Chapter 756 Prepare to take Zhu Yuanzhang on the train
Department of Scientific Research.
This place has been guarded by soldiers and no one is allowed to approach.
Regarding steam trains, it has not been mentioned in the newspapers so far, and ordinary people are basically unaware of it.
When Zhu Ying came here.
The locomotive has been lifted onto the tracks.
Different from the locomotives of later generations, the locomotives manufactured now have similar shapes and have many Chinese elements added to them.
There is nothing that can be done about the appearance of the steam ironclad ship, otherwise the craftsmen will never be lacking in terms of senses.
When he learned that his grandson was coming to see him, Huang Guan was already waiting here.
"How about it, it can run."
Zhu Ying asked casually to Huang Guan next to him.
Huang Guan bowed and said: "To report back to my grandson, we have tested it before and there will be no problems in operation. This time we get on the railway track, it is also the final step. I am confident that there will never be any trouble."
Seeing Huang Guan's confidence, Zhu Ying smiled and nodded: "Let's get started."
Here is the test track, with a total length of one kilometer, and the train will run back and forth.
As the officials shouted and nodded, the steam engine began to roar. As the entire car body trembled, gradually, the rollers below began to move.
The whole train also slowly started to move forward.
However, just when everyone thought everything was going well, they only heard a few booms and suddenly stalled.
Huang Guanzhi's proud smile suddenly froze on his face.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness Taisun."
He was so cool just now, but now he was slapped in the face. Huang Guan immediately knelt down and kowtowed.
All the officials nearby also knelt down, and there was an uproar: "Please forgive me, Your Majesty the Grand Sun."
Zhu Ying waved her hand: "This kind of failure is just a common thing. Why should you blame me? Get up. Why are you still kneeling? Go and find out what went wrong."
"Thank you Taisun Longen!"
Huang Guan and everyone else then stood up and bowed.
A group of officials from the Ministry of Industry over there quickly went to check.
Cold sweat broke out on Huang Guan's forehead.
During the previous experiment in the house, even if there were some minor problems, they had been solved. I had just vowed to my grandson that nothing would happen, but then he turned around and turned off the engine.
If we really talk about it, this can lead to the crime of deceiving the emperor.
There is no way, the imperial power is so overbearing and unreasonable.
"Your Highness, what is the purpose of such a big iron can? I didn't see a horse pulling it, so how could it move?"
The mother and daughter who had been following behind obviously didn't know what a steam engine was.
Amyra was bold and asked directly.
Next to her, Aida trembled in fright and quickly reached to pull her daughter.
Zhu Ying didn't pay attention and explained: "This is called a train. I told you before that as long as I build this train, we can reach the Western Regions in a few days."
"The train is currently being tested. If there is a small problem for the time being, it will be like a stomachache. It will be solved later."
Aida felt relieved when she saw that her grandson had no intention of blaming her.
The sister on the right, Ibaiti, also asked: "I don't think this is fast. Isn't there a carriage yet? It took us almost two months to get here from the Western Regions. How can we get here in a few days?"
Zhu Ying continued: "That's because it hasn't started running yet. When it starts running, its speed will be similar to that of a horse on the grassland. The most important thing is that the horse needs to rest, but it doesn't need to rest."
"There are twelve hours in a day, and it will always be running at the highest speed of the horse. It will only take a few days to reach the Western Regions."
Ibaidi still didn't believe it: "How could it not need a rest? Wouldn't it be exhausted?"
Hearing this, Zhu Ying burst out laughing.
Several people had been communicating in Turkic language. Except for Huang Guan, who could understand it, the other officials had no idea what Taisun and others were talking about.
Just seeing my grandson laughing, everyone laughed along with him.
Zhu Ying turned to look at Huang Guan: "Explain it to them."
Upon hearing this, Huang Guan slightly cupped his hands towards the mother and daughter, and then said: "This thing is called a train. It was built by our Ming Dynasty Scientific Research Department. Its whole body is made of steel."
"Inside this train, there is a huge furnace burning, which provides a steady stream of power for the operation of the train. As long as the furnace does not burn out and keeps adding coal, the train can continue to run."
"The flameout just now was due to some minor malfunctions in the furnace. It will be able to resume operation after it is repaired later."
Huang Guan's Turkic language was naturally not as fluent as Zhu Ying's.
However, he explained the principles of trains in a very simple way.
It is difficult for ordinary people who have never been exposed to steam engines to understand, but furnaces are easier to understand.
Moreover, there is no word for steam engine in Turkic language.
We have to create one now to be able to embody it.
