander-in-chief. Even though he is a prince, he can only obey.

Although Lan Yu is domineering, has low emotional intelligence, and has no political acumen, his ability to fight in the army is not bad.

After all, I have been following Kaiping Wang Chang Yuchun since I was a child, and I have learned seven or eight points of his skills under the influence of my ears and eyes.

Coupled with the blessing of Hongwu rifle.

The Northern Yuan forces in Liaoning were retreating steadily.

With more than [-] followers, Naha is the most powerful Guyuan force in the Northeast.

Before the Royal Court of the Northern Yuan Dynasty was swept away by Yang Xian, Nahachu was very active and moved extensively in the vast area from the south to the Liaodong Peninsula. He used Jinshan as his base and began to operate in Xintaizhou.Stationing in Jinshan, using the East and West Liaohe River as a barrier, and using Xintaizhou as the base camp, these are the main preventive measures Nahachu took based on strategic needs.During Nahachu's activities in the Baicheng area, the officials, generals and troops of the old Yuan Dynasty who had retreated from the northeastern region continued to gather under Nahachu's command, and Nahachu's strength gradually grew stronger.

Its own strength was actually enough to compete with the Beiyuan Royal Court at that time.

Therefore, when faced with Wang Baobao's request for help and the Yuan Lord personally issued an imperial edict, asking him to send troops to reinforce Wang Baobao, he took such an attitude.

In the past few years, Naha frequently drove his troops southward, killing and plundering more than 12 defenders.On the Liaodong side, Zhu Yuanzhang directly set up [-] military garrison posts to fight against the plundering of Naha.

It was the soldiers and horses of these 12 military guards that Yang Xian mobilized without authorization at that time.

Like Wang Baobao, Zhu Yuanzhang also sent envoys to Naha four times to persuade him to surrender.

They were all rejected by the other party.

If someone separatizes one side and acts as his king, it is impossible for him to become a vassal of the Ming Dynasty under normal circumstances.

In Liaodong, he was nominally King Kaiyuan, but in fact he was no different from the emperor.

What could he gain by surrendering to the Ming Dynasty?

But after the complete destruction of Beiyuan, Naha did not wait for the fifth surrender of the Ming Dynasty. What greeted him was the Ming Dynasty's heroic army.

Due to rail trains, it has not been laid to the Liaodong Peninsula.

Part of the military supplies for this campaign in Liaodong were transported to Liaodong by sea.

Most of the rest were sent from Beiping, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan and the northern prefectures and counties, 20 civilians, and 120 million shi of grain were transported to Songtingguan, Daning, Huizhou, and Fuyutun for storage. Liao grain and wages.

The court spent millions of taels of silver on the preparation of military rations alone.

Comparing it with the previous Yang Xian Northern Expedition, the importance of rail trains is even more highlighted.

Due to the entire rear dispatch, Prince Zhu Biao was in charge this time. Zhu Biao couldn't help but think of the ultimate form of the rail train mentioned by Yang Xian.

If this kind of rail train can be created, then all parts of the country will be unimpeded.

Just like Beijing and Yangzhou today, morning starts and evening arrives.

Return to the Liaodong battlefield.

Lan Yu led the main force out of Songting Pass. Facing the Ming army's pressing step by step, Naha abandoned the Jinshan base camp, moved his main force back, and deployed his troops in Taizhou and Yulin.

After several battles in the past, many people from the Ming army were killed. (The Ming army was seriously short of Hongwu rifle equipment, and the expedition to Yunnan also required a portion of the quota. And unlike Yang Xian’s previous Northern Expedition, the soldiers in the Shenji Battalion were all proficient in firearms and were proficient in the use of Hongwu rifles. .)
But more people died in Naha.

Nahachu had begun to feel a little shaken in his heart. He was resting with his eyes closed in the king's tent. At this time, the words Wang Baobao had someone bring to him could not help but come to mind.

"When the nest is overturned, the eggs are never finished. Don't always think about beggar-thy-neighbor ideas. These Ming people will not be able to retreat easily this time. If you kill me, the next target will be you!"

