Chapter 1171 Assistance (Second update, please subscribe)
No one will care what the old scholar is thinking, and his ideas cannot influence the changes in the world. Not only can they not influence the changes in the world, but when faced with the changes in the world, people like them will soon be eliminated.
This has long been proven by "Theory of Evolution". Survival of the fittest is the most basic operating rule of this world.
While Wang Kaiyun was somewhat overwhelmed by the completely different side of the Ming Dynasty, on the other side of Linhai Bay, several engineers from the Tang Dynasty were also suffering unprecedented shock.
The huge 5,000-ton hydraulic press hammers "boom, boom..." forging a huge steel billet, which is red hot. With the blows of the forging hammer, the steel ingot changes shape like dough.
"Old classmate, look..."
Pointing at the hydraulic press, Lu Xiangyang said in a rather proud tone.
"5,000-ton hydraulic press! There are only two in the world, one at the Nanhua Shipyard and one here. In the past, we used a 100-ton Schneider steam hammer, but now we have the world's largest free forging hammer. With it, we can build better armor and better naval guns!"
Lowering his voice, Lu Xiangyang spoke without disguising anything.
"356mm!"
"What?"
Wang Mingbo was puzzled.
"It's 14 inches, 14-inch naval gun, 45 times the barrel, the best naval gun in the world!"
Lu Xiangyang said directly.
“This is what we’re building now.”
"What! 356 mm, how heavy must the shell be!"
Lin Yuexin on the side looked at the steel ingots on the hydraulic press in astonishment.
356mm naval gun!
How heavy is the shell?
Wouldn't it be possible for a giant artillery shell to sink a warship with just one shot?
No one could answer his question. Perhaps Lu Xiangyang did not hide from him that his empire had already produced a very powerful naval gun, but no one would tell him how powerful that cannon was.
After a while, he was astonished to see a steel ingot weighing more than 100 tons being transported from the heating furnace. The overhead crane extended its powerful arm and placed the steel ingot steadily on the anvil of the hydraulic press.
With a wave of the operator's hand, the hydraulic press beam quickly fell down, and the red-hot steel ingot was kneaded like dough, with golden sparks flying everywhere, and soon it turned into a long barrel blank...
"With it, hundreds of tons of steel ingots of different materials are kneaded into the required shape like small dough. From cannon tubes to warship armor, we can manufacture them according to needs. How about it? Before coming to Daming, I didn't expect there would be such a big machine!"
It was more than unexpected, it was simply a bit unbelievable. Wang Mingbai looked at the fiery red tube blank and couldn't help but sigh.
"It's only been a few years, but I never thought that the Empire's technology has made such amazing progress. It's really hard to imagine!"
In fact, before coming to Ming Dynasty again, Wang Mingbai had imagined the industrial progress of the empire, but everything was beyond his imagination. What appeared before his eyes was a rapid progress, which was far beyond his expectations.
"That's not all. Nanyuan Iron and Steel Company has already started building a hydraulic press with a capacity of more than 10,000 tons. With a giant hydraulic press, we can build better equipment, such as the rotor of the generator..."
Looking at the old classmates beside him, Lu Xiangyang said.
"If you want to import equipment, my suggestion is that you at least import a 2,500-ton or 5,000-ton hydraulic press. Only with it can Tang build its own battleships in the future!"
Regardless of whether they can't be classmates or they are Chinese, they all hope that China will become stronger. After all, it is too lonely to have only the Ming Dynasty in the world.
If China becomes stronger, at least the Ming Dynasty will have a companion and a helper. It won't be like now, where the powerful countries are all European and American countries with completely different races and civilizations from the Ming Dynasty.
"Alas, building a battleship by ourselves is still a long way off."
Wang Mingbai shook his head repeatedly.
"My dear brother, you may not know that the expansion project of Qingdao Naval Shipyard has been rejected. The officials in the court think that the most urgent task right now is not to build warships, but to buy cannons and guns, and then go south..."
"Going south, we don't need warships to go south."
Lin Yuexin sighed helplessly.
"Besides, many people are thinking that if they can buy warships from the Empire at a low price, even if they are second-hand and refurbished, it will be much cheaper than building them themselves."
Lin Yuexin's words made Lu Xiangyang shake his head helplessly.
"The Empire won't always sell you warships at low prices. Sooner or later, you will need to build your own ships..."
It’s better to buy than to make!
For the Tang Dynasty at that time, the existence of the Ming Empire not only reduced their coastal defense pressure, but the warships sold to them by the empire at low prices in recent years also put the Tang Dynasty into a situation where "it is better to buy than to make".
Compared to building your own warships with average performance and quality but high cost, wouldn't it be better to buy very beautiful and cheap second-hand warships from the Ming Dynasty?
fragrant!
Absolutely fragrant!
The Imperial Navy has more than a dozen battle fleets, and warships will definitely be eliminated. When they are eliminated, the Tang Dynasty will just spend money to buy them back.
It costs little, is cheap, and is of high quality!
Of course, the Imperial Navy would not mind providing some outdated but still usable warships to the Tang Dynasty. Even now, when these engineers were sighing,
In the imperial palace of Zhongdu, Emperor Zhu was taking a walk while speaking to Zhuge Jun, the empire's Minister of Foreign Affairs.
"... Considering the support of the British for Jiangning, in order to help the Tang Dynasty gain a comprehensive advantage over them, the Empire can consider expanding this year's credit loan amount from 50 million to 80 million. In addition, if they promise to implement unified operations within the next two years, the Empire will transfer three battleships to them at a low price."
Zhuge Jun was shocked by his majesty's words, and he said in surprise.
"Three battleships? Your Majesty, that's a lot! Will the Navy agree? Battleships are the heart and soul of the Navy!"
For the navies of various countries in this world, how could combat ships not be their favorite?
"This is what the Navy Department proposed. The Cuban Crisis not only exposed the plight of the Imperial Navy's insufficient number of battleships, but also the plight of the Imperial Navy being flooded with a large number of old ships. Therefore, the Imperial Navy tends to eliminate old warships and purchase new warships. The first batch to be eliminated is the three warships captured from Brazil. Tell them that if they are willing, they can be sold for 1.5 million yuan. In addition, reveal a piece of news to them that the Imperial Navy intends to sell two to four Nanhua-class ships. The price... of course will be much more favorable."
His Majesty's answer made Zhuge Jun nod in agreement.
"It's perfect to sell the old ships to the Tang Kingdom. They only have some coastal defense pressure, unlike us, who have to consider going to war with the British Royal Navy. The warship technology must remain at the leading level."
Emperor Zhu nodded.
"That's true. In the next few years, the Nanhua class will be eliminated. If they are willing to take over, that would be fine. But the most important thing is to make them willing to form an alliance with us. Only in this way can we achieve the effect of one plus one equals two."
(End of this chapter)
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