Iron Dynasty

Chapter 1141

In the square adjacent to the agricultural machinery, various engineering machines were on display. When the group arrived, Lin Wentao proudly said, “Your Majesty, these are excavators and these are bulldozers. These two are the main machines for the construction of the Suez Canal.” Ever since the machinery factory’s research team became independent, the machines on the blueprints had all become a reality. After testing the performance of these machines, Lin Wentao deeply realized that these machines would bring about incredible changes to the Empire.

Xiao Ming also showed a satisfied smile looking at the excavators and bulldozers in front of him. In contemporary history, France took ten years to build the Suez Canal, but at that time, France did not have the Empire’s internal combustion engine machinery. He believed that with the Empire’s engineering machinery, the construction of the Suez Canal could be completed in one year.

“Very good. The application of the internal combustion engine is becoming more and more perfect. With them, the Empire’s development will inevitably accelerate again,” Xiao Ming said happily. The introduction of these machines would greatly benefit the Empire in transportation, agriculture, and engineering, and these were the foundations of a country.

Lin Wentao took the opportunity to say, “Your Majesty, these machines are just improvements, not very new. Since Your Majesty is here, why don’t you follow me to see a new thing that the machinery factory is researching? Your Majesty will surely be very happy to see it.”

“Oh? So, my timing is just right?” Xiao Ming and Pang Yukun looked at each other, full of anticipation. Lin Wentao led Xiao Ming and his group into the interior of the machinery factory while saying, “I was originally planning to report to Your Majesty, but I didn’t expect you to arrive so soon.”

Talking all the way, the group passed through an archway and arrived at a very open area. The machinery factory was located on the outskirts of the industrial zone, and this was an undeveloped area of the factory that had not yet started construction. But at this moment, something that was very familiar to Xiao Ming was rotating in the open field.

“Monoplane?”

Xiao Ming was slightly surprised. He really didn’t know how Lin Wentao had managed to produce this thing.

“Yes. I have been researching this kind of machine that can fly in the sky for some time. With the improvement of the Empire’s machine tool accuracy, I believe that the time to build this kind of machine has come, so I built this prototype model,” Lin Wentao said.

Xiao Ming suddenly understood. He was still wondering why he didn’t know about something flying in the sky, so it turned out to be just a model. Seeing Xiao Ming’s expression, Lin Wentao said, “Your Majesty, although the fuselage is a model, this propeller is real. We are currently testing the propeller’s power performance. If it can meet the flying conditions, I will build a complete airplane.”

“The most important thing for an airplane is the power system. Once this problem is solved, the problem of the airplane is basically solved.” For Xiao Ming, this visit was a pleasant surprise.

However, the real surprise would have to wait. After all, in his opinion, Lin Wentao’s research was still in its initial stage. To build a high-performance aircraft, he would probably have to integrate the Empire’s industrial capabilities and establish an independent aircraft production line. Without three to five years, airplanes probably could not be mass-produced, and even if they were mass-produced, it would take some time for them to become a combat force.

He was not in a hurry for this time, because at this point in time, the Empire’s steam turbines were also being put into use. The mass production of the two would overlap, and at that time, the Empire would be able to achieve a combination of big cannons and giant ships, as well as a sea and air force. And this was the Imperial military power he truly looked forward to.

Pang Yukun said excitedly from the side, “The Empire’s technology is truly advancing with each passing day, but by the time this thing is mass-produced, my beard will probably be completely white.”

“Not just you, my hair will probably be white too.” Xiao Ming’s words contained a sense of helplessness about the passage of time.

He recalled his youthful days when he first came to this world, and now that he was in his middle age, the Empire had grown from nothing and was getting stronger with each passing day, while they who had built the Empire were getting older day by day.

Just like Pang Yukun, he also hoped to witness the Empire achieve one leap after another. Unfortunately, at the moment, this could only be a luxury. It was also out of helplessness toward the passage of time that he was eager to build his ideal world system and leave valuable wealth for the Empire, because he could not be sure where an Empire without him would go in the future.

Since this was the case, he could only try his best to create a favorable situation for the Empire while he was alive. After walking around the aircraft propeller, Xiao Ming saw that the physical model made by Lin Wentao was fine, and then he and Pang Yukun turned back.

On the way back, Xiao Ming asked Pang Yukun to give priority to providing engineering machinery for the construction of the Suez Canal. For agricultural machinery, he asked that they be sold to the public after the official estates had been supplied. As for Africa’s agriculture, the shortage could be compensated for with a large number of black slaves.

…

The ninth month of the eighth year of the Imperial calendar.

Two months after occupying Tangier, Liu Chen received the order to annihilate the British navy. Along with this order came forty-six Imperial warships, which brought the number of warships under Liu Chen’s command to eighty-eight. In addition, a large number of transport ships also came with the fleet, bringing sufficient supplies and a group of agricultural technicians from the Empire.

“Commander Liu.”

The person leading this fleet was Xie Yuan. He and Liu Chen were in the Qingzhou fleet together back then and were assigned to the Atlantic fleet after the Imperial Navy was split.

“Commander Xie.”

The two met and first saluted each other, and then patted each other heavily.

“I didn’t expect the Emperor to send you over. That’s great. Now, let alone the British fleet, we can even deal with the entire European fleet,” Liu Chen said happily.

Xie Yuan said, “The Emperor was worried that other European countries might suddenly join the war, so he sent us here. He also specially sent a group of agricultural technicians. This Tangier will be the bridgehead for the Empire’s attack on Europe in the future.”

“Hahaha… The Emperor is still the best. He is going to set up farms in Africa. Yes, that’s good. Now the French prisoners and black slaves we captured will be useful. And the Mining Department also found a coal mine in Morocco, so supplies are not a problem at all,” Liu Chen said. Before they captured Tangier, France had already implemented a brutal black slave policy in Tangier, so he had just taken over a ready-made one.

Compared to Liu Chen, Xie Yuan was a little more excited. After all, as the commander of the Atlantic fleet, it would be unacceptable not to participate in the war against Britain. So, after receiving the combat order, he could not wait to organize his army and come here.

“Let the administrative officials handle the supplies. When will we teach the British a good lesson?”