Chapter 98 Arrival in the North
Although whether it is cold-proof and heat-insulating building materials or a new steam engine developed based on heavy water, Perficott has completed preliminary theoretical research work and completed preliminary related designs. But there was only so much she could do.
The laboratory on the ship can only conduct some basic experiments. Although she can use the Philosopher's Stone to do some more complex experiments, it will not only consume a lot of her energy and mind, but also the experiments she will get Results can also be biased.
After all, when conducting experiments through the Philosopher's Stone, the results obtained are all optimized and are not the experimental data under normal conditions that Perficott hoped to obtain.
If it was just for her own use, it wouldn't matter much. Anyway, she was already used to using the Philosopher's Stone as an assistant.
But if it is used for promotion and handed over to others for production and manufacturing, then the accuracy of the experimental data must be ensured. If there is a deviation, it will really cause a big problem.
What's more, even with the assistance of the Philosopher's Stone, given the crude conditions of the ship's laboratory, it is still a luxury to hope to do more.
After all, there is no forging furnace on the ship, and there is no way to perform metal processing, let alone manufacture large-sized mechanical parts.
Although alchemists can make the mechanical parts they need through alchemy, they can only use precision hand-rolling. For things that really require industrial mass production, they also use casting furnaces.
Perfect is no exception. In her laboratory at Brandlis Manor, there is a forging furnace that she built herself, which can produce whatever small and medium-sized for her she needs. Metal machinery parts.
As for large parts or things she occasionally doesn't want to make herself, she can order them from her alchemy workshop in Langton, or purchase them from other channels.
However, after she sold her alchemy workshop, she could only place orders from other channels.
But no matter what, these methods can meet her needs.
But on the ship, the laboratory with limited conditions really had no way to satisfy Purficott, or even to make her need it.
So due to limited conditions, Purficott had to temporarily suspend his research work and devote his energy to the site selection and construction of the so-called "advance base".
At this time, the exploration team has gone all the way north to a position close to the polar circle. Although it is only early autumn, the temperature in this area is already a bit cold.
Especially at night, the sea breeze blowing over the sea is a torture to anyone who is outdoors.
This is different from the cold current that the White Jewel encountered when taking the northern route when it came to the New World. It was simply cold, because the temperature was too low and the water vapor in the air had condensed, so you could rely on thick winter clothes. Protect yourself from the cold.
But now, because the temperature is not that low, I don’t wear that much, and the sea breeze blowing is mixed with strong water vapor, but it has become a biting coldness, which makes people feel uncomfortable for a while. Can't stand it.
Perficott's guard members are basically all from the Army, and since it was summer when they set off, most of them were issued summer and autumn supplies.
It's not that the military men who formed the Guard didn't take winter clothing into consideration, but because of the urgency of departure, they didn't bring it with the army. They originally planned to wait until they arrived in the New World, and then send or requisition supplies for the colonial garrison on the spot.
But because of the commotion caused by the assassination of Purficott in Novyshak City, the Guard's requisition of winter supplies from the local garrison was delayed.
As they gradually penetrated deeper into the northern border, these army guards were really freezing. For this reason, Samantha, who was in charge of security, had to adjust the number of people who stood guard at night so that each person standing guard at night could be assigned a coat as much as possible.
These coats are still borrowed sailing coats from the crew on the ship, but the quantity is limited and only enough for some people.
On the contrary, the exploration team had prepared sufficient winter supplies when they set out, but although they distributed some winter clothes to the guards, they did not distribute too much.
After all, we are almost approaching the last exploration point. The people in the exploration team also have to work, and they also need winter clothes.
This matter was reported to Purficott by Samantha. She ordered someone to send a telegram to the empire, asking someone to find a way to send some winter clothes, along with another telegram.
However, this telegram was an encrypted message. Even the telegraph operator on the ship did not know what was sent. He only knew that a bunch of strange numbers were sent.
After sending this telegram, Purficott did not let the White Jewel stop. Instead, taking advantage of the fact that the weather was not particularly cold, he speeded up and reached the last exploration point.
A winding and narrow fjord, this is the last obstacle before they reach the last exploration point.
But fortunately, this place has been explored by the Imperial Exploration Company, and the water depth of the fjord is enough to allow the White Jewel to pass through.
"How long is this fjord?" Purficott stood on the bridge, holding a telescope and looking into the distance. The end of the fjord could not be seen at all.
"It is estimated to be tens of kilometers long, and no one has measured it." The exploration team leader beside her answered Purficott's question, and then added: "The last exploration team sent by the company The main purpose is to explore the land, so we did not do more detailed measurements. We only measured the water depth here. "
"It doesn't matter, as long as it doesn't affect our next actions," Perficott said. She won't be harsh on this kind of thing, she just asks everyone to do their job well.
Putting down the telescope in his hand, Purficott asked the exploration team leader: "Will the fjord freeze in winter? We have to stay here until next spring. If the fjord freezes in winter, the White Jewel and the accompanying warships will We can’t stay in the fjord for the winter.”
“I’m afraid it’s difficult for us to answer this. The company’s people came last time in the summer, and they went back after surveying the terrain and mineral resources.” The captain showed a troubled expression. He really didn't know this information.
This place is close to the Arctic Circle, and even the local aborigines rarely move around in this area.
Although the empire has explored this area, it will not consider developing it in the next few decades.
After all, the New World is vast and sparsely populated, and the empire has not fully developed even the warm, humid, and pleasant coastal areas in the southern region. How could it go deep into the north?
"Really? Then it seems we have to think about how to get through this winter." Purficott felt eager to give it a try. Although she had made a lot of plans and calculations before, actually facing the cold winter still made her a little emotional.
(End of this chapter)