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If you insist on asking Xu Zhengming how he designed it, he will definitely say this——

"Cylinder? To make steam work, you must have a cylinder." This is nothing. 35 years later, the first generation of European steam engines also had cylinders.

"Piston? In order for steam to exert force, it has to push something to run. This thing is a piston." It is also understandable that after 46, European scientists also had this idea.

"Connecting rods, flywheels? My flying chair (helicopter) uses connecting rods. Doesn't the water spinning wheel also have a flywheel?"

"Slide valve? The flywheel is spinning. Isn't it logical to add a connecting rod and let the flywheel control the connecting rod?"

Whatever Zhao Han did, he was never in a hurry.

In his mind, it is acceptable to assign the task of inventing the steam engine and spend ten years slowly grinding it out.

But what the hell is drawing a blueprint in four days and knocking out a prototype in a month?

It's like a parent who urges their child to pass the exam, but ends up getting a perfect score for the child.

Of course, many places need improvement.

From the French steam engine model to Watt's improved steam engine, it has been a long 86 years.It took another 25 years from Watt's improvement of the first generation machine to Watt's perfection of the steam engine.

Xu Zhengming's steam piston uses a cast iron core wrapped in leather and oiled.After the surface grease is worn away, the frictional resistance will be greatly increased.

The improvement plan of this product is to wrap a layer of fine cotton soaked in vegetable oil on the outside of the leather, which can prolong the effective working time of the piston.

Since there is no rubber, it is also a substitute for leather, cotton and the like.The airtightness is not too far off, the main problem is that it is easy to wear and tear, and it cannot withstand the high temperature environment, and it has to be replaced after a few days.

In addition, compared to the full version of the Watt steam engine, Xu Zhengming's steam engine is still very unstable, and its work efficiency is much lower.Because there are no planetary gears, no governors, no safety valves, no pressure gauges, no cylinder outer insulation...

In front of Zhao Han that day, the steam engine suddenly stuck, because the lack of a governor caused the flywheel to move at a non-uniform speed.Coupled with the lack of planetary gears, the final reciprocating work can no longer reciprocate.

Without safety valves and pressure gauges, this defect is barely acceptable.Because of this simple steam engine, the steam pressure is very small, less than one-third of that during the Opium War, and only a few tenths of that during the Republic of China.

Generally, it will not explode, and even if it explodes, most people will not be killed.

Let's put it this way, even if a loom that can be driven by a steam engine is built, due to the instability of the existing steam engine, it is necessary to have professional repairmen in the factory.Turn it around and it won't turn, and small parts like gaskets and cotton layers have to be replaced every few days.

However, no matter how many shortcomings there are, in terms of steam engine research and development, Zhao Han encountered a rare Tianhu start.

The next step is to improve it. It is worthwhile to improve this steam engine in ten, twenty, or thirty years.

In Europe this year, the Italian scientist Torricelli has measured the atmospheric pressure.Newton is also one and a half years old, a premature baby, probably not yet weaned.

In terms of physics and machinery, China has already surpassed Europe in many places.

At the same time, thanks to the missionaries, scientific concepts such as theorems and formulas have been continuously introduced to China since the Longqing period.Today, through Zhao Han's education reform, it has taken root among new-style students.

Just when Xu Zhengming came up with the steam engine, as far away as England, Lord Protector Cromwell won the Battle of Marston Moor.This was the turning point of the British Civil War. Cromwell really rose. After he came to power, Britain will also embark on the road of maritime hegemony.

And in the northwest of China, Ge Erdan... Well, Galdan was born this year, and the Jungar tribe is thriving north of the Tianshan Mountains.

The more Zhao Han thought about the invention of the steam engine, the more excited he was, and he was always smiling when reviewing the memorials.

Good things come in pairs. Officials from the Ministry of Industry reported that the Forbidden City in Nanjing had been built.

To be precise, it is restoration. The Forbidden City in Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty, the city walls and foundations are all there.In some halls, even the pillars do not need to be demolished, and can continue to be used with a layer of paint.A lot of wood and glazed tiles can also be reused, and those things are very strong.

The officials of the Qin Tianjian Planetarium, under the instructions of the Ministry of Rites, have selected an auspicious day for moving to the palace on the sixth day of November in the lunar calendar.

Before Zhao Han moved into the Forbidden City, some female officials and court ladies needed to move to the sanatorium in advance.The house has grown, and the manpower has to be expanded, so the second large-scale recruitment of female officials and court ladies.

Recruit 800 female officials and 1200 court ladies at one time.

Most of them belong to the nature of handymen, that is, hired workers who work in the Forbidden City, and they get paid for their wages.Only female officials who have achieved leadership positions are considered officials of the inner court, with rank and salary.

