My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 86: Maiden Voyage
Under Li Min's guidance, everyone boarded the steamship one after another.

After boarding the ship, the ministers looked curiously at this huge ship they had never seen before, and everything seemed new to them.

Can this ship really sail without sails?

Following Li Min's order, the sailors started the engine and began to fill coal into the boiler shovel by shovel.

"Woo~~~~~"

A sharp and piercing whistle sounded, startling everyone.

The workers on both sides of the waterway also heard the whistle and ran over. Many of them cheered. They also wanted to witness the moment when the Ming steamship started.

Li Min stood at the bow and shouted, "Your Majesty, gentlemen, the first voyage of the Ming steamship has begun!"

As the boiler's firepower gradually increased, this huge ship steadily broke free from the constraints of the shore and began to sail leisurely into the vast distance, setting off on a long voyage!
It’s moving, it’s moving!
This giant ship really moved!

The ministers stared in amazement as the steamship slowly started to move. The scenery on the shore slowly receded like a painting, and every picture seemed to be telling a story of an unprecedented miracle.

Everything before them was both unbelievable and yet so real.

Many people seemed to be still in a dream, deeply shocked by this scene that transcended their time and unable to recover for a long time.

"These two hundred thousand taels are really worth it!"

"That's right, two hundred thousand taels, to be able to create such a wonder, it really shows the strength of our Ming Dynasty!"

Listening to the ministers' discussions, Yang Siyi walked silently to the side of the ship, his eyes a little moist.

After several months of hard work, he had endured countless doubts and impeachments from the court, and had been holding a lot of anger in his heart, but at this moment, all of it was released.

After months of hard struggle, he silently endured the tide of questioning and impeachment in the court. These pressures weighed on his heart like a huge rock, making it almost hard for him to breathe.

However, at this moment, all the depression and resentment that had been pent up in my heart were able to rush out like a flood that broke through a dam, and all the pressure was released.

Suddenly, a hand was placed on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Li Min looking at him with a smile.

"Master Yang, are you satisfied with the spending of these two hundred thousand taels?"

"Satisfied, satisfied!"

Yang Siyi wiped his eyes hurriedly, but saw that Li Min's eyes were also a little moist.

"For this moment, you have been wronged, Lord Yang."

"Lord Li, same here!"

The two people's eyes met, and they smiled knowingly at the same time.

Then they turned to the boundless sea, and their laughter spread out like waves, full of boldness and joy.

The hearty laughter reached Zhu Yuanzhang's ears. At this moment, he was also experiencing and enjoying the joy of Li Min and Yang Siyi.

He stood on the deck, staring at the steamer cutting through the waves and sailing into the distance.

The steamship finally set sail, and I felt relieved. All my hard work and efforts were rewarded in the best way at this moment.

This steamship not only represents a technological leap for the Ming Dynasty, but also means that the Ming Dynasty will have the ability to roam and conquer the ocean.

The prosperity of maritime trade is just around the corner, and the national prestige of the Ming Dynasty will spread throughout the world with the voyage of this steamship!
At this time, Xu Da witnessed the spectacular sight of the steamship breaking through the waves, and the shock in his heart was beyond words.

He had long heard that His Majesty was determined to build a steamship, but the huge ship before him was beyond all his imagination.

The huge body of the steamship was seen sailing steadily on the sea. It did not need any wind power, but only needed to burn coal to generate endless power.

This is not only a technological leap, but also an infinite vision for the future. Xu Da has a hunch that if this ship is used for military purposes, it will have immeasurable uses in the near future.

Leading Li Wenzhong, Tang He and others, they kept strolling on the boat, looking around curiously.

From the cab to the cabin, and from the cabin to the boiler room, he even shoveled a few shovels of coal himself in the boiler room.

It’s so enjoyable, so enjoyable!

After a lot of fuss, all the nobles finally calmed down, and Xu Da couldn't help but get excited.

"This ship can run just by burning coal. If we mount needle-fire guns on both sides of the ship, you can tell that this ship will be an invincible fortress!"

"Humph, Old Xu, that's all you can do. You still want to mount guns? Such a big ship must be used to mount cannons!"

Tang He just couldn't help but bicker with Xu Da.

"I just looked in the lower cabin. If it is properly arranged and the windows on the side are opened a little wider, it can be used to mount guns!"

"Old Tang, I won't argue with you this time. Your idea is good."

It was a rare occasion that Xu Da acknowledged Tang He.

"If we mount guns on both sides of the ship, it will have an unexpected effect whether we are attacking a water camp on the shore or attacking enemy ships at sea!"

"Old Xu, Old Tang, what do you think? Since this steam engine can be used on ships, what if it is used on land?"

Li Wenzhong couldn't help but let his imagination run wild.

"Hey, nephew, what do you mean?" Xu Da immediately became interested.

Li Wenzhong said excitedly: "Just think about it, this steam engine is extremely powerful and can propel such a large ship.

If we build a car out of steel and put a steam engine inside, wouldn't the steam engine be able to push the car?"

Tang He added: "Well, we can also make holes in the car to use as shooting holes for needle-guns, so that the enemy's bows and arrows, swords and so on, can't hit our soldiers, and we can shoot the enemy to our heart's content."

"Good idea, nephew!" Xu Da gave a thumbs up.

"Just think about it. Such a large steel vehicle is like an armored chariot in future wars. It doesn't need horses to pull it or people to push it. It just runs on its own. Let alone shooting the enemy, I'm afraid the army will be demoralized if they see it!"

"But how should this car be built?" Li Wenzhong thought, stroking his beard.

"This isn't that simple. Just push it to the Ministry of Industry and let Li Min and the others have to worry about it!"

After Xu Da finished speaking, several people looked at each other and then burst into laughter.

At this moment, Zhao Mao stood alone at the stern, his face as hard as iron, his heart filled with resentment and unwillingness.

The ministers were either surprised or delighted, thinking that just now they were shouting for the death penalty for Li Min and Yang Siyi.

This is undoubtedly the biggest mockery of him!

This time, he lost completely and miserably. All his calculations and plans came to nothing in front of this steamship!

All that he had arranged, and the great momentum he had created among the civil officials, had vanished into thin air at this moment.

Sun Yuanliang's face turned pale in an instant as the steamship started. His ironclad evidence, his righteous words and his tears in the court, now became a huge joke.

However, Shangshu Hou of the Ministry of Personnel has already promised him that when the time comes, he will switch to Shangshu Hou's side. It will be fine to be a dog of the gentry. He will still have a place in the court!

Thanks to the reward from Su Ren E, thank you all for your valuable votes, please continue to support Garlic


(End of this chapter)