The weather was hot, and Lin Yun originally wanted to stay in the mansion for a few more days, but someone from the Dagu Shipyard sent a message saying that the first steamship was about to be launched on a trial voyage, and asked him to go back and preside over the test.

After Lin Yun received the news, he sent someone to Feng Mansion to inform Feng Kang that the old man was even more anxious than him. He rushed over early the next morning and went with him to the Dagu Shipyard.

Among the people accompanying him this time were twenty-six more scholars from Yichen Academy. These were all selected by Feng Kang from Yichen Academy. Most of them were children from poor families who joined Lin Yun after leaving the academy.

Most of these people came for Lin Yun. In Yichen Academy, Lin Yun was a legend. His glorious deeds inspired many students to want to join the army.

However, when Feng Kang was selecting people in the academy, based on the principle of choosing few people rather than too many, he only selected about twenty people. Including Liu Xianglian introduced by Lin Yun, there were only twenty-seven people in total.

…

On the sixth day of August, before noon, Lin Yun and others arrived at Dagu Pier by boat.

Just over half a month after leaving, the Dagu Pier has changed. The terminal, which could only accommodate a few small cargo ships, has been widened by more than five times. A large cargo ship is docked next to it and is unloading coal.

Thanks to the steam engine, it is much more convenient to unload cargo at the dock. Coal can be transported directly from the ship to the dock using a conveyor belt.

Feng Kang stood by the side of the ship, looking at the carts with people coming and going on the pier, and said with emotion: "I didn't expect that the steam engine could have so many uses. The person who invented this thing can be regarded as Qian Qiu."

Lin Yun smiled and said: "Others discover it, let's promote it, and wait until I defeat them with a steam warship and snatch back all their talents."

Feng Kang: "I'm afraid I won't be able to see what you said."

Lin Yun: "You will see. According to my guess, as long as word of our steamship spreads, foreigners will definitely come knocking on our door."

"What you said made me think of it. We must pay close attention to the confidentiality of this steamship and never let foreigners know about it in advance."

"I have thought of this a long time ago. Strangers are not allowed to approach the core factory building of the shipyard. Once a suspicious person is found, he will be arrested immediately."

"That's right, you've thought carefully about it."

After a pause, Feng Kangyou said: "I can't stay long at the shipyard this time. After finishing the new ship testing, I will go to Weihaiwei and Lushun to inspect and preside over the construction of the Beihai Naval Base."

Lin Yun hurriedly asked: "Has the Ministry of Household Affairs allocated money and food to you?"

Feng Kang smiled bitterly and said: "No. Xiao Shangshu told me that if I don't need money, I need my life. His Majesty asked me to first withdraw 300,000 taels of silver from the Dagu Shipyard to build a naval base."

Lin Yun heard this and said anxiously: "Didn't I confiscate several million taels of silver last time? Didn't that money turn over to the Ministry of Household Affairs?"

Feng Kang: "How do I know this? Anyway, Xiao Shangshu said that he had no money and asked me to find a way myself."

Lin Yun was about to complain, but found that the boat had already docked at the dock.

…

As soon as Lin Yun and others stepped off the boat, they saw Ning Heng, Hu Xiangyi, Shangguan Jie, Liu Dabao and others running over to greet them.

After everyone exchanged pleasantries, Lin Yunbian asked Hu Xiangyi: "How is the training of the soldiers?"

Hu Xiangyi: "Don't worry, we don't dare to delay for a moment these days. We conduct artillery drills every day and almost fall asleep with the artillery in our arms."

Hahaha~

Everyone laughed loudly when they heard this.

Ning Heng: "Brother Lin, it's not interesting to just train aerial cannons. Now that the first steamship is almost ready, can we get on board and fire a few cannons?"

Lin Yun: "You have to ask the Governor whether he agrees with this?"

Feng Kang waved his hand and said: "I decided to test-fire the artillery during the test. If the test results are good, I can fire a few more shells."

Shangguan Jie: "My Lord Governor, who will be the captain of this first steamship?"

"It depends on your training results. Whoever is better will go first."

Then, Feng Kang smiled at Liu Dabiao and said: "General Liu, I have obtained the consent of the Ministry of War to transfer you to the Beihai Navy."

When Liu Dabao heard this, he said happily: "Thank you, sir."

Lin Yun: "Let's go, I can't wait to see the first steamship we build."

Feng Kang waved his hand and said, "Let's go and see the first steamship."

Everyone got on the carriage and rushed towards the shipyard.