"Leave it to the cabinet for their approval." Zhao Han drafted an order.

Pang Chunlai, Li Banghua, and Tian Younian didn't respond to the decree. They signed their names in a hurry, and finally Pang Chunlai drafted the official decree.

What's the matter?

Increase royal expenses!

There are so many female officials and court ladies who are paid tens of thousands of taels of silver every month. How can the previous royal budget be enough?

This time it didn't increase much. The annual royal budget increased to 120 million taels, which was roughly equal to the royal expenditure of the Chenghua Dynasty.

In the middle and early Ming Dynasty, the annual expenditure of the royal family was basically around 200 million, and Zhu Houzhao was a little prodigal.It wasn't until Emperor Jiajing came to the throne that royal expenses skyrocketed, and a lot of money was used to practice Taoism and practice.Later, there was no distinction between the private treasury and the national treasury, and the keys to the treasury were all in the hands of eunuchs.

The reason why the words "big construction" is often included in the evaluation of a foolish emperor is because it wastes money and people.

Emperor Wanli's own mother, also considered a wise queen mother, fully supported Zhang Juzheng's reform.But this queen mother also likes to build temples. A temple is at least tens of thousands of taels, and she often takes money from Zhang Juzheng to build temples.Moreover, every time a temple is built, it not only consumes silver, but also recruits a large number of civilian laborers, and the people around the capital suffer terribly.

Zhao Han has already refined the rules. Commercial taxes on salt, tea, porcelain, silk, etc., must be submitted to the central government as a part of the royal budget. Every year, enough royal budget must be reserved and directly deposited into the royal account of the Datong Bank.The construction of the royal mausoleum, the renovation of the Forbidden City, and the wedding of the emperor and the prince all have to be paid for by the treasury, and the royal family will not pay for it themselves.

However, if the emperor wants to build gardens for vacation, or build Buddhist temples and Taoist temples, civil officials can directly reject them.The emperor can repair it if he wants, and pay for it himself!

"Your Majesty, the ministers of the cabinet and the Ministry of War are seeking an audience. There is an urgent military situation!"

"Invite them in."

Good things come in pairs, as if that wasn't enough.

Pang Chunlai stepped into the door and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, the pseudo-shun civil strife, Hao Yaoqi and his troops defected to our Datong court."

"What?" Zhao Han stood up in surprise.

Hao Yaoqi is Li Zicheng's general in the Chinese army, and he was born as a standard bearer for Li Zicheng.Now the status in the court of Dashun is second only to Li Guo and Liu Zongmin, and they can at least rank among the top five generals in Dashun.

Xu Ying said with a smile: "Pseudo-shun stole Shanxi, Shaanxi and Gansu, all of which are bitter and cold places in the northwest. In the past two or three years, Li Zicheng has rectified the administration of officials, recruited refugees, and cultivated and accumulated grain. Keeping a peaceful heart, I know that I can't compete with our army for hegemony. According to the news from the detailed work, although Li Zicheng has made repeated orders not to allow officials to embezzle and cheat, those hypocritical military leaders are lawless in the local area. They change the law If you make money, even if the hypocrisy is destroyed, you can still become a rich man."

"What did Hao Yaoqi do?" Zhao Han asked.

Xu Ying said: "This man is stationed in Zezhou (Jincheng), confronting my army of Huaiqing Mansion. Many dangerous points such as Tianjingguan and Hengwangling are stationed by Hao Yaoqi's soldiers. He has great power in Zezhou , the local civil servants dare not offend, and search the people's fat and people's anointing without any hindrance. The commercial roads from Shanxi to Henan often go down Qinshui, and Hao Yaoqi is still setting up cards in Qinshui, charging tolls from merchants. There were merchants last year Reported, Li Zicheng personally wrote a letter to reprimand, and also fined Hao Yaoqi with half a year's salary, and ordered him not to do anything wrong."

Zhao Han probably guessed what was going on.

Xu Ying continued: "Hao Yaoqi withdrew Qinshui's business card, but still exploited the people. Li Zicheng probably sent spies to investigate. After learning the truth, he planned to let Hao Yaoqi change his defense. He didn't dare to hand over Zezhou. This person guards. Hao Yaoqi was frightened and disturbed, thinking that Li Zicheng wanted to kill him, so he secretly wrote a letter to our court."

"Has this letter been intercepted by Li Zicheng's spies?" Zhao Han asked.

"Exactly," Xu Ying said, "Li Zicheng didn't dare to force himself. He secretly contacted Hao Yaoqi's generals, intending to trap him without bloodshed. The incident was leaked, and Hao Yaoqi brought five thousand soldiers, goods and rations with him. They didn’t dare to take too much away, so they went south and joined me.”

