Chapter 369

While the steam engine was flourishing, you suddenly ordered that the West, North, and East Continents must extensively plant trees.

Translation: "While the steam engine was flourishing, you suddenly issued an order: the West Continent, the North Continent, and the East Continent must all extensively plant trees!"

We need to keep the brackets? The Chinese line includes 【】. Should we keep them? The instruction: translate the lines, keep each translation on a single output line. It didn't say to remove the brackets. Usually we translate the content inside, but we should keep the same punctuation? The brackets are part of the line; we should translate the content but keep the brackets? The example not given. Safer to keep the brackets as they are part of the line. However they are not translatable; we can keep them as is. The instruction: "Translate faithfully — never skip, summarise, or merge paragraphs." The brackets are part of the source line; we should preserve them. So output: 【1】 【While the steam engine was flourishing, you suddenly issued an order: the West Continent, the North Continent, and the East Continent must all extensively plant trees!】 But we need to translate the Chinese inside the brackets, not keep Chinese. So we replace Chinese with English but keep the brackets. So output: 【1】 【While the steam engine was flourishing, you suddenly issued an order: the West Continent, the North Continent, and the East Continent must all extensively plant trees!】.

Make sure no line breaks inside.

Proceed similarly for each.

Let's do all.

No sooner had the order been given than everyone was bewildered: why suddenly plant trees?

Translation: "As soon as the order was given, everyone was stunned: why suddenly plant trees?"

You didn't elaborate, since verbal explanations are always weak; once the problem truly surfaced, they would naturally grasp your intent…

Translation: "You didn't bother to explain, because verbal explanations are always feeble and powerless; once the problem truly arises, they will naturally understand your meaning……"

In short, the steam engine's immense value became apparent the moment it appeared.

Translation: "In short, once the steam engine was born, it immediately revealed its tremendous value!"

Soon steam locomotives, steamships, steam looms, steam hammers, and the like spread steam power across all sectors, triggering considerable social turmoil.

Translation: "For a time, steam locomotives, steamships, steam looms, steam hammers…… and so on, steam power quickly spread through every industry, causing considerable social upheaval."

Fortunately, the West Continent has been in turmoil for decades, never knowing stability, so its people are highly adaptable; after a period of adjustment, every region erupts with even greater vitality.

But fortunately, having been in turmoil for these past few decades, the West Continent has never known stability, so everyone's adaptability is high; after a period of adjustment, all regions burst forth with even greater vitality!

New factories sprang up everywhere, artisans became formal workers, and society's face shifted rapidly…

Translation: "New factories sprang up one after another, artisans turned into formal workers, and the social landscape changed rapidly……"

Although everyone adapted swiftly to this dramatic change, some were still affected—such as the overseas students.

Translation: "And although such drastic change, while everyone adapted quickly, those affected were not nonexistent—for example…… the overseas students."

The overseas students who had come from Shun Chao originally intended to study for about ten years before returning to the Great Shun, but the West Continent changed so fast that even burning the midnight oil couldn't keep them abreast, forcing them to repeatedly postpone graduation.

Translation: "Back then, the overseas student children who came from the Shun dynasty originally planned to study for about ten years before returning to the Great Shun, but unexpectedly the changes in the West Continent were too fast—so fast that even as they worked overtime studying, they still felt unable to keep up, so they could only repeatedly postpone graduation……"

Then the steam engine burst onto the scene, outright eliminating many industries and technologies, leaving them overwhelmed and forced to delay again to learn new material.

Translation: "This time the steam engine burst onto the scene again, effectively eliminating many industries and technologies, leaving them dazed and overwhelmed; they had no choice but to postpone once more to study new things……"

Damn! Here we go again!

Translation: "Damn it! Here it comes again!"

In the neat classroom, a black‑haired youth raised his newspaper and exclaimed, 'Technology just switched generations, and now it's switching again—we were already struggling to keep up, and here comes another steam engine…'

Translation: "In the neat classroom, the black-haired youth held the newspaper in hand and couldn't help blurting out a colloquial exclamation: 'Technology just changed generations, and now it changes again—we were already struggling to learn, and now here comes the steam engine……'"

Well, that's just great—I doubt we'll ever catch up to the West Continent's breakneck pace, even if we study until we're thirty or forty.

Translation: "'Well then,' I think, 'by the time we're in our thirties or forties, we'll probably still not be able to keep up with the West Continent's pace of change!'"

A student clutched his head and cried, 'We study nonstop! We can never finish learning! When will this ever end?!'

Translation: "A student covered his head and wailed: 'We study every day! We can never finish learning! When will this ever end……'"

I think we ought to stay put for now and extend our studies by another two years.

Translation: "'I think we'd better not go back yet; let's postpone for another two years.'"

Someone sighed, 'I have a hunch this steam engine still has more to reveal—perhaps everything we've learned so far will be made obsolete by it.'

Translation: "Someone sighed: 'I have a feeling this steam engine still has more to say; who knows, maybe everything we've learned before will be rendered useless by it……'"

Still extending?

