Diqin Designer

Chapter 549 Does our Great Qin need to avoid Alexander's sharp edge?
Knowing that Arsak I and others did not believe him, Wang Ling did not intend to explain further. These foreigners felt that the stronger the Qin Dynasty was, the better.

Only then will they respect the Qin Dynasty, be willing to accept things from the Qin Dynasty, and take the initiative to learn from the Qin Dynasty, so that the Qin Dynasty can exert influence on them.

Skipping over the question of whether the Qin people possessed the power of thunder, Arsak I asked, "I have heard that your country also has a type of chariot that can run automatically without horses. Is this true?"

Wang Ling laughed and said, "Your Majesty should be referring to 'steam locomotives.' Steam locomotives do indeed run automatically without the need for human or horse pulling. However, steam locomotives have only been made recently and have many defects. It will be quite some time before they can be put into practical use."

Regardless of whether the actual use of that vehicle is delayed, the Qin people did indeed build it, right?
The people of Qin were truly formidable, far surpassing others. They were able to wield the power of thunder and create such self-propelled chariots—it was simply unimaginable!
Are they truly in the same world as the Qin state?
After marveling once again at the power of the Qin state, Arsak I asked, "Why is this vehicle called a 'steam locomotive'? If it doesn't use horsepower, how does it move?"

Wang Ling smiled and said, "The power of a steam locomotive is already in its name. It is powered by steam. As for how it is specifically driven by steam, I do not know. Although a steam locomotive can run automatically, it needs someone to add fuel and water to keep it running."

A Parthian minister asked, "What is this 'steam'? Why are fuel and water added?"

The principle of a steam engine is very simple, and it is not difficult to make a simple steam engine, but it is not easy to make a steam engine that can pull vehicles and ships.

Historically, Watt was not the inventor of the steam engine, but rather its improver.

Steam engines existed before Watt, but they were inefficient and had limited applications. Watt's improvements increased their efficiency, leading to their wider use.

Therefore, even if other countries knew the principle of the steam engine, it would be difficult for them to build a practical steam engine. They knew how to design a practical steam engine, and their parts could be manufactured with the required precision.
Putting everything else aside, just manufacturing suitable parts would be a challenge for these countries.

The Qin Dynasty was able to develop the steam engine because Li Nian was giving the Qin Dynasty a boost, but even so, the Qin Dynasty's steam engine still had many problems.

Moreover, the Qin Dynasty was not developing steampunk; the steam engine was merely a transitional step, and the ultimate goal was to develop internal combustion engines and electric motors.

Ideally, other countries should be led astray, making them obsessively pursue the development of steam engines. While Qin is outwardly working on steam engines, it is secretly researching and manufacturing internal combustion engines.

Wang Ling thought for a moment and explained, "Have you ever seen water being boiled? When water boils, it produces steam. This steam can sometimes push open the coverings on it. Steam locomotives use this principle!"

This amazed Arsak I and his companions, who remarked that it was no wonder the Qin people needed to add water and fuel to their steam locomotives.

The minister who asked the question then asked, "Although boiling water can open the lid, the steam is not very powerful. How can it pull a cart?"

It's still hard to imagine that the force of boiling water could pull a car.

Wang Ling laughed and said, "I am not a scholar who researches steam locomotives, so I do not know!"

The minister didn't ask any more questions. The people of Qin must have had steam locomotives. The people of Qin were truly remarkable; they could even understand these principles by observing water boiling.

Arsak I said, “Your country truly has many scholars, and your knowledge is broad and profound. My country is far inferior to you!”

After praising the Qin Dynasty once more, Arsak I made a request to the royal tomb: "Could the envoy leave a few scholars in our country to teach your nation's learning?"

Wang Ling immediately understood the true purpose of Arsakh I's request: it was a pretense that he wanted to leave a few scholars in his country to teach the knowledge of the Qin Dynasty; his real intention was to have the delegation leave a few people to serve as his advisors and help him reform Parthia in the style of the Qin Dynasty.

What Qin Dynasty representative stationed in Parthia for reform?

This was a good thing for Great Qin, and Wang Ling certainly wouldn't refuse. He laughed and said, "Your Majesty is so fond of the learning of Great Qin, how could I refuse? When I return, I will select a few 'suitable' scholars for Your Majesty!"

