Chapter 1197: 1102: Watt's Despair (Double-Length Chapter)

Chapter 1197: Chapter 1102: Watt’s Despair (Double-Length Chapter)

Sandler admitted that he had lied initially; the 180-horsepower Steam Engine was simply not feasible. He feared losing his position as the chief engineer, so he had been concealing the fatal obstacles encountered during development.

This was also the reason for the prototype explosion at the time. In a bid for a breakthrough, he had recklessly used a small-volume boiler to increase the pressure to 0.85MPa.

During the time he spent recuperating from his injuries, he repeatedly pondered and considered every possibility. Now, he had confirmed that the target of 180 horsepower was set too high. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to first develop a Steam Engine with 80 to 90 horsepower.

Watt’s face turned deathly pale.

In fact, he had entertained similar thoughts for some time, but in his heart, there was always the belief that “if Sandler can do it, I certainly can too” supporting him.

But now, even that singular belief had collapsed. He felt so helpless, like an ant struggling in a whirlpool, with an endless abyss as the ultimate destination of all this.

He crumpled Sandler’s letter into a ball and discarded it, collapsing onto a nearby cast iron frame.

Bolton glanced at the prototype, massive as a beast, then pulled Watt aside and asked, “This afternoon’s report…”

The latter shook his head: “Let Marek go.”

“Him? Can he handle it?”

Bolton was already drenched in cold sweat.

The company had halted the delivery of High-Pressure Steam Engines for over half a year, and the compensation for breach of contract had exceeded 500,000 British Pounds—this was still the result of the British Government’s diplomatic efforts to persuade governments of various countries to exert pressure on the companies purchasing the steam engines to extend delivery times.

Currently, Bolton-Watt had almost completely squandered the tens of thousands of British Pounds invested by government investment funds. Although there were still 140,000 British Pounds on the books, only he knew that the actual liquid funds amounted to less than 10,000 pounds.

In other words, should the government develop doubts about the 180-horsepower Steam Engine’s development and send people to enter the company for investigation, the financial shortfall would immediately be exposed.

Watt absentmindedly nodded.

Marek approached, earnestly assuring Bolton, “Rest assured, I will make sure those officials understand just how advanced the prototype is.”

The latter patted his arm: “Then it’s all up to you.”

Except he had no idea that Marek was working for the French Security Bureau from the very beginning.

And it wasn’t just him; within Bolton-Watt, the Security Bureau had many people occupying various important positions.

This was also why Joseph had painstakingly planned Sandler’s departure under reasonable grounds from the start—

As long as the British believed it was merely an accidental incident, the personnel embedded within the company could continue to play their roles.

Two o’clock in the afternoon.

In Birmingham City Hall, five members of the government investment fund and two personal secretaries of the MPs frowned as they watched the young technician on stage, whose voice trembled with nervousness.

One of the MPs’ secretaries raised his hand to interrupt Marek, asking: “In last month’s routine report, Mr. Watt mentioned the results you’ve just described. Does that mean there has been no actual progress in the new 180-horsepower model over this period?”

He first nodded, then vigorously shook his head, stammering, “No, no, this month we’ve conducted dozens of prototype tests, reaching a maximum output of 110 horsepower once. It was only due to the old problem of severe vibration…”

At this point, he suddenly covered his mouth, looking bewildered and innocent towards Bolton in the audience.

Hmm, today’s theme was “The Nervous Young Technician Letting It Slip.”

In fact, the Security Bureau’s original script had Watt doing the report, with Marek acting nonchalantly mentioning the vibrations causing boiler rupture accidents. Yet unexpectedly, Watt directly let him take his place on stage.

How could he not put on a good performance now?

One investment fund member immediately pursued, “You just mentioned severe vibration, an old problem? I don’t recall Mr. Watt ever mentioning this before.”

