The emperor still encouraged them to engage in commerce, but these princes were too lazy. With high salaries from the court, they lived like gods even without land.
But now, hearing that the emperor is going to reduce their salaries, the feeling is completely different.
Zhao Xu immediately hated the broken steam locomotive to death. If he could, he would have liked to find someone to smash it!
The people were also discussing it extensively.
"Why is Emperor Zhao so obsessed with this giant iron monster?"
"I didn't know. I heard that when a person sits on this thing, he can move on his own without a horse."
"What's the use of that? It's so bulky, how can it possibly run faster than a horse?"
"Didn't you say it was impossible to move?"
"I think it's difficult too!"
...
Twelve people entered, each holding a rolled-up sheet of paper, and then stood in two rows.
It is said that these twelve people were selected from the public by the Academy of Sciences during this period.
In fact, all twelve of them were from the Academy of Sciences, and each of them had drawn a blueprint.
This was a pre-arranged play. The Academy of Sciences and the State Council had discussed it. Since the emperor wanted it to function normally, they only needed to do everything they could to satisfy the emperor's wishes.
However, Xu Churen opposed holding the event on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The twelve people each began to present their own drawings.
But in fact, these were all drawn by the Academy of Sciences.
Improvements were made to the current steam locomotive from different perspectives.
For example, you could reduce the size of the cylinders, make the car body lighter, shorten the wheelbase, or even grind the wheels flat.
Over the past ten days, the Academy of Sciences and the Ordnance Bureau have invested a great deal of manpower to build different versions of steam locomotives according to these twelve plans.
Then, twelve steam locomotives were pushed up.
They all look different; some are big, some are small.
Their appearance immediately sparked heated discussions among those around them.
Princess Roujia leaned on Zhao Huan's shoulder and asked, "Father, can those steam locomotives really move?"
"Whether those steam locomotives can move or not, I don't know, but someone will definitely be able to make them move. Once the steam locomotives are manufactured, I will take Roujia on a steam locomotive to go fishing outside the city."
"Okay, Father!"
Zhao Huan affectionately stroked Roujia's head.
Zhao Chen, standing to the side, said, "Father, steam locomotives are too cumbersome. I don't think they're very useful. Why spend so much manpower and money to build them? I don't understand."
Zhao Chen is twelve years old this year, an age when he is full of curiosity about the world and has begun to have his own ideas.
Zhao Huan said seriously, "Chen'er, I ask you, two thousand years ago, what kind of bow and arrow did people use to shoot the white deer?"
"The workmanship is rough, and the arrowhead may be made of stone."
"And now?"
"Powerful crossbows, even the Divine Arm Crossbow."
"No, I have now begun using firearms." With that, Zhao Huan took out a short flintlock musket.
This flintlock musket is engraved with cloud patterns and looks very exquisite.
“Chen’er, remember this: everything needs constant improvement; nothing is perfect from the start.” Zhao Huan poured his son a glass of wine. “Just because a steam locomotive is slow now doesn’t mean it will still be slow a year from now, or that it won’t be faster than a horse in three years!”
"I understand!"
"Since steam engines can power cars, they can power ships. Kang Wang's naval warships will all be equipped with steam engines in the future. Not only that, but cannons will also be mounted on the warships!"
Zhao Huan's description of this scene stirred the blood of Zhao Gou, who was standing nearby.
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