Chapter 122: Abandoning the Lucky Boat See Zheng Zhilong

After Zhang Zhimu and the others enjoyed the delicacies of the Lin family at the Lin family, they took several small boats to the dock.

Zhang Zhimu saw that it should have been a very large shipyard here, and there were two large docks that could build first-class ships, and there were as many as seven or eight docks that could build other lucky ships. It can be seen how brilliant the shipyard should have been in its heyday.

Also, the original fortune ship is famous all over the world, and it is close to the former largest port in the East, and there are not enough fortune ships at that time. Especially here near the Jinjiang River, those shipbuilding, difficult to transport large timber can be easily transported to this dock by water. The rise of shipbuilding here also has its inevitability. It seems that shipbuilding here is very traditional. No wonder in the previous life, Fujian people built beach boats everywhere. Those pit people's beach boats are Fujianese without any qualifications, without docks, and low-cost contracts for shipbuilding, just on the beach, temporarily hiring people to make boats made of those inferior steel. A friend of mine bought a beach boat cheaply and had no insurance, but he had an accident at sea and broke his family. However, at this time, the ** lucky ship that Zhang Zhimu saw was definitely a big ship with perfect materials and workmanship.

Here, there are more than 20 members of the Lin family guarding the ship, they are afraid that the wood on the ship will dry up, so they have to water the boat every day. At the same time, it is here to guard against outsiders from approaching the ship.

Compared to this giant ship, the people under the ship seem very small.

Around the dock, many people are already repairing the road, and many simple shacks have been built on the side of the large dock. There are also a lot of wooden barrels, which must be tung oil used for shipbuilding. It seems that Zheng Zhilong's people are really going to start renovating this ship.

Seeing that Lin Zongwei had brought someone over, the Lin family was in charge here, so he ran over to give him a salute and said, "Master Lin, you can come back." If you don't come back, we won't be able to stop you. You see the huts they built, and the materials that they brought in. Those who built the road were all members of the Zheng family. They had to get on the boat several times, and we had to fight with them to stop them. ”

Lin Zongwei was also a little excited when he saw them and said, "Okay, don't be afraid. I will remember what you have done for our Lin family. ”

"Master Lin, take a look at the ship! Hearing the letter you brought back, we are all more attentive to protecting this boat. ”

Zhang Zhimu and the others looked around the dock, and then followed Lin Zongwei along the wooden ladder to board the ** lucky ship. In fact, the ship has been almost built. Zhang Zhimu asked Lin Zongwei: "How long will it take if we continue to renovate this ship?" ”

"I have discussed this matter with Mr. Lu Bingyi before. Even if the engines are delivered, it will take seven or eight months to do it no matter how fast it is. Because structural transformation is a big deal. We need to disembowel the ship, and then we need to strengthen several places to install the steam engine and boiler. ”

"What if you don't modify the steam engine and just finish it?"

Lin Zongwei thought for a moment and said, "We need two to three months to prepare materials and personnel, and another two or three months." ”

"What if Zheng Zhilong and the others continue to complete this ship?" Zhang Zhimu asked.

"Their Zheng family has a shipyard elsewhere, and the materials and personnel used don't need to be prepared, and they can be built in three or four months." Lin Zongwei replied.

"Do you have the drawings for this ship?"

"Absolutely. Wherever changes have been made, they should be marked. In the past, the shipbuilding acceptance of our Ming Dynasty was very strict, and any changes had to be signed by many people. Lin Zongwei said.

Lu Bingyi: They had never seen such a big ship before, but this time they had seen enough inside and out. After seeing the ship, Zhang Zhimu asked Lin Zongwei: "Is this shipyard your Lin family now?" ”

"Yes! When the officials of the imperial court left, they gave me this shipyard as a material payment for our family, and the procedures issued by the imperial court were in my house. Maybe they also feel sorry for our family, but they can do it okay. Lin Zongwei said.

"How long will it take you to build a new ship like this?" Zhang Zhimu asked Lin Zongwei.

"It's hard to say, if the materials are ready. The personnel are also neat, and it can be built in a year and a half. If something doesn't go well, it's delayed. It's been him for two or three years. "Lin Zongwei.

