Chapter 34 Steam Engine
After Alexi left, Hughes thought about it and called Connor.
"How is the blueprint I gave you before?"
"You mean the one with the 'steam engine'?"
"Yes."
"I found a blacksmith on the island, and he said that maybe I could try somewhere else, but he definitely couldn't make the 'cylinder' part."
"Tell me more about it."
"Okay," Connor recalled the experience of going to the blacksmith shop. "What a fantasy, pure fantasy!" The old blacksmith said angrily, "This iron barrel needs to be extremely smooth inside, and there must not be any seams that leak. This is impossible!"
"Do you mean, do you need some special tools?"
"No tool can make something like this. No matter where you take this blueprint, you won't be able to make it. This kind of thing requires a huge furnace to melt the steel and cast it. You might have a chance if you go to the Rhine. They have enough craftsmen there, and maybe they can make it if they work together. There are only me and my apprentice on this island, unless..."
"Unless you find a whole piece of iron and dig a hole in the middle, that would be almost the same."
"If that's the case."
"Impossible, at least not here. Not to mention what kind of thing can be used to dig a hole in the iron block, even if it can be dug, it's such a big piece that I may not be able to dig it out even after half a year."
"Besides, the other things on your blueprint are also ridiculous. For example, this pipe. I can bend a plate out of an iron plate, but it has to be connected tightly. Well, as you said - it can't leak."
"This requires an extremely high level of skill and a lot of luck. I don't know how many times I have failed before I can make a finished product."
"In short, you need a blacksmith from half of the Rhineland, and I'm just an old man here, and I can't make these things anyway."
Connor explained slowly to Hughes.
Hughes couldn't help but sigh. It was indeed too difficult to rub the steam engine by hand, and he didn't hold out too much hope.
However, the progress of industrialization was stuck. No matter how efficient his factory was, it could only remain at the level of manual manufacturing and could be considered a larger workshop at most.
He couldn't build a steam engine, let alone an internal combustion engine. Making a generator wasn't that difficult, but he didn't have a steam engine to generate electricity, so did he have to rely on hand cranking?
Most of the energy utilization of human beings is to boil water. He is stuck in boiling water, so no matter how much he thinks afterwards, it will all be empty talk.
The industrial foundation is too weak, no matter how many blueprints he has in his mind, it will be useless.
Think carefully, is there any good way? Pictures flashed through his mind. The church and the Rhine factory may have primitive steam engines, but it is difficult to buy them, not to mention how to transport them. Can he afford the money?
Besides, relying on buying steam engines for industrial development is not a good idea after all.
He did build a blast furnace in the manor, but he hadn't started testing it yet. Even if it was completely successful, it would take him a long time to get a lathe and a boring tool.
The most difficult part of industrial development is from zero to one, and he got stuck here.
This road is also blocked.
What if he followed the royal family's path? The royal family established the Gear Academy. Although he didn't know much about it, from the name, it should have what he wanted.
But this brings us back to the same situation. He might be able to get help from the royal family, but he will inevitably be swept up by the power of the royal family.
Well, consider it as a backup option. Being coerced by the royal family is better than being stuck here.
Is there any other solution?
Imperial Royal Jewel Bay.
Wait, he doesn't necessarily have to look for the forces that built the factories.
What he needs to solve is a problem that the steam engine cannot manufacture. So why not ask the magic?
Before in the sea, he had seen the Banshee casting spells to attack the murlocs. Could those magical spells be used to help him build a steam engine?
Although it was a bit too far-fetched to expect the banshee under the sea to master welding technology, it was something he could easily achieve at the moment.
"Connor, please go back first. Let me stay here for a while."
Zeus did not tell Connor about the Banshees, mainly because only Ash could come to the island now, and the other banshees were still living in the Abyss.
Alas, although they are his subjects, they are actually very far away from him.
Just as Zeus was about to communicate with Ash through the mind link, he suddenly frowned.
"The Symbiotic Contract is draining my life force? Ash is hurt!?"
Perhaps something unexpected had happened on the seabed, so Zeus stood up with some concern, and told Butler Connor not to disturb anyone else. Then he locked the study door, opened the secret passage skillfully, and walked down.
Soon after entering the secret passage, Zeus narrowed his eyes. Through his ability to sense water, he discovered that there seemed to be more than just Ash below.
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Fortunately, the smell is familiar, they should be banshees.
Judging from the number, it seems that their entire clan has come here. What exactly happened under the sea?
Xius frowned and quickened his pace.
After turning a few corners, the secret passage suddenly expanded into a huge cave with a large sea in the middle. Many banshees gathered in the water, forming a circle, talking about something with worried looks on their faces.
Ash was the first to feel the feedback from the contract. He turned to look at Zeus and gestured to the banshees behind him. The cave fell silent.
"what happened?"
"My lord, the pollution under the abyss suddenly erupted, we lost our home again, and..." Ash swam to the shore with a heavy face, and the banshees who gathered together also dispersed.
Zeus looked among the banshees. Although the environment was dim, he had the dark vision granted by the symbiotic contract and easily saw the familiar figure among the banshees.
"Monica!? Is she injured?" Xius walked over quickly and jumped into the sea without hesitation.
Except for Ash, the other banshees have not signed a symbiotic contract. Once they leave the sea, the pressure will instantly increase many times, and they can only float below the water surface.
As Zeus got closer, two banshees came over and said, "My Lord, please don't move forward. Monica..."
"She didn't have time to dodge and was badly injured and contaminated," Ash whispered.
Hughes looked at Monica. Her originally smooth scales had lost their luster and were no longer the vibrant emerald green.
Several hideous wounds stretched from her back to her neck, almost tearing her body in half.
Some strange black substances gathered on the wounds, like black leeches, making it impossible for the wounds to heal.
The surrounding banshees reached out their hands and touched the wound, and the wound gradually closed, showing a tendency to heal.
However, the skin and flesh that had begun to close immediately began to crack as soon as it touched the black substance, causing the wound to expand again.
Is this pollution? (End of this chapter)