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The success of the first Daming Machinery Equipment (Nanjing) Expo, along with the shrewd implementation of the "equipment bundling policy," has sparked a frenzy of desire for technological innovation across the Jiangnan region.

Countless merchants, clutching silver notes and "Single Whip Law" compliance documents, flocked to the Ming Dynasty Chamber of Commerce, eager to bring back those magical machines that could turn stones into gold to their workshops.

For thousands of years, China has been a world of intelligent people, only perhaps with a slightly narrower perspective, but that doesn't mean they couldn't see the productivity brought by advanced machinery.

However, when they actually started planning the installation, a key problem that had been previously overlooked surfaced like an iceberg: the power issue.

After conducting on-site inspections of the workshops, the technical specialists (AI robots in disguise) dispatched by the Ming Dynasty Chamber of Commerce always made the same request: "Your company needs to prepare a stable power source in advance. This batch of new machinery cannot be driven by human, water, or animal power; it must rely on a kind of energy called 'electricity'."

"Electricity? What is that?" The merchants looked at each other, bewildered by this unfamiliar word.

The technical specialist would then unfold a pre-prepared catalog, which depicted a grand blueprint for the power plant, along with thick cables, neatly arranged switchgear, and other equipment.

"This substance is like the blood and qi of the human body. It needs to be generated by a special 'power plant' and transmitted to various workshops through 'cables' to drive the machinery. Without electricity, all the machinery is just scrap metal."

"What should I do?"

"Don't worry, Master! The Ming Dynasty Chamber of Commerce will continue to solve problems for the workshop."

"That's good! That's good."

When the news reached the Governor's Mansion, Su Ning knew that the real challenge and opportunity had only just begun.

Standing before a massive map of Southern Zhili, he issued an unquestionable order to Zhou Zhengjie and his core staff (AI-driven): "Industry is built on electricity. We must lay the power grid before the first batch of machinery is installed on a large scale! The primary target is to cover core industrial towns such as Nanjing, Suzhou, and Songjiang!"

Site selection is crucial.

After precise calculations (AI data analysis), the final location was determined to be an open area outside Nanjing city, taking advantage of the Yangtze River's water conservancy and transportation.

Here, the first power plant of the Ming Dynasty, and the future hub of the entire Jiangnan power grid, the "Jinling Leishen Power Plant," will be built.

The construction process was nothing short of a miracle in this era.

Core equipment such as generator sets, large boilers, and giant transformers are naturally provided directly by Suning's industrial space.

They were secretly transported to the construction site at night. Their enormous size, intricate structure, and cold metallic luster instilled fear in the craftsmen and laborers involved in the construction, who privately called them "Thor's Hammer".

Tens of thousands of craftsmen and laborers, under the precise command of AI engineers, excavated the foundation, poured the huge concrete base, and built chimneys that were tens of meters high.

The factory buildings, constructed of red bricks, were grand and sturdy, far surpassing any civilian buildings of the time.

At the same time, the first batch of thick copper cables, wrapped in special insulation materials, began to extend outward from the power plant, like the tentacles of a giant beast, along the planned route, erected on specially reinforced tall wooden poles or stone towers, spreading towards several major industrial areas in Nanjing, as well as key units such as the Governor's Office and the Ming Dynasty Chamber of Commerce.

After months of intensive construction, on a night under strict lockdown, the Jinling Leishen Power Plant ushered in a historic moment.

In the absolute core control room, Suning personally pressed the button that symbolized the arrival of the industrial age.

With the roar of the giant boiler, the turbine began to spin at a speed ahead of its time, and powerful currents surged out through the transformer and along the thick cables!

In an instant, the pre-installed electric lights in several designated areas of Nanjing, as well as the Governor's Mansion, the headquarters of the Ming Dynasty Chamber of Commerce, and other places shone brightly!
The steady, dazzling, daylight-like light instantly dispelled the darkness of the past thousand years, eliciting gasps of amazement from the officials and a few invited gentry who were watching. Many even knelt down and kowtowed, believing it to be a miracle.

More importantly, in those workshops where the basic installations have been completed and everyone is eagerly awaiting their arrival, as the power switches are turned on, the new machine tools begin to spin, and the textile machines emit a regular roar!

