dognovel Chapter 494 Technological Explosion
Chapter 494 Technological Explosion
In the summer of 1459, the scorching sun shone through the gaps between the forest branches and onto the mines near Johannesburg.
Since its mining, this mine has been an important iron mine in the Forest Province, supplying iron ore to blacksmith shops across the country in a steady stream.
At this time, the mine was still a busy scene, with miners working hard in the dark and damp shafts, mining large amounts of iron ore.
Inside the mine, the damp and dark environment makes people feel depressed.
The air was filled with a pungent smell mixed with dust and water vapor. With every breath, I seemed to be able to feel the tiny particles drilling into my nasal cavity and deep into my lungs.
Water was constantly seeping from the well wall, and water droplets slowly slid down the rough stone wall, gathering into crystal drops on the ladder, and occasionally dripping onto the miners below, bringing a hint of coolness.
However, there is an unusual atmosphere in the mine today. In the center of the mine floor stands a large and eye-catching device.
They were two egg-shaped containers made of brass. They stood there quietly, their surfaces polished to a smooth and shiny finish, sparkling with golden luster under the sunlight.
Above the container, white smoke was rising, accompanied by billowing black smoke spewing out of the chimney.
Black smoke rolled wildly in the blue sky. Two miners were standing next to the furnace, holding iron hooks and sending bundles of firewood into the furnace.
The flames jumped happily in the furnace, licking the bottom of the pot, making crackling sounds. As the temperature continued to rise, the water in the pot gradually boiled, and the hot steam filled the entire device.
John came to the mine surrounded by people, and his eyes were immediately attracted by this big guy.
After observing carefully, he asked:
"Is this the water pump you invented?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Minister of Casting Stephen answered respectfully, bowing slightly, with a proud gleam in his eyes.
As one of the designers of the water pump, he knew well how much effort and wisdom went into the creation of this device.
In order to perfect its design, I and my colleagues have spent countless days and nights studying and experimenting.
In the past, water accumulation in mines has always been a thorny problem. Due to the deepness of the mines, traditional drainage methods are extremely inefficient, often resulting in excessive water accumulation in the mines, affecting the normal work of miners and even threatening their lives.
To this end, King John issued an order to develop a new type of water pump, and Stephen took up this responsibility without hesitation.
"The principle of this machine is to generate high-pressure steam through heating to drive the piston or turbine. The steam then condenses to form a vacuum, and uses the pressure to press water from a low place to a high place. The specific operation is..."
Stephen continued to explain, his voice clear and loud, trying to make everyone present understand the workings of this complex device.
At this moment, a hint of surprise appeared on John's face.
But his surprise did not come from the shock of the pump itself, but from the technological research on Napoleon's total war system.
Since the Nazan system was incorporated into the main system, an important section called technology has been added to the system interface.
The sector is finely divided into three major areas: industry, military, and people's livelihood.
In terms of industrial technology, since the technological level of John's territory had not even reached steam technology, the initial technological project was set as the most basic steam engine.
The general technology research and development cycle is one quarter, or three months.
According to the explanation on the system interface, when a certain technology begins to be developed, a researcher in John's territory will suddenly get inspiration from a certain direction, and thus develop a strong desire to study this technology. John even gave Stephen the task of studying the steam engine for fear that they would forget.
And when the system technology research and development is completed, real-life scientific researchers will also complete the research simultaneously.
Unfortunately, since the system has determined that Helmingen is the only research institute, John cannot research multiple technologies at the same time and can only research another technology after one has been researched.
Some advanced technologies require the completion of basic technology research and development before they can be unlocked for research.
In the game, you can also steal technology through spies, but since the technological level of surrounding countries is generally low, most of them are in a backward state without even muskets, John cannot steal more advanced technology by sending spies.
Fortunately, after the steam engine was developed, although it was only the most basic model, the work of upgrading the supporting equipment in various factories was enough to keep John busy for a while.
So he decided to focus his next research on military affairs.
At this time, Stephen had already begun to study the flintlock rifle. After unremitting efforts, the flintlock rifle had taken shape and was successfully produced.
But Stephen feels that the current flintlock rifle still has some shortcomings and there is still a lot of room for improvement.
Therefore, John was not in a hurry to equip the army with it, but continued to let Stephen improve it.
John had his own plans in mind.
According to his estimation, by the time the main storyline - when Griffith and Guts meet - is reached, the technological level of the Holy Helderland Kingdom should be able to reach the level of the Napoleonic era.
By then, relying on advanced technology and powerful military force, the Kingdom of Helderland will completely leave other countries behind and become the most powerful country in the world.
Just as John was immersed in beautiful fantasies about the future, in the far south, somewhere on the battlefield between Midlan and the Yoda Empire, a tragic scene unfolded.
This land, once covered with greenery, is now soaked in blood and has turned into a hell on earth.
The bodies of soldiers were everywhere. They fell on the battlefield in various twisted postures, some with their limbs separated, some with their heads and bodies separated. The once vibrant lives were now only cold shells.
In some places, corpses were piled up like mountains, and the thick layers of blood and flesh emitted a disgusting smell under the scorching sun.
The setting sun was as red as blood, dyeing the sky a dazzling red, as if the God of Light was also weeping for the cruelty of the war.
The battlefield was filled with thick gunpowder smoke, and the pungent smell mixed with the smell of blood choked people's throats.
Broken halberds and spears were scattered on the ground, stained red with blood.
In this dead silence, an armored arm suddenly stretched out slowly from the pile of corpses.
The armor was covered in blood and dirt. As the arm moved, the surrounding corpses were slowly pushed away, revealing a small gap.
Then, a man in armor struggled out from the pile of corpses like a fish out of water.
His body was extremely weak, and his armor was badly damaged, with many cuts from sharp blades revealing the flesh and blood inside.
The helmet had fallen off at some point, and his face was exposed to the air, covered in blood. Griffith raised his head and looked at the battlefield around him. A trace of confusion and fear was revealed in his heart. He asked himself:
Is this really the place I long for?