"Why did the minting machine stop?"

Zhao Hong lowered his head and thought, the minting workshop was silent, and Zhen Dexiu asked unconsciously.

"Your Majesty is here, and I am afraid of arguing with Your Majesty, so I stopped it."

The mint officer replied cautiously.

"Go ahead. Let's take a look at other workshops. ”

Zhao Hong and the others walked out of the minting workshop, and after a moment, a deafening roar soon sounded. It seems that the machine for minting coins has been started.

Zhao Hong shook his head. This kind of formalism has been general from ancient times to the present, and it is really helpless.

In the steam workshop, driven by a steam engine, the red-hot iron bars were constantly smashed into the flat shape that the craftsmen wanted, and then wound around the steel shafts to form a circular column.

"Is this a spring? How? ”

Zhao Hong asked in surprise.

Although the jungle on Egret Continent was covered, it was still midsummer in front of the steelmaking furnace, and Zhao Hong's face was immediately covered with sweat, so much so that he kept wiping it with a handkerchief.

If only this were the kind of towel of the afterlife.

It seems that only heavy industry should be paid attention to, and light industry must be gradual in order to avoid the imbalance between light and heavy.

"Back to Your Majesty, this is called a bullet bar, and I have already had this method of smelting iron. The process is more complex, and quenching is the key. Originally, it was mainly produced for the purpose of flintlocking the flintlock iron. Later, after improving the quenching fluid, the elastic iron was made more powerful, with a smoother surface, and it was also suitable for pendulums. This columnar elastic iron was reminded by His Majesty, and was mainly used to slow down the bumps of the four-wheeled carriage. ”

Zheng Tu took Zhao Hong and others to the wooden box containing the processed springs, picked up a spring from it, handed it to Zhao Hong, and said with a smile:

"Since Your Majesty named it Spring, let's call it Spring in the future."

Zhao Hong pulled the two ends of the spring vigorously, but he couldn't pull a minute. The surface of the spring is smooth, and although I don't know what the elasticity is, it is certainly not as good as that of later generations, but it is still an improvement.

Whether it is a four-wheeled carriage or a two-wheeled carriage, it is a wooden wheel structure, and no matter how smooth the road is, it will hurt your butt after sitting for a long time. The springs act as cushions, which is really good.

"Rubber ......"

Zhao Hong frowned and thought about it.

The rubber tree originated in the Americas, all over the Amazon basin, and it seems that there is a way to get some seeds back and plant them in the Great Song Dynasty.

With rubber, the kind of rickshaw that came in the future may be able to come out. And simple cars don't seem to be dreams either.

The ministers were sweating profusely, and they all felt that the heat was unbearable and wanted to go out early. But the emperor did not move, and they had to stand firm.

"Four-wheeled carriages, and pendulums, are they selling well?"

Zhao Hong handed the spring to Zhen Dexiu, who had a large wet chest next to him, and continued to move forward.

With thousands of craftsmen and more than 2,000 workers, this should be the world's largest machine research and development center in this era.

"Back to Your Majesty, four-wheeled carriages and pendulums, rich families, almost everyone has them, and of course the price is not cheap. Like soap, soap glass, etc., four-wheeled carriages and pendulums are also exported overseas, and the demand exceeds supply. Some of the goods were sold to Europe by the big food merchants, and I heard that they were worth a fortune! ”

Zou Yinglong, the ruling minister on the side, interjected and shook his head with emotion.

Dasong products go to the world, and most of the products are leading the world in technology, which is difficult to imitate, let alone surpass. This is indeed a prestige overseas. And the people of the Great Song Dynasty benefited from it, which is also real.

"Let's go to the steam engine shop!"

Zhao Hong finally spoke, and the ministers couldn't wait, one by one, they were fierce and energetic, and they were more neat than Zhao Hong's legs and feet.

If you stay any longer, I'm afraid it's going to melt.

"Squeak!"

The piercing sound of metal friction came, and even changed the roar of the steam engine, Zhao Hong fixed his eyes, the drill bit on the cast iron lathe kept turning, and continued to advance in the fixed iron plate, drilling a section, the craftsman shook the handle, the drill bit would withdraw, and after removing the steel debris, then continue to drill, the drill bit adjusted the high ground from time to time, and the size of each small hole was the same, and after a while, a steel plate was drilled and transported away. After the craftsmen exchanged the drill bits, they began to drill the next one.

