Tianjin Shipyard.

Today's shipyard has been surrounded by the port with the expansion of the port, but it has been divided separately as a military restricted area. After the prototype of the naval fleet in Ningbo Port was destroyed, Zhu Youxiao learned his lesson and began to build ships in various coastal ports.

Build coastal defense facilities.

Watchtowers, lighthouses, coastal defense guns and other measures. Since the coast defense guns are fixedly used on land, they do not need to be moved, and there is no need to consider weight, so they are generally built very large. All 24-pound guns, three-pointers

One is the thirty-six-pound cannon, and there are even a small number of forty-eight-pound cannon.

Such a huge caliber artillery weighs 5.6 tons, and the propellant loaded alone weighs more than 20 kilograms. With one shot, it has a range of 13 kilometers, making it a giant monster.

As the most important Tianjin Port at present, it is also the port closest to the capital. Among the ports currently built, it is the largest, has the most complete facilities, and has the most complete defense measures. All forty-eight-pound cannons are located here.

.Highlands such as Dagu and Zhigu are covered with turrets and lookout towers, and people are stationed and patrolling them every day.

At this time, in front of the shipyard, among the waves that undulated slightly with the sea breeze, there were more than ten ships floating. Due to the small size of frigates and destroyers, in the large shipyard of Tianjin Shipyard, one shipyard can build two ships at the same time, and these two ships

The construction time of this kind of small ship is only half that of the other two large ships. Therefore, in the time it takes to build four frigates, one battleship has just been built.

Therefore, in terms of the arrangement of battleship manufacturing, three dockyards build battleships, three dockyards build cruisers, two dockyards build destroyers, and two dockyards build frigates.

Therefore, when the first phase of the project was completed, a total of three plus three plus four plus four were launched, a total of fourteen warships of various sizes. From three thousand, two thousand, one thousand to eight hundred

Materials are all available.

The beautiful white ship sides are painted with various numerical numbers and battleship names. Because there are so many destroyers and frigates, these two small ships have no names and are only replaced by numerical numbers. There are only battleships and cruisers as the main battleships.

They have their own unique names.

The number of on-board guns of a three-thousand-material battleship can reach 108, which means that there are fifty-four cannons on the sides, and they are all 12-pound cannons with a range of five kilometers. On the battleship, the shipyard did not add any additional guns.

Which cannons with greater range but greater power should be installed?

In today's world where solid bullets rule the roost, no matter how powerful the artillery shells are, they cannot kill a warship with one shot. In the end, the battle is still about quantity. Therefore, in an era when maritime range is king, install as many high-range weapons as possible

A powerful cannon is the way to go.

The twelve-pound cannon is already the current technical limit of the Ministry of Military Industry. After all, they still have more time to get this concept, and some basic aspects still need time to study. In a few years, the technology and materials will catch up. I think

Cannons of any caliber can be made.

Compared with battleships, the number of ship-borne guns on cruisers is much shabby. There are only fifty guns in total, and there are only twenty-five guns on one side. It takes almost two ships to be equal to one battleship. However, the main purpose of cruisers is not

Combat effectiveness, but the rapid support and intervention capabilities brought about by its extremely high speed and strong combat effectiveness.

In the vast area of ​​southeast China's waters that far exceeds the Mediterranean Sea, cruisers are destined to be an extremely important type of ship, and their status even exceeds that of battleships.

After the completion of the first phase of the project, the navy will have strong combat effectiveness. As for the sailors and gunners who operate the soft sails, Shen Yourong, who is currently a naval general, said that this is not a problem at all. In the past nearly a year, several ships have been used A small flying shear training ship, he trained a large number of sailors.

Not to mention fourteen ships, even twenty-four more will not be a problem. Ten thousand sailors, even according to the standard of more than 300 battleships, can fill thirty ships, not to mention the large number of these ships. Some of them are small and medium-sized warships.

