Chapter 130: Knead it like iron
Everyone is in place.
After some ceremony, the steam engine started running.
Of course I won’t say much more about the earth-shattering movement of the steam engine. Huang Zicheng drives the steam hammer behind the steam engine. Driven by the steam engine, a piece of iron is like dough, which can be flat or round.
But after a while, the armor will be formed. Delivered to the emperor.
Zhu Yuanzhang pinched the armor with his fingers.
There is still a trace of residual heat from the repeated folding of metal on the hard armor.
Zhu Yuanzhang immediately asked people to pass these armors to the people below. Read them one by one.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Huang Zicheng. How much can the speed of building armor be increased by using these machines?"
Huang Zicheng said: "I can't say yet. After all, this machine has not been fully tested, but in my opinion, it can be improved at least ten times."
In the past, water-powered mechanical forging could also process iron armor, but its speed and capabilities were limited. The power and frequency of a hydraulic forging hammer cannot be compared to one driven by a steam engine. The processed armor is also different.
Others couldn't tell, but Huang Zicheng could also see that the armor was of higher quality, thinner and lighter. Better defense. And it can be cold forged. You need to know about the hydraulic forging hammer. If you want to process it, you need to burn the iron red. Only then can the hammer be hammered down.
Now that this process is omitted, how big of an impact will it bring?
Huang Zicheng couldn't think clearly for a while.
The quality of steel has been greatly improved. He Xi had thought before that it would be possible to forge artillery directly. Such artillery will be lighter and more powerful. Even the kind of infantry artillery that He Xi thought of, which was lightweight and could accompany the army, became possible.
Wait, the speed of processing iron armor has become faster, which is even the least affected item.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "What do you think?"
Fang Xiaoru glanced at a gray-haired veteran. The veteran took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, what do you think is wrong?"
Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes were focused, and he glanced at the prince, Fang Xiaoru. Then he focused on the old minister and said, "Xu Qing, what do you say?"
This veteran minister will retire in the next few years. It can be said that he has been cautious all his life and has been able to avoid many major turmoils since the founding of the People's Republic of China. Come to now. Now that I dare to speak out today, it can be seen that Fang Xiaoru has put in a lot of effort.
The old minister said: "I believe that those who have perseverance have perseverance, and those who want peace in the world will make all people in the world have perseverance. What comes from the fields is also a product. What the machine produces is also a product, and what the craftsmen rely on for their livelihood is also a product. Now, now If one machine comes out, it will be ten times the previous one, and it will take away the property of ten people. If thousands of machines come out, it will take away the property of thousands of people. Therefore, the world is uneasy, and the country is unrest. I think that your majesty should seal this monster and make the world Be safe."
As soon as this statement came out, the people below also started talking about it.
Many people agree.
This is what Fang Xiaoru said, you hit yours and I'll hit mine.
In fact, this veteran has extended many concepts, but this extension was not made by him. It was Fang Xiaoru's explanation.
Constant origin means industry. Fang Xiaoru extended it and interpreted it as a job opportunity. means of livelihood.
Although, Fang Xiaoru's explanation here is one-sided and static.
After all, every industrial revolution will eliminate many job opportunities, but it will also create many job opportunities. Form a dynamic balance of society. But the problem is that it is difficult for those who have been eliminated to get new job opportunities.
It is impossible for them to look at the problem from a holistic macro perspective.
As for the bureaucrats of the Ming Dynasty, they may not be able to see this problem in the first place. Secondly, what if they can see it? Bureaucrats themselves are unwilling to make more changes and create extraneous problems.
Therefore, Fang Xiaoru gained the approval of many people through the words of this old bureaucrat.
