Novels online

Chapter 269: In the 18th Century, Talent is Paramount!

"You've done an excellent job," Joseph said, looking at Murdoch and lavishing praise. "Your highly effective work has brought much-needed irrigation water to hundreds of parishes, driving numerous mills and allowing them to operate even when the rivers froze last winter.

"You and the United Steam Engine Company are widely acclaimed by all Frenchmen, myself included. In fact, my admiration for you surpasses anyone else's."

Though he exaggerated slightly, Murdoch truly deserved the praise.

In just under half a year, he had helped the United Steam Engine Company complete its entire steam engine production line. To date, the LJ15 15-horsepower steam engines produced were highly mature, with a failure rate very close to Watt's comparable products.

Moreover, at Joseph's request, Murdoch had also achieved a more compact design for the LJ15. Excluding the water tank and other accessories, it could be towed around anywhere by a single donkey cart. In this regard, he even surpassed Watt.

It proved that he hadn't been boasting back then; he truly was a world-class technician.

Murdoch's face flushed with pride from the compliments. He immediately bowed with a hand on his chest, saying, "It is my utmost honor to receive your affirmation. Please believe me, I will ensure the United Steam Engine Company reaches even more glorious heights!"

He paused, then raised his voice: "A glory that will surpass the Boulton-Watt Company!"

Joseph felt a slight urge to laugh at his words. 'Just how deep was this technician's grudge against Watt?'

A mischievous thought suddenly occurred to him: 'If a life-sized portrait of a stern-faced Watt were hung in Murdoch's office, wouldn't it boost the latter's work efficiency by several tens of percent?'

Sandor, standing nearby, interjected: "Your Highness, we are actually already on the path to surpassing them."

He exchanged a glance with Murdoch: "Our latest high-pressure steam engine, the LJ26H prototype, completed testing two months ago. It operated continuously for over 60 hours and reached a power output of 26 horsepower!"

"Excellent!" Even though Joseph had heard the news before, hearing it again now still filled him with joy. High-pressure steam engines were truly the way of the future, a powerful tool that genuinely increased thermal efficiency.

And higher thermal efficiency meant consuming less coal and accomplishing more!

Due to Watt's conservatism and stubbornness, he had always been unwilling to embrace high-pressure steam engines. Thus, in this field, France had already advanced ahead of Britain.

Murdoch added: "Your Highness, we have largely completed the preparations for mass production of the LJ26H. We expect to begin production and sales early next month."

As they spoke, the rail car arrived before the main entrance of the United Steam Engine Company.

Joseph wanted to see the latest model of the high-pressure steam engine, so he disembarked there.

Inside the company, a bustling and vibrant scene unfolded. Artisans continuously moved materials into the workshops. Everywhere, there was the clang and clatter of metalworking—in this era, machinery was still primarily crafted by hand.

Of course, there were also the grating 'zzz-zzz' sounds emanating from drilling machines and milling machines, intermingling with the workers' shouts, together forming a rugged and fervent symphony of the Steam Age.

The workers merely cast a curious glance at the lavishly dressed visitors, then, urged on by their foremen, resumed their busy tasks.

Most of them had been hired only in the past six months and had never seen the Crown Prince.

Murdoch led Joseph to the company's eastern "Second Assembly Plant." There, a steam engine taller than a man stood. It was noticeably larger than the LJ15, and several artisans were busy around it.

After Murdoch learned of the Crown Prince's impending arrival, he had instructed them to start firing up the boiler. Now, he stepped forward to check the pressure gauge, asked a few questions of the nearby artisans, and then personally began operating it.

More than ten minutes later, the LJ26H hissed out a puff of white smoke, and its piston slowly began to move.

The massive iron flywheel, serving as a load, began to rotate, and as coal blocks were continuously fed into the furnace, its rotational speed steadily increased.

Murdoch watched the smoothly operating machine, then turned proudly to Joseph and said: "Your Highness, now that reliable high-pressure steam engine technology is mature, John and I plan to scale it up. We aim to create a 'monster' exceeding 50 horsepower!"

Once high-pressure steam engine technology matured, scaling it up wasn't particularly difficult. The main challenges were the casting and pressure testing of components like boilers and cylinders, as well as redesigning valves and similar parts.

Joseph's heart was immediately stirred by the news.

It's important to note that if a steam engine's output could reach 100 horsepower, then with three to four such units installed simultaneously, it could power the warships of this era!

Even without such high power, a slightly smaller step, reaching around 70 horsepower, would be sufficient power for paddle steamers on inland waterways.

That would be a transportation revolution!

While paddle steamers wouldn't boost productivity as dramatically as trains, in Western Europe, with its dense network of inland waterways, the improvement would still be very significant.

If the Rhine River waterway were also incorporated, French goods could be transported in large quantities to the German region for sale at extremely low freight costs.

This would bring immense profits to France!

However, after careful deliberation, Joseph decided to put the large high-pressure steam engine project on hold for a while.

Murdoch had other important uses. Gas lamps might have a slightly lesser impact than paddle steamers, but they were also much simpler and would yield results faster.

Joseph couldn't help but sigh. 'If only there were a few more talents like Murdoch.' 'Unfortunately, he had only found one.'

He raised a hand and gently pressed it downwards, interrupting Murdoch's enthusiastic speech: "Actually, I have a very important matter that I need you to attend to as soon as possible."

"Ah? Yes, Your Highness, please give your command."

Joseph gestured for him to enter the adjacent office. Once the door was closed, cutting off the steam engine's noise, he began: "I plan to install gas streetlights on all the streets of Paris. Yes, exactly as you once mentioned: the combustible gas produced from coal. We can use it to illuminate the streetlights."

Though Murdoch was more eager to develop his large-scale steam engine, hearing about illuminating all the streets of Paris couldn't help but pique his interest.

"But, Your Highness, I do possess the technology for distilling coal to obtain gas. Oh, and I've even filed a patent for it in Paris. However, there isn't yet a suitable lamp that can utilize it."

"This is where I need you to showcase your talents," Joseph said with a faint smile. "I believe this won't be a difficult task for you."

He thought to himself, 'If I just get you to come up with your invention two or three years early, and offer a generous enough bonus, it shouldn't be a problem, right?'

"I do have some ideas..." Murdoch unconsciously rubbed his hands. After a moment of thought, he looked up and declared, "Alright, Your Highness, I will definitely get this thing built as quickly as possible!"

Joseph nodded in satisfaction: "I will establish a gas lamp company. We can purchase your patent, or you could invest in the company with your patent as equity. Oh, and the company's investment will be around 3 million livres."