My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

They skillfully located a hidden hatch on the side and rear of the vehicle, pulled the lever hard, and with a "creak," a heavy iron door opened, revealing a narrow interior space and a steep iron ladder.

The craftsmen climbed in one by one, their figures disappearing among the complex mechanical components.

Standing at a distance, Zhu Cilang could clearly see that the interior space was cramped, filled with pipes, valves, and connecting rods, and the operating environment must have been extremely harsh.

He could imagine the arduous efforts that Wang Hui and the craftsmen had made to create and control this behemoth!

For safety reasons, Wang Hui respectfully invited Zhu Cilang, Bi Maokang, and others to move to the terrace of a two-story brick and stone building on the edge of the test site to watch the test.

The view from here is expansive, allowing you to see the entire area clearly while maintaining a safe distance from that steel behemoth.

After all, this was the first time demonstrating in front of the Crown Prince, and no one could guarantee that everything would go perfectly.

Zhu Cilang readily accepted the good advice and, under the protection of his guards, ascended the terrace.

He gripped the railing, his gaze fixed on the steam locomotive standing quietly in the distance, its cold, metallic sheen gleaming in the spring sunlight, his heart filled with indescribable anticipation and excitement.

Is the prelude to the Industrial Revolution really going to be quietly unveiled in this corner of the capital of the Ming Dynasty by the hands of these wise craftsmen?
He held his breath, waiting for that historic moment.

After a brief silence, a faint murmur of metallic clanging and low voices echoed from inside the behemoth.

Immediately afterwards, near the bottom of the behemoth, a dark red light suddenly shone from a cleverly designed observation hole!
The fire was initially weak, but with the whooshing sound of the wind and the faint crackling of firewood being thrown into the furnace, the fire quickly became brighter and more stable.

Then, a thick, grayish-black smoke, smelling of sulfur and tar, began to rise from the massive chimney at the top of the behemoth, which required two people to encircle it. At first, it was just a few wisps, but it quickly coalesced into a straight, increasingly thick plume of black smoke that shot straight into the azure sky!
The air began to fill with a unique smell of coal, kerosene, and hot metal.

"Ignition!"

Someone exclaimed in a low voice.

Zhu Cilang gripped the railing tightly; he could almost picture what lay inside:
Flames rose in the furnace, and the huge vertical boiler began to heat up. The water in the boiler gradually heated up. In order to generate enough high-pressure steam as soon as possible, the craftsmen would first put in dry firewood that was easy to ignite.

Once the fire has stabilized, high-quality charcoal with a higher calorific value and the ability to provide sustained high temperatures is added, and a small amount of fire-aiding oil may even be poured on to shorten the long preheating time.

One of the main reasons this steel behemoth is so enormous and bulky is to carry a massive amount of fuel! According to Wang Hui's previous rough estimate, the steel behemoth contains several tons of fuel! If it were to travel a long distance, the amount of fuel required would be astronomical.

This is precisely the insurmountable obstacle under current technological conditions: low thermal efficiency leads to extremely high fuel consumption.

At the same time, due to the limitations of current metallurgical, casting and processing technologies, many key components, such as boiler steel plates, cylinders, pistons, connecting rods, valves, etc., cannot be effectively reduced in size and weight in order to ensure sufficient strength and sealing to withstand high-pressure steam. They can only adopt this "clumsy, large and heavy" but reliable design.

All of this made it clear that this first steam locomotive was destined to be a behemoth.

"Woo!"

Suddenly, at that moment, a sharp, piercing whistle, like the roar of a wounded beast, tore through the air without warning!
The sound was so loud and so abrupt that it made many unprepared officials and guards on the terrace tremble and instinctively take a half step back, their faces showing horror!

Even Zhu Cilang was so startled by the sudden loud noise that his heart skipped a beat!
The steam whistle blared, announcing that the water inside the boiler had boiled and the pressure was rapidly increasing!
Then, something even more shocking happened!

"Boom! Boom! Crack! Boom! Crack!"

A series of deep, slow, yet irresistibly powerful metallic clanging and steam eruption sounds began to rise rhythmically!
The sound originated from the belly of the behemoth. High-pressure steam was driving a huge piston, which in turn drove a heavy connecting rod, which in turn drove the core mechanism of the twelve huge iron wheels to operate!

Each muffled "boom" is the sound of steam rushing into the cylinder.

Each "click" of metal meshing is the moment when the crankshaft turns, propelling the giant wheel to overcome static friction!

