Iron Dynasty Chapter 970

A freezing gust of wind, heavy with snowflakes, swept into the Zhengda Guangming Hall, bringing a sharp, biting cold with it.

The mood inside the chamber grew increasingly heavy. After a moment of silent reflection, Niu Ben spoke up, “Your Majesty, as long as the Golden Tent Khanate remains, it will be a festering ulcer on the back of the Great Yu Empire, causing constant irritation. Now that Tsarist Russia has intervened, the Great Yu Empire faces yet another formidable foe to the north. If this menace isn't wiped out, the Great Yu Empire will never know peace.”

“I share that sentiment. The lingering remnants of the Merchants’ Council in the south have been nearly eradicated, and the British-led joint fleet was just crushed, so they won't dare return for quite some time. Therefore, we must focus on neutralizing the threat right at our gates,” Luo Quan declared in a ringing voice.

Xiao Ming nodded slowly in agreement. With Malacca under his control, Southeast Asia was effectively in his pocket; a strategy of steady encroachment would be enough there. However, the issue of the Golden Tent Khanate, a thorn in the side of the Great Yu Empire for centuries, required a definitive resolution. Their alliance with Tsarist Russia in the north was becoming a major liability, as evidenced by their recent success in severing Zhu Sansi’s supply lines.

“What you two generals have said aligns with my own thoughts. The distance from Guandong to Qingzhou spans thousands of li. This report was likely dispatched over a month ago. I am deeply troubled by the current plight of Zhu Sansi and his ten thousand troops,” Xiao Ming admitted, his brow furrowed with worry.

Niu Ben responded, “Zhu Sansi seized a significant amount of food and resources after taking Yakutsk, so hunger isn't the primary concern. The real danger lies in the ammunition supply. If the Golden Tent Khanate and Tsarist Russia manage to besiege Yakutsk, our men will be in a desperate position.”

Xiao Ming’s frown deepened at these words. Although the Guandong railway was being pushed north from Jianzhou this year, construction had frozen solid with the arrival of winter. Relying on the tracks to resupply Zhu Sansi was out of the question.

“Dispatch an immediate decree to Qi Guangyi. He is to send cavalry to Jianzhou to ferry ammunition and provisions to Zhu Sansi’s forces using horse-drawn sleds. They are also responsible for their protection throughout the journey. I will not leave a single soldier behind.”

After weighing his options, Xiao Ming reached a final decision.

“Sleds?”

Both Niu Ben and Luo Quan looked bewildered, having never encountered such a term. Xiao Ming gestured for Qian Dafu to bring brushes and paper, then sketched the design of a sled for them to inspect. “This is a sled?” Niu Ben muttered, peering at the drawing. It depicted a wooden frame resting on two parallel iron runners that curved upward at the front, with harnesses attached for horses.

The Great Yu Empire had been separated from Guandong for a century, and these generals, who had spent their lives within the Great Wall, had no experience with such frozen environments. The concept of a sled was entirely foreign to them. Yet, in a landscape choked by heavy snow, such a vehicle would undoubtedly be the premier mode of transport.

“Can a device like this truly move supplies through the snow without trouble?” Luo Quan asked, still skeptical given the gravity of the situation.

“Without a doubt. We have no time to waste. I will order the factories to work through the night to produce these and send them to Jianzhou via the railway. Qi Guangyi’s cavalry should be reaching Jianzhou by the time they arrive,” Xiao Ming stated firmly. He then led the pair to the Machinery Department, which was under the heavy guard of the Imperial Guard, to have a prototype built on the spot. Due to the simplicity of the design, a finished sled was ready in just thirty minutes. For the harsh Siberian climate, the sled would likely remain a vital logistical tool for years to come. Xiao Ming then found a patch of deep snow to demonstrate its efficiency, officially adding the sled to the army's procurement list.

“With this tool, logistics in Guandong will become far more manageable. After all, the railway cannot reach every corner of the land,” Niu Ben remarked, looking visibly relieved. While the mission to resupply Zhu Sansi remained daunting, the sled provided a way out of their current deadlock.

“Indeed, Your Majesty’s brilliance remains unmatched. Why did such a simple solution escape us?” Luo Quan’s spirits brightened considerably.

Xiao Ming shook his head with a touch of self-reproach. He had been careless this time; he should have anticipated these logistical hurdles when Zhu Sansi first departed for Guandong. However, with the sheer volume of state affairs demanding his attention, even he occasionally overlooked details.

With the sled plan in motion, Xiao Ming commanded the Machinery Department to accelerate production to a thousand units for transport to Jianzhou. Moving forward, these would be the backbone of the Guandong army's transport. Yet, while physical logistics were one hurdle, the speed of information was another. Often, by the time a report reached his desk, the situation on the ground had changed entirely. Previously, Xiao Ming lacked the means to fix this, but with the advent of electricity, the solution was at hand. In fact, he had directed Qingzhou University to work on this very problem for the past month.

Thinking of this, he turned to the two generals. “Follow me. I want to show you something even more vital than a sled.”

The two men looked on with great anticipation, knowing that a trip to the university usually meant a groundbreaking discovery had been made in Qingzhou. The party traveled to Qingzhou University and, guided by Xiao Ming, entered a specific laboratory. This was the recently established Electricity Application Laboratory, a facility dedicated to the development of electrical hardware.

“Your Majesty!”

Xiao Ming’s entrance drew the attention of the thirty-two students working inside. These scholars were the empire's brightest in the field of electrical science, led by a man named He Dong. Su Liangcai had personally recommended He Dong for the position, recognizing his exceptional talent in the field.

“It is a heavy burden to ask you to continue your research even on the first day of the New Year,” Xiao Ming said warmly. His tone was not that of a distant monarch, but of a gracious visitor. Early in his reign, he had been careful to maintain a stern imperial facade, but as his power became more secure, he had let that guard down. He realized that a leader who appeared accessible was far more effective than one who was cold and remote.

“The development of the telegraph is a matter of national survival, so I would not dare to rest. This small sacrifice is nothing,” He Dong replied with a respectful bow. He paused before adding, “Your Majesty has arrived at the perfect moment. The lab has just successfully completed the transmission and reception of signals. The implementation of the wired telegraph can officially begin.”

Niu Ben and Luo Quan exchanged looks of pure excitement. By now, anything involving the power of electricity held their absolute fascination.

“I expected results soon, and you have delivered. Excellent. Since the generals are with me today, give them a demonstration of how this telegraph sends and receives messages.”

To Xiao Ming, the wired telegraph was a primitive form of communication, but to the Great Yu Empire, it was nothing short of a miracle. Even in his original world, this technology had remained in use for a remarkably long time. With this, the time required to relay imperial decrees and gather intelligence across the empire’s vast borders would be slashed to almost nothing.