Electricity truly brought these timeless machines to life!

The widespread adoption of electricity has brought about a dramatic change in production efficiency, but it has also made industrialists and businessmen in the Jiangnan region rely on Suning to an unprecedented degree.

The power generation technology and power grid are completely controlled by Suning.

The Jinling Leishen Power Plant and subsequent planned power plants were all operated by the Daming Power Company, which was directly under the Daming Chamber of Commerce.

Any workshop that wants to obtain electricity must apply to the power company, pay an expensive "electricity fee," and strictly abide by the electricity regulations.

However, the power company is Suning's personal property, and the huge electricity bills also belong to Suning.

Once the workshops are connected to the power grid and use electrically powered machinery, they can never go back to the past.

Its entire production system is deeply tied to the power supply; without Suning's power grid, its priceless machinery would be worthless.

Wherever the power grid extends, that's where Suning's planned new industrial zones can expand.

He can precisely guide industrial layout, support key industries, and suppress or eliminate outdated production capacity by prioritizing electricity supply and using price levers.

Looking at the red lines on the map that symbolize the power grid, extending outwards from the Jinling Power Plant as its center.

Su Ning knew that he had not only infused the industrialization of Jiangnan with soul, but also personally forged an invisible chain.

This chain, named "Electricity," has more effectively controlled the industrial lifeline of the entire region than any administrative order.

From then on, every roar of machines in Jiangnan was inseparable from the energy he provided; the industrial light of this land was lit by his own hands, and it could also be extinguished by his own hand.

This control over energy is the most solid, yet also the most deadly, cornerstone of its commercial and industrial empire.

……

As the iconic tall chimney of the "Jinling Leishen Power Plant" emitted thick smoke year-round, and the first batch of workshops connected to the power grid demonstrated astonishing production efficiency, the entire Jiangnan gentry and merchant community was plunged into an unprecedented state of anxiety and fervor.

They watched helplessly as their competitors soared to new heights by acquiring "electricity," and if they hesitated any longer, they feared they would be ruthlessly abandoned by the times.

At this moment, the "Ming Dynasty Chamber of Commerce," which they once both respected and feared, became their only lifeline and ladder to heaven.

This time, Suning did not use any coercive measures.

In his capacity as Governor-General of Zhejiang and Zhili and President of the Ming Dynasty Chamber of Commerce, he sent a sincere invitation to influential gentry and major guilds throughout Jiangnan, stating that the Chamber of Commerce aimed to "serve industry and commerce and seek common development" and was willing to provide "comprehensive support for industrial upgrading" to all colleagues.

Regardless of their inner thoughts, none of the gentry and merchants who received the invitation dared to be negligent, and they all gathered at the council hall of the Nanjing Daming Chamber of Commerce headquarters as quickly as possible.

Unlike the somber atmosphere when the rules were announced last time, this time the venue was decorated in a more "business-like" manner, and even refreshments were provided.

"You are all pillars of Jiangnan. I have invited you here today not for official business, but for business matters," Su Ning said directly and calmly. "At the previous Machinery and Equipment Expo, I'm sure you all witnessed the power of technological innovation. Now that electricity is available, the time is ripe. The Chamber of Commerce is willing to do its utmost to help you board this industrial express train and share in the dividends of this era!"

The Chamber of Commerce then launched a surprisingly detailed "Industrial and Commercial Upgrading Support Package," whose thoughtful service and comprehensive consideration far exceeded everyone's expectations.

The Chamber of Commerce’s subsidiary, Daming Power Company, provides full-process services from site survey, line design, equipment installation to final power transmission.

The gentry did not need to worry about technical issues; they only needed to pay the fee and wait for the "power" to be installed in their homes.

The Chamber of Commerce's technical team (AI-driven) will tailor the most suitable combination of machinery and equipment based on the applicant's industry characteristics (such as silk, cotton spinning, papermaking, ceramics, etc.) and draw up the optimal production line layout to ensure perfect coordination between power and machinery and maximize efficiency.

For those lacking funds, "Daming Qianzhuang" can provide special low-interest loans, using future output or partial equity as collateral, which greatly lowers the threshold for technology upgrades.

