Become a feudal king from today - #897 - Chapter 911 Iron Armor

“In addition to refining metal, you should review the preparation of rubber and build a rubber production line in advance. Once the rubber arrives, you must be able to produce rubber immediately.” Zhao Xu warned.

These are the factors that limit industrial upgrading.

In order to pave the way for the second industrial revolution, one needs to be solved one by one.

After staying in the research and development institute for a while, Zhao Xu returned to the palace.

The launch time of the steamboat was calculated.

That morning, he took the earliest steam locomotive on the Yanjing Line heading east.

Unlike last time, this steam train was a special train for him and the officials.

Now, this steam locomotive from Yancheng to Jinghai is full of people.

Ever since we got this steam locomotive.

The people from Yancheng to Jinghai have benefited greatly.

Many people were able to travel to Yancheng from far away and find jobs in workshops.

Merchants can also go to Yancheng with their goods through the cargo carriage behind the steam engine locomotive.

And this is also the reason why Yancheng suddenly became prosperous during this period.

People from all directions gathered in Yancheng.

According to Liu Fu, Yancheng is about to be overcrowded now.

After running in, the speed of this steam engine locomotive has reached 60 kilometers per hour.

In an hour and a half, he arrived at Jinghai.

After getting off his exclusive carriage, he went straight to the Shipbuilding Department’s shipyard.

At this time, Zhou Yi and Chen Shou were already waiting for his arrival.

“Your Highness, I will deliver the second batch of thirty-six steamships as scheduled.” Seeing Zhao Xu, Chen Shou bowed and said.

Zhao Xu looked at the steamship preparing to launch in the dry dock and nodded with satisfaction.

Currently, Jinghai Shipyard has twenty-four steamships, and there are twelve more at Pingcheng Shipyard.

But it will be launched at the same time.

In addition, there is a sail warship under construction in the dock.

“After these steamships and sailing battleships are launched, stop building towed steamships and sailing battleships.” Zhao Xu thought of something and said to Chen Shou.

He believed that sixty steamships and sail warships were enough to deal with the Western Turkish fleet in the Eastern Turkish waters.

Continuing production would be a waste of resources.

Next, military shipyards only need to build ironclad ships, large troop carriers, large hospital ships, and large supply ships based on triple-expansion steam engines.

At the same time, civilian shipyards can build large quantities of small steamships, as well as large ferries and cargo transport ships partly based on triple-expansion steam engines.

“This is exactly what I want to respond to His Highness.” Hearing this, Chen Shou breathed a sigh of relief.

The triple-expansion steam engine developed by the institute can be mass-produced in the factory.

He believed that Jinghai Shipyard should no longer continue to build small steamships and sailing warships.

This is a waste of Jinghai Shipyard resources.

It would be more valuable to free up this resource and move it to the construction of ironclad ships.

If the Yanzhou Navy still needs small steamships and sail warships, they can be handed over to Qizhou’s shipyard.

“Hahaha, heroes really think alike.” Zhao Xu laughed.

Then, his eyes were immediately attracted by a warship under construction.

This battleship is nearly twice as long as previous sail battleships, about 124 meters long and about 18 meters wide.

However, due to the short construction time, the wooden boards on the keels on both sides have not yet been installed.

But even so, he knew that this was the first armored ship of Dasong in the future.

“After he is launched into the water, he will shock the world, enhance the prestige of our country, and will definitely leave a strong mark in history.” Zhao Xu said.

Chen Shou looked like he was gazing at his beloved son. He wanted to introduce to Zhao Xu, “Your Highness, this armored ship will be equipped with ten boilers to heat water to provide powerful power for the triple-expansion steam engine. I estimate that its speed can reach three Ten kilometers per hour.”

“At the same time, due to the large size of the battleship, there is no need to reduce the number of artillery. This ironclad ship will have eighty-six front-mounted rifled naval guns. No matter whether it is defense or firepower, no battleship can match it.”

Zhao Xu became more and more looking forward to what Chen Shou said.

The ironclad ship has only been under construction for less than half a year. Since it is more complex than a sailing battleship, he expects the construction period to take at least two years.

In other words, it will take another year and a half before the ironclad can be launched.

However, he was not in a hurry.

His current focus is to drive the Westerners away from the Eastern Territory and bring the entire Eastern Territory into Da Song’s sphere of influence.

Then deal with the enemies in the north.

Of course, he will not forget the independent continent in the southern seas-Australia.

It will probably take two or three years to achieve the goals one by one in this order.

At that time, the ironclad ship was launched, and it could become his pioneer to go to the deep sea and seize ocean hegemony.

“By the way, how are you and Wang Chong and his son discussing the rotating turret?” Zhao Xu thought of something and asked.

In addition to the gun emplacements on both sides of the sailing battleship, the ironclad ship built this time evolved.

Four rotating cannons were also designed.

Two doors on the front deck and two doors on the aft deck.

The four cannons will be mounted on rotating pallets.

The principle is similar to the rotating glass disk on the dining table in a hotel.

The ironclad ship with only gun emplacements on both sides was just an immature design of the early stage ironclad ship.

Later ironclads were basically equipped with rotating turrets.

In this way, the artillery can attack the opponent’s warship without adjusting its sailing posture. It has a huge advantage over a warship with only gun positions on both sides.

“The father and son took over this matter with great pride, leaving me only responsible for the installation.” Chen Shou laughed. He and the two of them cooperated very happily.

Father and son also have a very good temper with him.

“That’s good. In this way, I can wait for the arrival of the armored ship with peace of mind.” Zhao Xu said.

“Not only this ship, but after these steamships are launched, these dry docks can be used to build ironclads. I will give your highness a fleet composed of ironclads.” Chen Shou was ambitious.

After his words fell, Zhao Xu didn’t say anything, but Zhou Yi laughed first, “Master Chen, on that day, I will personally serve you tea and water.”

“I don’t care.” Chen Shou blew through his nostrils.

Then, he couldn’t hold it in anymore and started laughing.

The three of them laughed for a while, and then turned their attention to the steamboat that was about to be launched.

The yearning for ironclads made them feel that the steamships in front of them were ordinary.

However, the launching ceremony still needs to be carried out.

After Zhao Xu conveyed the order to launch, twenty-four steamships slowly sailed from the dry dock to the sea.

Looking at the steamships emitting plumes of smoke, Zhou Yi pinched his waist and said with a complacent expression: “Your Highness, I am going to send these steamships to Wufeng Island to cooperate with Gong Ying and the four northern vassals to launch an attack on the Watanabe case.”

“Without further delay, let them go to Japan now. Dong An has probably met the four feudal lords now, and the war is about to start.” Zhao Xu said.

Japan is a country without depth, and the longest distance from east to west is only three to four hundred miles.

This means that they can support the four northern vassals from the sea at any time.