Iron Dynasty Chapter 1068

Chang Yuzhu, who found himself amidst the fiery ruins of Jakarta, was nearly consumed by rage.

Jakarta was now a panorama of burning edifices. The captive Dutch soldiers, having divulged the locations of all critical structures, had ensured each one was engulfed in flames.

“These scoundrels!” Chang Yuzhu exclaimed, his voice laced with fury. “Dispatch a messenger instantly to inform the fleet to set course for Bula city. We must not permit these Dutch dogs to reach Calcutta via Bula.”

Upon receiving the imperative command, the messenger hastened to the coast. There, he meticulously conveyed the city's dire situation to Lei Ming using flag signals.

“A scorched-earth tactic. These Europeans possess a certain capability,” Yue Yun remarked, his countenance grave as he processed the flag signals.

Lei Ming’s expression was one of deep concern. The Empire’s established reward system for overseas campaigns placed significant value on war spoils, a crucial metric.

Now, with the acquisition of a city reduced to ashes, their position was severely compromised, presenting a substantial disadvantage.

Furthermore, despite the ostensibly successful assault, the soldier casualties had escalated manifold compared to previous engagements.

The formidable trenches had, regrettably, continued to offer considerable protection to the Dutch defenders.

“With 1,300 lives lost and not a single copper coin gained by the soldiers, my command is rendered futile. General Yue, I implore you, we must reach Bula city before they do. I refuse to let these wretches escape,” Lei Ming pleaded.

While accustomed to the grim realities of battlefield deaths, such a high number of casualties unsettled him profoundly. At present, they were contending with a mere 20,000 Dutch soldiers and some local militia. Facing the Calcutta front, the projected casualty count would likely be double.

Yue Yun perceived Lei Ming’s palpable anger, understanding that the Dutch actions had deeply incensed him.

“That shall not be an issue. Given the formidable speed of the ironclads, our arrival at Bula city will undoubtedly precede theirs,” Yue Yun assured him.

For the Dutch army on land, Bula city represented a direct path. However, for the navy, the route necessitated a lengthy detour. The meandering coastline, coupled with the limited velocity of conventional sailing warships, presented a genuine risk of failing to arrive in time.

Nevertheless, an all-out voyage utilizing the ironclads guaranteed the successful completion of this critical mission.

“My gratitude,” Lei Ming expressed, his voice tight with suppressed emotion.

…

Qingzhou.

Following the successful integration of the hand-cranked telephone system, the Telecommunications Department commenced the installation of telephones within the palace and in official residences outside its precincts.

As per the Cabinet’s directive, telephones were to be installed in all governmental departments in Qingzhou prior to the New Year, aiming to enhance the efficiency of administrative operations.

Concurrently with the telecommunication advancements, welcome tidings emerged from Lin Wentao’s esteemed machinery research institute.

“Your Majesty, behold the maiden automobile prototype, meticulously crafted utilizing our internal combustion engine technology,” Lin Wentao announced.

Within the bustling machinery factory, Lin Wentao gestured with palpable excitement toward the vintage car before them. Since the maturation of internal combustion engine technology, its application across diverse fields had become a primary focus.

Beyond the diesel engines employed for drilling operations, the institute had, in adherence to the ambitious five-year plan, prioritized research into integrating internal combustion engines with mobile machinery.

Their initial endeavor involved the animal-powered harvesters currently in use by the Empire. Following detailed structural designs, they imbued these agricultural machines with the powerful heart of an internal combustion engine.

Subsequently, upon the widespread adoption of the improved harvester, they proceeded to construct a passenger vehicle, based on blueprints provided by Xiao Ming. This innovation culminated in the vintage car now present.

Xiao Ming approached the vintage automobile. Its design bore a striking resemblance to the early automobiles of the nineteenth-century European era.

