Chapter Fifteen: Inventions? I Can Do That Too (1)

Qianqing Palace, Southern Study

Within the grand hall stood a long lacquered red table carved with intricate designs, upon which the rare treasures recently presented by the red-haired nation were arranged in perfect order.

The Emperor Qiande examined each item with great interest.

Beside him, Grand Academician Zhang Changlin stood ready, offering explanations.

The emperor’s gaze fell upon a gilded spherical object standing upright on the table, and he inquired, “What is this?”

Zhang Changlin smiled and replied, “Your Majesty, this is a model of the celestial cycles.”

Prince Zhongshun asked, “And what use does this serve?”

The emperor, too, looked on with curiosity. Zhang Changlin stepped forward and gently turned the sphere, pointing out the various markings as he explained, “Your Majesty, Prince, please observe—this small red dot represents the sun, the black one is the moon, and the blue one marks the world where we reside: ‘Earthstar.’”

Prince Zhongshun shook his head and smiled. “I suspect these are mere tales. How could they possibly know where the sun and moon are? Are they gods, perhaps?”

Zhang Changlin offered a conciliatory smile. “The prince’s words are not without reason. Yet the Westerners do indeed possess a device called an astronomical telescope, which allows them to see things thousands of miles away, even the moon and stars in the sky. I was fortunate enough to witness one during my diplomatic visit to the West.”

“Oh?” Prince Zhongshun frowned at him. “Are you suggesting that I am ignorant, then?”

Zhang Changlin hastily bowed. “Your Highness sees clearly; that is not my intention.”

The emperor waved his hand dismissively. “Enough. The world is vast and full of wonders. If these Westerners can craft such things, it speaks to the strength of their craftsmanship. Just as the First Emperor in ancient times could not have imagined that beyond his realm there existed other worlds beyond the heavens.”

Zhang Changlin said, “Your Majesty is wise!”

Prince Zhongshun continued to toy with another, slightly larger object on the table, asking, “And what is this black lump for?”

Zhang Changlin replied, “That, Your Highness, is a model of a steam locomotive. It uses the principles of a steam engine, burning coal as fuel. When the water boils, the steam drives the wheels, allowing it to move swiftly without the need for horses.”

Prince Zhongshun exclaimed in surprise, “Is it truly so impressive?”

Zhang Changlin nodded. “Indeed. To my knowledge, the Westerners began trial runs with such locomotives ten years ago.”

The emperor’s brows knitted. “How many passengers can it hold at once?”

Zhang Changlin smiled. “Your Majesty, a single train can carry at least a thousand passengers.”

Prince Zhongshun was astonished. “That many?” He could not help but glance at the emperor.

Zhang Changlin continued, “And not only can it carry people, it can also transport all manner of goods, both light and heavy. It is most convenient.”

The emperor frowned deeply. “So the Westerners have created such convenient means of transport...”

He fell into thought for a moment, then turned to Zhang Changlin and asked, “If we were to build one ourselves, how long would it take?”

Zhang Changlin thought carefully, then slowly extended five fingers.

Prince Zhongshun’s face lit up, “Five years?”

Zhang Changlin shook his head with a sigh. “Your Highness, I fear it would take at least fifty years.”

At this, the emperor’s face darkened. After a long pause, he asked, “If I were to put you in charge, how long would it take?”

Zhang Changlin was caught off guard. He quickly knelt and replied, “Your Majesty, to build such a thing would require enormous expenditure. Not only must we import Western machines, but also hire their craftsmen. Each layer of these expenses is vast and empty; I fear our Dashun cannot bear such a burden. I beg Your Majesty to consider carefully.”

Prince Zhongshun, growing impatient, said, “Zhang Changlin, stop beating around the bush. Just tell us: how much silver would it take?”

Zhang Changlin frowned and did some calculations, then held up two fingers.

Prince Zhongshun said gravely, “Twenty million taels?”

Zhang Changlin shook his head. “That is only an estimate for importing the main machinery. It does not include the costs of building factories, shipping, laying iron tracks, steel and copper, labor, and all manner of materials.”

The emperor’s brows furrowed deeply. After a moment of consideration, he sighed, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step; the accumulation of small streams forms great rivers and seas. Enough! This matter cannot be rushed.”

Zhang Changlin bowed. “Your Majesty is wise!”

The emperor’s gaze swept over the table once more. From among the dazzling array of items, he picked up a firearm resembling a hand cannon, but it appeared far more exquisite and compact.

The emperor examined it carefully for a while and then frowned. “Is this the Westerners’ firearm?”

Zhang Changlin replied, “Your Majesty, this is a revolver. Load it with special Western bullets and it can be fired, but it holds only six rounds.”

As he spoke, he picked up several bullets from the table and inserted them into the revolver.

The emperor, intrigued, took the pistol and, squinting with one eye, aimed it playfully at Prince Zhongshun.

Prince Zhongshun’s expression froze slightly; his heart skipped a beat.

The emperor burst out laughing, then put the pistol away and asked curiously, “Can such a small thing be used in battle?”

Zhang Changlin smiled. “Your Majesty, this revolver is somewhat more powerful than our hand cannons. Its custom ammunition makes reloading convenient, whereas ours must be loaded with gunpowder, making them slightly inferior.”

Prince Zhongshun pressed further, “How much silver would it take to make one?”

Zhang Changlin replied, “I have studied the revolver before; its internal mechanism is not complicated. It would not be difficult for our Dashun to manufacture, except...”

“Except what? Zhang Changlin, can you for once speak plainly?” Prince Zhongshun said impatiently.

Zhang Changlin hesitated, glancing at the emperor seated behind the imperial desk. After a moment’s thought, he stepped forward and bowed. “Your Majesty, I have an important matter to report concerning this.”

The emperor set down the revolver, frowning as he spoke coolly, “Are you telling me we’re out of funds again?”

His words were blunt and matter-of-fact.

Prince Zhongshun added irritably, “We asked you to improve the firearms, and after half a year there’s still no result. The court allocated you a million taels just three months ago—has that all vanished already?”

Zhang Changlin’s worried brow finally eased as he explained, “Your Majesty, Prince, the improvement of firearms has seen some progress recently. However, if we are to produce our own, we must establish factories like the Westerners. Nearly all the machinery and molds needed must be imported, and each step requires vast sums of money!”

Prince Zhongshun waved him off. “Enough. How many times have we heard this already?”

Zhang Changlin fell silent.

The emperor pondered for a long time before asking, “What is it that we lack most at present?”

Zhang Changlin hesitated for a while before uttering two words: “Blueprints and lathes.”

The emperor frowned deeply, but Prince Zhongshun could not contain himself, “Did you not tell me just the other day that the firearms’ blueprints were already finished? How is it now that they’re not?”

Zhang Changlin sighed. “Your Highness is unaware; I have learned that the Westerners have already upgraded their firearms. They now use something called a ‘percussion gun’—its principle is identical to the revolver in Your Majesty’s hand, and... it matches our own blueprints exactly.”

Prince Zhongshun was stunned. “You mean those red-haired foreigners have already made it first?”

“Exactly. Alas—” Zhang Changlin hung his head and sighed.

Prince Zhongshun snapped, “Why did you not say so earlier?”

Zhang Changlin replied with a sigh, “Your Highness, I only learned this because the envoys from the red-haired nation brought such news on this visit...”

Upon hearing this, the emperor let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes in contemplation.

Who could have imagined... that our Dashun lags so far behind the world’s great powers.

Father... must you truly force me to become the criminal of Dashun before you will be satisfied?