Just when Zhang Zhimu and the others finished watching the ship and were about to return to the Lin family, a person from the Zheng family came and gave Lin Zongwei a salute and said, "Master Lin, I am the supervisor of the ship sent here by the Zheng family. My lord said, after seeing you, please go to Nan'an, there is something to discuss with you! ”

"This is our Lin family's ship, where do you need to send someone to supervise it?" Lin Zongwei said indignantly.

"Master Lin, you are angry. I'm also a descendant of the Zheng family, you should talk to our master about the ship! "It's still very polite to come.

Back at the Lin family, Zhang Zhimu had made up his mind. Everyone sat around and drank the authentic Anxi Tieguanyin for a while, Zhang Zhimu said: "It is said that one side of the water and soil raises one side of the people." I think one side of tea should also be paired with one side of water. This Tieguanyin, when we go back to the north to drink, we can't drink the taste here. ”

Li Mao said: "There is no way, the water in our north is hard." No tea can drink this kind of moisturizing. ”

Zhang Zhimu felt that it was time to get to the point, and said: "The main purpose of our visit to Quanzhou this time is to come to this **lucky ship." But I have an idea now, and we'll all discuss it. ”

After taking a sip of tea, Zhang Zhimu said: "First, I see Mr. Lin, don't be angry with the Zheng family. I think you should go to Nan'an to meet Zheng Zhilong, and if he can really give you twenty-five taels of silver, you will give him this ship. Even a little less is fine. ”

As soon as Lin Zongwei heard about it: "Mr. Zhang, our Lin family will never see them give more money and get rich." ”

"No, no, you misunderstood, Mr. Lin. You let me finish my sentence. Zhang Zhimu stopped Lin Zongwei and said, "Second, I think this shipyard has been abandoned. I saw that rice was starting to be planted all around. It's better to do this, after the Zheng family builds this ship, I will give you 300,000 taels of silver. You sell this shipyard to our kiln gang. ”

"No, no, Mr. Zhang. That's not going to work. You can choose a random place around here and build a shipyard like this, and it won't cost tens of thousands of taels of silver. How can a place like mine ask you for so much silver? This place, you can use it. Lin Zongwei hurriedly said.

"Mr. Lin, listen to me. First of all, it would be irrational for us to go against Zheng Zhilong now. If we had to rebuild this ship ourselves, without a single division of troops guarding here, we would have no way to guarantee that we would not be interfered with by Zheng Zhilong and them. Moreover, it is not an easy thing to ensure the continuous supply of such an army, and it is likely that it will be necessary to engage in a head-on battle with Zheng Zhilong's fleet. Also, we need this ship, and if we start rebuilding it, it will be at least a year from now. As you can see, the ship is almost finished, and we need to make a lot of changes to retrofit it. I think it would be better for us to build a ship again according to our needs, and we can think about the installation of boilers and steam engines at the same time as we build ships. Let's see if it's better like this? Zhang Zhimu explained seriously.

"Regarding the ship, I think Mr. Zhang thinks about it comprehensively, but the shipyard ......" Lin Zongwei felt that Zhang Zhimu had some truth in what he said.

"That's right. I fancy this shipyard. The location and the condition of the dock are suitable for the transformation into a large shipyard. Today I asked Mr. Lin that it will take a year and a half to build a new ship. However, if we buy this shipyard and build a power plant here, we will also build infrastructure such as gantry cranes next to the dockyard. So can the speed of shipbuilding be much faster? Zhang Zhimu said.

"Mr. Zhang, if there is such a big deal, then the speed of shipbuilding will of course be much faster. In the past, it would take us many days to lift a large log into position, but if we had a gantry crane, it would not be a problem. But to be honest, if you give us 100,000 taels of silver in this shipyard, it's already a lot of money. ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "Mr. Lin, I want to buy all the land near this shipyard. You're welcome when it comes to silver. But there is one thing, we have to buy this shipyard, don't say it. When we start to build here on a large scale, we will also have the energy to play with Zheng Zhilong. ”

"I very much agree with Mr. Zhang's idea. Our top priority is to build that steel-hulled ship at Lingshui Wharf and build our 130 cannon. Things need to be slowed down here so as not to affect the business of our branch here. Li Mao agrees with Zhang Zhimu's sanity very much.

Everyone also agreed with Zhang Zhimu's opinion.

