Chapter 881: Steam Train

On the way back, Liu Zheng kept pondering that list.

A five-year supply of Buffalo Horn.

This was the most important thing of all.

Buffalo Horn, an indispensable traditional Chinese medicinal herb, had always been relied upon by Korea from Longyan. Do not underestimate this small item; if Longyan were to cut off the supply, it could leave the entire Korea in a state of utter chaos.

Zhang Xuan was the one responsible for conducting business with Longyan.

Therefore, this sudden procurement of a five-year supply of Buffalo Horn immediately caught Liu Zheng's attention.

First, it could be surmised that this move by the Li Dynasty was clearly a preparation for a deterioration in relations with the Longyan Dynasty. The first to bear the brunt would be the deterioration of trade relations. So, under what circumstances would the Li Dynasty, this loyal little brother of Longyan, allow trade relations with Longyan to deteriorate? The first thing Liu Zheng thought of was that the Li Dynasty wanted to kill him. Because currently, in terms of commercial trade in Longyan, his Chamber of Commerce was doing the best. Moreover, there was a key factor at play: Liaodong had now become his own backyard. And the Li Dynasty bordered Liaodong.

The Li Dynasty wanted to kill him.

Liu Zheng took a deep breath and looked at the scenery outside the window.

And those who wanted to kill him included not only the Southern Faction, but even the Western Faction, who were maintaining a wait-and-see attitude, as well as that fox Li Tun, who had always wanted to regain political power.

Secondly, the Li Dynasty was worried about the current situation of the Longyan Dynasty. Xie Tianyao's health was failing day by day, the whereabouts of the Crown Prince had yet to be found, and the court was in a state of disarray. Under such circumstances, if Minister Liu were to die in Korea, what would happen? One could figure it out with their toes: the Liangzhou Army would absolutely rebel, and chaos in Longyan would be an inevitable outcome.

Remember the website.

Just these two points.

To synthesize them.

Who is it?

The Old Aristocrats?

Or the Scholar-officials?

Liu Zheng suddenly felt.

This was someone from within the country putting in effort, fanning the flames from behind the scenes.

Otherwise, with Liaodong already firmly in his grasp, the Li Dynasty would not take such a desperate risk.

Longyan Jinghua.

This time, the place where Zhu Zhen appeared was not the Shangshu Mansion, but the Imperial Observatory.

He and Yuan Qingming sat quietly opposite each other, playing chess.

At a glance, Liu Zheng saw enemies everywhere.

How should he break out of the encirclement?

Playing chess?

Play chess your ghost!

Now, in all of Jinghua, who didn't run here every day, just wanting to see that Star Plate?

"Oh my, I told you, old Minister, a thing like the Star Plate really cannot be shown to you."

Yuan Qingming was already at his wit's end.

Zhu Zhen was taken aback, then laughed heartily: "Old Yuan, who wants to see your Star Plate? I just came to play chess with you."

The Emperor is away, what are you here to see this for?

But Zhu Zhen was different.

Yuan Qingming being able to serve as the head of this Imperial Observatory was entirely due to Zhu Zhen's promotion.

How is the Emperor Star?

How is the situation in Longyan?

But anyone else who came was chased away by Yuan Qingming.

Zhu Zhen's face was full of wrinkles, piled into gullies. He placed a piece and chuckled: "Old Yuan, the big picture, the big picture! You also know that the Emperor's health is failing day by day. Where Longyan is headed is something we people should be concerned about."

As expected.

It came after all.

This man could be considered his mentor; he certainly could not be driven away.

It was just that...

He recalled the astonishing changes that had occurred on the Star Plate over the past few days, and he couldn't even sleep well; how could he let others see it?

Yuan Qingming wore a bitter smile.

Zhu Zhen continued: "The affairs of the world, the affairs of the Emperor, the affairs of humanity..."

"Alright, alright!"

Yuan Qingming looked bitter.

Zhu Zhen said indifferently: "The trend of the world is that long division leads to unity, and long unity leads to division; this is the cycle of the Heavenly Way, which neither you nor I can hinder. Yet, the common people of the world, how are they innocent? Old Yuan, what is the significance of the establishment of the Imperial Observatory? Now that the Emperor is away on a tour, we so-called pillars of the state should naturally take charge of this house, don't you agree?"

"Old Minister..."

Yuan Qingming sighed. The two old men, one following the other, trembling and unsteady, walked up the stairs of the Imperial Observatory.

The massive Star Plate appeared before the two of them.

Yuan Qingming slowly closed his eyes, already shedding tears of an old man.

Yuan Qingming finally gave in and slowly stood up: "Old Minister, are you sure you want to see..."

Zhu Zhen's cloudy eyes brightened: "Heaven bestows a great mission upon a person..."

"Fine, fine, fine!"

A long silence.

Too long a silence.

On the Star Plate, the stars, though not as striking in the daylight, still made one feel intoxicated.

Zhu Zhen stared intently, and his eyes immediately lit up.

And then.

The two fell into silence at the same time.

A hoarse roar finally rang out.

"Where is the Emperor Star!"

"Where is the Emperor Star?"

The entire Star Plate represented the entirety of Longyan.

Zhu Zhen was also lost in it.

And then, who knows how much time passed.

That is correct.

The Emperor Star on the Star Plate was gone.

The Emperor Star belonging to Xie Tianyao had already begun to dim and was starting to drift further and further away. That once incomparably bright Emperor Star was still moving slowly from Liaodong toward Jinghua, but at this moment, this star had also dimmed far, far too much, possessing not even a shred of imperial bearing.

