Chapter 690: Behemoth Zheng Zhilong

（0690）

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The timber processing plant is very large, covering at least a few hundred acres, and is covered with high tiled roofs, but no walls, just supported by huge cement columns. A large amount of timber is piled up under the roof. Because there is so much wood, it is piled up into small hills, and the view is severely blocked, and walking in it is like walking through a labyrinth. If it weren't for Xue Zhidie's familiarity with this place, Zhang Zhun himself would be walking in it alone, and there would be a chance that he would get lost.

Timber sent from the Wulong River or other places is sent here for processing. The timber caught from the sea is wet, and after being transported all the way here by rollers, it is hoisted by a block of pulleys and piled up into hills. What is the value of the wood here? Definitely not less than 100,000 taels of silver.

To build a ship, the first procedure is to obtain dry wood. Wood that contains too much moisture cannot be shipped. Why did some of the battleships have serious cracks? It's because the drying of the wood is not handled well, and corners are cut. The best way to dry the wood is definitely natural air drying. Generally speaking, as long as the wood is left in a ventilated place for four or five years in the absence of rain, it will dry completely.

However, natural drying takes a long time, and Zhang Zhun can't wait, and neither can the Huben Army and Navy. Therefore, Xue Zhidie uses a special drying technology. On the other side of the wood processing plant, she built a lot of underground stoves, and used charcoal to scorch the wood on the ground day and night. Under this kind of baking, the average wood can be processed in just three months.

It seems that the Cangshan ship, as well as some of the wood on the saber tooth ship, are all made improvised using such drying technology. Otherwise, it would be impossible for the Tiger Army Navy to get so much wood for shipbuilding. In addition, the cost of this technology is high. It was very expensive to build such an underground oven and to burn charcoal for twelve hours a day. This is also the reason why shipyards spend so much money. If you are in a hurry, you have to pay for it.

However, after all, the drying technology is to pull out the seedlings and promote the growth, and there are hidden dangers. When building small warships, these hidden dangers are not obvious, and large warships are not good. The recoil of the Wyvern is not very large, and the average wood can withstand it. The recoil of the red-coat cannon, so huge, that ordinary wood, could not withstand it. Once the wood cracks, and then the recoil of the cardinal cannon, the cracking will become more and more serious, and eventually a fatal crack will appear.

"The wood is prepared to be air-dried."

Xue Zhidie explained.

The wood she was referring to was very large. Many big trees require two people to hug, and some even require three people to hug. The largest piece of wood that Zhang Zhun saw was probably held by five people, and he didn't know how it was dragged up. The person who cut it down should also have a good ability. If there is a slight negligence, the direction in which the tree falls will be deviated, and more people will die.

It should have taken a lot of people's mental and physical strength to transport along the way, and it was finally sent here. Trees that can grow to such a large size are at least 100 years old. In fact, Zhang Zhun calculated the annual rings and found that this wood has a history of more than 200 years, which is really breathtaking.

"This hundred-year-old sandalwood was sent from Weihaiwei."

Xue Zhidie said with a smile.

"Weihaiwei?"

Zhang Zhun was slightly stunned.

He thought it was sent from Wulong River, but he didn't expect that it was actually sent from Weihaiwei, which was even more farther away, which was really great. It's not easy to get here from Weihaiwei! Land transportation is certainly not possible, only by sea.

"A merchant ship dragged it and walked at sea for five days before entering Mawan. It took another day to get it here. Fortunately, God willing, there were no storms along the way, and there was no danger. ”

Xue Zhidie explained with a smile.

"Oh, no wonder!"

Zhang Zhun said thoughtfully.

I knew that shipbuilding is a very great and trivial work, but I didn't expect it to be so powerful. Such a large piece of timber is very dangerous, even if it is towed by a merchant ship. When there is a storm, the big waves stir up the timber and crash it into the merchant ship, which has to knock a hole into it. Fortunately, God still gives face, and there is no bad weather.

Xue Zhidie further explained that these pieces of wood were all intended to be used to build the Dragon God Ship. The Dragon God is the future main warship of the Tiger Ben Navy, with a displacement of up to 600 tons, equipped with 64 flying dragon cannons and 16 redcoat cannons. To build such a large warship, the requirements for wood are naturally high, and the accumulation of wood is very critical.

The life span of ships such as Cangshan ships is basically negligible. Therefore, the requirements for wood are basically negligible. For medium-sized warships of the saber tooth ship, it is enough to pay attention to the quality of wood in the vital parts. If there are some minor problems, the consequences will not be serious. Judging from the current use of the saber tooth ship, the quality is still relatively satisfactory.

