Chapter 99 The power of the future
For a time, Zhu Yuanzhang had mixed feelings in his heart.
Only then did he truly see the benefits of technological progress.
Many people may think that this kind of water turbine is just a variant of the water wheel. Ancient waterwheels were also very developed. Why do you think this is good?
Actually, it's not. The famous Lanzhou Waterwheel. There are dozens high. But the amount of water diverted is not too large. Not to mention, it is absolutely impossible for a skilled craftsman to build a huge thing out of wood.
Not to mention. Waterwheels also have requirements for water flow.
The water cannot flow too fast, otherwise the waterwheel will be unable to bear it and break. After all, the bearing capacity of wood is too limited. Not too slow. It's too slow to move the waterwheel. Not to mention. The river between the world. How many are so suitable.
Even if there is a suitable one. It also needs to be tailor-made by a master craftsman. Only then can we stop safely on the river bank.
As for daily maintenance and so on. Needless to say.
This is different now.
Zhu Yuanzhang saw that the greatest advantage of hydraulic turbines was to be integrated into production. The turbine can be placed directly into the river. But it can also be like this. A channel is led from the river. Let the water flow directly hit the turbine and push the turbine to rotate.
Under such circumstances, the size of the turbine can be fixed, and there is no need for craftsmen to tailor it.
Almost suitable for much larger rivers. No matter how much water flows. If that doesn't work, even if there is a severe drought, people can cut off the river and artificially raise the water level. This creates a height difference, allowing the water flow to push the turbine and lift the water up.
This is really of great benefit to the people.
How could Zhu Yuanzhang, who had feelings for farming, not feel the same way.
However, on the first day, Zhu Yuanzhang felt the source of evil that would cause countless people to be displaced in the future. On the second day, Zhu Yuanzhang saw another possibility for the Ming people to improve their living standards and fill their bellies.
The advantages and disadvantages of a new era at once. Various contradictory ideas collided in Zhu Yuanzhang's heart.
With Zhu Yuanzhang sighing deeply, everything was over.
Zhu Yuanzhang made his own decision.
Even the emperor often cannot decide what to do? And the torrent of time. Always.
Even if he interrupts everything He Xi has done in Liaodong, what will happen?
Thoughts are not afraid of bullets. Among Confucianists, there are still people who, for the sake of their own righteousness, fight one after another and do not shy away from the sword or axe. And the thoughts He Xi brought from later generations were too sweet. How many people in future generations would rather give up their lives for the beauty in their hearts.
And he, Zhu Yuanzhang, didn't make so many arrangements because he saw this bright future that was visible to the naked eye but out of reach, and even had a falling out with his favorite son.
Some things have actually been decided from the beginning.
There is no regret now.
Unless we could go back to that night in the summer of the 14th year of Hongwu, and kill He Xi as soon as he appeared from the future. In order to block the spread of all news. Now it's too late.
Even Zhu Yuanzhang no longer regards He Xi as the He Xi he once was.
Even now, he suddenly turned against him and killed He Xi. Not to mention what my daughter and grandson think. Little did he know that He Xi had no backup plan and was not prepared for this move.
Once it gets to that point. The specter of revolution has been entrenched in the Ming Dynasty ever since. It is estimated that it can replace the White Lotus Sect and become the most important concern of the Ming Dynasty.
Facing the gears of the times, once it starts turning, no one can turn it back. Then it’s Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang was stroking the turbine and suddenly felt a bulge under his hand. When he took a closer look, it read: "Made in Shenyang Iron Works."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "If I remember correctly, you said that most of your operations are near Shenyang?"
He Xi said: "Exactly."
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I won't see you here. Let's go directly to Shenyang."
He Xi said: "Follow your orders."
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He Xi had already prepared the boat. The waterway from Niuzhuang to Shenyang. I have sorted it out many times. It can be said that it is unimpeded.
From Liaohe River to Hunhe River. Shenyang City can be seen in the distance.
However, Zhu Yuanzhang had no intention of getting off the ship.
Because he saw the water of the Muddy River. The water of Hunhe River has a hint of black.
There is no other reason. The upper reaches of the Hun River is Fushun. This is where the largest coal mine near Shenyang is located. After He Xi arrived in Liaodong, this was the first place he started. There have always been three soldiers from the guard station responsible for digging coal in the coal mine. The excavated coal is then loaded onto ships and transported from the Hun River to the Liao River to places as large as the Liao River Basin.
Open pit coal mine. Very convenient for mining. It's just a matter of effort. Plus convenient water transportation. The price of coal is very low. A boatload of coal weighs one or two thousand catties. It's only a few coins. And this much coal is enough for many families to survive the winter.
Of course. Many people still choose to take time to go to the mountains to chop firewood every day before autumn. Stock up on fuel for the winter. However, He Xi's large-scale construction in Liaodong left a huge manpower gap. Therefore, more and more people choose to buy coal to save their time and make more money.
After the Koreans migrated from China, 20,000 to 30,000 strong men were placed in the coal mines. Only one guard was left to guard it.
