Cha Shuan quickly recorded it and revised the Navy Regulations. This was not a trivial matter, it involved all aspects, especially the arsenals under the Firearms Bureau, which needed major adjustments.

"Bidenfu!"

Zhu Jie continued: "You said, if we lay a layer of iron plates on our warships now, will our warships have a significant improvement in their defense capabilities?"

Forehead……

Bi Dengfu shivered in fear and said with a wry smile: "Master, lay all the warships on iron plates. You really [Update Fast] Dare to think about it. We have more than 100 main warships now. Just lay all the 100 warships on iron plates. How much steel will it consume? Even if the steel plate is only one cent thick, the main warships of a complete fleet require at least thousands or even tens of thousands of tons of steel. Now the court is fully supervising the construction of artillery. The steel consumption is really great. Even if our steel output increases exponentially, it is only barely enough. Where can there be excess steel to lay a layer of armor on the warship? What's more, laying so many iron armor will bring huge loads to the warships, greatly reducing the speed and flexibility of the warships. Also, how do these iron plates be spliced ​​together? It's a question..."

Zhu Jie's face turned dark. This was a problem. He was just exploring the majesty of the armored ships, but he forgot that the current steel output cannot keep up. The Ming Dynasty's steel output is now the world's largest, with only 20,000 tonnes per year. Among them, one-third of the output is needed for casting artillery. In addition, guns, vehicles and other aspects, steel is needed. Even if it is 20,000 tonnes of steel, there is still a shortage of steel in China. It is laid steel plates for the entire fleet. As Bi Dengfu said, even if it is just a little thick steel plate, it will consume at least tens of thousands of tons of steel, and the court cannot raise it!

"well……"

Zhu Jie sighed and said, "Bi Dengfu, the problem of warships increasing their loads due to armor can be overcome. Our fireworks are growing and powerful, so the warships do not need so many artillery, and they are free of loads. However, they have little impact on the speed and maneuverability of the warships. Iron plates can be spliced ​​together through mortise and tenon. Although they are not strong enough, they can also achieve the purpose of strengthening defense. The only tricky thing now is that the steel output cannot keep up. The Mining Bureau seems to have to work hard..."

Bi Dengfu did not answer Zhu Jie's words. After all, it involved the Ministry of Commerce. This was the matter of the Ministry of Commerce, but he could not interfere too much. If he could not do it well, it would also affect the relationship between colleagues.

"Li Yan, I intend to build a Ministry of Industry outside the Thirteenth Ministry, which is responsible for mining, encourages professional development, and separates the Mining Department from the Ministry of Commerce so that it can increase the output of coal, iron and other industries faster and discover mineral deposits. What do you think?"

Zhu Jie asked Li Yan.

Li Yan nodded and replied: "What the emperor said is very true. I have discussed that now industrial production such as coal and iron is becoming more and more important, and industrial machines are becoming more and more. It is time to establish the Ministry of Industry, which is convenient for overall management..."

"Well, then that's it. After you go back, you can discuss it with Linhou and take out a note of Chen. There are many coal and iron resources in the north, but we can't live in the treasure mountain without knowing it..."

Zhu Jie said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, there is one more thing!"

Bi Dengfu said: "The steamship studied by Shuntian Academy has already started sailing on Chaobai River. The steamship is 8 zhang long and four zhang wide. It has a double deck with a displacement of about 100 tons. If the sails are not raised, the navigation speed can reach twenty-four miles per hour. If the sails are set off, the steamship can travel nearly fifty miles in one hour. These people from Shuntian Academy ran to the front of Yingtian Academy this time..."

"oh?"

Zhu Jie was shocked and asked, "The displacement reached 100 tons? Is this done by relying on several steam engines? The progress of this steam ship is fast enough..."

The advancement of the ship with a displacement of 100 tons shows that the technology of steamships has gradually matured, which has appeared hundreds of years earlier than the steamships in another time and space. Now there is the first and second steamships, and it has performed extraordinaryly. The momentum of building steamships will definitely be promoted.

Think about it, if you sail with the wind in one hour and travel fifty miles, the speed is far greater than that of the canal. You should know that on the Grand Canal, when the wind is calm, many canals are driven by the trainer. The speed can be imagined. It is good to be able to travel more than ten miles in one hour. Even if it is a good time, it will only take more than ten miles in one hour. This steam ship is more than twice as fast as the canal!

Once the problem of steam turbines or steam units with more powerful horsepower is solved in the future, even steam ships with a displacement of more than two or three hundred tons can reach a speed of twenty miles per hour on the canal, which will result in half the result with twice the effort!

Bi Dengfu replied: "Shuntian Academy used two steam engines, one installed in the front and the other installed in the back. Now Shuntian Academy is studying the technology of combining several steam engines to generate power. I believe that it will be possible to make a breakthrough in a short time. Master, once our steam ship can discharge up to 300 tons or 500 tons, we can almost equip the warship. At that time, with the power generated by the steam engine, our warship will be more than twice the speed of today. Facing Western warships, it will have an overwhelming advantage!"

"Hahaha……"

Zhu Jie laughed and said, "Yes, once we can equip the warships driven by steam engines, we will have an absolute advantage in the battle situation when facing the fleets of various Western powers. Even if the fleet is not as large as the opponent, we can also use absolute speed to complete division and encircle the enemy and defeat them one by one. The teachers and students of Shuntian Academy have made great contributions. However, this year's rewards are not as good as theirs. Although their steam ships have made great progress, this merit is from Yingtian Academy, and they have no chance..."
Chapter completed!