Reborn In 17th century India with Black Technology

"In a few years, I will turn this research facility into a museum and proudly show the public the efforts you and your team have put in."

"So, STRAIGHTEN UP NO NEED TO FEEL ASHAMED!"

Heyram felt like all the blood was rushing to his head. His face looked like a ripe tomato, and his blood began to boil with turbulent emotions threatening to rip him apart. His gratitude and respect to the emperor couldn't be explained in words, and more than that, he felt like he wanted to cry—cry for himself and the researchers who have suffered unseen hardships alone for the last ten years, cry like a child who had been wronged in the arms of its mother. But he held himself back, not allowing himself to lose his composure, though no matter how hard he tried, a few tears slowly seeped from his eyes, flowing down his cheeks.

Vijay slowly patted the back of Heyram and moved forward. "This is what you deserve, nothing more, nothing less. Now come on, show me my engine."

Heyram was left standing in the same place for a long time, until he came back to his senses and wiped the lines of water stains from his cheeks. Finally, letting out a deep, turbulent breath, he followed behind with renewed enthusiasm.

Catching up with His Majesty, Heyram smiled proudly as His Majesty was mesmerised, looking at the beautiful machine he had created, set right in front of him like an exquisite piece of jewellery.

"It's beautiful," Vijay muttered, his voice barely audible.

Vijay took tiny steps forward, circling the machine with a fanatical gaze. To his 21st-century self, this machine was nothing special, but to him now, as the sovereign of the Great Akhand Bharathiya Empire, the thing in front of him looked more beautiful than the Kohinoor and appeared more radiant than the painting of Mona Lisa.

Touching the engine's cold metallic frame sent waves of chills down his spine, raising goosebumps on his hands.

All the bloodshed, killings, assassinations, schemes, policies, plans, and bills he had been involved in all culminated in the lump of metal in front of him—a steam engine capable of driving industrial machinery, brutally blasting open the door of the Industrial Revolution and bringing it into the world 100 years before the English or any other European country ever could. The invention of the steam engine means much more than a single invention.

It is a statement that defines the modern era and the bygone era, a single piece of technology that causes an unstoppable chain reaction that literally and figuratively gives humans the ability to fly, the ability to move mountains and carve rivers, save lives whilst ending them all the same. This simple machine gives humans the ability to dominate the solar system, and this supreme power, which pushes the Western world to global domination, he now controls. Even thinking about it makes his thoughts turbulent.

Vijay could feel that his emotions were too intense for him to speak, so he just waved at Heyram to start the trial run. He clenched his fist, trying to bring his trembling hands under control.

Heyram understood this situation and soon got to work.

The researchers who had come back after changing their clothes to the lab uniform got started with the pre-checks without Heyram having to tell them what to do.

With the sound of a low rumble, a high-quality anthracite coal drenched with kerosene burst into life as it combusted at a very fast speed, heating up the boiler above it at a speed visible to the naked eye as the air started to get distorted.

With a loud sound of steam release, the high-temperature steam accumulated in the boiler was released into the cylinder, and soon, the first stroke of the piston moving forward was heard.

'Thud.'

A sound like the beating heart of a metal beast awakening resonated throughout the laboratory, with the rock walls letting off an imperceptible hum, causing Vijay's own heartbeat to quicken, pumping blood to his body at a faster speed as if his heart almost resonated with the breathing metal in front of him.

Soon, with the exhaust of the first steam piercing through the air vents, the beam at the top began to move slowly, in no time, picking up speed, and the flywheel that was half-submerged in the ground started to rotate at high speeds.

"Bzzzz!"

The engine roared to life at a mighty force, rotating to peak velocity, causing all the researchers and Heyram to smile from ear to ear. No matter how many times Heyram saw the machine he built with his blood, sweat, and tears running in front of him at full show of its might, he couldn't help but feel proud.

It was very noisy, and the smell of the air became sour and rancid. There were a lot of vibrations, causing his Rakhta Asthram, a sword Vijay built for himself, to vibrate, but none of those senses were registered in Vijay's mind. For him, the loud, irritating noise was like a musical instrument playing Beethoven's 5th Symphony. The smell was like the aroma of a freshly baked pastry, and the vibrations—it was simply the monster in front of him showing him its might, telling him that it was capable of blasting apart the ignorance of society, carrying the empire on its back to shatter the massive walls of the Industrial Revolution.

All the tension in Vijay's body was released. He slumped onto the nearby chair, leaned back, and closed his eyes, enjoying the sound, smell, and vibrations produced by the steam engine, relaxing his mind.

---

Vijay stayed like that for a whole hour until he felt like he had had enough.

Asking the researchers to shut down the engine, Vijay turned towards Heyram in curiosity.

"Have you already named the machine?"

Heyram clenched his fist, hesitating whether to tell His Majesty the name he had in his mind all along, but finally, making the decision, he resolutely spoke out, "It is called the Khesari, Your Majesty. Symbolising courage, royalty, and power, I feel like no other name can embody the significance of the steam engine." He looked at Vijay with some anticipation, not knowing whether His Majesty would finally choose to keep the name he had suggested.

"Khesari! Hmm," Vijay stroked his chin and finally nodded. "It's a very good name. So be it. From now on, let it be known as the Khesari Engine," he said, as he patted the back of Heyram with encouragement.

"On another note, I really don't know much about the engine you have developed, Heyram. Tell me, how long can it function without needing a break?"

Heyram was happy the name was accepted. He smiled and answered,

"It is 8 hours, Your Majesty. After 8 hours, regular maintenance has to be done, like oil changes, inspecting the parts, and other things. But the maintenance only takes two hours at most, and it will be ready to be put into use once again."

"One more thing, sire, might I add even if the machine is pushed to nine or even ten hours without rest, no problem will occur. But in this way, the pistons, valves, and other important parts will wear out quickly, causing it to need replacement much earlier. Currently, I have rated the engine to work for 1000 hours without needing to change the gear systems and 500 hours without needing to change the pistons, valves and condenser. But pushed too hard, this number can drastically reduce to 700 and 400 hours or even less."

Vijay folded his arms. 'That means gears have to be replaced once every two months, while pistons and other important parts every four months.'

"Hmm"

"It can work. Manufacturing companies will still buy it if it means that it could boost the productivity of their factories, which I am sure it will." When the atmospheric steam engine was sold to private mining companies, it already caused a miniature industrial revolution in the mining and processing industries. Vijay had no doubt that the release of Khesari engines wouldn't be the same.

"What does it weigh?" From the looks alone, Vijay could tell that it was at least 15 tonnes.

"It's roughly 17.5 tonnes, Your Majesty."

"That means that it cannot be transported as a whole. I assume it is modular? Its construction can be done on site with parts being shipped?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. This is one of the plus points of the Khesari engine. Although overall its weight is heavier than the older versions of atmospheric steam engines, the weight of individual parts—none of it goes over a tonne—so transportation is relatively easy."

"That's good. How much power does it output?"

"It's anywhere from 25 to 35 horsepower, Your Majesty, but if it is the output of torque, it is anywhere from 7000 to 10200 Khanda-metres."

Vijay's brows wrinkled immediately. The output was a little less, especially considering its size and weight. "What's its thermal efficiency like?"

To be continued...

P.S. Detailed Specs and images in comments