Ang Lee's purpose was naturally to increase the speed of water transportation to improve the efficiency of water transportation. Li Yu certainly knew this. Moreover, as long as one was not a fool, one could see the usefulness of the steamboat.
"Assistant Minister Li, after the steamboat is used, the Tang dynasty can transport grain from Jiangnan to Luoyang more quickly, and then load the grain onto the train from Luoyang to the capital. Therefore, the steamboat's biggest function is to transport grain, right?"
Li Yu answered casually.
"Transporting water. Mm, not bad, it does have this function. However, the steamship we've built now is only a very small steamship. In the future, we can build even larger steamships, and these larger steamships will not be able to travel through the canals. They can go out to sea and proclaim the might of the Great Tang."
Ang Lee said with a smile.
"Assistant Minister Li, how much food can this steamship under our feet transport? Can it transport 100 grains? "
Li Yu looked at the steamboat cabin and asked with a smile.
He felt that the steamboat's speed was very cool, but the cabin area was not larger than that of ordinary transport ships. Moreover, because of the addition of the steam engine and coal storage space, the transport capacity seemed to be lower than that of ordinary transport ships.
"The steamboat can transport grain? Haha! Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon is wrong. The steamboat can't be used like this. If it is used like this, it won't be very useful! "
Ang Lee said with a smile.
"If it can't transport grain, how can it be used for transport? Assistant Minister Li is really good at joking. "
Li Yu frowned.
Ang Lee looked at Li Qiu and asked, "What do you think, Si Lang?"
Li Qiu frowned and thought hard for a long time. Then, he said with great joy, "Assistant Minister Li, I understand. The steamboat is specially used for hauling. It can pull many transport ships, just like the steam locomotive. It doesn't load goods, but it connects dozens of carriages behind it."
"Yes, yes, yes. It's used for traction. That way, it can perform better, just like a steam locomotive."
Li Yu quickly understood and felt that this kind of steam boat was very good. It was very useful. As long as a certain number of them were produced, the efficiency of water transportation could be increased by many times. It would be very convenient for the imperial court's water transportation business. In addition, large amounts of goods could be towed by merchants using steam boats. Thus, they could reach their destination faster and increase the efficiency of commercial transportation.
"Haha! You finally understand the great utility of the steamboat. However, since the steamboat has just been built today, let us properly enjoy the scenery of Crooked River Pond! "
Ang Lee was in a good mood and said excitedly.
"Filthy filthy filthy …"
The steam boat was very fast, but it was also very noisy. As long as it increased its speed, it would make a very loud noise. This made a large number of tourists in Crooked River Lake look curiously at the steam boat as if they were looking at a monster.
Ang Lee drove the steamboat back and forth in Crooked River Lake at the fastest speed. The feeling of riding in the wind was not ordinary. The surrounding nobles and young ladies in the pleasure boats all cast curious and envious gazes.
"What kind of boat is this? It's so fast and it's even emitting black smoke?"
"I'm not sure. I've never seen it before."
"Why do I feel that it's similar to a steam locomotive? Could it be another new thing invented by Assistant Minister Li?"
"Yes, yes, yes, it shouldn't be wrong. Assistant Minister Li is really amazing. He has invented so many useful things. Who knows what else he can tinker with in the future?"
"Assistant Minister Li's talent is not inferior to that of Ancient Luban. He is a great talent."
"He is indeed more talented than Luban. However, Assistant Minister Li knows little about poetry and books. He is still inferior to the ancient sages."
The surrounding nobles in the pleasure boats saw the steam boat running around Crooked River Lake. They talked to each other and reached a lot of consensus. They guessed that the steamboat was invented under the guidance of Ang Lee. At the same time, they also thought that Ang Lee was better than Ancient Luban. However, with the arrogance of scholars, they still thought that Ang Lee's excellence was only inferior. In the hierarchy of scholars, agriculture, industry, and commerce, the talent of craftsmen could only be regarded as a small talent. No matter how many things Luban invented, they could not be compared with Confucius and Mencius.
The steamboat ran back and forth in Crooked River Lake. It had been two hours, but there was no fault. This made Ang Lee very happy. After all, after so many days and nights of improvement, the performance of the steam engine was very stable. The steamboat had also been developed for a longer time than the steam locomotive. No problem was the inevitable result of the hard work of the steam engine. It was also a reward for Ang Lee's hard work.
