Chapter 1628 The Secret of the Steam Engine

During the previous visit to the guns and artillery, Bai Kesi had already taken the initiative to introduce that Haihan had introduced steam engines into the weapon manufacturing process. However, due to limited production capacity, it was only used to manufacture high-end weapons equipped by the Haihan Army.

The two places they just visited cannot be seen. Even though Fei Cexian was full of curiosity about this and hoped to know how Haihan used steam engines in the weapon manufacturing process, since Haihan did not take the initiative to arrange

, it’s not easy for him to take the initiative to make this request.

However, the manufacturing process of the steam engine is also one of Haihan's top secrets. If he could see the process of manufacturing the steam engine, Fei Cexian could still submit a report to the court on this topic, which would inevitably result in a reward from the capital.

A group of people walked out of the rifle assembly workshop, and there was actually a carriage waiting outside. Fei Cexian was invited to get on the carriage, thinking that the place where steam engines were produced must be in the mountains and forests further away, and they would need to take a carriage to get there.

Unexpectedly, after getting on the train, the carriage walked back and forth, and then crossed the railway track from a flat area to the other side. Only then did Fei Cexian notice that there were many factories here hidden in the mountains and forests. After a while, the carriage came to the other side.

After stopping, Fei Cexian got out of the car and found that the factory buildings here were the same as the two places he had been to before. They were gray brick houses with many windows on the walls and ceilings, providing excellent lighting conditions. The door

Just like the place where weapons are produced, there are soldiers with loaded weapons standing guard outside.

As soon as the group of people walked outside the factory, they could hear the unique sound of metal friction and collision of steam engines coming from inside the factory. Fei Cexian wanted to speed up, but seeing Bai Kesi's unhurried look, he could only force it.

Hold on to the excitement in your heart, slow down and follow behind.

But after entering the factory, Fei Cexian was not able to understand the situation inside at the first time. The factory was full of various operating machinery. The huge axles transferred the energy released by the steam engine through gears and belts.

It is converted into mechanical energy to process various strange-shaped metal parts. Above the steaming boilers, there are chimneys leading to the roof. It looks like there are many more pillars supporting the roof in the internal space.

Fei Cexian didn't come back to his senses for a moment: "Isn't this the place where steam engines are made? Why do these huge machines in operation in the factory look like steam engines?"

"Master Fei is right, these are indeed steam engines. To make steam engine parts, a lot of processing work is done with steam engines." Bai Kesi proudly introduced: "This can transform our work efficiency from purely manual work.

The level has improved dozens of times, and the construction period for manufacturing steam engines has also been greatly shortened."

Using machines to build machines may sound a bit convoluted, but it is indeed a symbol of Haihan's gradual industrialization. The several machining equipment transported during time travel were mainly used to manufacture various steam-powered machine tools, and then

Use these machine tools to create more processing equipment, as well as military and commercial versions of steam power devices. This process took hundreds of years in its original history, but in the hands of the Haihan people who fully mastered steam technology, it only took

This evolutionary process was completed in a few years.

Fei Cexian couldn't help but curiously asked: "Then how do these produced parts become a steam engine?"

Baikes responded: "These parts need to be further polished and surface treated before they are sent to another place for assembly. Assembling a steam engine requires about hundreds of parts and a group of skilled workers takes about two

It takes about a day to complete the assembly of a steam engine. However, if it is a large steam engine such as the one currently in the factory, the assembly time may be several times longer."

Fei Cexian listened carefully and did not interrupt, but Bai Kesi stopped there and did not mention whether he would visit the place where steam engines are assembled later. Fei Cexian was secretly angry. He had gone to see the place where rifles were made, but only

When you visit the assembly process, you cannot see the production process. But now when you look at the manufacturing of steam engines, you only see the production but not the assembly process. This arrangement is clearly intentional by the Haihan people, who deliberately only allow themselves to see the entire production process.

Part of the content. In this way, even if I see all these scenes, I will not be able to restore Haihan's production process after I go back, let alone have the Ministry of Industry to imitate it.