Zhu Yuanzhang did not respond, but glanced at Xie Jin. Xie Jin immediately stood up as if his body was on fire and said loudly: "Master Xu's words are wrong. The way of the world, those who follow it will prosper, and those who go against it will perish. , since this thing has appeared and is not used by the imperial court, it must be used by other countries. In the past, when the Han Dynasty defeated the Wuhu, it was the use of iron soldiers. The reason why Rouran, Turks, and Khitans dominated the north was because of the use of iron soldiers. This is why the north is getting stronger day by day. It is due to the humiliation of the Song Dynasty that we have obtained this thing but do not use it now. Why do we get iron soldiers and hold bronze soldiers? It will be a trouble for future generations and make the world laugh."
As He Xi's mouthpiece in the capital, it goes without saying that Xie Jin's position and foundation needless to say. On this occasion, with such words, Jie Jin could not refute, and could not explain to He Xi at all. He couldn't even explain it to Zhu Yuanzhang.
It's just that it's impossible for both parties to draw conclusions based on just one sentence.
So there was a back-and-forth argument.
But Zhu Yuanzhang no longer wanted to listen.
The argument in this situation is not so much about arguing for a result as it is about expressing one's attitude.
Zhu Yuanzhang coughed and said, "Okay."
Everyone fell silent. Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Today, we are here. Huang Zicheng, give this machine to Taiping Iron Works and transfer some people from Beijing. Whatever Beijing can make, Taiping Iron Works must also be able to make."
Huang Zicheng said: "Yes."
Although he said this, deep down in his heart, he secretly said: "Trouble." One trouble is the trouble of transportation. It is just as troublesome to transport this thing into Nanjing City as it is to transport it out. Of course there is no need to say more. Another trouble was the trouble of building a steam engine.
In fact, the technology of Taiping Iron Works has not improved much. Most of them are still at the time when He Xi was at Taiping Iron Works.
This is what He Xi felt. It seems that he is the only one who pulls everyone to carry out scientific research, while others lack the driving force. The technology of today's Taiping Iron Works is already an era behind that of the north, and it is not easy to make up for it.
Zhu Yuanzhang turned around again and greeted the prince. He went straight back to the palace.
——
In the Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "Prince, what do you think?"
The prince said: "My son, I have no opinion."
Zhu Yuanzhang fell into silence and did not speak for a long time. He said: "Prince, you are the prince. How can you not have opinions on such a major world event? You have also read books about the future. There is no need for me to remind you of the significance of steam engines."
The prince remained silent.
In fact, it is now very clear.
With the polarization between the north and the south, if He Xi's so-called reforms before were still hollow, now they are no longer. He Xi already has a set of governance methods and has promoted them. The conflicts between the two parties, from the beginning to the present, have gone from simple and relaxed to the current complex and intense ones.
He placed high demands on his future successor.
The prince was previously worried that the impact of the reform would be too great. He couldn't control the situation. Now this is a reality. Because the prince discovered that no matter what choice he made, it would mean massacre. The prince only had the choice of who to kill, but not the choice not to kill.
And such a situation is something the prince never wants to do.
The prince's heart was never ruthless enough. For the sake of the overall situation of the world, kill a few people. The prince will never show mercy, but he cannot kill a group of people, or even thousands of people.
There was even a kind of resentment deep in the prince's heart. He thought to himself: "I just want to live a peaceful life in peace and contentment. Why are you forcing me to make such a choice?" Although he knew that as the prince and the future heir, this was A choice he couldn't escape.
It’s just that the prince really doesn’t want to choose.
Zhu Yuanzhang said: "I am old. Now my hair is white, my teeth are loose and shaky. Historically, I lived seventy-one years, but now I feel that I will probably not survive that age. This world is yours after all, I won’t force you to do some things, but you must be prepared.”
After hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, the prince kowtowed and said, "The child is unfilial and makes my father worried."
Zhu Yuanzhang said calmly: "You are my son. I don't worry about you, and who do I worry about. But I'm afraid I won't be able to worry about you for long. You have to give me an explanation for some things. What do you want to do?" "
The prince felt extremely ashamed in his heart. His father, who had never said anything soft before, said such words. But the prince said: "Father, I didn't think clearly."
Some people died, but not completely...
