Chapter 148 Hope Polytechnic: Knowledge Changes Destiny - Lin Yue...

Lin Yue was processing documents when Norm and old Herman rushed in carrying a stack of blueprints and parchment scrolls.

“Mayor,” Norm said, his voice trembling with excitement, “you must see these.”

Lin Yue put down his pen, looked at the two of them as if they had found a treasure, and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Have you sorted out the things in the cellar?"

“Yes,” Norm spread the drawings out on the table. “These are technical documents from the Old Kingdom period. You see, this is a drawing of the internal structure of a steam engine, along with detailed parameter annotations. Although I don’t quite understand many of the terms, the basic principles are the same as the model Uncle Stonefist built.”

Old Herman carefully unfurled several yellowed parchment scrolls: "Lord City Lord, please take another look at these."

Lin Yue leaned closer to take a look and immediately gasped in shock.

The parchment scrolls contained detailed anatomical diagrams of the human body. Bones, muscles, internal organs, and blood vessels were all clearly marked. Detailed textual descriptions were also included, recording the symptoms and treatments for various ailments.

"This is……"

“A case of human anatomy.” Old Herman’s voice trembled slightly. “Lord City Lord, do you know what this means? In our time, dissecting the human body is considered taboo; no one dares to study the internal structure of the human body. We treat illnesses entirely based on experience and guesswork. But these physicians of the ancient kingdoms had already…”

He couldn't continue, and only gently stroked the precious parchment scrolls with trembling fingers.

Norm continued, "Mayor, with this data, we can truly understand how the human body works. We'll also have a clearer understanding of how those invisible pathogenic microorganisms invade the body and damage organs."

Lin Yue nodded: "Who hid these things?"

“From what I’ve heard,” old Herman replied, “that area was originally the mansion of a fallen noble family. Their ancestors were craftsmen and healers in the ancient kingdom. After the kingdom fell, they took these documents with them and went into hiding, passing them down from generation to generation. Unfortunately, in recent generations, the family has fallen on hard times, and the descendants no longer recognize the value of these drawings, treating them as ancestral junk piled up in the cellar.”

"I never expected to find a treasure that had been lost for hundreds of years here."

He picked up a design drawing of a steam engine and examined it carefully. The drawing depicted a complete steam engine structure, far more complex than the model Shi Quan had made.

"These steam engine blueprints need to be sent to Hope Town as soon as possible," Lin Yue said. "Uncle Shi Quan is studying steam engines there. With these materials, we can definitely achieve twice the result with half the effort."

“What about the data on human anatomy?” Norm asked.

“These will remain in Blackrock City.” Lin Yue looked at old Herman. “Mr. Herman, you and Norm should study these medical documents carefully. Once the new medical center is built, this knowledge will be of great use.”

Old Herman nodded solemnly: "Rest assured, Lord City Lord, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

...

In Xiwang Town, at Shiquan's blacksmith shop, the furnace roared.

"What is this?" Shi Quan took the package from Ah Hu, opened it, and his eyes widened in surprise.

A thick stack of blueprints was filled with various mechanical structures, boilers, cylinders, pistons, valves, and every component was clearly labeled.

"The mayor asked me to bring this to you," Ah Hu said. "He said it was found in a cellar in the old town of Blackrock City. It's a document on steam engine technology from the Old Kingdom period."

Shi Quan was overjoyed, flipping through the blueprints one by one, constantly exclaiming in amazement.

"Great stuff, fantastic!" He exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. "Look here, the boiler design is far more ingenious than mine. And this valve, so that's how it controls the steam flow..."

He became more and more excited as he looked at it, and couldn't wait to start improving his steam engine model.

“Oh, right,” Ah Hu pulled another letter from his pocket, “the mayor also asked me to bring you a letter.”

Shi Quan took the letter, unfolded it, and read it.

The letter read:

"Uncle Shi Quan, these blueprints were an unexpected find, and I hope they will be helpful to your research. In addition, I plan to establish the first branch in Blackrock City, with Hope Institute of Technology as its core, to conduct large-scale, systematic talent training. The main institute's high-end engineering projects, especially the subsequent research and teaching of steam engines, will still rely on your leadership. Once your steam engine research is completed, I will need your continued attention to the teaching coordination between the main institute and the branch, as well as the selection of apprentices. —Lin Yue"

After reading the letter, Shi Quan grinned.

"This kid is pretty good at ordering people around."

He carefully put the letter away, then picked up the blueprints again, his eyes gleaming.

"Alright, let's get the steam engine working first."

...

At this moment, the Hope Polytechnic, located north of Hope Town, was also bustling with activity.

