1905: Beer Hall Speaker

Page 128

But if you want to build an advanced version, a steam turbine with greater power and more stable performance, that's much more difficult.

It's important to understand that later fifth-generation fighter jets were essentially powered by turbine systems, specifically gas turbines. While the principle wasn't significantly different from that of steam turbines, the details were worlds apart.

At its core, it all comes down to two things: materials science and precision machining. Materials are the foundation, and precision machining is the prerequisite. If you do these two things well, everything will be fine. If you don't do these two things well, you can't even build a steam tractor.

"How are the orders for this thing? Can it support the factory?" Zhang Jian asked astutely. Whether the technology is advanced or not is secondary; the most important thing is whether it can be accepted and applied.

Once the application is launched, there will be a market and orders, and the project can survive if it can be sold.

The person in charge said, "The orders are so-so. We can't survive on the orders for the dozen or so naval engines. The main thing is the procurement of power systems. After the successful domestic imitation of this engine, we have received a lot of orders from power plants all over the country."

Everyone complains that imported goods are too expensive, and after-sales service is a huge hassle. Domestic goods may be a bit unreliable, but at least they work, and if problems arise, we, the manufacturers, can handle the aftermath.

When the steam turbine was first invented, its primary use was for power generation, given its high efficiency. No one dared to use it for marine propulsion systems.

The reliability is insufficient, unless it is a vessel sailing in coastal waters where it can call for support nearby if a problem occurs, but vessels sailing in coastal waters do not need such a high speed.

As for ships sailing on the high seas, not to mention civilian vessels, even convoys of warships dare not use this thing. If there is a problem at sea and the engine stops, that would be a big problem.

On the contrary, it is not a big problem to use it for power generation on the ground. The weight requirements are not high, the working environment is stable, the stability of the machine is also improved, and several machines can be used alternately. Even if one machine has a problem, it can be stopped for inspection and repair.

Chapter 213 Cruiser Project

After inspecting the power plant, it was already 6 p.m. Zhang Jian had a meal with the officials from the Gun and Cannon Bureau, and then returned to his hotel to rest.

In the evening, Zhang Jian had to attend a business dinner at the City Hall. After all, he was a deputy minister from the central government, and the local authorities could not ignore him. The mayor of Shanghai invited a group of prominent figures from Shanghai's business community to the dinner, hoping that Zhang Jian would become a familiar face and leave a good impression on the central government.

At the banquet, Zhang Jian, accompanied by the mayor of Shanghai, went around toasting and drinking, while the business leaders tried to subtly inquire about the central government's direction.

Zhang Jian then stood on the stage and gave a speech, which was full of official jargon and platitudes. Ordinary people would find it boring and boring, and think it was completely devoid of substance, but intelligent people could always find the information they wanted in it.

"The central government is determined to uphold the new policies and reforms (don't be afraid of frequent policy changes). The head of state supports the development of industry and commerce in China (the leader has also given his approval)."

China's industrial and economic development has greatly benefited the vast majority of citizens and the government (you guys make money but don't forget the people, and don't forget the government's tax revenue!).

I believe that the future of China's industry and commerce will definitely be better; this is the expectation of the central government and the head of state (stop thinking about anything else, just get to work!)

The speech of the deputy minister of the central government basically represents the attitude of the top leadership. Such public statements are usually made only when the top leadership of the central government has reached a consensus. They are unlikely to be changed, otherwise the central government would lose face and credibility.

The banquet lasted until 10:30 pm and ended. The attendees left satisfied, and even the foreign investors felt much more at ease. Previously, it was the local government that made the statements, but this time, a central government official stood by, which made many people who were feeling uneasy feel much more at ease.

After returning to the hotel, Zhang Jian organized some materials and documents for a while, then wrote some official letters and sent them to the central government. He didn't go to bed until midnight.

The next morning at seven o'clock, Zhang Jian's secretary knocked on the door. After getting ready, he went out and took a car to the last stop of his inspection tour in Shanghai: the Jiangnan Shipyard.

Zhang Jian had to finish his shipyard trip in the morning and then head to the train station at 2 p.m. to take the train back to the capital.

The schedule was tight, and the shipyard didn't arrange anything fancy. After a brief greeting, they led Zhang Jian to inspect the dock.

"Deputy Minister, the Jiangnan Shipyard is currently undergoing continuous expansion. It has seven large dry docks, three of which are capable of building large ships of 30,000 tons."

There are also twelve small and medium-sized dry docks, which are dedicated to building inland waterway vessels and medium-tonnage ocean-going merchant ships!

The shipyard's order book is already full until 1913, but we still receive a large number of orders. Everyone trusts the technology and capabilities of the Jiangnan Shipyard.