Nahachu suddenly woke up from his dream.

My back was already wet with cold sweat.

At this time, he regretted it endlessly. If he had sent troops to support Wang Baobao's troops, would the result now be different?

It's a pity that there is no regret medicine that can be bought in this world.

Lan Yu left 4 troops to let the second prince Zhu Feng guard Daning, while he continued to march north with the remaining 15 Ming troops. The momentum was so huge that Naha finally came out first and was shaken and classified.

On May [-]th, the Naha troops stationed at Yidu River (Yitong River) led their troops to surrender to the Ming army.

After more than a month of marching, on June [-], the main force of the Ming army advanced to the east of the Liao River, defeated Naha's garrison troops, and then moved to the west of Jinshan.

The Ming army is pressing forward, and its power is unstoppable!
But Naha was still hesitant in his heart because of his large number of troops and abundant baggage.

Even he as the coach is like this, let alone the people below.

With the defection of the two troops of Gaobasi Temur and Hong Boyan Temur, the troops sent out by Naha had already been shaken in morale and were unable to organize effective resistance.

Defeat is only a matter of time.

Lan Yu's fighting style is inherited from Chang Yuchun, and is famous for his quickness and ruthlessness.

Not giving the opponent a chance to breathe at all, he continued to lead the army towards Nahachu's camp, and Nahachu became more and more shaken.

At this time, the war situation was very clear. The Ming army was like a flying dragon riding on its face, unable to lose at all.

On June 25, with soldiers pressing down on the border and many rebels and relatives fleeing, Nahachu was forced to agree to surrender and took Nong'an, today's Yitong River, as the place of surrender.

Outside the Ming army commander's tent.

Lan Yu sat on the commander's seat and watched Naha come out with his officials and surrender his Kaiyuan King's golden seal.

Looking at the former Yuan princes and nobles kneeling in front of him, Lan Yu raised a smile on his lips.

What Yang Xian can do, I, Lan Yu, can do the same!

And he will only do better than him!

The next moment, the entire military camp rang out with the soldiers' shouts.

"The general is mighty! The general is mighty!"

"The general is mighty! The general is mighty!"

Amidst these shouts, the smile on Lan Yu's face became more and more wild. He looked at the golden seal in his hand, stood up, and raised it high.

After winning the war, the next step is to receive the spoils.

Lan Yu led the people directly to Naha to leave the king's tent. Beiyuan's soldiers had already been disarmed and controlled, and there were only some women sobbing softly in the king's tent.

Lan Yu walked up, sat on Naha's throne, glanced at the food and wine in front of her, cut a large piece of mutton with a knife and put it into her mouth.

There was a smug smile on his face.

Lan Yu looked at the women. They were all pretty and they were obviously Naha's concubines.

The deputy general who followed Lan Yu didn't understand Lan Yu's character.

Last time, it was because of playing with women that something went wrong, and I almost lost my life.

Lan Yu doesn't care about playing with women. She also likes to play with the princesses of the royal family like Bei Yuan every time. I don't know who she learned this habit from.

The deputy general was afraid that Lan Yu would make the same mistake, so he quickly said: "General"

But as soon as he started speaking, he was interrupted by Lan Yu raising his hand.

"Ugh!"

"This general knows what he is thinking."

After a few mouthfuls of mutton, Lan Yu clapped her hands and stood up. She said to the accompanying soldiers: "Burn!"

"Yes!"

As torches were thrown at King Kaiyuan's tent, a raging fire ignited.

The last remaining strength of Qianyuan was also burned in this fire.

In the summer of the seventh year of Hongwu, Ming Dynasty general Lan Yu conquered Liaodong with an army of 20.

Naha, King of Kaiyuan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, came out and asked more than [-] people under his command to surrender, and Liaodong was wiped out.

He also obtained more than 20 people from each of his horse-loving tribes, and the carriages of sheep, horses, donkeys and camels covered more than a hundred miles.

The Ming army won a big victory!

(End of this chapter)