Chapter 686: Steam Engine and Thunder Mercury

（0686）

Everyone else is gone.

Xu Zhengming was obviously a little uneasy, and he didn't know what special things Zhang Zhun was looking for him. He felt that after he came to Shandong, he didn't seem to have made any decent results, nor did he do anything bad! What is Zhang Zhun looking for himself?

Zhang Zhun suddenly asked, "Do you really think that we can fly?" ”

Xu Zhengming hesitated for a moment, and said a little unconfidently: "What do you think, adult? ”

Zhang Zhun stared at him with sparkling eyes, and said meaningfully: "I asked you." ”

Xu Zhengming took a breath lightly and said slowly: "I think it's feasible." ”

Zhang Zhun still looked at him with sparkling eyes, and said in a deep voice: "Your wife doesn't seem to approve of your research?" She also smashed your invention? ”

Xu Zhengming sighed helplessly and did not speak.

Zhang Zhun's words just hit his soft underbelly. In fact, Xu Zhengming is a native of Jiangnan, and his background is relatively solid, and his mother-in-law's family is a merchant family, and he can make a lot of money every year. Otherwise, there would be no funds for Xu Zhengming to conduct all kinds of research. However, Xu Zhengming was so obsessed with research that he never had an income, which naturally caused a lot of remarks. Locally, Xu Zhengming was called a madman behind his back.

Xu Zhengming's most prominent research is to make something like a helicopter out of wood, step on the gears with both feet, and through the movement of the gears, the traction propeller rotates continuously, taking him about a foot off the ground. The duration may be as long as a small half cup of tea. It should be said that this is the earliest helicopter test in China.

Later generations recorded that he once flew over Taihu Lake by helicopter, which is all nonsense. To be able to lift yourself about a foot off the ground for half a cup of tea is already remarkable. After all, manpower is limited, and it is impossible to step on heavy gears for a long time. Flying over Taihu Lake, idiots know that it is impossible.

However, Xu Zhengming's invention did not last long. Because of his wife, he finally went berserk. She smashed all of Xu Zhengming's inventions and banned Xu Zhengming from research. Xu Zhengming's own family also imposed strict policies on him, and also found him a serious job. If Zhang Zhun hadn't suddenly brought him to Shandong, Xu Zhengming would probably have spent the rest of his life in depression.

Zhang Zhun continued to stare at Xu Zhengming with sharp eyes, as if observing some aspects of Xu Zhengming's factors, and said in a deep voice: "Do you believe that people can really fly?" ”

Xu Zhengming gritted his teeth gently, hesitated for a moment, and finally said affirmatively: "I believe." ”

Zhang Zhun said quietly: "Why? ”

Xu Zhengming said affirmatively: "Because people are the smartest." ”

Zhang Zhun nodded quietly.

Xu Zhengming suddenly asked rhetorically: "My lord, do you believe it?" ”

Zhang Zhun looked at him with a smile, and asked instead of answering: "What do you think?" ”

Xu Zhengming said a little gloomily: "I don't think adults will believe it." No one in the world will believe me. Really, no one will believe it. ”

Zhang Zhun shook his head lightly and said gently: "You are wrong, I believe it." ”

Xu Zhengming said in surprise: "My lord...... You...... Believe? ”

Zhang Zhun nodded and said indifferently: "I not only believe it. I believe it even more than you do. Not only do I believe that people can fly, but I also believe that people can fly quickly from one place to another. For example, it only takes an hour to fly from us to your hometown. For example, it only takes about an hour to fly from *** to Nanjing. The earth has to walk for at least half a month, and we can reach it in an hour. ”

"We can even fly farther. Did you see the moon at night? Actually, as long as we can fly, the moon is very close to us. In the future, we can also fly to the top of the moon to see if there is really Chang'e, whether there is really Wu Gang, and whether there is really an osmanthus tree. Perhaps, there is nothing on it, as if it is as desolate as the outside of our jade gate. ”

Xu Zhengming was completely stunned.

Zhang Zhun actually believed!

At this moment, Xu Zhengming felt that Zhang Zhun was the closest person in the world.

