The steam engine is naturally not so easy to build, although most of the students who have studied in junior high and high school in later generations know its principle, and the current materials of Datang can basically meet the needs of making it.

However, it is one thing to understand the principle, and it is another thing to make it and then apply it to practice.

What is more depressing is that Sun Xiangfu has returned most of this science knowledge to his teachers, so the various research institutes can only explore and create some things in the direction he specified under the vague ideas he provided, and these things are now the things that the junior high school students in Jiuyuan County School like to fiddle with the most.

Perhaps, after Li Shimin truly dominates the world, this thing has not yet been made, and it is possible that a talented person who can draw inferences in this area will soon be able to get it out.

In later generations, from the end of the 16th century when the first working model of the steam engine came out, to the end of the 17th century to finally build a steam engine that could be used in a wide range of industries, it took about a hundred years, from the beginning of the eighteenth century for more than a hundred years, the British gradually manufactured the textile machine, ships, locomotives, and even locomotives driven by the steam engine, these things, let them quickly accumulate capital, and eventually became a world power.

However, Sun Xiangfu knew that in the first nearly 100 years of slow development, in fact, there was a long period of gap, Sawelli made a vacuum pump for mine drainage in 1698, while Watt, 66 years later, in 1764, began to study the transformation of the steam engine, and he only took a year to transform it into a more modern version that could be widely used in industry.

Then, in Sun Xiangfu's view, it is not difficult to use its principle to make a working model machine and simple pumping equipment, and even to transform it into a model machine suitable for industry, it is not very difficult, as long as a large number of people are gathered to do research, it can be done in two or three years at most, and the difficult thing is how to apply it scientifically to various industries and actually create benefits for the country.

Even the eighteenth century of Britain, it took about a hundred years to be able to apply it well, although the current level of industrial manufacturing in the Tang Dynasty has been greatly improved, slightly more than the later Song and Ming dynasties, but it is certainly not as strong as the eighteenth century Britain, at most with the Qing Dynasty of the same period, do some firecrackers, artillery and the like, there is no problem, but large steam vehicles, I'm afraid it's not good.

Then, if you really want to realize the industrial application of the steam engine, it will take at least a few decades.

After all, Datang needs enough time to effectively manage the land and people included in the territory, at the very least, to cultivate enough officials to govern these places.

So, time allows it to slow down.

Now that Sun Xiangfu knows that he will eventually come to this point, then he can suggest Li Shimin in advance to make some preparations in this regard, at least when mobilizing the people of the Western Regions to flow into the Anxi Metropolitan Protectorate and build the cement road from Broken Leaf City to Guanzhong, the roadbed of the railway will also be set aside, maybe a figure comparable to Watt will emerge in Datang that day, quickly get it done and put it into practical application!

The foresight of the traverser determined that Sun Xiangfu would not passively wait for the appearance of Watt of the Tang Dynasty, he took out this matter and told Li Shimin, that is, he wanted to mobilize all the skilled craftsmen at the national level, gather everyone's top wisdom, and do special research.

Therefore, soon there will be a team based on the junior high school students of Jiuyuan County School, assisted by top skilled craftsmen from all walks of life in Datang, established in Weinan, after that, they will specialize in the research and development and application of steam engines.

Of course, Li Shimin didn't just come to him to ask for advice, he relied on Sun Xiangfu the most, or his agricultural talent.

"I originally wanted you to go to Liaodong to replace Hongshen, but at the moment, I'm afraid it won't work, you have too many things to do in agricultural planting, and you can't get away for the time being, if you can't solve the problem of more people eating, we Datang will not be able to achieve unification."

Therefore, in the next few years, you will have a heavy task, in addition to continuing to study rice, you must also improve the varieties of new crops and spread them to the whole country, at least in places like Tammoda, where there is a large food shortage, you need to grow high-yield food.

Later, I will give you a festival that can be used throughout the country, and you can hold this festival to gather the people in any state and county in the country, impart the knowledge of farming, and you can recruit the local people, and develop and plant specific crops where you think it is feasible, and I will see some results within three to five years, and within ten years, the cultivation level of the people of the whole country will not be inferior to that of the present Guanzhong. ”

"Your Honor." Sun Xiangfu bowed his hand and saluted.

Passing through the country's festivals, and has the right to expropriate the country's people, land, which is almost the greatest extent to give Sun Xiangfu the convenience of promoting farming technology, with it in hand, Sun Xiangfu went anywhere in the country, the local government has to receive him with the specifications of the Qincha, in agriculture, absolutely obey his orders, it can be said that the power can not be higher.

"In addition, if you walk in the place, if you meet a virtuous person who can take on great responsibilities, you can recommend them to the imperial court, and there will be appointments." After Sun Xiangfu got off the errand, Li Shimin said with a sad face.

