Imperial Master of the Ming Dynasty

But the next moment, looking at the blazing sheepskin balloon hot air balloon in the distance, the craftsmen became a little frustrated.

Eunuch Ma is a man who can do things well and is very thoughtful. Not only has he prepared doctors to treat injuries, but also fire-fighting buckets to prevent water leakage. He has chosen an open space for the experiment, and there are no flammable and explosive items around it, and it is close to the place where gunpowder is stored. Even though they were far away, they were afraid that something might happen and they would be killed.

Apart from the lack of boldness in making sudden decisions, this is not something that can be criticized. If we look at the thinking of people in this era, although the lives of skilled craftsmen are precious, they are definitely not as valuable as experimental hot-air balloons. The hot-air balloons have not lost the chance to save them. It is irrational to make people slide/jump down.

After all, if people came down, nothing serious would have happened to the hot air balloon. Instead, because there was no operator, no one controlled the flames, and the manpower on the ground pulled the rope too slowly, causing the hot air balloon to be damaged, that would be a big loss.

We can't expect everyone to have Jiang Xinghuo's mentality and take human life more seriously.

It is because in the process of several reincarnations, he has suffered the pain of others treating human life as nothing, that's why Jiang Xinghuo is particularly unwilling to become such a person.

This is also the reason why Jiang Xinghuo made different choices from ordinary people when faced with these recent choices.

Whether it was the stubborn Jing Qing who caused him a lot of trouble, or the aggressive prison guards who wanted to kill him as a national thief, anyone else would have resorted to thunderous methods, but Jiang Xinghuo persisted in his principles and principles of doing things. The bottom line of being a human being is that at the same time, I choose the method of handling that is in line with my own heart as much as possible.

At this time, the apprentice workers from the Military War Bureau rushed forward with buckets of water and put out the fire ignited by the sheepskin balloon hot air balloon.

Seeing that the craftsmen were a little frustrated, Jiang Xinghuo clapped his hands to attract everyone's attention.

Contrary to the expectations of the craftsmen, when faced with the failure of the experiment, the Imperial Master was not only not depressed, but also seemed very happy?

It's not a pretentious smile, but I'm really happy.

Jiang Xinghuo smiled and said: "It's a good thing that there is a problem now. Think about it, we are going to carry people to space. We are going to do a big thing that no one has done in history! Can this kind of thing go smoothly? It certainly can't. If it goes smoothly, The predecessors have already gone up, is it our turn to leave this name?"

The craftsmen were stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt that what the Imperial Master said seemed to make sense.

"Let me tell you this." Jiang Xinghuo said sincerely, "Although Jiang is not happy after hearing it, he will never shy away from failure. I have heard a saying that is rude but not rude. Failure is success. There is no such thing as success." Failure means no success.”

This time, even Eunuch Ma showed a smile.

Ma Jing was really worried just now. After the failure, the national master began to share responsibilities and pass the blame.

"I said on Taiping Street that only by making bold assumptions and careful verification can we get true knowledge through practice. This applies not only to other places, but also to the hot air balloons we have now."

"What's more, we haven't completely failed, haven't we?"

Jiang Xinghuo pointed to the hot air balloon made of silk and oilcloth that was slowly descending on the right.

"Come on, let's see what the problem is now."

Jiang Xinghuo led everyone on foot to the place where the sheepskin balloon hot air balloon crashed. Now all the open and hidden fires have been extinguished and stamped down.

Ma Jing looked at Jiang Xinghuo's back and felt a hint of admiration in his heart. He had never seen someone like Jiang Xinghuo before.

This national master seems to have a unique personality charm, benevolence, truth-seeking, and sincerity, all mixed together, without any official airs, but it will not make people look down on him and think he is easy to control, but he is Both respect and fear.

Jiang Xinghuo didn't know what Eunuch Ma was thinking. He led a group of craftsmen around the still-warm wreckage, pointed at the hanging basket woven with bamboo strips and said, "Look, failure is not without its benefits."

Everyone was startled and then understood.

Apart from being a little blackened, the hanging basket was unscathed after falling from a height, with no deformation at all, and the fire did not burn the bamboo strips.

"Bamboo strips may be more fire-resistant than rattan. I'm not sure. Let's remember this and do a comparative test later. If this is true, we will use bamboo strips to weave a hanging basket. Anyway, they are almost as light and strong. So First, there are three parts to a hot air balloon. Through one experiment, didn’t we directly find the optimal solution for one part?”

Jiang Xinghuo's words encouraged the craftsmen who had just felt a little depressed because of the failure. They thought about it carefully and realized that this was really the case!

At this moment, Zheng He rushed over.

Zhu Gaoxu has been busy training tax guards recently, Li Jinglong is far away in Japan, and the old monk is also busy with a lot of things. Zheng He is relatively free these days. The navy is preparing various tasks for landing in Annan by sea. It is to cooperate with Although the flanking tasks of the main force of the Ming army were cumbersome, there were not many specific things that Zheng He needed to do.

Zheng He's main tasks during this period were to study the sextant taught to him by Jiang Xinghuo and to supervise the trial production of pointed-bottom boats at the Nanjing shipyard.

Zheng He knew Jiang Xinghuo's temper and saw that he was happily discussing specific issues with the craftsmen, so he didn't interrupt and just stood back and listened silently.

"Part two, let's look at the heating device."

