Steam Experiment

Year 380 of the Star Ancient Era.

Years of natural and man-made disasters had driven the Star Ancient Dynasty's finances almost to collapse.

Prices had skyrocketed across the various regions.

Yet no unrest had broken out anywhere.

Through the court's efforts to save the situation,

the great ship of the Star Ancient Dynasty struggled onward through the storm.

Many merchants who had profited illegally by raising the prices of goods had welcomed the court's most ferocious crackdown after the Star Ancient Dynasty weathered the crisis.

The happier they had been while collecting money before, the more bitterly they cried now.

All because the support policies were gone.

Moreover, a complete taxation system for merchants had gradually been established.

All illegal gains were confiscated, and the entire family was thrown into prison.

That was because the system of collective liability had yet to be abolished.

The people of the Star Ancient Dynasty, having survived the crisis, became increasingly united, helping one another.

Whatever conflicts there had been would all turn to nothing in the face of natural and man-made disasters.

That same year.

The Star Ancient Dynasty discovered a large amount of gold ore, and the court immediately issued a decree.

All gold mines under heaven belonged to the court.

Anyone caught privately mining gold, silver, or copper would have their entire clan executed.

Year 381 of the Star Ancient Era, autumn.

After a full year of mining,

the Star Ancient Dynasty's gold reserves had already reached more than a thousand tons.

The court announced

the cancellation of all privately owned clan businesses.

The court itself established the Star Ancient Bank, Agricultural Bank, and Industrial and Commercial Bank.

The Star Ancient Bank was responsible for issuing currency.

The Agricultural Bank handled savings and withdrawals for commanderies, counties, and villages. It also established a logistics company responsible for sending and receiving letters in every region.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank handled savings and withdrawals for workers in commanderies and counties.

Year 400 of the Star Ancient Era.

After nearly twenty years of development,

the Star Ancient Dynasty's banks had already spread throughout the entire realm.

Especially the Agricultural Bank.

That year,

the Star Ancient Bank issued a new type of currency: paper money.

After ten years of research, the Research Institute had developed a special paper with incredible toughness and used it for currency.

It bore images of mountains, rivers, and great lakes, along with the King's portrait and anti-counterfeiting marks.

When paper money first appeared, no one dared to use it.

That was because the use of gold, silver, and copper was deeply ingrained.

Who knew whether paper money might become unusable one day?

However, after the Four Great Clans of the court deposited all their wealth in the banks in exchange for paper money, and transactions with other merchants were required to use paper money, it gradually began to circulate.

The Star Ancient Dynasty issued nine kinds of currency: 100 yuan, 50 yuan, 20 yuan, 10 yuan, 5 yuan, 1 yuan, 5 jiao, 2 jiao, and 1 jiao.

The currency worth five yuan or more bore the King's portrait; the currency below five yuan showed a family of three from the primitive era gazing up at the setting sun in profile.

This was the Star Ancient Dynasty's new currency, and the people soon accepted it!

Throughout these long years,

the Research Institute had not been idle either, working hard to develop ways to make the Star Ancient Dynasty even stronger.

That same year.

The Star Ancient Dynasty conducted a population census.

The registered population had already exceeded fifteen million.

That was because after the food problem had been solved,

the people of the Star Ancient Dynasty no longer needed to worry about being unable to feed and raise their children.

At the same time,

the Star Ancient Dynasty also promoted equality between men and women.

If a family had only daughters, it could bring in a son-in-law. If there were two children, it was not impossible for the man to have one child bear his surname; both sides merely had to reach an agreement.

The Star Ancient Dynasty also introduced laws concerning families who killed or abandoned children because they were dissatisfied that the children were girls. Such people would be treated as murderers.

Once a baby was born and entered this world, it was a subject of the Star Ancient Dynasty. Even without household registration, it still belonged to the Star Ancient Dynasty. Causing its death was punishable by death, and no one would waste time arguing with you.

In particular, the court's security forces provided extremely high protection for children from birth until they turned eighteen.

However, if a minor bullied or killed another minor, the court's security forces would punish them just as severely.

Regardless of whether the bully was an adult or a minor, they had violated the court's laws. The lightest punishment was six months in prison, while the heaviest was three to ten years.

Anyone who bullied someone to death would be executed immediately. Their guardian would compensate the victim's family and serve three to five years in prison. If the guardian had other children, they would be placed in the care of other relatives. If there were no other relatives, the court would raise them.

This was the Star Ancient Dynasty's child protection law.

So what if you hired a great lawyer?

The great lawyer you hired might even get you sent to prison.

Do not challenge the authority of the Star Ancient Dynasty.

Year 410 of the Star Ancient Era.

In just ten years, the Star Ancient Dynasty's population had increased by nearly three million, reaching eighteen million.

Moreover, as the environment changed, the average life expectancy had risen to fifty-eight years.

Some long-lived people could even live into their seventies or eighties.

Those with short lives hurried into the world and hurried out of it because of illnesses that could not be cured.

Thus, with its vast population as a foundation, the Star Ancient Dynasty's population growth was also considerable.

That year,

the Star Ancient Dynasty, which had been quiet for many years, had increased its military strength to more than six hundred thousand.

Furthermore, they were all elite troops.

As the King's order was issued from the Royal Capital,

the three major military theaters in the east, south, and west once again began expanding outward.

The eastern army advanced all the way to the sea before finally stopping.

The southern army likewise reached the sea.

The western expeditionary army was blocked by a mountain range stretching endlessly into the distance. Unable to advance, it stopped its campaign.

Royal Capital.

Research Institute.

Yang Yu came to the Research Institute today to inspect its work. Guardian Dragon followed behind him, while the Minister of Science and Technology accompanied him at his side.

The Minister of Science and Technology differed from the other cabinet ministers.

The other cabinet ministers were replaced every four years. Unless the Minister of Science and Technology himself wished to retire and enjoy his later years, the King would not allow him to step down.

The Minister of Science and Technology explained the Research Institute to the King, describing the things they saw along the way.

Suddenly,

Yang Yu halted, his gaze falling on a laboratory in the distance.

Calling it a laboratory was a stretch; it was more like a classroom.

Several young people stood gathered around one another, apparently studying something.

"Your Majesty, these are my students. Since there isn't much work at the Research Institute, they have been studying something called steam."

Seeing the King stop to take an interest in his students' little experiment, the Minister of Science and Technology hurriedly explained.

"Steam?"

Yang Yu looked at the Minister of Science and Technology, Lin Guodong.

He had been the first person to discover the existence of gravity.

He had proposed the concept of universal gravitation.

He was the most outstanding Minister of Science and Technology of this era.

Inside the crude laboratory,

Zhang Peng, Liu Yang, Wang Fei, and Li Yun watched the water gradually reach a boil.

Zhang Peng said excitedly, "A-Fei, hurry and plug the spout of this kettle. The moment to witness a miracle is coming."

"It's plugged. It's already plugged." Wang Fei took a wooden stopper and plugged the kettle's pouring spout. "A-Peng, what next?"

Zhang Peng then closed the kettle's lid and brought over a stone, pressing it firmly on top of the lid.

At once, because the water inside the kettle had boiled to its limit, while both the spout and lid were sealed, the entire kettle began trembling nonstop on the stove.

"A-Peng, is this going to explode?" Liu Yang asked worriedly when he saw this.

If it exploded, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, a muffled sound rang out.

The wooden stopper that had been plugging the spout was suddenly blasted out by the powerful air pressure. It flew from the spout, struck the wall, and rebounded onto the floor.

"This..."