Iron Dynasty Chapter 963

A heavy mood hung in the air as a biting night wind swept through, carrying a chill that seeped into the very bone.

Niu Ben gazed toward the flickering lanterns beyond the palace gates and declared firmly, “Everyone, you should return home early. I, Niu, am confident that His Majesty possesses a keen vision and understands the volatile reality of this turbulent world.”

The group snapped out of their thoughts, ceasing their debates as they offered their farewells and departed.

Walking at the rear of the group were Niu Ben and Luo Quan. Once they were alone, Luo Quan remarked, “Those civil officials simply cannot resist their internal power struggles. It is no wonder His Majesty placed such immense weight on today's naval victory. He intended to force them to settle their differences and dedicate themselves fully to the growth of the Great Yu Empire.”

“Such friction is inevitable. Men like Pang Yukun and Zhan Xingchang were the ones who bled alongside His Majesty to establish this empire. Naturally, they feel entitled to hold the reins of power. On the other hand, Fei Ji and his faction arrived later, missing the most grueling trials, yet they believe the old guard shouldn't monopolize everything. Conversely, those veteran officials are suspicious of Pang Yukun’s circle. Consequently, while His Majesty has kept them under control since his coronation and they work together effectively, they have never truly merged into a single entity.” Observing as a bystander, Niu Ben perceived the situation with perfect clarity.

Luo Quan gave a slow nod. “Indeed. However, whether serving a brilliant sovereign or a foolish one, civil officials have always been prone to infighting. It is of little consequence; we simply need to ignore their squabbles.”

“You hit the nail on the head.” Niu Ben let out a boisterous laugh and began the trek toward his own manor.

In truth, regardless of their disputes, every man held a standard of loyalty in his heart. The Great Yu Empire was currently thriving and rising in power. With Xiao Ming steering the ship, no one dared to instigate real trouble.

Furthermore, disagreements in the imperial court over political strategies were to be expected. Competing for influence was equally natural. Ultimately, officials were only human, driven by their own sentiments and ambitions.

As the crowd dispersed, Xiao Ming retired to his private chambers. Fei Yuer was already deep in slumber. Their seven-year-old son, Xiao Yi, had previously moved into his own quarters within the palace under the care of a nanny.

To avoid waking Fei Yuer, Xiao Ming retreated to the outer hall of the bedchamber. He sat down and signaled a palace maid to light a candle.

He then took up his brush, expertly transcribing the vast information stored within the technology crystal. The details Dick had provided regarding Britain had genuinely caught him off guard.

During the earlier discussion, he had intentionally withheld one vital piece of information: Dick had revealed that a British secret society was actively involved in their current technological advancements.

What’s more, this organization had recruited elite geniuses from across Europe who were also members of their ranks.

It was precisely through the assistance of this society that Britain had been able to accelerate the practical application of various technologies.

This was the third time he had encountered mentions of this mysterious group—first in reports from Dengzhou, then during his southern military expedition.

When combined with the various cryptic legends surrounding such societies from his original world, he had every reason to be concerned about this world’s version. Since the Cao family had already been implicated as members, he couldn't be certain if other clandestine operatives were hiding within the Great Yu Empire.

Such a presence would be a significant threat. Although he had ordered the secret guards to investigate following the southern war, the results had been negligible.

For him, this outcome was a double-edged sword. On one hand, it might mean the society’s attempts to infiltrate the Great Yu Empire had failed. On the other, it could mean their infiltration was so deep and sophisticated that even his secret guards were blind to it.

Anything beyond his control remained a source of anxiety. Therefore, he was determined to push the Great Yu Empire’s technological level even further, widening the gap with Europe as quickly as possible.

Particularly with the introduction of electricity, the modern infrastructure that relied on it needed to be established. Only then could the Great Yu Empire truly claim to have entered the electrical age.

The internal combustion engine was the logical next step. The availability of electricity made the mass production of diesel and gasoline viable. Once these fuels were available, the internal combustion engine would finally have its heart.

Because these two fields were so interconnected, he had refrained from developing the internal combustion engine earlier, despite knowing its mechanics were relatively straightforward.

Without fuel, such a machine would be nothing more than a useless ornament.

The situation had changed now that he possessed electricity. The upcoming challenge was mastering the refinement of diesel and gasoline, a task that would require Lu Tong to navigate a gauntlet of technical hurdles.

Furthermore, he needed to secure a reliable source of crude oil, which was his primary concern.

Having come from the modern era, he was well aware that the Great Yu Empire’s domestic oil reserves were quite limited. The few existing deposits were buried in difficult terrain, making them impossible to reach with the empire's current mining capabilities.

Moreover, he was reluctant to exploit domestic resources, as his current strategy focused on extracting wealth from overseas territories while preserving the empire’s own mineral wealth.

Following this logic, the imperial court was encouraging merchants to establish mines in Goryeo, Japan, and other regions. After the conquest of the Philippines, he intended to dispatch merchants to mine there and in Australia, ensuring a steady flow of foreign minerals into the Great Yu Empire.

As for any remaining domestic mines, he preferred they be utilized for land reclamation projects rather than simple extraction.

Thus, he had no intention of drilling for oil at home. His sights were set firmly on the Ottoman Empire.

That empire currently sat atop the world’s most precious resource without realizing its true value. It would be a masterful stroke of business to trade industrial goods and even military weaponry for their oil.

The Ottoman Empire was already at odds with Europe, Tsarist Russia, and the Golden Tent Khanate. He was more than happy to use this massive power to stir up further trouble for the Europeans.

Naturally, his ultimate prize was the oil. In those lands, the geological formations were simple, and gushers were commonplace.

Essentially, one only had to pierce the oil-bearing strata, and the crude would erupt from the wellhead on its own, making extraction incredibly easy.

The documents he was currently drafting detailed oil extraction techniques and the design of the internal combustion engine. These two advancements were destined to revolutionize the Great Yu Empire’s logistics and transport.

However, many objectives remained before that could happen: he needed to occupy Nanyang and seize the strategic ports held by the British and French along the trade routes. This was a long-term project that could not be rushed.

While that unfolded, the development of the petrochemical industry and engine technology could progress in tandem. There was no need for haste.

With his plans solidified, Xiao Ming shifted his focus toward Nanyang. He wondered what progress Yue Yun had achieved in that theater.

...

Malacca.

Under the shroud of darkness, the marines commanded by Liu Chen reached the shore. Their landing was entirely uncontested.

The maneuvers of the combined fleet had left the British garrison in Malacca completely unaware of the looming threat. They never suspected that a massive fleet would descend upon them in the middle of the night.

“Move! Move! Move!”

Liu Chen barked orders at his troops as they sprinted across the sand toward the plains. Ahead of them lay the intricate coastal fortifications built by the British. Their mission was to capture these defenses. The atmosphere was grim, and a freezing night wind blew, chilling the men to the bone.