What's wrong with building a steel torrent in a dungeon?

Goblin?

scholar?

Researching steam engines?

Is there something wrong with my cognition, or is there something wrong with the city of Orila?

In the eyes of all races, goblins are a group of low-level creatures that are smelly, dirty, and can only rob and pillage. At best, they can only bully characters like knights and nuns. Such a race does not even have its own language and writing! How can they become scholars?

At this moment, a gray dwarf came over modestly, holding a book and said respectfully: "Teacher, can you help me see where the problem is in the calculation here?"

Old, teacher??

Kreltz pushed his glasses and said, "The most taboo thing when solving triple integrals is to rush for speed. Look at this, the constant of the power is omitted. Also, this type of problem is obviously more intuitive using spherical coordinates, why do you insist on using positive coordinates (Cartesian coordinates)? Why don't you think about this problem again with a different way of thinking, okay?"

"Yes! I understand. Thank you, teacher!" The gray dwarf trotted away.

Multiple integrals? Spherical coordinates?

What are they talking about?

Galanodi suddenly felt that he was the barbaric creature.

Chapter 280 Steam Hegemony

Fran saw everything, so she smiled and said, "Jia Lan, it is clear that we have huge prejudices against many races in the main plane. Just like the dark elves before."

"I'm sorry, it's my lack of knowledge." Galanodier said hurriedly: "I apologize for my previous arrogance and prejudice."

"Miss Elf, you don't have to apologize." Krelz said, "I've been traveling in the main plane for so long, I've gotten used to it. And among so many races, Miss Elf, your reaction is already very good. At least better than most of the races I've encountered."

"But..." Krelz said, "Please forgive me for being biased for once! It's really rare to find an elf interested in steel and machinery. Under normal circumstances, elves shouldn't sneer at these things. Why does Miss Elf want to come and see the steam engine?"

Galannodier pondered for a moment, then said, "The upper elves of the Elf Empire have blinded the elves' view of the world, making them arrogant and rude. I don't think I'm a rare elf. I just put aside my arrogance and prejudice and became like a normal life form."

As expected of the High Priest of the Elves, this answer is absolutely flawless.

Galannodil's words neither lowered his status too much to make people look down upon him, nor did he point out the problem of the elves. In the end, he also expressed his own position, which was particularly important.

Are all these diplomacy experts so good?

Fran put herself in the other person's shoes and thought about it. If it were her, she would probably just say something like: "These idiots don't know what's good."

Under the guidance and explanation of Krelz, Galannodier had a general understanding of the principles of the steam engine.

"The seemingly weak steam can actually push such heavy steel. It's incredible." Galanodil couldn't help but say.

"There's nothing incredible about it." Fran said, "Aren't we the ordinary people who originally had no power, no name, and no identity the ones who push the steel of history? We are all the same."

After these words came out, Galannodiel was stunned for a moment.

Maybe this is why the steam engine came into being in Fran's hands.

Fran did not believe in those lofty and illusory powers. She only believed in the seemingly powerless, humble and nameless companions around her, and then gathered them together, and finally shook the things that were originally unshakable.

After the group arrived at the steam engine production workshop, Vanessa took over Krelz's responsibility and served as the tour guide.

As a senior steam engine engineer, Vanessa knows a little more about engineering than the scholar Kreltz.

However, Fran obviously overestimated Galanodier's knowledge. As an elf, Galanodier's knowledge of physics and mathematics was quite lacking. Even though Galanodier was quite good, this knowledge was not enough for the specially trained engineers of the academy.

When Vanessa started to explain the speed control structure, Galanodier was already feeling dizzy and quickly called a halt.

She really didn't expect that such a big lump of iron would contain so many mechanical structures and a large number of parts.

Looking at the tightly fitting parts, blades, levers and other delicate structures on the machine, Galannodil immediately thought of the holy patterns on the surface of the seeds of the Tree of Life.

Whenever the god Shiloh bestows holy light, the ordinary seeds on the altar will evolve into seeds of the sacred tree in the light. These seeds will be covered with a large number of mysterious holy patterns, and when the divine magician injects divine power, the holy patterns will emit a faint light.

Throughout history, countless talented elf scholars have risked being roasted to try to study the meaning of the holy runes, but all of them have failed without exception. This is not only because the Elf Empire has banned research, but also because the holy runes themselves are very complicated.

However, compared to the holy pattern, the steam engine is just as complex, although the latter is much larger than a seed.

