The end of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 216 Steam engine

Although a flintlock gun costs eight silver dollars, Liu Xia nodded with satisfaction and said to Chen Liu, who came with him, "You join the military department to discuss who will distribute the first 1,000 flintlock guns. Of course, at present, more than 10,000 muskets in the army can't be thrown away, but you have to adhere to the priority and give it to the master first. Force the army, and then give it to the ordinary troops.

Chen Liu listened and said, "After I go back, I will discuss it with the military divisions and generals. However, I think it's better to equip the troops who have used the musket first. After all, they are already familiar with the use of muskets. Even if there is some difference between flint guns and muskets, there is a difference. It's not big. I believe it's easy for these soldiers who already know it to use it again, and they don't have to spend time teaching.

At this time, as Wang Stone, who was usually followed by Liu Xia, said, "General, I think this first batch of flicing guns were sent to our personal guard brigade first. After all, our personal guard brigades all use muskets, and it is naturally easy to know about flatch guns. This is exactly what the military division said. This place, or the high-level figures of the whole Luoyang army, are almost all from the pro-guard brigade. Although Wang Shitou said so, no one objected, because the generals of other brigades were in the frontier at this time, and they didn't know about it. This is the first month near the water tower!

Chen Liu felt that since Wang Shitou has said it, there is no need to oppose Wang Shitou. After all, the two have known each other for so long, so pushing the boat is a favor for Wang Shitou and said, "I also think it is better to equip the guard brigade first. After all, the guard brigade is the general's guard unit, and it should be equipped first. A good weapon."

Liu Xia listened and said, "Well, take out 200 pieces and send them to Ying Yangwei, and the remaining 800 pieces will be sent to the personal guard brigade. As for the arquebus guns replaced by the guard brigade, they will be equipped to other brigades." Although there are flins, the muskets still occupy the majority. Now it can't be produced in large quantities, that is to say, the muskets occupy the main force.

"I understand!" Chen Liugong said.

"You have done a good job. The personnel who participated in the research and development will be rewarded according to their respective merits. At the same time, Fang Linyuan and Li Sanhan were promoted to Yangyong School. Now Wang En, the head of the logistics department, is already at the level of the riding school, but the two deputy directors, Fang Linyuan and Li Sanhan, are still at the level of Yangwu School. The difference between the two is a little big, so Liu Xia took this opportunity to be promoted.

After hearing this, the two immediately frowned and said respectfully, "Thank you, Your Highness!"

"Okay, let's all get up. Shou Biao, let's go to the Institute of Science and Technology. Let's see how the steam engine research is going. After Liu Xia said that, everyone went to the Institute of Science and Technology not far away. The Institute of Science and Technology and the Arsenal are two independent places. The Academy of Science and Technology develops scientific and technological things based on Liu Xia's ideas. If the scientific and technological items developed are recognized, they can be produced in the factory, and the arsenal itself has its own research and development personnel. Of course, some R&D personnel also serve as R&D personnel of the Academy of Science and Technology. That is to say, some of the two places coincide.

The Institute of Science and Technology is built in the west of the arsenal, but the scale is much smaller than that of the arsenal. After all, the arsenal is not only a place to develop weapons, but also a place to produce weapons in large quantities, and the Institute of Science and Technology is only a place to develop science and technology. And due to the particularity of the two places, the arsenal and the Institute of Science and Technology, the Guard Brigade has placed a battalion to defend this place. At the same time, the Logistics Department also has some of its own exclusive troops. Although there are not many people, they are all stationed in this place.

walked out of the door of the arsenal and walked less than 100 meters to enter the Institute of Science and Technology. At this time, Luo Chengxian, the yard of the Institute of Science and Technology, was leading a group of science and technology R&D personnel to stand outside waiting for Liu Xia's arrival.

"See you, Prince." As soon as they saw Liu Xia's arrival, everyone knelt down and saluted.

Liu Xia quickly stepped forward with a smile to help Luo Chengxian up and said, "Get up, everyone get up."

"Thank you, Prince!"

"Your Majesty, a total of 53 people in our Institute of Science and Technology are all waiting for the prince's inspection here." Luo Chengxian pointed to more than 50 people behind him and said. Liu Xia glanced at it and said with a smile, "You don't have to be so rigid. I just came to see your research results." These people are about 40 years old on average, and most of them are old men, but in China, the elderly are generally very experienced people.

Liu Xia turned her head again and smiled and said to Luo Chengxian, "Can you develop the steam engine I told you before?" Liu Xia was very clear about the principle of the steam engine, so she asked someone to draw the drawings and send them to them. Although it was not too detailed, and even many details were not drawn, Liu Xia thought that these people should be able to make it. The steam engine was not too difficult. If you know a little about it, you can almost get it out.

Sure enough, Luo Chengxian said, "Your Majesty, we have made that thing, but I don't know what it's useful. Although it can make a wheel turn, there is also a lot of coal that needs to be consumed." Liu Xia said happily, "Is it really done? Take me to have a look. As for his use, it is very extensive. It can be used not only as a textile machine, but also as a ship train and so on.

"Ship and train?" Everyone was puzzled.

"What kind of ship is a ship? What kind of train is it? Is it a car that caught fire?

Liu Xia suddenly felt depressed and thought to himself, it seemed that a few more advanced words could not pop up from time to time in the future. Liu Xia was not in the mood to explain the meaning of these words to them, and quickly followed the scientific and technological personnel to look at the developed steam engine.

This steam engine is not big, but it is not small. It is more than two meters high, which can be regarded as a big thing. However, this steam engine is really simple. Only one wheel is installed. Once the coal is ignited, only that wheel will move.

"Your Majesty, is this the steam engine you want? Since we haven't figured out what useful this thing can be, we didn't tell the general that he developed it.

Liu Xia came forward to look at the steam engine carefully and muttered, "Sure enough, it is a steam engine, which is much better than the first one built in the West. It seems that the industrial era of the Ming Dynasty is about to begin.

"This steam engine can replace manual work. You can use the steam engine to turn the wheels to make a textile machine, or it can also be used to make steel. Of course, it also has a particularly important function, that is, to take a car that will run automatically. This kind of car is the train I just mentioned. You can also make this steam engine smaller. Liu Xia remembers that the first train appeared in the 17th century, and now the West has not made a train.

"The train you can move?" Luo Chengxian muttered in a low voice, and his eyes had been staring at the wheel that was already turning at this time. Then he patted his forehead and said excitedly, "My lord, I know. You mean to use the steam engine to drive the wheel around, and then you can leave by yourself."

Liu Xia nodded happily and said, "That's right. You design the wheels below, and then lay two rails on the ground according to the spacing of the wheels, so that you can run on them."

When it comes to steel rails, Liu Xia's tone is a little weaker, because steel is Liu Xia's cartilage. At this time, Liu Xia keeps telling herself that she must increase the output of steel and increase the output of steel.

"General, you can wait for the good news of your subordinates. Your subordinates will definitely make that train!" Although he was in his forties, Luo Chengxian was as happy as a child. He stared at the rotating wheel and said solemnly about Liu Xia.

These people used to be masters of craftsmanship, but because the world despised the craftsmen and thought it was strange skills, they were despised. However, since they met Liu Xia, Liu Xia not only respected them, but also gave them a lot of rewards, which made them grateful and said that they met Mingzhu, so they are one of the most loyal people to Liu Xia. As long as Liu Xia said that they could make it, they would bury themselves in it for development.

Liu Xia patted Luo Chengxian on the shoulder happily and said, "I believe you can make it. Thousands of years ago, there was a master who made a big flying bird. I believe that soon you can not only make a train, but even develop a flying machine."