After the first phase of the project was completed and just as the second phase was about to start, the Tiangong Research Institute's plan to actually build a steel-keeled Dafu ship was issued. After some careful consideration, Shen Youren reluctantly ceded a battleship dock.

No way, he actually likes battleships, monsters with ferocious muzzles all over their bodies. However, this kind of monster is amazingly powerful and has a huge appetite. It swallows up all kinds of materials and funds, all kinds of paint, all kinds of... With artillery and the funds to build one battleship, you can build three cruisers, six destroyers, and twelve frigates.

Therefore, when it came time to choose which shipyard to stop, Shen Yourong chose the battleship without hesitation.

During the construction of the Tianjin Shipyard, the construction of giant ships was considered, and the design of the dry dock was made as large as possible. However, even so, the six-thousand-material treasure-like ship almost filled the place. That day After the people from the Palace Research Institute arrived here, the sound of banging and banging never stopped in the entire dock.

This is a senior blacksmith technician changing the shape of the parts, and a fifth-level fitter who has obtained an official status grinding precision parts. The construction process is also full of variables, many designs need to be changed, and in some places even the wooden structure is not enough. support.

There is no way, the steel keel, steel masts and steel sails make this huge ship completely different from the structure of the treasure ships in Zheng He's time. The design has been changed a lot, and the progress has naturally slowed down. By the end of May, the second phase of the tenth After three ships were put into the sea, only one-third of the giant ship was built.

In fact, after the design and structure are determined, the construction of a wooden boat is not complicated. What really limits its construction speed is the number of skilled craftsmen and the speed of wood drying. The actual boat building time is only one month. .However, giant ships are still in the experimental stage, so it is understandable that they are slower.

However, even if the structure of such a huge ship is determined and the production process is planned, its speed will definitely not be fast. If nothing else, the huge size requires an unknown amount of wood and paint. From what can be predicted Looking at the future, Zhu Youxiao Shipbuilding's production capacity will be insufficient.

After the completion of the second phase of the project, the entire naval fleet had five battleships, six cruisers, eight destroyers and eight frigates. After having so many ships, Shen Yourong could no longer hold back his inner hunger. , began a grand tour. He planned to start from Tianjin Port, then go all the way south to Guangzhou, visit Hainan, and then return the same way.

This is not only a long-distance training for the naval fleet, but also a test of water patterns in various places. As a navy, how can you not even know what is at your doorstep?

Woohoo!

Amidst the long and low sound of the horn, Shen Yourong stood on the flagship, raised the sun and moon flag symbolizing the Ming Dynasty, and began this month-long inspection.

The light and agile frigate took the lead. The stilted bow cut a white wave line, and after drawing a beautiful arc on the sea, it gradually moved away. Various difficult and high-speed skills were played by the sailors. The feeling of speeding at high speed, just like a racing car, is irresistible.

After the frigate, there is the relatively long and narrow destroyer, with a few muzzles towering above the waterline, but it does not give people a sense of threat. Instead, it makes people feel cute, and people can't help but want to take this ship. Hold it in your hands and play with it.

Behind it is a large cruiser, which is almost twice as tall as a destroyer and has a large aspect ratio, making it look like an elegant noble lady, so delicate and pure.

And at the end, there is the battleship that seems a little slow. With a speed of eight knots, she is the slowest in the entire fleet family. She is like an old man, but the holes in her body are silent at high speeds. People, my own Not easy to mess with. Surrounding the battleships are destroyers that are constantly maneuvering around them. The similar speeds of the two keep them in line, while the latter's petite size and agile movements can help the former drive away those annoying people. Disgusting assassin.

This is the entire Ming Navy fleet. Compared with the previous ones that were destroyed, this one is larger and more powerful. Shen Yourong stood on the deck of the flagship, looking at these with satisfaction.

At this moment, how much he hoped that the three people known as the Three Kings of the East China Sea would bump into him without any delay, so that he could become famous.

"Zheng Zhilong, Xu Xinsu, Yan Siqi, after the third and fourth phases of the project are completed, I will come back and have a good show with you." Shen Yourong sneered, arrogant to the sky.

