The brand-new percussion cap gun gleamed with a metallic sheen.
Song Changping was excited. The barbarians, like a sharp sword, threatened the Great Yu Empire. Generations of blood debts were etched in everyone’s hearts, wishing to destroy them overnight.
“Your Majesty’s ambition is grand. The name ‘Conqueror’ will surely be a prominent entry in the history books,” Song Changping said, bowing.
Xiao Ming gently stroked the body of the Conqueror Musket, feeling the cold metallic texture. He returned the musket to Song Changping and said, “Ever since I ascended the throne, you have all learned to flatter. There’s no need for excessive praise. Continuously providing the Great Yu Empire with new weapons is the real business.”
Song Changping awkwardly rubbed his hands. It was his first attempt at flattery, and he had misjudged the situation. So he said, “Your Majesty, I have something I wish to consult you about today.”
Ever since Xiao Ming changed his attitude of not bothering with these trivial matters, Song Changping would often return to Bowen Academy to discuss firearms with Xiao Ming.
Xiao Ming had somewhat guessed his intention. He said, “Just speak your mind.”
“Your Majesty sent Chen Qi blueprints for a breech-loading cannon. Does this mean firearms can also be breech-loading?” Song Changping asked.
Xiao Ming nodded, “You guessed correctly. This is exactly what I want your military machinery department to do next. Don’t forget what I once told you.”
Song Changping had not forgotten. Xiao Ming had once said that the Great Yu Empire’s weapons should be one generation in use, one generation in research, and one generation in design.
Now, the percussion cap gun belonged to the generation under research and was moving towards being equipped, so the next step should be to research new types of firearms.
“I understand. I will go back and gather the artisans to begin this task,” Song Changping said.
Western interference had drastically deteriorated the Great Yu Empire’s surrounding environment, forcing Xiao Ming to upgrade weapons to ensure his own security.
After all, strictly speaking, the Great Yu Empire was not yet truly unified. The southern half of the empire was still in the hands of the Prince of Chu, supported by the French.
And the northern barbarians, needless to say, were colluding with the Japanese and British. To the west, there was also an uncontrollable Tibet, which could stab them at any time. All of this truly troubled him.
He had originally wanted to settle down and recuperate, but he had thought too simply. It seemed his enemies would not give him this opportunity.
The two briefly discussed the breech-loading firearm, and Song Changping returned, full of excitement.
For Song Changping, he had been vexed about what to do next. Now, Xiao Ming had pointed out a clear path for him, and he could not have asked for more.
Song Changping departed. Not long after, a silvery laughter rang out, and Princess Pingyang’s figure appeared outside the imperial study.
“Your Majesty, this Song Changping is quite handsome,” Princess Pingyang said as she entered the imperial study.
Xiao Ming had always had a bit of a headache with this notoriously charming aunt. He directly bypassed the topic and instead asked, “Aunt rarely comes to the imperial study. This visit must be for something very important, I presume.”
Princess Pingyang had long grown accustomed to Xiao Ming’s business-like demeanor. She gave a bored expression, then said seriously, “Your Majesty, I came this time for the matter of the railways. Laying railways now requires a large amount of labor, but the Railway Department simply cannot recruit so many. Moreover, even if they could, the silver allocated by the imperial court to the Railway Department is insufficient to pay their wages. If Your Majesty does not make the common people perform *corvée labor, these railways won’t be laid in ten or even half a decade.”
Xiao Ming frowned. Princess Pingyang was speaking the truth, which was why he had Liang Dahai go to Haigucheng to conscript Goryeo people to build railways in the Great Yu Empire.
The reason was simple: the Great Yu Empire’s common people had to be paid for building railways, and they were unwilling to work for less silver.
As for the corvée labor Princess Pingyang mentioned, he had considered it but then rejected the idea. Now, the common people in the north were struggling, and they should be focusing on restoring agriculture rather than participating in railway construction. Moreover, the burgeoning industry also required a large amount of labor.
Furthermore, the Great Yu Empire’s population was sparse in the north due to continuous warfare, while dense in the south, and had suffered heavy massacres during the northern war.
Implementing corvée labor now was somewhat inappropriate. After all, generally, corvée labor was exempted after a period of war.
“Aunt need not worry. I have already sent Liang Dahai to Goryeo to conscript laborers. He should return soon,” Xiao Ming reassured her.
He dared not neglect this matter. Railways were the arteries connecting resource supply areas and industrial centers. The sooner they were built, the sooner the Great Yu Empire would benefit.
Princess Pingyang then visibly relaxed. She said to Xiao Ming, “Your Majesty, currently, the Qingzhou railway has been laid for fifty li, and the Qingzhou station has basically taken shape. Today, the Railway Department is about to test how well this steam locomotive runs on the railway. My main purpose for coming today is to invite Your Majesty to personally observe.”
Xiao Ming was startled upon hearing this. Ever since this aunt settled in Qingzhou Province, she had become much more reliable. This fifty li of railway was quite a pleasant surprise for him.
After all, the steam locomotive hadn’t been developed for very long.
Undoubtedly, this railway was an important project for him, one that could even determine the fate of the Great Yu Empire.
In Xiao Ming’s plan, controlling the northeast of the Great Yu Empire relied on the railway network. This way, logistics would be guaranteed, and his army would be able to establish a firm foothold in the northeast.
Filled with excitement, Xiao Ming said, “How can I not attend, given Aunt’s kind invitation?”
With that, Xiao Ming rose and walked out with Princess Pingyang. A carriage was already prepared at the entrance of the temporary palace.
Xiao Ming boarded Princess Pingyang’s carriage and, under the protection of guards, headed to the North City area of Qingzhou Province. Qingzhou Station was the starting point, leading in all directions from here.
After a ten-li journey, the carriage stopped in front of Qingzhou Station. Stepping down from the carriage, Xiao Ming looked at the still-under-construction Qingzhou Station.
At this time, the buildings on both sides of Qingzhou Station were largely complete. A railway extended outward from Qingzhou Station, and there were also thirteen railway branches in the station platform, but these branches had not yet begun construction; the tracks had only been laid for a short section before stopping.
“It seems the secret of the Great Yu Empire’s railways cannot be kept,” Xiao Ming said, glancing at Qingzhou Station. His gaze was then drawn to a dozen or so fair-haired, blue-eyed Westerners.
After Dengzhou became a trade port, foreign merchants would occasionally appear in Qingzhou City. Their purpose in coming to Qingzhou Province was to purchase goods from the Great Yu Empire.
And the common people of Qingzhou Province had gradually become accustomed to this.
Princess Pingyang turned her head to look in the direction Xiao Ming was gazing, and calmly said, “Wouldn’t being seen by these barbarians precisely serve to demonstrate the might of our Great Yu Empire?”
Xiao Ming did not speak. In fact, his current industrial level was not very different from that of the West; what he could produce, the West could also produce.
The real gap was that the Westerners’ innovative thinking had not yet reached its peak. If they understood the technical principles, they would quickly be able to replicate them.
Therefore, he felt it was time to implement a technological blockade.
*Corvée labor is the practice of unpaid labor that is required of individuals, often as a form of taxation or obligation, typically for public works or services. It is a form of forced labor where individuals are obligated to work for a certain period without pay, often for the benefit of a lord, state, or community.