Translation: "'Still postpone?'"

Someone nearly burst into tears:

Translation: "Someone almost cried:"

I arrived in the West Continent at five, and now I'm twenty—if we keep delaying, I might as well just make a home here.

Translation: "'I came to the West Continent at five, and now I'm twenty; if we keep postponing, I might as well just settle down here……'"

He said that, and many students echoed his sentiment, sighing that they hadn't been home in almost twenty years—and if they weren't still carrying the Great Shun's name, they truly wouldn't want to return.

Translation: "Upon saying that, many students felt the same, sighing: 'It's been nearly twenty years since we last went home; if it weren't for still bearing the name of the Great Shun, we truly wouldn't want to return.'"

After all, what's good about the Great Shun? Constant warfare, yearly levies to Luoyang, and the Shun emperor every few years gets publicly dressed down—sometimes a 'Northern Hunt,' sometimes a 'Western Hunt'—even the emperor suffers, let alone the populace; the whole nation is in utter chaos.

Translation: "After all, what's good about the Great Shun? Constant military chaos, yearly mobilizations to attack Luoyang, the Shun emperor on average every few years has to be confronted face‑to‑face with criticism, sometimes a 'Northern Hunt', sometimes a 'Western Hunt'…… even the Shun dynasty's emperor suffers this badly, let alone commoners—the whole country is in utter confusion!"

By contrast, the West Continent also sees occasional unrest, but these are mostly positive upheavals; once the turmoil settles, it grows even more prosperous, brimming with vigorous vitality and a flourishing of all things.

Translation: "By contrast, the West Continent, although it also experiences occasional turmoil, these are largely positive upheavals; once the disturbance subsides, it becomes ever more prosperous, and the whole society brims with vigorous vitality and the scene of myriad things vying to flourish……"

Frankly, being a worker in the West Continent is more satisfying than being a small landowner in the South Continent.

Translation: "Frankly speaking, being a worker in the West Continent is more enjoyable than being a small landlord in the South Continent!"

One side is heaven, the other hell; anyone with a sound mind knows exactly which to pick.

Translation: "One side is heaven, the other hell; with a sound mind, one surely knows which to choose."

But the catch is, they're all government‑sponsored overseas students sent by the Great Shun, so they really have no choice but to go back.

Translation: "But the problem is, these people are government‑sponsored overseas students sent by the Great Shun; they simply cannot avoid returning……"

If you wish to stay, I can actually intercede for you.

Translation: "'If you really want to stay, I can actually put in a good word for you.'"

With a chuckle, a wheelchair glided up and settled on the podium.

Translation: "Accompanied by a light‑hearted remark, a wheelchair slowly rose and came to rest on the podium."

Seated in the wheelchair, Lin Liu cocked his head and smiled at the students…

Translation: "On the wheelchair, Lin Liu tilted his head, smiling as he gazed at the students……"

Sir?!

Translation: "'Sir?!'"

The students, who had been venting their grievances, were jolted and sprang to their feet, shouting:

Translation: "The students, who had just been complaining to each other, shuddered, then hurriedly rose to their feet in unison and shouted:"

Loyalty! Sincerity!

Translation: "'Loyalty! Devotion!'"

We can never repay Pasha's kindness!

Translation: "'We can never repay Pasha's kindness!'"

This is the most basic courtesy: everyone living under Pasha's rule should sincerely offer him these rites.

Translation: "This is the most basic courtesy; everyone living under Pasha's governance ought to sincerely extend this courtesy to him."

Lin Liu still smiled and said:

Translation: "Lin Liu still smiled and said:"

Do you really want to stay?

Translation: "'Do you really want to stay?'"

At those words, the students exchanged glances…

Translation: "As soon as he said that, the students looked at one another……"

【Go back?】 【Or just forget it.】

Translation: "【Go back?】【Or maybe just forget it.】"

Never mind their recent complaints—if they truly wanted to stay, they could never have spent so many years studying here.

Translation: "【Don't look at how everyone just complained; if they truly wanted to stay, it would be utterly impossible for them to have studied here for so many years.】"

While identity restrictions play a part, it's chiefly their ambition that drives them.

Translation: "【This is certainly partly due to identity restrictions, but more so it's ambition!】"

Admittedly, they were mere children when they arrived, with no lofty ambitions; yet after your years of personal instruction, they've known from childhood what dire plight the Great Shun now faces.

Translation: "【Indeed, they were very young when they arrived, truly unable to speak of any lofty ideals, but under your years of personal education, they have known since childhood what hellish situation the Great Shun now faces.】"

They feel the constant turmoil in the Great Shun's lands, while the peace and prosperity they see in the West Continent constantly remind them that, although the two continents appear to share a world, they actually inhabit entirely different realms.

Translation: "【They deeply feel the constant turmoil occurring across the land of the Great Shun, while the peace and prosperity they witness in the West Continent continually remind them: the two continents may seem to be in the same world, but in fact they are entirely different worlds……】"

No matter how fine the West Continent may be, it isn't theirs; no matter how dire the Great Shun, it remains their root.

