Chapter 416: King of England and King of Wings Join Forces
Chapter 416: King of England and King of Wings Join Forces
Shao Quanzhong arrived at the small hill on the east side of the experimental field of Haoguozi Company with excitement.
The small hill was only fifty meters high, and there were many people standing nearby to watch the fun, as well as reporters from major newspapers stationed in Hailing taking pictures on the spot.
Among the crowd watching the excitement, Shao Quanzhong unexpectedly saw Rong Hui.
Rong Hui and Maxwell were standing on either side of a bald-headed foreigner in his fifties. The foreigner stood with his hands behind his back watching the "Big Bird" test flight. The three of them chatted from time to time.
Wow, who is so awesome that even Old Mac looks at him with respect?
It is said that Mac is a master in the scientific community. Even when the British Prime Minister came, Mac would not have this expression. When he asked for a budget, he always looked as if it was a matter of course.
"Brother Shao, you are here to watch the fun too? That's great. Let me introduce you. This is Professor John Cauchy Adams, a professor at the University of St. Andrews and the University of Cambridge, a member of the Royal Society, president of the Royal Astronomical Society, and director of the Cambridge Observatory."
"It is an honor for Hailing that Mr. Adams was invited to give lectures at Xiaoxiangya Academy of Sciences. He accurately predicted the position of Neptune based on the law of universal gravitation and mathematical calculations alone. He is a senior scientist respected by Maxwell."
Well, he is a very learned guy. Although in Shao Quanzhong's opinion, what he studied is useless, he still has to be respected.
The two men greeted each other and shook hands warmly, with spotlights flashing.
The headline of the report the next day became "Prince Rui cordially meets with British scientists", and the label of "attaching importance to scientific research" was once again unexpectedly pinned on Shao Quanzhong's head.
Then everyone watched the test flight together. The test flights were carried out three times. One time it even flew a thousand meters before landing. It was indeed a new toy.
After the test flight, the pilot of the bird-wing aircraft ran towards the crowd. He was a young man in his twenties with a big beard, and he looked at Wang Yongxian in the crowd with hope.
Wow, my adopted son is here too? I didn't notice it because there were too many people.
Wang Yongxian shook his head regretfully. "Although your glider is quite eye-catching, it has no practical value. It is too dangerous to use for sports. I don't think it will generate any profit."
"I personally respect your courage to challenge the sky, but I'm sorry, the Wen Group cannot invest in a losing business."
Wang Yongxian spoke English to the Warriors, without using Maria, so Rong Hui translated it for him.
Shao Quanzhong thought about it, but didn't make any move. This thing looked pretty cool, it could be used to tie a person to a hanging wooden frame and fly, but it couldn't fly very far, it was still far from an airplane.
Seeing the regretful look on Flying Warrior's face, a young man in his twenties suddenly appeared from behind Professor Adams, stepped forward and patted Warrior on the shoulder, "Brother Lilienthal, I think your flying wing is not completely aerodynamic."
Lilienthal was unconvinced. "I made this completely based on bird wings. You say birds are not aerodynamic? That's ridiculous."
The young man shook his head. "Birds not only have wings, but also tails as rudders. They need their bodies to balance so they can fly stably."
"Before I came here, I saw Prince Rui's wife Wenxiu flying a kite with her five children in Hyde Park. That double-winged box kite with a tail rudder flew much higher than yours, and was much more stable."
"I specifically asked about it. This technology comes from Weifang in the Qing Dynasty. It has been around for thousands of years."
"I am also interested in flying, and I am planning to make a large double-wing kite. A person can glide on it, and it must be higher and farther than yours, and it is also safer."
"I plan to continue to improve the shape of the box kite and record various aerodynamic data. When I have a propeller engine with sufficient thrust in the future, it will be able to really fly, instead of being a gliding toy like you."
Lilienthal was immediately excited and stepped forward to hold the young man's hand. "Let's work together! Let's make a kite together."
"You are obviously a learned person. I, a rough man, will be responsible for the dangerous task of test flying, and you will be responsible for recording the data and designing the most scientific aerodynamic shape."
"If airplanes are really built in the future, it will be a great benefit to mankind!"
The young man shook his head. "It's just a hobby. It will probably take decades to build a real airplane. My purpose is just to accumulate experience for future generations."
"I have accepted an offer from the Sydney Observatory to work as an astronomical observer. After visiting Hailing with Teacher Adams, I will go to Sydney to take up my post. I will not have the time to focus on making kites."
