Sun Chuanting obviously couldn't figure this out, so he asked directly: "My lord, is the steam engine really more important than the suppression of thieves?"
In his opinion, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong were the biggest bandits during the Chongzhen period. Now they have been forced to the southwest of the Ming Dynasty. If they continue to work hard, in another year and a half, the bandits may be completely wiped out.
However, at this time, the new Duke had to put down such an important thing and go back to build some kind of steam engine. He really couldn't figure it out!
After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei first smiled slightly, and then waved his hand to ask everyone else in the lobby to leave. Of course, Princess Kunxing was an exception. She could be present no matter what happened.
After there were only three of them left in the lobby, Zhang Mingwei said seriously to Sun Chuanting: "Let's put it this way, the steam engine will change this era. By then, the lifestyle of all of us will be the same as before. There is a very big difference. For example, traveling thousands of miles in a day is just a trivial matter, but traveling thousands of miles in one day is not a problem. Can you imagine?"
"..." Sun Chuanting was dumbfounded when he heard this!
Traveling thousands of miles in a day is just a trivial matter, but traveling thousands of miles in one day is not a problem? This is really beyond his imagination!
At this time, the fastest thing is riding a horse. In the case of eight hundred miles in a hurry, if you change horses without changing people, the time spent in one day and night will only be about five hundred miles.
This means that in Sun Chuanting's opinion, the fastest speed per day and night is only about five hundred miles. The so-called traveling a thousand miles a day is just an exaggeration.
However, now Duke Xingguo actually told him that the so-called steam engine would make traveling thousands of miles a day a trivial matter. Traveling thousands of miles in one day would not be a problem!
To be honest, if Duke Xingguo hadn't said these words, Sun Chuanting would have just stepped forward and slapped him in the face, and he would have done it after he woke up!
Seeing him like this, Zhu Yuyao also had a strong impulse in her heart to bring out the secret she had mastered and continue to shock Sun Chuanting. Because watching others, especially capable people, shocked, is really a pleasure!
So, she continued: "What your husband said is right. Don't be surprised, Governor Sun. It's not surprising that someone can fly thousands of miles a day in the future! When that day comes, if my husband and I return to Beijing, we will set off today. Can reach the capital!"
"..." Sun Chuanting's eyes were a little confused. Hearing the sound, he looked at Zhu Yu'ao and continued to be stunned.
Flying over the Tianshan Mountains has been a dream of mankind since ancient times! Of course, in the end, the only ones who can fly are immortals!
But Princess Kunxing actually said that, how could this be possible?
At this time, to be honest, Sun Chuanting had a strong feeling: Could it be that the Duke and Princess were teasing him?
Because he really couldn't imagine that what the Duke and Princess said could be true?
Zhang Mingwei actually also likes to see celebrities like Sun Chuanting looking shocked. After all, the more famous he is, the harder it is to shock him!
However, everything is done in moderation. Zhang Mingwei looked at it and said with a smile: "Of course, what we just said cannot be realized in the short term. But if you travel day and night, you can see two thousand miles a day in your lifetime." .”
The maximum speed of a steam train is about 110 kilometers per hour, which in twenty-four hours is about 4,880 miles. Of course, this is a mature steam train in later generations.
Zhang Mingwei was a professional in the late Ming Dynasty, and he was determined to master science and technology. Thanks to the seriousness of some readers, he found quite detailed information, so he knew what the structure of a mature steam engine was like.
It shouldn't be much of a problem to mobilize the skilled craftsmen of the Ming Dynasty to build one by hand regardless of the cost. Even if due to various factors, it would be fine to discount it in half, so I quoted two thousand miles a day. Anyway, the train runs along the track, so it can indeed travel day and night.
However, when Sun Chuanting heard what he said at first, he thought it was impossible to realize it, so he felt that he could breathe a sigh of relief. After all, what he heard before was really beyond imagination.
But at the end, when he heard Duke Xingguo say that he could still see the two thousand miles a day in his lifetime, he was a little dumbfounded again.
When Zhu Ainao saw this, she covered her mouth and smiled again.
When Zhang Mingwei heard this, he turned around and glared at her, meaning, you are going too far!
When Zhu Yurao saw it, she turned her head and didn't make a sound, but her shoulders were moving. Still laughing, obviously.
Zhang Mingwei ignored her, turned back, looked at Sun Chuanting, decided to skip this matter, and said to Sun Chuanting: "In short, you only need to know that I returned to Beijing, which is the most important thing. As for suppressing thieves, don't you still have it? ?”
Sun Chuanting came back to his senses and pretended not to see Princess Kunxing. He just looked back at Xingguo Gong and said: "Since the Duke has made a decision, I won't say anything more! The Duke can rest assured about the suppression of thieves. The officer must do his best!"
Compared with that steam engine, Sun Chuanting felt that it was much easier to suppress thieves, at least not beyond imagination.
