The Great Industrial Ming Dynasty Started from Beiping

Zhu Zhanji knew that his father valued science and technology, so he left the Wenhua Palace and visited the Museum of the Imperial College in Beijing with other scholars. The museum has many collections, including the original steam engine for pumping water and various types of steam engines that were subsequently improved.

"In the spring of the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu, His Majesty the Emperor, who was still the eldest son of King Yan, together with the master craftsman Wan San, invented a steam engine for pumping water. This steam engine that uses coal as power is an epoch-making product."

"It's not that the machine is very advanced. In fact, from today's perspective, the steam engine decades ago was very primitive and crude, but the machine power replacing the remaining power is a huge progress."

The staff of the Imperial College in Beijing introduced excitedly.

Also accompanying him were the great scholar Cao Duan. Because Cao Duan was so famous, Zhu Zhanji invited him to join the entourage, as well as Tao Yi, a natural science thinker from Peking.

"The Wansan steam engine is a piston steam engine, and its main function is in mines."

"Master Han Youchang came up with the capping theory by observing the movement of the steam engine piston, and invented the collar, which improved the air tightness of the steam engine, greatly increased its efficiency, and can be used in other industries."

"Master Han Youchang continued to improve the steam engine. Through the principle of steam condensation, the wasteful efficiency of the steam engine was reduced. From then on, trains, buses, and even steam ships became popular."

"Although Master Han Youchang has passed away, the large number of manuscripts left behind are the most precious legacy. His descendants donated them to our Imperial College Museum in Beijing for permanent storage."

The staff member pointed to a stack of drawings in the glass cover and said proudly.

"The Imperial Academy in Beijing cooperates with the Steam Engine Factory of the Daming Industry Bureau. The research and development of steam engines has always been the most important project. Nowadays, the most fruitful high-pressure steam engine already has a model machine."

On the table, there is a half-person-high model.

Zhu Zhanji listened very carefully. After he returns, he will find an opportunity to tell his father. His father has always been very attentive to scientific and technological matters and asked detailed questions. If he cannot write it down attentively, he may be blamed by his father. Ask live.

He didn't want to disappoint his father, so even though he was the prince, Zhu Zhanji was always very attentive.

"High-pressure steam engines are commonly used in chemical production to heat reactors, extraction and distillation equipment, etc. At the same time, high-pressure steam is also used as an important means of heat energy consumption in chemical industry."

"Although various chemical plants in Tianjin have not yet used it, they have begun to connect it and will conduct on-site tests soon. If there are no problems in the test, it will be a new and important technological invention."

"And in buildings and other industrial settings, high-pressure steam engines can be used in temperature control systems by heating water and converting it into steam, which is then piped to areas that need heating."

"In all kinds of washing equipment, high-pressure steam engines can also play an important role."

After visiting the museum, the Imperial College in the capital also prepared more programs for the prince and his party, including various interesting experiments.

Zhu Zhanji and civil and military officials sat in the audience.

Several scholars arranged items on the stage.

A piece of amber was prepared and hung in mid-air on a thin thread.

A scholar held the silk cloth in his left hand and rubbed the glass rod in his right hand. After rubbing for a while, the man slowly took the glass rod and approached the amber in mid-air, and then found that the amber moved.

The amber in the air moved in the direction of the glass rod. People in the audience watched carefully. Some were dumbfounded. Although some could not explain the principle, they guessed that it was a phenomenon in natural science and were waiting for explanations from scholars.

"This is electricity."

"Friction can make different items electrified, but some items cannot be charged. We temporarily call items that cannot be charged insulators." The scholar began to explain.

Sure enough, many people were shocked when they heard the scholar's introduction.

"what?"

"But lightning's electricity?"

Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but asked in surprise.

The phenomenon of the experiment is not surprising. Even ordinary people can find it every day. However, when scholars explained it as electricity, Zhu Zhanji couldn't help but feel mysterious and suspicious.

"Yes, it is the same type as the thunder and lightning in the sky, but the current frictional electricity is far less powerful than the lightning in nature, but we believe that if the friction is enough, the power will naturally increase."

"Doesn't it mean he has mastered thunder and lightning?"

"It's still early to master thunder and lightning, but we have discovered the phenomenon of two levels of yin and yang, where the same sex repels and the opposite sex attracts."