At his cold smile, the naval fleet moved south, causing waves of wind and waves.

Half a month later, Shanghai Port.

At this time, Shanghai Port was bustling with activity. Since the customs was built here, the news of the opening of the sea in the Ming Dynasty was gradually spread through the missionaries who came and went. Although due to war and time, there was no successful overseas fleet here. But just the bulk cargo trading center in the dock area at the mouth of the Yangtze River makes the entire Shanghai Port full of people.

It is adjacent to the Yangtze River and communicates with the northern water system through the Grand Canal. It is adjacent to the sea and can reach as far as Liaodong by sea. There is also a customs here. Legend has it that red-haired people carrying gold and silver to buy silk and porcelain will come soon.

All kinds of strange news make this place extremely hot.

However, it was Zhu Youxiao's military orders that initially drove the trade flow here.

A large amount of grain, a large amount of cloth, a large amount of tea, a large amount of meat, and the consumption of a hundred thousand troops were almost all purchased from here. The inflow of millions of silver dollars shook the entire southeast. The people who were smuggled here were Businessmen have never realized that the empire is so rich.

Massive purchases have brought countless merchants, and this bulk goods trading center has become completely popular. When countless merchants gather together, transactions naturally occur. You rent a shop and list it, and I will rent a shop. When listing a business, there is often no need to unload the cargo at all. The businessman can just look at it at the dock, and there is no need to change the boat. He can just turn around and drive to the destination.

Before the legendary red-haired barbarians carrying a large amount of money arrived, merchants from all over the Ming Dynasty sparked countless sparks due to their own collisions. Massive transactions brought with them numerous commissions and business taxes, which not only caused

The Ministry of Commerce and Trade that manages this place smiled crookedly, making Lu Xiangsheng happy all day long.

Early that morning, Lu Xiangsheng led the leadership team of Shanghai County and the chief officials of various departments to start a routine inspection. The first was the increasingly prosperous trading market. Although it was morning, there were many businessmen strolling around in twos and threes.

, they are all searching for valuable goods.

Food, cloth, oil, glass products, alcohol, wood, silk fabrics, sewing machines, cement, etc. are all their targets. Cement in particular is an item that is robbed. Often after a sign is posted stating how much is in the store,

It was bought immediately.

With the construction of cement roads, who doesn’t know the magic of this kind of thing now? The speed at which houses are built is simply amazing. Nowadays, houses with cement painted walls and glass windows are the most popular style today. They are three stories high.

The small cement building and the large floor-to-ceiling windows attract countless people.

Looking at the crowds of businessmen, Lu Xiangsheng smiled. Due to the existence of this exchange, the implementation of commercial tax here was very smooth. After all, Huating County, oh, it is now Shanghai County, was basically an agricultural county in the past, mainly used for farming.

Mainly, otherwise there would not be a Xu family that covers an area of ​​tens of thousands of acres.

The small number of merchants and shops in the first place cannot stop the implementation of commercial tax. Just that the policy is smooth, but it does not mean a large amount of money. If the tax cannot be collected, the officials of the entire county will have to drink the northwest wind, let alone implement the cabinet.

A notice was issued to build a police force and promote the return of Huangquan to the countryside.

However, with the opening of this commodity exchange, his sad face disappeared, replaced by an expression that couldn't close his mouth.

Like a tiger patrolling his territory, Lu Xiangsheng looked around with satisfaction, then left the exchange, then crossed a street and came to a commercial district. The dazzling array of flags made it dizzying. Chunfeng Tower, drizzle

There are various restaurants, brothels, and inns in the building, which is full of people, making it a bustling scene.

After the business district is the warehouse district, with tall and spacious cement houses covering a very large area. When they arrived here, Lu Xiangsheng and his party changed into carriages and hurriedly passed by. The area here is very large. If they walked, they would probably have to walk for half an hour.

