One Piece of Song Dynasty

Old man Liu replied: "Yes, Master, I know. Master, let's give the new ship a name. This new ship doesn't have a name yet."

Li Xin thought for a while and said: "The new ship will be named after our ancient water god Gonggong. From now on it will be called Gonggong ship."

Old man Liu nodded and said: "Okay, it's good to work together with the water gods."

In the next month, Li Xin will take time to take the new boat out for a walk every once in a while. After a month, the performance of this boat has been basically determined. The new boat is indeed a very good type of boat. , the ship is fast. When fully loaded, the average speed can reach seven or eight knots, and the maximum speed can reach ten knots. This speed is already considered the fastest ship in this era. In addition, the new ship is very flexible and can be used in both near and far seas. It can sail well and remain stable at sea even in bad weather.

However, the biggest problem with this ship is the sail. Although the shipyard has produced soft sails to meet the needs of this new ship, because the stress points of this sail are concentrated, the canvas is also natural The material is made of cotton and linen, so its strength is not very high.

A month later, during several trial voyages, when the wind was strong, the sails were torn in several places where stress was applied. As a last resort, we had to turn back and return to the island for repairs.

If we want to completely solve this problem, only the invention of chemical fiber fabrics, which greatly increases the stress strength of sails, can this problem be completely solved. Net However, according to the level of science and technology in the Northern Song Dynasty, chemical fiber fabrics are not something Li Xin can solve now. This requires a complete set of chemical technology development to complete such a thing.

Therefore, Li Xin can only thicken the stress-bearing part of the sail to meet the current needs, and a spare sail must be left on the new ship. If the sail is found to be torn, there will be a spare set of sails available on the ship. personnel use.

When Li Xin took the new ship on a trial voyage, she also conducted a sea test cannon to check the strength of the hull under the vibration of the cannon's recoil.

After some gun tests, Li Xin concluded that the new ship was absolutely strong. He ordered the gunners on the ship to fire five six-pound guns and five twelve-pound guns on one side of the ship in one direction at the same time. The ship successfully withstood the recoil of ten guns. It was just a huge shock to the hull, but it did not have a destructive effect on the hull structure.

In this way, Li Xin does not have to worry about the new ship overturning or damaging his ship due to the cannon fire when fighting with others at sea.

As time goes by, the Chinese New Year is coming soon. Although it is the first year of the construction of Hancheng, Li Xin decided to go back to Hui'an to celebrate the New Year. It has been almost five months since he left Hui'an this time and it is time to go back and have a look. net

On this day, Ruan Xiaowu and his fleet had just finished loading and unloading goods and personnel. Li Xin decided to follow Ruan Xiaowu's fleet back to Hui'an, but before returning to Hui'an, Li Xin had to explain some things.

Li Xin first went to the military camp to find Liu Fa: "Liu Shuai, the Chinese New Year is coming soon and I am going back to Hui'an. I have been here for a long time so I have to go back and take a look. I will leave the defense of Xinghan City to you. Let the soldiers take turns to rest during the Chinese New Year. They have been tired for a year."

Liu Fa clasped his fists and said, "Okay, my lord, just go ahead and leave this place to a certain family."

After leaving the barracks, Li Xin went to find Liu Yi and Zhao Fei: "The Chinese New Year is coming soon. I plan to go back to Hui'an to celebrate the New Year. I will leave the Confucian scholars and workshops here to you, as well as the construction of Han City." Liu Yi, you should also take care of it. After a year of construction, the east and south walls of the city have been built. After the Spring Festival, the construction of the north and west walls can start. During the New Year, craftsmen and apprentices still build the city. The staff can rest for seven days, and the primary school has a month off. Children will not be allowed to go to class until the first month of the year, and someone will come back after the New Year."

The two clasped their fists and said, "Yes, Master, I understand."

After seeing off the two of them, Li Xin called Cao Long, the leader of the Xuanwu Camp: "I am going back to Hui'an for a few days during the Chinese New Year. When I am not here, you have to take the Xuanwu Camp and the nursing team here to maintain the safety of the city. Order, and Lao Wang, please take it with you too. It is familiar with you people in Xuanwu Camp, so I will not take it back to Hui'an this time."

Cao Long cupped his fists and said, "Yes, my master, I have your order."

After everything was explained, Li Xin went to the dock to find Ruan Xiaowu and Ruan Xiaoqi: "Fifth brother, this time I am going back to Hui'an with your fleet for the New Year. In the steel workshop, there is a twenty-door truck specially prepared for your transport fleet. Cannons, send someone to bring all the cannons."

Ruan Xiaowu asked: "Is it the kind of cannon Xiaoqi mentioned? What does our fleet need it for? It still takes up space."

Li Xin said: "Although nothing happened to the fleet this year, we must be on guard against others. Over time, someone will inevitably keep an eye on us. It would be bad if the fleet was followed and discovered. So we have to take preventive measures. Fifth brother, you pick five ships to serve as fleet escorts. Each ship has four cannons. If you encounter a ship following it, smash it and capture everyone."

Ruan Xiaowu replied: "Okay, brother, a certain family knows."

Li Xin said to Ruan Xiaoqi again: "Brother Qi, send a hundred gunners to Brother Five's fleet to operate these twenty cannons."

Ruan Xiaoqi replied: "Okay, a certain family knows."

Li Xin continued: "Brother Qi, while I am away, you have to take good care of the sailors and water ghosts here. You can give them a seven-day rest during the Chinese New Year."

Ruan Xiaoqi cupped her fists and said, "Brother, don't worry, a certain family will make arrangements for them."

After Ruan Xiaowu packed everything, Li Xin followed Ruan Xiaowu's fleet and set off back to Hui'an.

Due to the late departure, the fleet did not arrive at Lifu Pier in Hui'an County the next morning.

When Li Xin got off the boat, he met Ruan Xiaoer who was training with a group of sailors. Li Xin stepped forward and said: "Second brother, the Chinese New Year is tomorrow, and we are still training them."

Ruan Xiaoer asked with a smile: "What a rare visitor. Why are you back? Why won't you celebrate the New Year there this year?"

Li Xin said: "We are still celebrating the New Year here this year. The construction over there is almost complete. After the New Year, the second brother will ask the sister-in-law to move there with the children and the old lady. The primary school over there will also start teaching. Once you are literate, you can also let your children learn to read.”

Ruan Xiaoer replied: "Okay, I will go home and tell them after training today. Then thank you brothers first."

Li Xin said with a smile: "Second brother, don't be too happy. It costs money to study and read for children there. It's always money for a year."

Ruan Xiaoer patted his chest and said: "No problem, we only have enough money. The three of us brothers have never been short of money since we joined the brothers. We are not short of this little money."

Li Xin nodded and said: "They will all move over there, but second brother, you have to stay here to train the sailors for a certain person. Let these sailors rest for seven days during the Chinese New Year."

Ruan Xiaoer cupped his fists and said, "Brother, it's okay, a certain family knows about it."