Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 226 Steam Power
Yinshan River Valley, a region of craftsmanship.

The massive shed frame has been erected, and a sturdy tiled roof is being laid.

Inside the shed, Han Ji personally led the supplies to Jiuyuan to oversee the operation. A group of veteran craftsmen who had come from Taiyuan skillfully worked together to move two huge cast iron artifacts out of the boxes.

These are the lord's treasures: two primitive steam engines made of cast iron cylinders, brass pistons, and complex connecting rods and flywheels.

Their rough metallic lines gleamed with a cold, hard luster in the dim light.

"Start assembling!" Han Ji waved his hand and took the lead, rolling up his sleeves to get started.

A dozen or so old craftsmen worked together to lift the heavy cast iron boiler and place it on the pre-built brick and stone base.

Han Ji made comparisons while giving instructions.

"Slow down! Slow down! Align it with the bolt hole! If it's even slightly off, it'll snap when you apply pressure again!"

The machine slowly descended into place, and Han Ji wiped the grease off his face.

"Chief Han, the sealing of this condenser pipe..." another foreman asked, coming over with the blueprints.

Han Ji squatted beside the machine, his fingers tracing the cold metal pipes.

"Here, add another layer of oil-soaked hemp rope and packing! Tighten the cap screws two more turns! Remember, steam is not water, not a single leak is allowed! If it leaks, it's not just the steam that's leaking, it's our lives!"

"Rest assured, Chief Secretary, we understand!"

The artisans responded.

They held their breath and focused intently, their movements becoming even more precise and cautious.

The wrench was turned more carefully, and the calibration method was extremely cautious.

"ignition!"

After seeing that the machine had been assembled, Han Ji straightened up after checking it several times, took a deep breath, and gave the order.

The apprentices nearby immediately took over.

The red-hot coals were shoved into the furnace with an iron rod, and the blower was running at full speed, the hot air swirling around the flames and licking the bottom of the huge cast iron boiler.

Time seemed to slow down, and all eyes were fixed on the barometer standing atop the boiler.

The red liquid column rose extremely slowly in the not-so-transparent frosted glass tube. Fortunately, although the glass was rough, the extremely bright red liquid was still clearly visible.

A faint hissing sound came from a certain interface. As soon as the sound was heard, all the craftsmen immediately became alert and quickly began to check.

"Interface number three!" An old craftsman, quick as a flash, grabbed a large wrench and rushed over.

His bulging arm burst forth with astonishing power, tightly choking the gap that could have caused disaster! Scalding steam sprayed onto the old scars on his arm, instantly turning them red, but he seemed oblivious.

"Whoever is responsible for this interface will have to go and accept their punishment later!"

Han Ji sternly reprimanded him a few times, and an old craftsman lowered his head in guilt.

Fortunately, the crisis was averted. The leaking area was tightened a few more times and then reinforced with an oil-soaked hemp rope.

Although the use of vulcanized rubber has solved a large part of the sealing difficulties, the machine that is tapped by hand still has some gaps that require additional treatment.

But that's nothing. Creating something from scratch is the hardest part, while subsequent improvements are much simpler.

At present, Taiyuan County is making extensive use of steam power under Zhang Xian's instruction in order to accumulate experience in its use and to collect problems and directions for improvement.

With enough experience, perfectly replicating the steam engine of later generations will be a piece of cake!

While waiting, the air pressure finally climbed to the preset red mark!
"Open the valve!"

Han Ji's voice trembled slightly.

Every time you turn it on, it's a test.

The heavy brass intake valve was slowly opened.

Puff.

A surge of blazing white steam burst forth and instantly poured into the cold cylinder! The massive piston rod shuddered violently, and then, propelled by kinetic energy, emitted a dull and powerful clanging sound.

Then it began to reciprocate! The huge flywheel connected to it initially turned somewhat sluggishly... but as the power increased, it quickly became faster and faster, emitting a deep hum!
"It's done! It's done!"

Cheers erupted inside the work shed!

The craftsmen's faces, stained with sweat and oil, radiated genuine joy.

The old craftsman who had risked tightening the screws earlier finally released the wrench with peace of mind, grinning silently.

Han Jichang let out a long sigh of relief, his tense shoulders relaxing, and then he gave the order.

"Connect the pumping units immediately! Draw water from the Yinshan River into Jiuyuan!"

"promise!"

a few days later.

East of Jiuyuan City, the construction site of a newly planned water storage pond.

The huge pit has been excavated and is being laid with a pebble impermeable layer at the bottom.

Hundreds of prisoners and exiles toiled under the supervision of their overseers, sweating profusely.

Xu Mao stood on the high ground by the pond, his brows furrowed as he gazed at the dried-up riverbed.

The irrigation canal had been dug for several days, but the water level of the Yinshan River was too low, and the water could not be drawn to this high slope for a long time.

"Foreman Xu, the water isn't coming in! The pool is about to dry up!"

A local official came running anxiously.

Just as Xu Mao was about to speak, he heard a muffled tremor suddenly come from the ground.

A deep, resonant sound of steam rang out!
Everyone looked in astonishment toward the sound.

From the east side of the riverbank, a group of people were running towards them, pushing a cart loaded with ceramic and rubber pipes.

Beside the valley, several machines were submerged in the water. Something seemed to have sucked the river water in, directing it into pipes that flowed upstream up the slope, before rushing out through the pipes. Whoosh!
The pipeline connects to the water storage tank. Rubber pipes are used in places where it is difficult to install, and ceramic pipes are used in flatter areas. That's how it was laid all the way.

As the pump continued to operate, water gushed out of the pipes.

