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On the vast grasslands of northern Mongolia, where yellow sand and oases intertwine, the remnants of the Northern Yuan dynasty seemed to have recovered some strength after four years of respite following the Jingnan Campaign.

Occasionally, the sound of cavalry whistling past could be heard between the royal court tents, as if the glory of the past had not completely faded away.

However, they were unaware that a war without gunfire, yet equally deadly, was quietly descending upon them in a way they could not comprehend.

The Great Ming Dynasty, Nanjing City, West Warm Pavilion of Qianqing Palace.

A small, confidential meeting is underway.

Besides Emperor Su Ning, the only other attendees were Xia Yuanji, the newly appointed Minister of Revenue; Shen Rong, the head of the Ming Dynasty Royal Bank; and Zhou Chen, the newly appointed manager of the Royal Trading Company.

Wu Zheng has now moved on to manage the more important Tiangong Academy, so the Royal Trading Company has been handed over to another eunuch, Zhou Chen. Zhou Chen was also a junior eunuch in the same batch as Ma He and Wang Jin, and they have now become Su Ning's right-hand men.

These three people in front of him can be said to be the core figures who control the economic lifeline of the Ming Dynasty.

“Your Majesty,” Xia Yuanji, Minister of Revenue, spoke first, his brows slightly furrowed, “After the Jingnan Rebellion, the national treasury is empty and the people are starving. If we launch a northern expedition now, it will cost countless amounts of money and grain. I fear that the nation’s strength will not be able to support it, and we will repeat the mistakes of Emperor Yang of Sui.”

He was in charge of the nation's finances and knew the extent of the nation's wealth best; his words were full of caution.

Su Ning nodded slightly, but his gaze fell on Shen Rong and Zhou Chen: "What Minister Xia said is a wise and experienced way of governing the country. The time is not yet ripe for a large-scale northern expedition. However, I cannot sit idly by and watch the Tatars live peacefully in the northern desert, recuperating and waiting for the day they will make a comeback. If we cannot use a hard knife for the time being, then we will use a soft knife."

Shen Rong, the shrewd and calculating head manager of the money shop, immediately understood the emperor's intention, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "Does Your Majesty mean to use the methods of the money shop and the merchant guild?"

“Excellent!” Su Ning stood up, walked to the huge map hanging in the sky, and traced the vast area north of the Great Wall with his finger. “The northern deserts are bitterly cold and lack resources. They need our tea, cloth, ironware, salt, and even grain. In the past, border trade was mostly barter or conducted piecemeal, making it difficult to control. Now, I want you to change all of that.”

He looked at Zhou Chen: "Zhou Daban, the Royal Trading Company must immediately assemble a massive caravan to the northern desert, carrying far more goods than ever before, deep into the grasslands. Prices can be 20% or even 30% lower than before! I allow you to operate at a loss initially, but we must ensure that our goods fill every tribe and every corner of the northern desert! We must make those tribal leaders and herders accustomed to using our goods and dependent on them!"

Zhou Chen understood that this was an attempt to use absolute economic strength and scale to dump goods, squeeze out the originally scattered small and medium-sized merchants on the grassland, and monopolize the supply chain.

He bowed and said, "This servant understands! This servant will select shrewd and capable people who understand the Hu language and equip them with sufficient guards to ensure the smooth flow of trade routes. At the same time, the caravan will also closely monitor the movements of various tribes and gather intelligence."

“Very good.” Su Ning nodded approvingly, then looked at Shen Rong, “Goods alone are not enough. Shen Rong, your money shop also needs to keep up. Open branches in important border towns, such as Datong, Xuanfu, and Liaodong. Promote the use of ‘Da Ming paper money’ and ‘salt certificates’ and ‘tea certificates’ as settlement vouchers.”

He elaborated on its operation: "The grassland tribes sell cattle, sheep, horses, and furs, but no longer exchange them entirely for goods. Instead, they can partially exchange them for Dragon Dollar Certificates or Salt and Tea Certificates issued by our Great Ming Bank. Tell them that with these certificates, they can exchange for the necessary materials at any time at designated border markets of our Great Ming, and may even receive a slight premium. At the same time, they are allowed to use their expected future livestock and furs as collateral to 'borrow' silver dollars or materials from our bank, with preferential interest rates."

Shen Rong's eyes lit up as he listened, and he replied, "Your Majesty's plan is brilliant! In this way, we can not only use high-quality and inexpensive goods to disrupt their traditional economy, but also use loans to gradually indebted them, ultimately making them economically dependent on our Great Ming! These Dragon Yuan and Salt and Tea Certificates are the invisible ropes that bind them! In the long run, the economic lifeline of the northern desert will be entirely in our hands!"