"Old Yuan, tell me, where is our Longyan's Emperor Star!"

"Old Yuan, has something gone wrong? Tell me quickly, is this real!"

The old man's roar was filled with despair, filled with horror, filled with disbelief, and filled with a collapse of emotion.

Because he had already fallen into the crowd, as if he had become a commoner.

It was gone.

The Emperor Star was gone.

And the other one.

Where was the other one?

No one knows.

Yes.

He had already prepared everything for the arrival of this chaotic era; he had even promised the Li Dynasty many benefits that could be called "selling out one's country for glory," with the sole purpose of having them keep the Vice Minister Liu in the Li Dynasty, no matter the cost!

Within the country, the movements of many factions began to become frequent.

Does that not mean the Emperor is also going to be gone? The imperial family is also going to be gone?

The two old men fell into shock and grief, unable to recover for a long time.

Zhu Zhen did not even know how he had left the Imperial Observatory.

He could not figure out why the Emperor Star would disappear.

What about the Crown Prince Xie Fang? Dead?

What about the Longyang Princess Xie Chan?

It seemed a great battle to contend for the Zhongyuan was about to begin.

However.

Does any of this still have any meaning?

Why?

He could not figure it out.

He shakily returned to his Horse Carriage, falling into a long period of contemplation and confusion.

What about Liu Zheng?

At this moment.

He even thought of Liu Zheng, the existence least likely to be considered the Emperor Star, but he, too, had actually become dim and lusterless?

Constitutional monarchy.

My god.

What kind of brain does the Young Master have?

Qing Yangshuo quietly looked at the files in his hands.

And then he took a deep breath.

Who does not want to rule the world, who does not want to have power over the entire universe?

Once a person has tasted the flavor of power, it is truly difficult to let go. Some people spend their entire lives pursuing supreme power. Yet, when his own Young Master was about to become the Imperial Son-in-law, when Xie Tianyao was about to pass away, and when Liangzhou possessed the greatest strength to contend for the Zhongyuan, he actually wanted to extract himself from it.

Qing Yangshuo gave a bitter smile.

He had to admit that he was already old; yes, this Young Master, who was once half his student, had truly surpassed his master. This bold idea left even Qing Yangshuo shocked.

Of course, what shocked him even more was the deep shock he felt for Liu Zheng's character.

Since ancient times, as long as one is human, who does not want to be an emperor?

Moreover, it seems the Young Master's constitutional monarchy had been prepared for a long time. Because the establishment of the Cabinet—the Cabinet is equivalent to a Western parliament. The Young Master was often away from Liangzhou, and Liu Dahao had no interest in government affairs, focusing all his heart on having children with Feng Sanniang. Thus, Liu Zheng established the Cabinet and delegated power to those below.

Today, the Cabinet in Liangzhou is already very mature.

Power has already begun to check and balance itself.

Is this a sage?

He does not know.

But the constitutional monarchy that Liu Zheng thought of truly shocked him.

What Old Aristocrats, New Aristocracy, Scholar-official.

You all underestimate my Young Master; how could your vision compare to his?

Your vision is too small.

Could it be that all of this was not in preparation for a constitutional monarchy?

His own Young Master never once thought about being an emperor.

Thinking of this, Qing Yangshuo could neither laugh nor cry.

How much war would that reduce?

This was Liu Zheng's line of thought.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

It really had become smaller. Qingyang even felt that compared to these people, this young master of his own family was the true sage.

If constitutional monarchy could be realized.

Then how much bloodshed would that reduce?

Sure enough, the one who rushed in was Hu Xi'er, dragging Mo Chen along again.

Hu Xi'er giggled and said: "Hurry, hurry, Daddy, hurry out and see! Mo Chen has researched it, he's researched it!"

"What?"

Just as Qingyang had picked up his pen, wanting to add some of his own opinions to this "proposal," a noisy sound rang in his ears.

"What is it again!"

Qingyang had a cold expression on his face.

Qingyang's eyelids twitched again.

Mo Chen ingratiatingly pushed Qingyang, with Hu Xi'er following happily behind; at the same time, Liu Dahao and his wife, who were currently in Yintan City, as well as Zheng Yueru, also arrived upon hearing the news.

A train!

Qingyang was shaken to his core, looking seriously for the first time at this "cheap son-in-law" he had never liked.

Mo Chen looked bashful and gave a simple, honest smile: "A train, a train with five times the speed!"

"What?"

It took a whole year!

From the initial Newcomen Steam Engine, to the Single-acting Steam Engine! And then to the Double-acting Steam Engine!

To the final supporting Centrifugal Governor and Throttle Valve!

That is right!

A Steam Train!

This was the project Mo Chen had been researching recently. Based on the Rail-guided Carriage and the basic theories given to him by Liu Zheng, he had researched the Steam Train!

"Oh my, the gentleman is here!"

Liu Dahao and the others all greeted Qingyang.

Qingyang chuckled.

At the beginning, the train he developed could only reach a speed of 10 kilometers per hour; later, it was slowly improved and gradually increased to sixty kilometers, and now, it had already reached eighty kilometers per hour!

When Qingyang saw this train that could accommodate a full hundred people, his eyes lit up.

For the first time, he felt proud of this "son-in-law" of his.

Everyone stared at this Steam Train.

Everyone was very excited.

Of course, this train was developed under conditions of secrecy, so at this moment, it was also in a secret workshop in Yintan City.

"Quick, quick, quick, start it up, start it up so we can take a look!"

Qingyang could not help but hold his breath as well.

Because he knew that if this train was truly successful, what it would mean for the Liangzhou Army, for Longyan, and even for the entire world.