Amidst this rhythmic roar, like the heartbeat of an ancient giant, and before everyone's eyes, the steel behemoth, which had been as still as a mountain, actually began to move!

At first, the movement was extremely slow, almost imperceptible. All that could be seen was the contact point between the huge rubber tires and the compacted ground, which sank slightly under the immense pressure and made a squeaking sound.

But as the steam power continued to be output steadily, the behemoth's speed began to increase at a rate visible to the naked eye!

"It moved! It really moved!"

"My goodness! It walks on its own, without the need for oxen or horses!"

"This is simply Lu Ban reborn, a masterpiece of craftsmanship!"

On the terrace, exclamations of surprise, exclamations of admiration, and gasps of astonishment rose and fell!
Apart from a few core personnel, such as Bi Maokang and Wang Hui, who had participated in the research and development and had already witnessed this scene, all the other accompanying officials and guards were stunned by the sight that defied their common sense!
Such a huge and heavy vehicle could move slowly across the flat ground without being pulled by any animals, relying solely on its own roar and the steam it emitted! This completely overturned their preconceived notions!
The steel body, the billowing steam, the deafening roar, and the slow but determined forward movement combine to create an indescribable, oppressive visual and auditory impact that is deeply imprinted in everyone's mind!
Zhu Cilang stood at the very front of the terrace, leaning slightly forward, his breathing becoming rapid and his chest heaving with excitement! His eyes were fixed on the steel structure below that was coming to life, his eyes gleaming with extreme excitement and disbelief!

Only he knew best what this clumsy, slow, noisy, and billowing smoke-filled behemoth meant!
This is not a simple trick or ingenuity; it is the dawn of a power revolution! It is the prelude to the industrial age! It is the beginning of truly converting thermal energy into mechanical energy and using it for transportation!
Its significance is no less than, and perhaps even far greater than, the birth of that breech-loading rifle!

The steam locomotive began its journey around the spacious test track.

Its speed was not fast, roughly equivalent to a person walking briskly, but every step it took shook the ground, and the heavy wheels rolled over the ground, leaving deep ruts.

Thick black smoke billowed continuously from the chimney, while white steam hissed and escaped from the gaps in the cylinders and the pressure relief valves, accompanied by rhythmic booming sounds, creating a primitive yet awe-inspiring industrial scene.

It circled twice, fully demonstrating its driving ability and stability.

Although the turn was somewhat clumsy and required a large radius, the entire process was smooth and orderly, without any signs of malfunction. Finally, under the command of Wang Hui via flag signals, the internal craftsmen began to close the valves and reduce the fuel supply. The behemoth gradually slowed down, and with a long, weary sound of steam being released, it finally came to a steady stop in the center of the area, leaving only the slight hissing sound of the boiler's residual heat and wisps of smoke.

An eerie silence fell over the scene, everyone still immersed in the shocking moment, unable to recover for a long time.

Zhu Cilang took a deep breath, trying to calm his turbulent emotions.

He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Wang Hui beside him, whose face was flushed with nervousness and pride. His tone was filled with undeniable admiration and affirmation:

"My dear Wang! Excellent! Excellent! You and your craftsmen have truly given our Great Ming a tremendous surprise! The completion of this item is a great achievement for the present and a benefit for future generations! Its significance far surpasses that of ordinary conquests!"

"What you have accomplished for the Ming Dynasty is an immortal achievement that will last for ten thousand generations! This achievement is in no way inferior to the divine weapon presented by Minister Bi!"

He stepped forward and firmly grasped Wang Huiyin's hands, which were calloused and scarred from years of handling tools and metal, his gaze sincere and earnest.

"My dear Wang, what reward do you desire? High office and generous salary? Gold and silver? Land and mansions? Or a hereditary title to protect your descendants? Just name it, and I will grant it without hesitation! Tell me!"

Wang Hui felt the warmth emanating from the Crown Prince's hand and the weighty recognition and excitement in his words, and his heart was also filled with surging emotions.

However, he was more introverted and pragmatic by nature, unlike Bi Maokang who had been in officialdom for a long time, and he took a more indifferent view of rewards.

He then bowed slightly, his tone sincere and imbued with the simplicity characteristic of a craftsman:
"Your Highness's great favor moves me to tears! However, I believe that my duty lies in investigating things to acquire knowledge and creating things with ingenuity."

"To have gained Your Highness's trust and to have my humble skills put to use in developing this steam locomotive, which may bring some benefit to the country, is the greatest fortune of my life, far surpassing any high position or generous salary!"

"The completion of this item is not solely due to my efforts. It is also thanks to Your Highness's foresight and repeated guidance, as well as the hard work of all colleagues in the research institute and numerous craftsmen day and night."

