Ming Dynasty: Ask Zhu Yuanzhang to abdicate at the beginning

Chapter 425 Ironclad Warships, Imperial Strategies!
The ironclad ship was about 15 zhang long and more than 3 zhang wide.

The ship's hull was entirely cast in steel and coated with rust-proof paint recently developed by the Ming Academy of Sciences. Under the sunlight, it shone with dazzling brilliance, seemingly silently demonstrating the technological prowess of the Ming Dynasty.

Over the years, the sailing warships of the Ming Dynasty have undergone several generations of upgrades.

On an ordinary sailing warship, there are all kinds of sails, hard sails, soft sails, horizontal sails, and vertical sails, intertwined with each other.

The masts supporting the sails stand tall, and the ropes controlling the sails crisscross like a spider web. Together with the pulleys of various sizes connecting the ropes, they decorate the entire deck of the ship, presenting an extremely complex scientific aesthetic.

For this reason, sailing warships had to place their cannons in the cabins below the deck, since there was no space above the deck to accommodate them.

However, the ironclad ship in front of us is quite unique. There are no sails on its hull, and its appearance is clean and simple, returning to its original simplicity.

It was propelled not by traditional sails or human oars, but by a steam engine that powered a propeller.

This ironclad ship embodies the hard work of countless researchers and skilled craftsmen, and is the culmination of the most advanced shipbuilding technology and scientific achievements in the Ming Dynasty.

Recalling the steamships that Zhu Gaoxu had previously cobbled together, they were merely cobbled-together products that were utterly worthless in actual use.

But this ironclad ship was completely different; it was a revolutionary new vessel.

As soon as Lan Yu boarded the ship, she acted like a curious child, touching and tapping here and there, her eyes full of amazement and wonder.

He could hardly believe his eyes and blurted out, "This is really made entirely of steel? How can an iron ship float on water?"

In this era, although everyone already knows the principle of buoyancy, most people only have a superficial understanding, knowing what it is but not why it works.

This is especially true for a rough person like Lan Yu.

Even when this ironclad ship was first being built, many craftsmen had doubts.

Wood can float on water, that's a given. But will a ship made of steel really not sink?
If it weren't for Zhu Yunwen's prior instructions and the confidence of those researchers who were well-versed in the principles, this construction project would probably have been abandoned halfway through.

After all, for ordinary craftsmen of this era, just hearing about building ships with iron would make them think that the person who proposed the idea must be crazy.

Upon hearing Lan Yu's question, Zhu Neng, Zhang Fu, and the others also cast curious glances at him, their eyes filled with a desire to find out.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Yunwen couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He then patiently explained the principle of buoyancy to them.

These people were all extremely intelligent, but they had never thought about this in depth before. After Zhu Yunwen's explanation, they suddenly realized the truth.

Lan Yu exclaimed with admiration, "Only a genius like Your Majesty could conceive of such a wondrous and exquisite thing."

Zhu Yunwen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile, which could be considered as acknowledging Lan Yu's compliment.

Then, he led them toward the steam engine room below the ship.

Inside the steam engine room, the shipwrights were methodically tending the boiler, preparing for the ship's official voyage.

This ironclad ship was equipped with two steam engines, each with fifty horsepower.

This configuration is to ensure that if one of them fails, the other can still propel the ship forward.

Inside the steam engine room, gears were densely packed, layer upon layer.

It was through these gears that the steam engine was able to connect to the external propeller.

As a purely mechanical product, the steam engine, compared to the later simplified internal combustion engine and electric motor, appears to have a more complex mechanical structure, at least at first glance, from the perspective of mechanical linkage.

In particular, the steam engine used to drive ships was far more complex than the ordinary steam engine used for pumping water. Every structure and every part demonstrated the superb skills of the Ming Dynasty craftsmen and the wisdom of the scientific researchers.

Lan Yu, Zhu Neng, Zhang Fu, and a group of generals were all stunned by the sight before them.

This complex and ingenious steam engine, like a mysterious and unpredictable mechanical labyrinth, brought them an unprecedented and intense shock.