The scholar shook his head and said honestly: "We have not yet mastered the way of thunder and lightning, but we have become aware of the principles of yin and yang, as well as the phenomenon of like-sex repelling and opposite-sex attracting. This is the essence of all things in the world, and also the essence of electricity."

Having said this, the scholar's eyes brightened and he became more energetic as he spoke.

"Since ancient times, sages and philosophers have devoted themselves to exploring the mysteries of heaven and earth, and electricity is also among them. In the past, some sages observed the power of lightning strikes and saw the speed of lightning. They were in awe and curious. So they spent their whole lives studying the heaven and earth. Way to delve into the mystery of electricity.”

"Through the efforts of our predecessors, and the restoration of our great Ming Dynasty, we have finally understood the principle of Yin and Yang. Like poles repel each other, and opposite poles attract each other. This is the law of the operation of all things in the heaven and earth, and also the law of the operation of electricity. Obtained Based on this principle, we can control the power of electricity and make it serve the Ming Dynasty."

After explaining, the scholar became embarrassed again and his voice gradually became quieter.

"It's just that the mysteries of electricity are endless, and we still need to continue to explore. However, we will not forget our original intention, continue to move forward, explore the mysteries of heaven and earth, and seek the welfare of the Ming Dynasty and the people."

"well said."

Zhu Zhanji took the lead in applauding, and the scene was peaceful.

On behalf of the royal family, Zhu Zhanji donated a sum of food stamps to the Imperial Academy in Beijing. The next day, the newspaper published a detailed report of His Highness the Crown Prince's behavior and affirmed and praised His Highness the Crown Prince's behavior.

Wenlou.

Several governors and ministers of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion, as well as officials from the Ministry of War, as well as several cabinet ministers, all wore high-quality official uniforms and sat in an orderly manner on large square chairs on the carpet. The large square chairs were cushioned with thick mattresses. .

"Sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn yields can reach very high yields, and the environmental requirements are very low. Even in the harsh environment of the Far East, we have achieved success after years of trial planting."

After hearing the reports from the scholars, the civil and military officials had complicated expressions on their faces.

These crops searched from far away lands are indeed very good and can be grown even in the harshest cold areas, which makes officials very cautious.

The reason why people cannot survive in extremely cold areas is not only because of the cold weather, but also because of the inability to obtain food.

Hunting is unsustainable, not to mention that in extreme environments, hunting is a very difficult behavior, and prey is extremely rare. It is not easy for even a few people to survive in a large area.

But things are different with potatoes. Potatoes are cultivated, and behind the cultivation is cost-effective food. With food, there will be a surplus of people, and even the Far East can live and reproduce. So what you see in front of you seems to have no characteristics, but in fact it is a big killer that can change the ecological model of the Far East.

The smart officials saw the power, not to mention Zhu Gaochi, who had a heavy look on his face.

Since ancient times.

Only the invasion of the nomads from the East into the West not only proves the excellence of Eastern civilization, but also proves the power of Eastern civilization. The opponents of the Eastern farming civilization, whether they are losers or victors, can often defeat the West.

Until Tsarist Russia broke this convention and became the only successful country to expand from west to east.

There is a saying in later generations that goes to Siberia to plant potatoes.

Potatoes played a vital role in Tsarist Russia's eastward expansion and survival in extreme environments.

Potatoes are an adaptable, high-yielding crop that can grow in the extreme climate and soil conditions of the Far East. During the expansion of Tsarist Russia to the east, potatoes became an important source of food, providing sufficient food security for pioneers and immigrants.

In Siberia, the cultivation and consumption of potatoes is crucial to the survival of local residents.

Due to the cold climate and barren land, traditional crops are difficult to grow, but potatoes can survive in such an environment and obtain a bumper harvest. Potatoes have become one of the staple foods of local residents, providing them with necessary energy and nutrients in extreme environments.

There is a famous painting in Tsarist Russia that shows several farmers around a campfire with potatoes boiling in the pot.

It can even be said that without the emergence of potatoes, there would be no eastward expansion of Tsarist Russia.

The great discovery of the Americas by Western explorers has indeed brought Western civilization's material resources to a big level for Western civilization. Even Tsarist Russia has benefited greatly.

"Although this thing has great benefits, for the current Ming Dynasty, it is necessary to control this thing."

Zhu Gaochi said.

Yang Shiqi and others nodded repeatedly and agreed with the emperor's opinion.