Zhang Zhimu said: "Mr. Lin, if we want to build a large shipyard here, we need to make some preparations in advance. The most important thing is personnel preparation. I think Zheng Zhilong and they are building ships here, and it is impossible to completely use the people they brought themselves. They're going to hire some of you. Last time you told me that you didn't build ships here for many years, and many craftsmen have left. You can take advantage of this opportunity to get your own people into the shipyard and learn the art of shipbuilding. Another thing, Mr. Lin also knows, we can't build ships here exactly like you. We will use a lot of new jobs such as machining, welding, electrician, lifting and so on. However, we northerners are not suitable for the climate here, and it is not realistic to work here for a long time, so we need to recruit a large number of personnel here to study and train in the kiln gang, and when the conditions are ripe, we can take them back to Quanzhou. ”

Lu Bingyi said: "Yes! We don't just want to recruit trainees here, we can recruit workers as well. ”

Li Mao said: "There are many people here who have traveled abroad and are fluent in various Chinese languages, and we should hire them to be teachers at the kiln post with high salaries, and we should also prepare for general affairs in advance." ”

"Yes, yes! Li Gongzi's words reminded me. I think, Mr. Lu, we are determined to build a language college. Specialized in training talents who are fluent in various Chinese languages and many of our local languages. Now we have Mongolian teachers in our kiln, and we can hire people who are fluent in Western, Nanyang and other Chinese languages to our kiln. Zhang Zhimu said.

Li Yunhe said: "I think there are two things that need to be done here. One is to draw the plan of this shipyard and make a preliminary plan for the future. That way, when we go back, we have something to prepare. For example, the size of the gantry crane, the location and scale of the power plant, and so on. Another is that we should take advantage of the opportunity to have a ready-made ship in front of us, and refer to the general design of what our future steam ship will look like, where to put the boiler, where to put the steam engine, where to put the generator, and so on. ”

Lu Bingyi said: "Yunhe is right, with such a physical object, it is much more intuitive than us according to the drawings. ”

Zhang Zhimu also said: "Yes, my suggestion is that since we are here." With Mr. Lin's delicious food and drink, we roughly designed two such large ships. One was to remove all the sails and rigging and build a large ship powered entirely by a steam engine; The other is a steamship with sails. ”

Lin Zongwei said: "Mr. Zhang, such a large ship is mainly to go to the ocean, but if the ocean is completely sailed by a steam engine, how much coal does it need to carry." If you can't borrow sails, the cost of sailing will be very high. ”

"This matter can be said from two points. One is that a ship without sails has a maneuverability that sailboats cannot match. Such a ship does not have to wait for the wind direction to be suitable. The degree of freedom of travel will be greatly increased. Besides, in the future we will also be able to combine steamships and sailing ships, and ships without sails can use their flexibility as specialized warships to cover other sailing ships. Zhang Zhimu explained.

In the end, Lin Zongwei said: "Since it has been agreed, I will go to Nan'an tomorrow to visit Lord Zheng Zhilong." When I came back, I did my best to recruit people, and it would be nice to find more people this time. In the future, if there are those who are willing to go to Shanxi, they can also let them go to Yangzhou or Huai'an by themselves, and we will arrange a boat to take them to Yaogang. ”

Lu Bingyi and Li Yunhe are going to stay here for the past two days to design the ship and the shipyard. Zhang Zhimu wanted to go back to Quanzhou to have a good look.

Lu Chengxiang, who stayed in Quanzhou Port, had already helped Lu Qi rent a ship back to Sulu, and the goods brought to Lu Qi from Yaogang and Yangzhou were being moved from the two ships in Yaogang to this ship back to Sulu.

Zhang Zhimu also came to the dock with great interest to watch the workers carrying goods. At this time, Lu Qi asked Zhang Zhimu, "Mr. Zhang, when will we have our own sailing ship?" ”

"Don't worry, it won't be long before it happens."

"Mr. Zhang, if we had our own ship, the business would be much easier. We can go around all the wharves in the South Seas, and we will sell the goods wherever they can be sold at a good price. Lu Qi said.

