On the main channel of the Pearl River, a Western sailing ship with a huge water wheel installed on both sides of the ship emits a low roar, speeding quickly on the channel, and the rapidly rotating water breaks the calm river surface, in the sound of "whooshing" water, the steam paddle wheel overtakes the ships along the way, and gallops away, leaving waves on the river, and the people on the passing ships on the river have come out to watch this rare Western scenery.

On the bow deck of the steam paddle steamer, Yi Zhizhi stood with his hands on his shoulders against the sun, under the oncoming river breeze, he did not feel the heat, watching all kinds of ships being left behind, his heart was indescribably comfortable.

In fact, the speed of this steam paddle steamer called "Enterprise" was not fast, but it was more than twice as fast as the Chinese sailing ship that relied on the wind to move forward in the face of headwinds, but the noise of the steam engine was a little louder, and he would rather stand on the deck against the sun than endure the roar of the machine in the cabin.

Hearing the sound of footsteps behind him, he turned his head and saw that it was Wu Changqing, and couldn't help laughing: "Why did Changqing come up too?" Can't stand the roar of the machines?"

"It's a little noisy, but it's better than being exposed to the sun." Wu Changqing said with a smile: "Brother Contentment is not afraid of being like a?" ”

"It's good to get more sun, it's healthier to get sun." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile, "Yesterday, your old man should be happy." ”

"That's it." Wu Changqing said with a smile: "At yesterday's dinner, the old man also deliberately changed his official robe. As he spoke, he turned his head and said, "There are quite a few shipyard craftsmen on board, what's going on?" There won't be a problem with this ship, right? ”

"Don't worry, the boat is fine." Yi Zhizhi said: "Asking the craftsmen to go with the boat is to prepare to take free time to guide them." As he spoke, he smiled and said, "Call them up, it's too noisy in the cabin." ”

Not long after, a group of shipyard craftsmen rushed to the deck, including many Citigroup technicians, Yi Zhizhi looked at Wu Changqing and said: "I speak Chinese, you come to translate, it's too tiring to say it twice." As he spoke, he raised his voice and said, "I have a few requirements for the steam paddle wheel. ”

After a pause, he continued: "The bow of the ship is a square head, which is not easy to break the waves, and it also affects the speed of the ship, like the clipper boat, it is changed to a pointed head, and the body shape of the ship can also be appropriately slender, and the noise of the machine is too large, so we must find a way to reduce it, one is to strengthen the sealing of the machine room, and the other is to move the position of the machine room back, so as not to worry about affecting the installation of the water wheel."

The biggest weakness of this paddle steamer lies in the external water wheel, which is both vulnerable to attack and easy to damage. ”

After Wu Changqing finished translating, a Citi mechanic immediately said: "Mr. Yi, the steamship has not considered using the propeller as the power, and the speed of the propeller steamer is not as fast as this kind of steam paddle steamer. ”

Already thinking about spiral pulp? After Wu Changqing finished translating, Yi Zhizhi asked, "Do you know what the reason is?" ”

"I don't know." The Citi mechanic said simply: "I just heard that I once experimented with using propeller as power, and then gave up because the speed was too slow." ”

What causes slow speeds? Yi Zhishu didn't know, but he knew that the propeller was the mainstream, and when he said: "The slow speed can be improved, there are too many defects in the paddle steamer, and they are all fatal, and they must be abandoned." Saying that, he looked at a group of Chinese craftsmen and said: "Our ancestors began to use the propeller very early, you all think about it carefully, who can develop a marine propeller with high practical value, reward!" ”

Speaking of this, he raised his voice and said: "The research and development and construction of new propeller steam ships is the main goal of our Changzhou Shipyard at present. Not only reward the silver, reward the position, but also reward the Yuan Qi stock! ”

Listening to this, a group of craftsmen couldn't help but be overjoyed, they had already heard of the reward system of Changle Machinery Factory, and their eyes were hot, and now it was finally their turn to shipyard, and it was seen that the big shopkeeper attached great importance to the new propeller steamer, which meant that their good days had arrived.

