Chapter 906

A gentle breeze blew into the imperial study. Having resolved the matters with Song Changping and Su Liangcai, Xiao Ming looked at Lin Wentao.

Whether it was steam engine power or electricity, changes in energy were part of the industrial revolution, and machinery upgraded with energy was another part.

He said to Lin Wentao, “The thermal power plant will be operational soon. Now, you must find ways to modify machinery so that future machinery can smoothly use electricity, especially all types of lathes. However, steam engine production does not need to stop. After all, thermal power plants have high construction costs and cannot be popularized in the Great Yu Empire in a short time. Relatively speaking, steam engines spread faster, and only require coal.”

Although the advent of electricity excited Xiao Ming, he knew it was not yet time to abandon steam engines. After all, even in the age of electricity, steam engines still accounted for a large proportion in various industries.

Moreover, only after the Industrial Revolution, represented by the steam engine, was completed could the Second Industrial Revolution, represented by electricity, be smoothly implemented. Otherwise, there would be no way to produce the equipment needed for thermal power plants.

On this point, Xiao Ming was very calm. Currently, the only deeply industrialized area in the Great Yu Empire was Qingzhou Province. Many other regions were still blank. This level of industrial capacity could only meet the needs of Qingzhou Province.

To achieve an industrial revolution nationwide, he had to continue expanding industrial zones. Therefore, only steam engines could be put into production independently, without relying on thermal power plants.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Lin Wentao bowed and accepted the order.

Xiao Ming nodded. He then handed a thick book to Lin Wentao. “This contains the types of electrical machinery I have listed, with detailed structural diagrams, required materials, and manufacturing processes. Take it back and conduct research according to its contents.”

Lin Wentao was excited. Sometimes, he had to admit that his own capabilities were limited, but to him, the Emperor’s capabilities seemed limitless.

If he had to develop it from scratch himself, it would probably take over ten years. But with these instructions, he would only need a short time to replicate what was in the blueprints.

In fact, Qingzhou Province had always followed this path over the years.

Having laid out the plans for electrical machinery, Xiao Ming dismissed the three. Then he rose and, with Qian Dafu, left the imperial study and walked towards the Grand Secretariat.

Now that the north and south were unified, the Great Yu Empire’s governmental affairs suddenly doubled, and the Grand Secretariat also became exceptionally busy. However, this busyness was both painful and joyful for the officials.

Because they had never managed a Great Yu Empire with such a vast territory.

“Your Majesty.”

Upon reaching the Grand Secretariat, Pang Yukun came forward. Xiao Ming asked, “How is the administrative area division progressing now?”

Pang Yukun had been overwhelmed with this matter for the past two days. After unification, the Great Yu Empire would once again undergo administrative reforms to adapt to national governance.

“I have drafted thirty-one provinces. Each province will have a capital city, which will be the administrative center of that province, overseeing the prefectures, counties, towns, and villages within the province,” Pang Yukun said.

Xiao Ming then looked at the map Pang Yukun was marking and nodded. In fact, this division was initiated by him. These thirty-one provinces were basically equivalent to contemporary provincial administrative regions.

And here, “府” (fǔ) was equivalent to a province, while “州” (zhōu) was equivalent to a contemporary city. The capital of each province was equivalent to a provincial capital. The biggest change was his inclusion of towns and villages into the management system.

This was the key to this reform. From then on, the imperial court would directly manage towns and villages, instead of leaving it to the gentry and powerful families to control the grassroots.

“Hmm, basically consistent with my vision. Oh, and Guangzhou, that area needs to be marked. It’s going to be a key industrial and commercial development zone,” Xiao Ming said.

With the administrative management system settled, he would next proceed to achieve the Great Yu Empire’s overall industrialization.

The industry concentrated in Qingzhou Province had to expand to other provinces. For this, he required various provinces to introduce preferential policies to attract merchants to build factories and encourage common people to invest in industrial and commercial construction.

To lead the West in overall industrial capacity, he aimed to radiate industrialization nationwide, with Qingzhou Province as its center, in the coming years.

As the two were speaking, Yang Chengye walked over. After entering the Grand Secretariat, his primary responsibility was industry and commerce. It could be said that his responsibility was immense.

Before Guangzhou, there were already industrial and commercial zones centered on Lin’an, Jinling, and Songjiang, and the Guandong industrial and commercial zone centered on Jinzhou.

Adding Guangzhou, they now had four key industrial and commercial zones. If all four areas developed, the Great Yu Empire would establish a continuous coastal industrial belt from north to south.

“Relying on the transportation capacity of ships, these four industrial zones will be perfectly established,” Yang Chengye said, fully agreeing with Xiao Ming’s plan.

To develop industry and commerce, resources were paramount. And resources needed transportation. The Great Yu Empire was divided north and south by the Yangtze River. Railways could not cross it yet. Only maritime transport could ensure industrial development.

This was why he built industrial zones along the coast. In addition, as industrial capacity increased, the Great Yu Empire’s industrial products also needed to be sold worldwide through maritime trade.

These coastal areas had natural advantages.

“However, even so, industrial development is still a long and arduous journey. Oh, by the way, have you read the industrial system book I gave you?” Xiao Ming asked Yang Chengye.

His real purpose for coming this time was to find him.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, I have read all of it. I have seen what the Great Yu Empire has and what it doesn’t. And I am also working on perfecting the Great Yu Empire’s industrial system,” Yang Chengye said.

Xiao Ming nodded slightly. Once he entered the age of electricity, he could try to build a comprehensive industrial system.

Currently, the Great Yu Empire was too far from this goal. Many industrial branches had not yet been established. To solve this problem, he specifically recorded the complete industrial system table from the technology crystal and taught it to Yang Chengye.

From now on, from a small screw to a large warship, the Great Yu Empire would gradually establish a complete industrial system with thousands of industrial categories. Once a war occurred in the future, the Great Yu Empire’s industry would be able to produce all industrial products even if all external connections were cut off.

Of course, this table only listed the currently achievable industrial categories. Technologies not yet mastered were not included, but he compiled a step-by-step technological development plan for Bowen Academy to realize gradually.

Developing to this point, Bowen Academy had clearly become the Great Yu Empire’s academic and scientific research center. An endless stream of talents was gradually specializing into more detailed categories.

They would help the Great Yu Empire continuously achieve technological leaps.

“Very good. Don’t ask about other matters. Focus on industry and commerce. And you all, you must each perform your duties. Although the merchants’ council has been annihilated, the Great Yu Empire will face even stronger enemies next. We cannot afford any complacency,” Xiao Ming said loudly, his gaze turning northward. There, lay Japan, Tsarist Russia, and the Golden Tent Khanate, which had sided with Tsarist Russia.

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