A few days later, Sun Chengen and Carter, the inventors of the steam engine, took their machine to the capital, and a huge machine was covered with yellow silk and moved into the red palace wall.

Zhu Jun looked at this so-called 'steam engine', the whole steam engine is in the shape of a square box, how to look at it is also a little surprised by the steam engine of later generations, but the axle below is the same, it is pushed by steam The axle, the steam engine can move a few times under the start of Sun Chengen and the others, but it is still a lot of distance compared to the steam train of later generations.

It's already very good to be able to reach this level, Zhu Jun didn't ask too much, turned his head, and said to Sun Chengen: "How did Sun Aiqing invent this machine?" ”

Sun Chengen's face was slightly excited, after all, he and Carter came together to study the steam engine for three or four years, over the years he scattered all his wealth, devoted himself to research, and now can be summoned by the emperor, it is a very remarkable thing, after a little calm, Sun Chengen said: "Your Majesty, Weichen read a theory of things in the newspaper four years ago, which talked about the principle of steam braking, at the beginning Weichen was just looking, and then one day he lifted the pot to boil water, and after the water was hot, the steam lifted the top of the pot, so he thought, If the power of water vapor can lift the top of the pot, wouldn't it be able to brake it as mentioned in the article on the Theory of Things? If it could really make a horse-drawn carriage run automatically with the power of water vapor, wouldn't it be an invention that blessed the world? Wechen made up his mind, and began to study carefully, and later met Brother Carter in Guangzhou, Brother Carter is an Englishman, because he came here to avoid the war, he has a lot of experience in the theory of things, Wechen talked to him, many places coincide, Carter and I are small and small people, no worries, so I simply found a place to live in Suzhou, buy all kinds of equipment experiments, until a year ago, I barely made the prototype of the steam engine, but there are too many defects, still improving, in order to raise funds, we discussed together, In the city of Suzhou, a steam engine was used to perform for the people. ”

Zhu Jun seemed to see the two of them braking the machine on the street like entertainers for people to watch, holding a plate in their hands to ask for a reward, and couldn't help but smile, and said: "From now on, Sun Aiqing is a bachelor of the Academy of Sciences, in charge of the Division, Carter is a bachelor of the Academy of Sciences, as a deputy, the cost of steam engine improvement, can be directly received from the treasury without passing the audit of the Ministry of Households, and I want to give money, I want things to give things, and the skilled craftsmen in the Academy of Sciences, Sun Aiqing can choose to use them at any time, I want you to improve the steam engine as soon as possible, at all costs. ”

Sun Chengen hurriedly said: "Your Majesty fully supports, Weichen dares not to serve the death force, Weichen is willing to give an order, within two years, if you can't make the steam train that the emperor said, you are willing to be punished." ”

Carter, who was also on the side, also understood Chinese, and hurriedly said, "I am also willing to sign the writ." ”

Zhu Jun smiled and waved his hand: "What are these words, you are the pillars of the country, how can I bear the punishment, and if you have any difficulties, you can say it." ”

Sun Chengen and Carter looked at each other, both of them were embarrassed, because of a moment, Sun Chengen said: "Your Majesty, there is indeed a difficulty, the most important thing for the steam engine is the sealing, and Weichen and Carter have tried many materials, but the sealing performance is really unsatisfactory, so it often wastes a lot of kinetic energy, Carter once said, there is an object called rubber, which has great sealing performance, but this thing is far away from the ocean thousands of miles away, if it is ......"

Rubber? Zhu Jun remembered that rubber at this time was a plant in South America, and the Indians called it "the tree of tears". Natural rubber is made from the latex that flows out of rubber trees when they tap rubber through coagulation and drying. British chemist Priestley discovered that rubber can be used to erase pencil handwriting, and then people found that the molecular chain of rubber can be cross-linked, and when the cross-linked rubber is deformed by external force, it has the ability to quickly recover, and has good physical and mechanical properties and chemical stability.

Rubber is the basic raw material of the rubber industry. In later generations, it was widely used in the manufacture of tires, hoses, tapes, cables and other rubber products.

It's just that the biggest problem right now. Rubber is extremely easy to refine. It is also very easy to grow. But this crop is only found in South America. The difficulties and dangers can be imagined. Zhu Jun raised his eyebrows. Now his policy is to center everything on the steam engine. As long as the steam engine comes out. Everything else is a trivial. He hesitated for a moment and beckoned to Xiao Guizi in the distance.

Xiao Guizi came over immediately. Zhu Jun said: "Go." Call the Western Advisor Arms to him. ”

Xiao Guizi saw that the emperor had a solemn face. Don't dare to slack off. Immediately went.