Compared with the perfection of Chinese characters, Turkic languages are very different.
"As long as the fire of the furnace does not go out, it can keep running, no matter it is day or night."
Queen Aida, who had been silent next to her, murmured to herself.
As the queen of a country, even though Huhu Country is only a small country, Aida has been exposed to government affairs and military affairs after all.
In the Western Regions, there is no saying that the harem does not interfere in politics, and even the queen is not a minority.
Therefore, Aida is very clear about the impact that the appearance of this train will have.
If soldiers are carried on it and can arrive in a few days, then a new war will break out in the world.
With such powerful weapons, Ming Dynasty will definitely expand its territory.
From this, the queen saw blood and fire.
Countless ethnic groups will surrender one by one under the Ming Dynasty's military peak.
At this time, officials from the Ministry of Industry came to report.
The problem of flameout has been detected. It is because the pipes of the steam engine are blocked by debris, which causes flameout at startup.
In fact, as long as it starts to move, the chance of flameout will generally become very small, because the high temperature will melt the residue at the same time.
"Regarding the problem of steam engines, a special team of craftsmen should be established to repair and maintain them."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "Whether it is a steam train, a steam ironclad ship, or other steam machinery, wherever steam engines are used, rules must be set."
"For example, what inspections need to be carried out before starting, and the items of these inspections are listed one by one. These inspections must be completed before the steam engine can be started."
"In the Scientific Research Department, a steam engine must be kept running, and people should record how long it will take for problems to occur. A certain time point must be guaranteed. Every time before this time point, the steam engine needs to be inspected and maintained.
"
Zhu Ying casually explained some methods of later generations.
People today have not formed a stable concept of machinery. It seems that once it is built, there will be no problems. In fact, the failure rate of machinery is very high.
Huang Guan immediately raised his hands and bowed: "Hearing what my grandson said was like a revelation. I still have many shortcomings in the work of the steam engine. I hope my grandson can give you more guidance in the future."
Not only Huang Guan, but other officials and craftsmen were also very surprised.
In the eyes of the officials, Taisun often visited the Scientific Research Department, but in fact he only came once every seven or eight days or half a month.
However, Taisun was very clear about steam engines and other aspects. He didn't even need introductions from officials. He knew better than these craftsmen who were personally involved in manufacturing.
At this moment, in the minds of Huang Guan and other officials and craftsmen, there is only one sentence to describe it: True heaven and man.
Other than that, they couldn't think of any other explanation.
"Okay, now that we've cleaned it up, let's continue booting it up."
"Follow the order."
At the beginning of the second start, people like Huang Guan were much more nervous now than they were confident before.
I'm afraid that the flameout problem will happen again.
Fortunately, after cleaning up the residue, the steam engine started smoothly.
The sound of rumble and rumble sounded, and the locomotive began to accelerate gradually.
With the supply of power, the speed of the train is getting faster and faster.
From a brisk walk, to a trot, to a fast gallop, the locomotive just moved along the track.
"It's so fast, getting faster and faster, faster than a galloping horse."
Amyra couldn't help but exclaimed loudly.
Although the officials and craftsmen from the Ministry of Works could not understand her Turkic language, the surprise in her tone was clear.
"Your Highness, fortunately you have lived up to your command."
After a full stick of incense had passed, Huang Guan bowed to Zhu Ying and said.
Zhu Ying nodded with satisfaction: "Very good. The advent of the train is an important event for our Ming Dynasty. It has far-reaching influence. It will change the current pattern of the world."
"From now on, we will immediately build a special train for our Ming Dynasty in accordance with the existing standards. A railway department will be established here in the imperial court to be responsible for train operation, loading and other matters."
"Huang Aiqing, you will take charge of this matter and ask the Department of Scientific Research to cooperate and immediately build a special train from the capital to Peking."
Huang Guan quickly bowed his hands and said, "I sincerely obey the grandson's order."
Zhu Ying nodded, and then asked: "The construction of the railway track has started before. Where does it lead now? Is it to the port on the Yangtze River?"
The railway tracks built starting from the capital naturally do not go along Zhengyang Avenue. The crowds there are too dense and are not suitable for construction.
The railway starts from the north gate of the Imperial Palace, in the direction of Xiaoling Mausoleum and Xuanwu Lake, and goes all the way to Nanjing Port.
This section of the road is not too long, only twenty miles.
There is enough steel in the capital to build this railway track.
"Reporting to your highness, the construction was completed yesterday." Huang Guan replied respectfully.