Zhao Han asked, "Where is this person?"

Xu Ying said: "North of Huaiqing Mansion, by the Danshui River. The whole army has been disarmed, and the whole family is being detained in Huaiqing Mansion City (Qinyang)."

Zhao Han was very disappointed. A general defected with [-] soldiers. He thought Li Zicheng was engaged in a civil war.

Li Banghua said: "Your Majesty, you should treat this person with special favors, there must be someone who imitates the hypocrite."

But Zhao Han said: "Cut it off, send the head to Li Zicheng, just say that I also hate corrupt officials!"

cut?

The crowd was speechless.

Chapter 517 [Da Shun cooperates with Man Qing? 】

Danshui Riverside, simple barracks.

The five thousand soldiers who defected were provided with two meals a day.Their weapons and armor have been confiscated by the Datong Army, but everyone doesn't care about it.

If the family members were not still in Shanxi, they even wanted to settle in Huaiqing Mansion!

Missionaries come every day, 100 people a team, divided into five teams to visit the village.500 people set off one day, and all of them were visited in ten days.

There are not many immigrants in Huaiqing Mansion, and there are not many surviving local people, so it can be said that the land is sparsely populated.After the government distributes the land to the farmers, the unowned land can also be reclaimed. It can be regarded as the government rents out the land to the farmers, and then distributes it after the immigrants come.

Hard-working people always think about plowing more, planting as much as they can, and working hard day and night.

The bumper harvests for two consecutive years made them rich quickly.In some unowned land, they did not report it after they plowed it, and there were always a few fish that slipped through the net, and the grain harvest was full of pits and grains.

Another five hundred Dashun soldiers returned to camp from a visit to a nearby village.

"The farmers here are very rich, and every household has food. The one I went to see is a big earthen warehouse, which is full of food."

"The government's land tax is not heavy, and you don't have to do corvee. Life is really comfortable, and you won't do it if you change to a fairy."

"The whole family should have fled to Henan in the first place, so what the hell are they doing staying in Shanxi?"

"The plague in Henan a few years ago, I don't know how many people died."

"We are here, but the mother-in-law and the baby are still in Shanxi. Even if Marshal Hao wants to run away, he should wait a few more days until we bring our family with us."

"Yeah, it would be great if the baby's mother is here. When the time comes, I won't be a soldier, and the whole family will farm the land honestly. I will wake up laughing from my dreams that day."

"..."

A group of Datong dragoons suddenly rushed into the barracks and called Hao Yaoqi's subordinate general: "You can go back to Shanxi!"

The generals were in a daze, at a loss.

The general of the dragoons was called Sui Bin, and he said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, go back and tell Li Zicheng that you were tricked by Hao Yaoqi. You didn't even bring your family with you. How can you show your sincerity?"

Five thousand unarmed soldiers and generals were escorted back to Shanxi by dragoons.

Before leaving, some bachelors, as well as bastards who did not care about their families, knelt on the ground and cried that they did not want to go back. They wanted to stay in the Henan Fentian as farmers.

If you don't go back, you have to go back. Five thousand soldiers are five thousand volunteer propagandists.

When they came to the checkpoint occupied by the Datong Army, the general guarding the pass turned pale with fright, thinking that the Datong Army had killed them.

After some inquiries, the general guarding the gate did not dare to neglect, and immediately sent someone to send a message quickly.

Li Zicheng, who was too far away, was very puzzled when he received the news, so he called Niu Jinxing to ask: "Prime Minister Niu, what kind of medicine does this gourd surnamed Zhao sell? If there is a general from the south who defected with troops, we will definitely promise you a high-ranking official and a generous salary." , Why did he kill Hao Yaoqi? The news spreads, who will dare to surrender when the two armies fight in the future?"

Niu Jinxing was also at a loss, and said: "It's better to recruit people to Taiyuan and interview them in person. As for the rebels who came back, they can't be reused or severely punished. They didn't bring their families, and they were all taken away by Hao Yaoqi .”

The two sides handed over at Guanxia, ​​and most of the dragoons returned.The remaining [-] dragoons escorted the civil servants of the envoys all the way to Taiyuan.

Li Zicheng was also generous. He did not confiscate the equipment of the dragoons and allowed them to travel fully armed.

The civil official who led the mission was named Liu Xiangke, a native of Fuping, Shaanxi.Born as a scholar, he went south with Fu Shan, and now he is a minor official in the Ministry of Rites of the Datong court.

Historically, this product has a bad reputation, being the "tiger skin" of the "Five Tigers of the Southern Ming Dynasty".

