Chapter 162: Flaunting Brilliant Displays |
Levi had to admit that this Steam Machinery Exposition was truly eye-opening and quite fascinating. The entire venue was primarily organized around the various nations of the continent.
Naturally, the Empire occupied the absolute center and the most prominent location, and the style of steam machinery from each country varied significantly.
As the birthplace of both the steam engine and the difference engine, the Empire had always maintained that true steam orthodoxy resided within its borders, making its core themes advancement, elegance, and nobility.
Simply put, when it came to steam engine and difference engine technology, the Empire absolutely refused to lag behind any other nation, and even being caught up to was entirely intolerable.
The Empire's strength was indeed formidable, but setting aside those steam mechas and aerial battleships, what Levi valued most was the innovation shown in the difference engines this time!
Levi didn't quite grasp the technical details of binary or decimal systems, but a certain revolutionary technology regarding the difference engine interfaces at the exhibition caught his attention.
The brand-new difference engine interface utilized a visualized display screen technology!
Although the interface was extremely rudimentary, Levi knew exactly how incredible it was. Previously, inputting programs into a difference engine felt like using DOS; you had to input commands yourself to drive the machine.
Now, this visual interface instantly transformed the programmatic input method into a more intuitive visual format, an advancement no less significant than the transition from DOS to WINDOWS!
Unfortunately, the Empire was no fool and guarded this technology with extreme vigilance. Fully armed guards stood watch nearby, and one look told Levi that he wouldn't be able to get a piece of this fresh pie, so he stopped thinking about it. After all, he was just a detective and had no intention of pursuing a business career.
As for the second excellent thing, it was... the radio station!
That was right. Although Levi didn't know how the Empire had managed it, they had actually developed radio stations and radios!
Levi was absolutely thrilled about this. After all, a radio counted as a modern amenity. He didn't understand those difference engines or steam mechas, but when it came to the benefits of information distribution, Levi believed he understood it better than anyone else in this era.
"Miss Olivia, I suggest you add this to your purchase list as well," Levi said in a low voice, stepping up to Olivia's side.
"This? Why?" Olivia was clearly somewhat surprised. "Isn't this just a box that makes noise?"
"This thing is not that simple," Levi shook his head. "I don't mind telling you that this will become a medium for information dissemination that is far more popular and widespread than newspapers. Furthermore, don't you want to promote agricultural mechanization in the Delicat Region? This will be an indispensable assistant for you."
"This thing?"
"Exactly." Levi nodded, looking intently at Olivia. "As you said, it is just a box that makes noise, which means people will gather to listen to it."
"Hmm... and so?"
"Not everyone reads newspapers, Miss Olivia," Levi explained to her in a low tone. "You must know that to implement agricultural mechanization, the most troublesome factor is the farmers. Many of them are illiterate. Even if you publish explanations in the newspapers, they won't understand, nor will they bother to look. But a radio broadcast is different. It can play anytime and anywhere, and anyone can hear the content it transmits without spending a single copper coin. By utilizing a radio station, you can completely explain the reforms you wish to carry out to the citizens of the entire Delicat Region."
"When you put it that way..." Hearing this, Olivia immediately fell into deep thought. She was no fool.
It was just that unlike Levi, who had lived in an information age, Olivia, as a person of this era, did not yet possess a full understanding of just how powerful information and intelligence could be. However, listening to Levi's explanation, Olivia quickly realized the benefits of this technology.
"But radios are very expensive; ordinary families probably can't afford them at all."
Olivia had naturally looked over the price quotes for the radio station and the radios. Radios in this era were nothing like the portable ones from Levi's previous world; their size was roughly comparable to a washing machine.
As for the price... well, it was like a newly invented VR gaming headset. Ordinary people wouldn't buy one just for fun when they had nothing better to do. They didn't have that kind of spare cash.
"Exactly. Therefore, my recommendation is that all expenses should be covered by your Baskerville family. You will invest in constructing the radio station yourselves, purchase the radios yourselves, and install them in the taverns across Delicat. After all, taverns are currently the places where the common people gather most frequently after finishing work, and they are also the places where information circulates the fastest."
