Chapter 1273

Although it might seem that capital suffered losses in this process, for the empire's overall economy there was not the slightest reduction—instead, it raised the general happiness index of the populace, and also drove economic growth, allowing more people to earn money and more people to get rich. This is like a virtuous cycle.

Internal circulation. However, if one wants to achieve rapid growth in the empire's economy, one still has to rely on foreign trade—trading with other countries, even trading with other races.

The empire has not banned slave trade, strengthened management in this area, and then promoted trade with dwarves, trade with elves, and even trade with beastfolk. If magical beasts could not communicate with humans, Lin Cheng would even want to say: trade with magical beasts.

As long as both sides of the trade find it reasonable, then no matter who one trades with, one can bring the gains back from outside, which to a certain extent undoubtedly means bringing wealth into the country.

Compared to trading with fellow humans, those sub-human races appear more simple-minded, and the empire can obtain more benefits from them—for example, dwarves… trading with the empire.

The empire can obtain weapons and armor forged by dwarves; domestic smiths can study them, perhaps to crack the secrets of dwarven weapons. And what the dwarves might need is only strong liquor and some moisture-resistant daily necessities. Dwarves who live underground year-round not only need daily necessities, but even more need strong liquor to warm their bodies.

These things are not very important to the empire.

There are many similar examples. Although Lin Cheng did not go into detail, he also painted a big picture for Crown Prince Li Jian, making him trust him even more, believing him to be a rare talent.

Finally… Lin Cheng also emphasized that if the empire wants to become powerful, it must not only develop the economy, but at the same time develop mechanism arts.

"What is mechanism arts?"

Crown Prince Li Jian was hearing about mechanism arts for the first time.

"For example… the means of transportation we mentioned before. If I say mechanism arts can bring about a carriage that does not need human or Ma Pi to pull it, that can move on its own, would Your Highness believe it?"

"A carriage that doesn't need human or Ma Pi to pull it, and can move on its own—is that a miracle?" Crown Prince Li Jian blinked as he studied it, honestly somewhat disbelieving.

"This is mechanism arts—turning the rotten into the miraculous. Things that seem impossible, mechanism arts can make them happen. For example, the mechanism servants and mechanism mounts in my shop—they don't need outsiders to drive them, only need a small magic crystal to serve as the core, and then they can move on their own." Lin Cheng explained.

"Mechanism servants can be used in combat, and mechanism mounts can travel a thousand li a day without ever feeling fatigue, needing no food, and needing no one to tend them… Your Highness, please imagine—if we were to organize such a mechanism army, it could march day and night, fearing neither death nor life."

"To other kingdoms, this would simply be a death army! Its power is comparable to the infamous necromancers of the Western Regions summoning their army of skeletons!"

"The key point is… the defensive capability of a mechanism army is entirely forged from metal. Whether in attack or defense, its performance far surpasses that of skeletons. Even if the mechanisms don't use magic crystals as their core, we can also use petroleum, electricity, and so on…"

"Lin Cheng, what do you think I should do now? How can I make even Father Emperor admire our abilities!" Crown Prince Li Jian asked.

All he had to do now was continuously consolidate his own position. If he could accomplish something that made even Father Emperor admire him, then his status as heir would undoubtedly be even more secure.

"That damned brother of mine, Li Chun, thinks that going off to establish merit can defeat me? Hahaha, he has no idea that I already have a master craftsman like you assisting me. Once I ascend the throne, I will surely restore the former glory of your Tut family!"

Crown Prince Li Jian patted Lin Cheng's shoulder, and Lin Cheng merely smiled at this........

"Then I am truly grateful to Your Highness."

"No need for courtesy, this is what you deserve."

"I think for now we still have to first solve how to raise productivity, using mechanism arts to replace human labor. Then the empire's productivity will greatly increase—this is something even Your Majesty has never accomplished. When that time comes… Your Majesty will surely praise Your Highness highly."

"Excellent."

In his previous life, the steam engine propelled the Industrial Revolution, and mechanical kinetic energy fully replaced human labor, greatly raising the productivity of the entire West within ten years.

But now, Lin Cheng fell into hesitation.

Using a steam engine would inevitably lead the Tianwu Empire into an industrial revolution, gradually following the same path as his previous life. However, this was a world of magic and swords—would using a steam engine be a bit too low?

Lin Cheng's original trade was that of a smith. If he forged equipment that didn't use inscriptions, then his identity as a smith would lose all meaning.

This would undoubtedly be smashing his own rice bowl—something that he, an eighth-rank smith, absolutely could not do.

I can use mechanism arts and inscriptions to forge a cheap internal combustion engine with a magic crystal as its core. It can continuously provide power, thereby replacing human labor. As long as Your Highness can spread it throughout the nation, then within a few years… the empire's productivity will greatly increase dozens of times! Even hundreds of times!

This kind of magic crystal internal combustion engine can be applied in all trades—for example, manufacturing agricultural mechanism carts with the magic crystal internal combustion engine as their core, to help people sow and harvest grain.