Borrow the day to change the day

The next morning after Zhong Jinwei returned to Beijing, he regained his energy and came to the Wenhua Hall to discuss the use of the steam engine.

In the Wenhua Hall, there are already Wen Tiren, the chief assistant of the cabinet, Xu Guangqi, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, Song Yingxing, the president of the Royal Research Institute, and Fang Yizhi, the director of the Power Research Institute.

After Zhong Jinwei saw the ceremony, Emperor Chongzhen asked with a smile, "How did you rest yesterday?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for being sympathetic to this minister and letting him go home to rest first. He is in good spirits now." Zhong Jinwei replied with a bow.

Emperor Chongzhen shook his head with a smile and said: "Master Zhong's trip to the south not only solved the imminent food crisis for me, but also enabled the gradual development of various projects, and also solved a series of things. If I don't care, hurry up Let Master Zhong come to discuss matters, and it will not be worthwhile if you are tired, Master Zhong."

Hearing what Emperor Chongzhen said was funny, all the courtiers in the Wenhua Palace laughed.

They also felt the same way, Duke Xingguo must not be exhausted, otherwise the various matters would not have a correct direction.Song Yingxing even thought of a word, you are the lighthouse, shining in the direction of Daming's voyage!

After enlivening the atmosphere, Emperor Chongzhen returned to the subject and said, "Master Zhong, what do you think is the best way to use the steam engine? After all, the cost of the steam engine is too high, and this good steel needs to be used on the blade."

Now this steam engine is handcrafted by the most skilled craftsmen of Daming, and of course it is expensive.

When Zhong Jinwei was resting at home last night, he had already thought about this matter.So when he heard Emperor Chongzhen's question, he immediately replied: "Your Majesty, I have some ideas about this steam engine."

"Well, Master Zhong, please tell me." This was actually nonsense, but Emperor Chongzhen still said cooperatively.

Zhong Jinwei made a serious face, and said seriously: "The biggest advantage of the steam engine is to provide continuous power, which can be applied to many aspects. That is to say, the steam engine is widely used, and it can be said that it is needed by all walks of life. Therefore, the relevant As for the steam engine, I have three suggestions."

Having said that, he turned sideways first, trying to let everyone see his front.Then he stretched out a finger of his right hand and said: "First, the organization must try its best to reduce the cost of building the steam engine. This is very important. Only by popularizing the application of the steam engine can its greatest value be revealed."

"Master Zhong is right, what about the second suggestion?" Emperor Chongzhen nodded and asked.

Zhong Jinwei then stretched out his second finger, and continued: "The second suggestion is that the research and development of the steam engine cannot be stopped, but must continue to be researched, improved, improved and improved again. This steam engine is only the most primitive and practical machine, and there are countless more in the future. Where there is improvement, it must be improved.”

When Mr. Xingguo said this, Fang Yizhi, the director of the Power Research Institute who was very proud, couldn't help feeling a little ashamed and almost complacent.

"Thirdly, as His Majesty said, the expensive steam engine must be used wisely. I think that, for now, the most important thing is to improve the power of the ship."

When Zhong Jinwei said this, he put down his hands and analyzed to Emperor Chongzhen: "Steams are limited by the wind, and there are many inconveniences. If the steam steamer can be developed, then from now on, Ming's ships will be less limited by the wind, compared with Western ships. Warships are much more flexible. From then on, Da Ming will not have to learn from the west about their sailing ships. On the ocean, it will be Da Ming's world."

Emperor Chongzhen became excited when he heard this. Since the situation of the enemy on land was controlled by Master Zhong, his attention gradually turned to the ocean.In this way, it was found that Ming's sea power was far from being an opponent of the West.This situation made Emperor Chongzhen unhappy, and was secretly worried all the time.

After the Dutch warships were seized and Ming Dynasty began to imitate them, Emperor Chongzhen was more or less relieved.But no matter what, Xiyi's warships are still better than Daming's, and Daming is just imitating Xiyi.

But now it’s different again. Master Zhong said that steam ships will be far better than sail ships, and the ocean will be the ocean of Ming Dynasty. Why is Emperor Chongzhen not excited and unhappy!

"The second is the improvement of land transportation. After using steam power, it will greatly improve the transportation of Daming. I will provide ideas to the research institute later, and build trains and cars. Well, forget it, cars can slow down first." slow. But the train is necessary..."

When Xu Guangqi heard this, his passion for scientific exploration made him feel itchy, so he couldn't help interjecting and asked Zhong Jinwei: "Duke, what are trains and cars?"

The others were also curious, and they all looked at Zhong Jinwei, waiting for his explanation.

Zhong Jinwei smiled, turned to Xu Guangqi, and explained to him: "The train is equivalent to the current large carriage, but it is not drawn by a horse, but by a steam engine. The carriage is not a single section, but can be composed of many sections. It can pull goods. You can also pull people."

"As for the car, it is a train with only one section, but this kind of use is not very useful for changing Ming Dynasty, at least until the steam engine is no longer so huge."

"That's why I said that trains are necessary and must be developed, not cars." Zhong Jinwei finally concluded.

Emperor Chongzhen thought that the steam engine would pull many carriages of goods or people from south to north to Daming, which would have a great impact on the traffic changes of Daming.If there is an emergency at the border, the Beijing camp can arrive at the fastest speed. After thinking about it, he said excitedly: "Okay, okay, Master Zhong, let's develop this train first."

On the other hand, Wen Tiren thought from a civil point of view that the transportation of goods from south to north will be more convenient in the future, which will greatly promote the development of commerce and improve the living standards of the people of Ming Dynasty.He also became excited after thinking about it, stroked his beard again and again, and looked at Duke Xingguo with a smile.

Seeing that they were all so happy, Zhong Jinwei couldn't help but pour cold water on them: "It will take a lot of time to develop the train and steamship, and it won't be done in a day or two."

"Haha, Master Zhong, I am not old, and I have plenty of time to wait for these two things to come out." Emperor Chongzhen didn't take it seriously when he heard it, and said with a smile.

But Wen Tiren and Xu Guangqi were relatively speechless. Among the people present, the two of them were a bit older, and they wondered if they could see the grand occasion of Daming's steam ships dominating the sea and Daming's trains running everywhere.

Seeing the warm atmosphere in the Wenhua Palace, Fang Yizhi, who was still a little restrained, couldn't help asking Zhong Jinwei: "Mr. Guo, you said that the steam engine can be used in other walks of life. Are there really so many uses?"