The key point is that the city of Aurora fully understands the complex structure of the steam engine and can transform and upgrade it. But the elves still know nothing about the holy pattern, let alone transformation. Even if they copy the holy pattern, they can't produce new seeds without the help of holy light.

This is the biggest difference between the two.

After visiting the production workshop, they went to the last place, the steam engine laboratory.

There were a large number of scholars writing and drawing around numbers, and discussing loudly from time to time. Some scholars were so excited in the discussion that they didn't even realize Fran's arrival.

Fran told Galanodier that the scholars here were only a small part of the steam engine research, and they were responsible for the transmission device on the steam engine. There were also special research groups for other parts, but they were no longer here.

Kreltz also told Galannodil that there are more than a dozen departments responsible for overall coordination, including the steam engine research and development department, structure department, alloy material department, etc. These are all under the Orila City Engineering Institute. At the same level is the Orila City Science Institute, which specializes in basic mathematics, basic physics, etc.

Galannodier roughly estimated the number of scholars among them and was immediately shocked by the scale.

In some medium-sized countries on the main plane, it would be amazing to find so many scholars, let alone so many people who can read, write and calculate. But in a "wild" place like Orila City, it is possible to gather so many scholars.

This is obviously not because the people of the Holy Roer Empire love to study. Before this, everyone knew that the Holy Roer Empire was full of illiterate people, and even the nobles of Gundo could only write their own names. Such a big change can only be due to Fran's silent efforts for the cause of education.

After finally visiting all the places that could be visited, Fran asked with a smile: "Jia Lan, the question you asked before should now have an answer."

The question is why the steam engine, a secret weapon, was sold publicly.

Galannodil nodded and said, "I understand. The complexity of steam engines far exceeds that of firearms. Even if they are sold, other forces will never be able to copy them. In the end, they will still have to find you. There is no need to worry about other competitors like with firearms."

But in fact, Fran's arms have no decent competitors so far. The speed of firearms iteration is too fast, and others can't keep up. The cost of imitating it is much higher than buying it directly.

The technology required to imitate the steam engine is obviously countless times more advanced than that of firearms.

It is unknown how much effort has been put into this by engineers and scholars. Moreover, as the design of the steam engine continues to evolve, the technical barriers are becoming increasingly thicker. Even if the principle and structure are made public in the future, other forces will not be able to learn it in a short time.

What's more, design is one part, and the materials and craftsmanship of production are another part.

The forces on each part of the steam engine are different, and the requirements for materials are also very different. Such a wide variety of alloys, new materials, and different manufacturing processes basically cut off the possibility of rapid imitation by the other party.

Even if a country really wants to research and imitate the steam engine, it must learn from Fran, support a large team of scholars, invest a lot of money, and accept the result of no practical output in the short term.

But is this possible?

Putting aside whether the nobles have the patience, it is unrealistic to just find so many scholars.

Scholars are not slaves who can be forced to work by simply kidnapping a bunch of able-bodied men.

Perhaps only the old imperialists like the elves and dwarves could find so many people who had received enlightenment education. But enlightenment alone was useless. Although there were many literate people in the Elf Empire, the focus of education was on poetry and songs.

When it comes to music, literature and other arts, elves are definitely in a class of their own, but when it comes to mathematics and physics, they are still far behind.

It is impossible to design a steam engine that looks particularly good and makes a very clear sound, but actually does not rotate at all.

"But, I still don't understand something."

Galannodier added: "Even if there is no possibility of others preventing it, there is no need to sell it! After all, you are not short of money, Fran, so what if you sell it at a sky-high price? Even if the probability of other forces successfully imitating it is very slim, there is no need to take the risk."

Chapter 281 New Power

"That's a good question." Fran smiled and said, "Because I sell steam engines not for money at all."

"So, what are you doing for?"

Not only Galanodiel, but also Vanessa and Goronil beside him had the same question.

Since you are not short of money, why sell it?

What if there are genius engineers in other countries who suddenly realize the principle behind it? Or if there is a direct divine power descending from the sky, wouldn't Orila City lose its most important support?

Although the possibility is very small, there is no need to take such a risk.

"Because the steam engine symbolizes power."

It was not Fran who answered Galanodir, but the goblin scholar Krelz.

To be honest, Kreltz is the father of the steam engine in this world. Fran just modified the steam engine based on his and applied it to practice. Without Kreltz, Fran would have to wait several years to produce the steam engine.

"strength?"

Krelz smiled and said, "A power that can break through the gods. A power that even a mortal can control at will."

