Why is the technology tree of this world considered abstract?
Even in the middle ages of the previous era, there were already large waterwheels, and later there was even the development of hydraulic hammers, which brought down the prices of plate armor for those knights.
But this world has none of that; there is not even a large waterwheel, let alone a hydraulic hammer.
The reason is simple: it’s still magic.
In the second and third tiers, and even some magic apprentices can easily summon rain or divert water for irrigation using magic circles and scrolls, who would invent irrigation tools?
Just like with ice spells, no one would think to invent refrigerators or air conditioning.
At least the nobles wouldn’t consider such things at all, because even if they were truly broke and couldn’t afford professional mages or druids to irrigate their fields, hiring serfs to fetch water for irrigation is still cheaper than inventing a waterwheel.
Even if some clever peasants could think of similar devices, they would either be too poor to realize them or, if realized, be unable to spread them, becoming lost in history.
Especially in this world, feudal ignorance holds overwhelming dominance, and the development of civilization remains stagnantly slow for centuries.
This abstract technology tree is the concrete manifestation of that state.
Amid the amazement of the subjects, Lind personally stepped on the dragonbone waterwheel to introduce water from the canal into the fields.
However, no one exclaimed anything like “magic, this must be magic,” as they did when sugar was made.
This is because the principle of the dragonbone waterwheel is not complicated; as long as one understands the chain and gear drive, one can do it quite similarly.
In fact, many children are eager to try the pedal gears they see.
But before any child could leap forward, Lena had already taken off her boots and stepped onto the rotating wheel of the waterwheel.
“Wow, brother, look, this wheel is spinning so fast!”
Lena looked like a child who had just received a new toy, pedaling the wheel quickly. But because this waterwheel was still a prototype and Lena’s strength was too great, the waterwheel quickly fell apart, and Lena also tumbled into the field.
The knights quickly surrounded the grinning Lena, while most of the surrounding subjects wanted to laugh but dared not, trying hard to suppress their smiles.
Only Lind helplessly slapped his forehead.
Recently, Lena has truly been becoming more and more carefree, even somewhat unruly. However, luckily, she hasn’t done anything scandalous, at most just competing with kids for toys.
You could say that when Lena was snatching toys from the children, she did show a bit of the demeanor of a villainous young lady.
After brushing off the dirt from herself, Lena said to Susan beside her, “This is nice, make me a sturdier one from black iron so I can pedal and play every day.”
“Of course!”
Seeing Susan’s serious expression, Lind couldn’t help but wonder why Lena’s knights can manage her; is it because they are used to it?
“Brother, do you have more of this kind of toy?”
Looking at Lena’s expectant face, Lind didn’t correct her mistake but thought for a moment about whether it would be possible to make a bicycle in advance. Although it certainly couldn’t be mass-produced and would have no practical meaning without roads, making one for Lena to play with should be fine.
After all, she is the benefactor; she needs to be pampered.
Then, after circling the dragonbone waterwheel, Lena asked again, “Brother, don’t you think we could put a stick that turns with the chain mechanism, and place the other end in the Tears River to let the water flow drive the chain?”
“Transmission rod?”
Lind almost instinctively said what Lena referred to.
“Right, that’s what I mean! Brother, you truly are a worm in my belly!”
“That would be a roundworm…”
Just moments ago, Lind was shocked that Lena wasn’t foolish; now he was giving her a dumbfounded look.
“But if that’s the case, the waterwheel you mentioned would also need some modifications.”
Lena casually picked up a twig and began doodling on the ground.
The more she drew, the more shocked Lind looked—yes, shocked.
With just a casual sketch, Lena had already figured out the rough model of a waterwheel driven by a wheel mechanism.
This is no different from a fool casually deriving a theorem.
Could it be that this fool is truly a genius?
To note, Lind had previously asked detailed questions. This world has no devices like waterwheels, but Lind only provided the theoretical basis and model, and Lena had already designed the tools she had seen before.
“If I can sketch this feasible idea, can we then use water flow to forge steel and armor?”
Holy cow, Lind lost focus for just a moment, and Lena’s thinking had already jumped to the hydraulic hammer stage, and she was even starting to draw design plans.
“Lady Lars, how do you think of using water power to forge steel?”
Lind’s expression had become quite serious, but Lena just smiled casually and said, “After all, the Lars family used to be blacksmiths. Grandpa always told me that our family craft cannot be lost; if we fall on hard times, we can still make a living.”
“…”
In an instant, Lind suddenly doubted whether Lena’s lack of common sense was hereditary. The noble lady of the Northern Border Duke would be reduced to blacksmithing for a living?
