Chapter 594

Although it seems that capital is damaged in this process, it has not decreased at all for the Empire’s overall economy. Instead, it has increased the people’s general happiness index and driven economic growth, allowing more people to make money and leading more people to get rich. This is like a virtuous cycle.

Internal circulation. However, if you want to achieve rapid economic growth in the Empire, you have to rely on foreign trade, do business with other countries, even if it is doing business with other races.

The Empire doesn't prohibit slave trading, strengthen management in this regard, and then promote trading with dwarves, trading with elves, and even trading with orcs. If it weren't for the fact that magical beasts cannot communicate with humans, Lin Cheng would even want to say trading with magical beasts.

As long as both parties to the transaction feel it is reasonable, then no matter who you trade with, you can bring the harvest back to the country from the outside, which is undoubtedly bringing wealth to the country to a certain extent.

Compared with trading with the same humans, those demi-human races seem simpler, and the Empire can get more benefits from them, such as dwarves... trading with the Empire.

The Empire can obtain weapons and armor forged by dwarves, and domestic blacksmiths can study them, perhaps to crack the secrets of dwarf weapons, while dwarves may only need strong liquor and some moisture-resistant daily necessities. Dwarves who live underground all year round not only need daily necessities but also need strong liquor to warm themselves.

These things are not very important things for the Empire.

There are many such things. Although Lin Cheng didn't elaborate, he also drew a big pie for Crown Prince Li Li Jian, making him trust himself more and believe that he is a rare talent.

Finally... Lin Cheng also emphasized that if the Empire wants to be strong, it must not only develop the economy but also develop mechanism arts.

"What is mechanism art?"

Crown Prince Li Li Jian had heard of mechanism art for the first time.

"For example... the transportation tools we mentioned earlier. If I say that mechanism art can bring carriages that don't need human or horse power and can move by themselves, then do you believe it, Your Highness?"

"Carriages that don't need human or horse power and can move by themselves, is that a miracle?" Crown Prince Li Li Jian blinked, truly a bit disbelieving.

"This is mechanism art, turning decay into magic. Things that seem impossible can be realized by mechanism art. For example, the mechanism servants and mechanism mounts in my shop, they don't need outsiders to drive them, they only need a small magic crystal to act as the core, and then they can move by themselves." Lin Cheng explained.

"Mechanism servants can be used for combat, and mechanism mounts can travel a thousand miles a day without feeling tired, and they don't need food, nor do they need people to take care of them... Your Highness, please imagine, if you organize such a mechanism legion, you can travel day and night without fear of life or death."

"For other kingdoms, this is simply a death legion! Its power is comparable to the skeleton army summoned by the notorious necromancers of the Western Regions!"

"The point is... the defense capability of the mechanism legion is made entirely of metal, and both attack and defense performance are far stronger than skeletons. Even if the mechanism doesn't use magic crystals as the core, we can use oil, electricity, etc..."

"Lin Cheng, what do you think I should do now? How can I make His Majesty admire our skills!" Crown Prince Li Li Jian asked.

He only needs to constantly consolidate his position now. If he can do something that even His Majesty admires, then his position as Crown Prince will undoubtedly be more stable.

"Does my damn brother Li Chun think he can defeat me by going to build merit? Hahaha, he doesn't know that I already have you, a master craftsman, assisting me. When I ascend the throne, I will definitely restore the glory of your Tute family!"

Crown Prince Li Li Jian patted Lin Cheng on the shoulder, and Lin Cheng just smiled at this. .......

"I am truly grateful to Your Highness."

"You're welcome, this is what you deserve."

"I think for now, we must first solve how to increase productivity and use mechanism art to replace human labor. Then the Empire’s productivity will be greatly improved. This is something His Majesty has never done. By that time... His Majesty will definitely praise you, Your Highness."

"Wonderful."

In his previous life, the steam engine promoted the Industrial Revolution, and mechanical kinetic energy completely replaced human labor, making the entire Western productivity greatly improved within ten years.

However, by now, Lin Cheng fell into hesitation.

Using steam engines will inevitably make the Emperor Tianwu Empire enter the Industrial Revolution, thereby gradually embarking on the same path as his previous life. But this is a world of magic and swords. Would using steam engines be too low-end?

Lin Cheng’s old profession is a blacksmith. If he forges machinery that doesn't use inscriptions, then he, the blacksmith, will lose his meaning.

This is undoubtedly smashing his own rice bowl. This kind of thing, he, an eighth-rank blacksmith, cannot do.

