Iron Dynasty Chapter 961

The vast, boundless ocean greeted him as he stepped out of the official residence. Powerful gusts of wind whipped up layers of white-capped waves across the water's surface.

“It is not a terrifying rival we face, but rather teammates as foolish as pigs.” This phrase perfectly captured the reality of the Great Yu Empire over the last decade. “I recognize your concerns, but the technological progress in Europe is not what we should fear, for they have always been in a state of development. The most lethal foe is the one that emerges from within. That is where our vigilance must be focused.”

Xiao Ming turned his gaze toward Qian Dafu, emphasizing every word. Through years of analyzing historical records from his original era, he realized that the ultimate downfall of Central Plains dynasties was typically self-inflicted. Foreign invaders merely seized the opportunities created by internal decay.

Using history as a mirror, Xiao Ming was set on purging the Great Yu Empire of its long-standing corruptions, intending to use reform to breathe new life into the nation.

A decade had passed, and he had succeeded. The Great Yu Empire was currently thriving, reclaiming the ancient splendor of its imperial past.

Yet, this period of prosperity did not breed arrogance in him. He remained a constant observer of the nation's shifting tides, ready to intervene at a moment's notice.

In his view, the most significant transformation within the Great Yu Empire—aside from its technological leaps—was the increasingly vibrant and active mindset of its citizens.

Though a reformed version of Confucianism remained a pillar of the Great Yu Empire, the early sparks of a cultural renaissance had ignited a trend of intellectual competition. In Qingzhou, schools of thought like Legalism, Mohism, and Daoism were showing signs of a comeback. Simultaneously, modern humanistic concepts were gaining a significant following.

The most perilous development among these was the resurgence of the “Celestial Dynasty” mentality. For centuries, this very mindset had caused the nobles and commoners of the Great Yu Empire to waste their energy on internal power struggles.

To Xiao Ming, this was a dangerous omen. A nation consumed by internal friction would eventually lose its drive for advancement.

Consequently, he felt the need to hang a sharp sword over the Great Yu Empire’s head, and that sword would be the presence of an external enemy.

This was exactly why he maintained such a composed stance regarding the progress of European nations. For the time being, he required these adversaries to serve as a cautionary deterrent for both the officials and the populace of the Great Yu Empire.

After all, the industrialization of the Great Yu Empire was still in its infancy and required the collective, fiery spirit of the entire nation to sustain it.

Making the destruction of the enemy their primary objective provided an inexhaustible fuel for that fighting spirit.

Qian Dafu looked at Xiao Ming, finding it harder than ever to grasp the Emperor's deep intentions. Fortunately, he knew that regardless of Xiao Ming's private thoughts, the path the Great Yu Empire traveled was always the correct one.

“Your Majesty’s insights are fascinating, though your old servant finds them difficult to fully grasp,” Qian Dafu admitted with a frustrated smile. “However, I am certain that whatever Your Majesty says must be right.”

Xiao Ming merely shook his head with a faint smile. Qian Dafu was becoming increasingly skilled at giving non-committal answers.

Shifting his focus away from the eunuch, he began his journey back toward Dengzhou.

He had accomplished his goals for this trip. There was no longer a reason to stay at the military port; Xie Yuan and his men had plenty of post-battle logistics to oversee, and his presence wasn't required for those details.

After returning to Dengzhou City for a morning of rest, he, Qian Dafu, and their retinue boarded a steam locomotive in the afternoon, arriving in Qingzhou by nightfall.

The ministers of the Grand Council and the Grand Secretariat were already gathered at the station. Xiao Ming had sent word regarding the naval engagement at Dengzhou before his departure.

They were now eager to learn the specifics of the conflict.

Once back at the imperial palace, Xiao Ming entered the imperial study and handed Dick’s written confession to Pang Yukun, ordering him to read it aloud to the assembled ministers.

As Pang Yukun finished the reading, the expressions of those present turned grim.

“Those two filthy wretches! Ten years of the Great Yu Empire’s progress have been undermined by these traitors!” Niu Ben shouted in a rage. “Your Majesty, these Europeans have the gall to ambush our military harbor now. If we allow them another few decades to grow, imagine how much more arrogant they will become!”

“Indeed. It is a shame Europe is so distant, or we would have already dispatched an army to wipe them out,” Luo Quan added in agreement.

Pang Yukun pondered for a moment before speaking. “The generals should not be so distressed. In yesterday’s engagement, they lost all their holdings in Nanyang. This is a benefit for the Great Yu Empire. We can take this chance to seize their colonies for ourselves.”

“Senior Grand Secretary Pang is correct. Their unprovoked declaration of war provides us with the perfect excuse to strike, giving us the moral high ground,” Fei Ji remarked, lightly stroking his beard with a soft laugh.

Xiao Ming observed the faces of his council. He was pleased by the reactions of both the civil officials and the military leaders. At the very least, they now viewed Europe as a serious threat to the Great Yu Empire.

Approaching the world map hanging in the study, Xiao Ming said, “We will certainly take the Nanyang colonies, but the dangers do not stop there. Tsarist Russia remains a highly perilous foe. Currently, Britain is distributing steam engines across Europe, and Tsarist Russia is among their buyers. This is a worrying trend. Furthermore, since our capture of Albazin, the Golden Tent Khanate has become restless and is now conspiring with Tsarist Russia to block our northern expansion. And right here, a brand-new nation has been formed. This is also unwelcome news.”

Xiao Ming pointed directly at the continent of North America.

According to Dick’s information, Britain had largely abandoned the conflict in North America, yet they remained hostile, opposing the Empire at every turn.

Much like in his previous world's history, this new nation had taken the name “America.” This was because a British explorer had dubbed the continent “America” upon its discovery, and the newly birthed United States of America had kept the title.

Xiao Ming had been somewhat stunned by this news. He had first heard of a civil war in America three years prior, which suggested the War of Independence should have concluded by now.

He felt a sense of unease, knowing that North America was a "land of destiny." A nation established there would possess incredible geographical protection and a wealth of natural resources.

Pang Yukun, Niu Ben, and the others stared at the region Xiao Ming had highlighted. They were confused as to why the Emperor placed such high importance on a fledgling country.

“Your Majesty, is there something unique about this nation?” Pang Yukun couldn't help but inquire.

“There is. From this moment on, we must pay close attention to them. We cannot allow them the opportunity to become powerful. You all understand now that the world is a brutal jungle where only the strong survive. We must utilize our current lead to lay a foundation that will last for centuries.”

Xiao Ming spoke with conviction. With the coming age of electricity, the internal combustion engine was the next milestone for the Great Yu Empire’s research. Consequently, oil would become a resource of paramount importance.

In his past life, his homeland had suffered immensely due to oil shortages. He intended to learn from those mistakes and secure total control over oil starting now; this was his grand strategy.