Chapter 65

**Line 1:** CHAPTER_TITLE: Innovation and Revolution (5) **Line 2:**

Entering the newly constructed warehouse, Yeon froze in shock. His mouth hung open wide, unable to close.

Upon seeing the king's expression, Yi I smiled with visible joy. Closing his eyes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠completely, so that only the pupils remained, he spoke with a bright smile.

"This is the factory producing parts for the heat exchangers."

Yi Yeon blinked in confusion.

Yi I continued without missing a beat.

"Inside, the steam engines are already running. Connect them to this device, and the parts will be stamped out automatically."

Yi Yeon asked, "Really?"

Yi I nodded eagerly.

Yi Yeon, now fully excited, stammered, "T-t-try it. I want to see how it works."

Yi I responded promptly, "As you wish, Your Majesty."

As soon as he raised his hand, the waiting Gyeok-won lifted a massive rod.

A deep hum echoed through the air as a huge round bar spun across the ceiling. Simultaneously, leather belts, joined together to form continuous loops, began driving everything below.

Srrrk! _CLANG_ _Srrrk!_ _CLANG_

The rolled brass plates straightened out and were fed one by one into a single-person press machine. They emerged stamped with the shape of a radiator fin and dropped away.

Yi Yeon was speechless again, stammering, "H-how did you even make this?"

Yi I answered calmly, "Using the positional changes caused by rotation, exactly as Your Majesty instructed."

Yi Yeon's eyes widened in disbelief.

Yi I smiled brightly, still unfazed.

Yi Yeon remembered something from before. "I recall what you said earlier—converting linear motion from the steam engine into rotational motion, then back again to linear motion for various applications."

Yi I nodded.

Yi Yeon shook his head in amazement. "You actually implemented that principle so easily?"

Yi I replied simply, "It wasn't difficult. Much simpler than I expected."

Yi Yeon let out a helpless sigh, waving his hand.

Yi I asked gently, "Was there a mistake?"

Yi Yeon waved him off. "No. It was too good—there's nothing to criticize."

Yi I bowed respectfully, hands clasped at his waist.

I guess his brain really is different from mine. He was the kind of person who would understand ten things if I explained one, but was never asked to explain a hundred. Yet he was like a living computer—a treasure of treasures. I had been secretly hoping to share future knowledge with him. I never imagined he'd achieve something this grand, but... it still didn't make sense. Mechanical automation couldn't even be conceptualized on a flat plane.

'If that's the case, he's interpreting objects in 3D... thinking in three dimensions.'

Designing mechanical automation required imagining the exact motion of objects in 3D space and performing mathematical calculations. But Yi I had done it—effortlessly, rapidly, and in a continuous sequence. 'At this rate, I could easily create machine guns and automatic rifles.'

The Gatling gun was the first weapon to realize mechanical semi-automation. Turning the crank rotated the barrels, each connected by a circular rod that followed the motion. The firing mechanism slid along grooves in the rod, loading, pushing, sealing, and firing rounds one after another.

'That whole assembly is what they call the bolt carrier.'

Yi Yeon remembered that he and Stephen had spent countless hours disassembling shotguns to understand their structure, and it was still crystal clear in his mind. But Yi I had only grasped the basics. 'Well, he at least drew the principle for me.'

Just that was enough for him to build a fully automated sheet-metal device powered by the steam engine. "Did you make the shovel the same way?" "Yes, Your Majesty." "What about the revolver?" "That one is different. The revolver's shape is more complex, so we cast it in metal first and then perform precision finishing."

Yi Yeon nodded with a smile. 'The crankshaft could be cast too.'

Nodular cast iron revolvers had never exploded, split, or cracked. They were sturdy enough to be used as hammers. Still, since nodular cast iron was less wear-resistant than steel, caution was needed. 'But forging and machining steel into a crankshaft? Not feasible right now. I can't build the massive machines required.'

'With this level of processing, the connecting rod bearings should be no problem.'

Crankshafts couldn't use ordinary bearings. Without splitting them, connecting rod bearings were the solution. But without the metal manufacturing and precision machining technology to produce parts as strong and durable as piston rings, it would be impossible. 'These parts move ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠constantly under enormous stress and would break immediately without it.'

Yet it seemed possible. Since they were already making and using piston rings, and casting and finishing the revolver cylinders with precision, it should work. 'All right, let's do it.'

Yi Yeon decided to begin the paddle steamer modification immediately. Equipping it with the steam engine Yi I had made, along with the condenser. "Have you tested the heat exchanger made with those brass plates?" "Yes, Your Majesty. When we attached the stamped plates in series to the steam discharge pipe, they condensed and flowed out as water."

Yi Yeon smiled. "You did well." "The honor is mine, Your Majesty."

Yi I bowed his head slightly once more.

But the real question was, "What is that over there?"

Yi I answered without turning his head. "That is the steam turbine we are attempting to build. We are testing various blade shapes to measure rotational speed."

Yi Yeon's voice rose in surprise. "What?!"

Yi I blinked. "What's the problem?"

Yi Yeon repeated, "You've already started building it?"

Yi I confirmed, "Yes, Your Majesty. I considered it carefully. The steam engine can no longer be improved. That's why I'm building the turbine. As you stated, the steam turbine is four times more efficient than the steam engine."

Yi Yeon nodded. "True, it is."

Indeed it was. Steam engines could achieve at most 10% thermal efficiency. Steam turbines, on the other hand, could reach 40%. But the statement had been made that steam engines were required to build turbines. Turbines operated at higher temperatures and pressures than steam engines, so the metal technology and precision machinery to build them had to come first. Yet here Yi I had created a steam engine that exceeded 10% efficiency. He had even installed a chamber and turbo like a gasoline engine. Furthermore, once ignited, it burned pulverized anthracite instead of the much less efficient bituminous coal. And he was still unsatisfied. He was building the turbine because he knew there was a better option.

I knew Yi I's personality well enough not to have mentioned hydraulics or electricity until now. He would explore the new knowledge without glancing at anything else. 'Now it's safe to tell him.'

Fortunately, Yi I's health looked excellent. I had chosen a scenic spot nearby and built him a large house for him and his family. His body already looked like it was made of muscle, working nonstop on prototypes. Yet he spoke as if he already knew. "Your Majesty, there is something I wish to ask."

Yi Yeon replied, "What is it?"

Yi I asked respectfully, "I heard Your Majesty once mentioned that applying pressure to water could produce flames. I would like to hear the detailed principle behind it."

Yi Yeon asked, "What are you planning to use it for?"

Yi I answered, "For the steam engine. It seemed useful for igniting the fire at the start, so I thought about it."

Yi Yeon exclaimed, "How remarkable!"

The method he described required dipping a rag in oil and tossing it into the chamber while manually rotating the wheel to sprinkle powdered coal and ignite it. That alone was impressive. Yi I was looking beyond it. "The completion of any technique requires the ability to control every detail with just a fingertip, as Your Majesty once said."

Yi Yeon smiled. "True. But to achieve that, you would need electricity."

Yi I blinked. "Electricity? What is that? Is it the flickering lightning that falls from the sky?"

Yi Yeon nodded. "Correct."

Yi I's eyes widened.

This time Yi Yeon smiled back. "You're so easy to surprise."

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