The discovery of a steamboat that could emit smoke in Crooked River Lake, and there were more nobles visiting here. Because of this, the news quickly spread throughout Chang 'an City. It even spread to the Daming Palace and let everyone in the palace know about it.
After confirming that there was no mistake, Gao Lishi personally walked into Zichen Palace and told Li Longji the good news.
"Steamboat? The steamboat developed by Assistant Minister Li has been successful? "
Li Longji was reading a historical record. When he heard that the steamboat was running freely in Crooked River Lake, and its speed was many times faster than that of a gaily-painted pleasure boat, he happily put the historical record on the table and stood up.
"Everyone, the news of the steamboat has spread throughout the city. Even the people in the palace are talking about it. Assistant Minister Li has made a great contribution to the Tang dynasty. I congratulate everyone."
"Good, haha!"
Li Longji was overjoyed. After thinking for a moment, he said softly, "The steamboat is fast. If it is used in the transportation of water, it will certainly greatly improve the transportation efficiency. It is really a good thing! Send my order, let Assistant Minister Li come to see me immediately. "
Obviously, Li Longji still didn't know much about the steamboat, so he had to let Ang Lee explain it to him personally. In addition, how the steamboat should be built, where was the most suitable place to build it, how it should be used in the transportation of water, whether it was specially prepared for the imperial court or allowed to be sold to the people, how high the cost was, and how much transportation efficiency could be improved. These questions could only be answered by Ang Lee accurately.
Several little eunuchs soon found Ang Lee and his people who were still testing the steamboat at Crooked River Lake. They waved their arms and asked Ang Lee to go ashore, but the people on the boat couldn't see at all, so they naturally wouldn't go ashore.
The little eunuch took out a medicinal jade mirror and used the reflected sunlight to constantly shine on the steamboat that was moving forward. Moreover, he shook the mirror back and forth to attract the attention of the people on the boat.
"Who is making trouble?"
Li Yu's eyes were blinded by the strong light many times, and he felt a little annoyed.
Ang Lee quickly took out the binoculars from his arms and looked in the direction of the shore where the strong light came from.
"It's the little eunuch by His Majesty's side. He should be calling for me. Go over there immediately."
Ang Lee saw the little eunuch by Li Longji's side through the binoculars and immediately ordered the steamboat to go ashore.
The steamboat was very fast, and it didn't take long for it to reach the shore. Ang Lee, Li Yu, Li Qiu, and the others immediately went ashore and walked toward the little eunuch.
"Assistant Minister Li, His Majesty is waiting for you in the Zichen Palace."
The little eunuch quickly explained why he was looking for Ang Lee.
Ang Lee nodded and turned to look at everyone. He said, "The construction of the steamboat is very successful. You've all worked hard these days. His Majesty wants to see me now, and I will report your contributions. Go back and continue to work hard to improve the steamboat. I want to see a better steamboat."
"Yes, Assistant Minister Li."
All the researchers were so happy that it was as if they had been injected with chicken blood.
"Gwangbyeong Of Gojoseon, Shirang, will you follow me to the palace or return to the Baisun Courtyard?"
"We won't go to the palace. Assistant Minister Li, hurry up and go to the palace! Don't let His Majesty wait too long. "
Ang Lee nodded and followed the two little eunuchs to the Daming Palace and entered the Zichen Palace.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Assistant Minister Li, rise. I already know about the steamboat, so I specially asked you to come. I know that Assistant Minister Li must have a lot to say to me."
Li Longji was very happy. After returning to Chang 'an City, he took the train to the Hot Spring Palace many times because of the convenience of the railway system. He even went there in the afternoon and came back in the evening.
Moreover, because the Hot Spring Palace was not far from Chang 'an City, it was completely under the control of the Dragon Martial Army and the Yulin Royal Guards. Thus, he did not need too many guards to get to the Hot Spring Palace. He only needed two guard trains, one in front and one behind the other. There was almost no interference with the railway's operation. It was simply too convenient.
Li Longji was naturally in a good mood because he could leave the palace frequently without the pain of the bumpy ride. Now that the steamboat experiment had succeeded, he was even happier.
