Chapter 149 The Roar of the Steel Beast and the Atmosphere in the A Tale of Two Cities Research Lab...
The atmosphere in the research lab was lively. Stonefist stood in the center, holding blueprints. Five young dwarf apprentices and several master blacksmiths surrounded him, while seven or eight top students selected from Hope Polytechnic sat opposite him. These young people had specialized in physics and mathematics, and were quick-witted and had strong comprehension skills.
“I still don’t understand,” Copper Axe scratched his head, looking puzzled. “I know that water turns into steam when it boils. But how can steam move such a heavy iron lump?”
“That’s right,” Firebeard nodded. “We dwarves have crafted countless intricate machines: water-powered mills, magic furnaces that draw elemental energy from magic arrays, and even giant transport wagons pulled by tamed magical beasts. But those either rely on natural forces or consume expensive energy stones. Steam… isn’t that just a stream of heat?”
“Let me explain.” A student from the engineering school stood up, walked to the blackboard, and drew a simple diagram. “According to what we’ve learned in school, gases expand when heated. Water turns into steam, and its volume can expand thousands of times. If we trap this steam in a sealed container…”
“The pressure will only increase,” another student chimed in, “like blowing up a balloon, the more you blow, the more inflated it gets. Except a metal can doesn’t burst like a balloon, so the pressure just keeps building up.”
Shi Quan's eyes lit up: "Right, then we'll make an opening so that the steam can only escape from the cylinder. Once the steam rushes out, it will push the piston."
"The linear motion of the piston is then converted into rotational motion through the crank and connecting rod," a blacksmith added. "This principle is actually similar to some machines, except that we use steam instead of expensive elemental cores."
“Speaking of which,” Iron Hammer suddenly spoke up, “the dwarves have a special alloy formula specifically for making components for high-temperature environments. If we use it to make the inner walls of cylinders, it should greatly reduce the problem of steam leakage.”
“And then there’s the sealing,” Stoneheart said, perking up. “When we forge precision gears, we use a special grease for lubrication and sealing. That grease is heat-resistant, so it might be useful on pistons too.”
Stone Fist laughed heartily: "See, that's right. Our dwarven craftsmanship combined with the innovative ideas of human artisans, and the theoretical knowledge of these lads from the science and engineering academy—what problem can't we solve together?"
The research room suddenly became lively, with everyone chiming in and expressing their opinions.
"So, are you ready?"
"Ready."
"Preliminary assembly preparations are complete. Two days left. Formal assembly will begin!"
Different knowledge and different experiences collide and merge in this small research room, sparking dazzling ideas.
Two days later, the Pioneer was finally assembled.
This behemoth sat quietly in the open space outside the shop, awaiting its debut. The boiler and frame were perfectly integrated, and the transmission system had been repeatedly adjusted, with every gear and every connecting rod fitting together seamlessly.
Stone Fist circled the locomotive three times, carefully wiping every joint with a cloth, as if he were caressing his own child.
"Master Stone Fist, is that enough?" Copper Axe asked from the side.
For the past three days, almost no one has slept. They carefully installed the steam engine onto the frame and checked it hundreds of times.
"Wait a little longer." Stone Fist squatted down to check the engagement of the wheels and rails. "This thing is not like the machines we used to build."
"Speaking of which, magic crystals are too expensive, and wind elemental cores are even rarer; ordinary people simply can't afford them. But everyone has water to boil, and coal is easy to mine. If this steam power could really be widely adopted..."
“That would be incredible.” Shi Xin’s eyes gleamed. “Ordinary people would also be able to use the power of machines.”
Shi Quan stood up, dusted off his hands, and said, "Enough talk, let's get ready for the test drive!"
...
The news had already spread throughout the entire town.
A large crowd had gathered in the open space outside the blacksmith's shop. Men, women, and children were all there; some were standing on tiptoe to peek inside, and some had even climbed up the nearby trees.
Lin Yue stood at the front of the crowd, with Gray and several students from the Polytechnic Institute beside him. These students had all participated in the research and development of the steam engine, and at this moment, they were all so nervous that their palms were sweating.
"Mayor, do you think it can succeed?" a student asked in a low voice.
“Trust Uncle Stone Fist.” Lin Yue’s gaze was calm. “If he says three days, then it’s three days.”
