If this doesn't count as a god, then what does?

This was the thought in the minds of the palace maids and eunuchs present. Even if Zhu Yunwen were to fly into the sky right now, they wouldn't find it strange.

Zhu Yunwen's success in getting the tricycle going meant he understood that his idea was correct and that he had figured out the principle behind it.

With a smile, he turned the valve, preventing steam from entering the steam engine, and then squeezed the brake, bringing the vehicle to a stop.

After turning off the steam engine, Zhu Yunwen got off the tricycle, nodded in satisfaction, and said:

"It's finally a success. It seems that having some knowledge in mind is ultimately a good thing. Now that we've succeeded, we can really manufacture all kinds of steam-powered vehicles and trains."

Although in later generations, cars used gasoline as their power source, that required the creation of an internal combustion engine, which was far too complex and sophisticated.

Although Zhu Yunwen knew a little about the principle, it was by no means easy for him to make it.

Even if he could draw the engine parts and diagrams, with the current level of industrial technology, it would be impossible to manufacture it.

On the contrary, it's dangerous.

In comparison, the coal-fired steam engine in front of us is much simpler and safer.

It only requires burning coal to generate power, so it might be affordable for ordinary people.

Moreover, if a gas engine were to be created, it wouldn't require real air, but rather gasoline.

Although some oil can be extracted in certain places in today's society, it is still too troublesome and far less simple than using coal.

One must walk one step at a time, and one must eat one bite at a time. Zhu Yunwen felt that he had already accomplished enough by creating a steam engine, which was already incredibly advanced for his time.

As for internal combustion engines, he still didn't dare to think about them.

Next, Zhu Yunwen started drawing a car model. After all, now that he had a steam engine, he couldn't just put it on a tricycle, could he?

Now that this thing has been invented, we have to get cars made.

So he drew a car model and depicted the arrangement of its parts.

Although it was relatively simple, it was still very good for people in ancient times.

Moreover, he demanded that the car be made of steel, since the Ming Dynasty now had rubber, and rubber wheels could fully support its weight.

With a small steam engine, it can easily accommodate several people.

The Ministry of Works has been really busy lately, constantly having to produce things that they had never even imagined, according to Zhu Yunwen's wishes.

However, they were also very capable. In just one week, they produced the small car that Zhu Yunwen had requested, which had some important parts made of steel.

To be honest, this thing is really simple.

The chassis is just a steel plate, which is very hard after being quenched.

Four wheels were installed under the steel plate. The wheel hubs were made of steel discs and covered with a thick layer of rubber, making them very sturdy. Springs were also installed on the four wheels to provide some shock absorption.

After all, these tires aren't inflatable, so the shock absorption isn't that good; you have to rely on springs for assistance.

Inside the vehicle, there were a few simple wooden chairs, and the exterior was covered with relatively thin sheet metal.

It has four small windows, plus two open openings at the front and back with wide views. However, since there is no glass, it would be too expensive to make one.

Therefore, the roof of the car had to be made larger in all directions to prevent the people inside from getting wet when it rains.

Since it's open on all sides and there's no glass, it's essentially like giving the car a roof to keep out the rain.

After all of this was made, the car was quite heavy, but because the important parts were all made of steel and sheet metal, it was also very sturdy.

At the back of the vehicle, Zhu Yunwen installed a steam engine and made a coal-fired steamer the size of a wooden barrel. The steamer was divided into two layers: the upper layer contained water, and the lower layer contained coal.

When setting off, the coal at the bottom is lit, and the water at the top turns into steam.

This is similar to a car's fuel tank.

The boiler's steam outlet is connected to the steam engine next to it. The steam engine is not very big, about the size of a small stool.

But it's enough.

After installing everything onto the car, Zhu Yunwen lit the coal in the boiler and then connected the steam control valve to the side of the driver's seat, controlling it with his foot.

Stepping all the way down is equivalent to opening all the valves, allowing all the steam in the steamer to rush into the steam engine.

Releasing the valve is equivalent to shutting off the steam, preventing it from entering the steam engine and causing it to leak directly into the air from the boiler opening.

Anyway, steam won't pollute the environment; at most, burning coal might cause a little pollution.

After everything was prepared, Zhu Yunwen sat in the driver's seat of the car. As the coal burned and enough steam was generated, he gently stepped on the valve to introduce steam into the steam engine.

The engine starts, the pistons move, and the connecting rods move back and forth, driving the bearings and making the wheels turn.

And so, under Zhu Yunwen's control, the little car slowly started moving.

He also turned the steering wheel to control the two front wheels to steer. At first, he was quite slow, since the thing was newly made and he wasn't familiar with it yet.

But as they drove it, they became more familiar with it, and since it was very safe with no hidden dangers, they drove it directly around the East Palace and then out of the East Palace, heading straight for Zhu Yuanzhang's study.

Wherever it went, everyone stared in disbelief at this thing they didn't recognize.