The Young Dragon of the Ming Dynasty: Bound to an Industrial Blueprint from the Start

"We don't know yet," Zhu Zhanji said. "It might cost a lot, or it might cost a little. Anyway, we have money in our accounts, so let him try."

Qian Lai agreed, then asked, "Should we continue cleaning up the treasury?"

"Continue. We'll open after the New Year."

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, Sun San sent someone to invite him.

Zhu Zhanji rushed to the workshop, pushed open the door of the large room, and was greeted by a wave of heat.

Sun San greeted him excitedly, "Your Highness, the jar is finished!"

There was a large iron can in the corner, which was even larger than Zhu Zhanji had expected.

The sheet metal was shiny, the welds were neat, and an iron pipe was welded to the top of the can, with a wooden valve attached to the pipe opening.

"I found the best welder in town, used three layers of wrought iron, and it took two days to weld. This jar can hold three buckets of water without any problem."

Sun San pointed to the valve and said, "I made this valve myself. It's made of wood and wrapped tightly with strips of cloth. It should be able to close tightly."

Zhu Zhanji walked over, tapped on the can wall, and inspected the welds. It was indeed very sturdy.

Have you tried it?

"Not yet," Sun San said. "We're waiting for His Highness to come and see for the first time."

Zhu Zhanji nodded: "Then let's try it."

Sun San called his two apprentices over, poured water into the jar, closed the valve, and then started a fire under the jar.

The flames licked the bottom of the pot, and the room quickly warmed up.

Zhu Zhanji stood to the side, his eyes fixed on the valve.

A quarter of an hour, then a quarter of an hour.

The jar started making a gurgling sound.

After a while, the valve began to vibrate slightly.

"Your Highness, it's working!" Sun San excitedly pointed to the valve.

Zhu Zhanji waved his hand, signaling him to be quiet.

The valve vibrated more and more violently, and suddenly, with a "poof" sound, a stream of steam shot out from the edge of the valve, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.

"It's leaking air!" Sun San hurriedly tried to turn the valve.

Zhu Zhanji stopped him: "Don't move it, let it leak."

He stared at the billowing steam, mentally estimating the pressure.

The leak indicates that the valve is not sealing properly, but it also means that steam was indeed produced inside the tank.

After a while, the steam sprayed out faster and faster, and the valve trembled more and more violently.

Suddenly, with a loud "bang," the valve flew out like a cannonball, crashed into the wall, and bounced to the ground.

A thick plume of steam gushed out of the pipe, instantly filling the room with mist.

Sun San was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he rushed over to protect Zhu Zhanji.

Zhu Zhanji stood still and smiled instead.

"Don't panic, the can didn't explode, only the valve flew off."

He walked over to the jar and looked at the bare opening of the tube.

Steam was still billowing out, but its momentum had weakened.

"Master Sun, look, the power of steam can blow the valve away. If we put that power into the piston, it can get things working."

Sun San was still in shock, but his eyes lit up when he heard those words.

"Your Highness is right! That force was too great!"

Zhu Zhanji squatted down and picked up the valve that had flown off.

The wood was cracked, and the cloth strips wrapped around it were charred.

"A valve won't do; it has to be made of iron, and it needs to be self-sealing." He thought for a moment.

"Next time, make an iron valve with a lever on top and a weight on the lever. When the steam pressure is too high, it will automatically open to release the steam and prevent the tank from exploding."

Sun San listened and took notes, his face full of admiration.

"Your Highness, how do you know everything?"

Zhu Zhanji stood up and dusted off his hands.

"You'll understand once you observe and think more."

He walked to the door and glanced back at the still-steaming tin can.

"Keep trying. The can is well made and it didn't explode. The next step is to make the piston cylinder. Like I said, take it slow and don't rush."

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, we seal up the tents to celebrate the New Year.

Everyone attended the last monthly gathering at Mingyue Tower.

Qian Lai finished reading the accounts with a smile on his face.

Sun San, Lin Xiuniang, Wu Langzhong, and Guo Sheng sat to the side, listening to the string of numbers, each of them having their own understanding.

After listening, Zhu Zhanji stood up.

"Thank you all for your hard work this year." He took several red envelopes from Chun Tao's hands.

"Master Sun, Madam Lin, Doctor Wu, and Steward Guo, each will receive twenty taels. The craftsmen will receive their share according to their contributions. Manager Qian has already distributed the money."

The four accepted the red envelopes and bowed in unison.

Zhu Zhanji walked to the window, pushed it open a crack, and a cold wind rushed in, carrying the faint sound of firecrackers from afar.

"Next year, we're going to do something even bigger."

He didn't turn around, but everyone in the room heard him.

Sun San opened his mouth as if to say something, but Zhu Zhanji had already walked out.

As Zhu Zhanji reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned around.

"Master Sun, we'll continue working on that thing after the New Year. After the New Year, we'll try our best to get the piston moving."

Sun nodded emphatically, his eyes shining.

It's snowing again outside the window.

That night, Zhu Zhanji lay on his couch, unable to sleep for a long time.

He closed his eyes and entered the resource map in his mind.

The "Exchange" node is all lit up, waiting for the treasury to open.

The "earth fire" light was brighter than before, and it seemed to be trembling slightly.

He tried to lower his consciousness and get closer to the point of light.

The light suddenly shone brightly, as if something had burst forth from the ground.

Then, a few lines of small text slowly appeared on the map:

"Steam engine prototype: 10% complete. Current requirements: sealing technology, piston process, valve linkage."

"Pumping application: To be unlocked."

He opened his eyes and looked at the top of the tent.

Outside the window, the snow was falling silently.

In the distance, towards Xishanzhuang, a light is still on.

That's the direction the workshop is heading.

Sun San's big house will probably be lit up very late again tonight.

On the first day of the first month of the fourth year of the Yongle reign, a banquet was held in the palace.

Zhu Zhanji sat with his father, Zhu Gaochi, at the banquet for an hour. Amidst the singing and dancing, congratulatory speeches, and the stale imperial food, he wore a polite smile, but his mind was constantly on the iron pot in the workshop.

The moment the valve flew out, he saw the power of steam.

That power could pry open wooden valves and make iron cans vibrate and hum.

If we used it on pistons...

"Zhanji".

Zhu Gaochi's voice pulled him back to reality.

"Father."

"What are you thinking about?" Zhu Gaochi asked, looking at him. "His Majesty was looking at you just now."

Zhu Zhanji's heart tightened, and he looked up. Zhu Di was sitting at the head of the table, talking to several senior officials, his gaze not falling in their direction.

He breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "My grandson was daydreaming."

Zhu Gaochi didn't say anything more, but just patted his shoulder gently.

On the fifth day, a family banquet was held at the Crown Prince's residence.

Relatives came and went, and Zhang was busy entertaining them while Zhu Gaochi kept them company. Zhu Zhanji toasted each of the elders.

After the banquet, he stood under the porch in the backyard, gazing at the western sky.

Chun Tao leaned closer: "Your Highness, what are you thinking about?"

"Want to Workshop".

"Isn't the workshop closed during the Lunar New Year?"

"It's sealed off, but Sun San hasn't been idle."

Chuntao blinked: "How did Your Highness know?"