Zhu Jingyuan listened to the two old men laughing, and laughed along with him for a while, and at the same time he really started to think about the design of the battleship.
After the two of them had almost finished laughing, Zhu Jingyuan began to ask for opinions:
“By the way, grandpa, I have some uncertain ideas about the design and construction of battleships, so I’d like to give you an idea while you’re here.
“The first is to use the most mature technology as possible to build a warship as soon as possible to realize the main functions for testing the main functions.
“The second is to use new technologies that are as efficient as possible to achieve the best design of this type of warship in one step and as directly as possible.
"The third is to compromise between the first and second directions and selectively use some new technologies. This should be the safest way...
“Using all mature technologies, of course, we can see the finished product faster, but in terms of realizing all the functions of the target warship, it may only be regarded as a semi-finished product.
"But if we all use the highest possible technology, we may encounter more bottlenecks and problems, and the construction and testing cycle may be very long."
After hearing this, the old emperor waved his hand and said:
"There is no need to make special compromises. As mature technology as possible and brand-new technology, these two designs can be carried out at the same time. Isn't this a de facto compromise?
"Anyway, the construction of old warships will be gradually stopped, and the shipyards and workers will be very abundant. You can just build two kinds of ships at the same time.
"No, the battleships equipped with aircraft, the all-main-gun battleships you mentioned, as well as the updates of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers can be started at the same time. You decide the specific ones.
"Emperor Shizu said that you need to make a choice only if you don't have the strength. If you have the strength, you have to choose everything."
Zhu Jingyuan immediately realized that this meant being rich and powerful. If that was the case, then he would have something big:
"The grandson also begged grandpa to let the shipyard cooperate and start preparing for a larger shipyard now, build larger civilian ships, and accumulate experience in building large ships.
"There should be a shipyard capable of building 30,000-ton warships now, so we should start preparing in advance for a shipyard capable of building 40,000-ton warships.
“The more shipyards for building 40,000-ton warships, the better. Then, there should be at least eight shipyards for building 60,000-ton warships, and at least four shipyards for building 80,000-ton warships.
“At least one 40,000-ton shipyard will be ready within the year, and the target tonnage of the new warships based on the radical strategy will exceed 30,000 tons.
"The 60,000-ton shipyard will be used in five years at the earliest, and the 80,000-ton shipyard will be used in 20 years at the latest."
Now the old emperor's eyes widened.
The largest battleship in the world now is only 18,000 tons in size.
Are you going to jump directly to 30,000 tons? The more the 40,000 tons in the back, the better?
But what is even more outrageous is 60,000 tons, or even 80,000 tons!
What a huge battleship that must be?
Can we start building such a huge warship in twenty years?
Zou Bingtai and Zhu Jianyan were also stunned.
An 80,000-ton ship, what is that? This kid can't be crazy.
Zhu Jingyuan was actually not talking nonsense. The current technological level of Ming Dynasty is very close to that of Britain before World War I.
Dreadnoughts should have come out a long time ago. People from the Ministry of Industry have also said before that there are related designs, but they are considered too radical, which actually stuck the old emperor.
Japan, whose industrial level was historically lower than that of Britain, began designing the 72,000-ton Yamato class in 1932, and construction officially started in 1937.
From 1914 to 1937, it was only twenty-three years.
The current level of Ming Dynasty is higher than that of Britain in history, and there is also the guidance of the time traveler who restored his memory.
If a ship of more than 80,000 tons cannot be designed within twenty years, then there will be a problem.
Of the 80,000-ton ships, only a few super battleships might be built in the early days and used as the glory and symbol of the navy and the empire.
The dock can be used in the future when building super aircraft carriers, and it will not be wasted.
The 40,000-ton to 60,000-ton shipyards below will be the focus of the next ten to twenty years. They are prepared for the future capital ship arms race.
According to historical pre-World War I standards, Britain built thirty-four dreadnoughts in ten years from 1909 to 1918.
Ming Dynasty may need more than this quantity.
At the same time, these shipyards are also prepared for a new round of world war that may break out again in the future.
From Lexington to Midway, the United States built thirty-six fleet aircraft carriers during World War II, and from North Carolina to Iowa, a total of ten new battleships.
Daming should not need less than this.
Of course, if there is no second round of world war in this world, the number of shipbuildings in the later period should be sharply reduced to a dozen ships, which may also lead to an extension of the life of the battleships.
This is absolutely no problem. Even if warships cannot use it at all, civilians can still use it.
The overlord of the two oceans, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, will definitely continue to vigorously develop maritime transportation and continue to develop larger cargo ships.
The rich resources of overseas colonies and the industrial products of the empire require more and more transport ships.
More and larger shipyards are needed for the future development of the empire.
It is also the direction of the transformation of the Royal Dockyard.
The scene was inexplicably silent for several seconds, and then the old emperor asked with an uncertain expression:
"Are you really not joking?"
Zhu Jingyuan nodded solemnly and said:
"I'm serious. The mass-produced warship I envision should be controlled within 40,000 tons.
"My ideal target elite warship should have a full load tonnage of less than 60,000 tons.
"The super battleship used to demonstrate the industrial strength of the empire should be within 80,000 tons."
The old emperor stared at Zhu Jingyuan for a few seconds:
"In that case, I will call together the personnel from the battleship design, steam engines, boilers, artillery, armor and other major functional modules of the battleship for a meeting.
“As the leader and leader of new warship design, you assign them design goals and indicators for building warships.
“I will be on site to observe the whole process and see how you manage this project.
"Give you some time to collect your thoughts. How long do you need?"
Zhu Jingyuan was stunned for a moment, and then quickly understood what the old emperor meant. This was to test whether his plan was reliable.
If his plan is reasonable, then his audit is to appear in person, establish authority for himself, and let all personnel related to shipbuilding follow his command.
If his plan is a mess, he is likely to stop midway and no longer allow himself to be directly involved in these things.
Zhu Jingyuan was a little panicked, but after thinking about it for a while, he felt that this was both a test and an opportunity, so he finally agreed directly:
"Then give me three days to prepare. I will list the relatively accurate design indicators and the new technologies required for construction as much as possible to make an overall plan.
"Of course, I can only give specific goals and requirements, as well as some detailed suggestions on some projects. I can't draw the actual design myself."
The old emperor confirmed directly without any surprise:
"Grandpa understands that you don't have to draw the drawings yourself, you just give directions.
"Then the matter is settled, it will be held at ten o'clock in the morning three days later, after the morning meeting, in the seminar room of the Ministry of Industry.
"You stayed up late last night and were busy for most of the day today. Go back and rest now.
"You don't have to worry about patent matters, just let the Ministry of Industry handle it for you."
