Counting the other "big advantage" of Emperor Chongzhen, this last emperor truly realized the "holy trinity" of being furious and willful!
Half of the current predicament of the Ming Empire is caused by the emperor's hot-headed nonsense.
If the military pay from the northwest is transferred to Liaodong, what will happen to the northwest?
Let tens of thousands of frontier soldiers drink from the northwest wind on the spot?
Similar to the abolition of inns, can this thing be abolished at will?
Emperor Chongzhen seemed to be completely out of his mind when making such strategic decisions.
These two extremely wrong decisions directly led to the creation of tens of thousands of strong men across the country who could not receive monthly salary. How terrible is this?
If a group of guys who are so poor that they are on the verge of begging for food don’t return home, will they be able to celebrate the New Year with a big showdown?
A certain prince found out through the historical records of his residence that a group of bastards were responsible for the abolition of the inn.
In view of their "good achievements", each of them was rewarded with a "golden bowl of rice" and they were all sent to Shandong to mine.
There are all their colleagues in a mining area over there, and everyone can dig as much as they want while talking about life...
When Master Apocalypse Tank gave the Ming Empire to Emperor Chongzhen, at least there were no internal worries, only foreign ones, and a nine-thousand-year-old was given as a gift.
When a certain prince took over Emperor Chongzhen's plate, he found that the gifts had become express delivery brother Li and Zhang Da Zongzi!
Not only can’t we get any money from them, but we also have to repay them. This is so fucking stupid~!
As for other things, a certain prince will not say anything. Let this blame-shifter lie down peacefully. This will be good for the entire Ming Empire.
After encouraging a group of confidants, Lao Songtou and others understood the importance of their work. With the Crown Prince's full support, they were naturally full of confidence and vowed to develop a unique magical machine.
The next day, everyone could not be idle, because this was an extraordinary day with milestone significance.
The Ming Empire, and even the world's first aircraft, the Wanli airship, is about to make its debut!
The airship project team of the Academy of Sciences has assembled two airships. Since the raw materials are selected from the best, they were determined after many tests.
Including the consumption of materials, the total cost of the two airships is as high as more than 14,000 taels of silver, and the cost of a single ship is more than 7,000 taels.
These two big guys alone account for 2.6% of the total budget of the Academy of Sciences of 500,000 taels, so if you don't have money, don't even think about playing with high-tech weapons.
If you add in the subsequent improved models until a reliable mass-produced model is developed, it is estimated that 50,000 taels of silver will be consumed. This is still a relatively conservative estimate.
There is a reason for the high cost. The airbag shell is made of yak leather imported from the Tumut tribe in the northwest. It is stronger than sheepskin, flexible, and can withstand cold. After applying oil, it can be used for winter flights without any problem.
The locations where the airbag receives the flame are laid with high-quality ceramics for heat insulation and fire resistance to prevent the airbag from being ignited by the flame of the injector. Even so, the future of the first test flight is uncertain.
In order to ensure the safety of the site, a certain prince ordered Huang Degong to mobilize 5,000 infantry to maintain order, and ordered 1,000 horsemen to be on hand at all times to follow the airship on the ground after it took off to ensure the safety of the landing area.
There are more than forty vehicles used to support the airship alone. Among them, the two carriages used to hold the airbags are the largest, with a body as long as two feet.
The test flight site chosen by a certain prince was also very close, located in the open space between the new city and the old city.
Since this thing is huge and difficult to cover people's eyes and ears, let everyone just enjoy it.
There is already a sea of people outside the city and it is very lively. Even if there is no news published at all in the newspaper, the good believers will play a role in spreading the word, especially in teahouses and restaurants, the effect is simply to respond to a hundred responses.
There was literally no place for the guys who came after them to stay. When I looked forward, I saw nothing but human heads.
A father can only put his son on his neck so that his son can open his eyes and tell him about the situation ahead.
Today was not a rest day, and the court meeting was rarely suspended due to this major event. A certain prince's reason for choosing a date was that as long as the Academy of Sciences was well prepared, the test flight could be carried out immediately when the weather was good.
The cabinet and officials from the seven ministries also cooperated very closely. Everyone hoped to see the fairy weapon that the prince said could soar into the sky as soon as possible. It would not hurt if the court meeting was suspended for a day.
In their opinion, as long as the king's master is equipped with hundreds of immortal weapons similar to those of ancient Shuo and Jin in the future, how long will the arrogant and wanton Donglu be proud?
Even Xue Guoguan, the unlearned first assistant, believed that this matter was an excellent opportunity to boost the fighting spirit of Ming Dynasty Junmin and further enhance the prestige of his prospective son-in-law.
After hearing the news, the beautiful mother and aunts actually stopped playing mahjong. The woman's curiosity became even stronger. In order to witness this grand event, she got up early in the morning and waited for the trip.