However, the dragon god ship is different. The design service life of the dragon god ship is at least twenty years. In order to ensure that in 20 years, there will be no major fatal problems, in terms of materials, the highest standards must be adopted, and there can be no negligence. The recoil of the red-coated cannon is very large, and a small crack, under the strong recoil vibration, can burst, pouring into a large amount of seawater, which causes the dragon god ship to sink.

At the beginning, many of Zheng He's fortune ships and treasure ships in the Western Ocean were left for more than thirty or forty years, during which there was no maintenance at all, and they were basically kept intact. In addition to the advanced construction technology, the superb construction quality is also inseparable from the high standard of the wood itself. At that time, the Longjiang Shipyard concentrated high-quality timber from all regions of the country and selected the best ones for shipbuilding.

The Tiger Army is currently unable to get that much high-quality wood, so it is very important to dry the wood. Generally speaking, it should be stored for at least three to five years to meet basic needs. Fortunately, due to the weather in Shandong, it has always been very dry and the air is very dry, so this time can be a little shorter, about two years is enough.

"Are these bits of wood enough?"

Zhang Zhun asked with concern.

"Not enough!"

Xue Zhidie replied in the affirmative.

She explained that because the dragon god ship is a large warship, the requirements for wood are very high, in addition to hardness and flexibility, there are clear regulations on the age of wood, as well as the size of the diameter. Don't look at the lot of wood in front of you, like hills, in fact, what can really be used to build the Dragon God Ship is less than half of it, that is, less than 5%. Everything else can only be used to build other warships.

The keel, mast, purlin, and gun carriage of the dragon god ship must all be made of strong and flexible wood, and the higher the specification, the better. For other parts, the quality of the wood is also as high as possible. How can this quality be said? The detailed parameters are too cumbersome, and in short, it is best to have a large number of large trees that are more than 100 years old. If the tree is more than 300 years old, it is even better. If there is a thousand-year-old tree as the keel, the quality of this dragon god ship will be even superior.

"A tree that is more than 100 years old...... Not easy to find! ”

Zhang Zhun said hesitantly.

Trees all over Shandong are decades old at most. In a large area of woods, there may be only a few trees over 100 years old. If there were only dozens or hundreds of hundred-year-old trees, Zhang Zhun might be able to find them in Shandong. However, what Xue Zhidie needs is thousands of century-old trees. It's not easy.

Zhang Zhun once carefully studied that the main timber producing areas in Shandong are in the mountainous areas of Qingzhou and Jinan. In the mountainous areas in the middle of Dengzhou Province, there are also some. However, the number of trees that are more than 100 years old in these timber producing areas is still relatively small. It seems that it is necessary to set up a special timber survey team to go to all the areas controlled by the Tiger Ben Army to register and protect all the timber that can be used for shipbuilding.

At that time, in order to build a large number of wooden sail battleships, all the big trees in the country were numbered. No one else is allowed to harm any numbered tree, and only the Royal Navy can use it. The British Empire also used its powerful force to cut down all the trees in Jutland and Scandinavia, and then went to cut down the trees in the Americas.

The current Tiger Ben Army does not have the conditions of the British Empire, so it can only look for trees within its control. Perhaps, in the depths of Mount Tai, Culai Mountain, Yimeng Mountain and other mountainous areas, there may be more discoveries. As for North Zhili and South Zhili, as well as Henan, don't expect to have timber that meets the conditions.

Zhang Zhun immediately told Xue Zhidie about his thoughts. Xue Zhidie said that there was no problem, and the timber survey team could be formed by her. However, other corresponding powers, such as the decree to protect the tree and prohibit others from cutting it down, were issued by the Ministry of Administration of the Metropolitan Governor's Office.

"There is no problem with the decree!"

Zhang Zhun said affirmatively.

"Brother Yulin, there are many thousand-year-old trees in the hands of the Tartars."

Xue Ningying said with a smile behind his back.

"Hmm."

Zhang Zhun responded unconsciously.

Of course, he knew that there were a lot of ancient trees in the Tartars. The Northeast under the control of the Tatars, especially the Changbai Mountains and the Great Khing'an Mountains, has always been the largest timber producing area in China. In both places, trees that are more than 1,000 years old abound. The problem is that the Tiger Ben Army wants to cut down the trees in Changbai Mountain and Daxing'an Mountains, and there is no good way for the time being.

Sending people ashore to attack the Tartars, that's not much of a problem. Hit and run, the Tartar can only sigh that he is unlucky. However, if you cut down those big trees that several people hug together, and you have to pull them back, that is, the gods can't do it. Changbai Mountain and Daxing'an Mountains, the distance from the coast, are quite far away. Huang Taiji is not stupid, he will definitely not let his plan succeed.

