Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 258 Work

Outside Jinyang City, in the Jiayuan agricultural and pastoral area.

Accompanied by a deep and powerful "putt-putt" sound, the agricultural and pastoral area was bustling with activity.

Several strangely shaped steel behemoths were seen slowly moving across a more flat and open reserved plot of land, billowing thick smoke.

The thick iron chimney spewed out white smoke, and the steam pushed the lever, producing a dull thud.

Clearly, this is not something that should exist in this era.

Experimental agricultural machinery powered by steam.

The steam-powered farm machinery pulled a much larger iron plow than a regular harrow, moving smoothly forward. With each step it took, it left behind a neat, loose mound of earth.

The driver of the farm machine had just shown a look of surprise, but after only a few minutes, his face fell back in frustration.

The steam farm machinery has broken down again.

The man, dressed in a scholar's robe with the hem tucked into his belt, jumped out of the driver's seat. He bent down and carefully inspected the connection between the cylinder and the drive wheel. His face was covered in grease, and he looked focused. It was none other than Han Ji, the clerk in charge of engineering.

"Han Si! Is Big Iron Bull throwing a tantrum again?"

Several craftsmen ran over and took over the inspection as well.

Han Ji straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and showed a frustrated yet gratified smile: "This guy still has a bad temper, but he's much better this time than last time, you see."

He pointed to the distance markers on the land behind the steam farm machinery.

"Three hundred and twenty-seven meters! That's more than two hundred meters more than the fifty-three meters we covered last time! Success is within reach!"

Several craftsmen, wearing heat-insulating protective gear, disassembled the power unit at the front of the steam farm machine and inspected it piece by piece.

One of them looked at the reclaimed land with a smile on his face: "Last time, the air pressure safety valve was not precise enough, which caused serious gas leakage. This time, we haven't seen any leaks along the way. At least one aspect is now up to standard."

Han Ji nodded: "Yes, progress is success. We'll see where the problems are this time. I wonder when we'll be able to produce the cargo that the lord mentioned, which can travel four or five hundred li a day and carry hundreds of thousands of shi of goods."

"Master Ma, do you think we can really create the artifact that our lord spoke of?"

Ma Ran stroked his beard and chuckled: "It should be possible, Han Si. Look, haven't we already developed a plow that can drive a plow that's over ten meters wide?"

Han Ji sighed softly and chuckled, "That's true."

As soon as the two finished their conversation, the craftsmen at the front of the steam-powered farm machinery identified the problem.

A craftsman, holding a slightly deformed shaft-connecting gear in pliers, approached and said, "We've found the problem. There's something wrong with the parameters of this part. It has some eccentric deformation, though it's very small. But as the farm machinery operates, the degree of deformation increases, and eventually it gets stuck."

Han Ji took the pliers and measured it several times with his calipers: "Record it. Reforge it when you get back to ensure the quality of the workpiece."

"promise!"

Jinyang City, the core area of ​​the Craftsmen's Camp.

This place is bustling with activity day and night; it is the crucible and heart of Bingzhou's power.

Various water-powered or steam-driven forging hammers rise and fall day and night, producing deafening roars, hammering the red-hot iron billets into the required shapes.

Inside the largest "fire chamber" workshop, several improved second-generation steam engines, like crouching steel behemoths, emitted deep and powerful roars.

A robust connecting rod drives a massive flywheel to spin at high speed, which, through a complex network of gears and drive shafts, distributes the surging power to rows of forging hammers, rolls, and blowers within the workshop. Scorching air currents, carrying coal dust, churn within the workshop, and the deafening noise requires shouting to even speak face-to-face.

However, within this seemingly chaotic and noisy environment, there exists a strange, highly organized order.

The craftsmen each performed their duties, like gears in a precision machine.

Near a steam engine running at full speed, driving a set of heavy forging hammers, Old He was tilting his ear and listening intently.

His calloused and scalded hands gently stroked the outer wall of the cylinder, feeling the regular and powerful vibrations.

He is Lao He, one of the most senior blacksmiths in Jinyang Workshop, and the one who was forced to learn the secrets of steam after following Zhang Xian from Taoyuan to Bingzhou.

From initial confusion and resistance to current obsession and immersion, his journey is a microcosm of how the Bingzhou artisan class faced the impact of the steam age.

"Boss He! The pressure gauge needle on machine number three is shaking a bit too much! Can you take a look?" A young apprentice craftsman shouted loudly amidst the noise, his face showing tension and sweat.

Old He immediately strode over, squinted, and stared intently at the mercury column jumping in the translucent glass tube fixed above the cylinder. He then bent down to check the status of the safety valve and the boiler water level.

