kingnovel Chapter 701 Do you think we're stupid?
Chapter 701 Do you think we're stupid?
The craftsmen were scratching their heads in frustration when Emperor Zhu couldn't help but lean over and say, "Why don't we just make a larger kettle and try it?"
"A large kettle and a small water pump."
"As long as the large kettle can power the small water pump, it means this method is feasible."
"First, let's solve the problem of whether we have it or not."
"Then let's address the question of whether it's good or bad."
In Emperor Zhu's view, since he was worried that the kettle lid wouldn't be able to power the water pump, he might as well just get a larger kettle and try it out.
As a person, you have to be down-to-earth and not be like some scoundrel who always thinks about getting rich quick.
As for the drawbacks of larger kettles requiring more coal and water, these can be addressed later.
Besides, the Ming Dynasty isn't exactly short of coal right now.
If all else fails, they can also purchase cheap coal from vassal states through the Dengzhou border market.
Even if we take a step back and assume the worst, we can still let Xu Da and Chang Heitan come up with a solution.
The craftsmen were somewhat bewildered by what the Emperor Zhu said.
It seems to make sense.
But something seems a little off.
After a long while, a craftsman tentatively said, "Even if a large kettle can power a small water pump, the amount of water a kettle can hold is ultimately limited, and it probably won't last long before you have to add more water."
"Once you add water, the steam disappears, and you have to wait for the water to boil again."
"We can't keep adding water like this, can we?"
Another craftsman shook his head and said, "Make a tall water tank, connect a small pipe in it, and add water while boiling. As long as you don't add too much water and the coal fire is strong enough, the water temperature won't drop, so you don't have to wait for the water to boil again."
Several other craftsmen also joined the discussion.
"Or we could change the shape of the kettle, making it look like a cylinder with a small opening at the top. After the steam rises, the excess steam escapes through the small opening, and the stopper with the shaft falls back down, waiting for the steam to push it up again. That way, it's similar to a person pressing water one stroke at a time."
"In that case, the water tank can't be small, it has to be big, and there can't be any gaps between the water tank and the kettle, it has to be completely sealed."
"Wouldn't it work if we just poured molten iron on it?"
"If that's the case, then this thing can do more than just power water pumps; it can power anything with an axle, including horse-drawn carriages?"
"Don't be silly, what family would carry a huge water tank and then load half a cart of coal on their horse-drawn carriage?"
"You're the idiot! If you make this thing bigger, hang more carriages on it, and transport things to or from Dengzhou Prefecture, wouldn't that save manpower, effort, and supplies?"
"How about we make a few smaller ones first? We don't need to bring anything else, just something that can power the spinning wheel."
“That won’t work. If we’re going to bring a spinning wheel, we’ll have to figure out a mechanism to make it work when we need it and disconnect it when we don’t.”
"You need this kind of mechanism with everything you bring! Do you think you don't need it if you bring a water pump?"
"..."
Several craftsmen began to discuss how to make a steam engine.
The Emperor Zhu, standing beside him, was completely dumbfounded.
After a long pause, Emperor Zhu got up and walked towards the county government office.
……
"Tell me, what exactly is this method of boiling water in a kettle, using steam to power a water press?"
Emperor Zhu found Yang Shaofeng and asked directly, "If you can bring a water press, can you also bring a spinning wheel? And a horse-drawn carriage?"
Yang Shaofeng was also somewhat bewildered.
I even want to ask, "Odd changes, even remains the same."
Old Deng, a native of the Ming Dynasty, how did he know about the many uses of the steam engine?
Yang Shaofeng tentatively asked, "Father-in-law, are you worried that this thing might have some negative effects?"
Emperor Zhu glared at Yang Shaofeng and scolded, "Do you think we're stupid? If this thing can really be made, there will definitely be downsides, but the obvious benefits outweigh the downsides. Are you suggesting we give up those benefits just because of a few downsides?"
Yang Shaofeng said, "That's hard to say."
Emperor Zhu was furious.
What do you mean by "that's hard to say"?
Maybe I'm just an idiot?
Just as Emperor Zhu was pondering which angle to take the first step, Yang Shaofeng continued, "Putting everything else aside, just the fact that this thing can power spinning wheels and looms will cause many women to lose their livelihood in the textile industry."
"Also, a horse-drawn carriage can only carry so much stuff, and it needs to eat fodder. If it's not well cared for, it's easy for it to get sick. This thing only needs water and coal, and it can carry a lot more stuff. There will definitely be changes in transportation."
"So, the son-in-law originally wanted to use it on the water pump."
The steam engine was something we absolutely had to develop.
However, developing something doesn't mean it should be promoted immediately.
After all, this thing has both advantages and disadvantages, and the changes and upheavals it can cause are too great.
Before pushing it open, we must first find a pressure relief outlet for the Ming Dynasty to transfer the turmoil caused by the steam engine.
As for whether this thing will have other uses discovered in the future, that's none of my business.
Anyway, my job is just to develop the steam engine; the rest is for Li Shanchang and Liu Bowen to worry about.
Of course, you old Deng and a certain black sesame dumpling are also indispensable.
Although Yang Shaofeng's plan was brilliant, Emperor Zhu simply snorted coldly and said, "So, you still think we're stupid, don't you?"
Yang Shaofeng was slightly taken aback and asked, "What makes you say that, Father-in-law?"
Emperor Zhu snorted again, circling Yang Shaofeng as he said with a forced smile, "This thing can make women lose their livelihood in the textile trade?"
"Will there be changes in transportation as well?"
"Just because of these things, we have to keep this good stuff hidden away. What the hell is that if not stupidity?"
Having finally found a comfortable angle, Emperor Zhu kicked Yang Shaofeng and continued to curse, "You bastard!"
"If this thing can really replace horse-drawn carriages, how much stuff can our Ming army transport to the grasslands at once? And how much stuff can we bring back at once?"
"Furthermore, this thing can power spinning wheels and looms. Do you think a waterwheel can't power spinning wheels and looms? Don't spinning wheels and looms still need to be operated by people?"
"We're not the kind of idiots who only see the bad and not the good, yet you, you dog, keep hiding it from us?"
Emperor Zhu kicked Yang Shaofeng again, then looked at him suspiciously and said, "Tell me, are you planning to use this thing to cause trouble for us and Biao'er again?"
Before Yang Shaofeng could speak, Emperor Zhu said "Oh" and muttered to himself, "I've figured it out. You bastard, you're planning to get things out of the box and create a whole bunch of problems, which will give us, Biao'er, Li Shanchang, Liu Bowen and the others a headache."