Since Lin Yue founded this unique academy that offers courses from kindergarten to correspondence courses for senior citizens, it has been steadily developing. From the initial literacy classes to various practical courses, the academy has grown larger and more renowned.

Now, Lin Yue has decided to give it a complete upgrade.

New enrollment notices have been posted all over the streets and alleys of Hope Town and Blackstone City:

[Announcement Regarding the Expansion of Hope Polytechnic and the Establishment of its Blackstone Branch]

To cultivate more construction talents, the college has decided to carry out a strategic upgrade:

Hope Town (Main Campus): Retaining and strengthening the original Hope Polytechnic name, it is positioned as a research and development center and a training base for senior engineers and researchers. Led by top craftsmen/scholars such as Master Shi Quan, it focuses on tackling and teaching cutting-edge projects such as steam engines, precision machinery, and new materials.

Blackstone City (Branch): The Hope Polytechnic Blackstone City Branch will be established, positioned as a large-scale training base for applied technology talents. The following departments will be initially established:

Engineering Department (Blackstone City Branch): Students learn basic forging, mechanical principles, and architectural construction techniques, aiming to supply outstanding talents to the main institute and cultivate intermediate-level craftsmen for society.

Department of Agronomy (Black Rock City Branch): Students learn about planting, animal husbandry, water conservancy, etc., and the department is led by Mr. Bard and his disciples.

The Medical School (Blackrock City Branch): Students learn medical skills, hygiene, and disease prevention. It is jointly overseen by Mr. Norm and Mr. Herman and is closely integrated with the Comprehensive Medical Center under construction.

Business Studies (Blackrock City Branch): Students learn arithmetic, bookkeeping, and business management skills. The department is led by Ms. Mia.

This large-scale recruitment drive is open to the public, primarily for students applying to the Blackrock City branch. The entrance exam is scheduled for seven days later in Blackrock City. Background and wealth are not considered; only talent and diligence will be valued.

After the news spread, people flocked to sign up.

Within just three days, the number of applicants exceeded 600, of which more than 90% were residents of Blackstone City and surrounding towns, and a few were outstanding young people sent by Hope Town for further study.

"So many people?" The clerk in charge of registration at Blackrock Square looked at the long queue with a mixture of surprise and delight.

“That’s right,” his companion laughed. “Who wouldn’t want to learn some real skills? We didn’t have the chance before, but now that Lord Lin has given us the opportunity, everyone is eager to take it.”

On the day of the entrance exam, the square in front of the Blackrock City Lord's Mansion was packed with people.

The exam content is very simple: basic arithmetic, simple reading and writing, and some practical operations. It doesn't require a lot of prior knowledge; it only assesses potential for learning.

Ultimately, 150 people were selected from more than 600 applicants to become the first batch of officially enrolled students of Hope Polytechnic.

These 150 people came from all walks of life, including a blacksmith's son, a farmer's daughter, a former beggar, and even a young man who had just been freed from slavery.

They came from different backgrounds, but they all had one thing in common: a thirst for knowledge and a determination to change their destiny.

However, attached to this official admission letter was a special preliminary notice.

"Future students," Mia announced to the 150 prospective students gathered in the square, holding their admission notices, "the new campus of the branch is still under construction. But the transmission of knowledge should not be delayed because of bricks and tiles."

She held up a plan personally drafted by Lin Yue: "From now until the completion of the new school building, you will enter the pre-enrollment stage. Three days a week, you will need to attend temporary classes designated by the City Lord's Mansion to learn school rules, basic arithmetic, and general literacy. This is not formal instruction, but rather to teach you how to learn before you step into the real academy."

“That’s how it should be,” shouted a young man who had once worked as a shop assistant. “Let’s establish the rules first, so that things don’t get chaotic later.”

“Yes,” a farmer’s daughter timidly echoed, “I…I’m worried that I don’t know many characters and can’t keep up with the teacher…”

Mia smiled and nodded: "That's exactly right. The academy is not only a place to learn a skill, but also a place to learn rules, broaden your horizons, and understand principles. By laying a solid foundation in advance, you will be able to devote yourself to real learning more quickly once the school buildings are completed and all the teachers are in place, so as not to waste time."

This arrangement was quickly understood and supported by the trainees. The next day, the first pre-school class began in a few cleared storerooms, with clerks from the city lord's mansion and several literate craftsmen temporarily serving as preparatory teachers.

The content is very simple: how to follow classroom rules, how to take care of public property, how to greet and ask teachers questions, and the most basic reading, writing and arithmetic.

