It was like a steel machine as big as a room, hideous and terrifying yet with a unique beauty, which gave Zhu Di a great shock!
After hearing his father's words, Zhu Di couldn't help but whisper this strange word: "Steam train?"
Zhu Di did not continue to ask what a steam locomotive was, but continued to visit with his father, who should be able to answer him.
"This is a vehicle that will be responsible for the country's main transportation work in the future. From now on, the transportation of food and various materials will no longer be a burden." Su Che said lightly. He pointed to the rails not far away and the busy crowd, and continued to explain: "This behemoth runs on this kind of rails. Rails need to be laid before it can run on fixed tracks."
"Then how does it move? Is it pulled by something?" Zhu Di stared at the huge creature and thought that ordinary dragons and horses could not pull this thing. It might take those flood dragons to do it. But how could those flood dragons be willing to do this?
"By the power of steam." Su Che said with a smile.
"Steam?" Zhu Di widened his eyes, somewhat unable to understand.
"The principle is very simple. After the boiler operator puts coal into the furnace, the coal is converted into heat energy during the combustion process, which heats and vaporizes the water in the locomotive boiler to form superheated steam."
"The steam enters the steam engine and expands to do work, pushing the steam engine piston to reciprocate; the piston converts the reciprocating linear motion into circular motion of the wheel through the connecting rod and rocker, driving the locomotive's driving wheels to rotate, thereby pulling the train forward."
“That’s how this machine works.”
Zhu Di listened to his father explaining the principle of the steam engine and felt like he was listening to a foreign language. He could understand every word and every phrase, but why couldn't he understand when these words were connected together?
But I seem to have heard some of this knowledge in the courses at the Military Academy?
Zhu Di suddenly thought of something.
He had studied it!
But because it was too obscure, he did not conduct in-depth research.
Thinking of the knowledge he had learned at the time, he suddenly felt a little regretful. At that time, he thought that this obscure knowledge would be of no use at all, at least for a rough guy like him, it would not be used at all.
Who would have thought it would come in handy so soon!
At this moment, Zhu Di also felt what it meant to regret not having enough knowledge when you need it.
Looking at Zhu Biao's subtle expression, Su Che smiled and asked, "Didn't you understand?"
"Yeah." Zhu Biao nodded awkwardly .
"It doesn't matter if you don't understand. You will understand it in the future. This steam engine is the simplest of all machines." Su Che said nonchalantly.
"This... is actually the simplest one?" Zhu Di asked with some surprise.
"Yes." Su Che didn't say much. Zhu Di wouldn't understand anyway.
As a locomotive, the advantages of a steam locomotive are simple structure, low cost and low manufacturing cost. Its disadvantages are low thermal efficiency and bulky size.
But even the simplest steam locomotive was not so easy to manufacture in the original history. It required industrialization to reach a certain level. In the backward agricultural civilization, it was obviously unrealistic to want to make a steam locomotive by hand in just a few years.
But in this world of immortals and demons, everything is possible, and the difficulty of making this steam locomotive is not that exaggerated.
This stuff has been kept secret.
Many ministers knew about Shangfang.
But not many people know what Shangfang is doing specifically.
Even fewer people know about Shangfang’s work progress.
Only a few of Su Che's true confidants knew the more specific situation.
The steam locomotive built at this moment can be considered to have brought a little industrial shock to those conservative-minded civil officials and scholars!
A few months later.
Outside the Shangfang Manufacturing Mansion.
A huge steam locomotive is starting up, with billowing white steam smoke rushing out from overhead and mechanical roars coming one after another. The terrifying steel behemoth, driven by the kinetic energy of steam, slowly moves, and then the speed becomes faster and faster.
Many of the onlookers were frightened when they saw this scene, and they stepped back and fled in all directions.
"What a monster!"
The ministers were not much better off. Their eyes were wide open and they couldn't remain calm at all.
Even the noble military officials and knowledgeable generals were shocked when they saw the moving steel beast: "How did this thing... move?"