Hell, there doesn't seem to be so much wood on the North Korean side. There is a lot of wood in general, but there are not many that can be used to make dragon god ships. The northern mountainous region of Korea is in the hands of the Tartars, and as long as the Tiger Ben Army gets close, they will inevitably be detected by the Tartars.

The only way is to exchange with Huang Taiji. Now in the hands of the Tiger Benjun, there are a lot of chips, all of which are needed by Huang Taiji. If Huang Taiji is exchanged for wood, there shouldn't be much of a problem. However, what kind of exchange price is still necessary to think carefully. Huang Taiji is very cunning, if he senses that the Tiger Ben Army needs a lot of wood, he will definitely sit on the ground and raise the price. This guy can't be taken lightly.

"Brother Yulin, there are also many big trees in Yunnan."

Xue Ningying suddenly said again.

"Hmm!"

Zhang Zhun still responded unconsciously.

Of course, he knew that there were also big trees in Yunnan, and the Hengduan Mountains were all primeval forests. Tropical rainforests grow fast and take much less time to mature than northern trees. Over there, there are many decades-old trees that need to be hugged by several people. However, the disadvantages of these trees are also obvious.

First of all, the tree species may not be very suitable. It's not that all trees can be used for shipbuilding. A special tree species is required. Such as fir, pine, cypress, teak, elm, red wood, camphor wood, nanmu, catalpa, catalpa, oak, cypress, etc. Secondly, the trees of the tropical rainforest are also very time-consuming to dry up. Why? It's full of water!

In addition, the biggest obstacle to building trees from Yunnan is the human factor. The big trees in Yunnan have to be lowered from the Yangtze River, come out of the mouth of the Yangtze River, and then transported to Shandong by sea. Not only Yunnan, but all the timber in the south of the Yangtze River must follow this path. Even timber purchased from places such as Annam had to go north through the sea.

This is bound to alarm a person.

Who?

Of course, it's Zheng Zhilong.

Perhaps, Zheng Zhilong is indeed a little busy now, and he can't take care of him Zhang Zhun for the time being. However, once Zhang Zhun had a large amount of timber and put it down from the Yangtze River, Zheng Zhilong would be a fool if he didn't immediately send a warship to intercept it. Idiots know what Zhang Zhun wants this wood for. Once the Tiger Ben Army Navy becomes stronger, it will definitely clash with Zheng Zhilong. A mountain can't accommodate two tigers, how can a sea accommodate two dragons?

Zheng Zhilong's strength on land may not be good, but his power on the sea must not be underestimated. There is a big difference between naval warfare and land warfare. Sun Tzu's Art of War or something, in naval warfare, is basically useless. In naval battles, the decisive factor is the strength of both sides. The Tiger Ben Army Navy, even if it tries hard to catch up, in the short term, it will not be able to catch up with Zheng Zhilong!

"I'll solve the timber problem!"

Zhang Zhun said in a big way.

He has always been active in taking responsibility for problems that his subordinates can't handle, and he will never shirk responsibility. This is the consciousness of being a leader.

"As long as there is enough wood, everything else is fine."

Xue Zhidie said confidently.

Zhang Zhun nodded.

The group walked around the timber processing workshop and appeared inside the dock.

All the docks of the Partridge Bay Shipyard are in full swing. All the dockyards are full of warships. At the same time, there were about 3,000 people. With such a large-scale shipyard, even Zhang Zhun is a little smacked. The Navy, it's really *** piled up with money.

The most eye-catching, of course, are the saber-tooth ships that are about to be completed. According to the progress of the project, the saber ships will be completed in early March, and then launched for sea trials. If there are no accidents, it will be handed over to the Tiger Ben Navy in April.

The saber ships that will be launched in March are eighteen in total. In other words, by April, the Huben Navy would have thirty saber ships. Thirty saber-tooth ships can form three large white fleets. Three Great White Fleets! Ha ha! Even if Zheng Zhilong goes north, the Tiger Ben Army doesn't have to worry about it.

For the speed of the construction of the saber tooth ship, Xue Zhidie is also quite satisfied. Looking at these battleships that are constantly being completed, she feels very good. She has spent all her energy here, and no matter what changes happen outside, it can't change her feelings for this place.

"What do you think of these sabertooth ships?"

Zhang Zhun suddenly asked a little strangely.

"Very good!"

Xue Zhidie replied subconsciously.

"What's a good way?"

Zhang Zhun asked further.

"Ah, it's a very powerful sea force."

Xue Zhidie thought for a moment and replied slowly.

She turned her head to look at Zhang Zhun and said a little dissatisfied: "You want me to compliment you, do you think you are very strong?" Well, you're really strong now. ”

Zhang Zhun shook his head and said slowly: "The matter of your Xue family, you should be able to say it now, right?" ”

Xue Zhidie's face sank slightly, and then her eyes turned a little red.