For these young people, most of whom came from impoverished backgrounds, this content itself opened a small window to a new world for them. They studied with utmost seriousness; some even carried wooden slips with simple words written on them in their pockets, taking them out to recite several times during work breaks.

This enthusiasm for learning has become a new sight in Blackrock City. Adults often pass by the makeshift classrooms by chance, and when they see those young faces hunched over rough wooden tables, diligently drawing on sand trays with charcoal pencils, the corners of their mouths involuntarily turn up in a smile.

...

Hope Town Blacksmith Shop.

Ever since receiving the blueprints of the ancient kingdom, Stone Fist has been working like a man possessed, spending all his time in the shop day and night.

He disassembled and reassembled the steam engine model he had built, comparing it with the design of the ancient kingdom, and improved it little by little.

"The boiler needs to be thickened, otherwise it won't be able to withstand greater pressure..."

"The valve is not in the right position; it needs to be moved up three inches..."

"The piston's seal isn't good enough; we need to find a better material..."

He muttered to himself, but his hands never stopped moving.

The clanging sound of hammers striking steel echoed from morning till night, and from night till morning.

The young people who followed him to learn his skills suffered terribly from his torment, yet they did so willingly.

"Master Shi Quan, please take a rest. You haven't slept for three days."

"What rest?!" Shi Quan glared at him. "I've finally seen a glimmer of hope for success, I don't have time to sleep!"

As he spoke, he pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.

That was another set of drawings sent by Lin Yue, a design drawing for railway tracks.

The diagram shows in detail the specifications of the rails, the spacing of the sleepers, the structure of the turnouts, and even the reinforcement methods for the track joints.

“You need a locomotive, but you still need tracks for it to run,” Stone Fist muttered to himself. “That kid really thought of everything.”

He carefully put away the railway blueprints and continued to bury himself in studying the steam engine.

...

Two weeks later.

Lin Yue received a letter from Shi Quan from Hope Town.

The letter contained only one short line:

"The steam engine upgrade is complete, and the locomotive is being assembled. Come quickly!"

“Norm,” Lin Yue said to Norm, who was browsing medical literature, after reading the letter, “I have to go back to Hope Town. I’ll leave things here in Blackrock City to you and Mia.”

"Don't worry, Mayor." Norm nodded. "We'll keep an eye on the establishment of the clinic and the academy."

Lin Yue packed his bags, and together with Gray and several people in blue vests, embarked on the journey back to Hope Town.

...

When Lin Yue returned to Hope Town and entered the blacksmith shop, a huge machine was prominently displayed in the center of the shop.

It was a real steam engine, complete with a boiler, cylinders, pistons, crankshafts, connecting rods, and flywheel—all the components were already assembled. It was more than ten times larger than the previous model, and its entire body radiated the cold, metallic sheen of steel.

Next to the steam engine, there was a chassis being assembled. Four huge iron wheels were mounted on the chassis, and a short section of experimental rails ran beneath the wheels.

"You're here?" Shi Quan crawled out from under the frame, his face covered in grease.

"This is... a locomotive?" Lin Yue walked forward and circled the machine.

"Just one last step." Shi Quan patted the chassis. "Put the steam engine on, connect the transmission system, and we'll be all done."

How long will it take?

"Three days," Stone Fist said confidently. "I guarantee it'll be running within three days!"

Lin Yue nodded, his gaze falling on the steam engine.

Just then, he felt a weight on his shoulder. Little Black had jumped up at some point and was lazily perched on his shoulder.

"Little Black, look, Uncle Stone Fist is almost there." Lin Yue reached out and patted its head.

Little Black yawned, its golden eyes narrowing slightly.

It's alright, a bit faster than I expected.

Lin Yue didn't respond. Xiao Hei was sharp-tongued, but he cared about these things more than anyone else.

Just a few days ago, he accidentally unlocked a limited-time offer in the system shop. The [Steam Engine Transmission System Optimization Solution], which originally required a large number of points to redeem, was discounted by Xiao Hei to 90% off under the guise of inventory clearance.

Lin Yue spent the entire night copying the plan from the system, and then had Ah Hu deliver it to Shi Quan overnight.

“Oh, right,” Stone Fist suddenly remembered something, “this locomotive needs a name, right?”

Lin Yue thought for a moment: "How about the Pioneer?"

“The Pioneer…” Stone Fist read it aloud, then nodded vigorously, “Good name, let’s call it that!”

He turned and shouted at his apprentices:

"Get yourselves ready, all of you! Get the Pioneer up and running within three days!"

"good!"

The clanging and hammering sounds rang out again from the blacksmith's shop.