The Pioneer was pushed onto the test track.
Stone Fist climbed onto the control panel himself and took a deep breath.
"Add water,"
Two apprentices lifted buckets and poured clean water into the boiler.
"Add coal."
Black coal chunks were shoveled into the furnace, and flames rose, licking the bottom of the boiler.
The crowd gradually quieted down, everyone holding their breath and staring at the dark, iron behemoth.
The needle on the pressure gauge began to climb.
Thirty, forty, fifty...
The boiler emitted a deep rumble, like a sleeping giant awakening.
Sixty, seventy, eighty...
"Enough!" Stone Fist shouted, "Activate!"
He abruptly pulled down the main valve.
"Waaaaah—!"
A sharp whistle pierced the sky, making everyone's eardrums go numb.
Immediately afterwards, steam gushed out of the valve, the piston began to reciprocate, and the crank connecting rod drove the huge iron wheel to rotate slowly.
One lap, two laps, three laps...
It's getting faster and faster.
The entire locomotive started moving.
It glided forward along the rails, without horses pulling it or human labor pushing it, relying solely on the boiling steam in the boiler to run steadily.
It moved!
"Good heavens, it's moving by itself!"
"No lizard beasts! There really are no Pegasus!"
A gasp erupted from the crowd. Some jumped up in excitement, some backed away in fright, and several elderly people knelt down, thinking they had witnessed some miracle.
Lin Yue strode to the front of the crowd and called out:
"Fellow villagers, this is not a miracle, it is science, it is the power of steam."
"When water boils, it turns into steam, and the expansion of steam generates enormous pressure. We trap this pressure inside an iron canister and then let it burst out through a hole, which powers the machine."
"In the future, we can use it to haul goods and transport people. The journey from Hope Town to Blackstone City used to take two or three days, but with it, it will only take a few hours."
"How many clocks?" someone in the crowd exclaimed.
"You must be kidding! That's over two hundred miles!"
"Could the mayor be lying?"
...
"The Pioneer's test run was a success. The next step is to build the railway." Lin Yue pointed to the map on the wall. "From Hope Town to Blackstone City, it's more than 200 miles, and the project is quite large. But now it's late autumn, and the farmers in the surrounding villages have finished their work in the fields. The business of craftsmen and hunters has also slowed down, so it's a good time to recruit workers."
He looked at Mia: "You are in charge of recruiting workers in Blackrock City and organizing manpower to spread the factory from Blackrock City to this side."
"In addition, I have already written to Young Master Ryan, asking him to recruit some people from Bluestone City and Whitewater City. Young Master Ryan will be responsible for sending the people to the construction site, and we will be responsible for arranging their food and lodging along the way."
"How are your meals and lodging arranged?" Brother Li asked.
"Many farmers along the road from Hope Town to Black Stone City have built new houses recently. We can pay to rent their houses so that the workers can live there. This way, the farmers can earn extra income. But if they don't want to, we must not force them. If it's really necessary, they can build their own temporary housing."
"What about your wages?"
"Three copper coins a day, paid on the spot, three meals a day, with meat in every meal. If you work for ten days, you will be given a can of meat; if you work for twenty days, you will be given a bag of smoked meat and a jar of sauerkraut."
Ah Hu grinned: "With this kind of treatment, they'd probably fight tooth and nail for it."
“We need to make sure they’re eager to come.” Lin Yue’s gaze fell on the map. “We need to get this railway open before winter.”
"Before winter?" Li Ge was taken aback. "That's only a little over a month away."
"So we need a lot of people. Recruit in all three cities at the same time, so many people can work simultaneously, spreading out from both ends to the middle. As long as it's organized properly, we can keep up."
Li Ge gritted his teeth and said, "Okay, Mayor, don't worry, I'll risk my life to build this road for you."
“Okay,” Lin Yue slammed his hand on the table. “It’s settled then. We’ll start hiring tomorrow. But I don’t care about your life. My sister-in-law Tomia has been complaining to me lately that someone is so busy he’s never home.”
"Hahaha, she's the one who plays in the mud with Ella every day, leaving early and coming home late, so why are you blaming me? Once I'm done with this, I'll apply for a ten-day long leave and stay at home, I won't go anywhere."