Some military officials quickly realized the use of this thing. If it could pull a large amount of supplies, there would be no problem with the logistics of the war. This ferocious steel behemoth would change the pattern of future wars.
This is really good stuff!
The reactions of civil officials and military generals varied.
Faced with the changes of the times, everyone has his or her own little thoughts.
Although the Ming Dynasty is a world of immortals and demons, the abundance of spiritual energy is no longer as great as in ancient times, otherwise the flow of good fortune would not be so popular. In this era, personal power cannot match the flow of good fortune of the court, so machines like steam engines will also have a huge effect.
In addition, the most important thing is that this type of machine can also bring new luck!
In Su Che's eyes.
With the appearance of this machine, Daming's luck once again reached an unprecedented level. The purple luck above his head was like a canopy. The previous black luck that was like little black snakes had already been completely suppressed and digested, and could not even be found at this moment.
…
Life is like a flash of lightning in the universe.
In just a blink of an eye, twenty years have passed.
The 40th year of Hongwu.
Zhu Yuanzhang, or Su Che, was already in his eighties.
In the original history, Zhu Yuanzhang passed away around the 31st year of Hongwu.
In this world, because of the appearance of Su Che, Zhu Biao did not die young, and everything in the Ming Dynasty was developing prosperously, so it was normal for him to live a few more years.
Today, Su Che has retreated to the second line and become the emperor. He is not greedy for power. When Zhu Biao grew up, he abdicated the throne to him and concentrated on the development of scientific research.
In twenty years, the Ming Dynasty had completely entered the steam age, the industrial revolution followed, and overseas colonial expansion was also proceeding in an orderly manner. The Ming Dynasty gradually became the most influential country in the world, without a doubt.
In the original timeline, the Industrial Revolution should have come first, and then the steam engine was invented. However, in the Ming Dynasty, due to Su Che's promotion, the steam engine appeared first and then the Industrial Revolution.
During these twenty years, with the Ming Dynasty's continuous attacks, the Mongolian grasslands had long since become Ming Dynasty's pastures.
In fact, as early as ten years ago, when the Ming Dynasty's steam locomotive roared onto the grassland, the threat from the grassland was doomed to disappear.
That day.
The scouts from the Wala tribe were almost scared silly when they saw the huge monster and the countless steam rising.
era.
Changed!
During these long twenty years, the Ming Dynasty had already become stronger than ever before, and Zhu Biao had firmly taken over Zhu Yuanzhang's position. The power of those vassal kings was also curbed to a certain extent.
This was a relatively mild way of reducing the power of the princes, and it restricted their rights in other ways.
Faced with Zhu Biao's reduction of power, none of the princes dared to say anything, and some even stood up to express their agreement.
After all, Old Zhu is still here. If he dares to disobey his elder brother for a little power now, what will he not dare to do in the future?
So instead of being taught a lesson, it is better to hand over the power as soon as possible!
Even Zhu Di had to hand over power obediently.
besides.
Originally, Su Che planned to move the capital, but when the threat from the north was completely quelled, the matter was put on hold for the time being - future generations would handle future matters themselves, and there was no need for Su Che to handle all matters in one generation, as that was really unrealistic.
For now, Su Che has done enough. Although the problem of official corruption still cannot be eradicated, after all, greed for profit is human nature and will not disappear due to changes in the system and environment.
No matter how the times change, corruption and bribery will still exist.
That's human nature.
All Su Che can do is to minimize the occurrence of this situation!
The Ming Dynasty today has entered an unprecedented era of prosperity. Various materials from all over the world are continuously imported into China. The Ming Dynasty can be said to have truly achieved the goal of being a sage both inside and outside.
In the past few decades, the changes have been tremendous.
The changes are enormous, both for the upper class and the lower class.
For ordinary people, being able to eat enough, wear warm clothes, eat a piece of meat every now and then, and having a certain amount of time for rest and entertainment, this kind of life is simply too good to be true.
As a result, many children of the new generation have no idea about the natural disasters and chaos at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. Such a scene is really too far away.