But seeing Lena’s silly grin, Lind suddenly understood the old Duke of Lars from the capital; maybe he wasn’t completely serious…
Watching Lena continuously refine her sketch, Lind also picked up a twig and joined in, and with Lind’s help, a theoretical sketch for a hydraulic hammer was completed.
Along the way, Lind provided Lena with some physics knowledge, and Lena comprehended it at an amazing speed, even making Lind, who wasn’t a physics major, feel overwhelmed.
Lena is truly a genius, in the “physics” sense.
“Although it should run smoothly, to be honest, are there really materials that can support variable speed and transmission? If not, it would just be a large toy.”
Lind began to lament while looking at the sketch.
But Lena immediately responded, “Materials are easy; we can use alchemical materials. As long as you specify the needs, those alchemists can provide them. It’s just a matter of price.”
Then Lena confidently smiled, “But for the Lars family, money is not an issue.”
Lind then recalled that in this world, there truly is magic, and there are also alchemy, and he nodded and said, “Then let’s go to Fasen Town downstream tomorrow; I also have some other ideas that require a large amount of alchemical materials.”
“Fasen Town? Are we going to the Champagne Fair?”
Lena’s energy seems inexhaustible, bouncing around excitedly next to Lind, eager to get started.
“Not entirely; I have matters to discuss with the Viscount Jefferson of Fasen Town, and of course, we’ll go to the Champagne Fair too.”
Hearing this answer, Lena immediately exclaimed excitedly, “Let’s go, of course, let’s go! I haven’t wandered around the commoners’ fair yet; I’ll go pack my bags right now.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Lena ran off with a bunch of knights, and Lind could only helplessly shout, “We’ll be back the same day; no need to pack!”
The Champagne Fair is a well-known fair on the western borders of the North, but the location of the fair isn’t fixed; it’s held alternately on the territories of those called Champagne Nobility, and this time it just so happened to rotate to Lind’s downstream neighbor, Viscount Jefferson of Fasen Town.
Although he’s just a viscount, Jefferson made a fortune through the Champagne Fair, and even some counts and marquesses need to borrow money from him.
Moreover, the Champagne Fair is not simply a beer selling event, and it is not merely a fair; it has developed into a commercial activity, and not only will there be a variety of shops, but also circus-like performances.
Because of her strict upbringing, Lena’s understanding of fairs solely comes from knight novels, so she is eagerly looking forward to this trip, dragging Lind, who was still in a dream, onto the boat at dawn on the second day.
Even after disembarking, without having the chance to greet Jefferson, Lind was already pulled into the fair by Lena.
At the fair, various stalls were densely packed, and the sounds of shouting from the fair and the crowd merged together, forming a lively and bustling scene.
There were farmers selling colorful fruits and vegetables, vendors displaying various poultry and livestock, artisans showcasing their works like wood carvings, pottery, and leather products, attracting the attention of passersby.
You could even see some special stalls, like those of healers, mages, and fortune tellers.
“Those mages at the stalls, I actually can’t sense even a hint of magical fluctuations; how impressive!”
Lena exclaimed in amazement at a stall selling charms along with a fortune-telling mage.
“That one is a fraud.”
Lind took her away with an exasperated expression.
Lena’s knights were already each holding a large pile of strange crafts, but Lena was still busy buying this and looking at that.
In fact, these crafts are far less exquisite than those at Lena’s home, belonging to a category where she wouldn’t even spare a glance in the capital.
But Lena bought them anyway, as the gazes of the sellers resembled those of the subjects during her governance in Graywhite Territory, reminding her of the time when she could do nothing; this made Lena want to do something for these people, but in the end, she could only spend money to buy their cheap crafts.
The fair was lively, but not as Lena had imagined it.
Weapons and bottles of alcohol were flying about; curses and brawls coexisted; pickpockets might even outnumber the clientele.
Mercenaries and adventurers were completely different from the gallant depictions in knight novels; rather, they banded together to threaten those background-less sellers. If the Champagne Nobility didn’t allow free trade, they would cut prices in half, and if they didn’t, they’d break bones—that’s freedom of trade.
Originally, Lena thought the old veteran next to Lind, who claimed to have ridden a dragon, was already outrageous; unexpectedly, the mercenaries in the tavern also claimed to have slain dragons, bathed in dragon blood, and currently were invincible, even engaging in night escapades…
Lena couldn’t quite hear the latter part because Susan next to her covered her ears, but even Lena thought that person was lying, as he stammered just like that old veteran beside Lind, unable to even describe what a dragon looks like.