Unexpectedly, after Zhang Mingwei heard what he said, he suddenly said to him seriously: "As for the remnants of Zhang Xianzhong and Li Zicheng, they are stubborn people, so don't recruit them anymore. But you have to be careful, don't kill them all at once." They were all beaten to death..."
Sun Chuanting was a little surprised when he heard this. To suppress thieves, we should destroy them as soon as possible!
At this time, when he heard that Duke Xingguo had another statement, he pricked up his ears and listened.
Then, as he listened, he felt a little dumbfounded again. Because what Duke Xingguo said once again exceeded his imagination.
He could actually understand what Duke Xingguo said, to drive out these bandits to harm the chieftains and to promote the imperial court to implement all reforms in the southwest of the Ming Dynasty.
However, Duke Xingguo actually said that if possible, he would force these bandits into Dongwu, Annan and other places, and then the imperial army would follow up and bring those places directly under the jurisdiction of the imperial court. This appetite is really too big. , beyond his imagination!
Thinking of this, Sun Chuanting frowned slightly and said: "My lord, these barbarian lands are all barren mountains and harsh waters..."
When he mentioned this, he suddenly remembered that Panzhihua was originally thought of as a land of barren mountains and harsh waters, wasn't it? However, it has now been proven that there is a very large iron mine here and it is a treasure land.
So, after a pause, he changed his words and said: "Even if there are some iron mines, these places are too far away. It is really beyond the reach of the imperial court to take direct jurisdiction! It costs a huge amount of military power, money and food to occupy this place. , is it worth it?”
In fact, when the Ming Dynasty was strong, Dongwu and Annan were both the nominal territories of the Ming Dynasty, but they were just like Xuanweisi. The reason for this is that it is too far away for the court to have direct jurisdiction.
Zhang Mingwei laughed when he heard this. Sun Chuanting was a little confused when he laughed, and then he said: "Don't forget what I want to do when I return to Beijing? By that time, with the improvement of transportation, if you think about it, you can travel two thousand miles a day. So, are Annan and Dongwu still far away?"
"..." When Sun Chuanting heard this, he was immediately speechless.
In fact, since the era of Emperor Qin and Han Wu, the territory of the empire has been basically fixed. It is not that other places are too strong and the imperial army cannot defeat them, but that they are too far away, beyond the jurisdiction of the court, and beyond the reach of the whip.
For thousands of years, there have been no breakthrough changes in transportation, so naturally the territory of the empire has not changed much.
If what Duke Xing Guo said can really come true, then the imperial court's control over border areas will be greatly extended. Annan and Dongwu are no longer too far away!
Thinking of this, Sun Chuanting felt for the first time that if the steam engine mentioned by Duke Xingguo could be built, it would really be much more important than the current suppression of thieves.
Thinking of this, Sun Chuanting suddenly became solemn, and immediately said to Duke Xing sincerely: "As for the steam engine, please leave it to Duke Xing. I don't have to worry about other things. I will definitely live up to Duke Xing's trust!"
Seeing him like this, Zhu Ainao beside her stopped laughing and became serious. She said to Sun Chuanting equally seriously: "Don't worry, my husband will do this. There is absolutely no problem!"
After hearing this, Zhang Mingwei was not modest, but nodded, which made Sun Chuanting's mood rise.
After discussing some details of the suppression of bandits, such as the arrangements for the Duke of Qian in Yunnan, etc., Sun Chuanting stood up and left.
When he was leaving, he had already turned around and walked a few steps. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and solemnly bowed to Duke Xingguo and Princess Kunxing. His expression was serious, and he said sincerely again: "About the steam engine, I'll just wait for the good news!"
It can be seen that Sun Chuanting was unimaginable at the beginning, but now he is eager to see a steam engine.
In response to this, Zhang Mingwei also became serious, nodded seriously and said: "Don't worry, the steam engine will definitely be fine. Just wait and hear the good news!"
………………
Five days later, Zhang Mingwei and Zhu Yuyao left Shu and returned to Beijing. However, instead of crossing the Shu Road and taking the road to Qin, he took a boat from the Yangtze River and went down the river. To reach Jiangxi, he first inspected the glass factory in charge of the prince, and then went north along the Beijing Grand Canal to the capital. .
Of course, there are guards around Zhang Mingwei. Not to mention the ones in the lead, there were ten official ships accompanying them. Zhang Luofu led 500 elite soldiers from the capital to accompany them, and Liu Jin led 100 Jinyi guards to protect them.
At the same time, Li Dingguo, Liu Wenxiu, Li Guo, Gao Yigong and others had to cross the Shu Road and first go to the important town of Jiubian. After resting and recuperating, the cavalry troops would go out and sweep the grasslands to eliminate the Mongol Tatar accomplices who had built the captives. Then go to Liaodong to report.
Judging from the time, if all goes well, by the time they arrive at Shanhaiguan, Zhang Mingwei and Princess Kunxing will have almost arrived in the capital.