"Ten days isn't enough, I'll give you twenty days."
...
As soon as the recruitment information was released, long lines immediately formed in front of the recruitment points in Blackrock City.
The cities of Qing Shi Cheng and Bai Shui Cheng were even more bustling. As soon as Ryan's men posted the notices, people flocked to sign up.
"Blackrock City and Hope Trading Company are jointly recruiting?"
"The wages are high, food and lodging are provided, and they even give out canned smoked meat."
"The goods from Hope Trading Company are something you can't buy here even if you have money. Being able to work for them would be a great thing."
In just three days, the number of people who signed up in the three cities combined exceeded one thousand.
Ryan dispatched a convoy to transport workers from Bluestone City and Whitewater City to the construction site in batches. Lin Yue, on the other hand, had contacted farmers along the route in advance, rented houses, and prepared bedding and cooking utensils.
With everything in place, the railway project officially commenced.
The construction site was bustling with activity.
"One, two—Go!"
A dozen strong men shouted slogans and worked together to lift a rail and place it steadily on the sleepers.
"Move it half an inch to the left, good! Nail it in!"
The hammer fell, the road spike pierced the wood, making a crisp sound.
One section after another, the railway tracks stretched into the distance.
Around noon, the gong sounded to signal the start of lunch.
The workers put down their tools and flocked to the canteen in small groups.
Several large pots were set up in the kitchen shed, steaming hot. One pot contained fluffy white rice, another braised pork with potatoes, and yet another sauerkraut with glass noodles, with large chunks of smoked meat nestled inside, the aroma wafting far and wide.
"Wow, this food is really generous."
A newly arrived farmer, holding a bowl, had tears welling up in his eyes.
“I’ve farmed all my life, and I’ve never seen such a big piece of meat during holidays.”
"New here, huh?" an older worker chuckled. "This is nothing. After you've worked ten days, you'll get a can of meat. That stuff sells for dozens of copper coins outside, and it's always in high demand."
...
After finishing work in the evening, the workers returned to the farmhouses where they had stayed.
There was a middle-aged couple living by the railway. The head of the household was named Ellie. Their red brick house was spacious and impressive, and this time it was rented to a group of workers from Bluestone City and Whitewater City.
In the courtyard, Ellie was sitting and chatting with several tenants. His wife was busy in the kitchen preparing dinner.
“Brother Elai, you’ve built such a grand house!” A young man from Blackrock City looked around. “Back in the city, only wealthy families could afford to live like this.”
Elley smiled憨厚ly and handed over a bowl of water: "Don't say that, it's all thanks to Hope Trading Company."
"Oh? What do you mean?" A young man from Qing Shi City came over.
Elle sighed, a mist welling up in his eyes: "It's a long story. My family has farmed this land for generations, but it's become increasingly difficult to cultivate since it came to me. A few years ago, there was a disaster, and we couldn't find anything to eat. My wife and I worked ourselves to the bone, but our two children still cried from hunger every day. That feeling..."
He paused, his throat tightening slightly.
"Later, a Hope Trading Company opened in the city. I still remember the day the first store officially opened, the whole city flocked there. My wife and I were dirt poor at the time, but we still gritted our teeth and went into the city with a few copper coins in our pockets."
"The shop was so bright and clean, and the shelves were full of good things we'd never seen before." Old Chen's eyes lit up. "My wife immediately took a liking to the snow-white refined salt. You wouldn't believe it, back then we used coarse salt, which was bitter, astringent, and expensive. She discussed with me, saying, 'Let's just buy two copper coins' worth, a little loose, enough to last us for several days.'"
He took a sip of water and continued, "Just as we were about to pay, my wife saw a small pile of golden-yellow snacks wrapped in oil paper—discounted honey-roasted potato chips. Touching the last coin, her eyes welled up with tears, and she said, 'Our young man has never eaten a decent snack in his life…'"
Elaine's voice choked up: "I was worried about the money, saying that we only had this one copper coin left, and we had to save it to buy wheat bran. But she said that the child was sensible and always gave food to his younger siblings first, so let the child have a taste this time."
“With our last few coins, we bought a pinch of salt and a small bag of potato chips.” Ellie wiped his eyes. “That night when we got home, we shared them with our three children. Our eldest son even declined, saying he wanted to save some for his parents and younger siblings… My wife held the children and cried, and my heart… felt both bittersweet and warm.”
