“Sieman, your job is in the engine room. You should be observing every slight change in the steam engine, not partying on the deck!”

Upon hearing Qin Mo's words, Ximan bowed deeply to him and said sincerely, "Your Highness is right. Thank you for your guidance, which has allowed me to discover a completely new kind of power."

All the technicians paid homage to Qin Mo with admiration, and then followed Seaman down to the lower deck to take care of the precious steam engine.

In Qin Mo's previous life, when steam-powered sailing ships were first invented, the steam engine was not located in the lower deck, but was placed directly between the masts on the deck, driving the paddle wheels on both sides of the ship to provide power.

Moreover, because the enormous weight of the steam engine and the large amount of fuel it required occupied the ship's cargo space, for a long time the steam engine was only used as an auxiliary power source, and steam-powered sailing ships still relied on a full set of sails to provide power.

Qin Mo, who had an advantage, avoided those detours. Although in the early stages, steam-powered sailboats certainly wouldn't abandon sails, the efficient propeller was still a must.

"Your Highness, the boiler steam pressure is very stable, the steam engine is working perfectly, and there is not much leakage. Would you like to take a look?"

Ximan went to the captain's cabin to report to Qin Mo, but her face was full of smugness, as if to say, "My decision was right, come and praise me!"

"Syman, come find me when the storm gets bigger. I need to get some sleep now. Close the door for me!"

"Well....."

Ximan slammed the door shut and left, puzzled as to why Qin Mo was being so timid this time.

But just two hours later, Ximan knew what Qin Mo was worried about.

"Master Seaman, the steam pressure is fluctuating, and the steam engine is very unstable..."

"I see it, go check the safety valve..."

"We've already checked. The ship is rocking too violently; it frequently jams. We've sent people to manually depressurize it at any time, but the steam engine is still running at inconsistent speeds... and the sound is off..."

"You wait here, I'm going to find His Highness..."

Seaman was a dull engineer, not very good with words, but he was definitely not a stupid engineer; he knew who to turn to at this time.

After Qin Mo went down to the bottom cabin, he immediately instructed the stoker to reduce the firepower, and then gathered all the technicians together to give them a lecture.

"Do you think that simply putting a steam engine on a ship will turn a sailboat into a steamship? Have you considered the difference between marine steam engines and land-based steam engines?"

"The waves aren't even that big yet, and so many problems have already arisen. Why is that? Haven't you used your brains to consider why I had you conduct experiments on land for a year?"

Ignoring the embarrassment of the technicians, Qin Mo launched into a tirade against them before explaining the causes of the various malfunctions.

"Lubricating oil can naturally ensure lubrication in a stable working environment, but in this bumpy environment, it's probably all gone. What kind of lubrication are you talking about? Listen to the sound of a steam engine!"

"Rainwater from the chimney is seeping into the furnace. If your firepower is unstable, how can the pressure be stable?"

"Don't you think the shape of this steam engine is completely unsuitable for this ship? You've just crammed it in!"

"That's fine, but look at the mechanical support system you designed. It's already starting to loosen in these sea conditions. If you were in the eye of a storm... wouldn't the steam boiler just flip over like a carp?"

Qin Mo unleashed a torrent of scathing insults, taking down everyone from Seaman to the stoker, leaving only Allen unscathed.