"Lu Qi! After you return to Nanyang, I don't care how much money you earn, but I will do what I have taught you. The first thing is to get as much rubber as possible; The second is to let you buy an island where you can park big boats; And take a good look at which island has more guano on it? The first time our own ship goes out to sea, it will be to carry guano. You know? Zhang Zhimu said.

"Don't worry! Mr. Zhang. I've remembered all these things. ”

"We also have to find a way to help me invite back a few Nanyang speakers, they must be able to speak and write, we need them to come back to us as masters. Remember to hire for a high salary. Zhang Zhimu commanded.

Just in time for the wind, the next afternoon, the boat that Lu Qi and the others rented immediately set sail and left. Zhang Zhimu and Lu Chengxiang were on the dock, looking at the sail shadow in the distance, and their mood was very uneasy. People like Lu Qi, if they didn't have such an opportunity, plus they themselves dared to break in, stay in Shanxi, and say that they would be able to mix with a small shopkeeper. But look at this Lu Qi who just left, he is already able to take on a big responsibility.

Lu Chengxiang was also very satisfied with Lu Qi, but he was embarrassed to say to himself, "Mr. Zhang! Thanks to you for giving Lu Qi the opportunity to break through, my brother looked at me differently this time. I've brought their children to a good place! ”

Zhang Zhimu said: "It should be said that Lu Qi himself is also very competitive, give them a chance, and they can catch it." I think that next time Lu Qi and them come back, we will send some more people to Lu Qi to go over and let them make more trips in Nanyang. In the future, we will be able to export more and more things from the South Seas. ”

Zhang Zhimu and Lu Chengxiang were chatting on the dock, and the people from the branch came and said, "Mr. Lin Zongwei is here, please go back." ”

Zhang Zhimu said to Lu Chengxiang: "I just want to hear how Lin Zongwei and Zheng Zhilong are talking. Let's hurry back. ”

Zhang Zhimu and Lu Chengxiang returned to the branch, Lin Zongwei and Yan Boju were drinking tea and chatting here, and when they saw Zhang Zhimu coming back, they quickly stood up and said, "Mr. Zhang, I am talking to Mr. Yan about this." Zheng Zhilong is coming over in the next two days, and he said that he really wants to meet you. ”

"Ou! Sit down and say. Zheng Zhilong wants to meet me? Come on, I want to meet this legend too. To be honest, this person has done a lot of bad things and a lot of good things. We shouldn't fall out with him just yet. Zhang Zhimu said: "Tell me about your own ship?" ”

"It took a little bit of trouble, but it was finally done." After Lin Zongwei sat down, he said, "When you go back to Quanzhou, I will hire a boat to go upriver to Nan'an." But I waited for two days when I arrived in Nan'an before I saw Zheng Zhilong in the small court of Nan'an. Maybe our Lin family still has a little reputation, Zheng Zhilong is very polite to me. He said, Mr. Lin, please don't be angry. If you're not at home, I'll make the decision for you, and I'm going to buy your lucky ship. I heard that your family has been guarding this ship for more than ten years, and I really admire it. So I said to them, no matter what, no matter how much money it costs, you must get this ship into the water. ”

Yan Boju said: "You didn't ask him, I have been in Quanzhou for so many years, why didn't you let this ship go into the water?" ”

"If you say that, you can't do anything. I said that after I arrived in Yaogang, Shanxi, Zhang Dongjia from Yaogang also said that he must help me to launch the ship. As a result, this Zheng Zhilong said that this incident made me feel blush. We Fujian people have our own affairs, how can we trouble others. So when I heard that the kiln people had paid 200,000 taels of silver, I decided to take out 250,000 taels of silver. We must not be disgraced to our Fujianese. As soon as I saw it, I pushed the boat down the river and said thank you. Fortunately, Zheng Zhilong was very happy, and immediately sent someone with the silver to send me home. Lin Zongwei said.

"Just get the money." Zhang Zhimu said.

"But when I got out. Zheng Zhilong asked me to come and tell you about it, and he will come to Quanzhou to see you in the past two days. I hope you can wait for him here in Quanzhou. Lin Zongwei said.

"Okay, I'll wait for him here." Zhang Zhimu said.

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Five-line scores, oscillating circuits, caesarean sections. Guo Shoujing made alloy cannons, and Guan Hanqing created "Journey to the West". --Progress of "Memories of the Southern Song Dynasty".