Solovyov in Tsarist Russia 1796.

Chapter 138 038 Creativity will collide
The inventor of a practical steam-boat has not yet received the letter, but the application of steam will always be necessary.

Making a cast iron boiler is not a difficult task, but what to burn becomes a problem.

Someone will say in the future that Russia lacks coal, which sounds very interesting.

Not to mention the coal in Donbass, there are also many coal mines around Moscow, not to mention Russia's forest coverage rate, which can provide a lot of wood for use.

After Peter the Great’s Russian army entered Ukraine, he quickly discovered coal in the area around Donetsk. Although the development of coal was limited in his time, the reserves were so great that by the time of Nicholas I, some people actually claimed that Russia was “short of coal” when it came to the issue of railway construction.
This is a joke in itself. The fuel used by the foundry in Luhansk is coal from the Donbas region. The foundry here mainly produces artillery shells to supply the Black Sea Fleet. In addition, blast furnaces are also being built.

That afternoon, during the basketball game, Paul was in the gym when he received the report from Luhansk.

"Mr Gascoigne has done a good job and we should increase the budget for Luhansk."

He said this without caring about the fact that he had acted on impulse and almost shut down the Luhansk foundry, which was a factory established by the Empress in 1795, but the person in charge at the time was Count Zubov.

There is a bit of personal grudge involved, but in Luhansk, the pace of construction has never stopped. The construction of a workers' settlement began in 1797, followed by a stable supply of coal from Lischansk in 1799, and now the blast furnace in Luhansk has been completed.

Although steam engines are relatively rare in Russia, and even Mr. Gascoigne's initial plan for Luhansk was mainly based on water mills and dams, in the long run, steam power can still provide a more powerful energy source.

The plans currently underway there are still the same old ones.

Solovyov was not interested in what happened in Luhansk. What he had to do now was to build a small boiler for heating in his own home and start testing the lower-level safety valves. The use of high-pressure steam should not be limited to pressure cookers.

Moreover, if this boiler is properly built, it can be used for heating, boiling water and heating meals at the Guards’ base in the future. At least the soldiers don’t have to eat cold food to replenish their energy while on guard.

He still thought of the cast iron boiler and began to recruit blacksmiths to complete the shell making work. However, it was not easy to do it, after all, he needed raw materials and used the water mill in St. Petersburg for processing - after all, coal was not produced around St. Petersburg.

As for the power structure to be presented, this aspect must be taken into consideration. At present, the main processing method is still water power, and the popularity of steam is not that high.

It would take several more years until the steam-powered drilling machine in Lugansk was completed, and it was not until 1804 that it was completed.

However, compared to the manufacture of the boiler, the wooden static model that is now to be presented to Tsar Paul is the first relatively difficult part.

He was quite familiar with structures. Whether it was a paddle wheel ship or an early locomotive, they were all relatively simple structures. He could even make a small wooden steamer model and find a way to make a powered steam model for demonstration.

However, the requirements for processed parts are relatively high.

At times like this, a watchmaker is needed to do delicate work.

After looking at the static model, Paul was very satisfied.

"Soloviev, this is called a ship, but it has no sails and is propelled by steam?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. This is a model of a small ship made based on some known intelligence from various countries, including France, Britain and the United States. As far as I know, the first French ship of this kind is about 35 arches in length. The specific displacement is unknown, but it must be 1 poods."

"I think this is still not very practical. We need to wait until professional engineers arrive to try to use a hybrid power of sails and steam. Duke Enghien said that the boiler exploded during their first voyage. The power mode mentioned in your report sounds a bit dangerous if it uses high-pressure steam."

"But your majesty, using new technology also involves risks. Even a vacuum structure with less power and greater safety may explode, but the force will not be as great."

"You keep talking about explosions, as if you were going to build a ship that explodes, Major. Are you going to use this ship to blow itself up in front of the enemy and damage the enemy's warships?"

When Paul said this, several naval generals beside him couldn't help laughing.

Solovyov listened and felt helpless. How come you even brought up the "special attack"?

"If necessary, we should imitate Watt's steam engine, or import it and make improvements on it. I am not a professional mechanical engineer, but I am familiar with the principles and designs. If officers have the corresponding knowledge, they should also participate in the invention."

"Very good, Major. What you need to do now is to solve the problem of the ship. As for the steam-driven train, we can also try to complete this idea. Don't be in a hurry. Britain and France may have similar designs, but they will not get strong support from the monarch." That's true. George III's mental state is unstable, and monarchs of other countries cannot be as generous as the Russian royal family.

At this point, Paul began to miss his old friend, the brainless Louis XVI and his wife. When they arrived at the Palace of Versailles, that friend's interest in machinery was like his interest in new weapons.

As for the problem of ships, Paul's idea was actually not wrong. A sailing ship with only one power system is indeed useful in many cases. However, it is not very realistic to build an ironclad ship now. It will take some time to build a warship with a metal shell, and it will take even longer to build a full metal one. It is not something that can be achieved overnight.

Solovyov had the idea of ​​making a train before, but it had always been on paper. Now if he wanted to make a track model, it was not impossible, but he would have to make a metal model, which would be more complicated than a wooden steamer.

By the middle of the 19th century, European steamships could be seen even as far away as the East.

Alexander was also listening, and he also thought that this kind of boat was very interesting, but in his mind, he still wanted something new, such as a boat to Kotlin Island, or sightseeing on the water somewhere, something like that.