The people around him, because of his whims, always have a different perception of him. Everyone looked at him and felt like they were looking at a madman. Under the pressure of these people, Xu Zhengming's life was indeed very hard. He was so bitter that he didn't know who to talk to. Because, no one will believe his ridiculous ideas.

It is too difficult to find someone in this world who can understand him and believe in him. He couldn't believe that there really was such a person in this world. He was completely hopeless about it. When I came to Shandong this time, I actually wanted to leave the sad place and start life again. However, now, Zhang Zhun clearly told him that he believed!

Zhang Zhun not only believes it, but even believes it more than Xu Zhengming himself. Zhang Zhun's description is something that Xu Zhengming himself dare not imagine. Flying from *** to Nanjing, flying thousands of miles away, only Zhang Zhun dared to imagine it. Even, Zhang Zhun imagined that human beings could fly to the moon. Xu Zhengming suddenly found that compared with Zhang Zhun, he was not a madman at all, Zhang Zhun was a real madman!

Xu Zhengming said in an impassioned and emotional tone: "My lord......"

Zhang Zhun smiled slightly and continued to say slowly: "Actually, you don't think enough about it. Not only can we fly in the sky, but we can also swim in the water. Note that instead of swimming, you dive directly to the depths of the sea. Would you believe me if I told you that we could live underwater for months, or even a year, without surfacing at all? ”

Xu Zhengming said loudly: "I...... It's incredible. ”

Zhang Zhun smiled slightly, and continued to say slowly: "If I tell you that a ship made entirely of steel can float steadily on the water, do you believe it?" ”

Xu Zhengming said loudly: "I...... It's incredible. ”

Zhang Zhun still smiled slightly, and continued to say slowly: "If I told you that a ship made of steel can not only float on the sea, but also run faster than a sail without sails, whether it is downwind or upwind, the speed is the same, would you believe it?" ”

Xu Zhengming was completely stunned.

Even with his geekic thinking, he can't keep up with Zhang Zhun's description.

Fortunately, his thinking is indeed a geek, so he will have such a stupid reaction, if it were someone else, maybe he would have directly reprimanded Zhang Zhun for being ridiculous at this time. In fact, if it were a different person, Zhang Zhun would not dare to say such a thing. Because, in this case, it is easy to be taken for crazy. If someone behind his back says that the Governor of the Tiger Ben Army is a madman, I am afraid that it will cause a lot of repercussions.

After a long while, Xu Zhengming slowly reacted, feeling that his mouth was dry, and he even felt difficult to speak. He stammered, "Lord Governor, I can't keep up with what you say, I'm so stupid, I don't know what you're talking about......"

Zhang Zhun gently interrupted his words and said encouragingly: "Of course you can't understand it now, because these things can only be done after a long period of research. This is a long time, maybe 300 years, maybe 400 years. In short, in our lifetimes, I am afraid that we will not have the opportunity to see it. However, we must leave a foundation for our children and grandchildren to continue their efforts. ”

Xu Zhengming said excitedly: "I don't know what Lord Du wants me to do?" To be able to get such trust from the Governor, I, Xu Zhengming, will not hesitate even if I go to the soup! ”

Zhang Zhun said with a smile: "There is no need to be so excited. However, this basic work is indeed difficult to do. I only know some of the most basic situations, and I can only provide you with some ideas, and you still have to be responsible for the specific work. ”

Xu Zhengming said excitedly: "My lord, please rest assured, I, Xu Zhengming, am only thirty years old this year, and I have at least twenty years to live, and I can do a lot of things." ”

Zhang Zhun nodded, and asked Xu Zhengming to get on the horse and return to the Hengwang Mansion in Qingzhou City together before starting his own story. His narration involves a lot of technical issues, and with Xu Zhengming's current situation, it must be incomprehensible, so he can only record it, and then slowly ponder and study. Hengwang Mansion has a variety of perfect equipment and facilities, and it is the best to tell about it here.

Zhang Zhun asked Xu Zhengming to study, one is a steam engine, and the other is thunder mercury. The role of the steam engine, needless to say, is the basis of all power. As for thundermercury, it is a must-have for rear-loading guns. The primer of the bullet must use thundermercury in order to be fired with a firing pin.

