freenovelworld Chapter 523 The First Steam Engine Successfully Built
Chapter 523 The First Steam Engine Successfully Built
Time flies, and the year 224 BC has passed in the blink of an eye, and before we know it, we are entering the countdown.
In the capital city of Chu, Ying, the General's mansion was quiet, with Xiang Yan sitting alone in his study.
Since returning to the State of Chu, he had faced exclusion and suppression from all sides. Initially, Xiang Yan chose to endure it, hoping to make amends for his past mistakes by achieving merit and regain the approval of the people. However, as time went by, this exclusion did not gradually dissipate as he wished; instead, it became increasingly intense, sweeping in like a violent storm.
Today, Xiang Yan has long lost his former vigor and radiance. His face is shrouded in fatigue, his eyes have become dull and lifeless, and he appears listless and dispirited.
He sat quietly at his desk, motionless. His mind kept asking himself: What else could he do? How many people would support him?
Xiang Yan felt as if she were in a fog, unable to find her way forward.
Meanwhile, in Xianyang, thousands of miles away, Ying Wuyou, who was ten years old (by Chinese reckoning), reaped a bountiful harvest.
At this moment, Ying Wuyou was standing in a heavily guarded workshop outside the city. In front of her was a metal contraption with a somewhat crude and bulky design: cylinder, piston, connecting rod, flywheel... assembled into a device that would be considered bizarre by modern eyes.
This is the first experimental steam engine that can operate continuously and stably, which was created by Lu Sheng, who led the Mohist elites and skilled craftsmen, and after more than a year of painstaking efforts, repeated experiments, failures and more experiments!
"Your Highness, please watch carefully." Lu Sheng's voice trembled slightly with excitement as he stepped forward to operate the equipment. As the furnace roared, the water inside the boiler gradually boiled, and steam was drawn into the cylinder, pushing the piston. The connecting rod moved accordingly, causing the flywheel to begin rotating, and its speed gradually increased, emitting a deep and powerful "clang, clang" sound. An unprecedented energy, seemingly containing the power to split mountains and shatter rocks, pulsated rhythmically in this roar.
"Success!" Ying Wuyou cheered inwardly, her emotions surging like a turbulent sea, unable to calm down for a long time. So excited, she could even clearly feel her heart pounding, a strong and powerful rhythm, like the beating of a war drum, each beat resonating in her soul.
Her gaze was fixed on the spinning flywheel. The flywheel spun rapidly, creating a faint whistling sound, as if announcing its existence and power to the world.
Ying Wuyou's eyes were fixed on the flywheel, afraid of missing a single moment, because in her eyes, this flywheel was not just a simple mechanical device, but a key to the future.
Through the spinning flywheel, Ying Wuyou saw a future full of infinite possibilities. In that future, the train was like a roaring beast, speeding across mountains and plains, leaving behind a trail of dust and shock wherever it went;
Huge ships cleave through the turbulent ocean, no longer relying on fragile sails, but forging ahead with powerful engines; in countless factories, machines roar day and night, products are continuously manufactured on the production lines, driving social progress and development.
In the future, productivity will explode at an unprecedented rate, bringing about earth-shattering changes to human life. And all of this will begin from this moment, from this small flywheel. It is like the dawn before sunrise, faint yet enough to pierce through layers of historical mist, illuminating the ancient Qin Dynasty and leading this nation into a brand new era.
An indescribable excitement surged through her, almost making Ying Wuyou cheer. However, this excitement lasted only a moment before being replaced by more complex and profound emotions, leaving her with a mix of feelings.
She understood better than anyone else in her time that this "clang" was not just a revolution in power, but also the prelude to a series of dramatic social changes.
Behind the towering chimneys may lie environmental pollution; the rise of factories will inevitably impact the existing agricultural economic structure; the primitive accumulation of capital is often accompanied by unimaginable cruelty... Was the promotion of the Industrial Revolution right or wrong for this land and for these people? She couldn't help but ask herself.
But this hesitation only lingered in her mind for a moment before being replaced by a more steadfast belief.
"For the Qin Dynasty to rise and truly become powerful, industry is an indispensable path," she murmured to herself. Stagnation would only lead to a repetition of historical mistakes. Only by mastering greater productive forces could they support a stronger national defense, create a more prosperous society, and meet the various challenges that the future might present.
However, she was also well aware that: "Agriculture is the foundation of the country and the lifeline of the people. Without agriculture, there is no stability; without food, there is chaos."
She raised her head, the childlike elation gone from her face, replaced by a composure and wisdom beyond her years. Smiling, she addressed the excited craftsmen beside her, including Xu Fu and Lu Sheng, saying loudly, "The merit of this work will benefit generations to come! Thank you all for your hard work; everyone involved will be richly rewarded!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of enthusiastic cheers and applause erupted from the audience, and everyone's faces were filled with excitement and joy.
However, amidst this jubilation, the most excited person was Lu Sheng. He had been overjoyed, believing that once the King of Qin consumed the elixir he had refined, it would surely bring him great success and a meteoric rise in rank.
Unexpectedly, instead of gaining a chance to rise to prominence, he was severely punished and then given to Princess Jiayang while he was half-dead.
When he learned the news amidst the pain, he was filled with despair. He was certain he was going to die, and die a horrible death at that.
However, fate is always full of dramatic twists. Just when Lu Sheng was feeling disheartened, Princess Jiayang showed him her appreciation. She not only taught Lu Sheng and others about chemistry, but also gathered this group of alchemists together, encouraging them to engage in various inventions and creations.
Lu Sheng initially knew nothing about chemistry, but with the little princess's patient explanations and guidance, he gradually discovered that he had developed a strong interest in the subject. Those tricks he once used to deceive people now had scientific principles and explanations within the world of chemistry.
Gradually, Lu Sheng became completely immersed in the wonderful world of chemistry, unable to extricate himself. He studied various chemical phenomena and reactions day and night, constantly exploring their mysteries.
Finally, after countless trials and failures, Lu Sheng's steam engine experiment was a success! At that moment, he was filled with a sense of accomplishment and joy, as if the whole world was cheering for him.
His eyes were filled with gratitude as he looked at Ying Wuyou.