In an instant, water splashed everywhere, and the sound was like thunder!
The dry pebbles were instantly submerged, and the clear river water rapidly accumulated and rose in the pool at a speed visible to the naked eye!
“Water! It’s water! A miracle! A miracle!” A Hu prisoner knelt down with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly in the direction of the gushing water, his face filled with both fear and shock.

"The pumping team has come to provide support on the orders of Chief Secretary Han!"

A dozen or so people ran up to Xu Mao and said something.

"It's the craftsmen's camp! It's Chief Secretary Han's machine! Chief Secretary Han's machine is finished!"

The young clerk beside Xu Mao, upon learning of the situation, excitedly patted Xu Mao on the shoulder.

The prisoners stopped what they were doing, the migrants dropped their carrying poles and baskets, and everyone stared blankly at the water flowing continuously into the large pool.

Xu Mao wiped his face hard, suppressing the shock and excitement in his eyes.

He roared, "What are you all standing there for?! Ram the pool walls with earth! Cover them with stones! Quick! Get moving!!"

The crowd then seemed to awaken from their daze.

Inside the workshop of the Crafts Bureau, Han Ji and his team had already begun their second task.

The glowing red charcoal burned fiercely inside the furnace, and the blower, driven by steam power, emitted a continuous and powerful roar, sending heat in steadily.

The steam engine power of this machine was not used to drive the water pump, but was transmitted through a complex gear and linkage system to a much larger machine, the steam forging hammer!

Its main body is a cast iron hammerhead weighing thousands of kilograms, which is suspended high by a thick steel connecting rod.

At this moment, steam power drives the linkage mechanism, raising the huge hammer to its highest point.

Below, a huge iron weight, just taken from the charcoal fire and glowing white, was held firmly in place by two bare-chested, muscular craftsmen with long iron tongs, fixed to an equally massive cast iron anvil.

The heatwave distorted the air, scorching the craftsmen until they were drenched in sweat.

"Slam the hammer!" Han Ji stood beside the control lever and waved his hand to give the order.

The craftsman in charge of operating it suddenly pressed down on the heavy brass handle!

Whoosh—Bang!

The cylinder roared, and the connecting rod released! That terrifying hammer, weighing over a thousand pounds, slammed down with tremendous force onto the incandescent iron block!
boom! ! !
A deafening roar erupted! The entire shed trembled, and dust fell from the tiled roof.

Sparks flew everywhere, and red-hot iron filings struck the surrounding protective iron plates, producing a series of crackling sounds.

The incredibly hard incandescent iron weight was instantly deformed like a soft lump of mud under this hammer blow!

"Rise again! Reduce altitude!" Han Ji's roar drowned out the echo.

The hammerhead rose again under the power of the steam.

"Fall again!"

boom! ! ! !

Another heavy blow!
After several repetitions, and only six or seven hammer blows later, the iron lump that would have taken more than a dozen blacksmiths half a day to forge into shape had been transformed into a huge iron plate of uniform thickness and regular shape! It was dark red all over, still radiating heat, and had neat edges.

"Pull it out, reduce the sheet size and punch a hole!"

"promise!"

The apprentices pushed the cart closer, and several of them worked together to pull the iron sheet onto the cart with clamps. Then they pushed it aside and, while it was still hot, cut it into even strips next to the cutting shears.

This work can only be done while it's hot; once the iron plate has completely cooled down, it will be much more difficult to cut it open.

"Stop!" Han Ji raised his hand.

The steam valve was closed, and the huge hammer head pressed against the anvil. Only the scorching heat sizzled on the anvil, and white steam rose from it.

The entire shed fell into a deathly silence.

Apart from the hissing sound of the steam engine's cooling system, there was only the heavy, labored breathing of the craftsmen.

"Wuyuan is not like Taiyuan. We must complete our war preparations as soon as possible to ensure that the armor of all our soldiers is in good condition!"

Han Ji's voice rang out again.

"You can all see this iron contraption in front of you! From a single iron billet to its final form, it only took half an incense stick's time! In one day, I want it to forge enough armor plates to repair thousands of suits of armor! Can you do it?!"

After a brief silence, a deafening roar erupted from inside the work shed: "Yes!!!"

"Okay! Let's get started!"

"Oh!"
-
In the stillness of the night, the sound of watchtowers signaling the night patrol could be clearly heard in the camp.

Wu Qiong tossed and turned, the deafening roar of victory from a few days ago and the mysterious rumbling sounds of the past two days still lingering in his mind.

He put on his clothes, got up, and quietly stepped out of the tent.

On a cold night in the north, the stars shone exceptionally brightly, and the Milky Way stretched across the sky.

In the direction of the valley's artisan district, the outlines of several tall workshops remain conspicuous in the night, and the continuous, low rumbling sounds come from there.

"What... exactly is that monster?"

Wu Qiong muttered to herself, a chill rising up her spine.

He increasingly felt that this trip would be difficult; Zhang Xian's territory was like an impenetrable wall, preventing him from spying on them.

He turned back to his tent, and by the dim light of the oil lamp, he picked up his pen and wrote on the draft of the secret memorial he carried with him.

"The army under the Marquis of Jinxiang is in formidable, with superior weaponry far exceeding anything previously known... A massive roar can be heard from within the camp, its purpose unknown, yet it is awe-inspiring... Observing his administration, the laws are strict, and although the soldiers and civilians are in ruins, their expressions are calm and orderly... The people's hearts..."

When he wrote the words "people's hearts," he paused, recalling the migrants he had seen during the day working hard on the construction site. Although their eyes showed fatigue, they did not show numbness or despair; they seemed to have inexhaustible energy.

He hesitated for a moment, but finally wrote heavily: "...However, although I have not yet arrived in Jinyang, I have observed the diligence of the people, and under the rule of the Marquis of Jinxiang...the hearts of the people...are with him..."

(End of this chapter)