Xia Yuanji initially had some doubts, but upon hearing this, he couldn't help but clap his hands: "Brilliant! This is a strategy to undermine their strength! Without using a single soldier, we can subtly weaken their potential. Once their tribal economy is deeply intertwined with our Great Ming, the initiative will be in our hands whether we fight or make peace! We can even use this to divide and win them over, causing internal strife."

Su Ning looked at his three trusted ministers and said in a deep voice, "This matter must be carried out secretly and gradually. In the early stages, we should not seek profit, and we should even be willing to invest. Remember, our goal is not that little bit of gold and silver, but the submission of the entire northern desert! We must make the leaders of the grasslands understand that if they submit to the Ming Dynasty, they will have tea, salt, cloth, and iron, and stable trade; if they dare to disobey, the trade routes will be cut off, loans will be collected, and their tribes will be unable to survive!"

"Your Majesty, we obey!" the three replied in unison, all feeling awe at the emperor's far-sighted methods.

Soon, huge caravans bearing the character "Ming" on their banners poured out from various passes of the Great Wall, like an economic torrent flowing towards the northern grasslands.

Exquisite porcelain, durable iron pots, fragrant tea, snow-white salt, thick cloth...

Goods that used to cost a fortune are now flooding in at incredibly low prices, quickly winning over the hearts of herders in various tribes.

Meanwhile, the name of the Ming Dynasty Royal Bank also spread along the border.

The "Da Ming Long Yuan" coins, printed with the portrait of Emperor Taizu and dragon patterns and made with exquisite craftsmanship, as well as salt certificates and tea certificates, which represent hard currency, were gradually accepted by the upper echelons of the tribes due to their convenience and credibility.

Some tribes that suffered from the white plague developed a dependence on this novel method after tentatively borrowing from money lenders to tide them over...

The grasslands remain vast, and under the blue sky and white clouds, pastoral songs echo.

But beneath the calm surface, a silent conquest had already begun.

The lifeline of the northern desert is being slowly and firmly pulled toward the Forbidden City in the south by invisible chains made of dragon coins, goods, and loans.

Sitting on the dragon throne, Su Ning strategized and planned. He knew that when economic dependence reached a certain level, political and military submission would naturally follow.

……

In May of the second year of the Tiangong era, the early summer breeze carried a hint of warmth, but the atmosphere inside and outside Nanjing was even more intense than the weather.

A heatwave, forged from steel, coal, and ambition, is sweeping through the workshops and court of the Ming Dynasty.

On this day, the tranquility of the Qianqing Palace was broken by a series of hurried but excited footsteps.

Minister of Works Zheng Yi and Director of the Imperial Workshop Wu Zheng jointly requested an audience. Both of them were travel-worn, and the hems of their official robes were even stained with some oil.

But the joy and excitement that almost overflowed on his face made the eunuchs on duty turn their heads.

"Your Majesty! Great news! Incredibly good news!" Having just finished paying his respects, Wu Zheng, even more impatient than before, couldn't contain himself any longer. His voice trembled slightly with excitement. "It's done! The railway and the 'diesel locomotive' have been successfully trial-produced at the Xishan base outside the city!"

Even though Su Ning was mentally prepared, upon hearing this, he couldn't help but stand up abruptly from his throne, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Report carefully!"

Zheng Yi, usually composed, could not hide his excitement. He stepped forward, bowed, and reported in detail: "Thanks to His Majesty's great fortune and the guidance of the 'Heavenly Book' bestowed by His Majesty, the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Works Institute have worked together to overcome all difficulties. This railway, according to His Majesty's decree, is made of hard steel rolled from new blast furnaces into I-beam rails, with anti-corrosion wooden sleepers underneath, secured with iron fasteners, and laid on a compacted gravel roadbed. It is exceptionally sturdy and can withstand heavy loads!"

Wu Zheng eagerly added, "Your Majesty, the 'internal combustion locomotive' is of paramount importance! Its core is the 'Tiangong Type II' internal combustion engine, an improvement upon the 'Tiangong Type I,' which boasts even greater horsepower! We combined it with steel wheels, transmission links, brake valves, and other components to create the head of this steel behemoth! Three days ago at the test site, this locomotive pulled ten fully loaded stone carriages, running back and forth on the newly laid three-mile-long railway track. It ran smoothly, possessed immense power, and roared like thunder, leaving all who witnessed it in awe!"

