93: The beginning of steam

A child ran past the street corner holding a candied hawthorn stick as Shen Xiaochuan stood on the high platform outside the Main Hall.

He saw the cluster of candied hawthorns glowing a piercing red under the sunlight, like a ball of burning fire. The streets grew more crowded as vendors set up their stalls, pots and pans clattered, and aromas drifted in every direction. Money had just been distributed yesterday, so everyone could afford to buy something today; life was indeed much better than before.

Yet, he still felt an emptiness in his heart.

Though the city had become lively, it relied entirely on manual labor. Sweeping required people, blacksmithing required people, and seeing a doctor required people. It took an hour to cook a pot of rice, three days to forge a blade, and half a day to transport a load of goods. If things continued this way, they would at most be able to keep their bellies full. If war truly came, a single enemy ship could level this place to the ground.

He looked down at his hands.

His palms were covered in thick calluses, worn down from picking up scrap metal in a factory as a child. He remembered that sound—the 'hiss' of steam pipes and the 'clack' of gears engaging.

He suddenly turned and walked into the Main Hall.

A ledger lay on the table, with the data Zhou Mingrui reported last night written clearly: twelve new shops opened, a transaction volume of seventy-three thousand copper coins, and tax revenue of nine thousand two hundred. He flipped to the last page and stopped.

"Karl."

Footsteps came from outside the door as Karl walked in.

"Go and check how many people in our Divine Kingdom understand mechanics. Those who can draw, calculate dimensions, or read blueprints—don't miss a single one."

"I'll go right now," Karl nodded. "I'll report back to you as soon as the registration is finished."

"Also," Shen Xiaochuan paused, "call Zhang Heng and have him come see me immediately."

After Karl left, he opened the Faith Mall.

He scrolled down and found an item under 'Civilization and Technology'—[Industrial Revolution Historical Data Pack]. The description read: Includes design blueprints and principle explanations for steam engines, boilers, and transmission Systems.

This was a treasure he had saved up for a long time to exchange.

He spent 100 faith points to redeem it.

A beam of light entered his mind. A few seconds later, he closed his eyes, and the structure of a dual-cylinder steam engine emerged clearly: boiler, cylinder, piston, connecting rod, flywheel. The position and connection method of every part were clear at a glance.

This wasn't a fantasy; this could be built.

He thought to himself that while giving out money could fill the people's bellies, only machines could make a nation truly powerful.

The door was pushed open, and Zhang Heng walked in quickly.

"Boss, what's the rush?" He was wearing a short jacket and still holding a pen.

Shen Xiaochuan was direct: "I want you to draw a set of blueprints. The steam engine body, the matching boiler, the drive shaft, and the piston assembly—draw them all separately, marking the dimensions and Materials clearly. This is the most urgent matter; put everything else aside."

Zhang Heng was stunned, his face full of disbelief: "A steam engine? That old-fashioned thing?"

"It allows people to work less," Shen Xiaochuan stared at him. "Start drawing now. Show me the first draft; if it's no good, we'll revise it. I want it built within three months."

Zhang Heng swallowed hard. "But we don't have good steel, nor do we have precision tools..."

"Just focus on drawing," Shen Xiaochuan interrupted him. "I'll handle the Materials. You just tell me how thick the iron pipes need to be, how thick the steel plates should be, and what kind of valves are required."

Zhang Heng was silent for a moment before nodding. "Alright, I'll start drawing as soon as I get back."

"The sketches must be out today," Shen Xiaochuan added.

"Understood."

After Zhang Heng left, Shen Xiaochuan grabbed his coat and went out.

He walked through the commercial district, and the crowd automatically parted to make a path. People greeted him, and he nodded in response without stopping. The roadside shops were all open; a long line had formed in front of the pharmacy, the general store was sold out of salt, and the Blacksmith Shop was piled with farm tools waiting to be repaired.

He arrived at the Industrial Zone and stopped.

Lolia's small shop wasn't large, and the furnace fire was burning brightly. She was hammering a piece of iron, sweat trickling down her forehead. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, saw it was Shen Xiaochuan, and immediately stood up straight.

"My Lord."

Shen Xiaochuan took out the demon-breaking blade from his robe.

The blade had cracks and the edge was curled, injuries sustained from dealing with an evil entity last time. He placed the blade on the anvil.

"Can you fix it?"

Lolia put on gloves and carefully inspected the blade. Her fingertips traced the cracks, and she held it up to the light to check the interior.

"This isn't ordinary metal," she said. "There are energy-conducting channels inside, and residual Thunder Force remains in the breaks. It can be repaired, but it will take seven days."

"I'm not in a hurry," Shen Xiaochuan said. "But this is only the beginning."

She looked up at him.

"What you're going to do next is a hundred times more important than repairing this blade. It will change the entire Divine Kingdom."

Lolia didn't speak, but her hand gripped the hilt tightly.

She didn't understand what he was talking about, but she knew this was different.

"I will do my best," she said.

"I trust you," Shen Xiaochuan patted her shoulder. "Find Zhou Mingrui if you lack Materials, and pick whatever manpower you need. I'm entrusting you with this blade, and I'm also entrusting you with my confidence."

With that, he turned and left.

On his way back, he ran into Lilith.

"My Lord, the kitchen is out of salt. Shall I approve the second purchase?"

"Approve it."

He continued forward and bumped into Zhou Mingrui.

"The drainage ditch to the west of the Main Hall is fixed," Zhou Mingrui said. "With the new stone slabs, water won't accumulate anymore. The East District warehouse is also finished; it can store three months' worth of grain."

"Well done," Shen Xiaochuan nodded. "Maintain the pace."

"One more thing." Zhou Mingrui opened his ledger. "Karl just sent over the list. Currently, we've counted seventeen people in the Divine Kingdom who have some knowledge of mechanics, three who can draw, and two with forging experience. It's not many, but they're all usable."

"Give me the list."

Zhou Mingrui handed over the pages.

Shen Xiaochuan quickly scanned it and circled three names.

"Starting tomorrow, have them follow Zhang Heng to learn drafting. It doesn't matter if they know how yet; just get them learning."

"Understood."

Shen Xiaochuan folded the list and tucked it into his robe.

The wind blew past, carrying the scent of coal ash and rust. He looked up at the sky; the sun had reached its zenith, shining on the chimney of the Blacksmith Shop. That chimney wasn't smoking yet, but it soon would be.

He knew that giving out money could fill the people's bellies.

But only when the machines started running would the Divine Kingdom truly be able to stand on its own.

He walked toward the Main Hall, his steps becoming increasingly steady.

As he passed the plaza, a young boy ran over, holding up a newly bought wooden horse.

"Uncle, look! I have money to buy toys now!"

Shen Xiaochuan patted his head.

"Study hard," he said. "In the future, you'll be building even bigger things."

The child laughed and skipped away.

He continued forward, reaching into his sleeve to touch the Gear Pendant.

It was still warm.

But he no longer just wanted it to generate heat.

He wanted to make it turn.

He wanted all the gears of Skydome City to start turning.

He pushed open the doors of the Main Hall, sat down, and dipped his pen in ink.

The nib hovered over the paper, trembling slightly.

He knew that the person who wrote this line would excite everyone and make them willing to follow him in doing something great.

He set down the first line:

"steam engine Research and Development Project, starting today. Person in charge: Zhang Heng. Executing unit: Industrial Zone Blacksmith Shop. Resources are to be supplied with priority; no one is to obstruct this."

Before the ink was dry, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

It was Karl.

"Zhang Heng sent over the first version of the sketches," Karl said. "He said for you to look them over immediately."

Shen Xiaochuan put down his pen.

"Bring them here."