Wang Zheng considered himself quite brilliant. He had, after all, translated Western texts and introduced a good deal of Western science and technology, harboring a quiet pride deep down, believing he understood many principles others did not.
Who would have thought the first person he'd encounter would be Song Yingxing? It was a crushing blow to his ego, a truly painful reality check.
It took him a moment to recover, scrambling back to his feet.
"In any case," he declared, "this contraption is a machine, and every machine operates by its own rules. Its propelling force must inherently be greater than its own weight. By thoroughly studying the dynamics of force, we will surely unravel its secrets."
At his pronouncement, Song Yingxing let out an intrigued "Oh?"
Such a statement wouldn't be surprising coming from the physics students in Gao Family Village, but hearing it from an outsider was quite unexpected.
Song Yingxing inquired, "Brother, it seems you have some knowledge of machinery?"
Wang Zheng replied, "I know a thing or two."
Song Yingxing chuckled, gesturing with his hand.
"Would you like to come up and take a ride?"
Wang Zheng was overjoyed.
"I can?"
Song Yingxing affirmed, "Of course!"
So, the two men sat side-by-side on the massive Solar Car, while Wang Zheng's household guards followed slowly on horseback along the dirt track beside the paved road.
The moment he boarded, Wang Zheng began to scrutinize everything around him, peering left and right, front and back. After a long while, he found nothing. With his current depth of knowledge, comprehending the Solar Car was impossible.
Song Yingxing sighed.
"Brother, it seems you can't quite decipher it either?"
Wang Zheng nodded.
"I can't! I understand the transmission shafts and other mechanical components of the wheels, but the fact that this vehicle draws its power from light… that's something I truly can't grasp."
Song Yingxing mused,
"After studying Physics, I've come to understand the principles of this vehicle, yet I only possess the theory without being able to conceive how to actualize it. Alas! How the thermal energy within sunlight is converted into electrical energy via a single panel, it's truly beyond my current capabilities, utterly beyond me."
Wang Zheng suggested,
"Since you can't achieve it, why not seek out the person who created this vehicle and ask them? With genuine sincerity in learning, and a willingness to spend some silver, they should be inclined to impart all their knowledge, shouldn't they?"
Song Yingxing shook his head.
"This vehicle isn't man-made; it was bestowed by an immortal, divinely crafted… so there's nowhere for me to ask."
Wang Zheng's eyes widened in astonishment.
Startled, he blurted out,
"Dao Xuan Tianzun?"
Song Yingxing nodded.
"Yes, this is an immortal chariot sent down from the heavens by Dao Xuan Tianzun. Many aspects of it align with the laws of physics, yet many others defy physical explanation, leaving me utterly baffled to this day. Alas… one can only say that immortals are truly capricious. Either employ divine arts entirely, or rely purely on physics. What's the meaning of using half physics and half divine arts?"
Wang Zheng listened with a flicker of excitement. He wasn't as troubled as Song Yingxing; after all, he was a man who believed in Buddhism, Daoism, Catholicism, and science all at once. What was there to fret over if it used half of one and half of another? Even a quarter of each would be perfectly fine.
Wang Zheng stated,
"Brother, you are truly a kindred spirit, and it's clear you possess a wealth of knowledge. We connected instantly, so let us spend more time together in the future."
Song Yingxing replied,
"That would be excellent. Science thrives on extensive discussion. Dao Xuan Tianzun himself has stated that an academic atmosphere is crucial, and in that regard, our East has fallen behind. The West now boasts a vibrant academic culture; over a decade ago, Cambridge University in the West even hosted a debate on 'whether dogs can engage in syllogistic reasoning.' Alas, such an academic environment is certainly worth emulating."
Wang Zheng's gaze shifted to the several textile machines being transported on the vehicle.
"If I'm not mistaken, these machines should be textile looms, shouldn't they?"
Song Yingxing nodded.
"Precisely! These are textile machines manufactured in Chengcheng County, destined for a textile factory in Dali County. They are quite massive and come equipped with heavy steam engines, making ordinary transport rather challenging. So, we enlisted the aid of the immortal chariot to move them."
Wang Zheng's eyes swept back and forth over the textile machines.
"Were these contraptions also created using divine arts?"
Song Yingxing chuckled, a hint of pride in his voice.
"Heh heh, these were made by us, entirely by our own hands. No divine magic involved, just good old blacksmithing techniques."
Wang Zheng was thrilled.
"So that means I can learn this too?"
Song Yingxing offered,
"If you're interested, Brother, why not accompany me to the textile factory for a look?"
Wang Zheng affirmed,
"That would be absolutely splendid."
An hour later…
The steam-powered textile machines were installed within the factory, under Wang Zheng's careful observation throughout the entire process. Coal, transported from Heyang County, was fed into the steam engines.
Steam billowed forth as the power of boiling water set the mechanisms in motion, and the textile machines whirred to life. Technical female workers, "loaned" from Chengcheng County, led a large group of newly recruited female workers from Dali County, demonstrating how to use the steam looms to spin yarn and weave cloth.
Wang Zheng stood alongside them, taking on the role of an apprentice for the day.
As a male apprentice amidst a throng of female workers, he seemed somewhat out of place. However, he wasn't learning to spin yarn or weave cloth, but rather studying the machine's operational process, striving to deduce its underlying principles.
The more he watched, the more astonishing it became.
"Brother Wang, would you like to accompany me to Chengcheng County next?" Song Yingxing asked with a smile.
"There, you'll discover even more novel and fascinating things."
"Yes! Absolutely."
Wang Zheng was utterly captivated.
This single steam-powered textile machine alone completely overshadowed all the knowledge he had acquired through Catholicism.
"I feel this steam engine has even greater applications," Wang Zheng declared, his face alight with admiration.
"It is absolutely a machine that is miles ahead, miles ahead of the entire world, miles ahead of the West… miles ahead."
Song Yingxing retorted,
"While it's true it's miles ahead, I don't know why, but hearing that phrase just makes me want to punch someone."
Wang Zheng insisted,
"We must continue to be miles ahead!"
Song Yingxing threw up his hands.
"Alright, alright, 'miles ahead,' 'miles ahead!' You win. Let's go, come with me to Gao Family Village."
And so, the two men resumed their journey.
This time, they couldn't take the large Solar Car, for rain was once again falling from the sky. With the onset of winter in the fourth year of Chongzhen, the heavens frequently blessed the land with rain, a boon for the vast majority of farmers, but a devastating blow for the Solar Car.
The Solar Car public transport in Gao Family Village was frequently out of commission.
Song Yingxing climbed into Wang Zheng's carriage, resorting to traditional means of travel as they headed towards Gao Family Village.
Wang Zheng smiled.
"The divine Solar Car is wonderful, but it's useless the moment it rains. Oh dear. It seems we mortals must find our own solutions and not always rely on immortal treasures."
Song Yingxing nodded.
"Brother Wang, your words are spot on. Our resident genius from Gao Family Village, Young Master Bai, is currently working on a solution. Let's see if he can sort it out."