Chapter 692: Productive Forces and Relations of Production

Liangshan.

Wangbei Academy.

Mo Chen and Hu Xi'er quietly watched the two strange objects before them.

Then, a group of people excitedly carried these two objects to the mouth of a well and lowered them down.

Since the establishment of the Research Lab at Wangbei Academy, this object could be considered a crystallization of the combined wisdom of the East and the West.

Likewise.

This group of Longyan people and Westerners, obsessed with scientific research, also knew what this object meant in this era.

Rhodes could no longer contain his excitement, directing the men as they slowly lowered the object into the well.

These were two large, egg-shaped containers.

They first filled them with steam, then closed the intake valve. They sprayed cold water outside the containers to condense the steam inside, creating a vacuum.

Then, they placed them into the well water and opened the intake valve; the water at the bottom of the well was drawn into the containers by atmospheric pressure through the intake pipe.

"Ah!"

"It worked!"

"Look!"

"My god..."

The group of people all cheered excitedly.

Rhodes, his hands trembling, continued to operate it.

He closed the intake valve again, reopened the steam valve, and used the steam pressure to force the water in the containers out through the drain valve.

Once the water in the containers was drained and they were filled with steam, he closed the steam valve and the drain valve, spraying water again to condense the steam.

Repeating this cycle, amidst the cheers of the crowd, the two egg-shaped containers worked alternately and began to drain water continuously!

Success!

A miraculous technique!

Tears welled up in Rhodes's eyes: "It's possible, it's possible! See that? See that? The energy of steam exists! It can be used!"

The crowd also cheered and jumped for joy.

Yes.

This was the world's first steam water pump!

A few months ago, Liu Zheng had tossed them a blueprint, and they had begun researching this steam water pump. At the time, these people still harbored doubts about the energy that steam could produce.

But today.

Everything happening before their eyes undoubtedly shocked them.

Mo Chen also took a deep breath: "Source power, source power, this is the source power reform that the young master spoke of..."

For this group of people engaged in scientific research, this had absolutely opened the door to a new world.

They would need a very, very long time to continue researching this subject.

In fact.

Liu Zheng had never intended to bring out this blueprint—if not for the fact that the development of Liaodong required large-scale coal mining. Historically, the steam water pump was invented specifically for mining. In his past life, the world's first practical steam water pump was developed to serve British coal miners.

At that time, relying solely on human or animal labor could no longer meet the requirements for draining groundwater from mines, and with abundant and cheap coal available on-site as fuel, practical necessity drove many to dedicate themselves to the exploration and testing of "fire-powered water lifting."

Thus, this first steam water pump came into being.

This was also the world's first Steam Engine; with this, the European continent began the Steam Age, and the First Industrial Revolution followed.

Liu Zheng had not dared to do it before.

Why?

Two reasons.

First, the premature appearance of the Steam Engine would certainly cause great changes to the world order. Because this was a full hundred years earlier than in his past life. A thing like the Steam Engine was no longer a simple butterfly effect. Therefore, Liu Zheng's worry was not superfluous.

Second.

Liu Zheng always understood that advanced productive forces require advanced relations of production to match them. And now, how could the corrupt system of the Longyan Dynasty, which had lasted for thousands of years, serve these advanced productive forces? In other words, once the Steam Engine appeared, it would absolutely be a huge challenge and shock to the Longyan Dynasty.

To analyze it more deeply, the rapid increase in productive forces would elevate the status of capital and workers in Longyan.

And as the power of the capitalist class and the working class grew day by day, they would naturally hope to obtain further economic and political status. This would inevitably impact the existing feudal system of Longyan; capital and workers would demand the further lifting of feudal oppression and the implementation of free enterprise, free competition, and free trade.

Once this Steam Engine appeared, everything would develop in the direction of fission.

No one could control what would happen in the future.

Could the corrupt Longyan Dynasty withstand such a shock?

Liu Zheng had been hesitating.

Therefore, on one hand, he was waiting for himself to become stronger, to have sufficient military capability to stabilize everything.

On the other hand, he was waiting for a historical opportunity.

This time.

He had no choice.

"Calm down, calm down!"

Mo Chen soon said coldly: "Everyone, this has only just begun, it hasn't fully taken shape yet, the research must continue, what are you all getting so excited about!"

At this, everyone calmed down a little.

But then, Mo Chen said: "From today on, no one is allowed to leave the Academy without authorization, and no one is allowed to write letters to contact outsiders without authorization! Those who violate this order will be executed!"

"Yes!"

These Westerners were originally slaves, so how could they dare to defy him in the slightest.

Rhodes, having long since become Liu Zheng's confidant, naturally also knew that this matter was of great importance.

After sending this excited group of people away.

Mo Chen and Rhodes exchanged a glance.

Both of them laughed out loud at the same time.

"Notify Yintan City immediately to mass-produce water-lifting machines and send them to Jinzhou!"

At this moment, Qin Zhangfeng, who was in the Kokand Khanate, did not know that the wheels of history had already begun to turn.

He had not slept all night because of Zhai Shiqing's words.

Central Asia, it is worth plotting for!

Worth plotting for!

These two words kept lingering in Qin Zhangfeng's mind.

This time, he had come just to put on a show.

Yes, that was how the young master had instructed him.

But as the Great General of the Liangzhou Army, Qin Zhangfeng and the late Mire had been old friends who could drink together while he was alive.

Mire's death also made him feel sorrow.

Wasn't the young master seeking Putu Port precisely because he wanted to cause trouble for the Ottoman Empire and avenge Mire?

Then why not...

Conquer all of this Central Asia, wouldn't that be better?

Once this crazy idea emerged, it could no longer be suppressed.

Thinking about it, the Liangzhou Army had indeed not fought a battle for nearly a year.

It was making his hands itch...

The current Central Asia Five Countries were wary of each other, but with the intrusion of his own troops, the situation would surely change.

An opportunity!

This was absolutely a great opportunity!

Furthermore.

Who wouldn't want the land of water sources in Central Asia?

Qin Zhangfeng remembered that the various countries in the Western Regions were extremely short of water, and it was only because of the young master's Grand Canal project that the irrigation problem was solved.

But...

What about these countries in Central Asia?

And what about those countries in West Asia?

Whoever controls the water source controls everything!

The more he thought about it, the less he could sleep; Qin Zhangfeng finally rolled over and got up, shouting: "Quick, quick, quick, call Zou Sheng and Zhai Shiqing to me!"