The person in charge proudly introduced the shipyard's operations, telling the truth without uttering a single lie.

"Hmm, not bad!" Zhang Jian gave a subtle approval, but in his heart he thought it was just normal practice. There was a huge demand for foreign trade in China, and China's ocean-going merchant ships were starting from scratch, so it would be strange if there weren't many orders.

Every trip on a long-haul ocean route is a money-making opportunity; which shipowner with capital could resist building ships?

As Zhang Jian walked, he saw two naval destroyers under construction and asked, "Are those the destroyers the navy ordered?"

Zhang Jian's gaze was immediately drawn to the destroyers. There was no other reason than that the two destroyers under construction had a very unique appearance: sharp, flared bows, streamlined hulls and square sterns, a simple long forecastle design, and the elimination of a large number of masts and unnecessary parts.

This is a ship that looks stunning, but it feels a bit too light and delicate, and looks very thin and fragile.

The main structure of the destroyer is almost complete. The next step is to launch it and continue outfitting it with naval guns, observation and aiming equipment, and other systems.

The person in charge explained, "Those are the two Star-class destroyers ordered by the Navy. They adopt a lot of new technologies. Even we, the manufacturer, don't know how to evaluate them. We can only say that they can float and sail very fast. As for the rest, we'll have to see how they perform in service."

Zhang Jian was a man of the world; he had seen the warships of the Beiyang Fleet with his own eyes, and in his mind, warships should be heavy, large, and sturdy.

But the two destroyers under construction in front of him gave him a completely different feeling. He wondered, "I've seen the navy before. Shouldn't the navy be all about strong ships and powerful guns? Why do these warships seem a bit... flimsy?"

"Where is its armor? Hasn't it been fitted yet?"

The person in charge explained awkwardly, "This thing has no armor. From the beginning of the design, protection was not considered. Only speed was taken into account. The firepower is also just average."

"Its thickest armor is the turret, which is 105 millimeters thick on the front and 50 millimeters thick on the sides. It can withstand the small-caliber gun fire from gunboats and destroyers, and can also protect against shrapnel."

As for the hull, it's just a hull that's only a few millimeters thick, offering virtually no defense.

Zhang Jian was silent for a moment, then said, "I told you long ago, the navy is a bunch of madmen who think about revenge every day. They dare to sail this kind of ship, their courage is astonishing!"

Continuing on, Zhang Jian saw another shipyard that had just started construction. The keel had already been laid and the hull structure was being built. Upon seeing the square stern, Zhang Jian turned his head and asked, "Is this another new toy for the navy?"

The person in charge scratched his head: "Yes, Deputy Minister!"

"This is the Navy's latest experimental cruiser, and it's also a... well, a very unique vessel!"

The Navy made a windfall last year, but as soon as it got the money, it immediately spent it all, investing a whopping 8.5 million yuan in one go, transferring the full amount to the shipyard's account, demanding that an experimental cruiser be designed and built according to their ideas.

The shipyard was speechless. They hadn't even received the destroyers yet, and now they were burning money to get new experimental ships. Even the Germans were at a loss for words. What kind of navy conducts experiments on every single ship?

Once these warships are launched and delivered, you shouldn't call them the Chinese Navy anymore; just call them the Experimental Navy!

The navy's idea was actually quite cunning: they would never save any money for the New Year. Only after they had spent all the money and were penniless could they continue to plead poverty and ask the central government for more money. If there was still money left in the account, the central government would definitely ignore them.

Zhao Yan is extremely busy and generally doesn't get involved in military affairs. He only provides strategic guidance, while specific matters are discussed and decided internally by the Ministry of National Defense.

But would Sa Zhenbing consult with Wang Chongshan? He simply took matters into his own hands and spent the money without consulting Wang Chongshan, placing the order in full.

The die is cast, and the die is cast; Wang Chongshan had no choice but to accept it.

The experimental cruiser, according to the Navy's funding and design requirements, had a displacement of around 8,000 tons and still maintained the superfiring turret design with two forward and one aft turret. However, this time, because the displacement was increased, the Navy did something unusual and required a triple-turret design to delay firing and offset the impact of muzzle storm on accuracy.

主炮采用枪炮局最新锐的150mm/L45型火炮，也就是陆军版本的军级支持150mm加农炮，从35倍径身管升级到45倍径。

The power system and hull design still retain the style of the Starry Sky class. The biggest improvement is that the twin-gun turrets have been upgraded to triple-gun turrets, and armor has been added!

Yes, the experimental cruiser was armored!

It's a cruiser after all; it's really inappropriate for you to keep going without armor. But that only applies to having armor, not much of it.

