Li Xiaogong left with a box full of materials given to him by Xia Hongsheng, and Xia Hongsheng also handed over the production of hot air balloons to Yuan Tiangang and Letai, and stationed himself in the military aircraft workshop.

The advantage of having state support is that whatever craftsmen you need, there are always first-class craftsmen ready in this field. Under the imperial society, there is a will, those craftsmen cannot be summoned, and even can be reused by the court, and even the work at the bottom of the box has been taken out.

A group of people gathered around the small iron boat that Xia Hongsheng had made at the beginning, discussing how to find a way to make this thing bigger.

It's easy to go big.

But the problems that arise when it becomes bigger are the difficulties.

"Childe, this iron thing, the old man can see it, you are hard to beat it like this with a piece of iron sheet." An old shipbuilder said to Xia Hongsheng: "But this is very different, the bottom of the ship, the hull of the ship...... It all had to be put together. If it's wood, let's use willow nails, rafters, and fish glue, and we can always find a way to put it together. But this iron thing is just a nail made of iron willow, and he can't fit it tightly! This ship is not as good as the things on the side, if there are too many gaps, something will happen! ”

"That's right, Childe!" Another master also said: "There are other problems, Gongzi may not know, this boat is in the water, this water is actually very strong, and it can squeeze the boat out of shape." This iron sheet is made into a boat, but I am afraid that it will have to be squeezed out of shape, this is out of shape, the gap will only be bigger, and it will enter the water! ”

"Childe, how heavy this iron is! It's the size of a sea ship, so can the sail move? Someone else questioned it.

A group of shipbuilding craftsmen said to Xia Hongsheng gossipingly, Yan Lide listened anxiously, thinking that there were still so many problems, it sounded like he couldn't make a big iron ship at all, and he was in a hurry, and he was sweating in a hurry, but Xia Hongsheng was smiling, and he didn't seem to be in a hurry at all.

When the masters finished talking one by one, Yan Lide looked at Xia Hongsheng anxiously, and Xia Hongsheng said with a smile: "The masters have finished speaking?" Come on, let's drink water and rest our throats. ”

Xia Hongsheng said as he instructed his subordinates to pour water for the masters. When the masters had brought water, they smiled and said, "The masters are drinking water while listening to me." You know, this ship made of iron seems to you to be an unbelievable thing. However, now that you have seen the boat I have made, you should also know that this steel can also be made into a ship. On the other hand, since even I, a layman who builds ships, can make a small boat, you are all old masters, old experts, as long as you use your brains, think more, try more, it will definitely be much better than the boat I made, there is no doubt about it. There are a lot of difficulties, and it will be a while and a half, and it is normal to not be able to think of a way to do it. However, Your Majesty has given us a death order, and if we have to make it, we must do our best to be worthy of Your Majesty's favor, right? ”

"Childe, those of us who eat handicraft food, no one cares about it and no one values it, but now His Majesty not only looks at us like this, but also gives us such a generous treatment, we are not people who don't know what to do. Your Majesty's will, that is no matter what, dare not secretly relax half of your strength. A master who looked the oldest took a sip of water and said to Xia Hongsheng: "But there are indeed a lot of problems here, just like those few people, if one of them can't be solved, this boat must not be launched." We just can't make things, and we die of this life, and we can't just deal with errands that can't be used, and go to Your Majesty! Isn't that wolf-hearted? ”

"That's right, Childe!" Everyone chimed in.

"Don't worry, don't worry!" Xia Hongsheng laughed: "If there is a problem, let's solve him one by one." I have an idea, which is to listen to the big guys and see if it works. ”

Everyone put down the bowl in their hands, looked at Xia Hongsheng, and pricked up their ears to listen carefully.

Xia Hongsheng smiled and said, "Why does Your Majesty want to make an iron ship?" It's not that this iron ship is not afraid of slashing and arrows, not afraid of smashing stones and fire, but when it is used in water warfare, the enemy's ship has no way to take us. This is His Majesty's purpose. Do you think so? Can we come up with a compromise that satisfies His Majesty's purpose and avoids the problems of Fang Cai? ”

"What does Childe mean?" The eldest master, the most respected old man among the shipbuilders, asked.

Xia Hongsheng smiled and said, "Let's still make wooden boats, and then put a layer of iron bread on the outside of the wooden boats." As long as the wooden boat is well made, even if there are some gaps in the iron sheet of the outer bread, it will not hurt. In this way, the ship has an iron sheet, which is equivalent to wearing an armor, so that His Majesty's purpose has been achieved, and we can also make it. ”

When everyone heard Xia Hongsheng's words, they were stunned for a moment, and then suddenly a boatsmith slapped his head: "Oops! That's right! We can't make an iron ship, but we can't make it if we wrap the ship with an iron coat?! It can be done! In this way, the iron sheet is directly nailed to the wooden boat, and the interface can also be directly wrapped with a layer of iron sheet, which is called a tight seam, and not a single seam is left! ”

"Childe is right!" Another person clapped his hands: "Our soldiers of the Tang Dynasty go into battle to kill the enemy, and if they wear armor, the bow and arrow will not be able to shoot through." Let's put armor on the ship, right?! ”

Everyone seemed to be ignited by inspiration, and one by two immediately began to discuss in full swing, this one came up with an idea, that one thought of a way, and for a while the workshop was not lively.

Xia Hongsheng watched everyone discuss, walked up to the old shipwright, and asked with a smile: "Master, can I have this idea?" ”

"It works! It works! The old shipwright nodded vigorously: "Don't worry, Childe!" We know what Childe means, the necessary things are ready for the imperial court, and we can start construction immediately! If there are enough manpower, the old man will lead them, and they will rush to work at night, and in a month, this first ship can be made and launched into the water! ”

"There's no hurry." Xia Hongsheng shook his head with a smile, and said: "Since we have improved this ship once, let's improve it to perfection." Let's make a modification to it inside and out. Master, our goal is to make a sea ship that can travel thousands of miles! ”

"Wan Wanli?!" The old shipwright's eyes widened and he looked demented.

Xia Hongsheng laughed again, took out a stack of drawings, handed them to the old shipwright, and said, "Master, these are things I came up with out of thin air, and I don't know if they can be really useful, let alone if they can be made." You've been building a boat all your life, so let's help me see what works and what doesn't, let's discuss it together! (To be continued.) )