Fu Tang

"What?" Li Congjia's first reaction was that he didn't believe it. To be honest, when he brought it up last time, these people didn't even know what a steam ball was. It was invented in 100 AD, and it took hundreds of years. Yes.

So here comes the question, from the discovery of steam to the tinkering with the steam engine, this is basically the entire history of industrial evolution, how did they manage to do it in such a short period of time?

In Li Congjia's mind, he would be grateful if he could see a steam engine in his lifetime. Now tell him that he has already created a steam engine?

Facing Li Congjia's puzzled gaze, Liu Yi also didn't quite understand it. He thought that since His Majesty knew about this thing, it meant that it had appeared before, and it might have been lost because of the war or other reasons, but it's not that they copied it. How difficult is it not?

Li Congjia calmed down and said, "Go, take me to have a look."

Liu Yi immediately led the way, Li Congjia thought about it and asked Shi Xueting to be brought over, how could he not let him see such a novel thing?

After arriving at the academy, Li Congjia went directly to the scientific research institute. Of course, this is what he called it. This place is called Gewuyuan, which specializes in various invention research, but it is not easy to enter here. Invention research needs to be reported to the high-level of the college, and then after the high-level group discussion of the college is completed, some materials and money will be provided to the sub-regions if they think it is possible.

Because all the money is allocated by the academy, it is very difficult to pass the assessment of the academy.

Of course, Li Congjia couldn't help this. For any project that Li Congjia requested to study by name, the college has never been embarrassed, and even immediately dispatched researchers from related fields to study.

And it turns out that what Li Congjia wants to study is very useful, as long as it is done, it will definitely be a big achievement, so whenever Li Congjia said that he wanted to study something, those experts immediately put down the research at hand, or threw the research to the students first, and turned around. Even if you sharpen your head, you have to join the research team.

The steam engine was the same this time. When Li Congjia arrived in the yard, he saw a very ugly iron lump in the middle of the yard.

The iron lump is as tall as a person, and it looks very heavy. However, when Li Congjia reached out and knocked on it, he found that the wall of the cylinder was very thin. He was actually not satisfied with this. Thinness means that the quality may not be good enough and the service life is short. .

But thinking that this steam engine had appeared hundreds of years earlier, he felt that it could be forgiven.

After Li Congjia came, they began to prepare for the experiment. Li Congjia watched them heat the water and turn it into steam, and then the steam expanded violently and pushed the top piston.

In an instant, Li Congjia calmed down. On the way here, he even thought about whether he could start to study the train tracks, and then survey suitable places for track repair while building roads.

However, now he realizes that he seems to be thinking a little too much. This is the simplest steam model, and it is not a real steam engine at all. It will take some time before it can be used in life.

And he can also see that the reason why this thing is made so big is because the current manual processing accuracy cannot meet the reduction requirements.

But since the research has already started, it means that it will be used one day, as long as Datang is faster than the whole world, and he does not insist on entering the steam age at once.

Li Congjia encouraged the researchers a lot. Although he looked ugly and simple, it was not easy for this group of people to study it to this extent just based on his vague introduction.

After the encouragement, Li Congjia said: "Are you interested in making a pot?"

Everyone:? ? ? ? ?

Although Li Congjia felt a little uncomfortable, but when he saw the steam engine just now, he thought the best thing to get was a pressure cooker.

It's just that this thing is a bit dangerous, and Li Congjia doesn't dare to do it by himself, so he wants these people to do it, and safety is the top priority.

After everyone listened blankly to Li Congjia's words, they were silent for a while. They really couldn't keep up with the emperor's train of thought. Didn't they just watch the steam engine experiment?Why did you turn around and start researching on that... pressure cooker?

The main question is, what is this thing for?

Facts have proved that those who engage in scientific research may not pay much attention to appetite, but to the research results. Therefore, Li Congjia said that the pressure cooker is more useful. Of course, this is also the same as cooking at home. Not that they are related.

In the end, Li Congjia didn't explain at all, and just waved his hand and said: "Don't worry about it so much, you can do it if you let you do it. The steam engine is not yet ready for use. Although it can be registered for a patent, it still needs to be researched. But this pressure cooker It’s different, as long as the research is done, it can be sold, and the patent fee will be distributed to you at that time, anyway, it’s all about the principle of steam, so just do it as you please.”

