Industrial Age

The next day.

Lin Meng, Grand General of the Star Ancient Empire, and Bai Ao, Grand General, each led a massive army and departed silently for the northwest and the northern lands.

Since no one knew the movements of the two armies, the conspirators in the Northwest Lu Family and the northern lands, who intended to split off and establish independent territories, failed to react at all.

By the time they realized what was happening and prepared to resist, blades and axes were already at their throats.

Faced with the sudden military encirclement, the mere Lu Family was utterly incapable of resisting.

Especially the various clans in the north that had intended to rebel.

What they encountered was a descendant of the Bai Clan.

The brutality of it went without saying.

Bai Ao accepted neither prisoners nor surrender. Anyone who showed the slightest sign of participating in the rebellion was executed without exception.

After suppressing the rebellion that was about to erupt, the two Grand Generals received the Emperor's decree to guard the two vital regions and maintain local security.

Year 412 of the Imperial Era.

The appearance of a new weapon would ultimately change the structure of the world.

The matchlock gun.

A weapon that had crossed into a new era.

With its appearance, ancient weapons such as long guns, spears, bows and arrows, and the like were destined to be eliminated.

This also meant that gunpowder was being rapidly put to use by the Star Ancient Empire.

That same year.

Steel was also produced through the cooperation of Star Ancient Steel Limited Company and the Engineering Academy.

This announced that the Star Ancient Empire now possessed the ability to smelt steel.

Year 450 of the Imperial Era.

The population of the Star Ancient Empire had astonishingly surpassed one hundred million, and this trend was still expanding at a furious pace.

Over these forty-odd years.

All kinds of academic disciplines and theories had emerged within the Star Ancient Empire.

It was as if technology had suddenly exploded, causing the entire civilization's development to become increasingly terrifying.

As people came into contact with more things, their ability to transform their thinking also accelerated.

In addition, as the population of the Star Ancient Empire grew larger, geniuses appeared frequently, striving to make the empire even more powerful.

Yang Yu, the ruler of the Star Ancient Empire, remained high above, firmly seated in the imperial palace and wielding power over all under heaven.

During that time, he had also raised the executioner's blade several times.

Some clans, factions, and organizations had attempted to challenge the empire's laws, and what they faced as a result was extraordinarily brutal.

Year 455 of the Imperial Era.

After years of development, steam-engine technology had also been pushed to its peak. Thanks to the effects of the steam engine, people's quality of life had improved steadily, which also meant that the pressure of social competition was growing increasingly intense.

The matchlock gun had undergone further improvements. After a long period of refinement, it had reached the level of the flintlock gun.

Reinforced concrete also appeared in this era.

Because construction was taking place throughout the empire, steel consumption had become enormous, so the Star Ancient Empire kept building more and more steel-smelting plants.

That same year, the Engineering Academy had even developed the electromagnetic coil.

Imperial Study.

Yang Yu lowered his head to review the documents, then suddenly looked up at Secretary-General Bai Ling and asked, "Was this document submitted by the Engineering Academy?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"This document was submitted by Liu Ming, the president of the Engineering Academy."

Secretary-General Bai Ling respectfully bowed her head.

Yang Yu carefully examined the materials submitted by Liu Ming, president of the Engineering Academy. They contained a detailed account of the results of this project.

If that vehicle could be manufactured, it would undoubtedly allow the empire to transport troops and resources much faster.

Wasn't this the concept of a train?

"Two hundred million?"

Looking at the funds required for the project, Yang Yu picked up a cigarette from the desk, took out a manufactured match, lit it, and began to puff out clouds of smoke.

One had to understand.

What did two hundred million mean in this era?

It was equivalent to the entire empire's GDP for one month.

One yuan was enough to support a family of three for a whole day.

This showed just how terrifying purchasing power was in this era.

"Approve it. Have the Ministry of Finance allocate the funds to them."

Yang Yu spoke in a deep voice.

If the steam train really came into existence, it would mean that the empire was reaching the pinnacle of the First Industrial Age.

And now the electromagnetic coil had also been developed.

That meant that as the empire reached the peak of the First Industrial Age, it would soon be able to enter the Second Industrial Age.

Excellent. Excellent.

This was truly wonderful.

The appearance of steam trains was bound to eliminate a great deal of labor and accelerate the empire's development.

Then, how far away could the unification of the entire world be?

Imperial Palace.

Zhu Que Hall.

South of Zhu Que Hall was where the cabinet handled government affairs.

Main Hall of Zhu Que.

The current Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Justice, Minister of Education, and Minister of Public Security sat together.

"First, let us discuss the empire's security situation."

"This matter is extremely serious. In particular, Minister of Public Security, you need to pay attention."

"According to the intelligence submitted from below, your Department of Public Security has not been cracking down hard enough on those selling prohibited goods. How many families will this ruin?"

Prime Minister Bai Qing wore a stern expression as he glared angrily at the Minister of Public Security seated opposite him. He said, "In particular, the publicity in some places is still insufficient. Gangs forming, street fights, and brawls are affecting the empire's security. What is your Department of Public Security doing? Must His Majesty reprimand you over this before you are satisfied? Must nine generations of your family be implicated before you are content?"

"Prime Minister, there was nothing we could do."

"The Imperial Code states that we are law enforcement officers. When people fight and brawl without the matter becoming serious, we can only detain them. We cannot use force against those commoners."

Minister of Public Security Owen looked bitterly at Prime Minister Bai Qing.

They had merely been fighting and brawling, and no one had died. What else could they do?

"Fighting with weapons, and you call that child's play? Must someone die before you are satisfied? Before you are content?"

"The people below have already complained to me."

"Especially in certain small counties, gangs form, bully the common people, and prey on them. Do you have two eggs growing beneath your eyebrows just to keep your eyes open and pretend to be blind?"

"I am telling you, the New Year is approaching. If you cannot handle these matters properly and cases of officials and merchants shielding each other are discovered, you can go home and enjoy your retirement."

Bai Qing had no intention of wasting any more words on Owen. He said, "This is my first warning to you, and it is also my last. Do you think His Majesty will not know just because we fail to report it? His Majesty is watching. He is merely waiting for us to handle it. If the result is unsatisfactory, we have never seen His Majesty's methods ourselves, but we have seen them in the history books."

"Afraid of wolves ahead and tigers behind—how did you ever manage to become Minister of Public Security?"

"Yes."

Minister of Public Security Owen solemnly bowed his head.

His backing was not as strong as theirs.

All of them came from the Four Great Clans. When they acted, they naturally had no scruples; whoever needed to be dealt with would be dealt with.

But he was different.

Even so, faced with the demand from the Prime Minister, he did not dare say anything.

"Even now, the empire's territory remains far too vast for us. We still need to continue promoting the policy of having more children and encourage the common people to have larger families, so that we can properly develop the territory we currently possess."

"As for the various infrastructure projects, the Ministry of Finance had better have ample funds..."