Jiang Xinghuo pointed to the wooden gas device and asked, "If you have anything to say, please speak freely."

After two contacts, the craftsmen had a certain understanding of this national master who knew the technology. They knew that the other party was not just talking, but really wanted to listen to their opinions, so they talked a lot.

"The flames are flying too high. We need to add something to stop them from flying so high. Just let the heat come out."

"This thing is too big. I don't know if it can be reduced. Moreover, it needs someone to control it at all times, otherwise the fire will not be stopped."

Some people even had the guts to say: "Master, I don't want to hear what I said. This thing does emit more heat than burning straw, but it is too bulky."

Jiang Xinghuo quietly listened to the craftsmen's opinions and concluded.

"First of all, the flames are indeed too high. It is not only smoky, but also easy to burn the balloon, so we have to get a cover, grid or something like fire insulation but not heat insulation."

"Furthermore, wood gas emits more heat when burned than straw and most oils, but the disadvantage is that the equipment is bulky and difficult to control."

When Zheng He heard this, he suddenly said: "Mr. Jiang, I have an idea."

Jiang Xinghuo was startled and said, "Let's talk about it."

"You can use mermaid ointment."

Mermaid ointment is what whale oil was called in this era.

Whale oil is almost the oil with the highest calorific value and best combustion performance among animal and vegetable oils. In Jiang Xinghuo's previous life, after the first industrial revolution, Western countries began to widely use whale oil as industrial and lighting oil. This is also the number of whales. The main reason for the rapid decline.

When Eunuch Ma next to him heard this, he said with some surprise: "There aren't many in the East and West Palaces, right?"

"Last time I went to Wanli Shitang, I killed one on the way. The refined oil must be more than enough for these hot air balloons." Zheng He said honestly.

"feasible!"

There was a hint of joy on Jiang Xinghuo's brows. The wood gas heating pressurizing device could not be used in a short time. Although it was better than burning straw, it was not really strong enough. If whale oil could be used, that would be great.

The craftsmen also feel that it is a bit luxurious. After all, whale oil can only be produced by hunting long whales in the deep ocean. It has been a luxury product in all dynasties, and the Ming Dynasty banned the sea. It is even more precious than the Song and Yuan Dynasties. .

But Jiang Xinghuo doesn't care about this. As long as the hot air balloon successfully flies into the sky, scatters silver iodide into the clouds, realizes artificial rainfall, and uses scientific evidence to severely slap the faces of these people who have lived in the cocoon of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism information since childhood, it will cost them precious money. Resources, he doesn't care.

"What about this device?" an old craftsman asked hesitantly.

According to his past life experience, high-ranking officials are all face-saving people. Even if they prove that they are wrong, they will not let go of their dignity and change it.

To the old craftsman's surprise, Jiang Xinghuo immediately said: "Remove it and burn the mermaid paste directly."

The craftsmen breathed a sigh of relief.

They have never seen such an official, and they have never experienced how their professional opinions are respected.

In the past, not to mention high-ranking officials like the National Preceptor, even a small official as big as a sesame seed, all regarded craftsmen like them as untouchables, and it was impossible to listen to their opinions.

"Use mermaid paste to generate heat, and then add fire protection devices. Another part of the problem is solved. Let's look at the last part, what's wrong with the hot air balloon's bladder."

Jiang Xinghuo spoke very quickly and his thinking was very coherent. The hanging basket and heating device had been determined, and now it was the ball bag. If they could be solved, then under the current technical level, they would undoubtedly have done it. Arrived at the best.

As long as the number of hot air balloons produced under this component standard is sufficient, it should not be a big problem to achieve artificial rainfall.

After carefully studying the ruined sheepskin sac, the craftsmen discussed it and concluded.

"Although sheepskin is soft and flexible, it is still too heavy, and the seams can easily break due to the weight of the leather at both ends."

Jiang Xinghuo thoughtfully looked at the hot air balloon that landed safely on the other side and said: "So you can't use leather, you still have to use silk. Silk and oilcloth balloons. Did you find any problems when carrying animals before? ?”

"Before, I used half silk and half oilcloth, but the oilcloth was still heavy. Now I sew oilcloth in key places. Most of them are silk, but"

"Just what?" Jiang Xinghuo asked.

At this time, as if some taboo had been violated, the craftsmen all fell silent.

Only one craftsman gritted his teeth and said, "I don't think painting will work."

The craftsmen nearby repeatedly signaled that it was Mr. Ma’s idea to paint. Isn’t this a slap in Mr. Ma’s face?

But this person turned a blind eye and said bluntly: "My grandfather built the city wall of Nanjing City. I heard from him that the city bricks were made with glutinous rice paste and egg white to seal the joints. I tried it when I went home and it worked the same when placed on silk cloth. The effect of using lacquer is not as good as glutinous rice pulp mixed with egg white. Paper pulp or isinglass should have similar effects."

Jiang Xinghuo looked at each other intently, making the craftsmen feel a little uneasy.

After a few breaths, Jiang Xinghuo asked, "What's your name?"

"Mo Liangqi."

"Okay, you have been promoted. The Imperial College will establish a science department and will select several senior craftsmen as assistant teachers. I will ask your majesty for the official status. Now you are the leader of the craftsmen in charge of the balloon in the trial production of the hot air balloon."

As soon as this statement came out, the craftsmen were shocked. Scholars, farmers, industry and merchants, when will they, the workers, be able to serve as teachers for the scholars?