This is also the reason for the Gewu experts. Although they are obsessed with scientific research, they don't really care about everything. After all, they still have to earn money to support their wives and children.

Why does Li Congjia make so many people willing to study things?It's not because all the things that Li Congjia wants to study are all things that benefit the country and the people, and they can also make money.

Li Congjia took the people away, Shi Xueting asked: "Are you not satisfied?"

Li Congjia shook his head: "It's not that I'm dissatisfied. At first I thought it didn't meet my expectations. However, it's not bad to think that it can be achieved to this extent. At least it has come into being. The rest is to continue to improve research."

Shi Xueting doesn't know much about this, he now feels that the steam engine is really amazing.

After Li Congjia finished speaking, he began to wring his fingers and said, "If the steam engine can be improved, there will be many things that can be done."

Shi Xueting asked: "What can you do?"

Li Congjia suddenly realized that he could only come up with a steam train. He scratched his head and said, "We can make a car. With that car, we can go wherever the rails can reach, without relying on horses or cattle." Come to pull the car."

After hearing this, Shi Xueting was very interested: "What kind of car is that?"

Li Congjia took him to the study room, picked up a brush and drew a stick figure of a train, and drew the rails by the way, and then said: "If the steam engine is really developed, it can be used as a power at the front of the train in the future, and the rest They are all cargo carriages, relying on the front of the vehicle to move forward, don’t believe it, the power of the steam engine can really be so strong.”

After looking at it for a long time, Shi Xueting thought for a while and said: "There used to be wooden rails during the Qin Shihuang period, and that's what the book carts were stipulated at that time. Will we also build wooden rails in the future?"

Li Congjia shook his head: "No, wooden rails can't bear it, you need rails. Well, if you calculate it this way, the quality of the rails must be good enough."

Shi Xueting didn't know that things like trains really existed in later generations. He only thinks that Li Congjia's idea is very good, but it may not be completed.

In fact, even Li Congjia didn't hold out much hope. Now he really regrets why he didn't have any reason at the beginning. Although he may not know everything, at least he can figure out a lot of things, so that he can only propose one direction. The rest Let Datang's scientific research personnel handle it.

Just as he was sighing, it took five days for those Gewu experts to get out the pressure cooker he wanted, and the most important thing is that Li Congjia asked them to make a pressure cooker and brought them inspiration!

When the Gewu Academy was researching steam engines before, all they made were vacuum steam engines. This kind of steam engine is relatively safe and has relatively low pressure, but its efficiency is relatively low. Li Congjia doesn't know much about this problem, but he can feel that this steam engine does not meet the requirements. his expectations.

Although he didn't say anything, none of the gewu experts who can get to this level is actually a fool, and the most basic skill of observing words and emotions is not enough, so he started a meeting on how to improve the efficiency of the steam engine.

However, they did not come up with any results after studying for a long time, which almost brought the research of steam engine to a standstill.

Under such circumstances, they could only turn around and develop the pressure cooker that Li Congjia wanted first. After all, it was ordered by the emperor himself.

When studying the pressure cooker, the problem of sealing and pressure caused them a lot of headaches. Although Li Congjia is not a professional, he has already explained the function of the pressure cooker very clearly, and Gewu experts also understand it.

Later, a kind of cork was used to solve the sealing problem, and at the same time, the Gewu experts also thought of one point-high pressure may also be applied to the steam engine. When they thought about it, they turned their heads and started to experiment.

If Li Congjia were here, he would definitely say that these people are desperate.

Isn’t that right? In the few days they were conducting experiments, a small building would be blown down every day. Fortunately, except for the first day, no one ran out and was injured. In the subsequent experiments, they tried to stay as far away as possible.

But this kind of movement attracted everyone, and some people even wondered whether Gewuyuan was researching some advanced weapons.

Because the building had to be rebuilt, the financial expenditure of Gewuyuan increased a lot at once, to the point where Liu Yi couldn't make decisions, so he had to report it to Li Congjia.

After Li Congjia knew about it, he couldn't help but went to Gewuyuan to have a look, and found that these people were not afraid of death and were going to find a place with no people in the Qinling Mountains to do experiments!

In fact, strictly speaking, it is not that these people are not afraid of death. The problem is that the pressure cooker is too unsafe. Everyone knows that Li Congjia definitely wants to use it. The problem is that such a thing that explodes at every turn is sent to the palace?

