Zheng Fang's cargo ship was almost blackened, which shows how many attacks they encountered along the way.
"No, everyone was on the boat and fought all the way down. There was no direct battle with the enemy."
Zheng Fang shook his head: "But I passed by the naval camp yesterday, and a brother from the Zhongming Group came on board and told me that King Wu has assembled a large army, and I'm afraid he will catch up soon."
"They haven't given up yet?"
Jin Feng frowned slightly: "Let's go in and talk about what's going on?"
Arriving at the dock conference room, Tie Hui patted Zheng Fang on the shoulder and said with a smile: "It's not an easy journey for you, the ship is all blackened!"
"It's indeed not easy. Prince Xiang and the others are like crazy, pouring oil into the water like they don't need money." Zheng Fang shook his head.
"Then how did you get down?" Tang Xiaobei asked.
"The night before yesterday, the wind direction changed, and Captain Zheng ordered a hot-air balloon to blow up King Xiang's fuel oil depot."
Mancang recalled the scene at that time: "Sir, you didn't see it. At that scene, the sky was lit up."
"The kerosene collected by King Xiang was burned up, and there was no way to stop us. We went down the river and reached the East China Sea in two days."
Zheng Fang said: "I thought the kings of Chu and Wu would stop us, but they didn't."
"The king of Chu and the king of Xiang meet at the junction. You are going down the river so fast that the king of Chu should be too late."
Iron Hammer smiled and said: "As for King Wu, he has no more kerosene."
"It seems that King Wu, King Chu and King Xiang are not really of the same mind."
Tang Xiaobei also laughed.
A few days ago, Jin Feng also relied on this method to burn Hejiapu.
If King Wu and King Xiang are of the same mind, they should warn King Xiang.
But King Wu did not do that, allowing Zheng Fang to take advantage of the loophole.
"Now is not the time to discuss this. Let's first talk about what happened to the pursuers behind us?" Jin Feng asked.
"We passed the naval dock, and a brother from the Zhongming Group got on the boat and said that they found that King Wu had gathered a large number of soldiers near Zhoujia Village, and was also requisitioning buildings, cargo ships, and fishing boats everywhere. Most of them came for us," Zheng Fang replied.
"Sir, aren't you worried that there is no one to prepare gunpowder? Didn't they send the prisoners here?"
Tie Chui said coldly: "We are too passive on the river. As long as they dare to come to the sea, I will teach them how to behave!"
"King Wu already knows that we have hot air balloons and grenades. If there is a fight, they will only get beaten. So this is probably a smoke bomb he deliberately released to confuse us."
Jin Feng thought for a moment and said: "Tie Hammer, you have sent more scouts out recently, be careful of enemies attacking the dock from land!"
They have hot air balloons and grenades and are not afraid of water battles.
Sitting on a hot air balloon and throwing kerosene jars and grenades down, no matter how many enemies there are, you can only get beaten.
What he worried about was an enemy attack from land.
Although the dock has been renovated, it is still too small and can withstand bandits and small groups of soldiers. However, if King Wu gathers thousands or even tens of thousands of soldiers to attack, the dock will not be able to withstand it.
When the time comes, the other party will be able to level the dock even with a pile of people.
"yes!"
Tie Chui also understood what Jin Feng meant and took Zheng Fang to arrange manpower.
Jin Feng looked at Mancang: "Have you brought everything?"
"We have brought everything," Mancang nodded: "His Majesty Ninth Prince asked me to bring twice as much of everything!"
"Very good," Jin Feng nodded: "I will ask Daqiang to arrange a place for you later. You can unload the equipment as soon as possible. We must start work as soon as possible."
"Okay!" Mancang nodded quickly.
The dock workers and bodyguards worked together to unload the cargo of several ships all night long.
The next morning, Jin Feng handed over the security work to Zheng Fang and Tie Hammer, and he rushed into the warehouse with a full warehouse.
When Jin Feng came to Donghai for the first time, he came up with the idea of making a power machine.
However, the conditions were not yet mature at that time, and it has never been possible.
However, he began to develop lathes, milling machines and other related technologies very early. After more than a year of development, the smelting workshop has built a second generation machine that can be driven by animal power and water power.
Although it is impossible to make a high-precision internal combustion engine, making a relatively rough steam engine is not a big problem.
After working in the warehouse with Mancang and a group of female apprentices for more than half a month, Jin Feng successfully assembled Dakang's first steam engine.
"Sir, is this done?"
Mancang looked at the strange-looking steam engine with doubt on his face.
Many female disciples also had the same expression as Mancang.
Only Wan Heming walked around the steam engine with a frown on his face. There was no doubt on his face, only seriousness.
It's a pity that Jin Feng never had time to teach him systematically, and he couldn't understand the principles of steam engines.
"Master, can you make this thing spin by boiling water?"
Wan Heming scratched his head and asked.
"You'll know if you try it, don't you?"
Jin Feng smiled and threw the torch under the boiler.
Ten minutes later, the water in the boiler was boiled, and the steam entered the piston along the pipe.
When the air pressure pushed up the valve, Jin Feng took a crank and asked the escort to shake the flywheel.
After shaking it for more than ten times, the flywheel will automatically start spinning faster and faster.
The propeller at the end of the drive shaft also rotates rapidly.
"You can really turn it around on your own!"
The female disciples clapped their hands and marveled.
Due to limited conditions, the accuracy of this steam engine was not very high, and it made a loud rotation. Hong Taoping, who was busy in the large workshop next door, heard the noise and ran over.
He walked around the steam engine and asked curiously: "Sir, what is this?"
"This is a steam engine. With it, big ships can sail freely even when there is no wind!"
Jin Feng said excitedly.
"Really or not?" Hong Taoping looked suspicious.
This was the first time he saw a propeller, and he couldn't imagine that such a small thing could spin and propel a huge ship.
"Okay, can't we find out after you modify the boat and put the steam engine on it?"
Jin Feng answered confidently.
"I'll take someone to work overtime tonight, and it will be finished tonight."
Hong Taoping's eyes showed anticipation.
"Be careful and don't make trouble again!"
Jin Feng squinted and said, "If you sink this ship again, I will twist off your head and use it as a ball!"
"Don't worry, can I accompany you on the boat this time?"
Hong Taoping said with a grin.
He knew that Jin Feng completely believed him when he said this.
That night, Jin Feng led a group of escorts to lift the steam engine onto the ship and stuck it on the modified base.
When the tide rises, the dock gates are opened, seawater pours into the tunnel, and the ship slowly floats.
The boatmen and escorts used ropes to drag the ship into the sea.
Then Jin Feng, accompanied by Hong Taoping, boarded the ship and threw the torch under the boiler.
Ten minutes later, the steam engine made a puffing sound and started running successfully.
The big ship moved forward slowly under everyone's gaze.