Chen Shen did not pay attention to the movement around him. He pushed open the door anxiously. As the door opened, a heat suddenly appeared inside. Chen Shen was so hot that he couldn't help but take a step back, but he immediately raised his hand to protect his face and shouted in a hurry.

"Cough cough cough... is it Chen Shen? I'm fine." Huang Luzhuang's voice came from inside, and Chen Shen finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this time, Zhu Yicheng had stopped the Jinyiwei's actions and asked them to put away the muskets. The sound just now was probably because something was wrong with the steam engine. Standing outside the door, as the heat inside dissipated, Zhu Yicheng finally saw the situation inside clearly.

A steam of about the same size as a carriage is in the middle. The shape of this machine is a bit strange, which is very different from Zhu Yicheng's impression. The structure on the top is barrel-shaped and has a furnace-like structure below. There are many copper tubes and levers connected to the front, back and left and right of the machine, and the levers are connected to the structure of another large wheel. In addition, there are various accessories of various sizes, which look very industrial.

However, now, white smoke is emitting from many directions of this machine, and one part is still very obvious. It is estimated that the sound just now was generated from here. As for the five people surrounding the machine, these people are wearing bamboo hats and wearing pairs of bamboo armor.

"Mr. Huang, what happened? Everyone is not hurt, right?" Chen Shen quickly stepped forward and asked.

"It's okay." Huang Luzhuang waved his hand and took off his bamboo hat. He saw that his face was black and white, and his head was covered in sweat: "The sealing of the connection part is not good, so it's leaking again."

"Are it an old question?" Chen Shen asked.

Huang Luzhuang sighed, "Yes, I can only try again slowly. I thought it was okay this time, but who would have thought it would take more than an hour to run..."

Shaking his head, Huang Luzhuang called everyone to remove the leaking parts. Chen Shen also went up to help. It was obvious that they were still very familiar with the structure of the steam engine. They quickly removed the parts. Then Huang Luzhuang squatted in place, staring at the connection parts of the parts intently, frowned.

"By the way, Lord Huang, someone from the Ministry of Works is looking for you." At this time, Chen Shen remembered Zhu Yicheng's arrival and slapped his head and said quickly.

"Someone from the Ministry of Works came to me?" Huang Luzhuang looked up and asked, "Who is here? Where is the person?"

"The lord who came here is also surnamed Huang, right outside." Chen Shen reached out and pointed to the outside. Huang Luzhuang stood up and patted his butt to walk towards the door. When he just walked to the door, he saw Zhu Yicheng outside the door at first, Huang Luzhuang was stunned at first, then raised his hand and rubbed his eyes. When he confirmed that he was not wrong, he hurried forward quickly.

"Prince! Why are you...you are here?"

Looking at Huang Luzhuang's appearance, Zhu Yicheng was immediately happy and looked at him and said, "Mr. Huang, what are you dressing?"

Huang Luzhuang looked at his body awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

"I don't know that the emperor is telling you, it's really..."

Zhu Yicheng waved his hand and smiled, "I just came here to take a look, there is no need to pay more attention. Besides, I am now Lord Huang from the Ministry of Works."

Although Huang Luzhuang is a science and engineering dog, his IQ is not low and he immediately understood. At this time, Chen Shen happened to come out of it, and Huang Luzhuang quickly changed his words and said that Zhu Yi became Lord Huang.

"Is this the steam engine you made?" Zhu Yicheng asked, pointing to the machine inside.

"That's right, Lord Huang... In fact, in Europa, the steam engine has been interviewed for decades. William once discussed this device with me. The institute has been trying to prevent and improve it. However, due to the lack of progress, this matter has not been reported. Please forgive me."

Huang Luzhuang was afraid that Zhu Yicheng would blame him, so he quickly explained. In fact, what he said was right. The original industrial steam engine model appeared in France in 1679 and then made preliminary improvements in 1698. A few years ago, some people in Europe tried to use steam engines as power for ship-driven power, but so far it has not yet reached a practical state.

Huang Luzhuang has always had a strong interest in machinery. When he was discussing with William, he heard about this kind of machine. After taking over the Royal Institute, Huang Luzhuang began to conduct trial manufacturing and research.

However, as he said, although the principle of steam is not complicated, it is no problem to build the initial steam engine with the current Ming Dynasty technology, but it is not easy to improve its efficiency and make this machine enter actual industrial application.

The steam engine placed in front of Zhu Yicheng has been the result of many improvements from Huangluzhuang. Compared with the initial steam engine, such as separation condensers, thermal insulation layer is added outside the cylinder, oil lubrication of pistons, planetary gears, parallel motion connecting rod mechanisms, centrifugal speed regulators, throttle valves, pressure gauges and other components, making the efficiency much stronger than that of the current European steam engines.

