In fact, rail transportation has not just been planned, but there is an experiment, in the coal and steel complex in Tangshan. After being used in coal mining for a period of time, there is a more scientific and reasonable data reference.

Moreover, in accordance with the ideas and suggestions provided by the emperor, the Academy of Sciences has developed a "hand-rolled car", that is, a manual rail car.

This kind of manual rail car weighs nearly 500 catties, is driven by levers, crankshafts, gears and other mechanical devices, driven by four people, two people in the front and rear hold the lever handle with both hands and roll up and down alternately, the car can run forward, and the speed reaches 12 kilometers per hour.

Although the power of the "hand-rolled car" is still far from enough to be applied to transportation, it also provides people with new ideas and opens a window.

If the power is sufficient, wouldn't it be possible to pull a lot of cars? It seems that even a simple steam car that can only reciprocate can be used.

Of course, the emperor does not have too high expectations now. Rail cars are drawn by horses and oxen, which is several times more efficient than the current road transportation.

"Very good." The emperor put down the document and said to Sun Yuanhua with a smile: "Since the test is feasible, then speed up the implementation!" I will find a way to solve the problem of funding. ”

After a pause, the emperor reminded: "The top priority is to train a group of railway construction talents, and through them, promote the construction of railway tracks to the whole country." ”

Sun Yuanhua bowed and said: "Long live if this is the plan, Weichen suggests setting up a special school. ”

The emperor bowed his head slightly and said, "Yes." Gather your men and get this done! ”

The country needs scholars, but it is not only those who read the Four Books and the Five Classics, but only those who have a way through the imperial examination. All kinds of professionals will play an increasingly important role in the construction of the Ming Dynasty promoted by the emperor.

As for the official position, for the emperor, it is not a matter at all. This is also to take care of the social customs and inherent concepts at that time, you say that academicians and engineers are very good, but people recognize a few products.

If not, how can the Academy of Sciences be so attractive? Regardless of whether you really have the spirit of studying science or not, as long as you have professional expertise, you will have an official position and rank, and enjoy the treatment of an official.

It seems that officials are abusing the authority, and there will be worries about redundant officials in the future. But the emperor didn't think so, and the official rank was used on technical officials, which was not much different from the title of later generations.

Sun Yuanhua bowed down, paused and said: "Long live Qijuan, the development of rifled guns is progressing slowly, although the real thing has been manufactured, it is labor-intensive and time-consuming, and large-scale production is very difficult. ”

The emperor's concern for the military industry is obvious to all, and the ideas and suggestions put forward are also correct. No matter how much effort it takes, samples of rifled muskets have been made, and the results of the live firing test are encouraging.

But as Sun Yuanhua played, it takes time and effort to manufacture, and it is impossible to equip the army one day, and it can only exist as a small number of samples in the world.

The emperor knew what Sun Yuanhua's recital meant, and he was afraid that he would be anxious and worried that he would be guilty.

He waved his hand and said, "If you want to do a good job, you must first sharpen your tools." The rifling machine can be developed first, and the rifling gun can be manufactured on a large scale. This is the same reason as the previous manufacture of musket barrels, from manual to mechanical, to equip our Ming army. There is no rush in this work, you can develop it slowly. ”

"Wechen understood." Sun Yuanhua secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The flintlock musket was already the most advanced in the world, and the emperor was really in no hurry to replace the rifled gun. But the science and technology tree is constantly climbing, from smoothbore to rifling, which is also the normal trajectory of historical development.