I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 1103 Watt's Despair (Two chapters combined, please vote!)
After giving his instructions regarding the arrangements for the Irish, Joseph suddenly remembered something else:
"By the way, the Bolton-Watt project is almost finished. The British government is probably short of money lately, so let's put some pressure on them."

Lavallet immediately bowed and said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Regarding the Bolton-Watt company, the Security Bureau had already prepared a complete plan according to the Crown Prince's requirements, and now all that was needed was to carry it out step by step.

……

Birmingham, England.

In the vast, luxuriously decorated experimental workshop in the west of the city, Watt's ears were ringing from the shouts and horns coming from the street.

That was made by a march protesting soaring sugar prices.

Watt turned and roared at a technician:

"Stuff all the gaps in the windows with paper! Quickly!"

The latter hurriedly lowered his head and ran away, calling on other technicians to block the window.

Watt turned his attention back to the enormous steam engine in front of him, his furrowed brow filled with pain and despair.

He originally thought that he could simply scale up the existing Engine 52 steam engine proportionally—but it turned out that the design of this high-pressure steam engine was so ingenious and reliable that it was easy to achieve a high-power version of 180 horsepower.

However, after he painstakingly built the prototype, he began to fall into a terrifying nightmare.

The enlarged Engine52 boiler is a full 6.5 meters tall and nearly 1.8 meters in diameter. Whenever it is turned on, the towering boiler vibrates violently due to the movement of the piston.

Once that 6-meter-tall cast iron behemoth starts to shake, it causes the ground to tremble, and the boiler's mounting parts quickly show signs of metal fatigue.

In order to lower the center of gravity of the steam engine, Watt had to increase the diameter of the boiler, but reality soon dealt him a heavy blow.

With the technological level of that era, increasing the boiler diameter to 2 meters caused a significant drop in casting reliability, with various cracks and defects appearing. To ensure quality, the craftsmen had to increase the boiler wall thickness by 70%, which in turn led to a sharp increase in the weight of the steam engine.

What frustrated Watt the most was that even with the diameter increased to 2 meters, the damn boiler was still unacceptably tall.

Yes, the highest height that a vertical boiler can be structurally acceptable for is 50 horsepower. Therefore, despite its various advantages, Marc Segan's steam engine was ultimately short-lived.

A company manager knocked on the door and entered. Looking at Watt's unfriendly expression, he cautiously said:
“Mr. Watt, the General Manager asked me to remind you that there will be a progress report on Engine180 at the City Hall at 2 PM this afternoon.”

Because the British government investment fund had taken over Bolton-Watt, the company's senior management had to report to the supervising officials from time to time. The 180-horsepower steam engine, which was crucial to the company's future, was naturally the most important component.

Watt suddenly raised his fists and roared, "There's nothing to explain! To hell with those officials!"

The company manager shrank back, said "It's 2 PM," and fled in a panic.

The workshop door closed again, and Watt sighed dejectedly. He still had to get through the report.

He gestured to the technicians beside him:
"Go and compile this month's R&D logs, as well as the technical data for the prototype. Oh, we don't need the vibration fault analysis and boiler overload parts; those old men wouldn't understand them anyway."

The technicians exchanged glances, and one middle-aged technician cautiously said:

“Mr. Watt, we’re not very familiar with the prototype’s specifications, so it’s probably difficult to meet your requirements before 2 PM…”

Upon hearing this, Watt's lips twitched.

He was so angry that he forgot the lab was full of useless people, and there weren't even many who could understand basic design drawings.

This is also one of the important reasons why his research and development progress is extremely slow.

In fact, the redesign of the pressure gauge and pressure relief valve for the old 52-horsepower model was only completed a week ago—almost entirely by him working through the night.

Yes, all the mid- to senior-level technicians at Bolton-Watt were recruited by Sandel before.

His only hiring principle is that the candidate must be a failure.

Meanwhile, Sander and the others had all signed lifetime employment agreements, meaning the company would have to pay thousands of pounds in compensation if they were dismissed.

So after Watt took over the experimental workshop, he could only grit his teeth and use these tools for research and development. He barely managed to recruit two young people with some ability, but they were collectively rejected by the old technicians.

