Chapter 508: Absolutely Terrible New Thing

Chapter 508: Absolutely Terrible New Thing

Chapter 508: Absolutely Terrible New Thing

Shao Quanzhong really didn't understand the navy, so he just listened to what Liao Rong said without interrupting.

Liao Rong knew the rules, and if he reported such a major move as the transformation of all the warships to Shao Quanzhong, Shao Quanzhong would definitely approve his action.

"This kind of transformation will cost tens of millions of taels of silver in military expenditure, but it is worth it. This is all thanks to Senior Xu Shou."

Xu Shou waved his hands repeatedly, "The Hailing Arsenal is next to the Hailing Patent Office. I just go and check every two days to see if there are any new patents registered."

Xu Shou did this job for Wenxiu. In order to show his support for scientific inventions, Wenxiu used to go to Hailing Patent Office regularly to look for patents. However, after two years, there were fewer and fewer inventions that could make money and were worth the big boss Wen's personal appearance.

After all, most inventions and innovations are not something that can be accomplished by a flash of inspiration. New inventions will only emerge in large numbers if there are breakthroughs in basic science and key technologies. In two years, the Wen Group has almost exhausted the creative ideas of inventors from various countries.

Wenxiu stopped looking at the patent, but the matter could not be stopped, so it fell on the head of the Hailing Arsenal.

"A month and a half ago, a Swedish inventor named Laval registered a new patent at the Hailing Patent Office - a single-stage impulse steam turbine."

"I contacted Laval without hesitation and spent two million taels of silver to buy the patents he registered for all special aircraft agencies."

Shao Quanzhong never hesitated to adopt new technologies, and his habit of spending money influenced his subordinates. Xu Shou also acted when it was time to do so.

The name Laval is not outstanding at all, and Shao Quanzhong has never heard of it, but what he has created has really promoted human progress.

Shao Quanzhong did not make any investment in Sweden, but he brought Nobel in to weaken their ability to invent and create. Therefore, Laval's invention was not quickly stimulated by funds, but was truly invented by himself.

Historically, science and technology developed naturally. It was more than 20 years after Laval's patent appeared that steam turbines were gradually applied to various industries.

Shao Quanzhong's subordinates were so excited when they saw the new technology that they couldn't wait to cash in on it.

Xu Shou acted faster than the Swedes and immediately spent money to snatch Laval's patent, making Laval a fortune.

Xu Shou was very excited. "The thermal efficiency of a steam engine is 25% to 30%. A steam turbine can increase the efficiency of a steam engine to more than 40%."

"Once we buy this patent, we can make a lot of money just by modifying all the steam locomotives in the world."

"When I buy the patent back, we discuss it and find that this thing can be used in blowers and air compressor pumps. It can transform all steelmaking equipment and the compressed steam and compressed air equipment in chemical plants. We can make a lot of money again."

Shao Quanzhong could understand that it was to improve the efficiency of steam engines. Although many devices were powered by diesel or electric power, steam engines were not eliminated.

In fact, steam engines have never been eliminated. Modern nuclear power plants still use steam turbines. Nuclear power is essentially boiler power...

"Then, Parsons, an Irish expert from our Hailing Arsenal, modified it and made it multi-stage. The effect is even better, and it can be used in power plants and steam ships."

How did Hailing Arsenal attract Irish experts? This is related to the European war.

Parsons' full name is Charles Algernon Parsons. He is from a prominent family and his father is the famous British astronomer, Earl of Rosse.

In 1845, Earl Rosse built a 15-meter telescope, the largest in the world, and observed the M51 spiral nebula. I don't know if this thing is useful, but he was a count, rich, and studying science was his hobby.

Parsons was sent to Cambridge by his father to study. He graduated in 1877 and was originally going to join Armstrong Company. However, the European War broke out and Germany and Britain were bombing each other with airships. Armstrong Company was bombed to pieces and could not be restored until after the war.