Wang Ling deliberately emphasized the word "suitable." Whether one was learned enough or not was not important, or even whether one was a scholar was not important. The key was whether one could stay and help Arsakh I complete the Qin-style reforms.

Upon hearing the king's agreement, Arsak I thanked the king, saying, "In that case, thank you very much, envoy." He then added, "Rest assured, envoy, I will treat the scholars who remain with the utmost respect as state guests!"

The few Qin people who remained would serve as his state advisors.

After asking a few more questions, Arsak I hosted a banquet for the Qin delegation.

After the banquet ended and Arsène Luis saw the royal tombs off, he said to his Parthian ministers, "Our country should be on good terms with the Qin state!"

Seeing that Arsak I's attitude toward the Qin delegation had become very friendly, a Parthian minister asked, "Should we also spread the news that Qin scholars have overturned Aristotle's doctrines?"

This was the method Arsak I devised yesterday to prevent the Qin delegation from selling its weapons and armor to Seleucus when they first arrived.

But times have changed. Yesterday I didn't know much about the Qin state, but today I know a lot of information about it.

Although the Qin state was far away from them, it was best not to offend such a powerful enemy.

If they angered the Qin people, the Qin might launch a distant expedition against them. In that case, could they withstand the Qin's devastating cannon fire?

Furthermore, the Qin people would not sell weapons and armor to the Seleucus.

Arsak laughed and said, "No need! Given the nature of the Seleucus and their ilk, they will definitely clash with the Qin envoy when he arrives."

Even if they did nothing, given the Seleucids' arrogance, they would certainly not get along with the Qin envoy.

The Macedonians of Seleucid have always considered themselves the most civilized and advanced, and look down on others. When they encounter the Qin delegation, there will surely be a good show.

Unfortunately, they won't get to see this great show!
About two weeks later, the Qin delegation left Parthia, and Arsak I sent a prince to escort the delegation out of the country.

This time, there were no caravans, nor any Parthian or Bactrian envoys accompanying them; only the Qin delegation entered Seleucid territory.

Because it was an envoy mission, the Qin delegation did not hide its tracks, and thus it was discovered by the Seleucids shortly after entering Seleucid territory.

Soon, a group of Seleucid cavalrymen approached the Qin delegation. However, after traveling a certain distance, the Seleucid cavalrymen realized that the group did not seem to be hostile and did not appear to be coming to attack them.

If there is hostility, one should conceal one's whereabouts to avoid being discovered, and act swiftly to prevent the other party from having a chance to attack.

The group appeared brazenly, carrying flags, as if afraid of being overlooked. Upon noticing their arrival, they did not attack but instead slowed their advance, seemingly waiting for them to send someone to make contact. Based on these observations, the Seleucid cavalry sent a dozen knights close to the delegation, while the rest remained on guard at a distance.

As they drew closer, the dozen or so Seleucid knights gradually came to recognize his group.

This was a very strange team. The people in the team looked and dressed differently from them, and the flags erected in the team were ones they had never seen before.

This team may come from a country or tribe that they didn't know much about before.

When the group saw them approaching, they also sent out more than ten knights. They did not use weapons, clearly wanting to make contact with them as well.

The two horses slowed down and met at one point. The leading Seleucid knight sized up the other.

The enemy cavalry wore armor unlike anything seen before, and each cavalryman wore a helmet, beneath which were faces unlike their own. The weapons they carried were also different from theirs.

As they approached, the dozen or so cavalrymen moved in a very orderly fashion, clearly indicating that they were well-trained and highly skilled soldiers.

Two of them were not wearing armor or helmets and looked like local natives (not Macedonians), so they were probably the translators they brought with them.

By bringing a translator along, this team clearly wanted to communicate with them.

This made the lead knight even more curious about where this team came from and why they were here.

But he came here specifically to make contact with this team and find out their purpose.

The lead knight asked, "Who are you? Where do you come from? Why have you come here?"

The dozen or so cavalrymen from the Qin side were led by Guan Ying. Guan Ying said, "We are Qin people, and we come from the Great Qin in the east. We are here on the orders of the Emperor of Qin to be sent as envoys to your country."

Upon hearing the man speak a strange language, the leading knight knew he had guessed correctly; these people came from a country or tribe they had never heard of before.

After being translated and relayed, the lead knight asked in confusion, "Qin? From the far east?"