If there is an explosion, one of them counts as the other, and they will all be labeled as treason!

Therefore, solving the problem of the fryer is the most important thing. As for the pressure steam machine... They feel that if the problem of the pressure cooker is solved, the pressure steam machine should not be a big problem.

Li Congjia took a look at the tragic situation of Gewuyuan, and couldn't believe that this dilapidated small courtyard was actually an exquisite courtyard carefully designed by him before.

After Shi Xueting followed him, he couldn't help being stunned. Looking at the yard, and then thinking of the researchers who were recuperating at home, Shi Xueting decided that Li Congjia must not be allowed to approach this thing, at least when it is in use. It cannot be approached.

Li Congjia couldn't help looking at their experiment records, and then... he found that he couldn't understand them at all, and finally had to say: "The problem of the fryer has not been solved yet?"

The few experts who are still relatively intact shake their heads dejectedly. It has to be said that the pressure cooker has dealt them a lot of blows.

Originally, listening to the emperor's narration, this thing is really very simple, but who knows that it is not the case?

Li Congjia couldn't help but want to knock the heads of these people to see if they were stupid for doing experiments. However, thinking that there are still many gentlemen from Gewuyuan standing outside the courtyard, and some students are also looking here from a distance. , he resisted the urge to curse, and said patiently: "Haven't you guys thought about getting a safety valve?"

After hearing this, Lu Ji, the dean of Gewu Academy, thought about it: "Safety valve?"

Li Congjia had no choice but to explain the appearance of the safety valve again, and he was really convinced. A pressure cooker, with the lid on, there is no place for air to leak. If you don’t fry it, who will fry it?

It just injured a few researchers, and they should all be thankful, otherwise, one would count as one, and they wouldn't even try to escape!

Lu Ji clenched his right hand and clapped his left hand, saying, "That's right, why didn't we think of this?"

Probably because you have been stupid enough to study, you only know to study in one direction, and you don’t look back when you hit the south wall!

However, Lu Ji and the others seemed to have no intention of introspection at all. After hearing Li Congjia's thoughts, they turned around and entered the only small building in Gewuyuan that was still intact to continue their research!

Li Congjia shook his head helplessly, then turned to Liu Yi and said, "Don't worry about the restoration here, you can find another place, a bit off, it doesn't matter if it's closer to the Qinling Mountains, and the experimental research of Gewu Institute will be moved there as much as possible in the future." Go, here is only responsible for theoretical research."

Nima, this is inside the college. Now it’s just a small pressure cooker. If you hurt yourself, that’s fine. After all, you’re willing to suffer. The problem is that if one fails to control well, it hurts the others What about teachers and students?This possibility must be eliminated!

After hearing this, Liu Yi let out a sigh of relief. He was really afraid of these experts, each of them was a master who killed one thousand enemies and harmed eight hundred. Now in the academy, except for the students who are selected from all over the country with excellent character and learning , are the descendants of various bigwigs in the court, and even many of them are legitimate sons, orthodox heirs!

If it hurts in the college, even if the college has Li Congjia as the backing, it won't be able to handle it.

Of course, the facts have proved that sometimes it is only one step away from success. Li Congjia told them that they can get a safety valve, so there is no problem with the pressure cooker.

Then they applied the safety valve to the steam engine, so the power of the steam engine was greatly improved. However, when they wanted to further research, they found that the limit of the steam engine was actually the metal raw material!

It has to be said that all industrial development is linked. The emergence of the steam engine forced the group of metal researchers in the Ministry of Industry to work overtime.

After Li Congjia knew about it, he thought about it and allocated a little more money to the Ministry of Industry for research. What he is most willing to do now is to spend money on research.

Although the investment is huge, many things in these researches are not only used for military industry, but also for civilian use, just like wool and cashmere products.

Li Congjia no longer has a monopoly on cashmere and wool. It is easy for him to monopolize this thing, but he finally chose to open up the technology, but he has to pay patent fees if he wants to use it. Otherwise, don’t blame him for being rude.

Of course, in fact, no one dared to renege on their debts, who would be so upset!

Not only did he transfer money to the Ministry of Industry, Li Congjia even posted a sum of money to Gewuyuan. Now the steam engine has reached a very critical moment. Originally, it took a while to change from a vacuum steam engine to a high-pressure steam engine. Now he hopes can shorten this time.

