It was already late at night, but the lights of the mine never stopped.
However, the workers working in the mine were not Han Chinese, but local indigenous people.
Colonization was always bloody. White Europeans drove out the indigenous people, who migrated from east to west along the coastline.
Then I met the Ming people.
The Ming Dynasty, which had experienced the subjugation of its country, naturally had no good impressions of these indigenous people. If they were not of my race, they would have different feelings.
Therefore, the Ming Dynasty designated an area in the east outside Xinxiang City for them to live. Since the land was provided by the Ming Dynasty, these indigenous people had to pay high rents.
However, these indigenous people only have a few pieces of animal skins on their bodies that are valuable. Whether it is rent or future food sources, it is a problem.
Therefore, the Ming Dynasty supported a group of aboriginal traitors, managed these aboriginal people and made them work. They worked in the mines intensively in two shifts, and could be exchanged for a small bag of dried fish and salt blocks.
Compared to the British practice of killing the goose to retrieve the eggs, the Ming Dynasty could at least allow them to survive.
So they resettled here and specialized in mining work.
At night, there was a sound of whips from time to time.
The two traitorous native overseers held whips in their hands and beat up a lazy native, showing no pity for the friendship of the same race.
Zhu Zaiming did not stop him. After all, compared to the Europa pirates, their Ming Dynasties were already considered good people. It was only a few whips and they could endure it.
Walking all the way through the stockyard, we found several rows of earthen houses inside the mine.
Several Han Chinese newly bought from the British were squatting at the door to eat. They had big shiny braids that were incompatible with the few Han Chinese with tied hair in the house.
Colonial trade was inevitably accompanied by the sale of human beings.
The population of the Ming Dynasty was insufficient. In order to alleviate this dilemma, the Han people attracted by the British were bought as much as they could.
It's just that some Han people were so affected by the enslavement of the Qing Dynasty that they refused to cut off their braids.
It seems that as long as they protect their braids, they will still have roots, they will still be Qing people, and they will not forget their ancestors. When they return to the Qing Dynasty, they will still be the people of the heavenly country.
Zhu Zaiming had nothing to say to these people and simply threw them into the mines for labor reform.
You choose your own path, and when you realize it, you can return to Xinxiang City.
Xu Qi was tinkering with a steam engine. He had thick dark circles under his eyes and his hair was messy.
When he saw Zhu Zaiming entering the house, he quickly put down the wrench and prepared to salute.
Zhu Zaiming stopped him quickly.
"Excuse me, Xu Aiqing. I heard that Aiqing hasn't slept for two days, so I came here to visit you."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I can still bear it physically, but there are too many problems with these steam engines, making maintenance very difficult."
Zhu Zaiming surrounded the dismantled machine and saw several marks on the sealed tank.
Xu Qi explained.
"The problem with these steam engines is the same. There are cracks in the boiler tank."
Early steam engines did not have piston valves, so the pressure inside the boiler remained high. In addition, there were problems with the casting of these steam engines. The limit was that they could last for 20 years.
"So if we wanted to fix them we would need to completely replace the boilers, which would be a big job if we were to build them ourselves..."
Following Xu Qi's explanation, Zhu Zaiming also understood the problems Daming was facing now.
Underpopulation.
There are only more than 300 people in the entire Ministry of Industry. During normal urban construction in Xinxiang, it is already difficult to maintain a regiment of 1,500 muskets, let alone steam engines with higher technical content.
Without solving the population problem, no matter how much technical information Xu Qihua provided, it would not become a reality.
"It's still a population problem..." Zhu Zaiming murmured and closed the factory door.
In the eyes of everyone's doubts, 12 new steam engines appeared directly.
Everyone was stunned. They saw Zhu Zaiming wave his sleeves, the colorful light disappeared in an instant, and then 12 steam engines appeared on the ground.
Some ghost believers knelt down on the spot.
Zhu Zaiming waved his hand and asked a few people to get up, and at the same time said to the stunned people.
"I bought these from Taishang Laojun. There are instructions for use. Dear friends, try it and see how it works. As for the others, don't ask if you shouldn't ask."
Xu Qi had countless questions bottled up in his stomach. After thinking about it, he could only think of four words, "The power of kings is divinely authorized."
This is what everyone here thinks.
After all, theology is still very popular at this time.
Now that Zhu Zaiming had made his attitude clear, everyone stopped asking questions and turned to studying steam engines.
Compared with the machines bought from the British, these "Tai Shang Lao Jun" steam engines are really too advanced.
The pitch-black exterior is extremely smooth, with no cast wrinkles, bulges, or burrs.
There are single-cylinder and double-cylinder models. There are piston valves that can control the inflow and outflow of high-pressure gas. There are instruments to observe the status of the steam engine. The new design of the connecting rod and crankshaft is also refreshing.
The piston sealing ring uses a cast iron ring, which fits tightly.
It is actually wrong to say that rubber seals are used in later novels. First of all, rubber is prone to aging, not to mention high-intensity friction in an environment of high temperature, pressure, and oil.
Even in later generations, rubber was rarely used for sealing.
In the early days, more packing was used, or some plant fibers were woven into rings.
When it comes to technology, cast iron rings will be used.
Xu Qi's trembling hands touched this and that one, as if he were stroking a seductive girl, and his tears flowed out.
He marveled at the wonderful idea of "Tai Shang Lao Jun", and took the instruction manual and directed several craftsmen to conduct a trial run.
"哐哧哓哧~"
Soon, the huge steam pressure drove the connecting rod, and the runner began to rotate rapidly. Observing the data from various pointers and instruments, it was found that the steam engine was operating normally, and the output was at least twice that of the original use.
Xu Qi simply calculated the output, was surprised and happy, and said with a smile.
"This Taishang Laojun's steam engine is so powerful. The energy conversion efficiency has more than doubled. In this case, only 8 units are needed to meet the needs of three mines."
Zhu Zaiming nodded and solved the water pumping problem. The remaining two steam engines were spared and the two were disassembled for research.
The system mall is a good thing, but it is impossible to buy everything from the system.
In Zhu Zaiming's view, researching while buying is the correct way to use the system.
After instructing Xu Qi to resume mining as soon as possible and study new steam engines, Zhu Zaiming left in a hurry with Zhu Xianxue.
In the carriage, Zhu Zaiming smiled when he saw Zhu Xianxue hesitated to speak.
"Uncle, just ask, I see you are feeling uncomfortable holding it in."
Zhu Xianxue scratched his head, took a deep breath, and asked.
"Long live my Lord, is the story about the Supreme Lord true?"
After all, Zhu Xianxue was a nobleman of Tianhuang. He had been trading with the British for so many years in the Ming Dynasty and had bought various items, including books. He had been exposed to all these things.
He deeply believed in the trend of scientific enlightenment, and it was really hard for him to believe that there really were gods in this world.
Zhu Zaiming knew what he was thinking.
"Sometimes, does the truth really matter? Taishang Laojun, no matter whether it is true or false, as long as I can buy various items from the gods, it is enough.
For Daming, this is an opportunity.
An opportunity to return home. "
A person who falls into the water and grabs something in a panic, whether it is a water plant or a human leg, is the only chance of survival.
After all, the sun never sets on the British Empire, which has begun to demonstrate its authority as a world hegemon.
There was no change, and Zhu Zaiming had no doubt that one day the British Royal Navy would land on the west coast and completely eliminate the Ming Dynasty that occupied the gold mines.
Therefore, the top priority is to redress the soldiers and build an army that is at least World War I level first.
It is urgent to establish a new army.
