Seeing that Zhu Houyu was holding his hand and asking eagerly, looking impatient and eager to know, Wan Chengdao was also stunned, slightly tilted his head and glanced at his son Wan Xing next to him, and after seeing Wan Xing quietly gave him a sure look, he nodded with a smile.

"Hehe, yes, Your Highness, this is a steam train, if nothing else, I think it should be possible to build this kind of car, of course, there are some troubles, especially the research and development of this steam engine, it is even more complicated, it is not so easy to do, it takes some time and effort."

"Really, Uncle Wan? Can it really be? Can this kind of car really run on its own without human and animal power? ”

After hearing that Wan Chengdao actually said that it was really possible, Zhu Houxi couldn't help but be even more excited, and under the incomparable ecstasy, he still couldn't believe it, afraid that he had heard it wrong.

Therefore, I continued to hold his hand and hurriedly asked again, wanting to hear his confirmed answer again, so as to be relieved.

And nodded with a smile, and saw that Wan Chengdao recalled the knowledge about steam trains that Wan Xing had told him before, and also told Zhu Houxi, who was full of excitement at this time, and replied with a smile.

"That's right, Your Highness, it's really possible, this kind of car, called a steam locomotive, as the name suggests, is that it is completely powered by steam, and does not rely solely on human or animal power like previous cars."

"It's like the steam water lifter you see outside, as long as there is enough steam to push it, it can run, and it runs all the time, non-stop, faster, more efficient, very convenient, much faster than our normal rickshaws and animal carts."

"Yes, Uncle Wan, are you saying that it can really run all the time as long as it has this steam?"

"Of course, back to Your Highness, this is also the power of our steam train, it can really be tireless, as long as there is enough steam to push it, it can run forever."

"That's great! This is an artifact, it's really an artifact, another artifact! Being able to run by itself, and it's a car that runs all the time, this is incredible, it can really only be described as an artifact! ”

And after listening to Wan Chengdao's repeated confirmation of the answer, Zhu Houxuan was extremely ecstatic again, and he was crazy with happiness, because he clearly knew what it meant to have this kind of car that could run by himself and was tireless in Daming at this time.

That means that the real kingdoms will come to the dynasty, and the glory of the Ming Dynasty will be restored, and the Ming Dynasty, which is already beginning to decline at this time, will once again bring the top of the world to the top of the world!

Therefore, under the extreme excitement and the effort of a long time, Zhu Houxuan slightly suppressed the joy in his heart, and after thinking about it carefully, he couldn't help but ask a very critical question.

"By the way, Uncle Wan, you said that this steam train is driven by steam, and this steam production requires fuel, dare to ask what is used to make fuel for this steam train you invented? Wood? ”

Looking at Zhu Houxuan, who was excited and nervous, he was obviously very concerned about this issue, and saw that Wan Chengdao also shook his head with a smile.

"No, no, Your Highness, if you use wood, it will be too much wood, how much wood is not enough for it to burn, and the efficiency is not high, in our conception, this steam train is fueled by charcoal."

"Coal?"

"That's right, this coal is under the ground, everywhere, it can be called inexhaustible, and in terms of carrying, the combustion efficiency is also very high, and it is long-lasting, and it has been widely used in our Ming Dynasty."

"So using it as fuel is undoubtedly the best choice, it is much more convenient than wood, it will not destroy vegetation, nor waste people's power to chop firewood everywhere, just increase the amount of mining, it is really an excellent fuel."

"Really?"

In an instant, hearing Wan Chengdao say this, Zhu Houxi was even more ecstatic, and slapped his head.

"Yes, why didn't this king think of it, this use of charcoal as fuel is indeed wonderful!"

As he spoke, he patted his head again, as if he remembered something, and saw that Zhu Houxuan was more and more happy, and laughed.

"Haha, I see, no wonder Uncle Wan invented the steam water lifter next to the well, I think it was to prepare for large-scale mining when this steam train is used in the future, just to mine coal on a large scale, and then use it as fuel for this steam train, right?"

"Sure enough, this steam water lifter and steam train complement each other, one after the other, it's really wonderful, it's a perfect match, Uncle Wan, you have already thought of it, right, it's too powerful, but it's really my Ming Dynasty's heavenly blessing star, with these two things, why worry about my Ming Dynasty's national fortune!"

Including Yuan Zonggao on the side, they were all overjoyed.

"Yes, now it seems that this steam water lifter is really wonderful, whether it is with this steam train, or with this mining coal, it is complementary to each other, it is indeed a perfect match, once it has it, it will be safer and more convenient to mine coal in the future."

"It can continuously pump out the stagnant water seeping out of the mine, without worrying about the collapse of the mine caused by water seepage and other problems in the mine, which can not only speed up the mining efficiency, but also greatly ensure the safety of the mining people, which is really wonderful, wonderful."

When Zhu Houxuan heard Yuan Zonggao say this, he looked even more overjoyed, and nodded again and again.

"Teacher, you are right, in this way, large-scale mining is just used to supply this steam locomotive, to fuel it, it is really a wonderful invention, Uncle Wan, your invention is really the well-being of thousands of people in my Ming Dynasty, the real merit is in the future, and the world will remember your merits."

smiled a little embarrassedly, and was so praised by Zhu Houxuan for a while, he really didn't know what to say about Wanchengdao, so he had to look at Wan Xing beside him for help.

