Li Er is already middle-aged and old, and he is the great general of the Tang Dynasty. When he was twelve years old, he went out with Li Yuan to conquer the north and south. To use the black word on the road, he "came out to join the society in junior high school."
Naturally, he would not ignore the accounts, let alone wishfully thinking that these things could be omitted.
But what Li Er couldn't figure out was these twenty large iron ships. If these iron ship teams could be replaced by, for example, five large iron ships and thirty wooden ships, the cost would be much better!
It's not without reason that Li Er would be so unhappy, because of shipbuilding, especially large iron ships.
Even in modern times, Shenzhou only has a few battleships a year.
This is still a pre-industrial society, with such costs and such production capacity. And as we all know, in future generations, whether manufacturers are making mobile phones or the country is making ships and aircraft, high-tech flagship products will expand their product lines to increase production capacity to dilute costs. From mobile phones
From chips to fighter jets, this is the case.
But now, except for Li Er, and except for the Tang Dynasty, no one else in the world has a demand for steel ships, and one can imagine the terrifying cost.
total.
The combat power of this thing is really high, and the price of this thing is really expensive!
However, according to Li Er's understanding of America, there are forces with Unyielding Silver level there. Even considering that Li Shengzhen said that there are not even wheels in that place, this means that America may not even have the level of Unyielding Silver.
, are the strongest brass,
Then what are you going to do with all these black iron warships? Isn’t it just killing a chicken with a dragon-slaying knife?
Li Er expressed his thoughts in confusion.
The idea of reducing the number of black iron warships to five and changing them to five ironclad ships and thirty large wooden ships!
In Li Er's opinion, this is a reasonable configuration anyway.
This is not because Li Er has been the emperor for a long time and is blind and willful, but there is really a reason for this.
Even on land, when you lead your own troops to fight, they usually only have a small number of elites, with the basic establishment as the main force, supplemented by some weaker newly trained troops, but in short, they will not all be equipped with elite troops.
The reason for doing this is of course that the cost of elites is too high - both equipment and training are too expensive. The second reason is that it is not necessary at all, because a large number of military tasks do not actually require particularly powerful imperial troops.
Just like a large amount of industrial production, in fact, there is no need for everyone with scientific skills. As long as ordinary craftsmen with qualified skills are enough.
This scenario is obviously the same.
Do we need twenty large iron ships?
Li Er asked this.
The expressions of the ministers below couldn't help but be startled. This is really the point of the question. Although the search for America is a major event that must ensure success, after all calculations, it seems that there is no need to get a top-notch ship.
Five iron ships is indeed interesting enough.
Even if the navy is suddenly dispatched to attack a wave of Romans at this time, five iron ships are enough. No matter how many iron ships there are, it is impossible for them to climb ashore and turn into steam vehicles to directly occupy Rome. Those five iron ships are enough.
Of course, if you have to cross the strait and go to the Mediterranean area to plunder the "shipping routes" used by Rome to transfer food within Rome, it would be reasonable to use more large iron ships. However, if you do that, there will not be many Roman artillery in the Mediterranean area.
If we get caught in an ambush then the entire army will be wiped out. However, except for such extreme situations as this kind of military mission that is basically impossible to carry out, five large iron ships can be said to be very good.
This time there are twenty items, no matter how you think about it, people can’t help but think that this is true.
But at this time, Fang Xuanling took a breath and spoke softly.
"Your Majesty, the sea is very windy and rough, and this time we go out to sea in the vast blue waves, with nothing to rely on. This is different from the merchant ships going to places like Southeast Bay and Tianzhu."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Er couldn't help but be startled, "How do you say this?"
"Your Majesty, it is relatively easy for ships to travel along the coast and islands. But if there are no such things to stop for supplies and navigation, then when going to sea, your Majesty, do you still remember when the Tang Dynasty opened the southeast trade route?
"
Fang Xuanling asked.
Immediately, Li Er showed a look of shock, and his expression froze on the spot, while other ministers on the side simply bent down and lowered their heads, not daring to say anything more.
Fang Xuanling's words hit the key point.
Sailing is not difficult.
But the difficulty of opening a navigation route in unfamiliar waters is another story!
If we want to use an analogy, sailing between marked islands and coasts according to the established routes is like an ordinary business trip traveling to various places to do business. It is a part of daily life, but it is more difficult, but it is difficult to say how difficult it is.
That's out of the question.
But if it is an unfamiliar sea area, this horse rider is equivalent to carrying goods through a war-torn area!
at this point.
Li Er actually had to admit that when the Tang Dynasty opened up the southeastern sea route, it was very difficult and he sailed out bit by bit before finally finding and opening up several ports and marking the islands along the way.
, and drew a sea chart!
From then on, when Chinese merchant ships went to Southeast Bay, their sailing direction basically followed a fixed direction. Nowadays, as long as the ship wanders and finds an island to dock, there will probably be Imperial Guards of the Tang Dynasty staying on it.
The mark number - check the chart again against the mark, and your position will be firmly determined.
This is different from using a sextant to locate oneself. After all, that thing is an instrument. Not everyone can play it. Even if they can play it, there will be errors. This is different from consulting the chart based on the marks on the islands and reefs. This is real
One hundred percent accurate positioning.
Isn't this sailing easy? Of course it is.
Nowadays, it is said that there are some powerful sailors in Hangzhou who can sail to the Southeast Bank on a sampan - I don't know how true it is, but it is certain that the route is mature.
And now it’s time to head to America.
Thinking back to the hardships of opening up the Southeast Bay, the damage to ships, the casualties, and the maddeningly slow progress,
Li Er couldn't help but feel his scalp tightening.
Looking at it this way, it seems that we really need to send more iron ships out!
And then.
Fang Xuanling smiled bitterly and continued to remind, "Also, your majesty, please don't forget that China is only a thousand or two thousand miles away from the southeast by sea, but if you go out to the East China Sea to find the American continent, it is thousands of miles away."