Everyone fell silent at the sight of this scene, while storms raged through their minds. It was as if something was about to appear in their world, yet a membrane stood in the way, blocking them from exploring this wondrous phenomenon.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Lin Guodong, standing outside the door, had also fallen into deep thought.
He was the discoverer of gravity in the Star Ancient Dynasty, yet he likewise could not understand what this wondrous phenomenon was all about.
Yang Yu merely watched the scene before him without saying a word.
First came the emergence of gravity, and now someone had produced a common fact from everyday life that no one had dared to experiment with.
That meant that, in the near future,
the Star Ancient Dynasty would usher in its first Industrial Age.
As for an Industrial Revolution?
There would be no revolution, only industry.
That was because people were gradually discovering that the rules governing the operation of this world could all be explained scientifically.
And this phenomenon was atmospheric pressure.
When these people could use atmospheric pressure to benefit the dynasty, it would mean that the Star Ancient Dynasty had entered the Industrial Age.
"Your Majesty, this..."
The Minister of Science and Technology, Lin Guodong, tentatively looked toward the King. "Shall we continue inspecting the Research Institute?"
Even he could not yet understand this phenomenon.
"Remember to submit their names to me."
"I have high hopes for them."
Yang Yu nodded slightly, withdrew his gaze from the four people, and walked forward with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At this, delight appeared in the eyes of the Minister of Science and Technology.
It seemed that these four little fellows had caught the King's eye.
They were about to soar to great heights.
Next,
Yang Yu continued his inspection of the Research Institute and discovered quite a few promising talents.
That same year,
King Yu of the Star Ancient Dynasty announced that the Research Institute would be separated from the Cabinet and become an independent research institute. It would be responsible solely for researching technologies that could advance the Star Ancient Dynasty. The Research Institute was also renamed the Star Ancient Engineering Academy.
At the same time, gunpowder emerged at the end of Year 400.
Under the research of the Engineering Academy, it was gradually put to use in blasting mountains and rocks.
Year 401.
As the Star Ancient Dynasty restored its national strength to its peak, the palace issued military orders to continue expanding outward.
The Star Ancient Dynasty's army, which had spent decades consolidating its strength, once again swept across the land with an invincible air.
Those large tribes that had already grown into dynasties possessed bronze artifacts, but when faced with the merciless crushing force of the Star Ancient Dynasty, whose soldiers were all equipped with iron weapons, they were utterly helpless. This was compounded by the dynasty's well-trained troops, who had meat at every meal to replenish their strength.
With the Star Ancient Dynasty possessing repeating crossbows and bed crossbows, how could those dynasties still wielding bows and arrows, long guns, and spears possibly stand against this Central Plains hegemon?
It was like the First Emperor taking the Qin army's peak battle formations to fight the Xia and Shang eras. Wouldn't that be effortless?
At the end of Year 405,
after five years of continuous warfare,
the Star Ancient Dynasty's territory reached 13.8 million square kilometers, nearly the limit of what the Star Ancient Dynasty could control.
After all, in this era, communication relied entirely on shouting and transportation entirely on walking.
The fact that they could control a territory of 13.8 million square kilometers was enough to show the loyalty of the military commanders and civil administrators to the court.
Otherwise,
there was simply no way to control this 13.8-million-square-kilometer domain.
At the beginning of the first month of Year 406, the Star Ancient Dynasty was renamed the Star Ancient Empire.
This symbolized the only hegemonic civilization on this land.
That same year,
the Imperial Academy of Engineering announced the existence of atmospheric pressure, and applied to the Imperial Treasury for funding to research the steam engine.
The little kettle used for boiling water actually brought people an unparalleled shock.
This also meant that
the Star Ancient Empire would usher in its first Industrial Age.
The Imperial Treasury even organized engineering units and began utilizing and developing the empire's territory.
Where there were mountains, they opened roads through them; where there were rivers, they built bridges.
Year 410.
After undergoing countless tests, the steam engine finally stepped onto the stage of history.
Imperial Capital.
Imperial Study.
Yang Yu looked at Zhang Fu, the Minister of Finance, who stood inside the Imperial Study, and said, "How are the preparations for what I ordered you to do?"
"Your Majesty, the Steel Smelting Limited Liability Company has already been established."
"The factory buildings have also been completed."
"However, we have no technology. We simply cannot smelt steel."
The Minister of Finance, Zhang Fu, respectfully looked at the emperor before him, his face filled with bitterness.
Without the technology,
our company was nothing but an empty shell.
"You need to cooperate with the Engineering Academy on this."
"I had your Ministry of Finance establish this company so that the major share would remain in the empire's hands."
"Only by keeping the major share in the empire's hands can we ensure that the empire advances farther."
"Even if some merchants grow large and powerful in the future, they will still be unable to shake the empire's economy."
Yang Yu looked solemnly at the Minister of Finance before him, Zhang Fu, and said, "Steel is an indispensable part of our empire's development."
"You have only seen the prosperity of the Imperial Capital before you. You have not seen the common people outside the Imperial Capital, who still live in adobe houses."
"Steel is indispensable in every field."
"Because we lack steel, we do not dare to build our houses too high, and their service life is merely forty or fifty years."
"So you should understand why I ordered you to establish the steel company."
"This minister understands. I will certainly not disappoint Your Majesty."
The Minister of Finance, Zhang Fu, solemnly promised, "This minister takes his leave."
Watching the Minister of Finance, Zhang Fu, leave, Yang Yu rubbed his brow. As the empire grew larger and larger, he had also become increasingly busy.
Moreover, the territory the entire empire could control had already reached his limit.
Just then,
an individual completely shrouded in a black robe, with a bronze fanged mask covering his face, silently appeared inside the Imperial Study.
"What is it?"
Seeing the Nightfall Leader appear in the Imperial Study, Yang Yu asked with a frown.
Nightfall rarely appeared.
Whenever it did, something major was bound to have happened.
"Two matters."
"In the northwest, something has appeared. After the common people consume it, they experience hallucinations, incoherent speech, listlessness, weakness throughout their bodies, and other symptoms. The Northwest Family Lu is openly cultivating and selling this substance, making enormous profits."
"In the northern lands, there is a trend toward breaking free from the empire's control. Their policies have begun to diverge from those of the empire."
After explaining why he had come, the Nightfall Leader gradually faded into the darkness.
"Narcotics? Secession?"
At this, a cold glint flashed in Yang Yu's eyes.
"Summon Lin Meng and Bai Ao."
About fifteen minutes later,
the two empire-preserving grand marshals, Lin Meng and Bai Ao, arrived at the Imperial Study and respectfully saluted the emperor.
"This minister, Lin Meng, and Bai Ao, pay our respects to Your Majesty."
"You may rise."
Seeing the two empire-preserving grand marshals arrive, Yang Yu said softly, "I have received intelligence that the Lu family in the northwest is selling narcotics, harming the common people, and intending to overthrow the empire. Lin Meng, I order you to lead an army of one hundred thousand to the Northwest Commandery to suppress the Lu family and destroy the narcotics."
"The grasslands intend to rebel. Bai Ao, I order you to lead an army of two hundred thousand to suppress them."
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