Chongzhen's domineering

Chapter 161 Impregnable Fortress, No One Will Be Fooled (Part 2)

Rubber is indeed a good thing.

Rubber is not only used for seals; it has many other applications.

For example, wrapping a layer around the wheels of a carriage can not only reduce bumps but also protect the wheels, so the carriage can run faster without any problems.

For example, this thing can also be made into a water pipe, equipped with a water pump to pump water. If this system were made, drainage of the dock waterways would be incredibly easy.

For example, rubber can also be used to make shoe soles. Nowadays, shoe soles are basically made of thick cloth sewn together in layers. These are comfortable to wear, but they are not waterproof. Once you step into water, your feet will feel very uncomfortable. Using rubber to make shoe soles is different. They are not only waterproof but also wear-resistant and durable.

Zhu Jue held the piece of raw rubber like it was a treasure, looking at it from all angles, clearly fascinated by it.

Everyone looked puzzled upon seeing this.

What's so good about this smelly thing that makes Your Majesty like it so much?

Seeing everyone's expressions, Zhu Jue realized that the raw rubber really did smell bad.

He examined it closely and then pondered, "This stuff isn't supposed to smell this bad. However, it seems the Spanish aren't very good at making vinegar, and they don't seem to have any special equipment for it. The acidification process isn't very good."

Uh, brewing vinegar?

What will the Spaniards do?

Upon hearing this, Zheng Zhilong cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, do we really have to send people to teach them how to brew vinegar and how to make specialized equipment?"

That's a great idea!
Upon hearing this, Zhu Jue asked with great interest, "Do you have any captured galleons?"

Zheng Zhilong nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, but they are Dutch, and they are a bit different from the Spanish ones."

This is not a problem.

He could easily use excuses such as teaching people how to make vinegar, manufacturing specialized equipment, or even how to tap rubber trees quickly to send people and ships to follow the Spanish fleet to the Americas and secretly bring back rubber tree seeds!
With this in mind, he decisively said, "Zhilong, once the lockdown is lifted, send someone to Luzon to have the Spanish envoy come over."

The rubber they're making has a problem. We need to send someone to accompany their ship to teach them how to handle it; otherwise, this stuff is too troublesome to deal with.

Furthermore, they only sent one boatload of rubber, which is far from enough. We still need to teach them how to tap and collect the rubber quickly; otherwise, they might have a hard time gathering five million catties of rubber for us in six months.

Well, these are all problems that need to be solved.

The problem is, nine times out of ten, they won't be willing to bring their people along.

Zheng Zhilong thought for a moment, then cautiously said, "Your Majesty, I dare to say that this ocean route is a secret to them, and they may not allow our people to go with them."

It's still classified.

Zhu Jue replied without hesitation, "Tell them that the route they took was the North Pacific Circulation route. We've known about it for thousands of years. The natives of the Americas were people from our side who drifted there along the circulation."

Ah!
We already knew this thousands of years ago?

real or fake?

how would I not know?

Oh, His Majesty is most likely telling me to fool them.

Zheng Zhilong was taken aback for a moment before nodding repeatedly and saying, "Your Majesty, I understand."

With the raw rubber available, Zhu Jue had something to do again.

He still needs to have someone recreate the system that he saw in later generations.

For example, a rubber mixing machine.

Raw rubber cannot be used directly for sealing, or even for shoe soles or wheel shock absorbers.

Raw rubber can really only be made into rubber bands, and then into slingshots to smash people's windows.

He certainly wasn't that bored.

This raw rubber must undergo vulcanization in a rubber mixing mill to become vulcanized rubber before it can be used for sealing, making shoe soles, and wheel shock absorbers.

A rubber mixing machine isn't complicated; he's seen one before, so he can guide people in making one.

Another thing is the process of collecting and acidifying rubber; he really needs to teach people how to do it. Otherwise, it would be very difficult for the Spanish to produce five million catties or even more of raw rubber in six months.

This set is even simpler; it can be made entirely by hand. In order not to expose the steam engine, he even planned to make it entirely by hand.