Marek’s hands and feet were shaking uncontrollably in nervousness: “It’s not… Mr. Watt didn’t deliberately conceal it. He thought this problem could be resolved quickly…”

Another committee member loudly stated, “So, please tell me, specifically, how long until it’s resolved?”

“How long?” The young technician wiped his cold sweat, “Maybe two or three years, I guess… but Mr. Sandler seems to have no confidence. He even wrote, saying it’s best to lower the new model’s power to 80 horsepower and redevelop it…”

His face instantly exuded anger: “What on earth are you talking about?”

The MP’s secretary beside Bolton stretched out his hand to stop him and turned back to Marek: “Please continue, what’s wrong about Mr. Sandler?”

The young technician appeared terrified, clutching his head and squatting aside: “I, I don’t know, really don’t know.”

Meanwhile.

The three Engine52 Steam Engines, newly produced by the Bolton-Watt company, officially began operation.

These machines used Watt’s own inventions: the pressure gauge and pressure relief valve. Though it required someone to watch the gauge at all times and manually release pressure when it got too high, they were at least functional.

The Strand Textile Mill was among the first users to receive these steam engines.

They had waited for over five months, and if it weren’t for MP Egerton personally sending someone to persuade them, they would have already chosen to sue Bolton-Watt.

At present, the assembly and debugging of the new steam engine were complete, driving three automatic looms at high speed.

However, that afternoon, a cylinder leak appeared in this Engine52, and a textile worker’s entire leg was scalded by boiling steam.

The next day, a newly installed steam engine at a Birmingham mine also experienced a leak. Although there were no casualties, it again halted the coal mine, which had been shut down for months.

Two of the three new steam engines failed, and companies that had initially purchased these machines became cautious, beginning to reject receiving Engine52.

Bolton hurriedly dispatched technicians to the scene for inspection but only got the result of “corrosion marks in the cylinder.”

But those steam engines had undergone rigorous testing at the factory, with no issues whatsoever.

He couldn’t imagine that it was simply because, during the assembly of the new steam engines, craftsmen had placed some powdered goethite inside the cylinders.

Yes, the assembly workshop inevitably included people from the Security Bureau.

The Watt company tested using well water from the workshop reservoir, so no problems appeared.

However, users frequently used water from the Thames River.

The acidic river water reacted with the goethite, releasing highly reactive trivalent iron ions. Combined with the high-temperature, high-pressure environment inside the cylinder, it quickly eroded the connecting parts of the cylinder.

The Times suddenly exploded with shocking news—”Bolton-Watt Company’s Former Chief Engineer Sandler Admits Fatal Flaws in the New High-Power Steam Engine Design, Requires a Complete Redesign. Current Chief Technician Watt Decides to Lower the Development Target to 80 Horsepower.”

Bolton-Watt’s stock price plummeted in response, directly breaking below 20 British Pounds per share.

Subsequently, numerous newspapers reported that the newly delivered steam engines from Bolton-Watt collectively experienced leaks, causing serious injuries to many.

Upon hearing the news, the buyers who were barely accepting delayed deliveries immediately erupted.

Especially manufacturing plants, which were labor-intensive, collectively decided to abandon such unstable products, demanding high breach fees from Bolton-Watt.

Meanwhile, the company’s account had only a little over 10,000 British Pounds left.

What Joseph hadn’t anticipated was that the “earthquake” at Bolton-Watt Company rapidly spread to Chat Han Shipyard.

The shipyard had previously also been delayed in delivering the Ming Lun Steamship due to the ordered steam engines not being in place, having paid 80,000 British Pounds in breach of contract fees for this.

Now, with the Bolton-Watt Company’s high-profile high-power steam engine project abandoned and the new Engine52 involved in injury incidents, the company’s reputation plummeted to freezing point.

The clients who ordered steam paddle ships clearly demanded that Chat Han Shipyard should not use Engine52, or they would refuse to accept the vessels.

And among these, many orders had already surpassed the delivery deadline.