Start Being a Vassal King Today - Chapter 893

[Chapter 893 Iron Armor]

“In addition to refining metal, you should review the preparation of rubber and build a rubber production line in advance. Once the rubber arrives, you must be able to produce rubber immediately.” Zhao Xu urged.

These are the factors that limit industrial upgrading.

In order to pave the way for the second industrial revolution, one needs to be solved one by one.

After staying in the research institute for a while, Zhao Xu returned to the palace.

Summed up the launch time of the steamship.

He took the first steam locomotive on the Yanjing Line that morning and headed east.

Unlike the last time, this steam train was a special train for him and the officials.

Now, the steam locomotive from Yancheng to Jinghai is full of people.

Ever since there was this steam locomotive.

The people along the road from Yancheng to Jinghai have benefited a lot.

Many people were able to travel to Yancheng from far away to find jobs in workshops.

Merchants can also go to Yancheng with the cargo through the cargo compartment behind the steam locomotive.

And this is also the reason why Yancheng suddenly prospered during this period of time.

People from all directions gathered in Yancheng.

According to Liu Fu’s words, Yancheng will be overwhelmed by now.

After running-in, the speed of this steam locomotive has reached 60 kilometers per hour.

In an hour and a half, he arrived at Tranquility Sea.

After getting off his exclusive compartment, he went straight to the shipbuilding workshop of the Naval Department.

At this time, Zhou Yi and Chen Shou were already waiting for his arrival.

“Your Highness, I delivered the second batch of thirty-six steamships as scheduled.” Seeing Zhao Xu, Chen Shou bowed and said.

Zhao Xu looked at the steamboat in the dry dock that was about to be launched, and nodded with satisfaction.

There are currently twenty-four steamships in Jinghai Shipyard, and twelve more in Pingcheng Shipyard.

But it will be launched at the same time.

In addition, it is the sailing warship under construction in the dock.

“After these steamships and sailing warships are launched, stop building towed steam ships and sailing warships.” Thinking of something, Zhao Xu said to Chen Shou.

He believed that sixty steamships and sailing warships were enough to deal with the fleet of the Western Turks in the waters of the Eastern Turks.

Continuing production is a waste of resources.

Next, the military shipyard only needs to build ironclad ships, large troop carriers, large medical ships, and large supply ships on the basis of triple-expansion steam engines.

At the same time, civilian shipyards can build a large number of small steamships, as well as some large ferries and cargo ships based on triple-expansion steam engines.

“This is exactly the question that I want to respond to Your Highness.” Hearing this, Chen Shou heaved a sigh of relief.

After the three-expansion steam engine from the Research Institute can be mass-produced in the factory.

He believed that Tranquility Shipyard should not continue to build small steamships and sailing warships.

This is a waste of Tranquility Shipyard’s resources.

It would be more valuable to free up this resource and move it to the construction of ironclads.

If the Yanzhou Navy still needs small steamships and sailing warships, they can hand them over to Qizhou’s shipyard.

“Hahaha, heroes really see the same thing.” Zhao Xu laughed.

Then, his eyes were immediately attracted by a battleship under construction.

The length of this battleship is almost double that of previous sailing warships, about 124 meters long and 18 meters wide.

However, due to the short construction time, the wooden boards on the keels on both sides have not been installed yet.

But even so, he also knows that this is Dasong’s first ironclad ship in the future.

“After launching into the water, he will shock the world, raise the prestige of our country, and will definitely leave a strong mark in history.” Zhao Xu said.

Chen Shou looked like he was staring at Aizi, and he introduced to Zhao Xu, “Your Highness, this ironclad ship will be equipped with ten boilers to heat water and provide powerful power for the three-expansion steam engine. I estimate that its speed can reach three Ten kilometers per hour.”

“At the same time, due to the large size of the battleship, there is no need to reduce the number of artillery pieces. This ironclad ship will have 86 front-mounted rifled naval guns. No matter whether it is defense or firepower, no warship can match it.”

Zhao Xu became more and more looking forward to what Chen Shou said.

This ironclad ship has only been under construction for less than half a year. Since it is more complicated than a sailing warship, he expects the construction period to be at least two years.

In other words, it will take a year and a half before the ironclad ship can be launched.

However, he was in no hurry.

His current focus is to drive the Westerners away from the Eastern Land and bring the entire Eastern Land into Da Song’s sphere of influence.

Then deal with the enemy in the north.

Of course, he will not forget the independent continent in the southern waters—Australia.

According to this order to achieve the goals one by one, it is estimated that it will take two or three years.

At that time, the launch of the iron-clad ship could become the vanguard for him to go to the deep sea and seize the hegemony of the sea.

“By the way, how did you discuss with Wang Chong and his son on the rotating fortress?” Zhao Xu asked what he thought of.

In addition to the artillery positions on both sides of the evolution sailing warship, the ironclad ship built this time.

Four rotating cannons were also designed.

Two doors are on the foredeck and two are on the aft deck.

The four cannons will be fixed on a rotatable pallet.

The principle is similar to the glass disc that can be rotated on the dining table in a restaurant.

Ironclad ships with only gun positions on both sides are just an immature design of early ironclad ships.

Later ironclad ships were basically equipped with rotating turrets.

In this way, the artillery can attack the opponent’s warship without adjusting the sailing posture. Compared with warships with only gun positions on both sides, it has a huge advantage.

“Their father and son took care of this matter with patted chests, and let the minister only be responsible for the installation.” Chen Shou laughed, and the cooperation between him and the two was very pleasant.

The father and son are also very right-tempered with him.

“That’s good, that’s it, the king can wait for the arrival of the iron-clad ship with peace of mind.” Zhao Xu said.

“Not only this ship, but these dry docks can be used to manufacture ironclad ships after these steamships are launched, and I will give His Royal Highness a fleet composed of ironclad ships.” Chen Shou is ambitious.

After his words fell, Zhao Xu was fine, but Zhou Yi burst out laughing first, “Master Chen, when the day comes, I will personally bring you tea and water.

”

Then, unable to hold back, he laughed.

The three laughed for a while before turning their attention to the steamboat that was about to launch.

The yearning for the ironclad ship made them feel that the steamship in front of them was quite ordinary.

But the launching ceremony is still going on.

After Zhao Xu gave the order to launch, the twenty-four steamboats slowly sailed from the dry dock to the sea.

Looking at the steamboat emitting smoke, Zhou Yi pinched his waist with a complacent expression, and said, “Your Highness, I will send these steamboats to Wufeng Island to cooperate with Gong Ying and the four northern feudal clans to launch an attack on the Watanabe case.”

“It’s not too late. Let them go to Dongying now. Dong An probably has seen four feudal lords, and the battle is about to start.” Zhao Xu said.

Dongying is a country without depth, and the longest distance from east to west is only three or four hundred miles.

This means that they can support the four northern vassals at any time from the sea.

(end of this chapter)