Zhao Dagui doubled slightly, including books on the manufacture of modern muskets and artillery, books on the construction of modern warships and merchant ships, books on the manufacture of glass, soap and perfume, and books on gunpowder and steam engines.

For Zhao Dagui, these books are more important than the world-famous martial arts cheats such as "Nine Yin True Scripture", "Nine Yang Divine Skills", and "Six Veins Divine Sword".

Before and after the Opium War, many French and American businessmen sent Chinese officials advanced artillery models and ship models, and sold various weapons, hoping that China and Britain would be inseparable and leave indelible wounds to Britain.

This has to be a bad luck to see the UK, and Zhao Dagui rarely complains.

Regrettably, Chinese officials and emperors, who were well-versed in the books of the sages, had always scoffed at these efforts and ignored them.

After taking all of Macao's shipbuilding industry away and getting 12,000 science and technology books, Zhao Dagui's trip to Macao this time was far beyond expectations.

There were a lot of trivial matters involved in relocating equipment and personnel, and the boat rented from Shanghai was not enough, so Zhao Dagui took the books and some workers and returned to Hong Kong first, let the two stay and take care of these things slowly, and then charter a ship to Shanghai or something.

When they returned to Hong Kong, Sheldon and Yang Willy must go with them, Zhao Dagui now has all the Western science and technology books brought by Gu Sheng in his hands, and with the lure of these books, Zhao Dagui does not need to use them, and these two people will cry and shout to go to Shanghai together.

In a sense, people who study Western studies in China today are quite willful people, whose families have spent a lot of money and trained them to read and write for more than ten years, but when they grow up, they have no intention of fighting in the imperial examination or officialdom that seem to be very rich, but instead they are drumming up the money they need to make money at all, and the psychological shadow area of their families is not small.

After returning to Hong Kong, the books brought by Zhao Dagui caused a sensation among the scholars, who usually picked up some leaks in the hands of missionaries and foreigners, and exchanged some Western books for reading, and had never seen such a comprehensive system of books that could be made into a library.

It's a pity that there are very few of these scholars who really know English and can understand English to some extent, only five or six people, so they can only let these people read it first and then translate, and the others are itchy and helpless.

Fortunately, Zhao Dagui said that when he returned to Shanghai, he would find someone to organize and translate these books for everyone to read, and also suggested that it was best for scholars to learn some English by themselves, so that they would not have to wait for others to read the translation.

These words made many people's hearts move.

The "Oriental" purchased by Zhao Dagui was almost refitted, and Stark also helped find a captain and sailor who could drive the ship.

In Zhao Dagui's plan, in the future, regular cruises will definitely be from Shanghai to Hong Kong, and then to Guangzhou, and then back, and in Guangzhou to buy land to build wharves and supporting facilities.

Thinking that there were actually a large number of Western scholars in Guangzhou, and in addition to the invitations of the scholars brought from Shanghai, he could add a fire to himself, so Zhao Dagui discussed with the captain and drove this steam ship to Guangzhou, which was a rehearsal before the official operation.

When the "Dongfang" arrived in Guangzhou, it caused a sensation and made a sea of people.

The people of Canton have seen a lot of Western ships, but this is the first time that this kind of steamship with an entire shell made of iron has rushed to the dock to watch.

The scholars of the Western School in Guangzhou were really itching, so they asked someone to come to the ship to have a look, and Zhao Dagui naturally asked them to come up and watch, and by the way, he introduced them to the benefits of the Shanghai Oriental College, and pointed out to them the mountains of Western books in the cabin.

"This Master Zhao is really generous!"

"All the Western books in the entire Guangdong are taken together, and I am afraid that they are not as good as one-tenth of the books in the Oriental College!"

The scholars were amazed and felt that the benefits of the Oriental College were very good, and many people expressed their willingness to work in Shanghai on the spot, but they did not agree for a while, and they also showed thoughtful expressions.

Zhao Dagui exhibited the Oriental in Guangzhou, and the businessmen in Guangzhou were also particularly interested, and they came to watch it and inquire if there was any opportunity to do business.

Seeing that the market was very good, Zhao Dagui simply opened a temporary route from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, that is, as long as he spent five yuan, he could take a boat to Guangzhou for a trip and then come back.

Five yuan is actually a bit high, if you rent a small wooden boat, Guangzhou to Hong Kong is a matter of several hundred yuan, but you can't stand the Oriental decoration is luxurious, full of exotic style, many rich people are willing to give it a try.

However, Zhao Dagui also understands in his heart that most of these people just want to try it, and it is estimated that in a month or two, such enthusiasm will decrease a lot.

The liveliness of the Dongfang also alarmed Qi Ying, the governor of Liangguang, and specially sent people to inspect the Dongfang.

Zhao Dagui deliberately did not accept other people's merchant ships, cleaned the steamship well, and asked Major Stark to come over to accompany him, so that the governor of Qiying took a number of relatives, friends and officials to tour the merchant ship together, and asked the captain to drive the ship until the sea of piercing the nose and then came back.

Qiying was quite satisfied with this trip, and specially called Zhao Dagui over to talk.

"Master Zhao's business is doing well, he is rich. Jain said jokingly.

"Students are also blessed by the imperial court and adults, earning some hard-earned money. Zhao Dagui hurriedly said.

Qiying was surprised to see Zhao Dagui claiming to be a student, so she asked the reason, and when Zhao Dagui replied that he was a child from Shanghai County, he smiled and didn't say much.

"Master Zhao turned out to be a scholar, which is rare, and I hope that I will not forget to be loyal to the monarch and serve the country, and make more contributions to my Qing Dynasty.

By the way, now is the time when the country is in crisis, and it is very necessary to understand the reality of the West, can you lend this ship to the imperial court for research?" asked Qiying seemingly casually.

"That's a good dare, if the court needs it, I, Zhao Dagui, will be reimbursed for smashing the pot and selling iron.

It's just that this ship is actually the ship of a steamship merchant house driven by foreigners, because the students have shares in the merchant house, and they usually help them take care of chores and help attract customers.

If adults want to use boats, I will tell those foreigners that they must be satisfied. Zhao Dagui said with a smile.

"So that's the case, then comprador Zhao has to have a heart. The smile on Qiying's face remained unchanged, but she secretly cursed in her heart.

"By the way, there is one thing that I have always thought is strange, this wood is lighter than water, and it is no problem to float on water, how can this thing made of iron also run on the sea and not sink?"

"For this, the students are not very clear. However, if you make a basin of copper and iron and put it on the water, it won't sink for a while, isn't it the same reason?" Zhao Dagui said, thinking that if you really want to explain this, you have to start with Archimedes to explain it well, I want to talk about it well, but I'm afraid you are impatient to listen.