"You added coal too quickly! The fire is too strong, and the steam pressure is surging too high! Add coal more steadily!"

Old He's voice was like sandpaper scraping: "Little Liu! Turn the intake valve off half a turn! Yes, slowly!... Okay! Hold on!"

While giving instructions, he personally picked up a long-handled iron hook and adjusted the distribution of coal in the furnace, his movements precise and rhythmic.

As he adjusted it, the wildly pulsating mercury column in the glass tube gradually stabilized within a safe range, and the deafening roar of the steam engine seemed to soften a bit.

The young apprentice breathed a long sigh of relief, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Old He.

Old He straightened up, wiped the sweat and coal dust from his face, and looked at the machine in front of him that was steadily outputting powerful energy, his eyes shining with pride.

"Remember this, when it comes to taking care of this iron thing, brute force alone won't do; you have to understand its 'temperament'! If it's breathing too fast (high air pressure), you have to help it catch its breath (adjust its air intake)."

It's thirsty (low water level), so you need to give it water quickly; it's tired (overheated bearing), so you need to lubricate it! Treat it like a living creature, like a stubborn ox, and once you understand its needs, it will be your most obedient and powerful treasure!

The surrounding craftsmen laughed at the simple analogy, but their smiles revealed their deep agreement.

A clerk in charge of recording data came over and handed Lao He a hardwood plaque about half the size of his palm, polished smooth. The plaque had the number "Grade A, 73" clearly stamped on it with a branding iron, along with a simple outline of a steam engine.

"Master Craftsman He, the third batch of 'experts' you trained have all passed today's assessment! This is your 'Master Craftsman's Token.' With this token, you and the twenty-seven apprentices you trained can apply to be transferred to the 'Research and Development Institute' at any time to participate in the trial production of new models!"

The clerk spoke with respect.

Old He took the wooden plaque, his rough fingers caressing the warm wood and clear brand marks, as if stroking a lover's skin.

He looked around at the young faces around him, sweating profusely amidst the roar of steam and the flying sparks, yet with unusually focused and bright eyes, and his heart was filled with emotion.

"Research institute... Great!"

Old He carefully tucked the wooden plaque into his pocket, his eyes filled with satisfaction. As one of the old crew members who came to Bingzhou from Taoyuan with Zhang Xian, he was originally qualified to enter the research institute directly. However, when he thought of the hardships he had faced on the railway and looked at these energetic young men, he hesitated.

In the end, he chose to cultivate talent, passing on everything he had learned from the manor lord over the years.

Looking back, he couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

"Two years ago, you could count on one hand the number of people in the entire Bingzhou who could operate this iron ox! Look at it now!"

He looked at the busy figures in the huge workshop. "Just in Jinyang alone, there are over 1,500 'experts' who have received the certification from the Bureau of Works! Add Lishi and Jiuyuan together, and there are at least eight or nine hundred! More than two thousand people! They've all figured out the ins and outs of this iron machine!"

"Han Si peeked at me the other day, saying that the lord is thinking about an even bigger thing... The blueprints have been drawn up several times. It's not for blacksmithing, nor for plowing... He said he wants it to 'run' on its own, dragging a mountain of cargo, running more steadily than the fastest horse!"

"A self-running iron cart?" The young craftsmen nearby immediately erupted in a commotion, their eyes wide with surprise.

"Boss, is it true?"

"That would require... how much force?"

"Good heavens, wouldn't that become a divine object?"

Looking at the faces filled with shock and endless imagination, Old He chuckled, revealing his teeth stained black with coal dust.

"A divine object? In our lord's hands, what divine object can't become real? All of you, perk up and hone your skills even more! Take better care of Iron Ox! When our lord's 'running iron thing' is finally produced, we old buddies will be there to 'deliver' it!"

"Cheer up, everyone! If your skills don't meet the standards in the future, I won't be playing with you guys anymore! I have more important things to do!"

"Oh!"

The artisans' enthusiasm was instantly ignited to its peak.

The roar of the steam engine seemed to grow even stronger, and the flying sparks seemed to carry a burning anticipation for the future.

These two thousand-plus craftsmen, who had a thorough understanding of steam engines and were skilled in disassembling, assembling, and using them, were like two thousand seeds buried deep in the fertile soil of Bingzhou, waiting for a thunderclap to break through the soil and support a steel framework that transcended the times.

As dusk settled, the afterglow of the setting sun bathed the majestic outline of Jinyang City in a warm golden hue.