After sending the craftsmen away, Wu Changqing said curiously: "What kind of propeller steam can really be developed?" Better than this ship? ”

"Of course, it's much better than this true love wheel." Yi Zhizhi said with a smile: "However, the difficulty is not small, whether you can drum it out, it's hard to say." ”

Wu Changqing rolled his eyes and said, "Those Citi technicians will not leak this idea?" ”

Yi Zhishu smiled: "Don't worry, this is an idea that Westerners have given up, and if it is leaked, it will not be taken seriously." ”

This is also true, Wu Changqing nodded, changed his words, and said: "Those thousands of prisoners of war, are they really returned to Yingyi for nothing?" ”

"Otherwise, what else?" Yi Zhishu said that he didn't feel right, glanced at him, and said, "Changqing has an idea?" ”

Wu Changqing nodded and said, "After all, the prisoners of war were returned to the British army from us, and if this matter spreads, I am afraid that it will hinder Yuan Qi's reputation, so this matter is still prudent." ”

"Changqing is worried." Yi Zhisuff said with a smile: "What if this group of prisoners of war is used as an exchange condition to let the British do something for Guangzhou that is beneficial to the gentry, officials, businessmen and people of the entire Guangzhou city?" ”

Wu Changqing shook his eyes and said, "What's the matter?" ”

"How about letting the British help us build a water company in Guangzhou, install tap water into the city, connect it to thousands of households, and never have to carry water again?"

"Wonderful!" Wu Changqing praised lightly, and then said with annoyance: "Why didn't I think of this? I have long heard Yingyi mention that every household in London uses running water, which is a good feeling, so that at least the mouth of Guangzhou City can be blocked. As he spoke, he said with some hesitation: "Can Yilu agree?" ”

"What is there to disagree with, this is a good thing to promote relations between the two countries." Yi Zhizhi said casually, there is no technical difficulty in the installation of tap water, even if Yilu does not agree, the water company Yuan Qi can build it himself, and he has a few Citi, and when the time comes, it will be installed on the head of the British.

In fact, this matter, he also pondered repeatedly, returned more than 4,000 prisoners of war in vain, which is at least two million taels of silver, just thrown into the water, he is really unwilling, think about it, only from the technical point of view, tap water installation is only one of them, the technology that has been popularized in European countries, he does not mind taking this opportunity to introduce a few, of course, this depends on whether Yilu and Yilu are interesting.

"I'll just say, how can a contented brother be willing to return it for nothing." Wu Changqing didn't finish speaking, he pointed to the front with a surprised face, and said, "What's the matter?" ”

As soon as Yi Zhifu turned his head, he saw that not far ahead, an official ship that was originally going straight suddenly slanted across the hull, obviously coming towards their ship, he couldn't help frowning, who is so ignorant? Officials from other places? There is no one in the border of Guangzhou who does not know the steam paddle wheel captured by the British army in Yuan Qi's hands, and many officials even came to try it.

The captain who drove the steam paddle wheel was experienced, and when he saw the official ship in front of him hit the sideways, he quickly hit the rudder, and the paddle wheel drew a beautiful arc, almost brushing next to the official ship, and the waves stirred up made the official ship sway, and the passing ships on both sides saw this situation, and they slowed down and watched the excitement from afar.

The steam paddle wheel went around in a circle, and the speed had slowed down, and Yi Zhizhi ordered: "Lean in and ask what's going on." ”

"It's the official ship of the governor's department." Wu Changqing said in a deep voice: "However, there is no flag on the ship, and Lord Futai should not be on the ship." ”

"Definitely not." Yi Zhizhi said: "Lord Futai is on the boat, they dare to be so reckless, and a few heads are not enough to cut off." ”

On the official boat, Jin Ling, who was dressed as a man, looked at the steam paddle wheel slowly approaching with a proud face, her eyes were full of curiosity, this kind of ship that could run so fast without sails, she saw it for the first time, glanced at the pale ship boss behind her, and asked slowly: "What kind of ship is this?" Why have you never heard of it? ”

The boat boss Fuqing is not the boat boss on the original official ship, he is a family slave in the Qishan Mansion, and the official ship is indeed the governor's ministry, but because Jin Ling is a woman dressed as a man, she only borrowed the boat, but she didn't ask for a boatman, and there was only one fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy on the boat who acted as a guide for the governor's yamen.

Fuqing had never seen a steam paddle wheel, but he had seen a British warship in Tianjin, and immediately said: "Back to the little master, this should be a ship." ”

Destroyer? Jin Ling rolled her eyes and said, "Tell them to lend us this boat for a few days, and rent it." ”

"Yes." Fuqing hurriedly bowed down and said, "The slave will negotiate with them." ”

When the steam paddle wheel approached, Fuqing walked quickly to the bow of the ship, and saw that the other party's bow was two young boys, he estimated that the other party should be the son of a wealthy merchant in Guangzhou, and the general officials did not deal with Yi merchants, he knew this rule, and immediately he scolded him with a full face: "Blind thing, didn't you see the official ship of Fuyuan in front?" How dare you be so unscrupulous? ”