She worked hard to build a ship and help Zhang Zhun strengthen the strength of the Tiger Army, isn't it the day of revenge? Now, that day is finally approaching.

Choked for a moment, Xue Zhidie said slowly: "My father ......"

In fact, the matter of the Xue family, when seriously investigated, is not very complicated, it is a life-and-death struggle in the officialdom. The only thing that is a little special is that it involves Zheng Zhilong's pirate group.

Xue Zhidie and Xue Ningying's father is a member of the Donglin Party. Ma Shiying, on the other hand, is a member of the Eunuch Party. After Emperor Chongzhen came to power, although at the beginning, he did kill a lot of eunuchs, but later, he felt that the people of the Donglin Party were not very good, so he gradually began to promote the eunuch party, so as to curb the development of the Donglin Party. In this way, the struggle between the Donglin Party and the Eunuch Party became even more cruel and complicated.

After listening to Xue Zhidie's story, Zhang Zhun thought for a moment and said thoughtfully: "In Jiangnan, how many officials support Zheng Zhilong?" ”

He asked this with a purpose. The Tiger Benjun can form a community of interests in Shandong, and I believe that Zheng Zhilong will definitely be able to do it. No one can survive alone, and neither can Zheng Zhilong. Only by tying up the people around you with interests can we form a strong joint force and seek greater benefits together. To say that Zheng Zhilong didn't even know so much, he couldn't make such a big move.

Xue Zhidie pondered for a moment and said cautiously: "I don't know the specifics. However, there are certainly no less. ”

Zhang Zhun nodded, and asked slowly: "Ma Shiying and Zheng Zhilong, do you think they will advance and retreat together?" ”

Xue Zhidie pondered for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said cautiously: "It's very likely. ”

Zhang Zhun nodded lightly.

What he is most worried about is actually Zheng Zhilong's infiltration of Jiangnan. If the big merchants in Jiangnan, especially those involved in maritime trade, did not have Zheng Zhilong's approval, it would be impossible for their merchant ships to run on the sea. In other words, Zheng Zhilong controls the lifeblood of the maritime economy of a considerable number of people in Jiangnan. When necessary, Zheng Zhilong raised his arms and shouted, he could still gather a lot of people.

Compared with Huang Taiji, Zheng Zhilong's strength on the sea is even more difficult to deal with. Because, for the current Tiger Ben Navy, Zheng Zhilong's pirate group is definitely a behemoth, and the advantages of the Flying Dragon Cannon are not as obvious as the Tiger Ben Gun. Even, until now, the Tiger Ben Navy does not have its own red-coat cannon.

What kind of Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce, Zhang Zhun was a little skeptical, whether there was Zheng Zhilong's shadow in it. The big merchants in the south of the Yangtze River, looming, always show some weirdness. If these weirdness are explained by Zheng Zhilong, it will be logical. Zheng Zhilong didn't want to see Zhang Zhun sit big, and he couldn't spare his hands to deal with Zhang Zhun for the time being, so he put pressure on Zhang Zhun through the Yangzhou Chamber of Commerce.

"By the way, have you ever been to Dongfan Island?"

Zhang Zhun suddenly asked.

The so-called Dongfan Island is the island of Taiwan in later generations. The territory of the Ming Dynasty included Sakhalin Island in the far northeast, but did not include the island of Taiwan. It's pretty weird. I have to say that in terms of territory, the Ming Dynasty was indeed flawed. With such a big treasure island, the ruler of the Ming Dynasty was not moved at all, which is really incredible.

"Been there a few times."

Xue Zhidie nodded and replied.

"What's going on above?"

Zhang Zhun asked with concern.

Xue Zhidie thought about it carefully, her beautiful eyebrows quietly frowned, and she said slowly: "The situation is very bad." The local natives are not very welcoming to outsiders. In the southern part of Tofan Island, it seems that there are red-haired ghosts who build a castle here. I just heard them talk about it, I don't know the specifics. ”

Zhang Zhun nodded thoughtfully.

The situation in Dongfan Island is complicated, and Zhang Zhun knows it. There are local natives, wandering people, people from Zheng Zhilong's pirate group, foreigners from all over the world, and a large number of Dutch red-haired ghosts. However, to take the initiative to attack Zheng Zhilong, the island of Taiwan is the first target to be taken by the Huben Navy.

This means that there are only thirty saber ships, which is far from enough. At least a dozen dragon god ships are needed, and there are hundreds of sword tooth ships. At the same time, a strong Marine Corps is needed, as well as at least hundreds of large logistics transport vessels.

What are these? It's all white silver!

It's really a long way to go!

[Today's second update is delivered! ] 6,000 words! 】