He took a deep breath and smiled: "But it was from then on that things started to get better. The city lords sent people to the countryside to build irrigation canals, set up waterwheels, and teach us how to farm. The seeds were given away for free, and the harvest was even better than before."
“My wife later went to work in the textile factory of Hope Trading Company in the city, and she could bring back wages every month. When I wasn’t busy, I also did odd jobs on construction teams. By saving up like this, we built this house in less than a year. We even built it a bit bigger, thinking that when our children get married in the future, they will have a place to live.”
He patted the red brick wall beside him, his face full of pride.
"Look, with the railway construction underway, people are renting my house to the workers, which gives me extra income. Life is really looking up."
"That's right!" the young man from Blackrock City exclaimed. "Blackrock City is like a paradise now! So many houses have been built in the new district, and even poor people like us have been allocated some. Food and drink are cheap in the city, and there are plenty of good things at No. 1 Store."
“What I’m most proud of,” he lowered his voice, his eyes brimming with pride, “is that my kids can go to school now! Before, I never even dared to dream of it; reading and writing were only for men. Now, things are much better. Hope Town has set up a school, and Black Stone City has opened one too. As long as the kids are willing to learn, they can go in.”
"Really?" The young man from Qing Shi City stared wide-eyed.
“It’s absolutely true. My son goes to school with his schoolbag every day, and when he comes home, he reads the words from his books to me. I’ve been a father for most of my life and I’m illiterate, but my son can read and write. Isn’t this a dream?”
"Sigh—" A middle-aged man from Baishui City sighed, "We don't have that kind of luck back home. Goods from Blackstone City are so scarce that we can't even get them if we try. We've heard that the workshops here offer good benefits, and we'd like to come too, but it's too far away, and we're afraid we won't have a place to work if we come."
"The city lord organized us to come here this time, saying that Blackrock City and Hope Trading Company are building a railway together," another worker from Whitewater City chimed in. "We didn't know what a railway was, but as soon as we heard that Hope Trading Company was recruiting, we came without hesitation!"
“You’ve come at the right time,” Elley patted him on the shoulder. “Once the railway is finished, the trains will be running. They say it will only take a few hours to get from Hopetown to Blackrock. Maybe it will even extend to your Bluestone and Whitewater in the future.”
"That would be great."
Just as they were having a lively conversation, the sound of a gong came from afar.
"Dinner's ready! Dinner's ready!"
"Oh dear, we were so busy chatting that we forgot about the time," the young man from Blackrock City slapped his thigh. "Let's hurry up and get in line, or the braised pork won't be available in such large pieces."
Several people rushed to the food stall, afraid of being left behind.
Elle watched their retreating figures, then smiled and shook her head.
...
Time passed day by day.
The autumn wind grew colder and colder, and leaves fell to the ground one after another.
But the heat on the construction site didn't diminish at all.
The workers braved the cold wind and worked diligently, bringing them one step closer to their goal with each section of track they laid.
The teams that started from Hope Town and those that started from Blackrock City were like two giant dragons, advancing towards the middle from both ends simultaneously.
More than thirty days later, when the first light snow fell, the two teams met in a mountain valley.
"It's connected,"
"The railway is open!"
When the last spike was driven in, the entire construction site erupted in cheers.
The workers cheered and embraced as the long steel dragon finally stretched across more than 200 miles of land between Hope Town and Black Stone City before winter arrived.
...
Seven days later.
Hope Town Railway Station.
This is a newly built red brick building, and the platform is crowded with people.
Today marks the official opening of the Hope Railway, and it's also the first time ordinary people are riding a train.
The Pioneer train was parked at the platform, its body freshly painted black, gleaming in the sunlight. A red flag embroidered with the word "Hope" hung from the front, fluttering in the wind. Behind it were three carriages: two freight cars and one passenger car.
The doors to the passenger carriage were open, revealing brand-new wooden seats inside.
"This is a train?"
"What a huge thing!"
"Is that the one emitting smoke a boiler?"
The onlookers were abuzz with discussion, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"Fellow villagers," Lin Yue said loudly from the platform, "Today is the big day for the opening of the Hope Railway. From now on, Hope Town and Black Stone City will no longer be a two or three-day journey, but a matter of a few hours."