However, the improvement of efficiency also brings great problems, the key is the material. Not only does the material problem of components, but more lies in the sealing material. The principle of the steam engine is to use the pressure generated by steam to drive the operation. The more the efficiency increases, the greater the pressure, and as the pressure and power increase, the higher the requirements for the sealing material.

Huangluzhuang first used ordinary gum, but later found that it could not meet the requirements at all. Then he conducted continuous experiments, and tested dozens of different types of gums and even animal gums, but the best one could only maintain operation for more than an hour.

When the pressure, power, and temperature reach a certain level, these sealing materials are unbearable. The sound they heard outside just now was the sound of water vapor breaking open at the seal. Fortunately, other mechanical components were made solid, and Huangluzhuang had protective measures when conducting experiments, so it did not hurt people.

Zhu Yicheng walked around the steam engine with interest, and at the same time, Huang Luzhuang explained the structure of the machine to Zhu Yicheng. It can be seen that Huang Luzhuang has invested a lot of effort in the design and structure of this steam engine. Although his design is slightly different from that of the West, it is unique in some aspects.

If it is really like Huang Luzhuang explained, once the problem of sealing materials is solved, then the machine can be put into industrial use and can greatly replace manpower.

Regarding the issue of sealing materials, Zhu Yicheng first thought of rubber, but rubber was not common in this era. As a rubber base in later generations, Asia, in fact, rubber is not currently planted in Southeast Asia.

The rubber originated in South America. After European colonists obtained rubber from South America, they did not discover its real function until the early 19th century, and then began to carry out large-scale planting. As for the planting in Asia, it was even later, so now there is no material like rubber in the Ming Dynasty.

Without rubber, you can only use rubber, etc., but these products are different from rubber and cannot achieve the role of rubber. More importantly, natural rubber is not directly used. It is used in industrialization. Many aspects of rubber need vulcanization processing before it can be put into use.

Zhu Yicheng didn't know much about this, but he still knew the general direction. He asked Huang Luzhuang for some glue that is now used as a sealing material and looked at it. As expected, these materials were not vulcanized, but were only boiled for a certain amount. This finished product became soft when heated, hard when cold, and became brittle when cold, not easy to form, and easily wear. No wonder it was unbearable when the machine was running for a certain period of time.

At present, the Ming Dynasty's fleet to the American continent has not returned yet, and of course there is no rubber available in the Ming Dynasty. But this is nothing. Europeans have discovered rubber in South America for decades, so they can find ways to temporarily obtain some from European merchants.

As for the vulcanization of rubber, Zhu Yicheng had no choice. He only knew the term rubber vulcanization and did not know anything about how to vulcanization. However, Zhu Yicheng still reminded Huang Luzhuang and told him about rubber, and asked him to find a way to solve the problem of rubber vulcanization first. As for the source of rubber, you can directly find a solution to Ningbo Commercial Bank. If it is not possible for the time being, it doesn't matter. I heard that the gum of the fig tree seems to be able to be replaced, so you can start there first.

Huang Luzhuang has never heard of the so-called vulcanized rubber, but these words were said from Zhu Yicheng and he could not believe them. Zhu Yicheng is the emperor and the emperor. Since he did this, he would naturally not fake it. Huang Luzhuang immediately said that he would find a way to try it out.

After reading the steam engine, Huang Luzhuang invited Zhu Yicheng to his office. Zhu Yicheng happened to have something to talk to him and left here immediately. However, a long time later, Zhu Yicheng came to Huang Luzhuang's office. Although he was the head of the research institute, Huang Luzhuang actually didn't have a long time in the office and often did research below on weekdays.

"This tea is good, this year's Longjing?" Zhu Yicheng asked with a smile after taking a sip of the tea brewed by Huangluzhuang.

Huang Luzhuang nodded and said, "Yes, the emperor, this is me..."

"Okay, okay, there is no need to tell me where the tea comes from. Besides, is it so useful to drink these tea based on your current income?" Zhu Yicheng saw his nervous look and quipped with a smile.

Huang Luzhuang was immediately happy when he heard this. It was true. Now Huang Luzhuang can be said to be a rich man. If you don’t talk about anything else, just the invention and design patents in his hands are enough to be a rich man. Although Longjing, the Yuqian Longjing is a good tea and is expensive, it is easy to drink Huang Luzhuang’s value and status.

"You still need to pay more attention to the steam engine matter and report any progress to me as soon as possible." Zhu Yicheng took care of him.
Chapter completed!