Sun Xiangfu only remembered at this time that Li Shimin had just said that he would replace Zhang Gongjin, and asked, "Hongshen Gong is in Liaodong, isn't he managing his rule very well, how could His Majesty think of removing him?" ”

Li Shimin sighed and said, "Hong Shen can be civil and martial, has a view of the overall situation, and is naturally a good handsome man on the side of the town, but his body is getting worse, if I don't recall him for treatment in time, I'm afraid, I won't last long." In addition, Keming, Shubao, Zhenghui and other old ministers, their health is also deteriorating, I can't watch them die of exhaustion, the stalls of the imperial court are getting bigger and bigger, and there is still too little talent to be able to head the town. ”

Seeing that Li Shimin didn't even mention Wu Shitong, a patient with high blood pressure, and Wen Yanbo, who was dizzy at every turn, it can be seen how bad the health of these people is.

In history, Du Ruhui and Zhang Gongjin, Wu Shi Tong have passed away during this period, Liu Zhenghui, who is currently the head of Huainan Province, will die this year, and Qin Qiong will almost start to stay in bed this year, dragging on for two or three years, and Wen Yanbo died at about the same time.

And because Sun Xiangfu, a traverser, fanned wildly, greatly changed history, and made their lives deviate greatly from history, in terms of living environment, diet, and medical conditions, at least one or two levels higher than in history, which led to a certain degree of change in their fate, at least they are not dead yet.

But many causes and effects were planted before Sun Xiangfu crossed over, such as Qin Qiong's body, and the degree to which he could change such a thing was very small.

Now, due to the expansion of all aspects, the Tang Dynasty needs too many commander-in-chief talents, there are 14 state roads alone, two large capital protectorates, and in terms of military affairs, there are 20 group armies, plus 100,000 Nanya forbidden troops who are not in the establishment of foreign battles, and Chang'an, Jiangling hundreds of thousands of city guards, as well as ten hall officials, and the big man in charge of the overall planning of the country. The population will be larger.

Therefore, Li Shimin is now eager to seek talents, and he likes Sun Xiangfu's talents, that is, talents who can do practical things, so he remembered to ask Sun Xiangfu to recommend some.

Generally speaking, Li Shimin still misses the old ministers who helped him a lot in the process of achieving his great cause, and when he reminded him like this, Sun Xiangfu remembered that he hadn't visited Qin Qiong for a long time, and at this time, he should also be in Jiangling City, and he would visit him another day.

However, when it comes to talents, Datang is not without it, Sun Xiangfu quickly thought of a young and strong person who could replace Zhang Gongjin, and said, "If you raise one person, you can protect the land of Liaodong without worry." ”

Li Shimin smiled when he heard this, "Hehe, you have been in the dynasty for many years, and you have talents, and you have always recruited your subordinates, I guess, the person you recommended is Su Dingfang, who originally commanded the Anbei Army under you!" ”

was guessed by Li Shimin, Sun Xiangfu didn't blush at all, his subordinates have no talents, how to do things? This is all due to the needs of previous work.

Su Dingfang is a good military commander-type talent, inherited more than eighty percent of Li Jing's ability to command troops, was born in the grassroots class, and will never do anything to harm the people, let him sit in Liaodong and ensure the stability of the party, it must be more than enough.

Yes, Sun Xiangfu put away the embarrassment of being guessed, and nodded with a straight face, "Exactly, this person is rigorous in governing the army, strong in martial arts, and in the battle of Liaodong, he performed brilliantly, and his military achievements are impressive, and the leaders of all the tribes are convinced of him, and in terms of prestige, it is enough to take charge of the town, but if he is the governor of the capital, he must not only manage the military, but also manage the civil affairs, he has never been in charge of civil affairs, in this regard, whether he can take care of it well, it is not yet known, His Majesty can send him a long history in charge of civil affairs." ”

Hearing this, Li Shimin nodded and said, "Well, in fact, before, Hongshen also recommended him to me, this time he came to Jiangling, it was to leave Su Dingfang in Liaodong to take charge of the place, I will let Hongshen go directly to Shanyang for treatment, and ordered Su Dingfang to take over on the spot, as for the long history!" There are a few candidates available, and I will consider it again. ”

The court wants to say that the grade has reached this position, in fact, it is Chu Suiliang, Yuwenjie, Zhang Xingcheng, these people who served as long history and assassin history in the capital of Anbei Metropolitan Protectorate, in addition, there is a younger echelon, that is, Shangguanyi, Liu Yong, Li Yifu, Laiji, Laiheng and other people are only in their twenties, and they have already mixed with the level of Zhongshusheren, and they can usually contact the central affairs.

Seeing that Li Shimin was a little entangled, I was afraid that he would send these younger people, because, letting Chu Suiliang, Yuwenjie, and Zhang Xingcheng go, it was a bit of a waste, with their official experience, the next step is not the position of the ten Shangshu, or the position of the governor of the state road, after all, the imperial court is now a top-level official, and the gap is too big.

After Sun Xiangfu hesitated for a moment, he put forward some of the thoughts he already had in his heart and said, "Your Majesty, sending one person to the town of one state road to manage the army and the people is not a long-term solution, if the opportunity is right, it should be reformed." ”

"This, I am also considering, at present, it can only be like this, I want to manage all the places like Guanzhong, Shannan Province is so meticulous, it takes too many officials, I am afraid, at least two or three imperial examinations, can it be done. However, since Masaaki has put it forward, what good suggestions do you have? Li Shimin asked helplessly.

