Struggle in the Steam Age

Chapter 656: on the way

"The northern route is the most dangerous one of the common routes that have been opened up." As Viscount Surrey, who has lived in the northern archipelago for several generations, he naturally knows what is going on here.

"Let's not talk about the various monsters that have a strong impulse to attack all objects floating on the water. The constant ice and snow in that area throughout the year is enough to make it difficult for a large number of ordinary ships to pass."

"Before the birth of these steel-based ships, if you wanted to travel on the northern route, you could only rely on some extraordinary people on the ship or simply magic ships to be able to pass safely."

"It sounds like this route should be difficult at that time." Lawrence shrugged.

"Of course, the cost of a sufficiently level transcendent or a magic ship to travel once is not low." Viscount Surrey said.

"Therefore, even 50 years ago, there was only one ship going to our side a month on average, which is not as convenient as it is now."

In addition to these passive defensive measures, this North Wind has some active defensive measures. For example, on the lower deck on both sides of the ship's side, there is an armored ear platform, and a magic artillery that can rotate 180 degrees is placed in each ear platform.

In addition, the ship also placed six state-of-the-art 76mm tube retreats on each side of the lower deck.

"In fact, at the beginning, this ship had more weapons than this." Baron Surrey explained watching Lawrence staring curiously at the armored version of the 120mm gun on the ear stage.

"In addition to the current armament, there were ten 76mm guns on the upper deck where we were at that time, but they were later removed."

"Removed? Is this because this route is safer than in the past?" Lawrence looked at the artillery below with curiosity and asked Baron Surrey.

"Almost, at least this route is indeed safer than in the past." After being asked by Lawrence, Baron Surrey was taken aback for a moment, and then said.

"Because just 7 years ago, there was a Northern Barracuda Kingdom that had to abandon its homeland because the submarine volcano went out. And the new homeland they found happened to be on this route."

"So we quickly got in touch with them and asked them to help provide adequate cover for a large part of the northern route at the cost of providing all the materials they needed."

"And the development of my territory is also related to the migration of this underwater country. It is precisely because of the existence of this murloc kingdom that the territory I am in has development value."

"Understood." Lawrence nodded. He knew that what this territory called Surrey produced was coal, after all, a commodity with a very low unit value. If, as in the past, the route could only be run by advanced transcendents or magic ships, the cost would offset this. All the advantages of a coal mine.

"However, there is actually another important reason for the reduction of the artillery of this ship, that is, when the ship is traveling on the northern route, the waves on the deck are too serious." Viscount Surrey pointed to the guns that were dismantled on the upper deck. Bit explained.

"In those areas where the sea conditions are relatively bad, a lot of seawater will rush up to the deck and freeze when the ship is moving. In this way, the upper artillery is no different from the furnishings."

"Therefore, after more than a year of testing, the shipping company simply cancelled the upper-level artillery and the supporting ammunition depot. This will not only transport more supplies, but also lower the center of gravity to make the ship more stable."

"The most important thing is that in this way the total displacement of the vessel will be reduced, which in turn can increase the speed by nearly one knot compared to the past. This is more conducive to the safety of the vessel's navigation."

Just as Lawrence and the others were talking about something about the ship, a whistle sounded. Then the steam sailing ship called the North Wind was pushed out of the port area under the push of a port steam barge.

After leaving the port, the North Wind quickly ignited the steam engine and raised its sails, and then drove towards the east like an arrow leaving the string.

When traveling in lakes and rivers, the boat was only half-sailed in consideration of safety issues, and the boiler was not driven to its maximum power.

However, when the entire ship left the Hudson River mouth and sailed into the northern waters, the North Wind immediately covered its sails and drove the ship's steam engine to its maximum power.

"How long will it take to get to the destination?" Lawrence asked Viscount Surrey as he watched the large number of waves from the fast sailing ship smash on the bow and form piles of white foam.

"If all goes well, only three days will be enough." The Viscount whispered. "Because this ship can sail with high power throughout the entire journey, and now our wind is downwind, we should be able to reach my territory in the shortest time."

Because the temperature is really low this season, Lawrence and Mr. Viscount mainly discussed various details about his territory on the next voyage.

In just three days, the two people compiled more than 30 pages of documents about this territory.

"I finally know how you changed your island almost completely in less than a year." When I was standing on the bow of the ship, I could see the island of the target. Viscount Surrey said to Lawrence while packing up the papers.

"Seriously, the details we have compiled in the past three days are almost the same as the details about the territory that I have compiled in the previous three years."

"The most important thing is that you also put forward several directions that are very important to the territory, but I have never considered before. Seriously, this reminds me that as a lord, there are still many obvious things. defect."

"This is actually caused by our different backgrounds." Lawrence shrugged and said, "So when we look at problems, we naturally have different views on the same thing, and we will draw different opinions from different angles. ."

"For example, regarding the next development of your island, you did consider the issue of sustainable development. But you ignored the ordinary people's thinking about your plan."

"Yes, as aristocrats, we have the right to give orders to our leaders. But at least I think that when formulating these policies related to them, it is best to let them know what we are going to do next, so that we can do it. Government orders are smooth, and at the same time, unnecessary obstacles can be reduced as much as possible."

The gap between aristocrats and aristocrats even exceeds the overall gap between aristocrats and ordinary people. Some aristocrats despise life and death of their people, but some think that leading them to live a good life is a nobleman. Core Responsibilities ~lightnovelpub.net~ The Viscount Surrey is naturally of the latter type, but because of the problem of background, there is too much idealism in the face of difficulties in this area, so naturally there are some loopholes in the plan. Therefore, when Lawrence put forward some of his own points, he showed excitement.

"But these are just minor issues. The real core is whether you have that kind of heart." Lawrence said to Viscount Surrey with a smile.

"For example, I don't really understand the industrial layout on my island, but I can go to the agricultural church to help me complete such a similarly formulated plan."

"You're right, but the members of the Agricultural Church are not so nice, please—" Viscount Surrey smiled bitterly. Although he is a nobleman, this marginalized nobleman really lacks enough contacts, so it is difficult to find some church members to help.

In particular, his territory itself is not very good at developing agriculture, which further increases the difficulty of inviting agricultural church members.

"I can help you." Lawrence shrugged and said, "At least I have a very good relationship with the agricultural church. I should be able to help you invite a work team from the agricultural church to come to you."