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Chapter 336: What to Invent

Unlocking women's productive potential was undoubtedly essential.

With wars decimating the male population, if women weren't brought into the workforce, society's productivity would struggle to rebound quickly. This wasn't just a truth in the late Ming; it held true in modern and contemporary eras too.

After the liberation movement, didn't our nation likewise rally behind the slogan, "Women hold up half the sky," to boost productivity?

Li Daoxuan understood that in this current iteration of the Great Ming, propped up by his divine interventions supplying food and resources, productivity was still manageable. Yet, if some unforeseen event forced him to cease his aid, this miniature world, freshly scarred by war, would absolutely require both men and women to strive together to rebuild its productive capacity.

Men alone certainly wouldn't be enough! After such widespread chaos and monumental conflicts, how many men would truly remain?

Thus, he preemptively offered a dose of "chicken soup for the soul," planting the seeds of "emancipation of thought" in the women's hearts. This was crucial; they needed time to slowly grow and adapt.

"Yiye, come here."

Gao Yiye, recognizing she was meant to relay a message, swiftly emerged from the Heavenly Lord Fabric Manor, following Li Daoxuan's instructions. She made her way to the school, ascended directly to the fifth floor, and entered the library.

The library's atmosphere was, as usual, a delightful mess, with manuscript pages scattered everywhere.

Young Master Bai was now preparing to teach "physics class" to the children. A portion of the faster-progressing students had already mastered "Elementary Math" and were now advancing to the "Middle School" level, ready to begin "Physics." Naturally, Young Master Bai couldn't spend his days with Song Yingxing in the library tinkering with odd contraptions.

As Gao Yiye entered the library, Song Yingxing was hunched over, sprawled on the floor, sketching and scribbling on a massive sheet of paper.

Li Daoxuan focused his gaze, realizing Song Yingxing was sketching an "electric toy train."

"This is utterly unscientific!" Song Yingxing declared, shaking his head as he sketched. "This contraption is fundamentally flawed. It could never actually move; its sheer mass would cause it to tear itself apart. How could it possibly function?"

Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Tell Mister Song that I conjured it with my divine magic; it simply doesn't adhere to mortal physics."

Gao Yiye relayed the message.

Song Yingxing gasped, leaping from the floor. "Saintess, when did you arrive?"

Gao Yiye replied, "I've been here for a while now, and the Heavenly Lord has been observing for some time. Seeing you immersed in your drawing, we chose not to disturb you."

Song Yingxing's expression turned sheepish. "Ahem... I'm utterly fascinated by this electric toy train, but alas... it simply isn't something one could construct by strictly applying physics."

Gao Yiye smiled. "The Heavenly Lord is a deity, after all. Deities abide by 'divine principles,' not 'physical laws.'"

A perfect explanation!

Song Yingxing no longer seemed troubled. "What matter does the Heavenly Lord wish to discuss?"

Li Daoxuan asked, "Are you familiar with the method for crafting a Red Barbarian Cannon?"

Song Yingxing paused, surprised. "I am indeed familiar with its construction, but... why would our village need to forge such a weapon? This is a firearm designed for large-scale warfare or prolonged sieges. To merely repel bandits, our flintlock rifles and hand grenades suffice."

Li Daoxuan replied, "Oh, just for the sheer joy of creation. Whether it proves useful or not, the pursuit of its craftsmanship and the technical research involved can only be beneficial."

While such a statement would ordinarily strain credulity, Song Yingxing harbored no doubts. He, too, delighted in concocting all manner of intricate, playful contraptions.

He produced a sheet of paper, seized his brush, and with swift, confident strokes, quickly rendered the complete schematics for a Red Barbarian Cannon.

Li Daoxuan remained silent, but Gao Yiye couldn't help but marvel, "Mister Song, just how many astonishing and peculiar things are you privy to? How is it that every time we inquire, you can produce the precise blueprints?"

Song Yingxing sighed. "The ability to merely transcribe these blueprints is no great feat. These are all inventions conceived by others; I simply replicate their designs. It is hardly impressive. If only I could invent something truly novel and interesting myself, alas...."

His voice faltered then, a touch of melancholy in his tone. "What I yearn to invent most right now is a train. If only I could construct the train that the Heavenly Lord conjured with divine magic, using purely mortal ingenuity, how magnificent that would be! Regrettably, I cannot conceive of any method to propel such an enormous vehicle."

Hearing his words, a thought sparked within Li Daoxuan. *So, he's pondering this now?*

For the late Ming Dynasty, this invention was certainly ahead of its time.

Given the technology and productive capacity of the late Ming, building a train was ambitious enough, but even if they *had* a train, sourcing the materials for railway tracks would be an insurmountable hurdle. With Ming mining techniques, where would they ever acquire enough iron to lay such extensive railways?

Fortunately, *he* was present! He could simply drop in a few massive ingots of iron, enough for them to pave railways from Australia to the Maldives.

Steam trains, in theory, now possessed sufficient technological prerequisites for their construction. However, if Li Daoxuan simply handed over the blueprints, Song Yingxing would again merely be "copying" rather than truly "inventing." This would be detrimental to fostering genuine scientific inspiration.

Better yet, he would provide only a core concept, and let Song Yingxing envision the rest for himself.

Li Daoxuan rummaged through his collection of modern gadgets and quickly unearthed an intriguing trifle: a "miniature steam engine." He had purchased the device from a popular online marketplace for a mere few tens of yuan; it stood only a few centimeters tall.

He simply placed this device directly on the rooftop of the school building. "Yiye, escort Mister Song to the rooftop and show him something remarkable."

Song Yingxing, following the instruction, ascended to the rooftop. His eyes immediately fell upon a colossal machine, fitted with intricate water pipes, peculiar large wheels...

Before Song Yingxing's very eyes, Li Daoxuan poured a measure of clear water into the machine's pipes, then ignited the alcohol lamp positioned beneath them.

A vibrant flame danced to life, heating the water within the pipes. In short order, the water reached a rolling boil, and steam surged through the conduits, engaging the massive wheel. The enormous wheel then began to spin with furious speed.

Li Daoxuan smiled faintly. "Do you comprehend its function?"

Song Yingxing watched, utterly enthralled. "I believe I comprehend now, I truly do... This is precisely what was taught in physics class: water, when heated, transforms into a gas. Because this gas is compressed within a confined space, it generates immense power, which then propels that great wheel into motion."

"Precisely!" Li Daoxuan affirmed. "This is a steam engine. Its principle is remarkably straightforward; you'll grasp it instantly. By harnessing a steam engine, you can drive wheels. And as for wheels, you've already learned the mechanics of gears. Using gears to transmit power can amplify force manifold."

Song Yingxing's eyes gleamed with profound understanding. "I comprehend, I truly comprehend now! Hahaha, this time I see it! Provided there's sufficient steam and an adequate number of wheels, I can set incredibly massive objects into motion!"

Li Daoxuan nodded. "Precisely. Now, delve into your research! With your extraordinary intellect and ingenuity, endeavor to invent something grand using this very principle."