So in this seemingly large open space, but actually already crowded to the point of bubbling, there are concubines, vassal kings, officials, common people, and a group of sorcerer friends led by Lao Tang.
A certain prince once told Lao Tang that as long as the price offered by the Holy Roman Emperor was right, he could transfer such a magical weapon to the other party in a friendly manner.
Lao Tang was skeptical about these words. The main reason was that he had never seen anything similar that could be lifted into the air, except for the Kongming Lantern...
Using the lease rights of 10,000 soldiers in exchange for such a magical weapon was an extremely profitable deal in Lao Tang's opinion. Even if it was to give 10,000 soldiers to the crown prince, it was completely acceptable.
There is no doubt that Rome is very supportive of the Holy Roman Empire and wants the empire to achieve a decisive victory. However, the empire is very poor, similar to the situation of the previous Ming Dynasty.
The possibility of defeating France, which is in excellent financial condition, and Sweden, which is brave and capable of fighting, is getting lower and lower. The only way is to use weapons that can reverse the disadvantage.
The airship is undoubtedly a weapon that meets Lao Tang's vision and standards, but whether this object can be lifted into the air as the Crown Prince of the Ming Empire said, Lao Tang still has a hard time judging the authenticity.
Everyone is curious, even the coolies working in the new city have put down their jobs and sat on the ground to rest. Everyone would rather not earn half a day's copper coins, but also want to see a miracle that has never happened in thousands of years!
As their chief engineer, Zhang Guowei, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, was also watching with a telescope obediently. He might not be able to see clearly even if he got closer, which was far inferior to his position on the wall of the new city. mobile phone e
The chief officers of the troops stationed around the capital, to be precise, the military attaches above the rank of generals were all invited, and their mounts were taken away by the soldiers to avoid being surprised by the appearance of the huge airship and trampling on others.
"How are the preparations going?"
Although Bo Jue is the second in command of the airship project, as the actual person in charge, he is actually very anxious about the first test flight of his hard work, but in order to encourage the two pilots, he seems to be more relaxed on the surface.
"Academician Bo, please rest assured, everything is ready!"
As the first captain of the Ming Dynasty, Yu Li Zhong replied confidently that he was the one who stood out from hundreds of candidates. The prince, queen, civil servants and generals were all watching nearby, and he could not be embarrassed at this time.
"That's good. Remember, no matter what happens, you must stay calm and handle it calmly according to the operational procedures!"
Bo Jue gave the final instructions. He had watched the two subordinates train many times before and was very satisfied with their performance.
The first thing is to be literate, which is a prerequisite.
Secondly, the mind must be smart and able to adapt to changes.
Third, you must have strong learning ability and constantly learn new knowledge to enrich yourself.
Finally, the weight must be light, because the airship can only carry about 500 kilograms.
After excluding the weight of the gondola, equipment, fuel and other items, it can almost only carry two crew members, not one more. The threshold is so harsh, unless the airship is made larger.
"Yes! I understand, little one!"
Yu Li just wanted to clasp his fists and salute, but then remembered what he had learned and the relevant regulations, so he instead gave Bo Jue a new military salute as a response.
He and crewman Liang Chen are both the best among the best, what the prince calls "the best", but they only got such a precious opportunity through many layers of selection.
The first is the identity check. Only if there are no criminals three generations back can you pass the line.
The second thing is to be literate and be able to write the most basic one hundred characters, from one to ten thousand, east, south, west, north and so on.
Then comes the physical exam, which involves running, weightlifting, cross-country, and the most terrifying test of vertigo and fear of heights.
It's okay to say that they have to practice whatever the soldiers of the East Palace Guards practice, but in the end these two almost killed most of the applicants.
To test vertigo, you need to play with spiral ladders, fixed rollers, movable rollers, and rotating seats. After making a hundred laps, the tester still has to walk in a straight line...
To test your fear of heights, you will first walk on "Broken Mountain" and then be hung under a cliff for half a day.
After these reviews and tests, naturally very few people can stay.
There were only six people in the first batch to pass, and they were divided into three groups.
Yu Li and Liang Chen were one of the groups, and they had the highest overall score, so they were selected as the chief test flight group.
They have suffered all the hardships that the soldiers of the East Palace Guards have endured, and they have also endured the hardships that the other party has not endured.
Without the monthly salary of ten taels of silver as an incentive, all pilots who passed the assessment felt that they were here to endure hardship.
Thinking on the bright side, as long as he survives the fall, he will be able to live comfortably in the future, especially since the treatment given to pilots by the prince is very high.
Not only the monthly salary is paid in full, but there is also a subsidy for each test flight. You can usually eat a bowl of braised pork and a piece of fish every day, and you can eat as much fruit as you like.