Zhu Ying was a little happy and said: "The carriage has been built. I remember that there was a report a few days ago. In this case, I asked the Qintian Prison to choose an auspicious day."
"When the time comes, grandpa, as well as all the officials of the imperial court, will sit on this train and experience it."
"On that day, remember to do the maintenance work well and make sure nothing goes wrong."
Around the capital today, there are already more than twenty steel mills specially set up for forging steel.
Zhu Ying had already made preparations for this section of the railway in the capital. The ground was compacted, sand and gravel were piled, and he was waiting to lay the rails.
So it doesn't take much time.
The production of railroad tracks is really not that difficult for carpenters. It just changes from carpentry work to steel work. The principle is the same.
Huang Guan's face looked a bit ugly.
Zhu Ying frowned: "Why, the carriage hasn't been finished yet, so this shouldn't be a difficult problem."
Huang Guan lowered his head and said: "According to His Highness's instructions, the nine carriages have been completed long ago."
Zhu Ying asked: "What's the problem?"
Huang Guan smiled bitterly and said: "We did a test before and pulled the train together with one carriage."
"I didn't feel any other difficulties at first. Everything was running normally before, but when I parked the car, the problem arose."
"Because the locomotive is traveling very fast, it takes a long time to slide to a stop, and in the process, it is very easy for the carriages behind it to hit it."
"At that time, only one carriage was used, and there was almost a big problem. If there were nine carriages, people would be overwhelmed if they were crowded together."
The main plan for the overall design of the train was proposed by Zhu Ying, who simply described it in the same way as later generations.
Listening to Huang Guan's words, I immediately thought of the hooks of trains in later generations.
However, Zhu Ying did not rush to tell the story, but asked: "What plan does the Scientific Research Department have to solve this matter now?"
Huang Guan replied: "The method currently thought of is to directly link all the carriages together. Each carriage uses a braking device like a locomotive. When it is necessary to stop, the brakes can be braked together to ensure a stable ride.
Stop."
"If nine carriages transport a large amount of goods, the speed of the entire train will become slower. Therefore, officials from the Ministry of Industry proposed that a steam engine could be added to the rear of the train to provide power for the entire train at the same time.
This way the speed can be faster.”
Zhu Ying was a little surprised.
He didn't expect that the ideas on the Scientific Research Department's side were already very mature, and that such a solution was almost as good as the high-speed rail of later generations.
Later high-speed trains had two locomotives, but that was not to provide power at the same time, but to rotate front and rear.
And directly linking all the carriages together for forging also avoids problems with tractors between carriages.
From this aspect, it is already improving.
"The method is good, why haven't you started doing it?" Zhu Ying asked.
Huang Guan bowed and said, "I haven't reported this matter to the grandson yet, so I dare not act privately."
The reason why the Ministry of Industry has not done so yet is because the matter involves Taisun.
After all, it was Taisun who proposed the idea of building the carriages individually.
In a sense, the behavior of the Scientific Research Department overturned Taisun's decision, which was tantamount to disobeying the order.
Without Taisun speaking out, no craftsman would dare to reform the plan set by Taisun.
Zhu Ying thought for a while and said: "The trains here in the capital can be made according to the method you proposed. The carriages in other places can be connected with a tractor to buffer the collision between the carriages."
"Including the carriages that are connected together, this method can also be used to buffer the collision caused by the train's movement."
Zhu Ying began to tell Huang Guan how to make carriage hooks.
The hooks are made of steel, like two fisted hands, and are installed at both ends of the car body. When the two "boxers" touch hard, they can easily separate first and then hook together tightly.
This is the general plan of the train carriage tractor in later generations.
Zhu Ying's explanation is not very clear. The main reason is that the hook is not one piece, but composed of multiple parts, and it still needs to be made.
The key is the movable hook, which can offset the pressure of the train to a large extent.
You can use the integrated train here in the capital, but in other places, it is not so convenient.
Huang Guan understood Taisun's meaning very well. He was afraid that there were many things that he had no idea about.
Zhu Ying only needs to provide a direction of thought, and Huang Guan can create it.
The principle of hooking is not impossible for carpenters.
"Can it be completed in half a month?" Zhu Ying asked.
Huang Guan immediately expressed his position: "Please rest assured, Grandson, it will be completed."
Zhu Ying nodded.
By then, he can take the old man on the train with him.
Thinking about it this way, I felt a little excited.
When trains are built everywhere in Daming.
Travel will become a very hot topic.
In the previous life, Zhu Ying only took the green train when she was a child, but it was later replaced by the high-speed train.
I didn’t expect that at the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, I would be able to ride on a train again.