The Chamber of Commerce has established a "Craftsman Training Academy" to train technicians for partner workshops to operate and maintain new equipment. It also provides long-term operation and maintenance guidance services to ensure the stable operation of production lines.

This combination of measures has almost solved all the core problems that gentry and merchants might encounter in the process of industrial upgrading.

The previous resistance to the "Single Whip Law" and the new policies quickly dissipated in the face of enormous economic interests and survival pressures.

Shen Yu, a silk industry tycoon in Suzhou, was so moved that tears streamed down his face as he stood in front of the automated silk reeling and weaving production line planned for him by the Chamber of Commerce's technical team. It was as if he could see the Shen family's glory for the next fifty years. He immediately expressed his full support for all the governor's policies.

The Songjiang Cloth Merchants Guild collectively signed an agreement with the Chamber of Commerce to introduce water-powered (electrically assisted) textile machines, further expanding the cost and quality advantages of Songjiang cloth. The guild leaders are extremely grateful to Suning.

Even some staunch conservative gentry, seeing their neighbors making a fortune from equipping themselves with new machinery while their own land rent income paled in comparison, finally couldn't sit still any longer and secretly sent people to the Chamber of Commerce to inquire how to incorporate the output of their own estates into this new industrial production chain.

What Suning provided through the Chamber of Commerce was not just electricity and equipment, but also a complete set of industrial production standards and management systems that bore his deep imprint.

Once the Chamber of Commerce's equipment and electricity are used, subsequent parts replacement, technology upgrades, and capacity expansion will all require the Chamber's support.

The gentry's businesses were already "trapped" technologically.

Electricity consumption data, raw material procurement data through chamber of commerce channels, and product sales data make the operating conditions of these workshops almost transparent to Suning's AI system, providing excellent evidence for precise taxation and macro-control.

The wealth and future prospects of the elite class in Jiangnan are deeply tied to the industrial system led by Suning.

Maintaining Suning's authority and ensuring the supply of electricity and raw materials are ways to protect their own interests.

Looking at the constant stream of gentry and merchants coming to the Chamber of Commerce headquarters to discuss cooperation, and at the cooperation agreements being signed one after another, Zhou Zhengjie sighed from the bottom of his heart: "Anbang, nowadays, Jiangnan is probably inseparable from you and the Great Ming Chamber of Commerce."

Su Ning smiled calmly, his gaze deep.

He knew that he had successfully woven the entire ruling class of Jiangnan into an invisible yet resilient giant net through economic ties, technological chains, and the sharing of benefits.

This network, with the Ming Dynasty Chamber of Commerce as its node and electricity and machinery as its threads, ultimately holds firm control in his hands.

At this time, Jiangnan truly became his solid support and testing ground for implementing all his plans and dealing with any storms.

……

From the end of the sixth year of the Longqing reign to the beginning of the first year of the Wanli reign, under the strong promotion of Su Ning as the Governor-General of Zhejiang and Zhili and the President of the Great Ming Chamber of Commerce, and especially under the guidance of the "new policy of bundling equipment" and the priority of electricity, the trial implementation of the "Single Whip Law" in the Southern Zhili region achieved far greater success than expected.

The collection of taxes and corvée labor was widely implemented, and the land survey was carried out relatively smoothly under strong political and economic pressure. Tax revenue from the Jiangnan region to the national treasury achieved stable and significant growth.

These reports of victory from Yingtian were held in Zhang Juzheng's hands as if they were precious treasures.

In the spring of the first year of the Wanli reign, taking advantage of the perfect model that Su Ning had created in Jiangnan, and his own consolidated power, Zhang Juzheng issued an imperial edict with overwhelming force, announcing to the world:
"The Single Whip Law is a sound strategy for enriching the country and strengthening the military. Having proven effective in its trial implementation in Southern Zhili, it shall be fully implemented in all provinces, prefectures, and counties throughout the country! Local officials must diligently perform their duties, survey land, equalize taxes and corvée labor, and complete the tasks within the specified timeframe. Anyone who dares to obstruct the new policy or outwardly comply but inwardly defy it, regardless of rank or honor, shall be severely punished without exception!"

