After Yu Ji left, Liu Hong summoned Mo Shang from the Research and Manufacturing Bureau and the scholars who were proficient in machinery, and then explained to them some simple principles of the telegraph machine.
In fact, for the Han Dynasty at this time, there were no problems with materials or top professionals, nor was a series of supporting industrial bases required, so it was feasible to manufacture telegraph machines.
The only challenge is specifying the encoding required for sending the message.
Liu Hong did not want to use Morse code, which was used in later generations.
Therefore, Liu Hong found some literary scholars who were proficient in music theory, and then used various musical notes to correspond to different Chinese character radicals to complete the encoding.
After more than a month of meticulous research by the staff of the Research and Development Department and those literary scholars, they finally produced a rough model of a wired telegraph in late August and compiled a simple code manual.
Inside the Deyang Palace, looking at the somewhat crude wired telegraph machine that kept making a "tick-tock" sound, he couldn't suppress his joy.
Of course, at this point the telegraph machine was just a model and could not yet read information from it, but it was a successful start, which was enough to make Liu Hongxin ecstatic.
Subsequently, Liu Hong had everyone write down the possibility of developing a telegraph machine and its performance in a memorial to the throne, which was then submitted to the cabinet.
When the cabinet members saw the telegraph machine that could receive messages from thousands of miles away, they approved it without hesitation and allocated 50 million taels of silver from the national treasury for research and development, specifically for the study of telegraph machines and electromagnetic technology.
The fact that the emperor and the court spent so much to support this research immediately attracted the interest of a large number of scholars.
And so, a new research team was born.
Upon learning of the achievements of the telegraph and electromagnetic project team, a large number of scholars responsible for researching steam power seemed to be stimulated and continued to work day and night.
To this day, the steam power research group has been established for nearly ten years, and it has spent at least five million taels of silver every year.
If Liu Hong hadn't used his imperial authority to fully support the project, this steam power research would likely have been canceled by the court long ago.
In the School of Engineering, at the Institute of Steam Power, Zhang Xian, the group leader in charge of steam power research, also gathered more than one hundred researchers in his group together.
Slowly glancing at everyone, Zhang Xian said in a deep voice, "Gentlemen, over the years, we have spent countless sums of money on His Majesty, yet we have still not been able to give His Majesty an explanation."
Although this research was very difficult, it's been ten years, and we should give it a proper answer.
"Right now, all the other research groups have reported good news to His Majesty, but our group still hasn't heard a thing. It's embarrassing, colleagues..."
Upon hearing Zhang Xian's words, the researchers present lowered their heads in shame.
These people enjoy the best treatment within the entire research institute, but they have been the subject of much discussion over the years because they have not made any achievements.
The emperor's trust in them, and the fact that he had never sent anyone to inquire about their whereabouts over the years, made them feel even more guilty.
"Three years. If we cannot give His Majesty an explanation within three years, I will commit suicide to atone for my sins. I hope you will all work together to save my life!"
Just as everyone was pondering, Zhang Xian's resolute voice sent a shiver down their spines.
"Don't worry, team leader, three years is enough!"
"Yes, if we still can't figure it out, we'll join you in apologizing to His Majesty!"
"That's right, we all carry a head on our shoulders, and we're no less capable than anyone else!"
The members of the research team also expressed their willingness to stand with Zhang Xian through thick and thin, and made a three-year agreement.
Afterwards, everyone devoted themselves wholeheartedly to further research.
After so many years of research, the theoretical knowledge of steam power has become relatively complete, and we have even been able to build a model of a steam engine. However, all of these efforts have failed due to problems with valve materials and sealing.
Although everyone tried to use rubber to create a seal under Liu Hong's guidance.
However, the rubber refining technology of that era could not produce suitable rubber. In addition, the steam engine made of rubber had too little kinetic energy, so it could not even be used to power a forging machine, let alone build a train.
Therefore, all people can do is hope to develop more sophisticated machines to make up for these deficiencies.
Therefore, while further improving the steam engine, the group also transferred most of their funds to the ironworks and research institute, hoping that they could produce suitable steel and precision components.
News of the steam power research group's actions quickly reached Liu Hong's ears.
Liu Hong understood these people's eagerness for success, but the steam engine was different from the telegraph machine; it required a complete set of related industrial infrastructure to support it.
However, chemistry studies are now on track, and engineering is becoming increasingly sophisticated. It is believed that in a few years, the technology of the Han Dynasty will experience a major breakthrough, and the emergence of the steam engine will naturally follow.
After sending messages to the ironworks and the research and manufacturing department, instructing them to cooperate fully with the steam power unit, Liu Hong then focused his attention on the Crown Prince's wedding.
On September 10th, the people of Luoyang dressed in new clothes and took to the streets to celebrate the Crown Prince's wedding.
Just like Liu Hong's wedding last time, this time, the imperial court still set up countless banquets in the streets and alleys of Luoyang, allowing the people who came to congratulate him to eat and drink as they pleased.
The difference is that last time, when Liu Hong got married, the people had just achieved basic food and clothing and could only verbally congratulate the emperor.
Today, most people in Luoyang are financially secure and have enough to eat and wear. While not every household may have 500,000 yuan in savings, they at least have some spare money.
Therefore, before taking their seats, the common people all unanimously prepared a red envelope, both to celebrate the crown prince and to express their gratitude to the emperor.
Liu Hong did not refuse the people's gesture, after all, it was the people's wish.
After the grand banquet, Crown Prince Liu Cheng, just like Liu Hong before him, led his several beautiful wives on a tour of the city, so that the people could get to know this future heir.
Upon seeing the stunningly beautiful women beside the Crown Prince, the onlookers were not only amazed but also offered their heartfelt blessings.
Feeling the cheers of the people, Crown Prince Liu Cheng was overjoyed, but he also finally realized just how heavy the burden on his father's shoulders was.
With such a group of people who genuinely support me, if I cannot do my best to create a better life for them, I would truly be failing the mission that Heaven has given me.
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