It's a little complaining to look at him, blaming him for pushing these things on himself, it's annoying, after all, he just wants to be a quiet inventor, and he doesn't want to be famous or anything, and then there will be a lot of human contacts, it's a waste of time.

Seeing this, he smiled, and saw that Wan Xing also stood up and said happily.

"Eh, Your Highness, you really have some awards, just like my father said, he just likes to study these things, and he really doesn't think about anything else, but now that I hear you say this, it seems to be true."

After thinking about it, it's already like this anyway, and I'm not afraid of big things, after all, it's my own father, and I don't pit anything, so I saw that it was fortunate to add fuel to the fire.

"And I think maybe the benefits don't stop there, because this steam water lifter, including this steam train, is just one of the simple uses of the steam engine."

"I can't say that my father can use this steam engine to invent more interesting things, which can be used in all aspects of life, such as cultivating wasteland, harvesting grain, smelting gold and iron, etc., so as to liberate productivity and improve production efficiency."

"At the same time, it can also create more jobs, increase the employment probability of my Ming people, and benefit everyone more genuinely, so that the vast majority of people can enjoy the convenience brought by this steam revolution!"

"Increase your chances of employment and enjoy the benefits of the steam revolution?"

Immediately, hearing Wan Xing say this, Zhu Houxuan was also stunned, not understanding what he meant.

But he explained with a smile.

"Hehe, Your Highness, it's actually very simple, for example, this mining, once these steam-powered machines are popularized on a large scale, then there will inevitably be a need for more ore resources such as carboniferous, there is no doubt about it."

In this way, more people will naturally be needed to mine, so that they do not have to make a living from farming, there can be many choices, even if they encounter natural and man-made disasters, they are not afraid, and the imperial court will have many more ways to work for relief, so that there will be no more people displaced, and the tragedy of thousands of miles of begging for food has occurred.

"And even if this kind of disaster happens again in the future, it will be more convenient for us to provide disaster relief, because with this steam train, we can transport the food and materials and other things that the people need by the railway in a very short time, without wasting too much transportation time and transportation costs."

In an instant, hearing Wan Xing say this, Zhu Houxuan's eyes immediately lit up, thinking that it was really true, why didn't he think of this, so it seems that this steam engine is really an extremely important, beneficial artifact for the benefit of the country and the people!

The steam revolution is also the most beautiful prosperous era that Daming can achieve, and it must be promoted in this direction!

And seeing that Zhu Houxuan's eyes finally began to shine, he was really moved by the blueprint he described about the steam revolution, which was the kind of heart-pounding and incomparably yearning, and fortunately couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

I thought it was okay, okay, I finally moved your kid, it seems that in the future, if you want to promote the steam revolution in the Ming Dynasty, it should be eight or nine or ten.

Of course, Thanksgiving didn't draw cakes, but all of them were telling the truth, and they were all what he wanted to do.

Because of the Ming Dynasty in this era, ordinary people basically only have one way to farm, and there are no other jobs to make a living.

After all, this is an era of small-scale peasant economy, mainly handicrafts, which cannot create too many jobs at all, and is extremely scarce.

This is why when various disasters such as natural and man-made disasters occur, ordinary people are displaced and become displaced people, begging for food everywhere to survive.

Because even if they want to work for others and support themselves, no one wants them, because there are no extra jobs to provide.

His idea was to develop the steam engine and invent all sorts of steam-powered tools to free people from this simple small-scale peasant economy.

That is to say, in later generations, liberate the productive forces and improve the efficiency of survival, so that everyone can have more choices without having to rely entirely on agriculture for a living.

For example, with steam trains, a large number of new jobs can be created, such as the need for more miners, and the need for conductors, conductors, security guards, etc., and the need for service personnel at every station.

There are many supporting facilities at each station, and people can sell their agricultural products near the station, or set up a stall to sell things, etc., these are all jobs.

Just like the canal, this ancient canal can drive economic prosperity along the way, making the cities along the canal prosperous, and fortunately, I believe that this railway can also be along the road.

Including the tax problem of the Ming Dynasty that everyone often criticizes, that is, there is not enough money and how much money cannot be collected, which can be solved by these methods, because the train alone can provide a lot of income, which is really a lot of benefits.

Of course, the only trouble is that it is too expensive upfront.

This invention of the steam train is nothing, it is very simple, the key is that this railway lays tracks, which is very troublesome, time-consuming, labor-intensive and costly, I am afraid it is not so easy to solve, it really depends on whether Zhu Houxi can make up his mind.

Even if he is ruthless, he puts aside the treasury, pays for the construction of roads by himself, monopolizes the operation of the railway, and turns this income into the exclusive property of the royal family, then he will naturally ask for money and food, and there is no one to restrain him.

This is also the main reason why Wan Xing brought him to see the steam train so early, which is to completely impress him, so that he can make up his mind to promote the reform of the steam revolution in this era, and become a reformer of the appraisal, without being shaken casually.

After all, you must know that in any era, it is extremely difficult to reform this, and it cannot be succeeded by just talking about it.

If those in power are not firm and do not have the courage to break through, then this reform will hardly succeed and is doomed to failure.

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