This decree was like a boulder thrown into a long-silent lake of the empire; the ripples and resistance it created would inevitably spread to every corner.

However, with the successful precedent in Jiangnan, Zhang Juzheng was full of confidence and more determined to implement it.

A profound reform concerning the very foundation of the empire's finances was thus fully launched.

Just as the entire Ming Dynasty was focused on the full implementation of the "Single Whip Law," and the court and the public were busy with land surveys and tax consolidation, another far-reaching and ambitious plan was quietly launched in Nanjing under the direction of Su Ning.

On this day, Zhou Zhengjie formally submitted a registration application to the Daming Chamber of Commerce in his personal capacity.

After reviewing the impeccable documents, the registration office at the Chamber of Commerce headquarters, controlled by AI robots, stamped and approved a name that would one day resound throughout the world—"Mingyuan Consortium".

Unlike any other business or guild in the past, the Mingyuan Consortium possessed a mysterious and immense nature that transcended its time from the very beginning.

Its registered capital is an astronomical figure, and its business scope is vague yet extremely broad, covering many unheard-of fields such as "energy, transportation, heavy industry, mining, and finance".

What's even more noteworthy is that its list of chief "advisors," though not directly signed, vaguely points to the powerful Governor-General of Zhejiang and Zhili.

Registering the foundation is only the first step.

Immediately afterwards, in a heavily guarded and strictly controlled river valley outside Nanjing, a presentation that was enough to overturn the world's perception was held in front of a very small number of core personnel who had been rigorously selected.

There were no invitations sent out widely, and no public announcement was made.

Those present included Zhou Zhengjie, several nominal shareholders of the Mingyuan Consortium, and several "overseas masters" entirely played by AI.

On the exhibition floor, an object covered with a huge canvas was slowly unveiled.

The first thing that catches the eye is a massive, dark, gleaming, complex, and powerful machine—a stationary steam engine.

It does not rely on water or wind power, but rather on burning coal to drive a huge flywheel to rotate smoothly and powerfully, emitting a deep and majestic roar, symbolizing a new, controllable, and powerful source of power.

What followed was an even more awe-inspiring sight: a steam locomotive, resembling a legendary primordial beast, lay quietly on two parallel steel rails that gleamed with a cold metallic light.

Its massive boiler, sturdy linkage, and huge wheels all exude the ultimate beauty of industrial power.

Behind the locomotive are several wheeled train carriages, also made of steel, linked together, suggesting an unprecedentedly large transport capacity.

"This thing is called a 'train'," an AI "craftsman" explained to the stunned audience in a calm, even tone. "With this steam engine as its heart and these rails as its framework, it can drag immense weights, travel a thousand miles a day, undeterred by wind or rain, day or night. At that time, rice from Suzhou and Changzhou can reach the capital in ten days; coal from Huainan can reach Nanjing in a day or two. The efficiency of the circulation of goods throughout the world will increase a hundredfold!"

Despite being mentally prepared, Zhou Zhengjie still felt a wave of dizziness.

He seemed to see giant steel dragons galloping across the mountains and plains of the Ming Dynasty, conveying the governor's will and power to every corner of the empire.

Suning was not present at the scene; he observed everything through an internal light screen.

He knew that while Zhang Juzheng was still racking his brains over the land tax revenue under the "Single Whip Law," he had already set his sights on the next era—the railway era.

Steam engines, trains, and railway tracks were more than just innovations in transportation.

They also greatly improved logistics efficiency, reduced transportation costs, and completely changed the economic geography of the empire.

Wherever the railway is built, his influence can reach there in the fastest and most practical way, far more directly and effectively than administrative orders.

The huge demand for steel and coal will directly spur and expand his heavy industry system.

The "Single Whip Law" streamlined the fiscal and tax system of the agricultural society, while the "Mingyuan Consortium" and the railway would usher in a new era of industry and transportation for him.

Zhang Juzheng controls the court now, while Su Ning is personally laying the foundation for the future.

Once this steel network is laid out, the fate of the entire Ming Dynasty will be more closely intertwined with its industrial empire, and they will never be able to be separated again.

...(End of chapter)