I can use mechanism art and inscriptions to create a low-cost internal combustion engine with magic crystals as the core. It can continuously provide power, thereby replacing human labor. As long as Your Highness can popularize it nationwide, then in a few years... the Empire’s productivity will be greatly improved by dozens of times! Even hundreds of times!

This kind of magic crystal internal combustion engine can be used in all walks of life, such as manufacturing agricultural mechanism vehicles with magic crystal internal combustion engines as the core, helping people sow and harvest grain.

Perhaps setting up factories, establishing magic crystal internal combustion engine production lines, making goods day and night, or even magic crystal internal combustion engines can also be used to make transportation tools, transportation tools, etc...

By that time, Lin Cheng’s reputation will spread throughout the Empire, and it seems not impossible to get the highest god-level reward for the system reputation task.

This is also an important reason why Lin Cheng decided to help Crown Prince Li Li Jian!

The god-level rewards mentioned in the reputation tasks previously released by the system were simply too tempting for him!

"However..."

With Lin Cheng’s sudden frown, Crown Prince Li Li Jian couldn't help but show confusion.

"However what?"

"I have a worry, Your Highness."

"You say."

Crown Prince Li Li Jian had some doubts. With such a good prospect for the Empire, could there be any drawbacks?

"Once the magic crystal internal combustion engine is launched, it will inevitably make some unscrupulous merchants increase the price of magic crystals. By that time, people won't be able to afford the magic crystal internal combustion engine, and our plan will naturally fail."

"This is indeed true." Crown Prince Li Li Jian also showed some difficulty on his face.

Merchants pursue profit, and the magic crystal internal combustion engine uses magic crystals as energy. Once black-hearted merchants increase the price of magic crystals, the plan will fail instead!

"Hmm?" Crown Prince Li Li Jian raised his head.

"Let His Majesty issue an order to control the price of magic crystals throughout the country, and those who violate it will be severely punished. Small price increases can be allowed in some areas, but we must absolutely let everyone be able to afford magic crystals, even the lowest-level 1st-tier magic crystals. At the same time, I will also find a way to extend the usage time of 1st-tier magic crystals, as long as we can make 1st-tier magic crystals reach the usage time for the magic crystal internal combustion engine to operate normally for a whole day."

"I think by then, plus the Empire’s regulation of magic crystal prices and the amazing efficiency of the magic crystal internal combustion engine, even if those unscrupulous merchants want to take the opportunity to make a big profit, it will be unlikely."

Hearing this, Crown Prince Li Li Jian couldn't help but brighten up.

"Right, there is also this method."

"Good, just do as you say!"

Afterwards, the two finalized various details. Lin Cheng began to develop the magic crystal internal combustion engine, while Crown Prince Li Li Jian returned to the palace to persuade his father and make other preparations at the same time.

Once the magic crystal internal combustion engine is born, carry out various crazy publicity and guide people to use it.

Even if it is free to use in the early stage, it doesn't matter. As long as people start to get used to the magic crystal internal combustion engine, their plan will be considered a success.

After everything was settled, Lin Cheng left in a hurry to open the shop.

In the private room, Crown Prince Li Li Jian was still obsessively pondering the various details he discussed with Lin Cheng earlier. To prevent himself from forgetting, he even took out paper and pen to record it down, muttering to himself while recording.

"Your Highness, do you really trust that person Lin Cheng? Forgive me for being blunt, I think that Lin Cheng is not reliable." The butler on the side suddenly added a word.

Crown Prince Li Li Jian’s eyes turned cold instantly, as cold as facing the enemy who killed his father. However, this gaze was fleeting, and plus the butler Guo Qing was behind him, so Guo Qing didn't notice the change in his master.

"Old Guo, I don't want you to speak ill of Lin Cheng again. He is my lucky star now. Do you know what kind of changes will happen to the entire Empire once what he said is realized? The magic crystal internal combustion engine will double the Empire’s productivity, that’s dozens of times!"

"Once Lin Cheng and I realize it... His Majesty will definitely look at me with admiration. After I ascend the throne, the entire Empire will be prosperous and flourishing in a thriving scene. After I abdicate, I will also become a great emperor in the history of the Empire comparable to the founding emperor, remembered by the world! And have a statue erected!" Crown Prince Li Li Jian’s eyes were full of longing for that scene, his arms spread wide.

Lin Cheng didn't even think that far when he said it. Crown Prince Li Li Jian, good guy, even fantasized about the scenes after his ascension and abdication.

Good guy, really a good guy.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Butler Guo Qing also stood on the side speechlessly, calling out good guy in his heart. His master had been completely fooled by Lin Cheng, thinking about the abdication a hundred years later.

But you haven't even ascended the throne yet, this matter hasn't even started.