"Do you have a steamboat?" Wang Tiechhui's brow suddenly stretched out and laughed: "I just said, I seemed to see a ship with a chimney in the harbor just now. I was still surprised, but my mind didn't think about this for a while. Alas, after a few months of going to sea, this person has become stupid."

"I can only say that there is a preliminary breakthrough on the steamship." Zhang Xiao smiled reservedly. He is one of the main R&D personnel of the "Poland". His family knows his own affairs, so he truthfully told Wang Tiehui: "The current multi-functional ship of the "Poland" is only experimental. Its power is mainly sail power and steam paddle wheel power is supplemented. Because the technology of the "Poplar-1" type steam engine used on the ship is not very good, and there is still a lot of room for improvement. Moreover, our coal combustion calorific value is too poor, which affects the endurance of the ship. In general, this ship is a breakthrough for us, and the ships will get better and better in the future. In less than two years, we may have a steam engine with greater output power, and maybe we can install propellers on the ship. In short, please be confident in our modern special ship factory, haha."

"Mr. Zhang, you are also a temporary captain anyway. After you go back, you will talk to the leader and transfer the 'Borang' to our Second Fleet?" Wang Tiechui suddenly said his spirits and sat upright and said, "Our Second Fleet is said to be a fleet, but it is completely incomparable to the first fleet where the main force gathers. There are only three or four broken ships in total, but they still have to fight against the naval threats of European countries in South Africa, East Africa and even the Far East. This task is obviously too heavy and the power is obviously insufficient. Forget it. Let me write a report myself. I strongly demand that the 'Borang' be controlled by the Second Fleet sequential command. Otherwise, the fleet commander will not do it! Whoever loves to do it will do it!"

"Don't be busy playing the trick of retreating and advancing." Zhang Xiao waved his hand with a smile and said, "There are still many practical problems that have not been solved now. The first is the subsequent improvement series of Popeye's steam engines. This requires people from the First Machinery Factory to urge them to improve them quickly. You may not know how heavy the task of the boiler workshop of the First Machinery Factory is. On the one hand, they are continuing to improve the previous series of barbarian models of steam engines, well, mainly 1-3 generations; at the same time, they are also vigorously developing the Barbarian-4 type for steel rolling, and the Barbarian-5 type used for steam trains.

Their task is very heavy. We have to urge them at any time, otherwise God will know whether they have focused on research and development and improvement of Popeye's model steam engine. If they are stuck on it, then I have no choice. I heard that Li Hongxing, deputy director of the First Machine Factory and the head of the boiler workshop, are currently planning to separate the boiler workshop from the First Machine Factory and establish a new enterprise specializing in steam engines. I think you can work hard in this regard and help. Maybe he will entice more resources to the Popeye series steam engines, so that the overall R&D progress of our steamship will be much faster."

"I have no choice but to do this." Wang Tiech patted his chest and promised, "Are there any other questions? Let me raise them together. Lao Wang, I still have some old relationships. Maybe I can help you with anything. Tell me, I'm listening. It's time to write a report, sign it, say hello, say hello, say hello!"

"The next thing is about the development of Tamataf Mine." Shi Qinjie glanced at Zhang Xiao and others, and then said in person: "The quality of coal produced by the local Ping An Mining Bureau is extremely poor, which is a big obstacle to the endurance of the ship. After all, the capacity and tonnage of the cabin are limited, and installing more coal with higher combustion calorific value can sail a little longer. A while ago, we found a coal field near the southern Tamataf Port in the past two days, which is definitely not small for us at this stage. The coal fields produce high-quality hard coal, and the quality is comparable to the Sakua coal field in the south of Madagascar in later generations. The coal produced in this coal field is quite suitable for both coking coal and thermal coal. We are already preparing to jointly apply to the Executive Committee to occupy the Tamataf area, and then set up the Tamataf Bureau to lead the development of Tamataf Mine. What do you think about this?"

"This is a great thing!" Wang Tiechui said without hesitation, "I firmly agree! If you didn't say it, write my name on it! This matter is definitely the top priority for our Navy. Don't worry, I will write to Member Xiao and Member Wang of the Executive Committee on this matter, and ask them to help and try to make the matter as much as possible."

"Then I will let go of half of my heart." Shi Qinjie, Zhang Xiao and others looked at each other and smiled. "This is related to the overall situation of national industrial development. I think Premier Ma will agree. Minister Shao of the Ministry of Materials is also indecisive. This matter will be almost done, hehe!"

