Chapter 1052: Airship

The station was bustling with people, noisy and chaotic.

With the development of industry and commerce, the Great Song is now increasingly full of vitality.

The increased pace of life also makes the Song People unable to tolerate spending too much time on transportation, so they often choose to take the Steam Engine to their destinations.

After chatting with officials like Chang Wei for a while, Zhao Xu admired the busy scene at the station for a moment, then headed to the prince's mansion under the escort of Xu Lie.

The officials followed along and accompanied Zhao Xu for a while longer.

At this moment, Chang Wei thought of something, his expression excited, "Speaking of bleeding the Westerners in Tianzhu, we will soon have a sharp weapon for bloodletting. Taking advantage of this free time, we can just build some and equip the army."

Hearing this, Zhao Xu laughed softly.

On the way back, Xu Ke had mentioned it to him.

Actually, this is not some rare gadget; it is an advanced version of the Hot Air Balloon—the Airship.

The principle of the Hot Air Balloon is similar to the Kongming Lantern, utilizing the buoyancy generated by heating air.

The disadvantage is that the buoyancy is limited, it cannot carry too much weight, and its movement trajectory is seriously affected by wind.

This leads to the Hot Air Balloon only being able to undertake simple aerial tasks like reconnaissance or dropping leaflets.

As for tasks like aerial bombing that require precise dropping, it is basically incapable.

The Airship is different; it no longer needs to heat air, but requires gasbags filled with hydrogen.

Compared to the Hot Air Balloon, the volume of the Airship is very large, like a ship.

Such a large volume filled with hydrogen provides considerable buoyancy, and it can even have a huge gondola installed under the gasbag.

With a gondola, one can install a Steam Engine and propellers to generate power.

Then, this means the Airship can travel freely in the air.

But the Airship has both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage is that it is a qualified aircraft; due to the use of hydrogen gasbags and high buoyancy, it can stay in the air for a long time and can also undertake transport tasks.

Because it can control its direction, it can even be used in war.

During the First World War, the Germans once used Airships to bomb Lun Dun.

Besides this, the Airship can also play a role in laying Electric Wire lines; when encountering valleys, rivers, or dense forests, it can pull the wires across.

As for the disadvantage, it is that the speed is very slow, only able to maintain about twenty-four kilometers per hour.

Previously, the Great Song had always possessed the conditions to manufacture Airships.

But ever since it became possible to produce hydrogen on a large scale and manufacture Rubber products, all the conditions for building Airships were met.

This is also why the Research Institute is implementing the Airship as a research and construction project at this time.

And in the contemporary era, the development history of the Airship is roughly like this.

The earliest Airship began in 1784, but the Airships of this time were like the early Hot Air Balloons, only having a preliminary shape and unable to be put into use.

It was not until 1872, when conditions were met, that more formal Airships appeared.

And this time is exactly when the Electricity revolution began.

It matches the current level of development of the Great Song.

"When I am free, I will go to see the Airship at the Research Institute," Zhao Xu said.

Returning this time, he can stay in Yancheng for a long time.

After all, in the south, he has taken Malacca and the Piaoman Kingdom, which is equivalent to him building a solid defense line in the Southern Region similar to Yanguan.

This defense line can be used for both offense and defense, and has already given him an absolute advantage.

As for the Sam Country navy, once the Great Song Navy shrinks its battle line and deals with them specifically, it will be enough to handle them properly.

And in the direction of Tibet, Ashuer is just a watchdog, not worth worrying about.

Once Ma Han's White Tiger Army adapts to the high-altitude environment, they can take it down.

As for the direction of the Northern Di, there is even less need to mention it.

In short, the Great Song now occupies the initiative on all battle lines.

And the Ottoman Empire is currently still separated from the Great Song by the Northern Di.

Once Chen Hu finishes off the Northern Di and incorporates the territory of the Northern Di into the Great Song, it will not be too late to deal with them then.

After chatting for a while, Yang Feng suddenly coughed twice.

Liu Fu and Chang Wei understood, revealed ambiguous smiles, and rose to take their leave.

Zhao Xu understood.

Yang Feng was giving him some private space; at the moment, Yang Susu is pregnant.

Seeing the figures of the crowd disappear, Zhao Xu went to the bedchamber.

Yang Susu, along with Feng'er and Luan'er, had long been waiting for him before the palace gate; as soon as he arrived at Jinghai, he had sent a Telegraph to Yang Susu.

The three of them knew his itinerary.

"My Imperial Concubines, this prince has returned." Seeing the three, Zhao Xu smiled, opened his arms, and wanted to pull all three into his embrace.

Yang Susu glared at Zhao Xu, "His Highness has such a big appetite, wanting to swallow three at once?"

"Why not? This prince is in the prime of youth, one could say I am as vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger." Zhao Xu tilted his head, looking proud.

Hearing this, Luan'er covered her mouth and giggled.

Feng'er, however, boldly gave Zhao Xu a fiery look.

Yang Susu said, "His Highness's vigor should be saved for those two; this concubine will not accompany you."

While speaking, Yang Susu stroked her slightly protruding belly and shot Zhao Xu a sideways glance.

"The Princess is still the priority; let those two wash up and wait," Zhao Xu joked to Luan'er and Feng'er.

Immediately, he came to Yang Susu's side and gently stroked Yang Susu's abdomen.

Yang Susu then revealed a sweet smile, gently bumped into Zhao Xu, and acted coquettishly toward him.

Luan'er and Feng'er were made to blush deeply by Zhao Xu.

Knowing their place, Feng'er pulled Luan'er along, ready to leave, and after winking at Zhao Xu, she added, "Since that is the case, this concubine and Luan'er shall go wash up; we won't disturb His Highness and the Princess Consort."

Having said this, the two departed.

Zhao Xu chuckled twice, then entered the bedchamber with Yang Susu.

That night, the two naturally spoke many intimate words between husband and wife, chatting about quite a bit of gossip from after he went south, laughing and talking.

The next day, Zhao Xu went to Wuji Palace to see Mi Huanghou and Zhao Heng, and spoke of the war in the south.

Upon learning that all the nations of the Southern Region had submitted to Great Song and were henceforth vassal states of Great Song, Zhao Heng was overjoyed and showered Zhao Xu with more praise.

However, perhaps due to long-term indulgence in Wine and lust manifesting with his advancing age, Zhao Heng's energy was clearly not as good as before.

After chatting idly with Zhao Xu for a while, he said solemnly, "Xu, your Imperial Father's health is failing day by day; I only wish to spend my remaining years in comfort now. With so many vassal states in Great Song, the affairs of annual tribute and formal audiences will surely be numerous, and I fear I cannot cope. Therefore, I wish to formally abdicate the throne to you. You are in the prime of your youth and full of vigor, which can also manifest the supreme majesty of our Great Song Emperor."

"Your Imperial Father speaks from the heart; he has been planning this for a long time," Mi Huanghou said at this moment.

Zhao Xu was stunned for a moment, clearly not having expected this turn of events to occur.

He looked at Zhao Heng and saw that Zhao Heng's hair was almost entirely white, his face deeply wrinkled, and his speech listless.

His heart could not help but waver.

Then, he thought about how Great Song would face conflicts and clashes between nations in the future.

This also meant he would directly compete in intelligence and courage against the kings, queens, and emperors of various nations.

Perhaps acting with the title of Emperor of Great Song would carry more weight and save much trouble.

Thus, he nodded.

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