Lilienthal shook his head in disappointment. "Alas, there must be someone who takes the lead. I don't admire you for not devoting yourself to science just to make a few bucks."
"Sir, I graduated from Cambridge, and I am planning to start a family, get married and have children. What should I do if I don't make money? Will I wander around like you, seeking sponsorship from curious nobles?" The two of them were communicating in English, and suddenly Shao Quanzhong's Chinese voice came from behind, "Young man, how much salary does the Sydney Observatory give you?"
Hmm? Hearing Rong Hui's instant translation, the young man bowed to Shao Quanzhong shyly, "Your Highness, it's not much, it's just a job for an ordinary college graduate to make a living."
"I will pay you two a monthly salary of 100 silver dollars each and hire you to work at the Hailing Arsenal to accumulate aircraft technology and conduct test flights."
"I am offering a reward to the world, soliciting gasoline engine design proposals. If there is a result, install the engine on the plane you designed and let the plane fly, I will give each of you a bonus of 100,000 silver dollars. What do you think?"
Shao Quanzhong was looking at the young man, and he knew that Lilienthal would definitely be warmly welcomed.
The plane described by the young man is very similar to the biplane propeller plane that Shao Quanzhong bought later. This is reliable.
"But, if we want to build airplanes professionally, we need a lot of money—"
Shao Quanzhong waved his hand and Maria handed over a checkbook.
"As long as it's about the funds for designing the aircraft, there's no limit on the amount, use it as you like!"
The two foreigners immediately bowed together and said, "We are willing to serve Prince Rui."
The test pilot was Otto Lilienthal, a German. The young college student was Lawrence Hargrave, a British. The two began to work together and the father of space-time aircraft design appeared.
…………
On the seventh day of the fourth month of the thirteenth year of the Tongzhi reign, in Edo, the cruiser "Heavenly Kingdom" had its sails broken and its bottom covered with barnacles. After seventy days of sailing, it crossed the Pacific Ocean and docked at Yokohama Port.
The King of England walked onto the dock in military uniform, a Napoleon-style bicorne hat, and general's epaulettes.
Yang Changjiu ran forward and saluted, "King Ying, you are finally here. If you don't come, I can't stand it anymore."
"The four generals Zuo Zongtang, Nie Shicheng, Liu Mingchuan and Dong Jun from the Qing Dynasty have joined forces. I really can't defeat them."
The King of England's eyes flashed with a divine light, "Why? The Six Garrisons' new army only has more than 70,000 soldiers. We have 250,000 Heavenly Kingdom soldiers in Japan, and their equipment is no worse than theirs. Are you afraid of them?"
Yang Changjiu smiled slyly, "I am strictly following the instructions of Marshal Shao and not letting the Heavenly Kingdom soldiers waste their strength. I am just driving the vassal army to fill the trenches."
"The Qing demons are not going to fight alone. With Liu Mingchuan's new army of seven towns, which is close to 100,000 people, they can supervise the battle of more vassal armies."
"Under the command of Liu Mingchuan, the young Meiji went to various places to recruit soldiers. All Japanese men over the age of twelve in the south were recruited by them."
"With their Tiannao Heika in charge, these Japanese soldiers are not afraid of death, and the younger they are, the more ferocious they are. An army of 200,000 will be the vanguard, and there will be as many supplementary troops as needed in the training behind them."
"With the two famous generals Zuo Zongtang and Nie Shicheng leading the way, the combat power of the Qing demon servant army has greatly increased. Under the leadership of the two Japanese generals Nogi Maresuke and Kawakami Soroku, the two routes have launched a fierce attack all the way."
"Now the main force of my vassal army has retreated to Nagoya. If they can't hold it anymore, they will retreat to the Kai Mountains. The vassal army led by Zhang Hanchen has retreated to Kitanosho Castle and will soon be pushed back to Echigo."
The King of England waved his hand and said, "Let's go and study the battle plan. When I come, the Qing monsters won't dare to be so rampant."
A day later, in the Ninomaru of Chiyoda Castle in Edo, the King of England stood with his hands behind his back, looking worried.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard behind me, and a mighty middle-aged man strode over, "Shi is late."
Seeing the look on King Ying's face, King Yi, who had rushed over urgently, laughed out loud, "What could have made King Ying so worried? King Ying's ability is not enough to defeat the Qing monster, right?"
Chen Cheng shook his head. "I have a strategy to annihilate the enemy's main force, but the cost is huge. There is a key problem that is difficult to solve."
(End of this chapter)