This was not due to a lack of knowledge of more refined aesthetics, but rather an acknowledgment of the present limitations of industrial technology. Qingzhou’s manufacturing capabilities at that time were still insufficient to produce a car body with contemporary artisanal standards.

Therefore, after careful consideration, he opted for the classic, albeit dated, beetle-shaped chassis.

“What is the maximum velocity this vehicle can achieve?” Xiao Ming inquired, a spark of eagerness in his eyes. After so many years, the prospect of no longer relying on horses or carriages for travel was a welcome relief.

From a broader perspective, the advent of the automobile also promised a significant enhancement in his personal safety during excursions.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, this automobile is capable of reaching speeds of sixty kilometers per hour,” Lin Wentao reported with pride.

“Sixty kilometers per hour?” A radiant smile spread across Xiao Ming’s face. This speed far exceeded his expectations. After all, the world’s inaugural automobiles had managed a mere fifteen kilometers per hour.

However, Xiao Ming had furnished Lin Wentao with advanced internal combustion engine blueprints, and coupled with the utilization of refined gasoline, this vehicle stood immensely superior to its predecessor, marking a significant advancement to an improved model.

Qian Dafu inquired with a grin, “So, a speed of sixty kilometers per hour implies a daily travel range exceeding a thousand kilometers?”

“Naturally, but that necessitates carrying an ample supply of fuel. I doubt the Empire can afford such a lavish consumption of gasoline at present,” Lin Wentao admitted, a slight edge of regret coloring his tone.

Thus far, the efforts to drill for oil had yielded no success, the complexities of extraction proving far greater than anticipated.

Without a viable oil field, the car was, in essence, merely a novelty. This was the underlying reason for Lin Wentao’s somber sigh.

Xiao Ming, fully grasping Lin Wentao’s unspoken concerns, acknowledged that he might have overestimated the Empire’s current technological capabilities. The Daqing Oilfield, notoriously difficult to exploit, presented an expected hurdle, making the lack of progress entirely understandable.

Historical records indicated that even during World War II, Japan’s attempts to locate the Daqing Oilfield were halted after reaching a depth of approximately eight hundred meters, due to their technological limitations in penetrating deeper rock strata.

The substantial depth of the Daqing Oilfield, reaching around 1,300 meters, meant that successful oil extraction hinged entirely on advanced drilling technology.

The linchpin of this technology was, of course, the drill bit. With the availability of a diesel engine now powering the operation, the issue of motive force was resolved. If they still failed to breach the deep rock layers, the deficiency must lie with the drill bit's structural integrity.

After all, oil drilling demanded specialized drill bits. While he could furnish the design schematics, the challenge of sourcing suitable materials would require considerable trial and error.

Consequently, he felt a measure of helplessness regarding the present predicament, as no one could confidently predict when this oil field might finally be successfully tapped.

Should the oil field remain inaccessible due to persistent technological roadblocks, he would be compelled to seek solutions from abroad. After all, while his drilling technology might not conquer the 1,000-meter depth of Daqing, boring for oil in the Middle East presented a far simpler proposition.

Crucially, with the mastery of advanced ironclad warship technology, the expenses associated with maritime transport had been considerably reduced. The journey from the Middle East to the Empire, facilitated by the swiftness of the ironclads, was not an arduous one, thus ensuring a low cost for oil transportation.

“The Empire is currently engaged in conflict in Southeast Asia. Should these operations conclude favorably, the sea routes to Persia and the Ottoman Empire will be fully secured. At that juncture, the Empire can forge diplomatic ties with Persia and the Ottoman Empire, enabling the procurement of their oil at a low cost. Subsequently, our machines equipped with internal combustion engines will be operational,” Xiao Ming declared, his resolve to secure an oil monopoly strengthening with this thought.

This persistent state of being 'oil-poor' was an undeniably vexing predicament. Beyond Persia and the Ottoman Empire, he also recognized the necessity of fully controlling Siberia, given the presence of another significant oil field within its vast expanse.