Most of the current mainstream armored cruisers are fully armored, and some even have dome armor protection.

The experimental cruiser now uses what is euphemistically called "key protection" armor design. Simply put, armor is laid around the waterline, the turrets and engine room are also surrounded by armor, and the rest of the area is exposed.

If it weren't for the strong opposition from naval captains, even the conning tower wouldn't have had armor protection.

The thickest armor, the waterline armor belt and the turret armor, are both 130mm thick Krupp carburized armor. Zhao Yan managed to get this from the Germans by selling his backside, but the Germans only agreed to send personnel to help with the manufacturing. The core technology was still in the hands of the German experts on labor dispatch.

Moreover, the width of the processed armor plates was only enough to encircle the waterline, indicating that the Republic's industrial capacity still lacked the ability to process large-sized armor steel.

Simply put, while other cruisers go out in short sleeves, the Republic's experimental cruisers go out in only underwear, covering up the parts that are considered "adult content," while still exposing the rest of their bodies.

From design to construction, the time was extremely short, thanks to the experience gained from the previous star-level project.

The main workers were still the Germans. The Germans looked down on this fragile cruiser. Even the designers themselves disliked it, and the German naval officers involved in the project also had strong doubts.

Even Zhang Jian, an insider, was filled with mixed feelings after hearing the shipyard's introduction. Although this kind of information was top secret, he, as the Vice Minister of Industry, still had the right to know it, and after listening to it, he would also be included in the list of insiders.

Zhang Jian had expected to take on significant risks to learn more about the warship, but after hearing his explanation, he exclaimed, "That's it?"

"The Zhenyuan warship's armor protection seems to be over 300 millimeters, but how come the new ships being built now have less than half that? Isn't the navy going backwards?"

"Is the country really that short of money for armor? Or did their navy never intend to come back alive with this ship?"

The person in charge remained silent, unsure how to respond. The navy now simply followed Zhao Yan's instructions, believing whatever the leader said.

The international mainstream is now to make armor thicker and guns more powerful, but in the Republic, it's one thing for an 8,000-ton cruiser to lack full protection, but its main gun caliber is even inferior to that of the secondary guns of other capital ships, which is really embarrassing.

The navy is now focused on pursuing speed like a heretical path. What can these warships do at sea? Are they just going to run fast? But what good is running fast? Are they going to bully merchant ships instead of attacking enemy ships?

These things, once deployed, seem only capable of bullying enemy merchant ships; hoping to engage in direct firefights is pure fantasy.

"The world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be!"

"The navy is really like a weasel giving birth to cubs, each litter is worse than the last!"

Zhang Jian shook his head and sighed. Fortunately, it was kept secret. Otherwise, if the intelligence on the warship's specifications were leaked, it wouldn't just be a loss of military intelligence, but a loss of national face.

Foreigners would laugh their heads off if they found out.

"By the way, what's the name of this warship?" Zhang Jian intended to remember the name of the warship because he thought that once he saw it, it would be gone forever, and who knows when it might sail out and never come back.

"The Confucius ship!" the person in charge said expressionlessly.

After hearing this, Zhang Jian cursed under his breath, "The navy is truly shameless!"

Arriving full of enthusiasm but leaving disappointed, Zhang Jian concluded his inspection of the shipyard and, after leaving, took a car directly to the train station to return to the capital.

When he returned, he planned to complain to Zhao Yan that the navy was simply wasting the country's money.

They poured over 20 million into building warships, but all they produced were a bunch of toys that could only bully merchant ships. If they had used that money for industry, they could have built so many factories!

Chapter 214 Zhao Jianyang Goes Down to the County

April 15, 1911, Hunan.

Inside the city hall, the mayor, looking hurried, had just alighted from his carriage and was on his way back to his office.

The secretary stepped forward and reported, "Mayor, that Director Zhao is here again, waiting for you in your office."

The mayor frowned after hearing this, then nodded and said, "Let's have a meeting first, and tell him to wait."

"Yes, Mayor!" The secretary left.

Two hours later, the mayor, who had just finished the meeting, heard his secretary's report again. Director Liu was still waiting there, and the mayor was getting a headache.

"Alright, make two cups of tea and send them to my office. I'll have a good talk with him." The mayor had no choice but to meet with him.

A moment later, Zhao Jianyang, the director of the Municipal Water Resources Bureau who had been waiting in the office, finally met his mayor. He stood up politely to greet him, but before the mayor could even have a sip of tea, he immediately stated his purpose.

"Mayor, I've been in the city for almost a year now, and I spend all my time sitting in the government office drinking tea. You should at least give me some assignments."

