The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 858 Gentlemen, our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is in great trouble! (Seeking monthly votes)

The twenty-third year of Tianli, autumn.

On the Huangpu River, the autumn wind was blowing gently, and the ups and downs of the river were dark gray. Next to the outfitting dock of the Pudong Shipyard of the Jiangnan Arsenal, a slender steel behemoth was slowly sailing away.

This is the "Flying Eagle" - the first 150-ton fast ironclad ship of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Navy. Five twin 4mm rapid-fire turrets are arranged in a solemn manner, the bow splits the river water, black smoke billows, and the roar of four 4000-horsepower triple-expansion steam engines makes the workers on the dock stop.

Luo Yaoguo stood in front of the window of the Jiangnan Shipyard's administrative building, with his hands behind his back, staring at the "Flying Eagle" as it gradually went away. Behind him stood Wang Yan, the Navy Minister of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Ma Baocai, the Director of the National Defense Industry Committee, Zhang Bao, the Navy Chief of Staff, and two key figures of the Jiangnan Shipyard - Yan Fu, the Director of the Shipyard, and Chen Jitong, the Director of the Ship Research Institute.

"How long do you expect the sea trial data of the Flying Eagle to come out?" Luo Yaoguo asked without turning his head.

"Premier, if everything goes well, we can measure the maximum speed within three days," Yan Fu replied respectfully. "The theoretical calculation is 22 knots, and it may reach 24 knots under strong pressure ventilation."

Luo Yaoguo nodded, still staring at the river.

"The fastest British Rafale is only 20.5 knots." Wang Yan couldn't help but excitedly interjected, "If the Eagle can maintain a stable speed of more than 22 knots, the Indian Ocean route will no longer be dominated by the British."

Luo Yaoguo's mouth slightly raised, but soon subsided. He turned around, glanced at everyone, and suddenly asked: "When will the 12,000-ton dry bulk carrier be ready for sea trials?"

Everyone was stunned.

Wang Yan, Ma Baocai, and Zhang Bao looked at each other in bewilderment. They all knew that the "12,000-ton dry bulk carrier" that Luo Yaoguo mentioned was an order placed by the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Peasant Association to the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, specifically used to transport grain, guano, and saltpeter. Although this type of ship is important, it seems insignificant compared to warships such as the "Flying Eagle" and the "Sea Dragon".

Chen Jitong was the first to react, and quickly pointed to the other side of the outfitting dock: "Premier, please look, that is the 'Jiangnan No. 1', it has been outfitted and is ready for sea trials at any time!"

Luo Yaoguo looked in the direction of his finger and saw a large cargo ship quietly anchored on the river. Although not as majestic as the "Flying Eagle", it had smooth lines and a slender hull, and it was obvious that it also used a lot of advanced technology.

"Tell me about its performance." Luo Yaoguo said lightly.

Chen Jitong immediately introduced: "'Jiangnan No. 3500' adopts the technology of 'Flying Fish' class and 'Flying Eagle' class, V-shaped hull, high aspect ratio, simplified triple expansion steam engine, single 30 horsepower, cancellation of forced ventilation system, maintenance cost reduced by 5%. In addition, it also uses Scottish fire tube boiler and exhaust gas preheater, thermal efficiency increased from 8% to %."

Luo Yaoguo didn't want to listen to Chen Jitong talking about a bunch of professional terms, so he interrupted and asked, "What's the speed?"

"In calm conditions, the speed is 10 knots and the cruising range is 6000 nautical miles. If there is a tailwind, with a three-masted Barkentine sail, the speed can reach 12 knots."

Luo Yaoguo nodded: "How is the loading and unloading efficiency?"

"Steam winch + folding hatch cover, multi-purpose cargo hold design, loading and unloading speed is twice as fast as traditional cargo ships."

Luo Yaoguo was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "How much does it cost?"

Yan Fu glanced at Ma Baocai who was standing next to Luo Yaoguo. The director of the National Defense Industry Commission was a well-known "bargainer". Any cost reported to him would be slashed by a layer of skin.

"Five hundred thousand silver dollars." Yan Fu reported the figure carefully, "The cost per deadweight ton is less than 42 silver dollars."

Ma Baocai immediately frowned: "There are many ships on the market that cost 35 silver dollars per ton. Why is it 7 silver dollars more expensive?"

Chen Jitong quickly explained: "Director Ma, a ship that costs 35 silver dollars per ton can only run 8 knots and at most 2.5 voyages a year. But the 'Jiangnan No. 3.5' can run 40 voyages, and the profit can be increased by %!"

"It's just 1000 more horsepower and three more sails, right? It costs silver dollars more."

"You can't count it like that."

Luo Yaoguo raised his hand and interrupted their argument.

"We can discuss the contract price later." His tone was calm, but it was full of unquestionable majesty. "I'll place an order first - I want 25 'Jiangnan Luns', all delivered to the Farmers' Association within four years, per year."

boom!
These words were like a thunderclap, leaving everyone present stunned.

One hundred?

That’s an order worth 50 million silver dollars!
Wang Yan was the first to react: "Prime Minister, one hundred ships means a production capacity of 650,000 tons! Last year we only built a total of 280,000 tons of ships. Now the Feiyu class, Feiying class, and Hailong class are all being rushed. How can we have the capacity to build so many cargo ships?"

Ma Baocai also said in a deep voice: "Prime Minister, the Farmers' Association can't come up with 50 million silver dollars!"

Zhang Bao hesitated for a moment, but still spoke: "Besides... the progress of warship construction will be seriously delayed."