This is exactly the answer that Fran wanted to give.

Breaking through the gods?

The others suddenly fell into deep thought.

Fran said: "The gods are very 'generous'. When humans were going through the most difficult times, they sent down various miracles to help humans resist the cold and danger. They then helped humans develop technology and improve their lives. But such abilities are not without cost."

"Price? But as far as I know, there are no side effects of using divine arts, as long as they are not overused." Vanessa said: "They don't require sacrifices like some evil gods' evil arts. What is the price of divine arts?"

"All gifts from the gods actually have a price already secretly marked on them," Fran said, "The price is the future of the race."

Fran paused, then said, "I've said before that the dwarves relied on the mechanical core to develop the textile industry. However, because the mechanical core was so easy to use, they were unwilling to research other technologies to develop the textile industry. As a result, the textile technology stagnated for hundreds of years, and was surpassed by us. But this

Does this phenomenon only occur in the textile industry? "

of course not

In fact, it happens in all walks of life.

Take the elves, for example.

The powerful Tree of Life allows the elves to no longer worry about food or the cold, and can even create tree houses that are warm in winter and cool in summer for the elves to live in.

So what is its cost?

Even now, the elves have almost no knowledge of agriculture, and they don't know how to survive in the cold. Their ability in civil engineering is even worse. This is why the elves have messed up the east bank of the Soul-Guiding River. If there is no help from allies, the elves will probably not even be able to repair the road if they rely on their own efforts.

it is good.

The magic gave them convenience and even a luxurious life, but it also blocked their way forward. At this point, whether they could move forward was not decided by the elves, but only by the approval of the god Xiluo.

This is the price!

The future of the race was handed over to a stranger in exchange for temporary enjoyment.

Fran was somewhat glad that she came to this world and was born in the Holy Roll Empire where theocracy was weak and people were living in poverty, rather than in the seemingly prosperous and wealthy Elf Empire.

If it were really in the Elf Empire, their own industrial products would be crushed by cheaper divine products before they even got started. The price they would have to pay for their rise would probably be several times greater than in the Holy Roll Empire.

Galannodil sighed deeply.

At this moment, she finally understood why Krelz said that this was a power that could break through the gods.

The elves of today have long been tied to magic, and even if all the elves realize that their future is blocked by magic, they can do nothing about it. Because they can no longer live without magic, and it is even more impossible for them to give up their faith in the god Shiloh.

Because once they gave up the Hierogoddess, they would have to face hunger and cold alone. They would have to dig for food in the soil and mine minerals in the rocks like other races. The hands that were originally used to write poetry and paint would be covered with calluses and frostbite.

Given such a choice, I'm afraid most elves would choose the former.

This is not about being noble or great, it is about human nature. Seeking benefits and avoiding harm is the instinct of living things. Without a torch raised high, who would be willing to take risks to explore the road of the future? They would rather lower their heads and walk on the small path they can see.

The steam engine represents a possibility that can compete with divine magic.

What divine arts can produce, steam engines can also produce

What magic can provide, the steam engine can also provide

Although the things provided were far inferior to divine arts in terms of variety, quality and price, no matter what, the principles and technology of the steam engine were firmly in their hands, and they did not have to worry about angering God and having it taken back one day. They did not have to worry about being sent to the stake for studying and improving it.

This is Fran's purpose.

Everyone thinks that Fran is a businessman who likes to make money.

But would a businessman go out of his way to establish education and increase the wages of employees?

Fran's true purpose was far greater than Galanodiel had imagined.

What she wants to do is to smash the alliance formed by the gods and break the shackles of divine magic on all life in the main plane.

But if she wants to fight against the gods, Fran's power alone is not enough! She needs to arm like-minded people with a new power, which is industry. And the core of industry today is the steam engine.

Galanodier felt a suffocation in his chest.

The gains from this visit have far exceeded her original expectations.

She had come to visit before just to find a way of salvation for the Elven Empire from the experience of Aurora City. She wanted to see if she could follow the example of Fran and change the status quo of the Elven Empire, speak for the common people, and let the common people get a high-quality education and have the power to compete like the nobles.

But now she clearly realized how naive her previous thoughts were.

As long as the elves still believe in the god Shiloh, this situation will never change. What she wants to do is not to improve it! But to completely overthrow the shackles of the god Shiloh.

This sudden awakening obviously caught Galanodier off guard. She staggered and took a few steps back unconsciously.

Fortunately, Fran was quick to act and supported Galannodiel.