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In the late summer and early autumn of the second year of Tiangong, the changes in the Ming Dynasty were so rapid that they dazzled many people.

If someone from later generations were to travel to this place, they would be astonished by the incredible, almost historically incomprehensible, rapid advance taking place on this land.

The idea of ​​building a bridge across the Yangtze River, a natural barrier, is not without its doubts.

Even within the Ministry of Works, some experienced and prudent officials privately discussed: "Your Majesty has lofty ambitions, but the Yangtze River is wide, deep, and swift, with high winds and surging waves. Building such a long bridge is probably beyond human capability. Even the Zhaozhou Bridge built by Li Chun of the Sui Dynasty, compared to the Yangtze River, is like a stream in a large marsh."

"This is the task I have assigned to your Ministry of Works! Now that we have the building materials and design drawings, if you still can't build it well, then you can stop staying in this position."

"This……"

"What? Still have objections?"

"Wei Chen dare not."

However, these doubts were quickly drowned out by the accumulation of real-world technology.

Inside the Ministry of Works, a technical conference is in full swing.

Wu Zheng, the head of the Imperial Workshop, pointed to the unfolded preliminary design drawings of the Yangtze River Bridge and said excitedly to several veteran craftsmen from the Ministry of Works: "Gentlemen! Do not be bound by old perspectives! The Zhaozhou Bridge of the past relied on its ingenious arch structure and the properties of stone. What do we have today? We have the 'steel reinforcement' and 'concrete' formula bestowed by His Majesty, with strength far exceeding that of stone! We have the Longjiang Steel Plant providing a continuous supply of various types of steel!"

He pointed heavily to the location of the bridge piers on the blueprint: "Look here! His Majesty's proposed 'caisson method' and 'cofferdam method' are ingenious solutions for deep-water foundation construction! With steel as the skeleton and concrete as the flesh, what fear is there of strong winds and high waves? If this bridge is completed, it will be the first steel rainbow spanning the Yangtze River, turning the natural barrier between the north and south into a thoroughfare, benefiting generations to come!"

An elderly craftsman with white hair stroked the magnificent bridge design on the blueprints, his hands trembling slightly, and murmured, "If it can truly be built... I would die without regrets if I could participate in such a marvelous feat in my life!"

"Therefore, do not regard this task as impossible; on the contrary, it is a great opportunity for us to make achievements."

"Professor Wu is right."

In fact, Suning did not personally participate in the debate over these technical details; it merely provided core technologies and design concepts from another era.

He handed over more detailed information on the bridge's mechanical structure, concrete mix design, and construction techniques to the Ministry of Works' technical elites, led by Wu Zheng, in the form of "Tiangong Mijuan" (a secret document).

He was like a master sower and inspirer, planting the seeds of technology and then trusting the already intelligent artisans of this land to let them take root, sprout, and grow into towering trees.

The Yangtze River Bridge, while still a formidable challenge in everyone's eyes, is by no means a pipe dream.

……

Meanwhile, the military workshops of the Ming Dynasty were no longer what they used to be.

As early as the Hongwu era, under the influence and covert promotion of Su Ning, a "rifle" based on the breech-loading principle and using fixed metal bullets had already begun to be secretly developed and equipped on a small scale by elite troops.

In the fourth year of the Jianwen reign, the reason why Suning was able to quell the rebellion so quickly was due to these groundbreaking weapons.

Now that the world is at peace, several heavily guarded royal arsenals in the heart of the country are operating at full capacity, producing the improved "Tiangong" rifle and its matching ammunition.

Assembly line operations, standardized parts, machine tools driven by water power or early internal combustion engines...

These production models, guided by Suning, have greatly improved efficiency and quality.

These rifles were immediately deployed to the Beijing Garrison, which guarded Yingtianfu. Moreover, the middle and high-ranking officers of the Beijing Garrison were replaced with their own confidants, and even the nobles of the Ming Dynasty were excluded.

Therefore, the era of cold weapons is rapidly coming to an end, and a powerful army equipped with revolutionary firearms is silently accumulating strength.

What supported all of this was the emergence of new workshops that sprang up all over the Ming Dynasty like mushrooms after rain.

Some of them belonged to the "Great Ming Royal Merchant Guild," while others were built by private capital with official permission. Without exception, they all applied new technologies, some more advanced than others.

They produce a wide variety of goods, including high-quality steel, glass, ceramics, watches, soaps, perfumes, and improved fabrics.

These large quantities of high-quality goods require a broad market.

On land, through the ever-extending railway and the extensive official roads, goods are flowing at an unprecedented speed to the northern grasslands, the northwest regions, and even further to the Middle East.

The vast world lies in the ocean.

……

However, faced with the vast ocean, Suning did not choose to completely lift the maritime ban.

Inside the Hall of Diligent Conduct, a royal meeting concerning maritime trade is underway.

Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Revenue, advocated for a limited opening of private maritime trade in order to increase tax revenue.