"But that means the radio station will be a completely losing business with no revenue at all?"
"On the surface, it certainly appears that way," Levi understood Olivia's perspective. "But free things are often the most expensive, Miss Olivia."
"..."
"Think about it carefully." Levi looked at Olivia and smiled slightly. "Those farmers work hard every day, and their only recreation afterward is to go to the tavern for a drink, chat, brag, and pass the time."
"..."
"Then one day, a brand-new thing suddenly appears in the tavern. It doesn't cost you any extra money, yet it can tell you the news that happened in the Delicat Region that very day, play beautiful music, and even tell some interesting stories. Wouldn't you grow to like it?"
"..."
"And once people get used to it and adapt to it, they will accept everything it reports. At that point, if one day the news comes through the broadcast that the Baskerville family is carrying out agricultural mechanization reforms in the Delicat Region..."
"They would agree?"
"It isn't some kind of brainwashing machine, Miss Olivia," Levi chuckled. "But at the very least, they will genuinely know what it is. It won't be hearsay or rumors, but authoritative news coming from an official broadcast. Besides, this equipment is very expensive. So..."
"So?"
"This also ensures that those reckless fools won't dare to smash them to vent their anger, or else they will face prison time."
"That is true." Hearing this, a smile appeared on Olivia's face.
"I think I understand your meaning, Mr. Levi... But according to your description, this broadcast doesn't seem to be exclusively for my use?"
"Of course not, Miss Olivia," Levi shook his head. "You could use it that way, but I advise against it. People naturally possess a rebellious mindset; I doubt you would want to listen to someone nagging in your ear all day long. You can set up multiple programs on the station to capture the listeners' attention..."
"Listeners? That is truly an interesting word." Olivia's eyes lit up. "It seems you have a lot of ideas about this thing? Mr. Levi, if I do purchase this equipment, could I trouble you to help me brainstorm and strategize?"
"Of course, it would be my honor."
After this little interlude, the two continued to look at the steam machinery of other nations.
It had to be said that aside from the Empire, the steam machinery of other countries also possessed some fantastical and ingenious concepts. For instance, the steam machinery of the Republic of Francis focused primarily on magnificence; they practically wished to punch openwork patterns into every single sheet of iron. Honestly, it was indeed aesthetically pleasing and truly magnificent, but as for the structural strength... Levi felt it was hard to say. When you turned a sheet of iron into something resembling a carved flower, wouldn't it just get smashed to pieces by a single hammer blow?
But apart from that, what Levi found most amusing was the location of the Republic of Francis's exhibition hall—it was situated directly opposite the Kingdom of Krant. It was hard to believe this wasn't an intentional move by the Empire.
The reason was simple. While the Empire certainly didn't get along with the Republic of Francis, the Empire wasn't the only one with a grudge against them. In fact, just a few years ago, the Republic of Francis—which was still the Francis Kingdom at the time—had broken out into a war with the Kingdom of Krant. Francis declared war on Krant, only to be beaten so badly they couldn't find their teeth, and Krant pushed back all the way into their capital. Even the coronation ceremony of the current King of Krant had been held right inside the royal palace of Francis, which could be considered an absolute humiliation.
The failure of this war also directly led to the postwar overthrow of the Francis royal family and nobility, who were sent to the guillotine one after another. The newly transformed Republic of Francis had not abandoned its hatred for the Kingdom of Krant because of this change, not to mention that due to their defeat, Francis had been forced to cede two territories to Krant.
Naturally, the Empire had laughed so hard their teeth nearly fell out over the matter. 'We hear your royal palace in Francis is quite nice; even the King of Krant went to your royal palace for his coronation.' This incident had already been compiled into the Empire's Encyclopedia of Francis Jokes.