"Although the population of the Ming Dynasty has been growing year after year, the land expansion has also been rapid. The population growth rate cannot keep up with the land increase rate. Not to mention the mainland, the seven western provinces, Dayingdao District, Koryo Peninsula, Boni Dusi, and Luzon Dusi There is still a huge manpower gap.”

"I can clearly predict that for a long time in the future, at least twenty or thirty years, there will be no population migration in the Far East and the extreme north, and it will be difficult for anyone to want to go to extremely cold places."

"Then if this thing falls into the hands of outsiders, wouldn't it be used as wedding clothes for others?"

After Zhu Gaochi finished speaking, some people suddenly realized that everyone generally supported the emperor's idea, but showed regret.

It's such a shame that such a good thing can't be brought out.

Although Zhu Gaochi was a little reluctant to part with it, he didn't pay too much attention to it. The current per capita resources of the Ming Dynasty were too huge, and the emergence of crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes was not a timely help but the icing on the cake.

In order to prevent outsiders from taking advantage, Zhu Gaochi would rather give up a little benefit.

After all, crops such as potatoes and sweet potatoes that were not crucial to the Ming Dynasty were artifacts in other countries. Since the introduction of these crops, many countries have directly changed to using them as their staple food, completely changing the original food chain.

For example, at the end of the 16th century, the British defeated Spain and introduced potatoes, which were widely grown in Ireland and quickly became the staple food of the Irish.

The surge in food production allowed the Irish population to increase from 1.1 million to 5.2 million in just one hundred years, and from 5.2 million to 8.3 million in another 40 years. .

So not only Han people can give birth.

But since ancient times, the Han people's developed agricultural technology and abundant grain savings have allowed the Han people to always maintain more reserves. These excess grains were used to breed the population.

Due to backward agricultural technology, the population of the West has always been low. After obtaining high-yielding crops from the Americas, the population also began to explode.

If the effect of potatoes and sweet potatoes is twice as effective for the Ming Dynasty, then it is at least ten times as effective for other countries. Based on the limited population of the Ming Dynasty and the slow expansion of external resources, Zhu Gaochi made The decision to hide these high-yielding crops.

Since these high-yielding crops were brought back from the New World by merchants, they have been in the hands of the Palace Affairs Bureau. Only a few relevant personnel are aware of the small-scale experimental planting in the palace.

When the decree of confidentiality is issued, the confidentiality of these crops is not a big problem. However, although it is not promoted on a large scale, it will continue to research and master more planting techniques.

"In fact, the seven provinces in West Asia are more suitable for planting."

Ren Li said regretfully.

After ending his tenure as the Governor of Mashhad, Ren Li was transferred to the Central Military Governor's Office as the Commander-in-Chief. Although he lost the military power to directly station the army, he was qualified to command the front army.

This is also the unspoken rule of Ming Dynasty.

Officers at the middle and lower levels are stationed in the army and have a deep relationship with the army. Although they are hijacked by local guards, they still have great power. It is different at the upper level. The marshals at the upper level command the officers, so there is no need to be stationed in the army.

The system of the Ming Dynasty actually consisted of one link after another.

The grassroots combat capabilities of the Ming army in battalion units below are good, and the command above is provided by experienced nobles. Each performs its own duties and exerts its capabilities and effects.

However, after the Tumubao Incident, the Ming army not only lost a large number of elite field soldiers, but also lost its upper-level command strength.

The loneliness of Xungui caused Ming Dynasty to lose its ability to fight large armies.

This is not the case now. Although many veteran generals have passed away, such as Qiu Fu of the Yongjun Army and Wang Cong of the Zhongyong Army, there are still a group of experienced veteran generals, such as the former commander of the Miyun Guards and Zheng Xiang, the current veteran of the Beijing Camp. .

Zheng Heng, who had just turned sixty, was extremely experienced. If necessary, leaving the front army to his command would make both the court and Zhu Gaochi feel relieved.

Ren Li's biggest shortcoming is that he is not from Peking, but now that the new emperor has ascended the throne, these old almanacs are not the most important.

"The seven western provinces are indeed suitable for cultivation, but areas such as Qazvin in the west are more suitable for cultivation. They have more wasteland and the shortage of food is their biggest shortcoming."

Yang Shiqi explained.

After hearing the proactive explanation from the chief minister of the cabinet, Ren Li stopped talking.

Seeing that everyone had no opinions, Zhu Gaochi finally talked about the Delhi Sultanate. (End of chapter)