He couldn't go back to Ireland even if he wanted to, as Ireland became independent during the European war, and his family was driven back to Britain as feudal aristocrats.

So Parsons had no choice but to run to the safe Hailing and entered the Hailing Arsenal, which was a professional counterpart.

It is impossible for a freshly graduated university student, even one from Cambridge, to rise to prominence immediately. Parsons was an apprentice at the Hailing Arsenal for four years and became a full-fledged technician and engineer just last year.

Then the opportunity came. Xu Shou bought the patent for the single-pole impulse steam turbine. Parsons was quick-witted and immediately came up with the multi-stage concept and built a turbocharger. He is now an expert.

A turbocharger is also called a turbine engine. In layman's terms, it is a steam engine with T added. As we all know, cars with T added run faster.

Liao Rong said excitedly, "Parsons sent me a telegram saying that the warship equipped with the turbine he designed could run at a speed of 30 knots. If it cannot reach that speed, he is willing to compensate me 10 pounds."

Did Parsons have 10 pounds? He didn't, but his father did, and he was an earl. This prodigal son gambled away his father's fortune in order to become famous and rich.

"He installed the turbine on a small boat. The boat, which weighed only 44 tons, was named Turbinia and it ran at a speed of 34.5 knots."

"Once this thing comes out, all the old warships will be obsolete, including the ones on our slipway. In the past, warships were considered fast if they could run 17 or 18 knots."

"So I recalled all the warships and prepared to convert them all to steam turbine power."

Shao Quanzhong immediately took action and said, "Let's go and see that ship."

Uh, Shao Quanren and Ren Jun looked at each other awkwardly, they hadn't spoken yet. They shook their heads and sighed, followed Shao Quanzhong, and went to Hailing Port together.

At Hailing Port, the captains and sailors on the ships coming and going were stunned.

A small boat cut through the waves like an arrow, running back and forth at a speed that was beyond the reach of all other ships, and it was incredibly stable.

Everyone who saw the ship's sea trial knew that the world was about to change again...

A young Englishman jumped off the boat, his nose in the air, looking extremely cocky.

Shao Quanzhong was never afraid of his subordinates being too awesome. The more awesome the better. He went up and patted Perkins on the shoulder and said, "Little Perkins, you've made a great contribution. I accept the bet you made with Liao Rong."

He turned around and ordered, "Prepare a celebration party for Perkins. I will personally give out the rewards."

There were drums and gongs at the Hailing Arsenal, Perkins was wearing red and decorated with ribbons, and Shao Quanzhong personally handed Perkins a check for 20 pounds as a bonus.

At the same time, Perkins was made a third-class baron and awarded the ninth-class Order of the Harvest. In the future, Perkins will inherit his father's earldom, which is British, and he has lost his territory, so he is just an empty earldom with no income.

This third-class baron was from Daxia and had no territory, but he had a fixed income of 285 taels a year.

Isn't 285 taels a lot? It's equivalent to a Maybach for life, in addition to salary and bonus.

Liao Rong was still excited. "Marshal, this time we will transform the power equipment. The 10,000-ton ship will use 18 steam boilers and four steam turbine units designed by Perkins. The speed will be greatly increased. The new 10,000-ton ship will also be technically enhanced according to Deng Shichang's report."

"Add an optical fire control system, an analytical machine ballistic calculation system, a radio communication system, remove the secondary guns, increase the number and caliber of the main guns, and turn it into a full heavy artillery battleship. It is planned to use 10 12-inch heavy guns."

"With a stronger power source, the armor can also be thicker. The original problem of the Sovereign not being able to have both firepower and armor is no longer a problem."

"Tesla is designing fully wirelessly controlled ships and aircraft. The coordinated fire control of several warships is just a byproduct of his design, and it can now be used on warships."

"The launch of the first 10,000-ton warship after the transformation will be delayed by half a year, but the new battleship will apply so many new technologies and will have outstanding performance that our opponents will be unable to catch up."