"Your Majesty, this is a steel plate on a steam engine, which is heated after drilling and then riveted."

"Are drill bits easy to make? Are the changes frequent? ”

Zhao Hong asked subconsciously.

The steam engine came out in large quantities, one hole and one plate, but it was the key to the steam engine.

"Your Majesty, in recent years, the craftsmen have continued to improve, the drill bit has been annealed twice, and then tempered once, and one drill bit can have three or four pipes. However, because the drill bit is easy to manufacture, there is no worry about the wear and tear of the drill bit. ”

"What about artillery? Do you still use a cast cannon? ”

Zhao Hong continued to ask after Zheng Tu's words.

The advent of the steam engine in the 18th century opened the curtain of the Industrial Revolution. Compared with the traditional clay mold casting cannon technology still used in the Qing Dynasty, the British have used the steam engine gun bore drilling technology. The breech made by this process can withstand higher chamber pressure, and the barrel can also be made longer; The interior was smooth and straight, and the shell and breech were more closely combined, which increased the firing range of the gun. At the same time, the monolithically cast cannon also avoids the sand hole and other problems that cannot be avoided by the traditional casting process.

Fight far, accurately, and quickly, and the strong ships and cannons in the mouths of the people of the Celestial Empire are not in vain.

"Your Majesty, the nearest artillery, because it is a breech short-bore artillery, uses a monolithic bore. The other artillery in the army used the casting method because there was no punch lathe. However, in the future, the overall drilling method is the trend of the times, and the manufacturing department is also casting machine tools, striving to eliminate the old guns in the army as soon as possible, and all new guns will be used. ”

The machine bed is made of cast iron, which is mainly to solve the problems of easy movement of the bed, shaking and wear of the drill bit and inaccurate processing parts during the drilling process. The barrel machined from solid cylindrical cast iron has a smooth, light and thin barrel wall, and there will be no sand hole problem, avoiding the explosion of the bore and lack of air tightness. Coupled with the high machining accuracy of the lathe, the shell and the gun chamber can be closely combined, which greatly improves the firing range.

When the number of artillery pieces in the army has arrived, they need to be eliminated and rebuilt, and naturally they can no longer use the cannon casting method.

"Breech breech breech guns? So, the explosive bomb has already been built? ”

Zhao Hong couldn't help but perk up.

The breech-loading short-bore gun is specially used for flowering shells, the cannon has already been built, and the shells are not difficult, so they should be available.

"Your Majesty, then you have to go to the workshop of the Ordnance Manufacturing Division!"

Zheng Tu chuckled softly.

Workshops, cast-iron lathes, the manufacture of gun carriages, four-wheeled carriages, chariots, etc., are called workshops, which seems to be logical.

Everyone walked out of the machine manufacturing workshop, and before they had taken a few steps, a huge explosion came, followed by the voices of people in the distance, making everyone stunned.

Zhao Hong couldn't help but be stunned, and subconsciously asked.

"What sound? What happened? ”

"Your Majesty, it seems that the voice is coming from the steam engine manufacturing workshop."

Wei Liaoweng listened to it and said with a frown.

"Let's go, go over and have a look!"

Zhao Hong couldn't help but say and stepped forward.

The steam engine manufacturing workshop not only produces steam engines, but also develops steam engines, and the talents of the Great Song Dynasty are here, but they are critical departments, and they must not have accidents.

When they arrived at the steam engine workshop, several researchers from the steam engine workshop hurriedly greeted them.

"Xin Yong, what's going on? How do chickens fly and dogs jump? ”

Zhen Deok Xiu asked sharply with a dark face.

"Back to Your Majesty, back to Zhengong, the steam engine boiler exploded and burst, killing two people and injuring five people. Zhao Ruteng also burned his leg, but it was fine. ”

Researcher Xin Yong, Xin Qiji's grandson, replied cautiously.

Zhao Ruteng is a member of the Great Song Dynasty, and Xin Yong are both Jinshi in the second year of Xingqing, and they are also researchers of steam engines.

"Didn't you let the safety valve be set up, how could it explode?"

Zhao Hong subconsciously broke out in a cold sweat.

How terrifying is the power of machinery! If he had inspected the steam engine workshop just now, wouldn't he have lost his life?