Zhu Neng's eyes widened like copper bells, filled with shock. He exclaimed, "Good heavens! These things are far more complicated than the Taoist priests of Longhu Mountain performing rituals and drawing talismans! Although those talismans are mysterious and profound, they are nothing compared to these exquisite machines right in front of us."

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter. Zhu Yunwen joined in the teasing, saying, "Using these things to propel ships forward, isn't that as magical as immortal magic? Look, this machine doesn't need wind power or human oars to make the ship move. Isn't that what mortals see as divine magic?"

He was filled with mixed emotions.

The steamships initially designed by the Academy of Sciences used paddle wheels, which was the conventional path for the development of steamships throughout history.

Steamships are also known as "rod ships," and the "rod" refers to the paddle wheels exposed on both sides of the ship's side.

Zhu Yunwen was well-versed in the history of ship development and knew that paddlewheel propulsion was inefficient.

In the course of history, once propeller ships were invented, they quickly replaced paddle steamers within just a few years.

The reason for this is that as long as the technology for manufacturing paddle steamers is mastered, the foundation for manufacturing propeller ships is essentially established.

The only thing separating the two is a thin veil; what's missing is someone who can think of using a propeller to propel it and verify its feasibility.

And this was precisely Zhu Yunwen's specialty.

Therefore, he overruled the objections of others, bypassed paddlewheel ships, and directly proposed a plan to build propeller ships, achieving a true "leapfrog development".

This may seem radical, but it is actually very reasonable.

The development of human science and technology is a long process of continuous trial and error and improvement.

Countless predecessors spent a great deal of time groping their way through the intricate technical routes before gradually finding the right direction.

If someone knew from the beginning which scientific path was correct, it would be perfectly normal for them to take the shortcut decades or even centuries ahead of time.

"We can set sail now," Zhu Yunwen ordered, then led everyone to the bow deck.

Thick smoke billowed from the smokestacks above the steamship, resembling a soaring black dragon.

The steamship started slowly, its movements gentle yet powerful.

Zhu Neng was astonished and couldn't help but shout, "It moved! It really moved! Without the help of sails or oars, it moved without anyone noticing! Your Majesty is absolutely right, this is simply divine intervention!"

The crowd burst into laughter again, their excitement palpable.

Steamships were initially slow because the steam engines took a long time to start.

After a while, it began to accelerate.

The speed increased rapidly, like an arrow released from a bow, speeding across the river.

Standing on the deck, everyone felt a howling wind rushing towards them, making their clothes flutter loudly.

The riverbanks on both sides of the Yangtze River, like rapidly receding phantoms, quickly disappeared from sight.

The steamship sailed on the wide Yangtze River like a swift and powerful beast, easily overtaking the sailing ships sailing alongside it.

Everyone looked surprised.

Lan Yu exclaimed in surprise, "This ship is so fast! It's no less than a steed that can travel a thousand miles a day!"

Zhu Yunwen smiled confidently and explained, "When two fifty-horsepower steam engines are running at full power, their power is roughly equivalent to a thousand strong men rowing at full speed at the same time."

"Moreover, paddling involves doing work both on the surface and underwater, resulting in significant energy loss, while propellers, which are deep underwater and unaffected by water currents, experience minimal energy loss."

"In this way, the actual power far exceeds that of a thousand people rowing."

"This ironclad ship is only fifteen zhang long. If people are arranged to row on the side of the ship, even if they are all lined up, each side can only accommodate a maximum of fifty or sixty people, and the total number of people on both sides is only a little over one hundred."

"The steamship's power is more than ten times that of their full-force rowing, so its speed is naturally astonishing."

Hearing the emperor's detailed explanation, the generals were all speechless, gaining a deeper understanding of the immense power of the steam engine.

At that moment, they truly felt that the technological power represented by the steam engine was something that human power could not contend with.

"However, it would be an exaggeration to say that a steamship is faster than a galloping horse."

Zhu Yunwen's tone was calm and thoughtful. "At least with the current level of technology, it's not feasible yet."