"I named it the Dreadnaught."

After receiving the award, Perkins was taken to Zhanjiang by Liao Rong. Shao Quanzhong was overwhelmed with emotion. The era of begging the British big brother to sell ships was over. Now Daxia had the most advanced shipyard in the world.

Turning back, "Huh? You three are still here?"

How fresh! Shao Quanren and Ren Jun haven't had a chance to speak yet.

Shao Quanren rubbed his hands awkwardly, showing the peasant character of Shao Shucai. Of course, as the big boss of Daxia Telecom, he would only be so awkward in front of his big brother.

"That's right - big brother, I just spent four million taels of silver to buy a patent, but - I won't lose money."

Shit, four million taels, who would ask for such a high price?

"This patent is actually not as useful as a gas turbine, but my opponent is a sly old man who saw that I needed this thing."

Shao Quanren took out a wire from his bag and said, "This is it."

Shao Quanzhong's eyes widened. "You spent four million taels just for a piece of wire? You shouldn't waste money like this."

Shao Quanzhong was polite to others, but he didn't give any face to his own brother at all.

"Tell me, who dares to cheat our Shao family out of money? He is so bold that we can't kill him."

"That's it--brother, I bought this on my own initiative. This thing is called twisted pair cable, invented by Bell."

Eh? Isn't Bell the one who built a metal detector for Garfield, but failed to find the bullet and was called a liar? Did Quan Ren really get cheated?

"He took the initiative to come to me to promote his invention. Technicians have already tested it and found that using this wire to replace a single copper wire will greatly increase the clarity, transmission distance and bandwidth of telephone calls. Telephone lines around the world will have to be upgraded."

No matter how cheap something is, once you add "all over the world" in front of it, it immediately becomes a big business.

Shao Quanzhong understood that Bell, like Nobel, was an old wily fellow. He was not like ordinary inventors who would be happy to receive a million silver dollars in patent fees.

They clearly know the value of their invention and can calculate how much money Quanren will make if it buys the patent, so they will ask for as much as they can.

Well, at most we didn’t get a big bargain by buying the patent, but it is certain that Daxia Telecom’s business volume will skyrocket in a few years.

Shao Quanren left after finishing his report.

During the one month that Shao Quanzhong was on vacation in Taixing Ginkgo Forest Park, the Wen Group had already launched new businesses around the world and comprehensively upgraded all steam engines, including steam locomotives, thermal power plants, steel mills, and chemical plants.

Ten major shipyards began producing new high-speed ships.

Based on wireless telegraph and broadcasting equipment, Daxia Telecom began to comprehensively upgrade its telephone lines.

Two years ago, Daxia's first five-year plan ended with remarkable results, far exceeding the original shocking goals. That was because of the European War.

The second five-year plan had only been implemented for two years, and because it coincided with the Great Depression, people thought the goals would be more mysterious.

However, the emergence of new technologies has broken through the bottleneck, and the second five-year plan is about to be over-fulfilled.

How did the so-called Great Depression come about? It was simply because the dividends of the industrial revolution led by the steam engine had been exhausted.

A new industrial revolution was born with Shao Quanzhong's reckless investment, and the world was about to usher in a new round of major development.

Daxia stands on the crest of a new technological revolution and has a promising future.

Ren Jun and Xu Shou hadn't left yet. Ren Jun secretly grabbed Shao Quanzhong's hand and said, "Brother Shao, I won't say anything. Come with me and I'll show you an absolutely terrifying new thing that Xu Shou made."

It was dark when Shao Quanzhong followed Ren Jun to the testing site of Haoguozi Company.

Shao Quanzhong didn’t know what new thing Ren Jun had come up with, so he guessed it might be a new gun?

"Brother Shao, look."

When Shao Quanzhong looked up, he saw a shelf. He looked up again and craned his neck to see the whole picture. Wow, it was 14 meters high, what a huge skyrocketing structure.

(End of this chapter)