Watt struggled to calm himself and shouted to a brown-haired young man not far away:

"Marek, go and organize the prototype's data, and pick out the parts related to vibration malfunction and overweight."

That was the only usable technician in the entire experimental workshop, and he helped him a lot.

Marek immediately shouted:

“Okay, Mr. Watt, I need 40 minutes.”

Just then, Bolton unexpectedly pushed open the door—he rarely came to the workshop—and handed Watt a letter, saying solemnly:
"You'd better take a look at this; it was just sent by Sandel."

“Sandel? He’s still…” Watt wanted to say “He’s still alive,” but he swallowed the rest of the sentence. Given the extent of Sandel’s injuries at the time, it was a miracle that he had survived for more than six months.

He unfolded the letter with a puzzled look, and saw that it was written in crooked handwriting, clearly indicating that Sandel was having some difficulty holding the pen.

The first two paragraphs were customary greetings, then the content suddenly shifted to the development of high-powered steam engines.

Sandel admitted that he had lied about the 180-horsepower steam engine, claiming it was impossible to succeed and that he had concealed the fatal obstacle the research and development had encountered in order to avoid losing his position as chief engineer.

This was also the reason for the prototype explosion at the time. In order to make a breakthrough, he risked using a small-volume boiler to increase the pressure to 0.85MPa.

During his treatment of his injuries, he pondered the matter repeatedly, considering all possibilities. He has now confirmed that the target of 180 horsepower was too high, and perhaps it would be more appropriate to develop a steam engine with 80 to 90 horsepower first.

Watt's face turned deathly pale instantly.

In fact, he had had similar thoughts for a long time, but he was always supported by the belief that "If Sandel can do it, I can too".

But at this moment, his only belief collapsed. He felt so helpless, like an ant struggling in a whirlpool, with the endless abyss as his final destination.

He crumpled Sandel's letter into a ball and threw it away, then slumped down on the cast-iron shelf beside him.

Bolton glanced at the behemoth-like prototype, then pulled Watt aside and asked:

"The afternoon report..."

The latter shook his head: "Let Marek go."

"Him? Is he okay?"

Bolton was already covered in cold sweat.

The company has suspended deliveries of high-pressure steam engines for more than six months, and has paid more than £50 in damages for breach of contract – this is the result of the British government using diplomatic means to lobby other governments to pressure companies that purchase steam engines to extend delivery times.

Currently, Bolton-Watt has essentially lost all of the hundreds of thousands of pounds invested by the government investment fund. Although there is still £14 on the books, only he knows that the actual working capital is less than £1.

In other words, if the government were to question the development of the 180-horsepower steam engine and send people to investigate the company, the financial deficit would immediately be exposed. Watt nodded absentmindedly.

Marek walked over and said to Bolton very seriously:

"Please rest assured, I will definitely make those officials understand how advanced the prototype is."

The latter patted his arm:

"Then I'll leave it all to you."

Little did he know that Marek had been working for the French security services from the very beginning.

And it wasn't just him; within Bolton-Watt, a large number of security personnel occupied various important positions.

This is also why Joseph went to such great lengths to plan Sandel's departure from here with a legitimate reason—

As long as the British believe it was just an accident, the people planted in the company can continue to play their role.

2 p.m.

Inside Birmingham City Hall, five members of the government investment fund and two private secretaries of members of parliament frowned as they watched the young technician on the stage, whose voice trembled with nervousness.

One of the councilors' secretaries raised his hand to interrupt Marek and asked:
"During last month's routine report, Mr. Watt mentioned the achievements you just mentioned. Has there been no real progress on the new 180-horsepower model during this period?"

Bolton quickly gave Marek a stern look.

The latter first nodded, then shook his head vigorously, stammering:
"No, no, we conducted dozens of prototype tests this month, with the highest output reaching 110 horsepower. In the end, it was only due to the old problem of severe vibration that it..."

As he said this, he suddenly covered his mouth, looking at Bolton in a flustered and innocent manner.

Well, his topic today is "a nervous young technician let something slip."

In fact, the original script of the Security Bureau was that Watt would give the report, and he would casually mention the accident that caused the boiler to break due to the vibration. However, Watt did not expect that he would directly ask Watt to take his place on stage.