But Suning shook his head, his attitude clear:

"The benefits of maritime trade are like a fierce tiger. If managed properly, it can be a great help to the country. If left to run wild, it will surely bring disaster. The sea is vast. If private fleets collude with Japanese pirates, piracy, or even foreign countries, the consequences will be endless. Moreover, private capital is driven by profit, which can easily lead to an excessive outflow of gold and silver, which is not good for the long-term interests of our Great Ming."

He looked at Zhou Chen, the chief steward of the Royal Trading Company in charge of maritime trade, and several noble representatives who had been specially summoned, including Guo Quan, the son of Marquis Wuding Guo Ying.

“Therefore, maritime trade must be government-led, or at least ‘government-supervised and merchant-operated’,” Su Ning said decisively. “My mind is made up. The ‘Great Ming Royal Ocean Trade Company’ will be established to oversee all overseas trade. The Royal Trading Company will hold 50% of the shares, the Ministry of Revenue will hold 20%, and the remaining 30% will be available for purchase by members of the imperial family, princes, and meritorious nobles on a voluntary basis.”

Upon hearing this, Guo Quan and the others' eyes lit up immediately.

This means they can share in the huge profits of overseas trade through legal channels without risking going into business privately and breaking the law.

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty."

"Yes, all of you go back and discuss it carefully! Once you've made a decision, contact Steward Zhou."

"Yes, Your Majesty! We take our leave." "Your Majesty is wise!" After the group of vassal kings and nobles left, Zhou Chen immediately grasped the deeper intention. "In this way, we can concentrate our resources to build large warships, organize a massive fleet, and compete with the barbarians for profits. At the same time, we can closely link the interests of the vassal kings and nobles with the imperial court's maritime trade cause. They will share both prosperity and adversity, so naturally no one will obstruct maritime trade anymore; on the contrary, they will do their utmost to protect it!"

“That makes perfect sense.” Su Ning nodded in satisfaction. “What we need to establish is a maritime interest group belonging to the Ming Dynasty. We will use the huge profits from maritime trade to satisfy the appetites of the imperial family and nobles, in exchange for their support for the new policies and overseas expansion. At the same time, the types, quantities, and prices of all import and export goods must be uniformly controlled by the Royal Trading Company to ensure that national interests come first.”

Soon, the decree was issued.

Princes and nobles enthusiastically invested, and huge sums of money were quickly amassed.

Longjiang Shipyard has been revitalized. New ships have been equipped with internal combustion engines, and the keels of larger and more robust ocean-going vessels have begun to be laid.

The goods of the Ming Dynasty will be continuously transported to Southeast Asia, India, and even the more distant east coast of Africa through this unprecedentedly powerful fleet driven by both state capital and elite capital.

Technology is advancing at breakneck speed, and interests are being restructured.

Suning leveraged its cutting-edge technology to boost productivity and built a solid political alliance through its ingenious distribution of profits.

A unique era, unprecedented in the history of the Ming Dynasty, combining highly centralized power with rapid expansion, was slowly unfolding in his hands.

……

As the tentacles of the Ming Dynasty Royal Trading Company spread to all walks of life, its enormous size and astonishing profits began to attract attention and private discussion both inside and outside the court.

Although all land under heaven belongs to the emperor, the emperor's possession of such a vast "private property" still caused some traditional ministers to feel uneasy and covetous, as well as some astute wealthy merchants in the private sector.

On this day, Su Ning summoned Xia Yuanji, the Minister of Revenue, and Zhou Chen, the General Manager of the Royal Trading Company, to the Qianqing Palace for a private audience.

The atmosphere inside the hall was solemn, as the top-level design concerning the future economic structure of the empire would be laid here.

Xia Yuanji spoke first, his tone tinged with a cautious probing: "Your Majesty, the Royal Merchant Guild's dominance in maritime trade has yielded remarkable results and substantial profits. However... this all comes from the imperial treasury. In the long run, this may compete with the nation for profits, which is not a sustainable strategy. Moreover, there are already dissenting voices in the court, saying that Your Majesty is using the resources of the entire nation to serve one person..."

This is a euphemistic way of putting it, but the meaning is clear.

The Royal Trading Company made a fortune, but although the national treasury was also replenished by previous reforms and commercial taxes, it was still a drop in the ocean compared to the enormous profits from maritime trade.

Upon hearing this, Su Ning was not angered. Instead, he smiled and said, "I am well aware of Minister Xia's concern for the country. Am I the kind of foolish ruler who only cares about his private treasury and not the national treasury?"

He looked at Zhou Chen and said, "Zhou Chen, please explain my previous thoughts to Minister Xia in detail."

Zhou Chen quickly bowed and then smiled at Xia Yuanji, saying, "Minister Xia, you are overthinking it. His Majesty has already made it clear that the profits from maritime trade should be shared with the nation. In the newly established 'Great Ming Royal Ocean Trading Company,' His Majesty's private funds will hold 50% of the shares through the Royal Trading Company, and His Majesty has specifically reserved 20% for the Ministry of Revenue to invest on behalf of the national treasury! In the future, the profits from maritime trade will be directly allocated to the Ministry of Revenue's Grand Treasury!"