He described the scene with great enthusiasm, as if the shocking moment was still vivid in his mind: "Your Majesty, this thing needs no oxen or horses, nor does it rely on feng shui. It only needs to consume refined oil or coal to unleash the power of hundreds of horses, and it never tires! It is truly a divine work of art that rivals the creation of heaven and earth!"

"Good! Good! Good!" Su Ning praised three times, then strode down the imperial steps to the huge map of Jiangnan hanging in the sky. "Now that the experiment is successful, it should be put into use as soon as possible! How is the progress of the railway I previously discussed, from Yingtian Prefecture to Songjiang Prefecture?"

Zheng Yi hurriedly replied, "Your Majesty, the site survey and selection have already been completed. The planned route starts from Longjiang Station in Yingtian Prefecture, proceeds eastward through Zhenjiang Prefecture, Changzhou Prefecture, and Suzhou Prefecture, and finally reaches the Huangpu River in Songjiang Prefecture. The terrain along the way is flat, and although the water network is dense, it can be overcome according to the methods of bridge construction and dike building indicated by Your Majesty. The Ministry of Works has already conscripted 30,000 laborers to start construction in sections simultaneously. The required steel rails, sleepers, and stones are being manufactured and transported day and night by the Royal Merchants to ensure a worry-free supply!"

Su Ning's finger traced the soon-to-be-completed steel network on the map, his eyes gleaming: "Once this road is completed, its significance will be extraordinary! Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang are the most economically important regions in the country, producing the finest silk, cotton, and grain. In the past, although canal transport was convenient, it was slow and costly due to weather and water conditions. With this railway, a journey of hundreds of miles will be completed in a single day! The efficiency of cargo transfer, troop deployment, and the smooth flow of government orders will increase by more than tenfold!"

He looked at Zheng and Wu, his tone resolute: "This is the first railway of our Great Ming Dynasty, and it must be built into a benchmark! Minister Zheng, the Ministry of Works must do everything in its power to ensure the progress and quality of the project, and there can be no sloppiness whatsoever! Minister Wu, the Imperial Workshop must continue to improve the locomotives and rolling stock, enhance their carrying capacity and reliability, and begin training drivers and maintenance craftsmen! As for funding, the Royal Bank will provide full support!"

"Your Majesty, we obey!" the two replied in unison, their voices loud and clear, filled with a sense of mission to make history.

“Furthermore,” Su Ning paused for a moment, then added, “a railway protection force must be established along the railway line, directly under the Ministry of War, to ensure railway safety. All prefectures and counties along the route must fully cooperate and must not obstruct the project for any reason! This is national policy!” “Yes!”

The news quickly spread from the palace, causing a stir throughout the court and the public.

Although most officials and ordinary people could not yet imagine the sight of the "steel dragon" running across the land, the many miracles created by the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Workshop had already made them deeply believe in the power of "investigating things to acquire knowledge" advocated by the emperor.

Inside the Xishan test base, the gleaming black diesel locomotive, exuding the scent of engine oil and steel, rests quietly on the brand-new tracks like a lurking beast.

On the vast land from Yingtian to Songjiang, countless craftsmen and laborers have already begun to work hard, laying the first wooden sleeper and the first steel rail.

A steel artery connecting the economic heartland of the Ming Dynasty is extending forward at an unprecedented speed under the will of Suning.

An era belonging to railroad tracks and wheels officially began with the roar of the "Tiangong Type II" locomotive.

……

In the summer of the second year of Tiangong, the scorching sun beat down on the land south of the Yangtze River.

At a construction site more than ten miles east of Yingtianfu City, there was a great deal of noise and dust.

The crowds stretched as far as the eye could see, bustling about on this designated land like ants.

This is the starting section of the Yingsong Railway, which is currently under construction.

Old stonemason Zhao Dunzi is fifty-three years old this year and is one of the oldest craftsmen on the construction site.

He led a dozen apprentices and was responsible for laying gravel on a section of the roadbed.

He was shirtless, sweat pouring down his bronze skin, and his muscular arms wielded a sledgehammer, smashing large blocks of bluestone brought from the quarry into evenly sized fragments.

"Be careful, everyone!" Zhao Dunzi's voice was hoarse but loud. "This roadbed is the foundation of the railway tracks. The gravel must be laid flat and compacted! If it's soft or sinks, there will be a major accident when that railway runs!"

A young apprentice wiped his sweat and muttered, "Master, we've been stonemasons all our lives, building bridges, paving roads, laying walls, and constructing houses. We measure everything with our hands and feet. But this... this is paving roads with iron? I've never even heard of it! Can that iron dragon really run by itself?"