"By the way, are we just off topic?" Liao Meng, who had just recovered from seasickness in the past two days, sat aside and said suddenly. Just now, everyone was discussing how to bypass the Dutch forces in the East Indies and take another path to the coast of the Ming Dynasty. In the blink of an eye, everyone moved to the coal mine. The building was crooked enough.

"Yes, yes, continue with the issue just now." Wang Tiechui said excitedly, "With the steam speedboat, things will be much easier. Can we sail eastward from Xinhua Fort in the summer, and then set up a stronghold on the north or west coast of Australia? This stronghold will have the most basic defense facilities, enough for 10,000 people to eat half a year of food and a large coal storage warehouse. By the way, we must also have the ability to repair ships. After doing this, our ship can stay here for a while, and then look for an opportunity to go east along the Timor Sea, bypass New Guinea Island, then go north through the Solomon Sea, and head straight to the coastal waters of the Ming Dynasty. It is also a bit troublesome when returning. If there is insufficient coal burning - this is almost an inevitable thing - then there is a stronghold on the coast of Daming. I choose this stronghold. What do you think?"

"Jeju Island is good." Zhang Xiao first agreed, "Just relying on the weak combat power of the Kingdom of Korea, our ships drove there and sent a few army to the island. The Koreans on the island were in a turtle. From then on, we used this island as a base, with the situation where the wind was leaking everywhere along the northern coast of the Ming Dynasty and the fact that the government actually lost control of the local area, we went ashore to collect refugees, or simply forcibly abduct people. I guess no one could cause us any trouble."

"Actually, we have another way." Zhang Xiao thought about it and said, "We can also set up a base along the Indian coast. The construction of the base is as we said before. Then our ships rely on sailing power to sail to the waters near Ceylon Island, then turn on the steam engine and sail east at full speed. With the old Dutch sailing ships that are less than half of our speed, it is probably difficult to intercept us. The advantage of this method is that the coal consumption is very small, and it is a mature route and smooth sailing. Even if the Dutch discovered our ships, they would only stare at them, unless they mobilized a large number of ships to block the horses. The advantage of this method is that they consumed very little coal, and it was a mature route, and it was smooth sailing. Even if the Dutch discovered our ships, they would only stare at them, unless they mobilized a large number of ships to block the horses.

The Strait of Rocca, otherwise you can't stop our steam-clippers from passing through. I thought about it, if the ship was built based on the "Balang" model, a ship could transport at least 500 people at a time. The more ships it is built, the more people we can transport at one time. But this is not a solution. The Dutch always sees you drilling under their noses. After a long time, you will definitely be unable to help it. At that time, a large number of main ships will be mobilized to block the Strait. This route seems to be better than going to the Timor Sea in the South and the Solomon Sea, but it is also good as a backup route."

"How about taking the Pacific route? Have you ever argued?" Shi Qinjie stared at a hand-drawn map in front of him for a long time, and finally asked suddenly: "I mean to go through the Strait of Magellan from the native land via the Baleen Whale Port, then go north along the coast of Chile, and then take the Spanish Manila Sailing Route to the west along the North Pacific Equator and enter the coast of China. How about this route? Is it feasible?"

"There is not much feasibility." Wang Tiechui only glanced at it and said: "In fact, a group of staff members of the Navy Department have argued it early on, and the conclusion is unrealistic. First of all, we cannot dock and recharge the supply in the Spanish port in Chile or Peru. The importance of this place to the Spaniards is the same as that of the East Indies to the Dutch, and no one can be touched by others. All cities here are restricted transaction cities and do not allow any foreign or domestic ships without a license.

Only enter the port, so there will be no supply points in this section, which is quite unfavorable. Moreover, when crossing the Pacific Ocean, we are not able to find the islands. It is easy for us to find a continent, but finding an island in the vast ocean depends on luck. It is impossible to find it every time. As long as you don’t find it correctly, it will be a big trouble. So, I can only say that this route is unrealistic, at least it is unrealistic now. It can only be used as a backup route for the above backup route, and it is the last choice."

Several people discussed for a long time on paper, and finally formed documents on several plans. After signing them, they prepared to submit them to the Navy for reference. The rest of the matter was not under their jurisdiction.

On October 14, 1641, four ships including the "Borang" who had been delayed for a day due to the return of the Second Fleet, left the New Huaxia Bay and sailed towards their homeland. In addition to a large amount of cargo, there were several reports submitted by the Madagascar Development Team to the Executive Committee, including the most important application for the establishment of the Tacheng Mining Bureau. In addition, there were several private messages, Shi Qinjie and others believed that these private messages would definitely provide greater help to their careers here. (To be continued, please search for Astronomy, novels are better, updated and faster!
Chapter completed!