"A fine horse can travel at full speed, reaching a speed of 100 li per hour in an instant, which is something that modern steamships cannot achieve."

"But if we extend the time frame, a fine horse can only run thirty or forty li in an hour. Although a steam propeller ship starts slowly, once it is at full speed, it can reach fifty or sixty li in an hour, which is far faster than a fine horse."

"More importantly, even the finest horses reach their limit after running for several hours straight."

"The imperial court relied on post stations to transmit urgent military information, constantly changing horses and personnel, and could only travel three or four hundred li a day."

"Although it is called a 600-li express, due to the influence of terrain factors such as mountains and rivers, in reality, it can only travel 500 li in a day and a night."

"This is assuming the weather is fine along the way. If it gets windy and rainy, and the roads become muddy and difficult to travel, the speed will be even slower."

"Now that cement roads have been built, the situation has improved slightly, but traveling 500 li a day is still the limit."

"But this steamship can travel 24 hours a day without stopping. If the wind and current are favorable, it can travel 1,500 li or even 1,800 li in a day and night."

"Even against the wind and current, as long as the wind and waves are not too fierce or the current is too rapid, one can travel more than a thousand miles in a day and night."

Upon hearing this, Lan Yu, Zhu Neng, Zhang Fu, and the others couldn't help but swallow hard, their eyes filled with shock. For a moment, they were speechless, unsure how to express their inner turmoil.

Zhu Yunwen continued, "There's another point: while fine horses can gallop freely, relying on post stations to exchange riders and horses is only suitable for transmitting urgent military intelligence, and cannot be used to transport large quantities of supplies."

"If the army is mobilized on a large scale, even in an emergency march, the speed will be much slower."

"Not to mention logistical support, such as the supply of food, bullets, and shells."

"But steamships can carry fully armed troops on expeditions, as well as ample provisions, cannonballs, and bullets, which is enough to ensure the army's continued combat operations."

After hearing his words, Lan Yu, Zhu Neng, Zhang Fu, and all the other generals breathed heavily, their chests heaving violently.

This means that, relying on steamships, the Ming Dynasty was able to build armies that could travel more than a thousand miles a day, carry their own logistical supplies, and be directly engaged in combat upon arrival at the battlefield, and could also continue fighting.

These are truly heavenly troops and soldiers!
The generals present were all seasoned veterans with extensive battlefield experience, and they naturally understood the immense military significance of this event.

Zhu Yunwen, his face beaming with pride, declared loudly, "I will use these ironclad ships as the foundation to build a powerful Ming navy."

"You are all my trusted ministers. I brought you here today to show you what the future Ming army will look like."

Zhu Yunwen's gaze swept over the crowd, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The group exchanged glances and suddenly realized why His Majesty the Emperor had not brought ministers such as Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong with him, but instead had brought these generals on the ship.

At that moment, everyone knelt on one knee and shouted in unison, "We swear to serve Your Majesty and the Ming Dynasty to the death!"

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly and said gently, "Rise, all of you."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" After expressing their gratitude, the crowd slowly rose, their eyes still gleaming with excitement.

Zhu Yunwen stood proudly against the wind, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon, and said, "The Ming Dynasty is now in a state of turmoil, with storm brewing. I'm sure you've all heard about this."

Upon hearing this, the generals all lowered their heads and exchanged glances. They had all heard about the new learning and new policies.

Zhang Fu stepped forward, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and solemnly proclaimed, "Your Majesty! As generals leading troops, we have only Your Majesty's commands in our hearts."

"If Your Majesty commands me to lead troops to conquer any enemy, I will certainly go without hesitation and charge into battle."

"The treacherous and unpredictable struggles in the court are truly none of our concern."

"Your Majesty is willing to become the sharpest sword in Your Majesty's hand. Whoever Your Majesty wishes to kill, no matter where he is in the world, I will surely kill him."

Seeing this, the other generals quickly clasped their fists in agreement, their voices ringing out in unison and loud: "We are willing to be Your Majesty's sword, and do our utmost to sweep away all enemies on Your Majesty's path!"

