The Steam Engine

Jiang Chuan took the notebook from Edmund and examined it carefully. The first page listed the names of over a dozen children. Reading each name made Jiang Chuan's head spin. He put the notebook away and smiled, "This is too troublesome. Why don't you just take me to see them directly?"

Jiang Chuan and Edmund arrived at the former barracks. Since most of the soldiers had been cleared out, the barracks were now given to the children to live in.

Upon arriving at the children's living quarters, they were still children after all. Without the oppression of the Bloodfang Gang, the children were jumping and leaping inside the rooms, extremely happy.

They arrived at the third room, and Edmund said, "Children, the Guild Leader is here today to discuss the specific arrangements for your return home."

Jiang Chuan sat down on the floor and said, "Do you all still remember your home addresses?"

A little boy said, "Guild Leader, my older brother is the most valiant knight in Demacia. He even took me for a ride on a big horse before! It was so majestic!"

Jiang Chuan picked up the little boy and smiled, "Then do you remember where your home is?"

The little boy lowered his head and said sadly, "I don't remember. I can only see Silvermine City from afar on the mountaintop behind my house."

Jiang Chuan said calmly, "It's alright. I will send each and every one of you home. This is my promise to you."

A little girl tugged at Jiang Chuan's pants and said softly, "Guild Leader, my home is in Silvermine City. I remember the way home."

Jiang Chuan rubbed the little girl's head and asked, "What's your name?"

The little girl said, "My name is Meili, Crown Guard."

Jiang Chuan looked at the little girl and asked, "Do you know Garen? Or perhaps Miss Lux?"

Meimo proudly exclaimed, "Brother Garen is my aunt's son. My father and his father are brothers. I know both Brother Garen and Sister Lux. Brother Garen is even a hero in the Dauntless Vanguard!"

Jiang Chuan looked at the radiance on the little girl's face and smiled, "Then, how about I take you all to Silvermine City in a few days?"

The little girl smiled happily upon hearing this, but soon covered her face and cried. Jiang Chuan was at a loss. He picked up the little girl and asked gently, "Tell the Guild Leader if anything is wrong. I will help you solve it."

Meili sobbed, "My parents were killed by those pirates. Only Meili is left."

Jiang Chuan comforted her, "Didn't you say Brother Garen is a hero? You still have Brother Garen, Sister Lux, and us. If you want to visit Bilgewater in the future, I'll come pick you up."

Meili sniffled and asked, "Really?"

Jiang Chuan smiled, "Of course. But not right now. In the future, I will build an amusement park in Bilgewater, and then you can play with many, many fun things. You can not only ride big horses but also eat lots of delicious food."

Jiang Chuan chatted with the children until sunset. He told them all the children's stories he knew in his life. This was much harder than scheming against enemies.

Jiang Chuan discussed with Edmund, "Give me a list of these children. When we reach Silvermine City, I will directly find Garen or the children's relatives."

Edmund was surprised, "Guild Leader, you're going with them?"

Jiang Chuan looked at the bright moonlight and smiled, "That's only one of the reasons. The main purpose of this trip is to conduct business..."

The next day, Master Noah brought his apprentice to Bloodfang Island.

After Jiang Chuan brought Master Noah to the blacksmith shop, the two began to assemble the steam engine. Jiang Chuan had his subordinates hammer most of the parts, but he still had to do the crucial parts himself.

Jiang Chuan rolled up his sleeves and hammered the iron block. When he was in college, Jiang Chuan was very fond of cold weapons and learned many forging methods for this reason.

Picking up a red-hot iron block, Jiang Chuan repeatedly hammered it. With each strike, Noah asked in confusion, "Why is your method different from the usual one?"

Jiang Chuan smiled and said, "This is an ancient forging technique from my hometown, called Hundred Refinements Steel. You flatten the iron block, fold it, and continue forging. One fold is two refinements, and so on. The steel made with this method is very tough and very suitable for making the cylinders of steam engines."

Noah watched for a while and then stopped watching, throwing himself into the fiery work. The two of them worked from morning until afternoon to forge all the parts of the steam engine.

After Jiang Chuan and Noah assembled the forged parts according to the blueprints, the prototype of the steam engine was assembled. Jiang Chuan also specifically forged several sections of railroad tracks and mine cart wheels. The initial use of the steam engine was in mines.

Jiang Chuan made a small modification, replacing the power wheel of the steam engine with a wheel that could hold a chain. The other end of the chain was a simple mine cart. The steam engine generated power to pull the chain, and the chain then pulled the mine cart, making it move. No matter how much theory there was, it was still theory. Now it was time for practical testing.

Jiang Chuan simply laid the tracks on the ground and then had the mine cart filled with people. Five burly men stood on each mine cart, and three consecutive mine carts linked together meant fifteen people.

Everyone watched expectantly to see if the steam engine could pull these fifteen people. Jiang Chuan added water and heated it with coal. Soon, the entire machine let out a powerful roar. To others, these sounds might have been noise, but to Jiang Chuan, they were undoubtedly the sounds of heaven. This sound meant he had initiated an industrial revolution on the continent of Valoran!

The steam engine slowly began to operate, and the chain became taut. Everyone's hearts were in their throats.

Jiang Chuan watched as the chain slowly pulled one mine cart, then two, then three. Although the speed was slow, Jiang Chuan knew that inertia had not yet formed. Once inertia formed, the power provided by the steam engine would not require much.

Noah looked at the moving mine cart in astonishment. He could hardly believe his eyes! A machine that only burned a pot of water could pull so much cargo, and Jiang Chuan had also said that this was only a small part of its function. This machine could be used on ships to provide power!

Noah stared at the steam engine in front of him and said blankly, "If all of Bilgewater used ships made with this machine, what a magnificent sight that would be!"

Jiang Chuan was very satisfied with this steam engine. As long as someone looked after it, one machine could double the output of the mine! This was undoubtedly the best machinery for Demacia.

Moreover, this steam engine was simple and easy to understand. It only required one person to operate the steam valve. Since the cylinder and parts were made of steel, the high-pressure steam inside the steam engine could not damage the machine at all!

Jiang Chuan ordered his subordinates to dismantle the machine and then sealed the steam engine. Jiang Chuan said, "Tonight, we'll have an extra meal to celebrate the development of the steam engine. Everyone can rest tomorrow, but remember! If anyone leaks information about the steam engine, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Carrot and stick – this was a common tactic used by bosses or superiors.

Night fell, and everyone was eating and drinking. Jiang Chuan walked out of the house to get some fresh air.

Selling the steam engine to Demacia was not a simple matter. Although Demacia was an orderly and peaceful country, every place had its dark side. Jiang Chuan could not be sure if he could sell it. Although he had a connection to the Crown Guard family through the little Meili, he still had to be cautious. In two days, a ship would be going to Demacia. Jiang Chuan planned to take the opportunity to send the children home and meet the legendary Crown Guard family!