Only then did Zhu Jun say to Sun Chengen: "Sun Aiqing rest assured. You make improvements first. I immediately ordered people to go out to the sea in search of rubber. There will be no delay. ”

Sun Chengen and Carter looked happy. The Ming Emperor gave them enough land support. Give what you want. hurriedly said: "Weichen will live up to the emperor's expectations." ”

Zhu Jun nodded and said slowly, "You guys."

Take the letter of appointment, and I will say hello to the officials and households. ”

By the time Sun Chengen and Cartesson left, Arms had already trotted over, his pale forehead was covered with sweat, and when he saw Zhu Jun, he immediately saluted: "What does His Majesty the Emperor command?" ”

Zhu Jun had already moved to the Qinzheng Palace, and took a leisurely sip of tea: "Didn't you recruit a group of adventurers last time?" It's always been under the control of Aiqing, right? ”

Ames said: "Your Majesty Almighty, according to your will, they are all under the control of subordinates, and now some of them have gone to Beiyang to plunder the Manchurians, and some of them are still resting temporarily on Chongming Island. ”

Zhu Jun nodded: "I want to organize an ocean-going adventure, they are all people with ocean-going experience, and they also know how to discover land, I plan to let them accompany them." ”

"Huh? Your Majesty, are you going on an adventure? This...... Isn't that right? You are a body of gold, if there is a mistake, the subordinates can not afford to bear the guilt. "Arms was in the Ming Dynasty for six or seven years, and now he has been contaminated with the style of the Han people, and when he saw that Zhu Jun was going to take risks, he immediately objected.

Zhu Jun shook his head: "Who said I was gone?" Okay, don't be too late, tomorrow I will send a decree out, and you will immediately go to Chongming Island with the will, requisition warships, and prepare for a long voyage. ”

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Chongming Island has now become a veritable pirate island, where adventurers and pirates from all countries in the world are entrenched, and because of this, although it is far away from Shanghai New City, but when it comes to prosperity, it is not far behind Shanghai City, the number of adventurers and pirates on the island is about 20,000, among which there is a garrison of the Ming army thousands of households, specifically to monitor the pirates' every move, in addition, because the pirates in the enemy country loot materials need to get rid of their hands, the fierce pirates need to eat, wear, live and travel, so it also attracted many Ming merchants to come, At night, the humble restaurants on the island are brightly lit and bustling.

Ames arrived here four days later, and after accepting the emperor's will, Ames did not dare to delay, and immediately sent a horse-drawn carriage out of Nanjing, and did not dare to stop along the gallop road, and finally arrived at the Shanghai wharf.

The night was very hazy today, and a thick fog rose from the island, and unlike before, the inns and liquor shops suddenly had no business, and there was not even a single figure to be seen on the humble streets.

All the people are on the beach, here is full of torches, Arms solemnly stood on the high platform of the lighthouse, looking at the crowd of all colors below, these rough clothes and food spitting wine pirates obviously have great respect for the envoy of the Ming Emperor, in fact, no respect is not enough, although the pirates are not afraid of the sky and the earth, but the Ming guardhouse is near the left, a thousand well-equipped elite Ming troops can wipe them out at any time, and the Daming Navy Division fleet in Shanghai Port can also blow up this island at any time, This is the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and it is full of the elite naval divisions of the Ming Dynasty, and if you offend them, even if you run to the ends of the earth, it will be a dead end.

Ames pressed his hand, and the pirates under the high platform fell silent, and then Ames's voice came out: "You are the most despicable garbage and bastards in the ocean, you can live to this day, all thanks to His Majesty the Ming Emperor, think about it?" Who has not been wanted by more than three countries? Who has ever had a place to live? And everything you have now is given by His Majesty the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. ”

"There is a famous saying in the Ming Dynasty, raising soldiers for a thousand days, using soldiers for a while, today, it is time for you to serve His Majesty the Emperor."

The pirates were indifferent and looked at all this with cold eyes, as if they were called garbage and bastards and indifferent, in fact, they did not have much interest in which monarch they were loyal to, they only had interests in their eyes, the most naked interests in the world, which could be claimed by deception, by massacre, by all the despicable acts of mankind.

Arms obviously felt very faceless, and after talking for so long, he didn't even applaud, so he had to hurriedly say the task: "Da Ming will form an expedition to South America, His Majesty the Emperor needs a team of adventurers composed of 1,000 people as guides and assistants, Da Ming will also send a fleet and enough strong troops, if you are interested, you can come to me to sign up, we don't have much time, we must set sail in three days." ”

The hideous faces of the black pirates began to take on some color, and someone in the crowd asked loudly, "What benefits can the Ming Emperor give us?" ”

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The power is out until six o'clock in the evening today, so hurry up and update the first chapter and the second one immediately. Convenient for next visit