Even in terms of military use, he believed that steam-powered ships were only suitable for transportation.

"Soloviev, if the ship you designed is enlarged to a warship, it will affect the firepower output in the middle, right here. And if the enemy's artillery fire penetrates the hull, it will also cause great harm to the ship itself."

"Your Highness, what do you mean?"

"I think this kind of ship is more suitable as a transport ship, carrying cargo and passengers, rather than a warship before it is perfected." "Yes, Your Highness, this still requires careful demonstration, comprehensive research from all aspects, and a comprehensive plan to launch it at the right time. In a word, it still needs further development. If you are worried about wind and waves, transport it in canals and natural rivers, and in places where the water environment is relatively stable."

"Okay, that's it. Father, what do you think?"

Alexander turned to Paul, who nodded in agreement.

"Indeed, I think the Navy Committee could do with some preparation."

Then he stood up, walked over to Solovyov and tapped his boots with his cane.

"You have grown taller, Major. If this invention can be completed, I can give you the right to operate a section of the canal for steam navigation. You are serving in the army, so you can let your father run it!"

This can be regarded as a great favor to the subjects, and Paul also wants to stimulate those great nobles. If they are willing to serve the country, they will be rewarded for their efforts.

"Alexander, what do you say?"

"Father, I also think it is possible as a reward. However, this operating right is time-limited and requires a partner."

This is not a problem. After all, the Solovyov family has two backers. Although the previous Prince Menshikov family has fallen, Paul's younger brother Count Bobrinsky can provide support from behind because of his special status.

In fact, a large part of these business rights will eventually be given to the Tsar and the Crown Prince by the sensible counts.

This price was also offered to Fulton by Alexander after he became Tsar. The activation condition was to provide several steamships within three years, and then he could obtain the monopoly right to operate the natural rivers and canals between Kronstadt and St. Petersburg in Russia for 15 years.

If it was given to a Russian, it would always be better than giving it to a foreigner, especially since Solovyov seemed easy to manipulate, and the partner would naturally be designated by the Russian government. In this way, a lot of profits and taxes could go directly into the national treasury or into the emperor's own pocket.

The designated "partner" can also be confirmed to be the new factory separated from Count Bobulinski and the Admiralty Shipyard. Even the production materials have been prepared. Once all the staff are in place and the order is given, the intensive construction will begin.

It all sounds great, and there is strong support from the royal family and the Navy Committee, but Solovyov is still worried about one issue, which is Russia's traditional art - bureaucracy.
But he didn't have much time to think about this now, as he had to build a powered model in front of the palace embankment first, for which he needed to make some miniature parts. This processing technology naturally required a skilled watchmaker to complete.

At the end of November, he finally got it out, but it was displayed in the palace's baths.
"That's good, Solovyov. Although the little thing flipped over when we were docking, it was uncontrolled. An experienced sailor could have controlled it and brought it to the shore."

Paul was very pleased with the boat, but Maria made one request to him.

"Father, can you give me this overturned boat?"

"Maria, you should ask the inventor, after all, he made it."

"I think your highness can have such a model. Although this little gadget is broken, the structure is still intact. You can put the ship in a small display cabinet and display it as a static model."

In this regard, Solovyov was very thoughtful. Now that all the royal family members were in the palace, his approach was to build one model for each family's bedroom. In addition to this movable but broken model, he also asked carpenters to rush to make some wooden models similar to the ones he showed to the Naval Committee.

However, the Tsar himself and Queen Maria, since they now live separately, each have a dedicated model.

Paul had always preferred Maria, so the boat that had flipped in the bathtub was not suitable for collection, so he handed it over to the Navy Committee.
The ship that Alexander obtained was placed in Louisa's study. It was a very rare time for him to come back, and he ended up looking after the children.

Louisa's attitude, of course, remained the same, but after she mentioned the child, their relationship became more intimate.

However, Alexander could also see that although his wife looked better now, she was still very weak. Compared with Naryshkina, her condition was indeed much worse.

He is picky about food and also requires spiritual compatibility. A wife who is too intellectual and loves a quiet life does not seem to be to his liking.

Little Maria started to grow teeth and was not shy. She would not resist when her father, who was not around all the time, came to hold her. This made Alexander decide that he should come back more often during this period to see the child.

Then, Solovyov "arranged" the patrol time to separate it from the time the crown prince was in the palace, and he also had to spend more time on inventing.

You know, although he has a great advantage now, the Scottish businessman Charles Bird is also developing new steam engines in St. Petersburg, but his business scope is mainly in providing steam-powered machinery to factories, rather than ships and railways.

At this time, he had to wait for the arrival of French engineers while understanding the situation of potential opponents.

As a result, Arkady told him that his father-in-law, Alexander Naryshkin, had actually found out in a club in St. Petersburg that the Scottish Bird Machinery Factory had no relevant plans at the moment and was still engaged in their main business.

However, if he knew about another thing, it might prompt him to speed up the process no matter what.

After all, the first Russian steamship built by Charles Bird was called the Elizabeth and was demonstrated to Empress Elizabeth on the water near the Tauride Palace in 1815.

This is stealing the show, you know?

Without knowing it, Solovyov had indeed begun preparations, and he did want to name the ship "Elizabeth" and modify it from the small boats commonly used on the canal.

This is no longer just a restoration of history; it's even an acceleration.

(End of this chapter)