Zhao Dunzi glared at him, but his hammering continued: "What do you know! His Majesty is a celestial being descended to earth, how could he create something ordinary? The master craftsmen in the Imperial Crafts Institute, aren't they all top-notch geniuses? Since they've created it, it can definitely run! Our job is to take the lines that His Majesty and the master craftsmen drew on paper, and put them firmly on the ground! This is the foundation for an everlasting dynasty, we can't be careless!"

He gazed at the gravel roadbed that was beginning to take shape before him, and the I-beam steel rails piled up beside it, gleaming coldly in the sunlight, with an almost devout focus in his eyes.

He may not understand what the "Industrial Revolution" is, but he understands that he is participating in something unprecedented and remarkable.

Not far away, another team was busy laying sleepers and rails.

The leader was a young craftsman named Li Tiezhu. He was originally an apprentice at Longjiang Steel Plant. Because of his skillful hands and basic literacy, he was selected to participate in railway laying and also received short-term training from the craftsmen of Tiangong Institute.

"Align with the ink line! The spacing between the sleepers must be strictly in accordance with the ruler!" Li Tiezhu commanded in a loud voice.

The laborers chanted work songs as they carried the heavy, tung oil-soaked hardwood sleepers to their designated locations and laid them flat.

Next, heavier steel rails were hoisted over using specialized tools.

Li Tiezhu personally took calipers and carefully calibrated the rails and sleepers, as well as the spacing and level between the two rails.

His movements were meticulous, because he knew that even the slightest mistake could lead to disastrous consequences.

"Brother Tiezhu, this iron thing is so heavy, how can the iron dragon really move when it pulls an even heavier carriage?" A familiar laborer asked curiously as he tightened the huge bolts that secured the rails.

Li Tiezhu's eyes gleamed with excitement: "It definitely can! I saw it with my own eyes at the Xishan test site! That locomotive is called a 'diesel locomotive.' It doesn't eat grass or drink water; it only drinks a kind of oil called 'diesel.' It emits a puff of blue smoke and is stronger than hundreds of oxen! It roars off with a whoosh, sounding like thunder! Once our road is completed, I heard that it will be possible to make a round trip from Yingtian to Songjiang in just one day!"

"One day? My God!" The laborer's mouth dropped open, his face full of disbelief. "Then... then from now on, when we deliver grain to Songjiang, we won't have to row for days on the boat, depending on the weather?"

"Of course!" Li Tiezhu said proudly, as if he had built the locomotive himself. "From now on, not only will it be fast for delivering grain, but for everything else! His Majesty said that this is called... yes, it's called 'speeding up transportation and taking off the economy'!"

The majority of workers on the construction site were conscripted laborers.

They came from prefectures and counties along the way, such as Yingtian and Zhenjiang. They worked here in exchange for money and food to support their families, following the "work-for-relief" model.

The work was undoubtedly extremely arduous.

Excavating earth, transporting stones, compacting the foundation...

Every day is a test of physical endurance to the limit.

Although the supervising officials were strict, the food and wages provided by the Royal Trading Company were more generous than any previous corvée labor, enough to at least feed the family and even leave a little surplus.

At night, the workers' shed was filled with the sound of snoring.

The laborers, their bodies aching all over, gathered together, and their greatest entertainment was listening to those who had been to the testing grounds or knew a little about the inside story describe the appearance of the "Iron Dragon" and its imposing speed.

"Once the road is repaired, I'm definitely going to save up some money and ride that train!" a young laborer said with anticipation. "I've heard the seats inside are incredibly comfortable, even more so than riding a horse or sitting in a sedan chair! I want to ride all the way to Songjiangkou and see what the sea looks like!"

"Look at your pathetic self!" the older man beside him laughed and scolded, but his eyes also held the same longing.

Despite their hard work, a subtle sense of pride in participating in the creation of history, along with an expectation for a more convenient future, sustains these workers at the very bottom of society.

They may not understand the profound technical principles, but with their most primal sweat and strength, they extended that steel network, symbolizing the future, inch by inch towards the eastern sea.

From Yingtian to Songjiang, along the hundreds of miles of route, countless craftsmen and laborers like Zhao Dunzi and Li Tiezhu formed the most solid foundation of this railway.

Their sweat dripped onto the sleepers, their chants echoed across the fields, and together with the clanging of the rails and the roar of the internal combustion engines, they played the first stirring movement of the Ming Dynasty's march towards the industrial age.

...(End of chapter)