"Back to Your Majesty, the safety valve is rusty, Craftsman Liu is careless, and he doesn't check it carefully often, so he ......"

"Nonsense! This is the rules and regulations, the same as military discipline. How ferocious is the power of the machine, and if you don't obey it, you will die! ”

Wei Liaoweng's face turned pale, and he scolded angrily.

"The ministers know that they are wrong, please punish Your Majesty!"

"What is the use of chastizing you? People are dead, how can they be redeemed? ”

Wei Liaoweng glanced at Zhao Hong, who was silent, and quietly glanced at him.

"Your Majesty, let me wait until I finish manufacturing and developing a steam engine. It may not take a few years to build a better and more powerful steam engine! Besides, the steam engine used on the train is about to be built, so it can't be abandoned halfway! ”

Xin Yong knew this, and hurriedly bowed down to Zhao Hong and begged.

"Get up, and don't kneel down at every turn. The careless craftsman Liu was immediately dismissed and sent to the government for disposal. Find out how he got in, who introduced him, and remove him from his position! ”

Zhao Hong said with a dark face, and his ears were fatal.

"All the rest of you shall be fined for half a year for the bereavement of the dead and wounded. The details of the accident are sent by courier, and the gaps are checked and filled to see how to avoid the accident. And the accident was transmitted to the major iron factories so that they could take it as a warning. ”

In particular, Daye Iron Works, which was the center of the production of steam engines, could not go any wrong.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Xin Yong hurriedly received the order, and the group stood up uneasily.

"Your Majesty, just like that, cheapened them?"

Wei Liaoweng's face was gloomy and unrelenting.

"Wei Qing, eat a trench and grow wise. So be it. ”

Zhao Hong looked at Xin Yong and the others, and solemnly admonished:

"You all remember that what you do is science and technology, and you can't be sloppy. The Chinese people are impetuous, careless and self-righteous, and there are too few people who calm down and do things. I hope this incident will teach you a lesson, to understand the word "serious", and to pass on the craftsman spirit of "seriousness" to all the people around you. ”

"Follow Your Majesty's teachings! Thank you, Your Majesty, for your forgiveness! ”

Xin Yong and the others secretly rejoiced and bowed together.

The emperor was open-minded, and those words spoke to their hearts.

"Your Majesty, the steam engine has been used on merchant ships and warships for half a year, and there have been no accidents. You don't need to waste food because of choking, as long as you standardize the operation. ”

When the group came out, Wei Liaoweng complimented Zhao Hong, which also relieved him.

"Your Majesty, the steamship can not only be used around the Great Song Dynasty. You can also go to the South and Indian Oceans, and Goryeo, Guawa, Delhi, and Australia all have carboniferous. The warships of our Great Song Dynasty can haunt the South and Indian Oceans and go straight to Africa. ”

The use of steam engines must have a supply of coal, and if you bring your own, you can't travel too far after all.

With the Great Song Dynasty warships cruising in the South and Indian Oceans, the ministers of the Great Song Dynasty also knew the situation in many places.

"Actually, in North America, there's more coal there. I hope that my Great Song warship will arrive there as soon as possible, gain a firm foothold, and put it under the king of my Great Song Dynasty. ”

Unconsciously, everyone has left the gate of the machine manufacturing department, the river is flowing, and the breeze is slow, so that everyone is in good spirits.

"Have you ever thought that when the steam engine is used in the world, manpower will be replaced by machines, and there will be a large number of idle laborers? As I have said before, as long as there is too much population and not enough resources to distribute, it will cause chaos. At that time, what choice should I make in Da Song? ”

Zhao Hong looked into the distance and continued.

"Your Majesty, is it too early to talk about this at this time?"

Zou Yinglong said subconsciously. The Central Plains has not yet been restored, and it seems too early to talk about dominating the world.

"Too soon?"

Zhao Hong shook his head and said in a deep voice:

"At most, in three or five years, the steam engine will be used all over the world, and when the time comes, I am afraid it will be too late."

"Your Majesty, how on earth should it be resolved?"

Wei Liaoweng longed in his heart and unconsciously spoke.

"There's only one way, and that's ......"

Zhao Hong looked at the river rolling away in front of him, and gently spit out a few words in his mouth:

"Again, immigrants!"