The Ming Dynasty started with caution

Yan Chengjin was summoned to the Meridian Gate.

When a jet-black firearm appeared in his sight, it was larger than General Hongyi, and he was slightly shocked.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi turned around and looked deeply at Yan Chengjin: "The Metropolitan Procuratorate will conduct a thorough investigation to find out who sold the firearms manufacturing technology to Flangji!"

Liu Jian and the others had frosty faces, and they were a bit dignified.

The garrison posts in the southeastern coastal areas and island countries are all equipped with Hongyi generals.

If trading occurs at sea, the imperial court will be beyond its reach.

Yan Chengjin thought carefully: "It doesn't have to be a transaction. It may also be taken away by the Franji people during a battle at sea."

In the middle of the Ming Dynasty, the Franji people imitated the Daming firearms and forged the Hongyi cannon.

Today, the Ming Dynasty forged the Hongyi General, and the Franji people also imitated more powerful artillery.

There are also very skilled firearms blacksmiths in the West.

Zhu Houzhao said happily: "Lao Gao and I said that Manjiala is a pass on the sea and cannot be controlled by the Franji people."

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi was slightly angry, while Liu Jian and others were silent in thought.

The Franji people have cut off overseas trade, and it can be expected that the taxes at coastal customs will plummet.

And the prices of silk, tea, and firearms will plummet again.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi looked at Yan Chengjin: "Is there anything the Yan Qing family can do?"

The princes thought of Kong Mingjun.

If the Kong Ming Army can launch a surprise attack on the sea and burn the Franji people's ships, and the Ming Navy takes the opportunity to fight, they will definitely win.

But everyone knew that the sea was very rough, and at this moment, all eyes fell on Yan Chengjin.

"I have no choice. Your Majesty should ask Mr. Zhang." Yan Chengjin said.

Yes, this is a military expedition. What can I do as a weak scholar?

Zhang Fuhua said: "I'm afraid that the Franji people have already attacked Hainan. I think we can send Gu Qing, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, to lead a flanking attack."

Jiang Mian and others nodded in agreement.

If the Franji people were allowed to land on Hainan and plunder food supplies, it would be even more difficult to fight.

The Supreme Emperor Hongzhi said helplessly: "Recruit troops."

Yan Chengjin didn't say anything.

Back to the Metropolitan Procuratorate,

At this time, Lu Wan was reading the drawings on the desk. When he was patrolling the south of the Yangtze River, he went to the Qingjiang Shipyard and learned a little about large ship casting.

But the drawings drawn by Yan Chengjin have one more thing than ordinary ships.

armor!

“Iron is easy to sink in water, how can it be turned into a boat and sail on the sea?”

Lu Wan touched his chin in confusion. Yan Chengjin once watched the administration of the Ministry of Industry, but even so, he may not have known about the construction of large ships.

Suddenly, Yan Chengjin's footsteps were heard.

He turned around and saw Yan Chengjin walking into the duty room of the Metropolitan Procuratorate.

Lu Wan hurriedly said respectfully: "I have met Mr. Yan, do you want me to make tea?"

Yan Chengjin had his water cup with him. He didn't drink the tea in the palace. Even so, Lu Wan still asked one more question.

Yan Chengjin stayed where he was: "Are you looking at the shipbuilding drawings?"

Lu Wan's heart skipped a beat: "Lord Wang Yan, please forgive me!"

But the next moment, I heard Yan Chengjin ask: "Is there anything you don't understand?"

Lu Wan was stunned, raised his head slightly, and looked at Yan Chengjin without knowing why.

"I think you are a talented person. It's a pity that you can't be used by the court. If you have any questions, you can always ask me to clarify your doubts."

Lu Wan felt grateful in his heart and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, Master Yan!"

Yan Chengjin was worried about how to find out about General Hongyi's leak.

He ordered people to summon Zheng Qian and ordered: "Order people to go to the Ministry of Industry to find General Hongyi's serial number and send it to each censor's office for a thorough investigation."

General Hongyi controls firearms.

There is a forging number on the cannon body, which is the year, month and day plus the source of forging.

The imperial court had two yamen for forging general Hongyi.