"Therefore, I dare not claim credit for the work of Heaven, nor do I dare to ask for any extra rewards. I only wish to devote myself to researching and improving such useful tools that benefit the country and the people, and to promote their application. That would be enough for me!"

These words were spoken with sincerity and without any affectation.

Zhu Cilang listened with great relief.

It is a blessing for the Ming Dynasty to have such a pragmatic talent who is not interested in vanity and is dedicated to research! However, he also knew that not rewarding merit was not the act of a wise ruler, and would also discourage craftsmen from working in the world.

He patted Wang Hui's hand forcefully and laughed loudly:

"You are too modest, my dear minister! Your noble character is truly gratifying! However, the court has its own laws and regulations, and those who have made contributions must be rewarded in order to encourage others to follow. I have already promised you the title of marquis, and your contributions are no less than those of others!"

He hesitated for a moment, a decisive glint in his eyes, and raised his voice to make sure everyone on the terrace could hear him:

"How about this! I will first petition the Emperor to bestow upon you the title of Earl, a hereditary title! I will also grant you a certain amount of gold and silk, and a manor! Once the steam locomotive technology is mature and proves to be of great practical use in the national economy, people's livelihood, and military and national affairs, I will personally petition the Emperor to promote you to the title of Marquis!"

"My dear Wang, what do you think of this arrangement?"

Earl! Hereditary!
These six words exploded in Wang Hui's ears like a thunderclap!

He was originally just a scholar who failed the imperial examinations repeatedly and could only hold a sinecure in the Ministry of Works. Because of his passion for mechanics, he was often regarded as an "oddball" by his colleagues.

Who would have thought that one day I would be granted the title of Earl because of this "extraordinary skill"! And it would be hereditary!

This is an incredible leap to the top! It brings glory to the family and ancestors!
Overwhelmed by the immense surprise and joy, Wang Hui felt dizzy and trembled with excitement. He could barely speak and collapsed to his knees, his voice choked with emotion:
"Your subject, Wang Hui, kowtows to express his gratitude to Your Highness the Crown Prince for your boundless grace! Your Highness's kindness is like a second birth! I will do my utmost, even unworthy, to repay Your Highness's kindness! Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness! Long live Your Highness!"

"Get up! Get up!"

Zhu Cilang quickly bent down and personally helped Wang Hui up, speaking solemnly.

"Your talent is unparalleled! The future prosperity of the Ming Dynasty will depend heavily on you! Whatever you need, whether it be talent, money, or materials, just ask me! I will do my best to support you! I hope you will live up to my expectations, continue your efforts, and make this divine object shine across the land of our Ming Dynasty as soon as possible!"

"Your Majesty, I obey your decree! I will certainly not fail your trust!"

Wang Hui stood up, tears welling in his eyes, his heart filled with the excitement and determination of a scholar willing to die for one who understands him.

After Wang Hui calmed down a bit, Zhu Cilang steered the conversation back to the steam locomotive itself, pointing to the enormous machine in the room and asking:
“Minister Wang, this vehicle is incredibly powerful, but it is enormous and slow-moving. If we want to use it in actual combat, such as transporting it to the Liaodong front, it will not be easy.”

"Resupplying fuel along the way is a huge problem, and repairing worn-out parts is also extremely inconvenient. Does my lord have any good solutions for this?"

When the topic turned to specific technical issues, Wang Hui immediately regained his composure and focus. After a moment's thought, he answered clearly and logically:
"Your Highness's concerns are very valid! This carriage does indeed have this problem. I have discussed it with several master craftsmen and we believe that it can be improved from two aspects."

"Firstly, it is called 'breaking down the whole into parts'. Key components of this vehicle, such as boilers, cylinders, transmission mechanisms, and wheels, can be disassembled and manufactured separately, marked with serial numbers. During transportation, they can be disassembled, loaded onto vehicles, and transported in sections by mules or a caravan to the destination. Then, a flat and solid place can be selected locally to reassemble them according to the plan."

"In this way, the problem of long-distance travel can be solved, but assembly requires skilled craftsmen and takes a long time."

"Secondly, it is called 'striving for excellence' and continuing to research and strive to reduce the size and weight of the steam engine and improve its thermal efficiency."

"However, this is not something that can be accomplished overnight. It involves many challenges in materials, processes, and design, and requires a gradual approach. It is unlikely to be accomplished in one fell swoop."

It's clear that Wang Wei is indeed very intelligent! (End of Chapter)