Seeing that he opened his mouth and scolded, and a mouthful of Beijing films, Yi Zhicontent's face sank, Wu Changqing obviously realized the identity of the other party, the official ship of the governor's ministry is not something that anyone can use, plus the other party's Beijing accent, it is not difficult to guess at all, it is not good to see Yi Zhicontent, he hurriedly said: "It's just a house slave, and I have no identity if I don't insult it." ”

Yi Zhisuff sneered: "A house slave dares to be so rampant. ”

"Don't you hear it, the prime minister's seven-rank official." Wu Changqing said: "It's not uncommon for domestic slaves to bully people. ”

Fuqing wanted to borrow a boat, and when he came up, he naturally wanted to give the other party a dismount, and when he saw the other party, he whispered to himself, and thought that he had suppressed the other party, so he immediately said in a loud voice: "Ask your master to come out and reply." ”

Yi Zhishu was indeed too lazy to deal with a minion, and it was not a good reputation to spread it, so he immediately said in a deep voice: "Please come out and speak." ”

Seeing that the other party spoke politely, Fuqing didn't take the other party seriously, and immediately sneered: "What kind of thing are you?" Do you really think of yourself as a green onion? Are you worthy of seeing us? ”

Glancing at him coldly, Yi Zhizhi commanded in a deep voice: "Start the boat." ”

As soon as he saw that the other party was leaving, Fuqing couldn't help but be anxious, the other party's boat was fast, and once he left their official ship, he couldn't catch up, so he immediately raised his voice: "Hook their boat." ”

Seeing that the other party was pestering again and again, Yi Zhi's anger finally couldn't be suppressed, and he commanded in a deep voice: "Guard Company!" ”

Hou Yungui, the commander of the guard company, had already held back the fire in his belly, and when he heard this, he immediately waved his hand, "Follow me in the first class!" ”

On the official ship, a group of entourages were preparing to hook the side of the other party's ship, and suddenly saw a row of black holes sticking out of the side of the ship, and the soldiers with guns were not the Eight Banners Green Battalion at all, but wearing dark blue strange coats, and they were silent one by one.

Fuqing was also stunned, secretly complaining in his heart, looking at this situation, the other party was not a rich child, but, relying on their ship was the official ship of the governor's department, he expected that the other party was just scaring and scaring them, and he didn't dare to really shoot, so he immediately beckoned to the little guy from the governor's department and asked, "What is the other party's origin?" ”

"Yuanqi group practice." The little guy shrunk his neck and said, "The two on the boat are the big shopkeeper of Yuanqi, Yi Zhishu and Wu Gongzi. As he spoke, he added, "Try not to provoke." With that, he hurried back to the cabin.

Yuanqi group practice, Yuanqi big shopkeeper is easy to be content? Only then will you be rewarded with the rank of general, and you will be rewarded with the third-class light car captain who is easy to be content? Fuqing thought of what he said just now, and suddenly felt that his mouth was a little bitter, and he looked at Jin Ling in the cabin for help.

Listening to the identity of the other party, Jin Ling opened the folding fan with a "brush", slowly walked out of the cabin, looked up at the other party's bow situation, and said loudly: "Yuanqi group practice, Yi Shenrong is so majestic." ”

Hearing this voice, Yi Zhixiang glanced at Wu Changqing and said, "It's a woman?" ”

Wu Changqing is also a flurry, "Qi Shan's daughter? ”

"It won't be Qi Shan's concubine." Yi Zhishu said and walked slowly to the side of the boat, glanced at the other party, and the first feeling was that he was not short, estimated to be at least one meter six or five above, which was already very high for a woman in Guangzhou, and she was not very old, estimated to be seventeen or eighteen years old, with a calm bearing, it could not be a concubine, it seemed that she should be Qi Shan's daughter.

After looking at it twice, he waved his hand and motioned for the guard company to close the team, and then said lightly: "Such nonsense, does your father know?" I'm going to see your father in Humen. ”

Seeing that the other party revealed her identity in one mouthful, Jin Ling didn't care at all, smiled, and said: "Yi Shenrong was originally going to Humen, just right, take me a ride, and I also happen to go to Humen." ”

Yi Zhishu originally threatened the other party to go to Qishan to complain, let her be honest and restrained, but she didn't expect that she would beat the snake with the stick, and even offered to take her to Humen, it seems that Qishan is not an ordinary doting on this daughter, and this woman is probably also a lawless corner,

After a slight groan, he said, "Nonsense, I don't have time to fool around with you." As he spoke, he turned back and commanded, "Sail." ”

Jin Ling said without hesitation: "Hook their boat." (To be continued.) )