"What is a steam engine?"

Xu Zhengming asked with a puzzled stomach.

As soon as he heard this, Zhang Zhun felt that this matter was a bit hanging.

The industrial base of the Tiger Ben Army is really difficult to start with people like Xu Zhengming! However, apart from this Xu Zhengming, Zhang Zhun couldn't find anyone else.

What is a steam engine? It's really hard to answer. It seems that in the history of ancient China, there has never been such a thing. In ancient China, there were waterwheels, windmills, water mills, and tools that used a lot of animal power, but there were no steam engines. Even, there is not much understanding of coal. For most people, coal is just a tool for heating and cooking.

Zhang Zhun can't complain about this society. That's what he was facing. In the last years of the Ming Dynasty, although capitalism had begun to sprout, there was no sign of modern industry, the industrial revolution, or anything else. Like, there was no sense that there was a need for a steam engine. Without the great demand for power, there would have been no steam engine.

The Ming Kingdom is different from the United Kingdom. Britain itself has very little power, it is difficult to utilize, and manpower is very limited. However, the Ming Kingdom was different, and the Ming Kingdom had enough water power and animal power as the original mechanical power. In addition, the Ming Kingdom also had enough manpower. For example, the pedal spinning wheel in Songjiang Prefecture is made manually. Because of the low cost of labor and the availability of workers at any time, there was basically no market for steam engines.

However, in the long run, the steam engine still had to be invented as soon as possible. Because, if the Ming people don't invent it themselves, other countries will also invent it. Once other countries invent the steam engine and seize the opportunity, it will be more difficult for the Ming people to catch up. Trains, ships, automobiles, etc., are inseparable from the invention of the steam engine.

Zhang Zhun hopes to use the research of the steam engine to build some industrial bases in his own control territory. It has to be said that in ancient China, the industrial base was completely blank. Song Yingxing's own "Heavenly Creations" recorded a lot of industrial production, but none of these can be regarded as industrial bases.

In ancient China, in terms of industry, there was no theoretical system to support it. Because, real readers, are reluctant to learn arithmetic. There are very few people who can calm down and study mathematics. Without the development of mathematics, there would be no theoretical system, and there would be no industrial base.

Alas, speaking of which, Zhang Zhun immediately felt that it was necessary for him to open a new school. In addition to teaching students to read and write, the most important thing in the new school is to teach three basic courses: mathematics, physics, and chemistry. However, once the new school is opened, he is afraid that he will be even busier. Because, mathematics may still find some people to be teachers, and this physics and chemistry are only understood by him. Where does he have time to be a teacher?

The only way is to use Xue Ningying's little girl to compile the commonly used physics knowledge and chemistry knowledge into a book, and then let people read it from the book. It's just that these two books don't seem to be easy to flesh out the content. Zhang Zhun himself, the basic knowledge of physics and chemistry, has almost forgotten.

All ahead are all the difficulties that the steam engine has to encounter. Xu Zhengming figured it out for a long time before he had a vague concept. As for how this thing was studied, he was still a mess. However, the difficulty of the steam engine does not seem to be much more difficult than that of thunder mercury.

Thundermercury, Zhang Zhun doesn't know what it is, what the chemical composition is, he only knows that it is such a thing, which can be used as a primer for bullets, or as a detonator. Modern bullets, without this thing, would not have been able to achieve breech loading. Therefore, in order to increase the power of the firearm, it is necessary to get the mercury out of the mine.

Since even Zhang Zhun couldn't accurately describe what thunder mercury was, Xu Zhengming was even more confused. Fortunately, Zhang Zhun provided a development idea, which is to systematically sort out the existing chemical reactions, form them into fixed books that can be passed on to the next generation, and then teach them to the next generation. With such a generation's efforts, there will always be a day when mine mercury will be invented.

If the basic industrial basis is built through the steam engine, then the basic chemical foundation is built through the thunder mercury. The industrial base, the chemical base, is too important for a modern power. Now Zhang Zhun can only have high hopes and look forward to Xu Zhengming's good performance. As for when it will be realized, only time will tell.

[Today's third update is delivered! ] Beg***! Ask for *** tickets! 】