The bustling workshop area gradually quieted down after a day of noise, with only the huge chimneys still emitting wisps of smoke.

Farmers carrying their tools walk along the ridges on their way home, their shadows stretched long.

From the direction of the elite troops camp, one could faintly hear the unified shouts and heavy footsteps, the sound of the elite troops doing their evening exercises after a day of rigorous training.

Xun Yu walked alone to the watchtower of the north gate of Jinyang City.

The wind was strong at this height, causing his wide robe sleeves to flutter and rustle. He leaned on the railing and gazed into the distance, his eyes sweeping across the vast plains beyond the city.

Looking towards Zhao Yuze, he could almost see fertile fields stretching for miles, crisscrossed by paths, where newly sown seeds were greedily absorbing the earth's nutrients, waiting to sprout.

Although Yanmen County was out of sight, he could almost see the equally vibrant fields there, and the fire of public sentiment ignited by the new policies.

The smoke rising from the workshop area gradually faded into the twilight, but the power it held remained heavy.

Further away, the lights of the elite barracks lit up one after another, like newly born stars on the earth.

Spring tides have already swept over every inch of Bingzhou.

This was followed by an incredibly lively martial arts tournament that propelled Jinyang's economy to new heights in just six months.

Unconsciously, a long-lost, genuinely relaxed smile appeared on Xun Yu's lips.

The sky over Bingzhou, this land they have painstakingly cultivated, is responding to their efforts with unprecedented vitality.

The former general's residence, inner study.

The candlelight was bright and steady, casting a clear image of the figure bent over the desk onto the wall.

Zhang Xian changed out of his daytime military or official uniform and wore only a comfortable dark-colored casual outfit.

On the desk were piles of documents and files submitted by Xun Yu, Han Ji, Chen Ji and others: the progress of spring planting in Zhaoyuze, a summary of newly reclaimed land in Yanmen, a list of "skilled craftsmen" and their assessment results in each workshop, and a brief report on the discipline of the Ruishi Battalion on the first day... These cold numbers and words, at this moment, were more vivid in his eyes than any painting.

He carefully flipped through each document, occasionally picking up a pen to write brief annotations or instructions in the blank spaces.

When he saw Han Ji's summary of the steam plow's performance in Zhaoyuze and the results of the craftsman training at the end of the workshop report, especially the sentence "Two thousand five hundred skilled craftsmen have laid a solid foundation and can be put to great use," his finger tapped lightly on the words "great use," and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

After reviewing the last official document from Yanmen County requesting an additional batch of curved plows to cope with the surge in newly reclaimed land, Zhang Xian put down his pen and let out a long sigh of relief.

He did not get up immediately, but reached into a locked sandalwood box next to the table and took out a roll of thick parchment carefully tied with silk rope.

Untie the silk rope and slowly unfold it.

The paper was not an official document, nor a map, but a carefully drawn pattern made with fine charcoal sticks.

The lines are strong yet fluid, outlining a powerful steel structure.

The massive boiler sits at the core, with a thick chimney pointing backward, and complex connecting rods, crankshafts, flywheels, and transmission devices forming the network of power transmission.

Below are two sturdy chassis structures with huge iron wheels.

The blank spaces on the drawings were densely marked with symbols, dimensions, and calculation formulas that only Zhang Xian could fully understand.

Scattered around were several smaller sketches depicting key details such as the steering mechanism and braking system.

—A conceptual sketch of a steam-powered vehicle (experimental model).

Xian's gaze lingered on the blueprints for a long time, his fingertips slowly tracing the cold lines, as if he could feel the surging heat contained within them, enough to tear apart the power shackles of the old era.

The candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows on his focused profile.

More than two thousand craftsmen with a thorough understanding of steam power... this framework is sufficient!

The study was completely silent, with only the occasional soft crackling of the candle wick.

Outside the window, the lights of thousands of homes in Jinyang City gradually lit up, reflecting the rising stars on the horizon.

In the fields, one can faintly hear the off-key singing of farmers returning home, a sound that is both distant and reassuring.

Zhang Xian picked up a fine charcoal pencil and heavily circled the number next to "drive wheel transmission ratio" on the drawing, which had been repeatedly revised, leaving a firm ink mark.

He could almost hear the first earth-shaking roar of the steam train on this ancient and vast land.

"My lord, Governor Zhang has returned."

Ah Shan's voice rang out from outside the door.

"understood."

Zhang Xian put away the blueprints and slowly stood up. Zhang Ning, who had led his men to Black Mountain to persuade the remaining Yellow Turban rebels to surrender, had returned.

(End of this chapter)