How could I not put on a good performance?
A member of an investment fund committee immediately followed up with:

“You just mentioned severe tremors, is that an old ailment? I don’t recall Mr. Watt mentioning it before.”

Marek's hands and feet trembled uncontrollably with nervousness.

“This is not… Mr. Watt did not intentionally conceal it; he believes the problem can be resolved quickly…”

Another committee member shouted:

"Then, please tell me exactly how long it will take to resolve?"

"How long?" the young technician asked, wiping away cold sweat. "Perhaps two or three years, I guess... But Mr. Sandel doesn't seem very confident. He even wrote to say that it would be best to reduce the power of the new model to 80 horsepower and start developing it from scratch..."

Bolton jumped to his feet and shouted:
"What are you talking about?!"

The congressman's secretary next to him reached out to stop him, then turned to Marek:

"Please continue, what's going on with Mr. Sandel?"

The young technician seemed terrified, crouching to the side with her head in her hands.
"I...I don't know, I really don't know."

at the same time.

The three newly manufactured Engine 52 steam engines of Bolton-Watt Company have officially entered service.

These machines used pressure gauges and pressure relief valves invented by Watt himself. Although people would have to keep an eye on the pressure gauges and manually release the pressure when it got too high, they were still usable.

Strand Textile Mill was one of the first users to receive these steam engines.

They had been waiting for more than five months, and if it weren't for Congressman Egerton personally sending people to persuade them, they would have already chosen to sue Bolton-Watt.

Currently, the assembly and debugging of the new steam engine has been completed, and it is driving three automatic looms to operate at high speed.

However, that afternoon, the cylinder of the Engine52 leaked, and a textile worker's entire leg was scalded by the boiling steam.

The following day, a newly installed steam engine in a Birmingham mine also leaked, causing the mine, which had been shut down for several months, to stop operations again, although there were no casualties.

Two of the three new steam engines failed, and companies that had purchased steam engines became cautious and began refusing to accept Engine52.

Bolton hurriedly sent technicians to the site for inspection, but only received the result that "there are traces of corrosion in the cylinder".

However, these steam engines underwent rigorous testing before leaving the factory and had no problems.

He had no idea that it was simply because some goethite powder had been added to the cylinders by the craftsmen during the assembly of the new steam engine.

Yes, naturally there are many people from the Security Bureau in the assembly workshop.

Watt used well water from the workshop's water tank for the test, so there were no problems.

Users often use water from the Thames River.

The reaction between acidic river water and goethite releases highly oxidizing ferric ions. Combined with the high temperature and pressure environment inside the cylinder, this quickly corrodes the cylinder connection.

The Times suddenly broke the news that "Former chief engineer of Bolton-Watt, Sandel, admitted that the design of the new high-power steam engine had fatal flaws and had to be scrapped and started over. The current chief engineer, Watt, has decided to reduce the development target to 80 horsepower."

Bolton-Watt's share price plummeted, falling below £20 per share.

Subsequently, numerous newspapers published news reports of leaks occurring in newly delivered steam engines from the Bolton-Watt company, resulting in serious injuries to several people.

When the news broke, those buyers who had initially reluctantly accepted the delayed delivery immediately erupted in anger.

Labor-intensive companies, especially textile mills, have decided to abandon this unstable product and demand hefty penalties from Bolton-Watt.

At that time, the latter only had a little over 1 pounds in his account.

To Joseph's surprise, the "earthquake" at Bolton-Watt quickly spread to Chatham Shipyard.

The shipyard had previously had to delay the delivery of the Minglun steamship because the ordered steam engines had not arrived, for which it had already paid £8 in penalties.

Now, the Bolton-Watt Company's highly anticipated high-powered steam engine project has been abandoned, and the newly produced Engine 52 has caused injuries, causing the company's reputation to plummet.

Customers who ordered steam paddle steamers explicitly demanded that Chatham Shipyard not use Engine 52, or they would refuse to take delivery of the ships.

Many of these orders have already passed their delivery deadline.

　Thank you so much to the generous 35000 Qidian Coins reward from Alliance Leader Lin Jia! I am deeply grateful and often worry that my slow updates might disappoint you! Thank you for your continued support! In the future, I will definitely add more chapters and write more side stories for you!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)