I will try my best to do what I can, and I hope that what you think is the same as what I expect.
Even if you think differently, I don't care. I only look at your actual actions. I use those who are useful and discard those who are not. I have no shortage of capable officials and loyal ministers.
The emperor reversed the decline of the Ming Empire and allowed more capable officials to emerge.
Whether it is civil officials or military generals, even those who were previously unknown in history have also blossomed into brilliance. However, some famous officials and generals in history have seemed a little overshadowed due to lack of opportunities.
For example, Lu Xiangsheng is still only the chief constable in the capital. The reason is simple: he no longer has the opportunity to fight on the battlefield and achieve great things.
But the emperor would rather let the famous general be disgraced than let the Ming Dynasty become what it was in history.
Of course, Lu Xiangsheng was unaware of the change in his life trajectory. Similarly, he did not want his achievements to be highlighted by the ravages of foreign enemies and the suffering of the people.
Sun Chuanting, who had been favored by the emperor from the beginning and promoted all the way to the governor of three borders, was now preparing to recapture the frontier in the spring of next year, using his military achievements to prove himself and the emperor's ability to judge people.
Compared with the generous rewards to the ministers, merchants and landlords also received rewards from the emperor.
Every year, there are civilian nobility awards, ranging from a few to dozens, all for contributions to the country and the people. This year, the emperor even awarded a plaque with the words "Rich and Benevolent" to contrast it with the rich but unkind people he hated.
Every province and state established or improved a social welfare system, with orphans having juvenile homes and widows and widowers having nursing homes. The court and society jointly contributed funds to ensure that the young were provided with care and the elderly had a place to rely on.
Although there is still a big gap to achieve the goal, the formation of the system is a big step forward.
This year, there are relatively more civilian nobility awards, most of whom have generously donated to social welfare and have no bad records.
They wore seventh-rank clothing, were given plaques to pass down through the family, did not have to bow when meeting officials, and had the right to submit memorials to the emperor... The civilian nobility bestowed by the emperor was replacing the original social status of the gentry.
What the emperor valued most was the right to submit petitions to the emperor. This allowed the emperor to participate in government affairs, express public opinion, and supervise officials.
The emperor hoped that these civilian nobility could serve as a channel for him to understand public sentiment and as a means to intimidate local officials.
"Long live, long live, long live!"
From time to time, people from all over the country would beat drums and present plaques, and express their gratitude to the people in tears. The Ming Forum newspaper even published stories about the people in the Ming Dynasty, praising their virtue of benevolence and charity.
However, the emperor did not read the reports from various places or the letters of thanks from the people. Under strict protection, the emperor came to the outside of the city to watch the test of the improved steam engine of the Academy of Sciences.
Through the drawings and introductions, the emperor already knew the working principle and realized its flaws.
This type of steam engine should be called an atmospheric steam engine. The principle is to introduce steam into the cylinder and then close the valve, then sprinkle cold water into the cylinder to condense the steam and form a vacuum, so that the piston is pushed under the air pressure on the other side.
"Very good, thank you all for your hard work." The emperor watched the operation of this inefficient steam engine and praised it.
Just this has transcended more than a hundred years of history and can be applied in practice.
Moreover, within a few years, under the emperor's constant suggestions, the ability to apply vacuum and atmospheric pressure to mechanical operation was a huge advancement for the Academy of Sciences, both in theory and in practical manufacturing capabilities.
Song Yingxing, the vice president of the Academy of Sciences, bowed humbly and said, "Your Majesty, this steam engine is not very efficient, but it consumes a lot of coal. It is only suitable for coal mines."
The emperor smiled and nodded, his eyes sweeping over Wang Jizhong, Xu Fuyuan and other acquaintances. His identity had long been exposed, and he had lost his equal friends with whom he could speak freely.
Looking at the respectful expressions of Wang Jizhong and the others, the emperor sighed and slowly said, "I believe the low efficiency is because the steam condenses on the water-cooled cylinder walls when it enters the cylinder, losing a lot of heat."
When the people below heard this, they all looked thoughtful. Some seemed to have thought of something, with a gleam in their eyes.
The emperor chuckled and said, "You can try to separate the cylinder wall from the condenser and install an insulation layer outside the cylinder wall..."
It's simple, but it took sixty years to achieve this. While the idea is important, the craftsmanship and manufacturing level are also limiting factors.
For example, valves were very difficult to manufacture at that time; pressure gauges and speed regulators were also necessary for a mature steam engine.
Moreover, the more the steam engine is improved and developed, and the more efficient it is, the greater the danger becomes.
The emperor hesitated for a moment and said in a deep voice, "The current steam engine is relatively safe because of its low pressure..."
Early vacuum steam engines had limited efficiency, but they were safer because their lower pressures caused the machines to collapse inward in the event of damage rather than exploding outward.
The use of high-temperature, high-pressure steam can greatly improve the efficiency of steam engines, but it is much more dangerous than a vacuum steam engine.
Even in later times, explosions of boilers and machines caused many major accidents.
An important component to reduce accidents is the safety valve, which can release air and reduce pressure when the pressure is too high.
However, it is impossible to truly prevent accidents. We can only rely on the experience and safety rules of construction, operation and maintenance to ensure safety.
"Take it one step at a time. Don't rush things," the emperor solemnly instructed. "First, perfect the low-pressure steam engine, and then start developing the high-pressure steam engine. A few years, a dozen years, or even decades later, it's not too late."
Not to mention decades, it would take hundreds of years for steam engines to appear in China.
The emperor was anxious, but he couldn't say it, and couldn't put too much pressure on his ministers. It was not surprising that they acted rashly and impulsively just to please him.
Moreover, the ability to develop a low-pressure steam engine for practical use was already a huge advancement in Ming technology, putting it ahead by decades.
Used for mine drainage, forging, and in workshops, although the atmospheric steam engine was less efficient, it was constantly improved and was used for over a hundred years.
In other words, the low efficiency is relative to the high-pressure steam engine, but it is still much higher than human power.
The high-pressure steam engine should be considered a comprehensive manufacturing, and steel smelting, precision processing, and mechanical technology all need to meet the requirements.
Only in this way can planetary gears, parallel motion connecting rod mechanisms, centrifugal speed regulators, safety valves, etc. be manufactured.
The reason why the emperor was able to calm down was the improvement in all aspects of the Ming Dynasty, or the huge progress.
The gap between them and the Western Barbarians was narrowing, and in some respects they had even surpassed them. Even without steam engines, at the current rate of development, the Ming Dynasty would have left the Western Barbarians behind.
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