Iron Dynasty Chapter 1000

The landscape beyond the window blurred past rapidly while the steam locomotive chugged onward.

Complicated looks appeared on the faces of both Brooke and Henry. Even though tales of steam locomotives had circulated across Europe, witnessing one firsthand left them utterly stunned.

“Woo woo…”

The train's whistle pierced the air, signaling the steam locomotive's approach to the station. Along the route, this train had halted at two prior stops, making this the third.

Exchanging glances, Brooke and Henry peered out the window together. Right then, the foliage lining the tracks began to sparse, as the locomotive pulled into the outskirts of a urban area.

In this spot, thick columns of dark smoke billowed upward, releasing plumes of black or white vapor. The clamor of the steam engine echoed loudly, audible even from inside the passenger compartment.

They realized this marked the industrial district of the Great Yu Empire, a dedicated region brimming with manufacturing plants. Similar zones had caught their eye in the pair of cities they'd traversed earlier.

“It’s downright frightening. The Great Yu Empire’s industrial progress is incredibly swift. Rumor has it that just a few years back, factories clustered only around Qingzhou, yet now every major settlement boasts its own such district.”

Brooke remarked. The Queen of England had dispatched him on this mission to the Great Yu Empire.

Seated across from Brooke, Henry hailed from France and served as his nation's representative to the Great Yu Empire. He commented, “We boarded in Dengzhou, and five hours have elapsed, yet Qingzhou remains out of reach. That’s the real horror here. In France, such a locomotive would have spanned the entire country by now. These are merely three cities we’ve glimpsed. Just think of how many more dot this vast territory. Waging war against a nation like this—our own is utterly mad.”

Prior to arriving in Qingzhou, Brooke had carried an air of superiority, but suddenly a sense of inadequacy washed over him.

With a heavy sigh, he added, “I pray we can forge a pact with the Great Yu Empire’s emperor this visit, or else catastrophe looms.”

In contrast to Brooke, Henry possessed a military heritage and had served as a soldier prior to this journey. He stated, “For France, this could prove beneficial. André’s misguided strategies are dragging the nation toward ruin. Someone needs to jolt him from his folly.”

As the pair conversed, workers had loaded the locomotive with fresh coal and water. The whistle blared once more, and the steam engine roared ahead. Their destination was Qingzhou, the final stop for this mighty machine.

Tang Wenjie occupied a seat to the left of Brooke and Henry, separated by the aisle. Though their talk remained hushed, fragments of it drifted to his ears.

Fluent in multiple European tongues, he readily discerned the essence of their discussion.

A disdainful smirk curled in Tang Wenjie’s mind. He mused, ‘The true cause for your dread lies ahead.’

By two o’clock in the afternoon, the steam locomotive eased into Qingzhou Station. On this occasion, it bypassed the inner-city platform, arriving instead at the newer Qingzhou East Station beyond the city limits.

With expanding rail links to Qingzhou, the original station proved insufficient for the surging volume of trains, prompting the Railway Department to construct a grander facility. The legacy site now accommodated only a handful of services.

Relative to the industrial sectors they'd observed en route, Brooke and Henry found themselves profoundly awed this time. Beside Qingzhou’s vast industrial expanse, those elsewhere paled into obscurity.

Beyond Qingzhou City’s boundaries, one factory district adjoined the next, encircling the metropolis entirely.

“Two envoys, guide your entourage and stick with me. Stray at your peril, lest the guards seize you and complicate matters,” Tang Wenjie instructed, his words a veiled warning disguised as caution.

Though Qingzhou’s industrial surge defied concealment, he preferred these visitors learn as little as feasible.

Brooke and Henry proceeded with utmost caution. As vanquished foes, prudence dictated compliance; any rash behavior risked calamity for their homelands.

Tailing Tang Wenjie closely, the delegation advanced along the broad concrete avenue toward Qingzhou City.

En route, the duo periodically inspected the pavement underfoot, then fixed their gaze on the streaming bicycles and tricycles. The wonders surrounding them proved so enchanting, they felt utterly captivated.

And as the city gate loomed near, tension gripped their hearts, for ranks of soldiers flanked the entrance on either side.

Clad in deep green uniforms and steel helmets, these troops stood rigidly: one hand flat against their thigh, the other gripping a rifle with fixed bayonet planted upright on the ground.

At the formation’s center loomed six peculiar field cannons, their menacing potential evident in their very design.

A shiver raced down Henry and Brooke’s backs. The Great Yu Empire flaunted its awesome martial strength before them, and they grasped the soldiers’ symbolic weight.

Clashing with such a dominant power on the distant Asian mainland—from Europe’s remotest shore—was pure folly.

Tang Wenjie caught their reactions and felt pleased. They’d revealed only a fraction; deploying the rest hinged on the envoys’ genuine intent.

Once inside Qingzhou City, Tang Wenjie settled the pair at an inn under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At half-past three, he escorted them to the imperial palace.

Within the Zhengda Guangming Hall, Xiao Ming awaited their arrival. To his mind, Europe’s dispatch of envoys signaled humility; they were awakening to the perils of outright confrontation.

“Brooke, Henry pay respects to His Esteemed Emperor of the Great Yu Empire.”

Entering the hall, Brooke and Henry offered bows in turn. Next, they presented a catalog of tributes, reciting an extensive array of opulent offerings like pearls, golden effigies, and precious gems.

Xiao Ming paid scant heed to such baubles, listening impassively. After all, no hoard of gems rivaled the value of a seized territory.

The duo concluded their recitation of the tribute inventory.

Xiao Ming declared gravely, “Your combined fleet ambushed Dengzhou, killed my people, and destroyed my ships. Do you think a mere trifle of treasures can appease me? If you lack sincerity, take these things back. Also, the Great Yu Empire has officially been renamed the Chinese Empire. The Great Yu Empire is a thing of the past.”

Brooke and Henry’s pulses quickened. The Great Yu Empire’s Emperor launched into such forceful rhetoric right away, heightening their anxiety. Yet, defeat left them no ground to protest.

The victor’s stance rang entirely just for this sovereign.

Brooke had anticipated this. He replied, “Your Majesty, this is exactly our purpose in coming. The combined fleet incident stemmed wholly from our yielding to Spanish provocations, sparking this regrettable mix-up. Though the damage is done, we seek only to rectify our errors. We implore Your Majesty to quell your wrath.”

Xiao Ming scoffed inwardly. Blaming the vulnerable was a timeless ploy. With Spain stripped of its Asian holdings, they faced no qualms in betrayal.