After training, there is a hot bath to wash in, and you don't have to wash the dirty clothes you change. The two of them share a room with all the belongings. This is a beautiful thing they have never dared to think about.
It's just that after passing the "old threshold", there is also a "new threshold", that is, you have to weigh yourself every day. If you exceed the set limit, you must lose weight. If you cannot lose weight in three weeks, you will be eliminated.
Fortunately, Yu Li and Liang Chen are both talented people who can eat without getting fat. To be precise, as long as they exercise carefully, they will not gain much weight on their bodies. This is what makes them happiest, as they can stay in the Academy of Sciences and enjoy their meals.
Huang Chuangzi, Zongrong, told these people that no one from the Yongwei camp was a coward, and they couldn't give in without even trying. He couldn't afford to lose this person.
So the two of them just gritted their teeth and got through it, otherwise they would be ordered to return to the old army. The feeling of being randomly pointed out and scolded would be extremely uncomfortable.
Those guys who were eliminated in the process, a certain prince did not send them back. Otherwise, Huang Degong's face would not be good-looking, and they would simply become ground staff. It would be good to be the underlings. At least the people in the Yongwei camp can still use them with confidence. of.
"Everyone is in position! Lay the foundation! Set up the stand! Get ready to inflate!"
The team was led by a commander transferred from the Yongwei Battalion, named Che Xu. He failed the pilot test, but was left as a squad leader. He had more than forty people under his command, all of whom were auxiliary ground staff.
Under the captain's order, the team members who were waiting for instructions quickly ran to their respective vehicles and began to get busy.
Bo Da Cai Zi has tested cowhide and sheepskin models as well as real airbags. The advantage of cowhide airbags is that they are stronger, but the disadvantages are also obvious, that is, they are heavier and need to be filled with more hot air, so that they can be used The air bag rises.
In this way, an airship took a full two hours to inflate, from morning to afternoon. The generals were fine, but they were so hungry that the concubines and officials were a little dizzy.
The common people "sourced local materials" and took the initiative to find snack sellers to replenish their physical strength. This made various food stall owners make a lot of money. They made hundreds of copper coins in one morning, but it was incredible.
After a very "objective and fair" discussion, everyone came to a very reasonable conclusion.
That is to say, they all believe that this is an "immortal weapon" that is "exerting power". When the power is full, it can naturally take off...
Like his beautiful mother and aunts, a certain prince was also very hungry, but in order to witness this grand event with his own eyes, he had to endure it for the time being. Otherwise, he would have enjoyed eating and drinking, and he would have had to go to the public restroom, where he would have made himself sick to death. .
Ground crews set up bases to prevent the delicate airbag from being scratched by objects on the ground. Once a hole is made, it will endanger the safety of the entire airship and may make long-term inflation efforts in vain. .
Fortunately, there was almost no wind today and was replaced by a rolling heat wave. This did not affect the safety of flight preparations, but it was just a bit intimidating. People suffering from heatstroke could be seen everywhere, but these were NC audiences, and a certain prince paid them no mind.
"Hey hey hey??? That big thing is so angry!"
"Yes! Look! It's so big!"
"What the hell is that?"
"It's shaped like a mountain! It's awesome and awesome!"
"Wow~! Incredible! The immortal weapon is indeed extraordinary!"
The rugby-shaped air bag finally rose after a long period of inflating. The long-term efforts were finally in vain. A certain prince was also very relieved, knowing that this meant that the airship could take off immediately.
"Your Highness, according to my estimation, the airship will take off in half an hour!"
Bo Jue hurried over to report the preparations at the scene. If the prince had the latest instructions, he could make adjustments at any time.
"Okay! Aiqing, just do what you want. All on-site command will be taken by Aiqing. Once the preparations are complete, the airship can take off. There is no need to report to this palace!"
A certain prince was waiting to see the good show, not only for the officials and generals, but also for the warlocks such as Lao Tang, and even for the braided craftsmen lurking in the crowd.
"Brother Hong, is Bo Aiqing telling the truth?"
Queen Zhou couldn't wait for a long time, but because of her face, she could only hold on. Now when she heard the report of the visitor, she couldn't help but ask.
"Queen Mother, what Bo Aiqing said is right, and I also have relevant experience. Generally speaking, as long as this huge airbag is levitated, it will not be far before the airship takes off. Within half an hour at most, the Queen can see This is a grand occasion that has never happened in a thousand years!”
After hearing what her eldest son said, Queen Zhou stopped asking. After waiting for so long, it was only half an hour.
If he could really see this grand event for eternity, it would be a direct proof to the world that his brother Xang had indeed been to the fairy world, otherwise there would never have been such a fairy weapon in the world...