"Now, please have the first batch of passengers board!"
Passengers who had registered lined up and carefully entered the carriage.
An elderly man with gray hair was helped into the car by his son and sat down on the seat with trembling hands.
"Dad, sit tight," the son instructed.
"This...this chair is quite soft." The old man touched it with his hand. "It's better than the bench at home."
"The windows are made of glass!" a young woman nearby exclaimed. "Just like the windows in wealthy city homes."
The carriage quickly filled up, and everyone chatted excitedly, as if it were a festival.
"Waaaaah—!"
The whistle suddenly sounded, startling everyone.
"We're leaving! We're leaving!"
Hold on tight to the handrail.
The Pioneer slowly started moving and glided forward along the rails.
"It moved! It really moved?!"
"My goodness, this iron thing is really moving by itself!"
The carriage swayed slightly, and the scenery outside the window began to move, at first slowly, then faster and faster.
"Look, the tree is moving backward."
"The house is running too!"
"Quickly, it's about as fast as a griffin."
“Griffins can’t fly for that long.”
The passengers pressed their faces against the windows, their eyes wide open, watching the fields, forests, and hills rushing past outside.
The old man gripped the handrail tightly, his body stiff and his face pale.
"Dad, are you alright?" the son asked worriedly.
The old man didn't say a word, he just stared blankly out the window.
After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice trembling slightly:
“My son… I’ve lived my whole life… and never imagined… that a person could sit inside an iron contraption and run faster than a Pegasus…”
His eyes reddened, and tears welled up in his cloudy old eyes.
"This...this is a power only a creator god possesses..."
“Father, this is not a miracle,” the son laughed. “It was built by the city lord and his men. It’s called a steam engine. The steam from boiling water propels it.”
"The steam from boiling water..." the old man muttered, looking bewildered. "You can run around carrying such a huge iron thing just to boil water?"
"Yes, the college teachers said that this is called science."
The old man shook his head, a relieved smile spreading across his face: "Whatever it's called... anyway, your father has certainly seen something new in his life... I'll have to tell your mother about it when we get back, and bring her over for a visit another day..."
Similar conversations were heard one after another in the carriage.
Some people were so excited they were dancing with joy, some were so nervous they didn't dare to breathe, some were pointing out the window, and some were muttering to themselves with their eyes closed.
But everyone's face was filled with shock.
This was a speed they had never experienced before, a miracle they had never witnessed.
This moment will be etched in their memories forever.
...
More than six clocks later.
Blackstone City Railway Station.
The Trailblazer slowly pulled into the station, and the passengers on board were still in a daze.
"We're here? We're here already?"
"My God, it really only took a little over six hours!"
“Before, when I drove an oxcart, it took me three whole days to get from our village to Blackstone City. Now… now it’s even farther, but it only takes the time it takes to eat a meal…”
The passengers staggered off the bus, their legs still a little weak.
The crowd waiting on the platform immediately surrounded them.
What's it like to ride a train?
"Is it fast? Are you dizzy?"
The old man was surrounded by the crowd, so excited that he was incoherent:
"It's so fast, so fast. It's like flying. I looked out the window and all the trees and houses were rushing past, making my eyes blur."
Are you dizzy?
"I was a little scared at first, but then I got used to it. The chair was soft and quite comfortable. It's just... it was too fast. My old arms and legs aren't quite used to it yet..."
"Dad," the old man's son squeezed through the crowd, "you've been dawdling for so long, is it any good or not?"
The old man paused for a moment, then grinned:
"Great! That's wonderful! At my age, this is the first time I've ever seen such a rare item. Son, your mother is waiting at home. Quickly, go and bring her to sit down too."
...
From that day forward, the railway was officially operational.
Every morning, the Pioneer departs from Hopetown, fully loaded with goods and passengers, and heads towards Blackrock City; in the afternoon, it returns from Blackrock City, bringing back ores, timber, and various raw materials.
Travel between the two cities has never been so convenient.
The term "dual-city living" began to circulate between the two cities.
I work in Blackstone City in the morning and take the train back to Hope Town for dinner in the evening.
He lives in Hope Town, but does business in Blackstone City.
Things that were unthinkable before are now commonplace.
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