There are also molding and sealing equipment, as well as equipment for shaping shoe soles.

Vulcanized rubber cannot be rolled into sealing rings by hand; it must undergo high-temperature and high-pressure treatment.

This time, Song Yingxing was completely dumbfounded. Zhu Jue had been making him do all sorts of strange things these past few days.

For example, a metal funnel with hooks and a small groove.

For example, a pressure roller driven by a belt.

For example, a pressure roller driven by a steam engine.

He could barely understand the large pressure roller driven by a steam engine, but he couldn't understand the pressure roller driven by a belt at all.

This is because the pressure roller, which is driven by a belt, is still hand-cranked, just like a wheel with a roller.

This thing is simple to make. It consists of two round wooden rollers placed on a large wooden trough, with staggered thumbtacks nailed onto the rollers. They are then connected by a belt, and when you turn the handle, the two rollers rotate together in opposite directions.

At this time, the so-called belts were just real belts, made by simply cutting strips of cowhide and sewing them into circles. No special processing was required; they were very simple.

Song Yingxing finished it very quickly.

Around 9 a.m. that day, Zhu Jue, along with Zheng Zhilong, Wang Chengen, and others, came over with great interest.

When everyone rushed into the machine factory and saw these strange and unusual things, they were all baffled.

What is the use of this?
Zhu Jue asked with great interest, "Chang Geng, is the vinegar ready?"

You've been acting really strange these days.

You actually want vinegar by the barrel, and you even have to heat it up!

Upon hearing this, Song Yingxing nodded repeatedly and said, "Your Majesty, I have already ordered people to make preparations."

After saying that, he ordered someone to bring over a bucket of heated vinegar from beside the boiler.

This is a huge bucket; one bucket of vinegar would be enough for a bath.

Seeing this, Zhu Jue pointed to the trough under the roller without hesitation and said, "Pour the vinegar in."

This one is simple.

With a "whoosh," a bucket of hot vinegar was poured in.

Zhu Jue then ordered someone to take out the piece of raw rubber and soak it in a trough.

After soaking for a while, he took it out by hand and said to Song Yingxing, "Chang Geng, have someone turn the wheel."

I can only rock the wheel.

Since you've already taken action, how can I just stand there and do nothing?

Without hesitation, Song Yingxing grabbed the handle and started shaking it rapidly.

Zhu Jue simply placed one side of the raw rubber between the two rollers, and with a whoosh, the raw rubber fell back into the hot vinegar.

He quickly waved his hand and said, "Alright, Chang Geng, no need to shake it anymore. Just leave it like this. Take it out and press it down in a while. Press it down until the color is even and slightly brownish-yellow."

That's too easy.

Song Yingxing simply raised his hand and beckoned two craftsmen over, instructing them to come and press the weight.

And you know what? After pressing it back and forth a few times, the color of the raw rubber really did become more uniform, and it didn't smell so bad anymore.

This proves that this system works perfectly without any problems.

Zhu Jue looked at it for a while, then decisively said, "Make a thousand sets first, and then send them to the Americas for the Spanish."

Is this enough?

Upon hearing this, Song Yingxing was completely dumbfounded.

As everyone was watching the two craftsmen press raw rubber sheets, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from outside.

A moment later, Fang Zhenghua strode in carrying a memorial, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Zheng has sent an urgent report from eight hundred li away."

The rebels have fled to Huaiqing Prefecture?
Zhu Jue took the memorial and looked at it; it was indeed true.

Prince Zheng, Zhu Zaiyi, reported that tens of thousands of rebels had suddenly attacked Xiuwu and Jiyuan, threatening to besiege Huaiqing Prefecture. Your Majesty, please save us!

These traitors, if you want to attack a vassal state, then go and attack it! You just keep putting on a show but don't actually attack. What's the point?
You want me to mobilize troops to rescue Zheng Fan, right?
I will not fall for your tricks!

Zhu Jue thought for a moment, then handed the memorial to Liu Ruoyu and said coldly, "Approval: Order Hong Chengchou to immediately send troops to rescue Zheng Fan."

(End of this chapter)