Chapter 1069

“That’s great. As long as there is petroleum, all kinds of machinery with internal combustion engines can be put into motion. And I heard Lu Tong say that a substance called asphalt can also be obtained from petroleum. With this substance, we can build even flatter roads, is that right?”

Lin Wentao was so excited that he waved his hands and feet. For him, petroleum had always been a major hurdle, and now Xiao Ming’s words finally made him see hope.

A faint smile hung on Xiao Ming’s face. There was no doubt that the petroleum industry was an important threshold for a country to step into modern industry.

Only after the petroleum industry was established could the internal combustion engine display its true value. After that, various functional machines could further promote the development of industry.

“I will solve the problem of petroleum. Your most important task now is to apply the internal combustion engine to various types of machinery, such as various engineering machinery, road rollers, cranes, and excavators,” Xiao Ming said seriously.

In fact, in modern history, the steam excavator was invented by Americans in 1836, but the efficiency of a steam-powered excavator was too low.

So Xiao Ming did not waste time on steam machinery. He directly had the internal combustion engine used for excavators. In this way, such an excavator could display its true function in large-scale projects.

After a pause, he continued, “In addition to these small passenger cars, you must also work hard on large transport vehicles, striving to improve the country’s transport level as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Your Majesty, I will remember that.” Lin Wentao said with a serious expression. Although the application of the internal combustion engine was a success, his mission was still very heavy, and he could not slack off now.

After emphasizing the tasks of the machinery factory, Xiao Ming rubbed his hands. He said, “Since this car can run normally, why don’t you let me try it today?”

“Your Majesty, that is no problem. I have driven this car many times, and its safety is absolutely not a problem,” Lin Wentao said, patting his chest.

Qian Dafu was a little worried when he heard this. “Your Majesty, it is better to avoid such a risky move. A speed of sixty kilometers per hour is not low. It would be very dangerous if you lose control of the vehicle, and the current situation is special…”

Xiao Ming’s eyes darkened. He understood what Qian Dafu meant. The last time he took a mortar shell at the military factory, he was scared to death.

After this matter was known by the Empress Dowager and the Empress, Qian Dafu was scolded for it. So now, Qian Dafu was being very cautious.

This was because, according to the current situation, if anything were to happen to Xiao Ming, the Empire would probably fall apart very quickly.

Looking at the vintage car in front of him, Xiao Ming sighed softly. He said, “Never mind. Just have the technical personnel give a demonstration.”

Lin Wentao also came to his senses. There were many rumors in Qingzhou, and he had heard some of them as well.

He called a driver over and said, “Drive the car out and give a demonstration for His Majesty.”

With a response, the technician got into the car, turned the key, and started the car. At the same time, Lin Wentao explained, “Your Majesty, this car uses an electric spark to ignite. The car can be started with just a gentle turn of the key.”

Xiao Ming nodded. The method of electric spark ignition was not rare in the nineteenth century. Ever since electricity was popularized in Qingzhou, methods of using electricity were also developed. Now, the scientific researchers in Qingzhou were mixing various technologies together. For example, the next generation of ironclads would have wireless communication for mutual contact.

When everyone came outside, the technician drove the car and sped on the road outside the machinery factory. In just a short moment, the car drove a lap around the machinery factory.

Xiao Ming nodded repeatedly at the sight of this. A speed of sixty kilometers per hour was a snail’s pace compared to modern times, but in this eighteenth-century empire, it was astonishing.

If this kind of vintage car were to be officially sold, the Empire’s mode of transportation would undergo a historic change.

“Your Majesty, the technical personnel of the machinery factory discussed naming this first car ‘Red Hare.’ Are you satisfied with this?”

“Among men, Lü Bu; among horses, Red Hare. There is nothing wrong with that. In that case, we will continue to use this ‘Red Hare’ as a brand.” A hint of a smile appeared on the corner of Xiao Ming’s lips.

From now on, the Chinese Empire would have the world’s first automobile brand, and this automobile brand was destined to be famous throughout the world.

“Crack!”

While the two were talking, the Red Hare car stopped steadily in front of them, its excellent performance on full display.

“Is Your Majesty satisfied?” Lin Wentao asked, full of confidence.

Xiao Ming nodded slightly. He said, “I now officially order the machinery factory to produce three hundred Red Hare cars.”

Lin Wentao’s face was all smiles. Although the machinery factory was state-run, the court’s orders still had to be paid for.

So, this meant they had received a huge order. With this fund, they could do many more things.

After observing the Empire’s first car, Xiao Ming and Qian Dafu left the machinery factory under the protection of the imperial guards. Back at the imperial palace, he immediately made a telephone call to Cui Shang’an, urging him to oversee the war in Southeast Asia.

Now, the petroleum the Empire had collected was only enough for experiments. His three hundred cars needed overseas petroleum to run, so opening up the shipping lanes to Persia and the Ottoman Empire was of paramount importance. He did not want to wait too long for this…

The city of Bula.

After a day and a night of sailing, the Qingzhou fleet, carrying angry Southeast Army soldiers, arrived at this small Dutch coastal town.

Compared to the grand Jakarta, the city of Bula seemed insignificant, but this place was a trade hub for the spices that the Dutch controlled in Indonesia. Therefore, there were a large number of Dutch merchant ships coming and going here. However, due to the war, it no longer had its former prosperity and appeared cold and lonely.

“According to the intelligence provided by the Chinese in Southeast Asia, there are three hundred Dutch soldiers stationed here. It will be easy to take this place,” Yue Yun said to Lei Ming.

Nodding, Lei Ming said, “Even if there are three thousand, I still have to take this place and wait for those bastards from Jakarta to arrive.”

With that, he shouted, “Land, and occupy the city of Bula.”

As his voice fell, two thousand soldiers boarded the troop transports and rowed towards the shore. To defend against danger, machine gunners were now lying on the front of each troop transport. Once an enemy was discovered, the machine guns would ruthlessly fire at them.

Just as the intelligence provided by Yue Yun said, when the imperial soldiers approached the coast, a few sporadic gunshots rang out, and the imperial soldiers immediately returned fire with their machine guns.

Under the fierce firepower, the Dutch soldiers hiding behind the obstacles on the pier could not resist at all. In just half an hour, the Empire occupied this small city.

“Yue Yun, let’s part ways here for now. After you have cleared the enemy warships from the shipping lanes, we will go to Calcutta together,” Lei Ming said. His initial mission was to capture Jakarta and cut off the European allied forces’ supply points in Asia.

Yue Yun was only assisting him. Yue Yun’s true mission was to cut off the European allied forces’ maritime transport lines and isolate the European allied forces in Calcutta.