Luo Yaoguo glanced at them, his voice low and firm, leaving no room for doubt:

"Last year, we built 280,000 tons. This year, two new shipyards, Changxing Island and Lushun Dalian Bay, have been put into operation. Is it difficult to build an additional 160,000 tons a year?"

"As for the warships..." He paused, "We can make appropriate adjustments. Let the workers practice with the 'Jiangnan Ship' first, and then adjust the production line after the twenty-eighth year of the Tianli calendar."

"But..." Wang Yan wanted to persuade him again.

Luo Yaoguo interrupted directly: "No buts."

He turned to Ma Baocai and said in an unquestionable tone: "Although these 100 ships are an order from the Farmers' Association, they are supervised throughout by the National Defense Industry Commission - they must be completed on time and with quality!" After leaving the Jiangnan Shipyard, Luo Yaoguo, Wang Yan, Ma Baocai and Zhang Bao boarded the "Jianghua" class passenger ship used exclusively by the Prime Minister's Office.

This is a river-sea passenger ship with an empty ton of 3800 tons and a full load of 5800 tons, which can sail freely on the Yangtze River and the East China Sea. The living room in the cabin is spacious and bright, with hot tea on the mahogany tea table and the sparkling waves of the Huangpu River outside the window.

Ma Baocai finally couldn't help it.

"Prime Minister, why do you suddenly want to build so many cargo ships?" He frowned, "Fifty million silver dollars is not a small amount, and the Farmers' Association can't afford it!"

Luo Yaoguo did not answer immediately, but waved his hand, signaling all the service staff in the living room to leave.

After the hatch was closed, Luo Yaoguo slowly spoke in a low and solemn voice: "Everyone, our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom is in great trouble."

Everyone's hearts were shocked.

"What disaster?" Wang Yan asked hurriedly.

Luo Yaoguo took a deep breath and slowly uttered four words: "Dingmao is a great famine."

"Dingmao is a year of great famine?" Zhang Bao was stunned. "But the Dingmao year is 1877, and it's only 1873 now..."

Luo Yaoguo looked deep in his eyes and said slowly, "I know."

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment: This is a notice from “the top”!
Wang Yan asked tentatively: "Teacher, it says there will be a severe drought in four years?"

Luo Yaoguo nodded, "Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, and Shandong provinces will experience drought starting from the year after next, and it will last until the 28th year of the Tianli calendar."

Wang Yan, Ma Baocai and Zhang Bao all opened their mouths, not knowing what to say?
"In the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth years of the Tianli calendar, the drought will reach its peak. By then, the land will be barren for thousands of miles, and people will starve to death everywhere."

"How did the Ming Dynasty fall? It was because of the successive floods and droughts in the north during the Chongzhen period, civil unrest broke out everywhere, and the imperial court was unable to provide disaster relief, which eventually led to chaos throughout the country."

"Today, the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom has a population of 600 million. Once a severe drought strikes and a food crisis breaks out, the consequences will be disastrous!"

Luo Yaoguo's three disciples listened to his words, and each of them complained to God - why don't you intervene? Now the people in power in the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom are your people, you have to let the Pacific Dragon King make it rain!

Ma Baocai's face turned pale: "Teacher, what you mean is... to store food in advance?"

Luo Yaoguo shook his head: "There is not enough food stored."

"How much grain can Jiangnan, Huguang, and Northeast China produce in a year? It's not enough to feed the hundreds of millions of hungry people in the four provinces."

"The only way is to ship food from overseas."

He pointed outside the window and saw the "Jiangnan No. 1" anchored on the Huangpu River.

"These 100 ships are the life-saving ships of our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!"

"They will cross the Pacific Ocean and bring back food from Siam, Annan, India, and America." Luo Yaoguo paused, "At the same time, they can also export the hungry people!"

"With 3.5 voyages a year, one ship can carry 4.2 tons of grain a year, and 100 ships can carry 420 million tons!" He counted on his fingers, "Dry bulk carriers can also be used to transport people. One ship can carry up to 3000 people. 100 ships can carry 30 people each time, and 3.5 voyages a year can carry millions. In 820 or years, we can transport million. If we can import million tons of grain in two years and export million more immigrants, our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom will be able to survive the disaster safely."

Wang Yan, Ma Baocai and Zhang Bao were horrified when they heard this.

They finally understood why Luo Yaoguo was so eager to build these 100 ships.

This is no ordinary order.

This is the lifeline of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!
As the Jianghua sailed out of the Wusongkou Pass, the wind and waves from the East China Sea grew stronger and the passenger ship swayed slightly.

Luo Yaoguo stood on the deck, looking at the distant horizon, silent.

Wang Yan walked up to him and whispered, "Teacher, if it is true as you said, there will be a severe drought in four years, then we must start preparing now."

Luo Yaoguo nodded: "It has already started."

"The farmers' associations have set up purchasing points in Siam, Annan, North America, and Java to lock in food supplies in advance. Granaries in Jiangnan and Huguang are also being expanded. But this is not enough."

He turned around and looked at Wang Yan: "The navy must ensure the safety of maritime transport."

Wang Yan said solemnly: "Don't worry, Prime Minister. Once the Flying Eagle class is put into service, the British will not dare to intercept our freighters."

Luo Yaoguo's eyes were deep: "I hope so." He lowered his voice to the lowest level, "The British may not dare to attack us, but it is hard to say whether the man in Haidong will take the opportunity to cause trouble! Moreover, there are more than one million immigrants a year, plus the population of our Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. I am afraid that after the Dingmao famine, we will be more isolated in the world. This is a struggle for survival!"

(End of this chapter)