Chapter 987: Chapter 985: Tremendous Significance
Next, Wong Qiao poured lamp oil into the small iron trough, lit a few wicks, and placed them under the stand holding the water canister.
As the heating process began, Wong Qiao pointed at the lit wicks and the small water canister and began explaining, "Our machine is too small, so we can only heat it using the oil lamp method. Previously, when we experimented with the steam engine in Peach Grove, we used charcoal fire. This model can only heat the water to boiling using the lamp wick, and as steam rises continuously and gathers..."
Under Wong Qiao’s explanation, the water in the canister gradually heated up. Before long, an iron rod as thick as a matchstick began to push forward. As the rod advanced, the crankshaft and gears connected to the rod also started turning.
Through a few simple connected transmissions, the disc fitted with the small wooden monkey also moved. The wooden monkey on the disc’s edge began to make rounds, initially very slowly, and then gradually accelerated.
After a few turns, the disc stabilized at a uniform rotation speed.
During this process, Wong Qiao only pointed out each connection for explanation without exerting any force on the model.
This simple device converting thermal energy into mechanical energy was incredibly strange and self-operating in the eyes of Jinrong and other ancients, revolving continuously, both eerie and novel.
Jinrong and Hu Jing listened to Wong Qiao’s explanations while staring in awe at the moving machine, forgetting to express opinions and inquiries, and even neglecting to voice their inner shock.
Even Jiang Yifan, who had mentally prepared himself, was astonished when he saw the model move autonomously.
Standing to the side, Shi Yin watched these dumbfounded folks and felt extremely proud.
Raising an eyebrow, he said to Wong Qiao, "Ah Qiao, speed it up and show them."
Jinrong and the others, upon hearing this instruction, merely glanced toward Shi Yin’s direction, yet their gaze quickly returned to the model. In their view, letting a set of iron objects move autonomously by lighting an oil lamp was already very bizarre, subverting their understanding.
As for the speed at which it moved, was it not up to the creator of such a strange thing to decide? Naturally, it was as they wished.
Ye Xinyan was taken aback by what she heard: "No way, could it change speed? Once such a model is made, its pressure and piston stroke should be fixed; there’s no reason it could change speed?"
Then she saw Wong Qiao don a pair of gloves and push something at an unknown position.
To her surprise, the piston’s push frequency and the disk’s rotation speed genuinely increased. Most notably, the small wooden monkey on the disc’s edge was spinning so fast its form was hard to discern.
Ye Xinyan was filled with disbelief. Could this count as a primitive variable frequency device from ancient times? That’s outrageously advanced!
Her expression grew complicated as she looked toward Shi Yin and Wong Qiao, feeling utterly vexed. Wasn’t this an unnecessary display of intelligence? How could they make someone who lived atop thousands of years of accumulated knowledge and received over a decade of modern education feel insignificant?
The disc spinning too quickly seemed to ease the shock for Jinrong, Hu Jing, and others.
Hu Jing finally exhaled deeply, relieved. Such shock tightens one’s psyche and is very mentally exhausting.
Stroking his beard, Hu Jing sighed, "Truly, had I not seen and heard Ah Qiao explaining it with my own eyes, if I had seen something moving automatically in a deserted place, I would certainly suspect supernatural activity."
"Like divine power, like divine power," Jinrong echoed with deep sentiment.
Jiang Yifan maintained a silent smile. This was the suggestion and guidance from his wife. While the nature of this matter couldn’t be revealed aloud, even thinking about it filled him with pride and satisfaction.
"What is Mr. Hu saying? How scary," Ye Xinyan admonished Hu Jing with a sidelong glance.
What’s all this nonsense? A perfectly successful model, yet spoken of by Hu Jing in an eerie way.
At this moment, Hongzhi, Shi Yu, and other attendants, as well as Yuan Shang, all gathered around, their faces full of awe.
Shi Shu murmured, "Mr. Hu’s not wrong; if this was seen in a deserted place, it would frighten someone half to death seeing such a clangy, self-moving object."
Shi Yu nudged him with an elbow, annoyed, "Is this a deserted place? It’s broad daylight with Steward Wong and Master Shi explaining. Mr. Hu didn’t say anything about deserted places. How could you think of these things during such wondrous happenings!"
Hongzhi laughed, "My Sixth Master would say it was divine assistance. Marvelous craftsmanship speaks of such wonders, and we should be in awe, not afraid."
Seeing that the emotional impact on everyone had fermented almost enough, Shi Yin smiled and said, "You’ve seen nothing yet! What you’re witnessing now is merely the steam engine operating on its own. If truly put to use, it would be a real miracle in the human world."
"Oh?" Jinrong focused his attention, his eyes full of curiosity and inquiry.
Jiang Yifan and Hu Jing also waited for Shi Yin’s explanation. However, Jiang Yifan’s curiosity lacked urgency. Though he was curious about Shi Yin’s insights and ideas, he knew they were nothing compared to the comprehensive and rich explanations provided by Ye Xinyan.
Ye Xinyan’s illustrations of steam engine derivatives, after all, could make various tools and objects fly in the sky, run on land, and swim in the sea.
Receiving everyone’s attention, Shi Yin, wearing an aura of triumph, spoke relatively normally: "The most critical aspect of a steam engine is its continuous output of power. This power can be applied in all areas. For example, Ah Qiao’s initial idea was to use it to fan a smelting furnace. But beyond that, it can be used in all trades and industries—anywhere rotation and reciprocating movement are needed.
For instance, as mentioned earlier, using it to propel paddle blades to swiftly rotate in the water can allow large ships to travel quickly—far beyond what human power can achieve. There’s also the wheel of a railway carriage, the spindle of a spinning wheel... If not restricted by costs, steam power could even be used for drainage in canals and irrigation of farmlands...
Its speed and efficiency would increase exponentially, even by tenfold or dozens of times."
Shi Yin didn’t worry about whether the audience understood, and just rambled on about all the applications of the steam engine he could think of.
Jinrong, Hu Jing, and Jiang Yifan listened to Shi Yin’s explanation, watching the small gadget still spinning wildly, and though they didn’t understand how the transformation applied to numerous fields...
They comprehended that if such applications could be realized, their significance would be immense.
Looking at these figures before him who thrived on wit and cunning, Shi Yin asked with a smiling face, "Aren’t you amazed, isn’t it hard to imagine what that world might be like?"