In contrast to the magnificence and extravagance of Francis, the steam machinery of the Kingdom of Krant displayed a completely different level of precision and durability. Although overall they couldn't compare to the Empire, in terms of small inventions and creations, the Kingdom of Krant had already shown a standard not inferior to the Empire. Looking at this made Levi murmur inwardly, but he was just a detective, and aside from murmuring to himself, he didn't have much else to say.
The next two major national pavilions belonged to the West Europa Empire and the Sasha Alliance.
The West Europa Empire was located in the northwest of the continent, a purely bitter and frigid land that was vast but sparsely populated. Perhaps because of this, their machinery followed a simple, massive, black, and heavy route that relied on brute force. Precision, advancement, and luxurious elegance were all discarded; what they required first and foremost was a primitive, robust construction capable of working freely even in winters with temperatures dozens of degrees below zero. Even if parts broke, they were easy to replace, and the designs were simple and direct enough that anyone who wasn't an idiot could operate them. If nothing else, purely in terms of volume, the steam machinery of the West Europa Empire was the largest.
As for efficiency and the like... anyway, everyone generally looked down on these simple, massive, black, and heavy primitive designs that lacked any real highlights.
In fact, even the representatives from the West Europa Empire themselves looked listless. Levi inquired out of curiosity and learned that it seemed the West Europa Empire was currently experiencing its own internal undercurrents. After all, the transformations brought about by the Steam Industrial Revolution were all-encompassing, and no country could escape them; consequently, various social problems had naturally emerged.
The Empire could be considered to have made a stable transition, and Francis could be considered to have undergone a regime change, while the West Europa Empire was not faring much better. Due to their trade disputes with the Kingdom of Krant, riots had recently broken out inside the West Europa Empire. The imperial family had taken suppressive measures in response, but the effects were limited. If things continued this way, it was highly likely that the West Europa royal family would follow in the footsteps of Francis and gather together at the guillotine.
The Sasha Alliance was also a bizarre entity; it was a nation composed of one king, two countries, and three governments. In name, the Sasha Alliance was ruled by a single king, but in reality, it consisted of two countries with independent internal affairs. Yet, these two countries had each surrendered their national sovereignty, handing over finance, diplomacy, and national defense to the jurisdiction of the central government.
With such a strange setup, it was understandably difficult for them to mobilize the resources of the entire nation to develop steam machinery like the Empire or the Kingdom of Krant did. In fact, compared to the other nations, the Sasha Alliance had no notable achievements in steam machinery craftsmanship. Their level was relatively backward among these continental countries, and the items they put on display were mostly things left over by others or technologies with no real developmental future, so their pavilion had the fewest visitors.
However, among all these national pavilions, the one Levi appreciated the most was the pavilion of Elis—not because their steam industry development was particularly strong or impressive, but because of... the gourmet food of Elis.
That was right. Elis had directly transformed its mechanical industry exhibition into a food expo. The machines they displayed were all related to the production of delicious food, such as wine-making machinery, juicers, brand-new bread baking ovens, and the like. Just walking past and catching the aroma of that food made one feel an intense appetite, as if they could devour three bowls of rice right then and there.
Levi couldn't help but open his wallet, placing an order for a set of fully mechanical kitchen utensils. At the very least, they looked quite convenient and practical, and it wouldn't be bad to take them back for Irene to use. In any case, he had plenty of money, so he wasn't worried about the cost.
"I truly didn't expect that Mr. Levi would actually fancy these things?" Olivia didn't have much interest in kitchen utensils, so seeing Levi actually place an order left her quite surprised.
"Easy-to-use kitchen utensils can also make food taste better, and there are some things inside this set that I quite like."
What Levi liked most was that among this set of kitchen utensils exhibited by Elis, there was actually a refrigerator! A refrigerator! Fruit juice, soda water, adding ice—it would be absolutely refreshing!
Of course, the refrigerators of this era certainly couldn't compare to the ones from Levi's previous world, but being able to freeze food and drinks was more than enough for Levi! Unfortunately, Elis had not yet developed an ice cream machine; otherwise, Levi would have been even more thrilled.