Facing the armor, firearms and long knives of the soldiers of the Ming Dynasty. They only had various iron tools. Not to mention. He Xi did not treat these Koreans badly. At least you can eat enough. Have a house to live in. And wages. It’s just that the wages are less.
even though. Now most people in Liaodong have begun to burn coal. But coal mines still have overcapacity.
Although He Xi worked hard on the steam engine, he even took out the drawings. But many of the problems are not with He Xi. And at the craftsman. It is not impossible for a skilled craftsman to build one by hand. But what can a steam engine do?
Boil hot water for He Xi to take a bath?
What He Xi needs is an industrially produced steam engine. Therefore, no steam engines were produced on a large scale. Nowadays, a lot of coal from Fushun Coal Mine cannot be sold. This is also a headache for He Xi. Fortunately, He Xi's family background is relatively strong. Can last for a long time.
Again. The large-scale migration of Korean people will last for one or two years. If you store some now and distribute it to the new immigrants in winter, it will not be wasted.
Zhu Yuanzhang knew some of these things. Some don't know. But he looked at the black sediment in the river. Said: "The coal mine is probably upstream. Then we won't go to Shenyang. Let's go and see the coal mine first."
There is nothing to see in Shenyang. It's just a square city. The cities of the Imperial Guard all over the world are all laid out in this way, with little difference. And Zhu Yuanzhang knew it. He Xi's hard work is all about coal and iron.
Zhu Yuanzhang is the emperor. Naturally, you can do whatever you want. The itinerary suddenly changed, and He Xi could only obey his orders with awe.
However, when you go up the Hun River, the first thing you see is not the coal mine, but Shenyang New City. It is also where the Liaodong Iron Works is located. Also called Iron Factory City.
Before reaching the pier, I saw black smoke rising into the sky. It seems to be a place where monsters and monsters gather.
Before we even get here, we can feel a pungent smell.
Zhu Yuanzhang also frowned. Immediately a guard brought a handkerchief. I want Zhu Yuanzhang to cover his nose. Zhu Yuanzhang sternly scolded: "I haven't seen any situation before. It's just a smell, do you still need to cover it up?"
After He Xi heard this, he couldn't take out the mask he had prepared.
This is why different people have different views on one thing. For He Xi, he actually wanted to solve the problem of industrial pollution, but he didn't have the ability. There are hundreds of blast furnaces here. Burning. Dust falling everywhere. It's not just the river that's black. Of course some dust fell into the river. But what's more, a black sediment has settled under the river water. Even if the water is clear. It also looks black.
And it's even more like this on the ground. It seems that the god who painted this land accidentally knocked over the ink bottle, leaving too much excess black.
Under such circumstances, it is also necessary to bring labor protection supplies. Everyone's masks are ready.
But in Zhu Yuanzhang's view, avoiding the situation here is an act of weakness. On the battlefield, when Zhu Yuanzhang rushed to kill, he also did not avoid the arrows and saw many miserable scenes. Compared to the smell of burning corpses, what I saw before me was nothing.
He Xi could only hold the mask in his mouth. But he accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang to breathe soot.
Soon they all arrived at the iron factory. The iron factory had just been notified, and Ge Tiangong came out wearing official robes to greet them.
Now Ge Tiangong is no longer the young craftsman he used to be. He is already a fifth-grade official of the Ministry of Industry. This fifth-grade official was also promoted step by step. Responsible for a large number of projects. And this iron factory city was built by him hand in hand.
Ge Tiangong's temperament has also changed a lot. At least he has the dignity of an official.
He Xi asked Ge Tiangong to take the lead. Let’s look at the blast furnace first.
Today's blast furnaces have been iteratively updated for several generations. The blast furnace is no longer just over one foot long. He Xi saw it from a distance. The blast furnace was about three stories high. The entire blast furnace is a complete structure. There is a gentle slope dozens of meters long from one side. A large number of workers pushed carts and poured raw materials into the blast furnace from this gentle slope. Under the blast furnace, there is an opening. When the time is up, pour the molten steel out from below.
Able to operate continuously. Almost non-stop, usually overhauled once a year.
In fact, it is called maintenance. The blast furnace was almost dismantled and rebuilt. It’s very cumbersome anyway.
Ge Tiangong also knows what kind of scenes are attractive. That is the scene of molten steel. So Zhu Yuanzhang was specially brought to the blast furnace where molten steel was about to be produced. But when the time came, an almost naked craftsman shouted and opened the mechanism with an iron rod a few meters away.
But he saw molten steel flying out of the blast furnace. Fall into the mold.
It was already very hot. But at the moment when molten steel is released, almost everyone seems to feel it. There was fire licking his skin. His face turned red.
Even for the sake of safety, Ge Tiangong had already blocked them in a safe area. It's still a bit overwhelming.
Zhu Yuanzhang's face was calm. But people who know him well can see it. He was very shocked.
To be honest, Zhu Yuanzhang has never seen blacksmiths. This has even been seen in blast furnaces in the South. Any stove up to three meters high. It is not beyond Zhu Yuanzhang's imagination. But the blast furnace in front of me has become such a huge thing. Not to mention. The molten steel poured out. More like a flowing flame.
It has an industrial aesthetic.
Let Zhu Yuanzhang truly feel the power of the future.
