Chapter 352: Unleashing the Steam Engine
At Li Daoxuan’s question, the little people awkwardly lowered their heads.
Young Master Bai explained, “Heavenly Lord, the ‘steam engine’ you bestowed upon us is simply too massive. To get it burning, we needed enormous amounts of fuel. During our last experiment, we ran out, so everyone started throwing in anything combustible they could find... The result was a sky choked with black smoke.”
Hearing this, Li Daoxuan grasped the situation.
Initially, he had provided the little people with an “alcohol beaker” that contained more than half a bottle of alcohol, thinking it would last them a good while.
But he had underestimated the research fervor of Song Yingxing and Young Master Bai. Within days, these two had burned through all the alcohol. What were they to do for subsequent experiments?
Song Yingxing didn't have the bad habit of constantly begging the Heavenly Lord for everything, so he took it upon himself to source fuel. Wood, coal, dried grass... they gathered all sorts of miscellaneous combustibles.
To Li Daoxuan, that ‘thing’ was a miniature steam engine. But for the little people, it was a terrifyingly colossal machine. To fire up such a massive contraption, an immense quantity of fuel was required.
Naturally, with insufficient fuel, they resorted to burning anything they could! No wonder the sky was filled with black smoke.
Scientists throughout history have always been prone to eccentricities and unconventional experiments; this was simply unavoidable.
Having understood, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but burst into laughter. “As long as it didn’t catch fire, that’s what matters. So, tell me, is the steam engine fun?”
Song Yingxing replied excitedly, “More than just fun, it's utterly miraculous! With merely the power of boiling water, it can move enormous boulders. The power of this device could truly overturn the entire world!”
“Indeed!” Li Daoxuan affirmed. “It seems you've largely mastered its operation. By using gear sets to change the direction of force, you can transform the power of boiling water into various kinds of motion, thus driving all sorts of machinery. So, what did you first think of using it to power?”
Song Yingxing pondered for a moment. “I envision it moving all manner of heavy objects. It could be used to draw water from wells, grind grain, smelt metals, weave cloth... Anywhere mechanical motion is required, the steam engine could be employed.”
Li Daoxuan nodded. “Excellent.”
He then turned to Young Master Bai. “Young Master Bai, what thoughts have occurred to you?”
Young Master Bai chuckled. He gestured towards the distant electric toy train. “That strange, colossal vehicle was conjured by the Heavenly Lord’s divine power. Its motive force comes from batteries. I always wondered why it was called a ‘fire carriage’ by the Heavenly Lord, despite clearly having no fire. Only now, having seen the steam engine, do I understand. This steam engine is the perfect solution for powering a ‘fire carriage’! Install a steam engine in the front, burn fuel to provide power, and it will pull that enormous, unparalleled vehicle forward. Therefore, the Heavenly Lord must have intentionally named the celestial carriage a ‘fire carriage.’ That character for ‘fire’ was a hint, guiding me towards this very direction of research!”
Li Daoxuan thought to himself: *You absolute genius! You can even explain it *that* way? Your imagination is truly top-tier.*
Young Master Bai laughed excitedly. “We are mere mortals; we cannot conjure strange powers like the Heavenly Lord to drive such enormous vehicles. But this steam engine, it is a magnificent gift, bestowing upon us mortals a titanic strength! With proper application, we too can move mountains and drain seas!”
“Very good!” Li Daoxuan praised. “That's a fantastic direction. Continue your research along these lines. Shrinking this enormous steam engine, given your ingenuity, it shouldn't be difficult to reduce its size enough to fit into a ‘fire carriage.’ After that, let your creativity flow freely.”
Having said this, Li Daoxuan secretly praised Young Master Bai in his heart. While Song Yingxing was brilliant, he was older, and his flights of fancy weren't quite as bold. But Young Master Bai was still young, bold enough to dare to dream. He had thought of applying the steam engine to a ‘fire carriage’ before Song Yingxing.
Perhaps this was the advantage of youth!
“Young Master Bai, your imagination and creativity are truly outstanding. Keep nurturing them.”
“Oh, wow! The Heavenly Lord praised my son’s imagination and creativity!” Madam Bai suddenly appeared from somewhere. Overjoyed, she grabbed the person nearest to her and shook them vigorously. “The Heavenly Lord praised my son! The Heavenly Lord praised my son again! Hahahaha...”
From then on, Madam Bai bragged to everyone she met about the Heavenly Lord praising her son's imagination and creativity. She would boast about this for the rest of her life.
Young Master Bai thanked the Heavenly Lord, but immediately wore an awkward expression. “However... if we want to power a steam train, we'll need vast amounts of fuel. A single circuit of the train would likely consume an enormous quantity of coal. This is quite a vexing problem. Without the Heavenly Lord’s bestowed fuels, we'd be limited to burning coal or wood. Wood doesn't burn very efficiently, and while coal is effective, Gao Family Village has precious little of it.”
Li Daoxuan smiled. “What a coincidence! I was just about to discuss coal with you all. Yiye, set out at once. Take Thirty-Two with you to Heyang County. We’re going to get some coal from Heyang County.”
Yiye obediently assented and darted downstairs.
Qiu Ju and Dong Xue followed close behind her, calling out urgently, “Saintess, your face isn't even washed! You look like a little soot-covered cat!”
Yiye gasped, “Oh? Is my face very dirty?”
Qiu Ju said, “Just look at me.”
Yiye turned her head to look and burst into a giggle. “Qiu Ju, your face is completely covered in black soot!”
Qiu Ju retorted, “Saintess, so is yours!”
“Ah? Mine too?” Yiye panicked slightly. “Oh no, then the Heavenly Lord must have seen me looking so unsightly just now!”
Dong Xue nodded. “He did.”
Yiye tumbled to the ground with a soft thud, dramatically slumped to the floor.
“Go quickly and wash up, don't just flop around here!”
The two young women, Qiu and Dong, pulled Yiye to her feet. They dashed off, vanishing into the watchtower in a flash.
At this point, Li Daoxuan found it awkward to ‘focus’ on her any longer. He quickly shifted his ‘focus’ elsewhere and only returned his gaze a moment later.
Yiye emerged from the watchtower, now clean and refreshed, having bathed and changed. She wore a dignified and formal outfit, exuding the aura of a grand lady of the Li household.
The young woman had served as Saintess for three years now. Over these years, she had learned to read and write, acquired knowledge, listened to storytellers, watched plays, and experienced countless other things...
Knowledge bestowed a new demeanor, cleansing a person from within.
When she donned beautiful clothes and adopted a dignified posture, she already looked very much like a wealthy lady, no longer like before, where she could only sit silently without speaking.
With her preparing to depart, the Gao Family Village Militia had to mobilize immediately as well.
The Saintess's safety was no laughing matter.
The escort team also had to follow promptly. Padi Tu and Zheng Gouzi immediately led a hundred-man squad to accompany Yiye. Yiye and the two young women, Qiu and Dong, boarded a carriage. Thirty-Two mounted a tall, spirited horse, with the escort team flanking them. The procession set off towards Heyang County town.
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