He quickly racked his brains, but the state of "Qin" seemed completely unfamiliar to him.

And in the east, besides the Peacock Kingdom, are there other countries to the east?
It is possible. Although Alexander's great eastern expedition ended at the Mauryan Empire, there seems to be a vast land in the east where a country might exist.

This Qin state was very likely a country further east than the Peacock Kingdom!

Qin, what a tongue-twisting name. I don't know why these people chose such a strange name, or why they didn't choose a more pleasant-sounding country name.

But this is not their fault. After all, their country did not have the advanced Seleucid civilization.
The leading knight looked at Guan Ying and asked curiously, "Are there countries in the east too? You come from even further east than the Peacock Kingdom?"

Guan Ying replied, "There are many countries to the east. My Great Qin is indeed located further east of the Peacock Kingdom, or more precisely, northeast of the Peacock Kingdom."

The lead knight continued, "Then how did you get here? Even the great Alexander the Great couldn't reach you!"

After saying these two sentences, feeling that these people from the Qin Kingdom in the East might not understand the greatness of Alexander, the leading knight added: "The great Alexander was the greatest king in the world. He was learned, wise, and powerful. He launched an eastern expedition and fought all the way to the Mauryan Kingdom."

"Your Qin state is lucky. After conquering the Mauryan Kingdom, the great Alexander did not continue his eastward expedition. Otherwise, your Qin state would also have been conquered by the great Alexander."

The leading knight didn't notice the strange, awkward expressions on the faces of the two translators as he spoke.

This Seleucid knight thought the Qin state was unaware of this, so he boasted to the Qin people about their Alexander the Great, even claiming that the Qin people were lucky that Alexander did not continue his eastward expedition.

If Alexander had continued his eastward campaign, he would have been thoroughly defeated by the Qin people. So who was truly lucky?
According to the two translators, Alexander was actually quite lucky not to encounter the Qin people during his eastern expedition; otherwise, his illustrious reputation would have been completely ruined.

Alexander's Macedonian Empire was the most powerful nation the two translators had ever heard of, but the Qin state was the strongest nation they could truly feel.

Especially after becoming an interpreter accompanying the Qin delegation, he gained a deeper understanding of how powerful the Qin state was. Among all the states in the world, only the Qin state was strong, and none of the others could compare. Even if the Macedonian Empire of Alexander's time were to reappear, it would still be far inferior.

Moreover, the Qin Dynasty has not yet reached its limit and is still growing stronger every day!
The Qin envoys had promised the accompanying translators that after this mission, they would obtain Qin citizenship, be able to bring their families to live in Qin, and become citizens of Qin.

This was also a major reason why the translators were willing to follow the mission despite the hardships: if the mission was successful, they would become esteemed citizens of Qin.

No, even if the mission fails and they die on the way, the Qin Dynasty will still grant their families Qin citizenship.

Wang Ling made this promise to these translators not only to entice them with benefits, but also because there was a shortage of translation talent in the era. Recruiting these people back to Qin would fill the gap for Qin.

Moreover, these people can serve as teachers, cultivating more translation talents for the Qin Dynasty.

After hearing the translator's words, Guan Ying frowned. He had long heard that the Seleucids were arrogant, but he hadn't expected them to be so.

What do you mean by "the Qin Dynasty was lucky"? Does my Qin Dynasty need to avoid Alexander's sharp edge?
Guan Ying didn't mince words, saying bluntly, "I know Alexander. He didn't continue his eastward expedition because he was lucky, not because of Qin. If he had marched east to Qin, I'm afraid his lifelong reputation would have been ruined!"

"Moreover, as far as I know, Alexander did not conquer the Mauryan Empire, and it's not that he didn't want to continue his eastward campaign, but rather that he was no longer able to continue."

"If he was truly so wise and insightful, why did Macedonia so quickly fall apart after his death?"

Upon hearing Guan Ying's words, both translators showed excitement on their faces, almost applauding and cheering for him on the spot: "General Guan Ying, you're right! You've been annoyed by these Seleucids for a long time. They're always arrogant and look down on this and that."

Without any embellishment, the two translated Guan Ying's words verbatim, and the leading knight's face immediately turned extremely ugly, and he subconsciously gripped his weapon.

These barbarians from the East dare to disrespect the great Alexander!
(End of this chapter)