Translation: "【No matter how good the West Continent is, it does not belong to them; no matter how bad the Great Shun is, it remains their root.】"

Furthermore, having gained such skills, shouldn't they apply them to develop their homeland? If they could truly reshape the Great Shun's future, their years of study would not have been wasted.

Translation: "【Furthermore, having acquired all these skills, shouldn't they be put to good use in building their homeland? If they could truly rewrite the future of the Great Shun, then their years of hard study would not have been in vain……】"

Seeing that none of them truly intends to remain in the West Continent, you feel considerably relieved.

Translation: "【Seeing that not a single person among them truly intends to stay in the West Continent, you also feel quite relieved.】"

But when you heard they wanted to delay a few more years to learn new steam‑engine knowledge, you shook your head: 'No need—you've already mastered all the technical knowledge; staying longer would be pointless.'

Translation: "【However, when you heard they still wanted to postpone a few more years to learn new knowledge about the steam engine, you shook your head: 'No need; you've already learned all the technical knowledge—staying longer would serve no purpose.'】"

"I've already arranged with them; in a few months I'll send you back to the Great Shun—after all these years of study, it's time to repay the Great Shun."

Translation: "【'I've already arranged with the other side; in a few months I'll send you back to the Great Shun—after studying this long, it's time to repay the Great Shun……'】"

The crowd stared in disbelief: 'Really? We actually have to leave?'

Translation: "【The crowd stared: 'Really going to leave?'】"

"No! What about the steam engine?!"

Translation: "【No! What about the steam engine?!】"

A student blurted out, 'Sir, we haven't even studied the steam engine yet…'

Translation: "【At that moment a student couldn't help but ask: 'Sir, but we haven't even learned about the steam engine yet……'】"

You shook your head.

Translation: "【You shook your head.】"

"You don't need to learn it—even if you did, it would be useless."

Translation: "【'You don't need to learn it; even if you did, it would be useless.'】"

Huh?

Translation: "【Huh?】"

For a moment, everyone seemed to have something to say, but ultimately they remained silent…

Translation: "【For a moment, everyone seemed to want to say something, but in the end they said nothing……】"

You remained quiet, for there was really nothing to say—if it's useless, it's useless; at best it could be used on a small scale under your rule, but if placed in the Southern Treasure Continent it would be not only useless but actually harmful.

Translation: "【You still didn't say much, because there's really nothing to say—useless is useless; this thing can at most be used on a small scale under your rule, but if placed in the Southern Continent, it would not only be useless, it would actually be harmful.】"

You calmly continued the lesson…

Translation: "【You calmly continued giving them lessons……】"

After several months, the students who had completed their term ultimately, following a graduation ceremony, boarded the homebound ships with mixed feelings.

Translation: "【After several months, the overseas students who had completed their term ultimately, following a graduation ceremony, embarked on the homeward‑bound ship with complex feelings.】"

【……】

Translation: "【……】"

In the 52nd year of the New Heavenly Court and the 201st year of the Great Shun, the overseas students who had studied for a full fifteen years returned to the Great Shun by sea.

Translation: "【In the 52nd year of the New Heavenly Court, the 201st year of the Great Shun, the overseas students who had studied for a full fifteen years returned to the Great Shun by sea.】"

Returning from a modern, newly built urban area to an ancient feudal city, the contrast is so stark it feels like time travel.

Translation: "【From the modernized, brand‑new urban districts, returning to the cities of the classical feudal era, the gap is so vast that it naturally feels like crossing through time.】"

However, the overseas students were ultimately of high quality; after a brief period of adaptation, these young people carrying knowledge and ideals gradually began their work…

They came back, definitely not to be frontline workers, but to serve as educational staff, engaging in teaching and guidance work; thus the court treated them very well.

Quickly, under their direction, the old industries that had earlier been dispatched from the West Province to assist once again achieved high-level progress and development!

One batch after another of molten steel was smelted, and one batch after another of new gunpowder appeared on the fresh land; firearms, cannons… and so on and so forth.

And seeing that their efforts bore fruit, the Great Shun court was quite excited!

On one hand they increased investment, on the other they hastily raised a new army equipped with modern firearms; after simple training, they rushed to the battlefield…

A new army equipped with Western guns and cannons, facing the restoration righteous army still stuck in the era of big knives and long spears, was nothing less than a dimensional strike!

Not long after, the Great Shun court, which used to frequently launch western and northern expeditions, sprang back into action, repeatedly repelling several groups of the Wild God righteous army that drank talisman water and took strength pills, and then outright defeated several groups of the restoration righteous army that tried to march swords to Luoyang to frankly present their grievances to His Majesty.

The more they fought, the smoother it went, practically giving the Great Shun the appearance of a revival.

Meanwhile, on the other side, a large-scale disturbance gradually emerged in the West Province and then spread to the East and North Provinces…

……

(End of chapter)