, Lu Xiangsheng is fine, but others may not be able to tolerate it.

Several leaders from Shanghai County were riding in the same carriage, looking out at the situation through the windows while discussing various details in low voices. Lu Xiangsheng is ambitious, and it is definitely rare to be able to come to the local area and take charge of a county this time.

Given his qualifications, he must do his best.

Therefore, he was very attentive to the various documents issued by the cabinet and the pamphlets he received when he was studying at the Imperial College, and even pushed them hard. Since the emperor printed such pamphlets to guide county magistrates in local construction, he would definitely use this to

To assess according to the standards, you must not take it lightly and lose points at the beginning.

Lu Xiangsheng has his own understanding of the guidance booklet he received from the Imperial Academy. In his opinion, it is located in an inland province. Now that the city defense army has been built, safety is basically guaranteed. Therefore, the most important thing at the moment is to collect taxes.

Yes, only with money can the county do things better. The construction of various grassroots government offices in towns and villages and the opening of schools all require money.

Lu Xiangsheng feels that he is extremely lucky to have a port open to the outside world within the jurisdiction of his county. This port is located here and easily attracts a large number of businessmen to trade. When there is trade, there is tax revenue.

When taxes are paid, you will have money in your hands.

Therefore, Lu Xiangsheng is extremely concerned about this port, and he visits it almost every day. Although this port is not managed by him, but is under the jurisdiction of Shanghai Customs.

The port area is behind the warehouse area. After exiting the warehouse, you can see a three-story building. The short, fat and solid building looks extremely simple and honest. However, the white tiles on the surface of the building and the blue wavy pattern on it are...

It gives it a touch of elegance and fashion.

"It's really beautiful!" Lu Xiangsheng couldn't help but sigh every time he saw this customs office building. After sighing, he led his people across the boundary marker with the three gilded characters of "Shanghai Port" and officially entered his

Jurisdiction area. Shanghai Port is under the jurisdiction of the Customs and is directly under the cabinet. The warehouse area and commercial area behind it are under his jurisdiction.

After crossing the building, what appeared in front of Lu Xiangsheng was a deserted scene. Although he was prepared, Lu Xiangsheng couldn't help but feel disappointed in his heart, "There is still no one!"

Sighing, he kept looking at the ships still moored in the port. These were ships traveling from north to south, transporting goods or passengers, but the number was very rare. There was a dock area next to the exchange in the business district.

, ships coming from inland along the Yangtze River system will have priority to park there and will not come here at all.

Therefore, only the transport fleet organized by the Ministry of Commerce and Trade of the Ministry of Internal Affairs comes here occasionally. In the entire Minggang area, except for the ships with the flag of "Tiangong", there are no ships with other signs. Obviously, there are no ships with other signs.

Apart from official institutions, the people and businessmen of the Ming Dynasty were still not used to shipping by sea.

Next to the Minggang District is the Outer Port District, which is the area where import and export ships park. There are densely packed waterway buoys, lighthouses, and docks all over the sea area. It looks very neat and beautiful. In addition to these two areas, there is another one in the port.

The military port area was surrounded by a large number of gun towers and the guards were so airtight that Lu Xiangsheng had never had a chance to see him.

The outer port area also looks dead, even worse than the Minggang area. There is not a single ship. Even the Tiangong Company is now limited to escort forces and ocean transportation capabilities. It has not established an export caravan, let alone other people.

.

A rebellion swept through the entire southern Zhili, obviously destroying the hidden rules and secret trading network that had been formed here for many years. Although the rebellion has subsided, the waves have not calmed down. The three kings of the East China Sea have arrogantly occupied the external sea routes, leaving some

The family that secretly followed the old path suffered heavy losses.

Lu Xiangsheng couldn't help but feel a little regret on his face as he led people to wander around the port. If the Shanghai Port became prosperous, I don't know how much tax revenue it would bring to Shanghai County. It's a pity that it is left vacant now.

"Haha, Jiandou, you came here again."
Chapter completed!