"Your Majesty, this humble subject was planning to come and discuss the location of the shipyard with Your Majesty, but Your Majesty summoned this humble subject first."
Ang Lee replied with a smile.
"Mm, the location of the steamboat shipyard is very important. Assistant Minister Li must have already thought about it!"
Li Longji asked.
"Your Majesty, the steamboat's main purpose now is to transport water. The shipyard should be located in Luoyang City. This way, the newly built steamboats can be easily launched into the water and put directly into the water."
Ang Lee gave the approximate location of the shipyard. This was a decision made after careful consideration. After all, Luoyang was the center of the water transportation. Luoyang City was the most suitable location to build the shipyard.
Of course, this was only the current situation. In the future, if large steamboats were to be built, the shipyard would have to be built in the coastal areas. For now, Luoyang City was enough to build these small steamboats.
"Luoyang City. Good, I also think that the shipyard is most suitable in Luoyang City. It's decided then. Assistant Minister Li can arrange the specific location of the shipyard. I won't ask about it. What I want to know is the capability of the steamboat."
Li Longji straightforwardly agreed to build the shipyard in Luoyang City.
"Your Majesty, the steamboat can travel at the fastest speed of forty miles in two hours. According to the speed of twelve hours a day, it can travel at the fastest speed of two hundred and forty miles, which is four or five times faster than the water transportation boats at their fastest speed. Moreover, it doesn't require manpower to row, which greatly saves manpower. In the river, a steamboat can pull twenty to thirty wooden boats, just like a steam locomotive or a freight carriage. It can greatly increase the speed of the existing boats and facilitate the efficiency of water transportation. Moreover, when the river is muddy, the steamboat's powerful power can also allow itself and the other boats to pass smoothly, thus saving the effort of boatmen and tugging boats. If there is too much mud and one steamboat is not enough power, two, three, or even more steamboats can pull it together. The towing force is definitely much greater than that of boatmen and tugging boats."
Ang Lee gave a simple introduction.
After hearing that, Li Longji was very excited. The steamboat not only greatly increased the efficiency of water transportation, but also solved various problems that could be encountered in the Grand Canal.
The mud during the dry season had always been a difficult problem that hindered the transportation of the Grand Canal. Whenever the water depth was insufficient, the boats would always sink into the mud. For this reason, a large number of boatmen had to be employed to pull the boats on both sides of the river. Even a large number of tugging boats had to be pulled together with the boatmen to pull the boats out of the mud. In this way, if there were several shallow sections along the way, the speed of travel would become extremely difficult, and the grain transported would also be difficult to reach the destination on time.
Another problem that could be solved was that the consumption of manpower was greatly reduced. The boats moved independently, and each boat needed a lot of manpower to drive. If the steamboat was used to pull the boats, the boats behind it would not need to be pulled by manpower. In this way, the manpower would be greatly reduced.
"Assistant Minister Li, this steamboat is so practical. We need to build more of it. In the future, the water transportation of the Tang dynasty will depend on it. Haha!"
"Your Majesty, this is just the beginning. As long as the technology of the steam-powered ships gradually matures, your humble servant will be able to build even larger steam-powered ships in the future and form a huge fleet to explore even more distant worlds on land and sea."
Ang Lee looked forward to it.
"More distant worlds? Assistant Minister Li, do you know much about overseas? "
Li Longji asked curiously.
"Your Majesty, the overseas world is very big. I once read in a book that in the future, the Tang dynasty should send out a large fleet to explore these unknown places."
Ang Lee said with great ambition.
Li Longji was not too curious. After a pause, he said softly, "Let's talk about the future later! By the way, Assistant Minister Li, how are the plowing and pumping machines going? "
"Your Majesty, I'm doing my best to develop them. I'm sure they will be developed before the spring plowing next year."
Ang Lee promised seriously.
"Well, Assistant Minister Li, go ahead and develop them. I'll provide whatever you need. Now that the two tax laws are implemented, there is more and more money in the national treasury. The sale of gunpowder and the operation of the railway will increase the national treasury's income, which is enough to support Assistant Minister Li's research and development work. In addition, I think it will be more convenient for the people if you can invent a machine that can harvest crops. Assistant Minister Li, do you think it's feasible?"
Li Longji strongly supported Ang Lee and proposed the feasibility of the harvesting machine.
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