Zhu Yunwen nodded, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes, and said, "It is the right thing for soldiers not to get involved in politics."

His gaze, like a searchlight, slowly swept over the generals, finally settling on Lan Yu, Zhang Fu, and others. He continued, "Your efforts in implementing the new policies among the three Jurchen tribes have yielded remarkable results and are excellent, making outstanding contributions."

"But you must not become proud and complacent because of this, and you must never lavishly acquire more property."

“If a family owns land, they should sell it all or hand it over to the government’s tenancy agency, sign a permanent contract, and entrust the government agency to cultivate the land permanently.”

"I deposited the money I earned into the Great Ming Bank. Only in this way could I keep myself out of the way and not get caught up in the intricate vortex of the court's struggles."

“Since you aspire to become the sword in my hand, you yourselves must be as pure and spotless as that sword.”

"Only by transcending the Three Realms, being outside the Five Elements, and remaining untainted by the entanglements of court politics can one be single-minded and focused on military affairs."

“You are different from those civil officials. You have been granted titles based on your outstanding military achievements, and the court will certainly not treat you unfairly.”

"If you want a fiefdom, you can go overseas to expand it."

"Now that the Ming Dynasty has strong ships and powerful cannons, the Heavenly Army is invincible wherever it goes. Why should we be afraid of not being able to take over a mere fiefdom?"

"Under no circumstances should you get involved in the factional struggles within the government."

"Whether you oppose or support the new learning and new policies, do not get involved."

"A slight misstep could lead to a lot of trouble, or even a tragic end with beheading and confiscation of property."

"As soldiers, you only need to focus on military affairs and not concern yourselves with political affairs. Just stand aside and watch the show, and keep a close watch on the Ming army for me."

"As long as the army is stable, no matter how chaotic the court is, it won't cause any major trouble."

"When I truly need you, be able to come when summoned, fight when you come, and win when you fight. I will certainly not forget your contributions."

Upon hearing this, the generals felt a sudden jolt in their hearts.

His Majesty's words were undoubtedly a reminder and advice to them.

In recent days, the debate surrounding the new learning and new policies has intensified both in the government and among the public, reaching a point of near-conflict.

After generals such as Lan Yu, Zhu Neng, and Zhang Fu led their troops back to the capital in triumph, many officials with ulterior motives came to their door to try and get information.

Faced with such a complex situation, the generals were all cautious and dared not express their opinions casually.

After all, the struggles within the imperial court are even more brutal and bloody than those on the front lines.

The Hu Weiyong case and the blank seal case during Zhu De's reign were bloody lessons.

However, when one is in the imperial court, there are many times when not expressing one's opinion is not an option.

Swaying left and right, or sitting on the sidelines and watching from the sidelines, will only invite attacks from both sides.

At this moment, after hearing His Majesty's heartfelt words, the generals' hearts, which had been hanging in suspense for so long, seemed to have found a home and settled down steadily.

His Majesty deliberately removed them from this complex conflict, clearly intending to protect them from unwarranted harm in the factional strife within the court.

The emperor’s grace is so great!
With His Majesty's detailed explanation today, there is no need to hesitate about how to proceed from now on.

Clearly, His Majesty is also making preparations in advance for the possible "turmoil" that may occur in the future.

The generals were filled with gratitude, their eyes reddening. They knelt down again in unison, their voices choked with emotion, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. We will remember Your Majesty's teachings and never forget them."

Zhu Yunwen nodded slightly, his gaze drifting into the distance once more.

The waters of the Yangtze River flow mightily and ceaselessly toward the sea.

Ahead, many sailboats were sailing on the river, but the steamship was much faster.

In no time, the steamship overtook one sailboat after another, leaving them far behind.

Amidst the deafening roar of machinery, the steamship sped faster and faster, its bow cutting through the waves of the Yangtze River, stirring up layers of surging billows, like a fearless beast speeding towards the distant horizon...

……

(End of this chapter)