Although Fei Cexian has long known that the Haihan people are good at calculations, of course he will still feel very unhappy if they are manipulated by the other party like this. However, these places are originally Haihan forbidden areas, and outsiders usually cannot enter at all.

If someone can arrange such a visit, it is already a very special treatment, and you can't say anything wrong about the other person.

Fei Cexian looked at the steam engines in his eyes, but he didn't feel any joy in his heart. Although he also knew that the place Bai Kesi took him to see was a real production site, he really couldn't understand these huge machines.

Mechanical equipment, even with an expert like Bai Kesi explaining it from time to time, he was still confused and couldn't understand it.

Why were the Haihan people able to come up with these complex mechanical devices, but the Ming Dynasty couldn't even imitate them? Fei Cexian even had such an over-the-top idea for a while. If the Ming Dynasty had such advanced technology, both resources and manpower would be

Far better than Haihan, it will definitely have a wider range of uses, and the national strength of the entire country may rise to a higher level as a result.

"Does Mr. Fei think that if these things are developed in the Ming Dynasty, they may have better prospects than Haihan?" As if he had seen through Fei Cexian's thoughts, Bai Kesi's question immediately pulled him out of his thoughts.

return.

Fei Cexian forced a smile and said: "Isn't it like this? Our Ming Dynasty is only a lot more skilled craftsmen than your country, but we just don't understand the structural principles of this steam engine. If we can learn the secrets, with the national power of the Ming Dynasty, we can produce more in one day

The steam engine of our country is probably better than that of your country in one year."

Bai Kesi also smiled and responded: "Master Fei takes it for granted. If this thing is so easy to make, someone should have copied it by tomorrow. Besides, you are still trying to find out the structural principles of the steam engine, and we would have already

There is already more advanced equipment, but it has not been put into large-scale production. Mr. Fei, the technological gap between our country and your country is not just as simple as a steam engine. Even if your country has craftsmen who can imitate it, it will be difficult.

It is easy to meet the requirements for commercial use, let alone military use. It is easy to talk on paper, but it is not as simple as Mr. Fei thinks to build it from scratch."

Fei Cexian actually didn't understand why Bai Kesi could say with such certainty that Haihan had an absolute advantage in technology. Could it be that these people really knew it from birth and were better than others in everything they did, as the rumors said?

But Bai Kesi said something that he noticed. What is a more advanced device than a steam engine? Is it an advanced steam engine? But judging from Bai Kesi's tone, it shouldn't be that simple.

However, Bai Kesi's next words made him temporarily put this idea behind him: "As for the manufacturing technology of steam engines, our country can actually provide paid transfer. Mr. Fei, would you like to consider it?"

Fei Cexian was just about to ask how much it was, but then he thought about it. He was afraid that Bai Kesi might be trying his old tricks again to lead to that commonplace topic, so he asked cautiously: "Master Bai, don't you want to talk about it again?"

For technology transfer, the territorial dispute between the two countries must first be resolved, right?"

"Master Fei is so smart, he guessed it right at once! But he didn't hit it all..." Bai Kesi's face did not show any embarrassment after being exposed, and continued: "If we want to talk about the technology transfer of steam engines, we only have to deal with the previously disputed areas.

It’s definitely not substantial enough, and your country needs to show more sincerity.”

"No, no," Fei Cexian immediately waved his hand in refusal. For the Ming Dynasty, territorial sovereignty was much more important than a dispensable thing like a steam engine. Without the steam engine, the Ming Dynasty had continued its rule for more than two hundred years.

With this thing, it may not be possible to quell the wars in the Central Plains and the North immediately. Taking the initiative to cede territory to other countries in exchange for something that is still sacred to many people, this choice is definitely not possible in the imperial court.

passed.

Seeing Fei Cexian's repeated refusals, Bai Kesi smiled even more happily. Of course Haihan had no plan to transfer the steam engine manufacturing technology to Ming Dynasty. He was just joking about Fei Cexian. If Fei Cexian really

If his heart is moved by this, then Baikes will naturally open his mouth, and then offer a condition that the other party cannot accept to persuade him to retreat.

