Iron Dynasty Chapter 969

Within the palace walls, a wave of astonishment swept through the assembled crowd. Civil and military officials, their kin, and the gathered palace maids and eunuchs stood frozen, captivated by the brilliance before them. The streetlights lining the palace grounds erupted with a radiant glow, each casting a wide circle of illumination that far surpassed the flickering light of traditional lanterns. In an instant, the palace was transformed, rendered as vivid and bright as high noon.

“Your Majesty, this electricity is nothing short of a miracle. I have lived the better part of my life, yet today my eyes have truly been opened,” Fei Ji remarked, his voice trembling under the weight of his excitement. Although he had encountered incandescent bulbs in the past, he had never witnessed a lighting spectacle on such a grand scale.

Pang Yukun shared this enthusiasm, adding, “Su Liangcai claimed that electricity would prove to be a more potent energy source than steam, and he has been proven absolutely correct. A steam engine could never make streetlights shine like this, hahaha…”

As the overseer of this electrification project, Su Liangcai finally allowed himself a sigh of relief. He had been laboring under immense pressure. The intricacies of transmitting electricity were daunting; a single error in any step of the process would have ruined the night’s success.

“It is only natural. Provided that Your Majesty and the Grand Secretariat continue to offer vigorous support for thermal power plant construction, electricity will swiftly overtake steam engines with far greater efficiency,” Su Liangcai stated.

Xiao Ming gave a subtle nod of approval. At present, Qingzhou alone possessed a thermal power plant, and its reach was limited to specific sectors. The Great Yu Empire was still a far cry from the Second Industrial Revolution. Even with the knowledge provided by the technology crystal, construction could not be bypassed; it would likely take another decade or two for the empire to fully embrace the age of electricity. However, he felt a sense of security knowing that the steam industry had already taken root across the nation. A robust steam foundation would ensure a seamless transition to the Second Industrial Revolution. Even if these steam-powered factories lacked the efficiency of electric ones, they could still manufacture the necessary components for thermal plants and other vital infrastructure.

“Once the New Year celebrations conclude, I will instruct the Grand Secretariat to allocate further funds to your Electricity Department. While I do not expect every city outside Qingzhou Province to be powered immediately, the six prefectures within the province—especially Dengzhou—must be electrified with haste. Dengzhou is the heartbeat of our shipbuilding, and Zhang Liang is relying on your power to construct ironclad warships. Building the first one was an arduous task, but with electricity, the shipyard can finally implement welding technology,” Xiao Ming explained with a thoughtful expression. The recent naval engagement had proven the worth of the ironclad warships; they had dominated traditional sailing vessels, driving the British to the brink of despair. These results convinced Xiao Ming to accelerate their production. As the maritime reach of the Great Yu Empire grew, he required a more formidable fleet to stand against the naval might of Europe.

Su Liangcai was heartened by this news. The Great Yu Empire was currently pouring capital into numerous sectors, from railways and bridges to new factories. Competition for funds was fierce, so the fact that the Electricity Department was being prioritized spoke volumes of its perceived importance.

This time, Pang Yukun and Fei Ji offered no resistance, nodding their heads in immediate agreement. Though they usually bickered over the Grand Secretariat’s expenditures, they now stood in rare harmony. “I am grateful to Your Majesty,” Su Liangcai replied in his usual stoic manner, offering no flowery praise.

Xiao Ming offered a small smile. He had a particular fondness for dedicated researchers who were blunt and avoided social posturing.

With Su Liangcai’s post-New Year objectives established, Xiao Ming turned his attention back to the group. They remained mesmerized by the glowing lights. Clearing his throat, he announced, “My lords, Qingzhou City is now officially electrified. Darkness shall no longer hold sway here. To mark this achievement, I shall host a celebration for everyone tonight. Attendants, prepare the banquet!”

The crowd bowed in unison, proclaiming, “We thank Your Majesty for your immense benevolence.” As they spoke, eunuchs and maids began transporting fresh delicacies into Fulin Hall, the designated venue for the New Year’s Eve feast.

Meanwhile, the citizens outside the palace were reaching a fever pitch of excitement. Normally, they would have retired to their homes by this hour, but tonight was different. With the streetlights banishing the dangers of the dark, they could revel without fear. Merchants seized the moment to hawk their wares along the Imperial City Avenue, while performers and opera troupes displayed their skills. For the first time, a vibrant night market took root on the avenue. The people celebrated with abandon until the palace bells struck midnight, signaling the end of the festivities as the crowds finally began to thin.

After the officials had departed, a slightly tipsy Xiao Ming retreated to his private quarters. This New Year’s Eve had been the most tranquil he had known since arriving in this world, free from the fear of being jolted awake by reports of a foreign invasion.

The following morning, he rose early for the traditional grand court session. This year, the court featured several unfamiliar faces: envoys from the Netherlands, Prussia, Goryeo, and Japan. Following the ministers' tributes, these foreign representatives offered their own New Year greetings and presented Xiao Ming with extravagant gifts, which he accepted graciously. Though a global order was still a distant dream, this gathering signaled the birth of a new Asian system. He intended to refine this system after the New Year, moving closer to his goal of turning Asia into the Great Yu Empire’s personal domain.

When the formal session concluded, Xiao Ming prepared to leave, but while the civil ministers exited, the generals of the Grand Council remained. Once the room was clear, Niu Ben spoke up. “Your Majesty, a report has arrived from Zhu Sansi. The Golden Tent Khanate cavalry has launched attacks on our fortifications stretching from Jianzhou to Yakutsk. Their riders have also been sighted near Nerchinsk. Zhu Sansi is in a difficult position; while he was meant to advance on Nerchinsk, the brutal cold and deep snow have made movement nearly impossible. Furthermore, the frost has caused significant damage to many of the soldiers' rifles.”

Xiao Ming massaged his temples at the news. He had hoped for a peaceful start to the year, but reality had other plans. “It appears the Golden Tent Khanate is fully committed to their alliance with Tsarist Russia,” Xiao Ming remarked, a cold light flickering in his eyes. The immediate priority was addressing Zhu Sansi’s logistical crisis. The Golden Tent Khanate had struck a painful blow by targeting supply lines during a month of relentless snowfall in Guandong, turning an already difficult situation into a dire one.