Mao Wenlong's questioning made Xin Wei speechless, the steam engine was not driven by a boiler, it was a pile of scrap iron. Looking back on the years when I was buried in the research of the steam engine, but I ignored the boiler, the stupidity of putting the cart before the horse is indeed very stupid.

Xin Wei's embarrassment was completely seen by Mao Wenlong, and he shook his head helplessly and smiled bitterly: "In the future, spend more effort on the construction of the boiler, only by perfecting the boiler, the steam engine can be useful." The meal has to be eaten one bite at a time, and some things still follow the rules, and the delusion of reaching the sky in one step will only be empty in the end. ”

"The general soldier's teachings are yes, and the subordinate officers have remembered them." Xin Wei didn't dare to refute anything, and obediently accepted Mao Wenlong's teachings.

Waving his hand, Mao Wenlong didn't want to hit Xin Wei too much, so he erased the matter and didn't mention it again, and said, "Now take me to see the steam engine." ”

Xin Wei didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly returned the salute and agreed, and then led Mao Wenlong in front.

Although the construction of boilers and steam engines cannot be carried out simultaneously, there are still two that can be used. Mao Wenlong believes that as long as the first steam engine can be used, the future boiler construction will be on the right track and begin to enter the stage of industrialization. Many procedures that are difficult to complete by hand can be replaced by boiler steam engines.

If a steamer-powered ship could really be built, then Mao Wenlong's plan to seize minerals could be carried out, otherwise, everything would be empty talk. Therefore, the success or failure of the steam engine is very important.

The concrete building was empty, and the floor was full of rough iron parts. Today's colleges don't have access to electricity, and the oil lamps are still used for lighting. In the dim and confined space, only the footsteps of the two echoed as they walked inside.

If you are a coward, if you walk alone in this, you will probably be scared half to death. Even Mao Wenlong had some heart palpitations at the moment, listening to the echoing footsteps in his ears, he always felt that someone seemed to be staring at him behind him.

Fortunately, this situation did not last long, and Xin Wei, who looked self-assured, quickly took Mao Wenlong into a bright hall.

The sudden light made Mao Wenlong's eyes a little uncomfortable, and after closing his eyes for a while, Mao Wenlong opened his eyes again to get used to it. As far as Mao Wenlong could see, he saw a group of people busy.

"General soldier, this is the place where the steam engine is forged......" Xin Wei opened his mouth to introduce Mao Wenlong.

At this time, seeing the arrival of the two people, three people suddenly walked in the hall, and the middle-aged man walking in the middle was burly, and after he leaned over, he bowed to Xin Wei: "Dean." ”

Xin Wei nodded, and then pulled the man to face Mao Wenlong and introduced: "Chief soldier, this is my closed disciple Zhang Kui, who is now in charge of the development of steam engines. ”

Hearing that the young man in front of him was Mao Wenlong, the first legend of the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Kui was very surprised! He didn't dare to slack off, and immediately saluted again: "Zhang Kui has seen the chief soldier. ”

Mao Wenlong looked at Zhang Kui carefully and found that he did look talented, but he was very curious. Aren't the so-called scientific researchers in later generations all skinny, but the Zhang Kui in front of him looks like a majestic general on the battlefield, and he doesn't have the appearance that a scientific researcher should have.

is such a man, Mao Wenlong can't imagine what he should look like when he works? Although Mao Wenlong was skeptical of Zhang Kui in his heart, he would not make a subjective conclusion when he had not seen it with his own eyes. And looking at Xin Wei's expression, this Zhang Kui is obviously deeply loved by him, and for all reasons, Mao Wenlong feels that Xin Wei does not dare to deceive himself.

"No excuses, let's go see the steam engine first." Seeing is believing, as long as the steam engine is built, all other suspicions are floating clouds.

Zhang Kui glanced back at Xin Wei and saw that the latter was nodding at him. He did not dare to slack off, and immediately turned to lead the way in front, bypassing the busy hall to a room that looked like a warehouse in the back.

The room seemed to be not small, but after the door was opened, it was very dim, and Mao Wenlong's vision could only see the distance of about ten meters in front of him. Zhang Kui was very quick, took out the fire fold from his arms, and quickly lit the oil lamp on the wall in the room.

As the oil lamps were lit one after another, the room began to brighten. At this time, Mao Wenlong saw a huge iron lump stacked in the center of the room?

Indeed, in Mao Wenlong's eyes, what he saw was obviously a huge iron lump. If this is Xin Wei's proud steam engine, then Mao Wenlong should seriously doubt that this iron bump can really operate at this moment?

"This is the steam engine?" Mao Wenlong pointed to the pile of iron lumps and asked Xin Wei.

"Chief soldier, this is the steam engine that has been built by more than 200 of us after more than three years." Xin Wei didn't see that Mao Wenlong's face was wrong at the moment, he only cared about himself immersed in pride.

Zhang Kui lit all the lights in the room and walked over quickly. He saw Mao Wenlong's skeptical expression, so he arched his hand and explained: "Chief soldier, the appearance of this thing is indeed very different from the drawings you drew earlier. However, the parts inside are exactly the same, because of the process problems of construction, this steam engine is several times larger than the previous design of the general soldier. ”

After listening to Zhang Kui's explanation, Mao Wenlong was a little relieved, and it was true that completely handmade things could not be too accurate. And it is much easier to build a steam engine by enlarging it.

After being relieved, Mao Wenlong couldn't wait, according to his eyesight, the steam engine in front of him was so huge. If a boiler can be built to match, then building a steam engine-powered warship will not be a dream.

"How long will it take for this thing to be tried?" Mao Wenlong couldn't wait to ask.

Zhang Kui did not respond this time, but looked at Xin Wei, who pondered for a moment, stretched out a finger and said, "It will take another month at the earliest, General Soldier." ”

Xin Wei was also very helpless, after all, he was even more anxious than Mao Wenlong at the moment to see the steam engine in front of him running. It's a pity that the completely hand-built program is fast anyway. And the most time-consuming is the smooth grinding of the interior, in the absence of mechanical substitution, it is simply not fast to think fast.

"One month ......"

Mao Wenlong frowned, obviously very dissatisfied with such an answer. He stepped forward to inspect it, compared it with the drawings posted on the wall, and said in a deep voice, "Isn't this thing all built now?" Does it take a month to assemble alone? ”