"Master Fei, there is no need to make a decision in a hurry. You can think about it slowly." Bai Kesi persuaded with a smile: "When you stay in our country for a long time, you will slowly know how widespread the use of steam engines is. Our country's population

There are only about 300,000 people, and the labor force only accounts for a little more than one-third. But why can we do many things that your country cannot achieve? Of course, part of the reason is that our country has the magic weapon of the steam engine. One steam engine can do the job

It requires ten times and a hundred times the manpower. Mr. Fei is a smart man and should be able to figure out how many benefits this thing can bring."

Fei Cexian said, "I understand all these truths. Your Haihan country has a small labor force, so steam engines are used as labor force. But you are unwilling to sell this thing to Ming Dynasty. If you want to talk about it, you can only talk about the transfer of overall packaging technology, and

If it has to be linked to territorial issues, then how can this deal be negotiated? Although Ming Dynasty is backward in technology in this area and faces internal and external troubles, its national power is not weak enough to be manipulated by others. Haihan's price is outrageous.

In the final analysis, I still don’t want to let Daming possess this technology.

As for when Haihan will be able to sell steam engines to Ming Dynasty, Fei Cexian actually had a hunch after many contacts with Haihan's senior management. He expected that this would probably be the same as the weapons produced by Haihan, and would have to wait.

After better high-end equipment is mass-produced and promoted for use, export sales of old-fashioned models will be slowly released. Fei Cexian has no idea how long this process will take, but thinking about it, Ming Dynasty can only use Haihan to eliminate them.

This is a bit sad.

However, Fei Cexian thought about it. Bai Kesi also said just now that the weapons equipped by their own army would use steam engines in the production process. If this thing is exported to Ming Dynasty, wouldn't Ming Dynasty also be able to slowly explore it?

Making more advanced weapons? Then these rifles produced by Haihan, which are said to be old-fashioned models, can no longer be sold to Ming Dynasty. Thinking about it this way, it seems reasonable that Haihan refuses to sell steam engines to Ming Dynasty.

.

Of course, Fei Cexian still thinks of the problem too simply. Not to mention that the models and functions of steam engines vary widely. Although steam engines for various purposes have the same principle, they all require special design during manufacturing. It is impossible to just take a steam engine and modify it.

into equipment for processing weapons. And even if you have a steam engine, if you don't master the processing technology related to weapons, you can only stare at the raw materials. The manufacturing of rifles for the Haihan Army's own use involves more than just mechanical processing in the industrial field.

There are materials science, heat treatment, weapon design and other disciplines, all of which are indispensable. At present, the finished products copied by Daming based on the Haihan rifle can only imitate the appearance, but the performance is still very different.

The structure of a flintlock rifle is already very simple compared to a steam engine. It is difficult for the Ming Dynasty to even imitate a rifle that is both internal and external, let alone a steam engine with a more complex structure and certain requirements for the processing technology of parts. Even so.

Small parts such as rubber seals and gaskets are enough to make Daming's imitation fall short.

Of course, for the sake of safety and to firmly control the Ming Dynasty's technology tree, Haihan still strictly blocked the steam engine technology. Each steam engine shipped from the factory has an individual number and is inspected regularly. Even if it is scrapped, it must be recycled as a whole.

Try to block the opportunities to flow into other countries as much as possible. Even the knowledge related to steam engines can only be learned in the specialized training college in Sanya. So so far, there are quite a few Ming people who have seen the Haihan steam engine, but the Ming Dynasty has always

There are no pioneers who have successfully imitated them.

He visited several steam engine manufacturing factories in succession, but Fei Cexian still had no clue. Bai Kesi deliberately did not explain to him the principles and uses of making these parts, so Fei Cexian could only watch the excitement like a countryman coming to the city.

Things. While he was secretly scolding Bai Kesi for being so unkind, he actually arranged such a tour to torture himself. At the same time, he had to squeeze out a smile and talk to Bai Kesi, hoping that the other party could reveal more valuable information. Otherwise, this trip would be ruined.

, he really looked at it in vain, he didn’t even understand what the production process of this steam engine was about.

"It's getting late, so that's all for today's visit."

When he heard Bai Kesi say these words, Fei Cexian felt faintly relieved, as if he was freed from a difficult situation.
Chapter completed!