Zhao Ming decided to start a full implementation of the new policy in 1664, but before that, the nationwide infrastructure construction had already been done in a big way, taking advantage of the slack after the autumn harvest.In order to develop the economy, the roads must be unobstructed, and in order to revitalize agriculture, water conservancy must be built.After learning that Wu Sangui and the British alliance, Zhao Ming felt that the Ming Dynasty was about to lose the Indian market for a short time, so he began to build infrastructure in China in advance.Millions, nearly 10 million people, participated in the construction, in which the consumption of food materials, iron tools, incalculable, instantly stimulated industrial production, and after the people worked, they got paid, how could they buy a few feet of cloth for their wives and children, make good clothes, and expand the demand for cotton cloth in the domestic market.At this time, along the Yangtze River, local governments organized the people, planted red flags, dredged canals, and strengthened river embankments.In addition, in the Yangtze River Basin, a vigorous campaign to eliminate snails, clean up garbage, and prevent potbelly disease has also been set off.The confrontation between the Ming Dynasty and Britain in India and the confrontation with Spain in Dongzhou shows that the confrontation between Eastern and Western civilizations has completely begun.In the previous period of history, the Eastern civilization did not lead the Eastern civilization to resist the invasion of the Western civilization because of the isolation of the big brother China, and the Eastern civilization was eaten and invaded by the Western civilization like a frog boiled in warm water.The whole of East Asia became a Western colony one after another, and China's vassals were also reduced one after another, and it itself became a semi-colony.The center of the traditional world was defeated by the Western King Civilization, and the Eastern Civilization could only survive by becoming them, or accepting their transformation.Now, Zhao Ming is determined to lead the East to resist the invasion of the West, so it is necessary for the Ming Dynasty to surpass the Western countries in all aspects.When the aristocrats in Paris were still defecating in the open and the whole city was full of feces, urine and diseases, Zhao Ming hoped that any small town and a village in the south of the Yangtze River would be more civilized than the cities of Western Europe.Although the towns of Daming are now much stronger than Europe in terms of health, Zhao Ming feels that it is not enough, Zhao Ming wants everyone who comes to Daming to feel the charm of Daming in all aspects, and Daming exerts influence on the surrounding areas from these aspects, and defines what is civilization and what is life to the world.Of course, in addition to the improvement of soft power, the most relevant thing for Zhao Ming at the moment is the breakthrough in military affairs.A lot of things in technology have evolved because of the need for trial and error in research to find the right direction.At present, Daming has the advantage that Zhao Ming gave the direction and even the specific design ideas, which greatly saves time.It's like Edison making a light bulb and giving him tungsten filament directly to avoid wasting time in front of him.Although not long ago, under the leadership of Zhao Ming, a five-year plan for attacking Wu Sangui was formulated, but when he thought that Wu Sangui actually colluded with Yingyi, Zhao Ming was angry, and couldn't help but urge his subordinates to speed up the preparation for attacking Zhou.After the two Huai coal industries gradually opened up the situation, the coal in the Shouzhou area crossed the railroad tracks, used horse-drawn trains, transported to the Huai River, and transported to the south of the Yangtze River by waterway.At the same time, the newly established General Administration of Mines discovered new coal mines in Shangqiu, Henan, and discovered a large amount of iron ore in the Taiping Mansion of Nanzhili, which was later Ma'anshan.Zhao Ming then signaled that railroad tracks should be laid in Shangqiu, coal would be transported, and a large iron-smelting factory would be established in Taiping Province.Zhao Ming provided the direction and design ideas to the Ministry of Industry, but more than five years have passed, and the trains, steamships, and steam ships that Zhao Ming is looking forward to have not yet been shadowed, and a very important reason is that the manufacturing materials do not meet the requirements, and the manufacturing process is not up to standard.Zhao Ming founded a large-scale smelting factory and invited a large number of watchmakers from the Portuguese to solve the problem of materials and craftsmanship.Nanjing Longjiang Shipyard was the manufacturing base for Zheng He's treasure ships when he went to the West.Today, it is still one of the two major shipyards of the Ming Dynasty in the south of the Yangtze River, and the Taicang Shipyard, which is different from the maritime merchant ships and armed merchant ships, the Longjiang Shipyard is an important base for the manufacture of warships of the Ming Dynasty.It not only manufactures various warships for sailors, but also has the mission of developing new warships.In the era of sail warships, the hegemony on the sea, in fact, is not very obvious, and to enter the era of real sea power, steam warships are still needed.Zhao Ming has always been full of expectations for steam warships, after all, cannon giant ships are a man's romance.After learning that Wu Sangui had destroyed the Mughals and ruled the South Asian subcontinent, Zhao Ming continued to urge the Ministry of Industry and Song Yingxing to speed up the study of steam warships.Zhao Ming felt that Daming had institutional advantages and could concentrate on doing great things, and he should have some results if he continued to invest so much.At the urging of Zhao Ming, by mid-November, the Ministry of Industry finally sent someone to report that the first steam paddle steamer manufactured by Longjiang Shipyard was about to be launched for sea trials.This made Zhao Ming very happy, if the ship is successful, then it will not take long to have an energy field, and with the steam paddle steamer, the sea navigation will not be limited by the monsoon, which will greatly speed up the transportation and communication at sea.On the morning of this day, Zhao Ming, accompanied by a group of officials, came to the slipway A of Longjiang Shipyard and saw a large ship of about 1,000 materials, parked on the slipway.The appearance of the large ship is very similar to that of the inland river boat, both sides of the ship, with two large wheels exposed, the only difference is that there is an extra chimney on the deck of the large ship."
The regent, the minister installed a steam engine in the cabin, and stepped on the original manpower, and it became a steam drive."
Song Yingxing took out the drawings and explained.Zhao Ming was full of expectations for the steamship, but when he saw this large wheeled ship, he felt a little disappointed.This kind of steam paddle steamer, compared to the sail warship, is not much improved, and the ship's two paddle wheels are also easy to damage in naval battles.Soon, Zhao Ming made a judgment that this kind of ship is more suitable for merchant ships and transport ships."
Hmmm!
It's already good to be able to make it!
”Zhao Ming encouraged, and then put forward his own opinions, "However, there is still a lot of room for improvement."
If it is a warship, whether the paddle wheel on the side of the ship is too conspicuous, can the Ministry of Engineering try to study whether the drive device is placed in the stern of the ship, or even under water. ”Song Yingxing knew that the regent was actually not satisfied with the paddle steamer, so he put away the drawings and nodded: "The minister is studying and researching." ”At this time, the huge paddle steamer had been pushed off the slipway and slid into the water, attracting a burst of cheers from the crowd of onlookers.The ship stopped in the channel, black smoke rose from the chimney on the hull, and after the boiler was heated for half a while, the paddle wheels on both sides of the ship began to turn and sailed into the Yangtze River with the boat.The paddle steamer emitted black smoke and acted against the current, moving on the river, not very fast, but it made many craftsmen extremely excited.Because this is not with the help of wind, manpower, or flowing water, but the use of charcoal to make the ship sail, for the craftsman, it is equivalent to opening up a new world.At the Longjiang Shipyard, more than 10,000 workers and craftsmen cheered, but the paddle steamer did not sail for too long, and did not go a few miles, because the cabin leaked, and under the towing of the wooden boat, it returned to the shipyard for overhaul.This made Song Yingxing and the others panic for a while, but Zhao Ming waved his hand, "This has already made history!"
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