The news that the steam engine ship is sailing to Hanyang needs to be widely publicized, and the news that needs to be spread widely is to quickly destroy the psychological defense line of Beijing merchants and give up all resistance.

Ignoring the panicked members of the Jingshang group, Hong Jinglai stepped forward to greet Li Xizhu, who was driving the boat. The others were watching the ship that was about to turn off the steam engine. Of course, some people trotted all the way back to the Jingshang main store in the city and asked the owner of the store. The head of the house, Li Douhuan, and all the chief executives reported this matter.

Hong Jinglai took Li Xizhu's arm and quickly asked about the specific circumstances of the voyage. Previously, Li Xizhu had only sent back the news quickly, saying that he would definitely be able to sail the ship to Hanyang today. The details would naturally come from a messenger. Can't tell.

But Li Xizuo's expression seemed to say everything. This trip was not as easy as it seemed. Apparently there were other hidden reasons for the ship's arrival in Hanyang.

Before returning to the city and sitting down, the guards blocked a clear area for Hong Jing to come. Li Xizhu and Min Tingyue explained in detail. Li Xizhu also spoke a little embarrassedly. He had previously "invited" fishermen in Hanyang Bay on a large scale. Shuiying's "building" of warships indeed enabled Li Xi to have a thorough understanding of the hydrological conditions of Hanyang Bay.

But it is a pity that we still know very little about the specific situation at the mouth of the Han River. The Beijing business group is very strict about their own life-saving strategy. It is impossible for outsiders to understand the junction of the Han River and the Yellow Sea. There are so many hydrological conditions, not to mention the clear reefs and shoals.

Relying on the powerful power of the steam engine ship, Li Xi can forcefully navigate through various whirlpools and water surges, but he is really helpless against various reefs. Some of his subordinates also suggested that he go to the deepest part of the water in the central channel. Anyway, our ship The draft is less than one meter. If you don’t believe it, you will hit the rocks.

But Li Xichu was unwilling to joke with the lives of a boatload of people. Seeing that the one-month deadline given by Hong Jinglai was getting closer and closer, Ding Ruoyong finally gave him a suggestion.

If it doesn’t work during the day, try it at night!

As soon as these words came out, Li Xizhu suddenly became enlightened. After working with him for a month, he admired this great scientist. After all, he was really capable, not just a troll. Wherever can a capable person go? All shine and are respected.

Tides are really closely related to the moon!

Li Xizhu then kindly invited the fishermen who were catching fluorescent squid in Hanyang Bay to come to Jemulpo for a while. Those fishermen who caught squid were scared to death. Not long ago, Li Xizhu fired a salvo of heavy artillery at the mouth of Hanshui. It was really... It was as if the sky was falling and the earth was falling. Now that Li Xi had invited them into the military camp, who knew if they were going to be sacrificed to the cannon.

Just kidding, we, Lao Li, are also new intellectuals who have been educated in modern Western science for a month. Why are we still engaging in this trick with you? We grab these fishermen fishing for squid and board the boat at midnight every day to hang out at the mouth of Hanshui.

There was an old fisherman who had been fishing at the mouth of Hanshui River for more than thirty years because he had been fishing for fluorescent squid at night. He probably figured out that Li Xizhu wanted to find out the specific conditions of the tide. So he pointed to the moon and told Li Xizhu that on the seventeenth day of every month The tides on the 18th day are the largest, and among the spring tides, the spring tides in the winter solstice and summer solstice months are the most turbulent.

And December happens to be the winter solstice month. In the middle of the night on the 16th of that month, a big tide from the Han River will rush into the Yellow Sea. This tide will surge along the way. For hundreds of thousands or even millions of years, it has already Sweep away all obstacles in the tide.

Entering the Han River from this tide, you are guaranteed not to touch anything and have a safe journey into the Han River. But how can a sail-powered ship compete with the power of nature? It is impossible to rush into the mouth of the Han River against the tide.

The Hanyang merchants controlled this flood channel, so they could safely enter and leave the Han River for hundreds of years and monopolize the country's water transportation.

Your broken sailboat can't push through the tide, but my steam engine ship can!

Just do it! Li Xi dragged the old fisherman and set off in the cabin at midnight. In the incredible exclamation of the old fisherman, he rushed into the Han River against the tide and arrived in Hanyang unscathed. Everything went smoothly.

Li Xi was indeed taking the safe channel of the Han River, but he did it in the middle of the night, so he could only take this trip. When he returned, he had to drive slowly bit by bit and measure the specific hydrology of the entire channel. Move out. Or just wait until the 16th of next month and rush out with the tide.

Not practical!

Or maybe it was just a short-lived performance voyage!

Hong Jinglai heard that he was not dissatisfied, as long as the ship could rush in. Now thousands of people in the Nanmenwai Cao Market saw a steam engine ship arriving in Hanyang unscathed. This is a fact.

"Besides this one, is there a spare boat?" Hong Jinglai paced and asked again.

"Yes, there is a spare one." Li Xi nodded.

"Now send a fast horse to Jemulpo, and let the boat rush into the Han River along the tide tonight. I want it to arrive at the south gate of Hanyang at this time tomorrow!" This is an order from Hong Jinglai, and Li Xi must do it. .

"Understood!" Li Xizhu always carried out Hong Jinglai's orders to the end. As long as his elder brother Hong spoke, he would do his best to complete it.

Li Xichu here immediately arranged for people to run back, and Min Tingyue came over there. When this boat rushed to Hanyang, naive people could interpret it as good luck and a miracle. But if there was another boat the next day The fact that the steam engine ship rushed to the bottom of Hanyang City shows that it came based on "ability". It was this steam engine ship that could overcome all difficulties and sail normally on the Han River.

At that time, all we have to do is spread some half-truth and half-false rumors to Hanyang, saying that Hong Jinglai only had these two steam engine ships, so he could only make two temporary trips. After the big ship at Jemulpo Shipyard is built, there will be five trips a day. Ten large ships sailed from the Yellow Sea into the Han River and arrived at the foot of Hanyang City.

All the rubbish wooden boats made by Beijing merchants can be eliminated by the times!

In the future, the Ming Dynasty's water transportation and ordinary freight will no longer have to rely on the fleet of the Jingshang family. Now the state's ships can also sail on the Han River.

As for whether this ship is fast or not, or whether it is a time-honored invention or something like that, no one cares at all. The first time everyone saw the steam engine ship, they were surprised that it could actually pass through the swollen reef at the mouth of Hanshui. But it was a dangerous journey that cost hundreds of thousands of lives!
Chapter completed!