Xia Yuanji was taken aback at first, then his face lit up with unbelievable joy: "Your Majesty! Is this really true?!"

Two-tenths of the shares may not sound like much, but given the astonishing profits of maritime trade, that would be a huge income of millions of taels of silver per year, enough to make the national treasury more abundant than ever before!
“A king’s word is law,” Su Ning affirmed. “Moreover, customs duties and ship pilotage fees will still be collected by the Maritime Trade Office under the Ministry of Revenue, with not a single penny going into the imperial treasury. What I want is to control the direction of maritime trade, not to compete with the people for profit. The royal family and the national treasury are a community of shared interests in this matter.”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Xia Yuanji immediately rose from his seat and knelt in gratitude: "Your Majesty is wise! Your subject... on behalf of all the people of the world, I thank Your Majesty for your great favor!"

This move instantly dispelled all his doubts and firmly bound the interests of the Ministry of Revenue and even the entire civil service system to the Royal Maritime Trade.

……

Having resolved the issue of profit distribution in the maritime trade sector, Suning shifted the focus to the more fundamental issue of industrial layout.

He ordered people to unfold a huge industrial planning map.

"Next, we will discuss the layout of the workshops and industries." Su Ning's expression became extremely serious. "My intention is that the industries of the Ming Dynasty should be divided into 'priorities' and 'urgent needs,' and each should be assigned to a specific entity."

His finger pointed to the "heavy industry" area marked on the map, which includes large-scale steel smelting, large-scale machinery manufacturing, especially military-related industries, shipbuilding (large ocean-going ships and warships), railway construction and locomotive manufacturing, mining, especially large-scale coal and iron mines, gold, silver and copper mines, gunpowder and advanced chemicals, etc.

"These are the lifeblood of the nation, the cornerstone of industry, and the guarantee of national defense!" Su Ning said resolutely. "They must be under the absolute control of the imperial court! That is, the 'Great Ming Heavy Industry Bureau' shall be jointly established by the Great Ming Royal Merchant Guild and the Ministry of Revenue for unified management. No private capital shall be allowed to intervene! Anyone who violates this rule shall be punished for treason!"

Xia Yuanji and Zhou Chen were shocked, sensing the resolute tone in the emperor's words.

They understood that the emperor intended to firmly grasp the most core and powerful productive forces in the hands of the royal family and the state, preventing any private forces from gaining too much power and forming industrial oligarchs that would threaten imperial authority and national stability.

"As for light industry," Su Ning's finger moved to another area, including textiles, printing and dyeing, daily-use ceramics, glassware, furniture, papermaking, printing, food processing, and common medicinal materials, "these are related to people's clothing, food, housing and transportation. Private capital can be allowed to enter, and workshops can be encouraged to prosper the market. The imperial court can manage this through taxation, quality supervision and raw material control."

Zhou Chen added, “Your Majesty, in this way, we can both unleash the vitality of the people and meet their needs, and prevent them from touching the core issues. Heavy industry is the trunk, and light industry is the leaves; only when the trunk is strong can the branches and leaves flourish.”

Finally, Suning's gaze sharpened, focusing on the most basic item on the map: "food".

"As for grain, it is the foundation of the people's survival and the basis of the nation's stability!" Su Ning's voice carried an unquestionable authority. "From the previous dynasty to the present, how many times have wealthy merchants hoarded grain, manipulated prices, and forced people to sell their children? This trend must not be allowed to continue!"

He issued the strictest order: "Effective immediately, the 'Great Ming Grain Reserve Corporation' shall be established, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Revenue, to centrally purchase and distribute major grain varieties. Official granaries and state-run grain shops shall be established in all prefectures and counties to stabilize prices and regulate surpluses and shortages. Large-scale inter-regional grain trade shall be exclusively state-run! Only small-scale, local rice shops shall be permitted in the private sector, and they shall be strictly registered, subject to supervision, and not allowed to arbitrarily raise prices. Absolutely no merchant shall be permitted to form a cross-prefecture, inter-county grain trade network!"

Xia Yuanji took a deep breath.

He understood that this was to completely nationalize the most important strategic resources, fundamentally eliminating the possibility of merchants using grain to threaten national stability.

Although its implementation will be extremely complex and will encounter resistance from local powerful families, its strategic significance is immense.

"Your Majesty's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable!" Xia Yuanji and Zhou Chen said in unison.

They seemed to see a meticulously woven economic web: the royal family and the national treasury shared the enormous profits from maritime trade; the state controlled the lifeline of heavy industry; the people were active in the light industry sector, but were restricted to the realm of people's livelihood; and the most basic food was firmly locked in the control of the state.

This network ensured the strength of the empire and the stability of imperial power, while also leaving room for the private economy and stifling any capitalist forces that might threaten the foundation of the regime.

With its forward-thinking economic ideas, Suning is creating an unprecedented and highly controllable form of "state capitalism" under the Ming Dynasty.

...(End of chapter)