The five controlled the government, ruled out dissidents, and corrupted the law with corruption. However, Liu Xiangke still had a bottom line. In the end, he did not surrender, but fled into the mountains unwilling to become an official.

The other four were extremely disgusted.

Yuan Pengnian, the tiger head, was the son of Yuan Zhongdao. After he was surrendered to the Qing Dynasty, he drafted a notice saying: "The tail of the money is the elegance of the new dynasty; the crown of the crown and the belt are the bad rules of the subjugation of the country."

When he learned that Jin Shenghuan raised troops in Jiangxi, Li Chengdong also intended to rebel against the Qing Dynasty, so he immediately helped Li Chengdong plan and took control of the Southern Ming Dynasty from then on.Emperor Yongli was once so angry that he directly said: "In the future, the promotion of officials will be determined by Yuan Pengnian." This guy even dared to quarrel with Emperor Yongli face to face.

After the fall of the Yongli small court, Yuan Pengnian returned to the Qing Dynasty again.Even the Qing Dynasty didn't want him, thinking that this guy is a repeated villain.

Huya Golden Fort, although it did not fall to the Qing Dynasty, became a wealthy monk and often visited the homes of dignitaries and dignitaries in the Qing Dynasty.

Huwei Ding Shikui, Ma slipped down to the Qing Dynasty.

Meng Zhengfa, the tiger's claw, lives in Hunan in seclusion, writes books to cleanse his party members, and writes himself as an upright gentleman.

Today's Liu Xiangke is not a tiger skin. When he went south to seek refuge, he was even a passionate young man.Not only did he not take bribes and pervert the law, but he was also known for his "cleanness" in the overall clean Datong court.I have been an official for several years, and I still live in the official dormitory. My usual salary is used to buy books and read, and my only hobby is to participate in literary conferences.

Zhao Han didn't have a palace, and neither did Li Zicheng, who had always lived in the Prince Jin's mansion.

Liu Xiangke, escorted by several dragoons, came to meet with the Prince of Jin in the Ming Dynasty. He cupped his hands and said, "Liu Xiangke, the head of the Rites Department of the Datong court, pays homage to Your Highness."

"Bold, you don't bow down when you see His Majesty!" a eunuch snapped.

Standing with hands behind his back, Liu Xiangke held his head high and said, "His Majesty, the Emperor of Datong, has canceled the kneeling ceremony. I don't have to kneel even to meet the Emperor of Datong, let alone a false emperor!"

The guards on the left and right were about to attack, Li Zicheng raised his hand and said with a smile: "If you don't kneel, then don't kneel. Listen to your accent, are you from Shaanxi?"

Liu Xiangke said, "I'm from Fuping, Shaanxi."

Li Zicheng asked for a seat, and said with a smile: "There are very few Shaanxi officials in Nanjing. If you are bullied by the southerners, you can stay in Taiyuan as an official. You are very strong and courageous. I lack such civil officials. You In Nanjing, you are in charge of the sixth rank, as long as you stay in Taiyuan, we will give you a five-rank promotion!"

Liu Xiangke sneered with his halberd finger: "If I stay, do you dare to accept it? To lure a country's envoy to defect is like starting a war!"

"Hahahaha," Li Zicheng laughed, "It's very interesting. How many officials like you are there in the Nanjing court?"

Liu Xiangke said: "In my Datong imperial court, there are countless capable ministers and heroes, and there are countless clean and honest officials. Those like me are not worth mentioning at all. Being able to be the head of the Ministry of Rites is already a great grace of Your Majesty."

Li Zicheng didn't want to listen to the other party's bragging anymore, so he just asked, "Emperor Zhao of Nanjing, why did you kill Hao Yaoqi?"

Liu Xiangke asked back: "Why did Hao Yaoqi defect?"

Li Zicheng said: "Being corrupt and breaking the law, and disobeying the emperor's order, he is afraid that I will punish him."

Liu Xiangke said with a smile: "What's the use of keeping those who are corrupt and perverting the law? Would His Majesty the Emperor of Datong want something that you don't even want? In my court of Datong, if you embezzle more than 20 taels of silver, you will lose your official position at least, and you will be exiled at worst!"

Hearing this, Li Zicheng sighed in awe.

Liu Xiangke also said: "My Majesty the Emperor of Datong, I was born in a humble family and started at the end of my life. I am just a bookboy. It is because I have a heart for all people and cannot tolerate corrupt officials. This is why hundreds of millions of people return their hearts. Even if you become the emperor, you will not forget Original heart. Your Excellency, do you know "Three Origins"? The people are the foundation! A person who exploits the common people, my Datong court does not want it! Even in the two provinces of Shanxi and Shaanxi, Your Majesty also asked me to bring a word."