plumnovel Chapter 106 Imperial Garden Water System
Chapter 106 Imperial Garden Water System
In the backyard of Lu's Carriage and Horse Shop in Jinan Prefecture.
Spring sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the desk and illuminating the spread-out blueprints.
Lu Yan sat at his desk, a wolf-hair brush in his hand, sketching something on a drawing. His brows were slightly furrowed, his expression focused, as if the whole world had ceased to exist.
"Master."
Zhao Tie pushed open the door and entered, holding a wooden model in his hands.
"The waterwheel model you requested is finished."
Lu Yan put down his pen, took the model, and examined it carefully.
This is a miniature waterwheel, about a foot square. The waterwheel blades are made of thin wooden strips, and the bearings are made of copper, so it turns almost silently.
"Not bad." Lu Yan nodded. "Smooth rotation and exquisite workmanship. Uncle Zhao's skills are getting better and better."
"You flatter me, sir," Zhao Tie smiled憨厚ly. "But... sir, what do you need this waterwheel for?"
Lu Yan did not answer, but placed the waterwheel on the desk and pointed to the blueprints in front of him, saying:
"Uncle Zhao, come and take a look at this."
Zhao Tie stepped closer and saw a complex system drawn on the blueprint—a pool, pipes, valves, nozzles, and some strangely shaped mechanisms.
"This is……"
"This is called the 'Imperial Garden Waterworks'," Lu Yan explained. "It's an automatic fountain system."
"An automatic fountain?" Zhao Tie looked bewildered.
"It means the water sprays out automatically without human intervention," Lu Yan explained patiently, pointing to the blueprints. "Look, this is a reservoir, built at a high point. Water flows down from the reservoir, through these pipes, and reaches these nozzles. Because the water is under pressure, it sprays out automatically."
"Water has pressure?" Zhao Tie was even more confused.
Lu Yan thought for a moment and then changed his approach.
"Uncle Zhao, you've seen a well, right? Why can you draw water from a well?"
"Because... it was beaten with a bucket."
"No," Lu Yan shook his head. "Well water can be drawn up because the underground water is under pressure and rises. The same principle applies to building reservoirs at higher elevations. Water flowing from higher to lower elevations creates pressure. The greater the pressure, the higher the water jets."
Zhao Tie nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
"And what about these pipes?"
"Pipes are used to transport water. Thicker pipes carry more water, while thinner pipes carry less. By controlling the diameter of the pipes, the flow rate of water can be controlled."
Lu Yan then pointed to another spot on the drawing.
"And this, an automaton. It uses water power to drive gears, which in turn move the automaton's arms and legs, allowing it to move on its own."
"It moves by itself?" Zhao Tie's eyes widened. "Boss, this is simply divine intervention!"
"What kind of divine skills?" Lu Yan shook his head. "It's just some mechanical arts. Mozi and Lu Ban were both masters in this field."
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the sky outside.
"Uncle Zhao, I intend to present this water-based technique to His Majesty."
"To be offered to the Emperor?" Zhao Tie was taken aback.
"Indeed. It's common knowledge that His Majesty favors mechanical devices. If we can create this water system and win his favor, our future will be limitless."
Zhao Tie was silent for a moment, then asked:
"Master, is it possible to build this water system?"
"Yes, it's possible. But it will take time and money. The amount will be approximately three thousand taels of silver, and the process will take three months."
Zhao Tie gasped.
"Three thousand taels? Master, that's no small sum."
"I know. But it's worth it."
Lu Yan walked back to his desk, picked up the drawing, and handed it to Zhao Tie.
"Uncle Zhao, the core of this water system is the water pressure system and the gear transmission. You should be able to make the water pressure system. The gear transmission might be a bit more difficult."
"Don't worry, boss." Zhao Tie took the blueprints and examined them carefully. "Gear transmission—I've done this before when I was in Qi Jiguang's army. Although I haven't done anything this intricate, the principle is the same. Give me a month, and I'm sure I can make it."
"Alright. Thank you for your help, Uncle Zhao."
……
In the days that followed, Lu Yan devoted himself entirely to the design of the water system.
He gets up before dawn every day and works until late at night. He draws one blueprint after another and makes one model after another.
Zhao Tie led several craftsmen to work day and night to produce various parts.
Hu Jingshui was in charge of purchasing materials. Copper pipes, iron valves, wooden gears... all sorts of strange and unusual things were continuously transported into the backyard.
A month later, the first prototype was finally completed.
It was a miniature fountain model, about three feet square. The reservoir was built high up, with pipes winding down to connect several nozzles.
Lu Yan personally poured water into the reservoir and then opened the valve.
With a "whoosh," water gushed from the nozzle, tracing a graceful arc in the air.
"It's done!"
Zhao Tie shouted excitedly.
"Boss, it's done! The water really is gushing out!"
Lu Yan didn't speak, but just stared at the column of water, his brows slightly furrowed.
"No. The water pressure isn't enough; it's not spraying high enough. The pipes here are too thick, causing too much pressure loss. If we switch to thinner pipes, it should spray higher."
"Yes." Zhao Tie quickly wrote it down.
Over the next few days, Lu Yan continuously adjusted the design and optimized the details. The thickness of the pipes, the position of the valves, the angle of the nozzles... he tested every parameter repeatedly until the best effect was achieved.
Another half month passed, and the rising stage and the automaton were also completed.
That night, Lu Yan conducted a full test in the backyard.
The fountain sprays water in various shapes—some like flowers, some like willow branches, and some like a peacock spreading its tail.
The stage slowly rose, revealing a small puppet standing on it. The puppet was dressed in gorgeous clothes and held a fan in its hand.
As the waterwheel turned, the puppet began to move—it waved its fan and twirled its body, as if it were dancing.
"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!"
Hu Jingshui was stunned and exclaimed in admiration.
"Master, this is simply divine intervention!"
Lu Yan didn't speak, but stared at the dancing puppet, his eyes flashing with a complex light.
He knew that this water system would change his destiny.
But he also knew that this was just the beginning.
……
April 28th, the third year of the Tianqi reign.
Lu Ji Carriage and Horse Shop, Jinan Prefecture.
Lu Yan rolled up the last sheet of paper and put it into a brocade box.
Inside the brocade box is a complete set of "Imperial Garden Water System Construction Diagrams"—including a water pressure system diagram, a pipe layout diagram, a rising and falling stage diagram, an automatic puppet diagram, and detailed production instructions.
"Master, the blueprints are all ready."
Hu Jingshui stepped forward and asked:
"When will it be sent to Tongzhou?"
"I'll deliver it myself tomorrow."
"The boss will go in person?"
"No. These blueprints are crucial to our future. We must deliver them to Eunuch Liu personally to ensure their absolute safety."
He paused, then said:
"Furthermore, I need to explain the principles of this water system to Eunuch Liu in person. If he doesn't understand it, how can I present it to His Majesty?"
Hu Jingshui thought for a moment and nodded.
"The master is right."
……
Lu Yan walked to the window and looked at the night sky outside.
The stars twinkled, and the moonlight was as clear as water.
"We must take this step."
He muttered to himself.
"Only by venturing out can we unlock more possibilities."