I only occasionally hear old people talking about Emperor Hongwu. All the people in his family starved to death, but he still drove out the Tartars and created an unprecedented prosperous era! Emperor Hongwu always cared about the people. He is the best emperor since the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. No one!
"Is there anything I haven't done yet?"
On this day, Su Che dragged his tired body back to his palace, and the yellow sun slowly set into the western mountains.
“It seems like there’s still a lot that hasn’t been done.”
"This so-called unprecedented prosperity is nothing more than this..."
“In this era, change must continue.”
"As time goes by, the upper class will completely separate from the lower class... Although I have set a few policies to combat corruption, it is far from enough..."
“That needs to change.”
“A class that has left the bottom cannot continue to create a prosperous world.”
Su Che has obviously done a lot, but it seems like there is no end to the things to do, and there is more and more to do.
After a while.
Su Che smiled bitterly.
“That’s all…”
"That's all."
"That's enough."
“Let future generations do what future generations should do.”
“You have to learn to let go and learn to trust.”
At this moment, Su Che could probably understand Zhu Yuanzhang's feelings at the time. All top emperors hoped to achieve success in one battle and finish all the things for future generations in one generation, but this is ultimately impossible.
"That's enough."
Thinking of this, Su Che slowly closed his eyes.
After so many years of unremitting efforts, I have finally reached this point. I am so exhausted, more tired than ever before.
No matter what the final evaluation is, that's all.
【End simulation】
When Su Che opened his eyes again, everything in the simulated world disappeared like passing clouds and smoke, and the fatigue that had accumulated over the years also disappeared for the most part.
The feeling at this moment is like having a very long dream.
This feeling is very wonderful.
Su Che lowered his head and glanced at the Book of Spirit Contract.
The text above continues to evolve.
[You passed away while watching the sunrise in the palace.]
【“Sun, you finally rise.”】
【These are your last words.】
[On this day, the greatest emperor in history, Emperor Hongwu, passed away.]
[At first, the maid noticed that you were not moving, so she came to your side tremblingly, and found that you were no longer breathing. She was so scared that her soul was about to die, and she couldn't help crying bitterly, with both fear and sadness.]
[What is frightening is that the Ming Dynasty's emperor has passed away. What is sad is that you, an emperor who cares about the people of the world, have left like this.]
[Soon, Crown Prince Zhu Biao came to your side, tears silently flowing down his face.]
[Emperor Hongwu has passed away! After hearing the news, all the people in Jinling City were stunned and then heartbroken.]
[All the people gathered outside the palace, knelt down and cried bitterly, wanting to see you off for the last time.]
[The sadness spread throughout Yingtian Prefecture, and countless people were heartbroken as if they had lost their parents.]
[As the news spread to Yingtian Prefecture, the whole world was filled with grief.]
[The pain was so real, an emperor who devoted himself to the people of the world left them forever! ]
[From now on, there will be no more Hongwu Emperor! ]
[This day is a national mourning day. According to your will, everything should be kept simple. There is no need for an overly complicated funeral, nor a long mourning period, nor expensive burial objects.]
[Although you are dead, your will and your spirit are still alive. ]
【This day of every year is the day when people all over the world remember you. 】
[Even after countless years, your achievements and deeds are still being sung and praised.]
【Since ancient times, the only two who have managed to maintain the rule of the country are Han and Ming! 】
[You let this sentence make the Ming Dynasty become the brand of China! ]
【Simulation ends.】
When Su Che saw the subsequent deduction, he couldn't help but feel emotional.
No wonder I felt so exhausted and tired when the simulation ended. It turned out that not long after, my life came to an end and I died one early morning.
"The Ming Dynasty has become the mark of China..."
Su Che spoke softly, and at this moment, he suddenly realized something and quickly raised his head.
But not far away, a young man in armor was walking towards him. It was none other than Zhu Yuanzhang, the young man who had just joined the army!
“You did a great job!”
Zhu Yuanzhang only took a few steps to get here from not far away. He stared at Su Che and praised him directly: "You are worthy of our expectations!"