In the field of scientific and technological development, what is the greatest advantage of time travellers?
It can lead to the correct technical direction, skip the wrangling research stage, or even skip the early technical verification stage, and directly enter the launch research and development stage.
In other words, you can basically avoid detours and go straight to the right direction and goal from the beginning.
Dramatically shorten the application rate of the right technology in years.
This is what Zhu Jingyuan is doing now.
Including the high-speed battleship itself, as well as the most important power system of the high-speed battleship.
In the history of Zhu Jingyuan's previous life, the power system of the navy's main warships obviously took several detours, or hesitated at the right intersection.
This is completely natural under normal historical conditions.
Either because the decision-maker cannot directly determine which direction is the right direction, or because of interests and practical reasons, he cannot make an immediate decision.
Technologies such as pure oil-fired boilers, small water pipe designs, pressurized spray combustion, and steam turbines have all appeared as early as the era of the Intrepid in 1905.
But it was not until 1916 that the British used all of them on the battlecruiser Hood, with semi-finished products like the Queen Elizabeth class sandwiched in between.
In the intervening ten years, the British wasted a long time hesitating repeatedly on whether to replace oil-fired boilers or whether to use small water tube boilers.
The current level of naval technology of the Ming Dynasty is almost the same as that of Britain in 1910.
The design of the dreadnought ship appeared a few years ago, but because the old emperor always wanted to hold back the aircraft carrier, it was passively postponed until now.
What Zhu Jingyuan is doing now is to make up for the time wasted by the Ming Dynasty and skip the time wasted by the British.
Zhu Jingyuan looked at everyone present and solemnly summarized and announced again:
"So, what we want to design now is a high-speed battleship with a full load displacement of 40,000 tons and a speed of more than 30 knots."
The middle-aged craftsman from the ship power manufacturer thought that Zhu Jingyuan did not understand what he said, so he couldn't help but remind him again:
"Your Highness, wait a minute, this design is theoretically feasible, but it is really not recommended to be so extreme and radical.
"To build a 150,000-horsepower power system, the length of the battleship's engine room will be very large, which will lengthen the protective length of the main armor...
"In the end, a lot of weight will be wasted to maintain an obviously excessive power system, making the hull protection even weaker."
After hearing this, Zhu Jingyuan subconsciously asked:
"Has this great engineer considered designing the boiler room into two floors, with part of it placed above the engine room, so that the overall length can be reduced?"
"this……"
At this time, not only the power system manufacturers were stunned, but also the craftsmen of the manufacturers related to the hull design and construction, as well as the relevant personnel of the Navy were obviously stunned.
The boiler room is placed above the engine room. This is a plan that the United States considered when designing the Lexington-class battlecruisers and the new South Dakota-class battleships.
In this age of the world, it has not yet reached the time of crazy pursuit of speed, and no one has thought about it like this.
So it was beyond everyone's expectations. It felt like they had gone to any lengths to achieve high speed while maintaining a relatively normal hull.
Then, the representative of the hull design and construction manufacturer, a master craftsman in his fifties with gray hair, stood up:
"Your Highness, the design you mentioned may be possible to try, but it is obviously too dangerous.
“Boilers that are too centralized are difficult to maintain and are more likely to be damaged in large areas when they are hit.
"The most important thing is that our Ming Navy does not need such a high speed for the time being. The speed of 30 knots is really too high.
"According to our predictions, we only need to reach a speed of 25 knots, which is enough to form a very obvious advantage over all enemy next-generation warships."
Zhu Jingyuan immediately argued again:
"It may be enough now and in the next generation, but no one is sure that it will maintain its advantage in the next generation. I plan to use this kind of large capital ship for thirty years.
"And after the boiler technology has significantly improved, we will replace it with a small number of large boilers with higher single-burner power, so that the safety will be improved..."
The two great craftsmen were both at a loss for words, mainly because they couldn't keep up with Zhu Jingyuan's ideas.
Liu Quanzhi, Minister of the Ministry of War, who is 66 years old this year, stood up at this time:
“Your Highness, the construction cost of such a 40,000-ton, 30-knot warship will definitely be very high.
“It is likely to be more than twice or even three times that of the original 20,000-ton battleship, mainly because the cost of the power system is too high.
“Even if the service life is extended to thirty years, the overall estimated use cost is still too high.
"Because the original 20,000-ton battleships usually have a service life of more than twenty years."
The Ministry of War does not care about the design and construction of warships, but they do manage the military budget, and they are required to sign and issue orders for the design and construction of warships and weapons and equipment.
Therefore, the Ministry of War's entry point into related matters will always be cost control, not the weapons themselves.
Zhu Jingyuan was a little helpless. Once the cost issue was brought up, it would be difficult to say. The cost of this kind of ship must be very outrageous:
"Yes, the construction cost of such a warship will most likely be more than twice that of a 20,000-ton warship.
“But I can assure Da Sima that even three 20,000-ton warships cannot defeat one such warship.
"This kind of super battleship may be very expensive, but considering its actual combat effectiveness and strategic deterrence, it is definitely worth the money."
Liu Quanzhi, who had seen Zhu Jingyuan's brain circuit, was completely unmoved by this explanation. He just bowed his hands and expressed his views:
"The Ministry of War does not approve of building such a large-scale and high-cost warship in the peaceful era."
When Zhu Jingyuan faced Liu Quanzhi without any explanation and simply expressed his disapproval, he immediately felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
At the same time, I also imagined why the British in history stumbled on the issue of technological innovation for more than ten years.
Overly radical technological innovations will first be resisted by conservatives and will also affect the interests of existing suppliers.
Now Zhu Jingyuan only sees conservatives and has not yet seen interested manufacturers jumping out.
Because the relevant manufacturers in the Ming Dynasty are all royal consortium companies, and now the emperor is also present. The key is that they have not shown any tendency yet, and they dare not stand up to oppose rashly.
But if the emperor does not express support today, subsequent designs and innovations will definitely be hindered.
Even time travelers, even if they know the correct technological route, will encounter the same problems that decision makers in history encountered.
The key is that he now does not have the power to make a single decision, the kind of supreme dictatorial power.
Zhu Jingyuan looked at the old emperor subconsciously.
First, he subconsciously thought of the power that only the emperor had. Second, he remembered the old emperor's promise that he would fully support his shipbuilding plan.
The old emperor also happened to look up at Zhu Jingyuan. After discovering the yearning in Zhu Jingyuan's eyes, he suddenly showed a playful smile:
"Since the Ministry of War is unwilling to pay, let Huangzhuang pay..."
The Imperial Palace of the Ming Dynasty was similar to the British East India Company, but it was an institution directly controlled by the emperor and semi-independent of the imperial court.
Huangzhuang has its own colony, its own army, and even its own fleet, and has experience in shipbuilding.
So as soon as the emperor said these words, Mr. Liu Quanzhi immediately jumped a little:
"Your Majesty, you can't. We can't let Huangzhuang pay this money."
The military and aircraft ministers at the back, as well as the commanders-in-chief of the five armies, also stood up to oppose.
Because if the money comes from Huangzhuang, the boat will definitely belong to Huangzhuang in the future.
The company's main battleship, Huangzhuang, was actually twice as big as the navy's battleship. This made the court and the navy look down on it.
More importantly, with such a big ship, Huangzhuang was even less controlled by the court.
The old emperor smiled again after hearing this:
"Since the Imperial Village is not allowed to come out, the Ministry of War will make its own budget, and then apply to the Ministry of Finance..."
Liu Quanzhi swallowed helplessly:
"Old minister obeys the order..."
