The islanders of Castel recently felt that the atmosphere seemed a bit different.
The Lord had halted half of the olive oil factory and three-quarters of the soap production lines while simultaneously recruiting a large number of workers and commencing multiple construction projects at the same time.
The islanders were somewhat surprised.
Most of the newly established construction sites were recognizable to them.
They were also factories, but on a much larger scale.
Were they building new factories?
At the same time, the content of the night literacy classes had increased.
It was said that much of the advanced class knowledge had been incorporated into these classes, with the school integrating them into a "general knowledge" course, which was mandatory.
However, the content of this general knowledge course was somewhat absurd.
Advanced class students informed them that those were steam engines, similar to millstones that could turn on their own, only requiring fuel and water.
Everyone had seen millstones before.
People relied on them to crush olives and extract oil, but a self-moving one? That was rather unimaginable.
Unexpectedly, the next day, a machine nearly two people tall stood at the entrance of the school.
The heads of various factories even organized workers to come and observe.
Finally, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a group of advanced class students personally disassembled and reassembled it.
Hughes personally arrived on-site to explain everything to the people.
He picked up a cloth, wiped the oil stains off his hands, and loudly said to the surrounding workers:
"See this? This is a steam engine. It boils water in a boiler, pushing the piston to move, you should have learned this in your lessons, right?"
Although they had learned it, seeing such a massive metal creation with its industrial beauty still left them in awe.
"There will soon be an exam, and the subject will be the steam engine. Those who fail will not be able to work in the factories in the future. But don’t worry, from now on, this steam engine will be continuously assembled and disassembled by students. You can come at any time to see its principles with your own eyes."
The crowd murmured in unrest. Unable to work in the factory?
They relied on factory jobs to earn lios. Moreover, the atmosphere in the factory was unlike anywhere else, the hustle, the bustle, and the sight of everyone working hard with passion was something they had never experienced before.
As long as they worked well, they could earn more. As long as they put in effort, they could climb higher.
Unknowingly, the people of Castel had become accustomed to this way of life, each day was fulfilling, rather than being idly wasted under the sun.
They couldn’t quite explain why, but seeing new factories being built, seeing products increasing, and watching their tables become more abundant, even hard work felt joyful.
Their efforts were making everything better and better.
So, even with the Lord right in front of them, someone bravely asked, "If we learn this, will there be rewards?"
"Where would all the rewards come from? Knowledge is the reward," Hughes said with a smile.
"Once the new factories are built, you will understand, these iron machines will take over the heaviest labor, and you will need to learn to work with them and maintain them. Of course, your wages will also be paid according to apprentice mechanic standards."
The crowd stirred again. Mechanic? They didn’t quite understand what that meant, but many advanced class students who had recently been teaching them had mentioned it.
It was a position that could only be applied for by those who graduated from the advanced mechanical theory class.
An apprentice mechanic was someone still in training, yet to graduate from the mechanical theory course.
They had to learn in factories while receiving an additional one-lio daily wage subsidy.
The people’s eyes lit up. That wasn’t a small sum, and it was additional income, stacking on top of their regular wages.
Besides, if they were apprentice mechanics, wouldn’t there be a chance to be promoted?
Hughes looked at the surrounding workers and couldn’t help but smile.
"As long as you work in the new steam-powered factories for a certain period and pass the exams, you can obtain the title of mechanic. You might not be familiar with mechanics, so I’ll say it plainly, a mechanic earns eight lios per day."
The workers instantly fell silent.
That amount could easily support a family of three.
If they were alone, they could live quite comfortably.
The number was so astonishing that the workers didn’t know how to react.
Hughes secretly chuckled. Eight lios was indeed a high salary for this era, but for his industrial production capacity, it was nothing.
This was even when his goods had no external trade channels yet.
Right now, he didn’t have much money on hand, so the wages he offered were limited.
If everything went as planned, a mechanic capable of independently repairing equipment would earn at least a dozen lios.
The production capacity of an industrial society was something the local natives could not fathom.
Even without steam engines, just through advanced systems and assembly line production, Castel’s warehouses were already overflowing with goods, greatly enriching the islanders’ lives.
And with the steam engines in operation, Castel’s development speed would skyrocket. This was just the beginning.
Unfortunately, Hughes sighed lightly. War was coming. All production capacity had to be shifted toward warfare. Heavy industry had to take priority. The days of stable development were gone.
Hughes looked at the islanders around him.
"People of Castel, these steam engines before you will soon be installed in various factories, to turn millstones for you, to forge steel for you. You have already witnessed the efficiency of factories, and steam power will double, even quadruple that efficiency. Where manpower cannot reach, steel can."
"You may not understand it now, you may even fear it, but eventually, you will realize what technological progress means, you have already seen some of it."
"Roasted fish! Soap!" someone shouted, causing laughter in the crowd.
"Yes, this is material abundance. Oil has become cheaper, and roasted food is no longer a luxury. I promise you, in the future, everything, food, clothing, housing, and transportation, will follow the same path. Cheap and high-quality goods will gradually increase with the roar of steam engines."
People listened quietly, their expressions captivated.
Hughes always painted such incredible yet beautiful futures, so beautiful that people could hardly believe it.
Yet, time and again, he had made them come true. Slowly, the people developed an almost blind faith in him. "The Lord never lies" had become a common saying.
They longed for such a life.
They yearned for the future described by their Lord.
They would not allow anyone to take this beauty away. If anyone tried to stand in their way—
"Unfortunately, for now, we must stop." Hughes said slowly.