One is the Wang Gong Factory in Beijing, and the other is the Ningxia Ordnance Factory built three years ago.

Zheng Qian raised his head in confusion: "Sir, even if you find out the number of General Hongyi, it will be difficult to find where it was lost. There is also a General Hongyi in the island country."

If it is lost from the island country, it cannot be traced. After all, the island country does not have a censor's office, and even if the censor misreports or conceals the report, the court will not know.

With Master Yan's strategy, he should be able to think of it.

Yan Chengjin said: "Just do it."

After Zheng Qian took the order and went out, Yan Chengjin ordered people to bring the drawings and go to the shipyard in Liangxiang.

When they heard that Yan Chengjin was building an iron ship, Song Jing and Xie Pi widened their eyes. How could iron float on water?

This completely violates Yan's Three Laws in science.

"Sir, steel is too heavy. If the whole body is covered with steel, the ship may sink." Xie Pi said.

Lu Wan thought so too, and he looked at Yan Chengjin from the side.

Yan Chengjin criticized: "Master Xiao Song never questions his position. We are both chief engineers. This is the biggest difference between you and Song Jing."

Xie Pi blushed and bowed slightly.

Yan Chengjin continued: "The important doctrine of science is exploration and creation. This is the original intention of establishing the Institute of Engineering in Liangxiang. How can there be something established that you can imitate?"

Xie Pi said in shame: "Students are short-sighted, please forgive me."

Just like a father teaching his son a lesson, Lu Wan was dumbfounded.

Yan Chengjin said: "Let's start the construction. Each boat can carry one hundred and fifty people on the water. I will inform my officer later."

The iron-clad ship looks like it is only covered with a layer of iron armor, and the craftsmanship is simple.

But it is extremely difficult to do.

The thickness of the armor was too thin to block the French cannon, and too thick to allow the buoyancy of the wood to support the hull.

If a hundred people stood on the ship, it would probably sink.

Not to mention there are huge things like General Hongyi.

Song Jing and Xie Pi had to test this thickness, calculate the buoyancy and weight, and then forge iron armor again and again to cover the ship.

The power of the ironclad ship also needs to be considered. Large ships with more than six masts are driven by sea breeze and ocean currents.

The ironclad ship will inevitably have a deep draft, and how to drive such a heavy ship is also a problem.

Back in the mansion,

Lu Wan closed the door of the study, took out a piece of letter paper, and wrote:

This official has gained the trust of Yan Chengjin. Yan Chengjin ordered Song Jing and Xie Pi to supervise the construction of a ship, called the Ironclad Ship, which is covered with iron armor. It is said that if you get this ship, you will not be afraid of powerful firearms such as the Red Barbarian General.

After stopping writing, he took out a large yellow rice paper and drew a blueprint of the hull.

Most of the soldiers of King Ning in Poyang Lake are lake pirates. If they get this ironclad ship.

I don’t know how high the military preparation will rise.

After folding it into a square, he sealed it with wax and told the housekeeper: "Send it to the wine shop in the west city and buy two more pots of wine. Don't let people suspect it."

"Don't worry, sir. I understand."

...

Forbidden City, West Warm Pavilion.

The retired emperor Hongzhi was reading the military recruitment report of the Ministry of War.

Zhang Fuhua bowed and said: "Only 10,000 soldiers have been recruited, but most of them are fishermen who have never been trained. I am afraid they don't have much combat power. We still need Wang Gongchang to supervise the production of firearms."

The requirements for the navy are higher than those for the soldiers. They need to be familiar with water.

This makes most people afraid to join the army.

The retired emperor Hongzhi didn't see Yan Chengjin's voice, and turned to ask Xiao Jing: "Where is Yan Qing's family?"

"After going to Liangxiang Shipyard, he went back to the mansion after leaving duty."

This guy is lazy and derelict in his duty again!

Jiang Mian and others were slightly moved. Now that there is a big event in the court, he is still so sneaky and slippery. It is inevitable that there are some complaints.

Li Dongyang also knew Yan Chengjin's temper, and said: "Now is the time to go off duty."

The corner of the eyes of the retired emperor Hongzhi moved slightly.

Please vote for me, thank you~