My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 264 The Greatest Project in History

According to Li Han's description, Zhu Yuanzhang understood a little bit, which was to build a road paved with steel, specifically for running steam locomotives.

As soon as the word "steam engine" was mentioned, he understood that steam engine should be used as the engine to power a steam locomotive, just like a steamboat.

The only difference is that steamships run on water, while steam locomotives run on roads made of steel.

Then the picture that emerged in his mind was that on an incomparably magnificent steel avenue, huge and strange vehicles that looked like ships were running along, emitting billowing black smoke and blasting shrill whistles.

"Hiss~~"

Zhu Yuanzhang let out a long sigh. The scene in his mind was so strange and weird that it made him feel a little creepy.

And there was one thing he just couldn't understand: as long as there was a road, cars could be driven, so why did they have to build a steel avenue? What was the point?
But Lao Li shouldn't be talking nonsense. Let's continue to see how he explains it.

"What I didn't expect was that in just over a year, the Ming Dynasty was already able to build an improved steam engine on its own.

This is a huge progress, and I am very pleased. It means that the industrial strength of the Ming Dynasty will reach a whole new level. "

Old Li was pleased, and so was I. Zhu Yuanzhang was also smiling.

"It is precisely because the Ming Dynasty invented the steam engine that I believe the time to build trains has come. The new steam engine can be used as the engine power for locomotives and ships.

Its greatest feature is that trains can run continuously on both ends of the railway, transporting goods, personnel, or even soldiers.

Let's put it this way. Suppose the distance from Yingtian Prefecture to Shuntian Prefecture is more than 2,000 miles. Suppose Shuntian Prefecture is in a state of emergency, and you, Zhu, need to transport 5,000 tons of food and fodder to support it. According to the current pace of the Ming army, it will take at least a month to march quickly.

If we use the train, it will be delivered in two days at most, of course, the premise is that there is a railway between Yingtianfu and Shuntianfu."

Five thousand tons of grain and fodder is about 100,000 dan, right? It can be transported from Yingtian Prefecture to Shuntian Prefecture in two days?
Zhu Yuanzhang couldn't help but gasp. This capacity and speed were simply too terrifying. Even if it was the most powerful steamship in the Ming Dynasty, although its capacity was comparable, it would still take at least seven or eight days to travel such a long distance.

If we could really build railways all over the territory of the Ming Dynasty, then by then, from east to west, from south to north, we would be able to reach the entire country within ten days.

"As for the specific situation, I have sent you the detailed construction drawings of the rails and steam locomotives. Just build them according to the drawings.

By the way, the Long Yu Tian Ji Furnace you gave me is so exquisite and ingenious, I like it very much. But could you help me make another model of the Long Yu Tian Ji Furnace? My friend Xu Nian liked it very much after seeing it, and he also wants to get one. Please, Lao Zhu.

Oh, and just like the golden spear, help him carve his name on it."

Hehe, we knew that Lao Li would like the model of the Long Yu Tian Ji Furnace. Zhu Yuanzhang was very proud.

Over the past few days, Li Han's help to him and the entire Ming Dynasty was beyond measure. Apart from giving him some worldly things, he had nothing to repay him. Fortunately, Old Li liked it very much, which made him feel a little relieved.

Otherwise, I owe Lao Li too much.

As for making another one for Lao Li’s friend, haha, isn’t that a piece of cake?
Lao Li’s friend is Lao Zhu’s friend. Isn’t it right to create another one to give to a friend? Oh, and Li Momo should be Lao Li’s confidante, so let’s give her one as well!
Thinking of this, Zhu Yuanzhang showed a strange smile on his face. Hehe, since Lao Li said that we should match couples randomly, what's wrong with us just matching them randomly?

After making up his mind, with a hint of mischief in mind, Zhu Yuanzhang stuffed the letter into his arms, picked up the railway manufacturing plan, returned to his bedroom, and looked through it carefully.

After a while, he raised his head with a look of shock, and couldn't help but look into the distance, wanting to let out a long roar to the sky!
The construction of this railway project is far from what I thought!

Now he understood why Lao Li called the railway "railway". It was because steel rails were laid on the ground, and then sleepers were laid in between. The wheels of the train were stuck on both ends of the rails and ran.

The steam locomotive is not like a steamship as you imagine, but a steam locomotive pulling a long cargo box, like an extremely majestic steel dragon, galloping on the rails!
That scene is so exciting and fascinating just thinking about it!
Once construction starts, this will be the largest project in Chinese history, far exceeding the construction of the Great Wall and the excavation of the Grand Canal!
Moreover, once completed, it will completely change the situation where transportation is slow due to China's vast territory. Whether it is freight, passenger or military transportation, it will all develop rapidly.

As a founding emperor of great military strategy and strategy, Zhu Yuanzhang knew what this would mean. Not only would the speed of transportation change, but the entire administrative structure of the Ming Dynasty and the logic of power operation would also undergo earth-shaking changes.

In short, the imperial power and the court's control over the entire territory will rise to an extremely terrifying level!

Moreover, it will not only benefit the present and future generations, but after its completion, the Ming Dynasty will be able to profit immediately because the change in transportation efficiency is indeed imminent.

He summoned the eunuchs and ordered, "Pass on my order. Summon the Minister of Works Li Min, the Vice Minister Wei Zuoqian, and the Minister of Revenue Yang Siyi to come to see me immediately. I have something important to discuss!"

……

After leaving court, Li Min did not run to the factory as usual, but went straight home. Even his wife was extremely surprised. The sun rose from the west today. It was the first time that her husband came home so early.

Li Min was certainly not idle. He rushed home in such a hurry because he had more important things to do.

Just as his wife stepped forward to greet him, she saw Li Min just nodded casually, then hurried into the study.

Now the shipyard in Songjiang Prefecture is nearing completion, and the newly trained workers at the Craftsmen Academy are also ready to be assigned to the Songjiang Prefecture shipyard.

After acceptance, the new steam engine officially entered the pre-production stage. According to Li Min's idea, the market for the new steam engine Longyu Tianji furnace must be much larger than the original steam engine. Therefore, it should not only be produced in Shuntian Prefecture, but also a new machine factory should be built in Songjiang Prefecture to cooperate with the construction of new ships at the Songjiang Prefecture Shipyard.

However, these are only part of the things that need to be reported to Your Majesty for approval. There is a more important matter that also needs to be discussed with Your Majesty.

That is, the speed at which the Imperial Academy of Craftsmen cultivates technical talents has far lagged behind the needs of industrial development!

(End of this chapter)