"I want to go to the countryside, I don't want to stay in the city anymore!"

Zhao Jianyang was one of the restless party members who had been sent down to the countryside a year ago. Zhao Yan specially arranged for them to become local officials, all at the division chief level.

However, the local authorities simply didn't dare to immediately assign these young people to govern a region. The central government's intention was to hand over the people to them for assignment, try to assign them some county magistrate positions, and if that wasn't possible, assign them some hard jobs to hone their skills.

Locally, these young people are generally assigned to positions such as section chief in provincial or municipal governments, just to observe their abilities before making any decisions.

After all, this is now a republic, unlike the previous dynasty. In the previous dynasty, as long as the people did not rebel and paid their taxes, the county magistrate could do whatever he wanted. But now, county-level government affairs are very important. If there are problems at the county level, the city cannot escape responsibility, and the province will also have to take responsibility.

Local authorities initially kept these key members of the Revival Party under their wing for observation and practical experience. After spending more than a year in provincial and municipal governments, most of them got used to it and stopped clamoring to go to the grassroots. They became more accustomed to working in local offices and settled down to enjoy a comfortable life.

After all, being able to serve as a section chief in a provincial or municipal government agency is a position far superior to that of ordinary people in the local area, and even more powerful than that of wealthy and powerful families.

However, there are still a few people who maintain strong passion, keep trying, keep proving themselves, and then want an opportunity to govern a region. Young people, after all, always value ideals more than reality.

Zhao Jianyang is that kind of person. When he was first sent down to the countryside, the mayor assigned him to be the director of the water conservancy department, and he worked like crazy. Don't be fooled by his current claims that he doesn't want to work in the office and wants to go to the countryside.

In fact, after he became the director of the water conservancy department, he spent his time traveling to rural areas. In the past year or so, he has traveled to all the counties in Yiyang City, presided over the construction of more than 70 kilometers of river embankments, six medium and small reservoirs, and ordered the renovation of all the old irrigation canals in each county.

His achievements were outstanding, but he did such a good job that the municipal government was reluctant to let him go.

The current governor of Hunan Province, Zhang Xinghua, is actually Zhao Jianyang's senior fellow student. Moreover, Zhao Jianyang also has acquaintances in the central government. It would be easy for him to ask the province or even go directly to the central government for some benefits. However, he himself does not do this often. He only uses connections when he has no other choice.

The mayor felt that keeping Zhao Jianyang in the city was far more beneficial than continuing to send him down to the county level, and he never wanted to let him go.

Otherwise, the mayor would never have allowed Zhao Jianyang to come to his office to block people. You have no ability at all. You are just a lowly section chief. How dare you block a department-level official like me in the municipal government office? Even if you are from the central government, I have ways to deal with you!

Zhao Jianyang has both the ability and the achievements!

The mayor, holding a teacup, sat in a chair and faced Zhao Jianyang, saying, "Little Zhao, why are you doing this?"

"Going down to be a county magistrate now would be a demotion, wouldn't it? Why not stay in the municipal government instead of going to the county to be a county magistrate? What's the point?"

“I’ve told you so many times, you have the ability, the achievements, and the connections. Plus, you’re a local from Hunan. After you’ve served as the director of the water conservancy department for two years, I’ll recommend you to the province to be the vice mayor. You’ll be my successor. I’ve got everything planned out for you step by step.”

"If you go and become a county magistrate now, that's a demotion. A county magistrate's term is at least five years, and in the end you'll still be a deputy mayor. What's the point of going through all that trouble?"

Zhao Jianyang is from Yueyang, Hunan, and the mayor also happens to be from Yueyang. He doesn't want to see this young fellow townsman take the wrong path.

"The leader sent us to the countryside to make us go to the most difficult and arduous places, not to let us stay in the city and enjoy ourselves!" Zhao Jianyang was stubborn and refused to listen to any advice.

The mayor pointed at his face and said, "Have you been enjoying your life? Look how thin you've become! You're always running around all over the mountains and fields, you're practically as dark as a lump of coal!"

You've suffered enough; it's time to think about your future!

“Your father wrote to me from Yueyang, asking me to take care of you. By seniority, you should call me Uncle! You've gotten into such a state, I don't know how to explain this to Brother Zhao!”

"Listen to me. Your uncle was an official back in the Qing Dynasty. I climbed all the way up from a county magistrate to the mayor I am today. I've seen too many people like that. If you have the opportunity, you have to climb up. Don't miss it, and don't waste your time."

"The official career has nine ranks. Let's not think about those first, second, and third-rank positions in the central government. Let's just think about whether we can become a fifth-rank official!"