…

Half an hour later, the carriage drove into the core area of ​​the shipyard, turned a few turns, and arrived at the dock near the seaside.

After the carriage stopped, Lin Yun quickly stepped out of the carriage, looked up, and saw a huge warship standing in front of him, dozens of feet long and more than ten feet wide.

If you listen carefully, you can see that there are craftsmen on the boat, who are obviously doing the finishing work.

Feng Kang walked to Lin Yun and said excitedly: "Can a steam engine carry such a large warship?"

Lin Yun smiled and said: "Don't worry, this is a steam engine and canvas ship. It uses the sails when there is wind and uses the steam engine when there is a war. In this way, even if the steam engine breaks down, it will not affect its ability to fight at sea."

"That's good."

While talking, Wang Erzhuo led Xiao Jiayuan, Wen Xingzu, Guan Heng and others over.

After everyone saw the ceremony, Feng Kang asked Xiao Jiayuan: "Master Xiao, when can this boat be launched into the water for testing?"

Xiao Jiayuan: "Reporting to your lord, this ship will be ready for trial sailing in three days."

Feng Kangxi said: "This is very good."

Lin Yunchong asked Wang Erzhuo: "Where is Feng Yue? Why didn't you see him?"

Wang Erzhuo: "Director Feng led people to inspect the steam engine in the ship's warehouse."

Lin Yunchong asked Feng Kang: "Sir, do you want to get on the boat and have a look?"

Feng Kang nodded repeatedly and said: "Of course I have to go up and have a look."

Wang Erzhuo quickly stretched out his hand and signaled, "Please, Lord Governor."

Everyone followed Feng Kang and boarded the warship on the gangplank.

After Feng Kang got on the boat, he looked around for a few times, and then asked curiously: "Where is the artillery? Why didn't I see the artillery?"

Wang Erzhuo was the first to answer: "Replying to your lord, the artillery is hidden. During war, you can open the secret compartment and push the artillery out for combat."

Hu Xiangyi: "Sir, would you like to take someone to test it?"

Feng Kang nodded and said: "Yes."

Hu Xiangyi and two personal guards followed a craftsman and ran towards the ship's warehouse.

After about half a cup of tea, someone saw a secret compartment in the second-floor cabin being opened, revealing a dark muzzle.

Feng Kang saw this and asked Lin Yun: "Will this hidden artillery position affect the shooting angle in wartime?"

Lin Yun: "Definitely not. Various tests have been done on this beforehand."

Feng Kang asked again: "How many cannons are there on the side of the warship?"

Lin Yun: "Reporting to your lord, this warship has 16 24-pound cannons on the left and right sides, 12 18-pound cannons, and 8 9-pound cannons. In addition, there are 1 main gun and 2 main guns at the bow and stern.

The secondary guns have the largest caliber."

Feng Kang: "Wait a minute, what do you mean by 24 pounds, 18 pounds?"

Lin Yun smiled and said: "This is the way the foreign devils calculate the weight of artillery. A 24-pound artillery weighs five kilograms."

Feng Kang heard this and said dissatisfiedly: "We are the Chinese navy, there is no need to use foreigners' measurement methods for artillery."

"My lord, I'll pay attention next time."

"Come on, let's go into the cabin and have a look."

"yes."

Everyone followed Feng Kang into the lower cabin and saw that there were many small compartments, each with two bunks.

Feng Kang said in surprise: "Each compartment only sleeps two people. Isn't this too luxurious?"

Lin Yun hurriedly explained: "My lord, naval operations place high demands on soldiers. If they are not allowed to rest well, how can they have the energy to fight?"

"How many soldiers can such a warship carry?"

"About three hundred people."

"The imperial court only gave Beihai Navy five quotas. If we follow this calculation, wouldn't Beihai Navy only have a dozen warships?"

Lin Yun: "That's not how it works. Four or five of these main warships are enough. Other warships are small in tonnage. Each ship has a hundred or ten soldiers, which is considered too much."

Feng Kang nodded, and then said: "Let's go up to the command room and have a look."

"yes."

…

This warship has four floors, with the command room or cockpit on the highest floor.

Standing in the command room and looking out, it feels like standing on a several-story building.

Lin Yun called Xiao Mo, took out a monocular telescope from the box he carried, handed it to Feng Kang and said, "Sir, this is a telescope. You can see farther with it."

"oh!"

Feng Kang took the telescope, fiddled with it a few times, and asked Lin Yun: "Is this right in front of you for viewing?"

"yes."
To be continued...