Chapter 732

The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair

Qingzhou Province.

Branden was still making his final efforts to purchase the steam engine. If he failed this time, he would have no choice but to return to the Netherlands with regret.

So, after imploring Pang Yukun for an entire day, he finally obtained an audience with the Emperor of the Great Yu Empire in the imperial study.

That morning, Branden rose and put on his most luxurious silk formal attire, sprayed on perfume, and then headed to the imperial study.

At this moment, Xiao Ming was already waiting for Branden in the imperial study. The Dutch envoy’s persistence truly left him somewhat exasperated.

“Your Majesty, Branden has arrived,” Qian Dafu’s voice rang out.

Xiao Ming was sketching on a piece of paper. At this point, he said, “Let him in.”

Responding with a “Yes,” Qian Dafu turned and left. A short while later, Branden appeared in the imperial study.

Glancing at Branden, Xiao Ming spoke directly without waiting for him to talk, “Envoy Branden, you are truly persistent about the steam engine.”

“Esteemed Emperor, this steam engine is simply too captivating. Not just me, but every European would go mad for it,” Branden said.

Europe was currently swept by a wave of technological fervor. Even kings and nobles were very concerned about it, so the appearance of any new technology would lead to their eager pursuit.

Xiao Ming raised his eyelids, “But that is not my reason for selling the steam engine to you.”

Branden fell silent. After hesitating for a long time, he said, “Esteemed Emperor, we in Europe now have something that you will certainly be very interested in. Perhaps we can exchange it for this item.”

“Oh?” Xiao Ming raised his eyebrows. He said, “I hope your words can change my mind.”

Branden said seriously, “Rubber. This is a marvelous material discovered by Europe in South America. Perhaps Your Majesty will be interested.”

Xiao Ming’s hand holding the pen paused. Branden keenly observed this, which gave him confidence. He then continued, “I wonder if Your Majesty knows that in the distant southern seas, there is a wondrous continent called South America. The common people in that place use rubber balls for games and as offerings. Two hundred years ago, when a European navigator arrived in America, he saw the local natives playing with a black ball. This ball bounced very high when it fell to the ground. It was made from the sap extracted from trees. Since then, Spain and Portugal, during their conquest of Mexico and South America, gradually brought rubber to Europe. Now, many miraculous items are being manufactured from rubber in Europe.”

“Rubber.” Xiao Ming was indeed tempted. In fact, rubber played a very important role in the Second Industrial Revolution.

Without rubber, there would be no tires, seals, and a series of other products.

In the history of human technological development, technology constantly updated with the discovery of materials. Without coal, there would be no steam engine; without oil, there would be no internal combustion engine.

Although Xiao Ming now possessed a large amount of technology, he was, it must be said, confined to an island of civilization. Without rubber, many things with mature technology could not be realized.

“Rubber is indeed a wondrous thing.” Xiao Ming made no secret of his knowledge of rubber. “So, Earl Branden, can you provide rubber to the Great Yu Empire?”

During his trade with Claire, he had brought up the issue of rubber more than once, but Claire always refused, citing rubber’s scarcity and his inability to provide it.

Now that Branden proactively brought up the matter, he naturally didn’t want to miss this opportunity, because for a long time, Europe had blockaded rubber.

This was also why Europe was able to maintain its technological lead in modern times. By controlling a crucial material in the technology tree, they could naturally operate with ease.

“Yes,” Branden nodded. “We Dutch have our own colonies in South America, and our own rubber plantations.”

Xiao Ming nodded. Compared to the steam engine, rubber was clearly more important now. With the technology crystal, he could quickly elevate the steam engine’s performance to another level.

However, rubber was a critical item because for a long time, it was only available in South America.

So, it was genuinely not easy for Xiao Ming to obtain rubber.

“Alright, I must say I am very interested in this item. However, I want not only rubber but also rubber tree seeds,” Xiao Ming said.

It must be said that the Americas were very far. With the Great Yu Empire’s current technological level, fighting Western powers in the Americas would be very strenuous, and the supply lines would also be stretched too long.

Therefore, to prevent the West from imposing a rubber blockade on him, he felt it necessary to obtain some rubber seeds and plant them on Hainan Island.

Branden immediately smiled, “Esteemed Emperor, this is truly a wise decision! So, the trade for steam engines and rubber is settled then?”

“Of course, but on the condition that I need to see these items before I give you the steam engine,” Xiao Ming said.

Even if the deal was struck this time, it would take Branden more than half a year for the round trip. This half a year would be enough time for him to upgrade the steam engine.

Moreover, for him, the steam engine was nothing. After all, he knew everything about things like internal combustion engines, so in comparison, it was a mere trifle.

Although Branden wanted to take the steam engine back now, it was clearly impossible from the Great Yu Empire Emperor’s expression.

So he said, “I hope this trade can come true.”

Having settled this matter, Branden’s knot in his heart finally untied. Although rubber was precious in Europe, in his opinion, it could not compare to the steam engine.

Each believing they had taken advantage of the other, both Xiao Ming and Branden were delighted. After seeing Branden off, Xiao Ming could even imagine a series of modern industrial products like bicycles, tricycles, and rickshaws.

After a moment of imagining, Xiao Ming gradually calmed his mood. At this point, he looked at what was written on the paper.

After the New Year, the weather gradually warmed, and spring plowing would begin in another month.

Since introducing potatoes and sweet potatoes, Xiao Ming had utilized tuber seedling technology to have Kui Wu establish a large seedling base in the past two years.

Now, the seedlings planted by the common people each year were purchased from the seedling base. And with the successful promotion of potatoes and sweet potatoes in the six prefectures, the number of common people planting these two crops each year was continuously increasing.

However, despite this, the yield of potatoes and sweet potatoes in each common person’s household varied due to soil fertility issues.

So, after the New Year, Xiao Ming specifically reviewed the knowledge in the technology crystal, finding methods for manufacturing organic fertilizer and preparing to promote them.

After becoming Emperor, he increasingly valued the development of agriculture. After all, the Great Yu Empire’s food and clothing problems had not yet been fully resolved, and he had to prioritize this issue.

Food is paramount to the people. Industry is important, but food is equally important. After all, transportation was troublesome in this era, and purchasing food from outside was unreliable.