Northern Song Dynasty: Starting from the son of Song Renzong

Chapter 203 What do you think of His Royal Highness Prince Yu?
After giving the order, Zhao Xun would arrange all other matters himself.

Therefore, Zhao Xin doesn’t need to worry about the remaining things.

As the railway in this mining area was opened first, the imperial court soon received reports from local officials in Xingzhou and Cizhou.

Tout the convenience of this railway.

This made everyone in the court look confused.

Because they had never seen a car that could run on its own without human power.

Things that you have never seen before will seem outrageous once expressed in words.

It's like some kind of monster that eats coal.

At the meeting...

After hearing the report from the local officials, Zhao Zhen asked, "Zui Xinglai, what's going on?"

Zhao Xin had no choice but to say, "Dad, I have already explained this before. It's just that the local officials are uneducated and don't understand, so they describe it like some strange novel."

"That's a steam engine. Nothing to be surprised about."

The officials in the court heard the exaggerated data of one million kilograms of coal and iron ore being transported every day. Of course, this data must have been exaggerated by the literati and could not be considered true.

But even so, it should be true that large amounts of coal and iron ore can be transported without manpower.

That was astonishing enough.

Because if it were in the past, it would take at least dozens or even hundreds of people, and they would have to pull ox carts, horse carts, and donkey carts to transport them to the smelting site every day to achieve this effect.

But the report now says that the railway took only more than a month to transport at least half a year's worth of goods.

So now, there is the transportation capacity, but not that much coal and iron ore.

It’s like all the inventory has been shipped away.

How can this not be surprising?

If what was reported is true, then the iron production of the Song Dynasty is estimated to increase by at least five or six times.

of course!

Transportation is actually not a difficult task.

In fact, mining is where the most manpower is needed.

Down to court.

Fan Zhongyan also came over and asked Zhao Xin briefly, "What is this steam engine?"

To be honest, Zhao Xin was too lazy to explain to them.

But seeing that they were still in the dark, I could only say, "A steam engine is a machine that uses steam to drive connecting rods, which ultimately drive wheels to achieve reciprocating motion."

"Its principle is just like a water wheel, except that a water wheel uses water, while a steam engine uses steam."

"It's like cooking soup. Once the soup starts to boil, the lid will jump up and down, making a puffing sound. The steam engine uses this force to push the lid open."

"A little bit adds up to a lot. With some clever design of the connecting rod and the transmission of power, the car can be driven forward without the need for human intervention."

“Although the steam engine does not require manpower, it still requires a lot of coal as fuel.”

"So... just as a waterwheel needs a river, a steam engine must be near coal."

"It's just that you can't pick up coal from the river and transport it to other places for use, but with a steam engine, you can put the coal on your car and use it while it's moving."

“This breaks down the limitations of space.”

"It's hard for you to understand just by saying this. If you really want to know what a steam engine is, then you can take turns to go to Xingzhou and Cizhou when you have a vacation."

There were relatively many holidays in the Song Dynasty.

Many times, we can have three days off.

of course!

These two places are at least five hundred miles away from Kaifeng.

It took three days to travel a thousand miles back and forth. Even if we didn't change people, it would be a bit difficult to change horses.

Then I can wait until I have five days off, or I can just take a leave. Then...

Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi and Wen Yanbo actually asked for leave.

The first two are assistant prime ministers. In the short term, it will make little difference whether they are there or not.

Wen Yanbo was very curious and wanted to go even if it would delay his work.

However, people like Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, and Wen Yanbo are still too few.

after all……

It would probably take ten days or half a month to travel this thousand miles round trip.

Some people thought, it’s just a steam engine, is it necessary to do this?

It would be better to stay at home, write poems and listen to music with my concubine, and feel comfortable and relaxed.

Four days later.

The three of them arrived at Cizhou, which was a hundred miles further south than Xingzhou.

However, both Cizhou and Xingzhou had iron smelters and were the first to build railways.

The three men and their followers soon saw what the steam engine looked like.

to be frank!
The first time I saw such a strange thing, I was a little surprised.

However, after understanding its principles and the ingenious design behind it, I am not so surprised anymore.

Fan Zhongyan also asked the relevant person in charge: "Who came up with this steam engine?"

The person in charge said, "This is naturally His Royal Highness Prince Yu."

Fan Zhongyan was really a little stunned.

you say……

It would be fine if he was able to govern the country and have his own ideas about governing the army, but he was able to even invent the steam engine. What is this?
correct!

If we must count it this way, then the Cuju field and those new ways of playing Cuju can also be considered as invented by the other party.

Thinking of this...

Fan Zhongyan also briefly summarized what Zhao Xin had done over the years.

Don't tell me yet!

It seems that His Royal Highness Prince Yu has done quite a lot.

It's just that they have never paid much attention to it before.

All along, I thought the other person was just a child.

Naturally, they felt that what he did was insignificant.

Fan Zhongyan also asked Han Qi and Wen Yanbo: "What do you two think about this?"

Han Qi and Wen Yanbo looked at the steam locomotive and said, "The design is exquisite. I didn't expect... His Royal Highness Prince Yu could have such an ingenious idea."

Wen Yanbo went on to say: "If we can build a railway and connect all the prefectures and counties, it will be of great help to the transportation of materials throughout the Song Dynasty. It will be comparable to water transportation."

Han Qi: "Water transport requires a lot of people, and in some places, trackers are needed, but this is completely unnecessary."

Fan Zhongyan also said: "I'm not asking this, but what do you think of His Royal Highness Prince Yu?"

The two of them fell silent immediately.

Han Qi asked, "You are so smart that no one can compare to you?"

Wen Yanbo said: "Exceptionally talented."

After listening to what the two said, Fan Zhongyan felt that what they said was not quite right.

Fan Zhongyan felt that the most terrifying thing about His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu was that he would do things without you noticing at all.

(End of this chapter)