Several border towns in the Tang Dynasty have the characteristics of large territory, large population, and far away from the center, Andong, Anxi, Lingnan Road, and Nanzhong, if the chief official of any place has a different heart, it is not so easy to control, at least a national campaign of hundreds of thousands of people must be opened to quell it, sometimes, it is not how much the people want to rebel, but the current officials are too powerful, which stimulates their ambitions, and then, they will use various means to incite the people to rebel with themselves.

The Tang Dynasty in history was heavy on the outside and light on the inside, which led to the Anshi Rebellion, the situation of the division of feudal towns, and the decline from prosperity to decline. Not necessarily, but the current management of the festival makes An Lushan and Shi Siming easily let their subordinate troops and people follow him, this is because after they take charge of the local area, they have the final say in the local area, and the bad aspects are all the blame of the court and the emperor, and the good aspects are their own credit.

When the Tang Dynasty is strong to a certain extent, the outside can't defeat it at all, but the inside can easily destroy it and make it decline. Under normal circumstances, as long as the people in power do not die, they will not die, and it is often internal corruption, land annexation and other problems that harm the entire nation.

Sun Xiangfu smiled and said, "Just now the minister said that relying on science and technology can help rule, in fact, when dealing with such a problem, it still works, the center, in addition to the system of separating the military and the government from the border towns, also needs to maintain absolute military superiority over the border towns, so that they can't afford to rebel." ”

In later generations, a big country, the president usually grasps the nuclear button, this is the absolute advantage of force, on the other hand, the Tang Dynasty, the sergeants in the border towns, the equipment is no different from the center, all of them are ironclad steel knives, and they also occupy a certain advantage over the center, that is, horses, ships, they can have a stronger advantage in terms of mobility than the center, after all, Guanzhong is full of fields and forests, it is impossible to raise too many horses, and the high-quality horses of Anxi Dadu Hufu, Andong Dadu Hufu, Dingxiang Road are ten times more than Guanzhong, Lingnan's sea ships, It is also several times more than Guanzhong, not to mention the fire on all sides, there is a rebellion in one direction, and it is difficult for the center of the court to quickly control the situation, and it is easy to get out of control.

"Absolutely, so that they can't afford the military superiority of the rebellious heart? You mean gunpowder, which I shouldn't have equipped with the armies of the border towns? Li Shimin roughly figured out this question.

Sun Xiangfu nodded and replied, "If it is not necessary, there is really no need to equip the border towns, even if it is equipped, it is a very small amount of equipment, which can ensure that it can play a decisive defensive role." The absolute superiority in force mentioned by the minister is similar to the application of gunpowder and hot air balloons, and some more advanced military application techniques.

Your Majesty, the role of gunpowder, it is not ignition, explosion, so simple, from the perspective of science and technology, in fact, you can use its instantaneous combustion impact, and blasting ability, to make a lot of powerful weapons that the sword, gun and armor military array can not fight at all, the imperial court only needs to develop such a weapon, to ensure that the center has an army equipped, can use this high-end weapon, can maintain the crushing of the border town, and how to use gunpowder to make more advanced weapons, it needs a variety of science and technology to do research and advancement. ”

Sun Xiangfu does not think that Li Yuhua can rely on black, fire, medicine, to make artillery, rockets and the like, in fact, so far, after knowing its explosive intensity, it is focused on production, making explosives, medicine, bags, and explosives, medicine, canisters and the like, these things, in terms of momentum, are indeed not weak, but the actual effect, but not necessarily how strong, the Song Dynasty has a firearms prison, but has been defeated by the Liao, Jin, and Mongols.

The Ming Dynasty had a large number of artillery equipment, but it was suppressed and beaten by the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and finally the capital was broken by the peasant uprising, which is the reason why they did not really give full play to the power of firearms.

Artillery, and even weapons such as muskets, must be smelted technology, combined with mathematics, physics and other knowledge, in order to make things, if he is allowed to develop passively, I am afraid that one or two hundred years later, it will still be the same as it is now, but if he is handed over to students like Jiuyuan County who have mastered more advanced mathematics and physics knowledge to take the initiative to study, in fact, it will not take long for it to achieve progress, and continue to improve.

As long as the center of the Tang Dynasty guarantees absolute military superiority over the border towns, then after the unification is realized, it can maintain absolute rule over the world for at least a few decades, as long as there are two or three generations, it is enough for all people in Eurasia to enter an era of common Chinese characters and Chinese, after all, in the current world environment, it is the Tang Dynasty, which attaches great importance to culture and education, and has just achieved a literacy rate of more than one into five, not to mention those Western Regions countries whose civilization is far behind the Tang Dynasty, and now teach them to learn Chinese, The difficulty of Chinese characters is actually the same as the difficulty of teaching the local ethnic minorities in Datang, as long as they are willing to spend some money, it generally only takes two or three years to produce results.