Although Datang is already moving at a fast pace, he hopes to be faster. High technology means that there will be more resources and energy, and then the wealth of the world will be attracted to Datang. This is a virtuous circle .

His huge investment has indeed been rewarded. After the first rain in the new year, the Gewu Academy reported that a locomotive had been made.

Li Congjia was at a loss when he saw the report.

locomotive?Didn't you still study steam engines before?How come it turns to be the locomotive?And he didn't talk about the concept of trains to the people in Gewuyuan. How could they think of building trains?

Li Congjia looked up at Shi Xueting with the report papers, and Shi Xueting said calmly: "I told them, I just said it out of my mouth when I went to read it before, but I didn't expect them to actually put it in." heart."

Li Congjia nodded and didn't care. This kind of thing is not a secret. He is just curious about what the train made by those people looks like.

So he directly put down the memorial in his hand, got up and prepared to read it, but before he left, he happened to see Li Zhongyu looking at him eagerly, Li Congjia smiled slightly and said, "Let's go, let's go and have a look."

This epoch-making thing, Li Zhongyu, as the future emperor, of course has to go and see it together.

When the three of them arrived there, the locomotive had already been placed in the new Gewu Experimental Institute. The place was remote, and with the requirements of the Gewu experts, Liu Yi simply made it so big that it could hold a locomotive.

When Li Congjia saw the locomotive, his first reaction was that it was ugly. He had never seen such an ugly train. The whole design had no aesthetic feeling, the lines were blunt and pitch black, and the links in various places were not perfect.

However, thinking that these are all riveted, Li Congjia feels that he needs to forgive, after all, the handwork of this era is still not up to the mark.

So... the train is not important, the important thing is to get the generator?

Li Congjia looked at the locomotive and fell into deep thought, but he didn't speak, and neither did the others. They all looked at Li Congjia with a serious expression in trepidation, wondering what they did wrong, which dissatisfied the emperor.

Shi Xueting coughed lightly and walked to Li Congjia's side and asked in a low voice, "Your Majesty?"

"Huh?" Li Congjia came back to his senses and found that everyone was looking at him, so he said, "Oh, let's go and have a look first."

The interior space of the locomotive is not large, even in Li Congjia's view, there is almost no space. The huge steam engine occupies a large part, the most important thing is the steam engine and various supporting boilers. Such a locomotive can at most Only three or four people can be stuffed.

Of course, in Li Congjia's view, this is because the design of the locomotive is too small, and this size is a little larger than that of later generations of bullet trains. The question is what is the power of the bullet train?What is the power of the steam train?No comparison?

"Why is the front of the car designed so small?" Li Congjia came out after walking around. Anyway, he couldn't figure out whether it was really good, and he had to look at it after driving.

Lu Ji immediately said: "If it is too big, the motivation will not keep up, and I am afraid that it will not be able to carry it."

This is the result of their calculations and designs many times. Of course, this must not have reached the limit of the steam engine, but now no one dares to try this limit easily. What if it explodes again?This yard has just been repaired, and it cost a lot of money. It is said that His Majesty rewarded them for their hard work and built it with his own pocket. If it is blown up again, they will probably go bankrupt and build it themselves.

After getting off the front of the car, Li Congjia asked with some doubts: "Where are you going to test the front of the car?"

There are no rails in the yard and it is practically impossible to install one in this yard.

Lu Ji said: "The production has already begun, but because it needs to be in a flat place, it is not placed here."

Li Congjia asked: "When will it be fixed? I have to watch it during the test."

Lu Ji made a calculation: "Three days later."

So, Li Congjia, who came over for a stroll, took Shi Xueting and his son and ran to watch the locomotive test three days later. This time, he not only brought himself, but also the main officials of the cabinet and the Privy Council.

The people in the cabinet and the Privy Council didn't know what the Gewuyuan was doing, but when they saw the black iron bump, their first reaction was to be puzzled. When the black iron lump started to smoke, their eyes would be straight - this guy It won't explode, will it?

And Li Congjia... Li Congjia's eyes were also straightened. The sound of the train...was really...too loud, right?And with this vibration amplitude, he really wanted to know if the people inside were alright after such a lap?

However, it didn't even wait for the actual lap to be completed. Halfway through the drive, the locomotive simply turned off the engine and quit.

Li Congjia: This thing... seems unreliable.