My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

In Chang'an City of the Han Dynasty, the Shaofu government office and the Jiangzuo Supervisor's workshop.

The furnace roared, clanging and banging incessantly, and the air was filled with the smell of coal and metal.

At that moment, Liu Che's voice rang out.

"How's your steam engine project coming along?"

The craftsmen in charge of the project looked troubled.

A craftsman skilled in hydraulic machinery bowed and said.

"Your Majesty, we have repeatedly tested the seals, cylinders, pistons, and connecting rods according to Your Majesty's instructions. We cast the cylinders and pistons in fine copper to ensure a tight seal, and we also tested sealing with leather and hemp rope soaked in oil."

"However... however, the heat is difficult to control, the steam pressure is inconsistent, the seals leak frequently, the power obtained is minimal, and the mechanism is cumbersome and easily damaged, far less convenient than animal power... We have failed Your Majesty's trust!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Che was not disappointed; on the contrary, he was somewhat excited.

"So you mean you already have a basic structure?"

The craftsmen exchanged glances and nodded.

"Start it up and show me!"

Liu Che said loudly.

The craftsmen began to get busy.

Soon, water vapor billowed up.

"Buzzing!"

The linkage was activated, but very slowly.

Upon seeing this, Liu Che knew that the sealing problem was caused by a material issue, but he still laughed heartily.

"Hahaha! Truly worthy of being the craftsmen of our great Han Dynasty!"

"The steam engine requires better materials, and you gentlemen are the pinnacle of craftsmanship in our great Han Dynasty. Take a look at this; what do you think?"

As he spoke, Liu Che placed the rebar he had taken from Chen Mo onto the chopping board.

A craftsman specializing in iron smelting carefully picked up the rebar with iron pliers, and immediately felt its weight, which was different from ordinary iron.

He examined the incredibly regular spiral pattern carefully, and then passed it around to the other craftsmen to look at it.

They gently tapped and scraped with various tools, and even tried to carve with the sharpest chisel, but only shallow marks were left on the surface, while the chisel tip was slightly chipped.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty,"

The old craftsman's voice trembled, and his beard shook.

"This iron... is beyond comprehension! Its strength far surpasses the finest steel forged by our Imperial Treasury!"

"These patterns... are perfectly integrated, something that could never be achieved through forging or carving. It's more like... like something that was twisted and shaped by immense force while still soft, and then solidified!"

"But what kind of heat, what kind of force, what kind of mold could be used to create this... we... simply cannot imagine!"

"That's exactly why you can't imagine it!"

Liu Che chuckled, showing no anger.

"I brought this out so that you could study it!"

"Knowing that something is impossible, yet still pondering it, is the only way to make progress. This iron will remain here for you to study, try various methods, and record its properties. Even if you only glimpse a tiny clue, it will be a leap forward for the crafts of our great Han Dynasty!"

"Your Majesty, we obey! We will do our utmost!"

The craftsmen responded in unison, their gazes fixed intently on the rebar.

Just then, the eunuch rushed in to report.

"Your Majesty, Marquis Huo Qubing is requesting an audience outside the palace. Hearing that Your Majesty is here, he has come to inquire after your well wishes."

Liu Che's eyes lit up.

"Bring him in."

Before long, Huo Qubing, dressed in light military attire and exuding heroic spirit, strode into the workshop.

He first bowed to Liu Che, then his gaze was drawn to the unusual rebar on the chopping board, but he quickly came back to his senses.

"Your Majesty, I have a question I wish to ask."

"ask."

Upon hearing this, Huo Qubing was not intimidated and spoke directly.

"Your Majesty, I do not understand why you have suddenly halted the campaign against the Xiongnu?"

"Now that I have just reclaimed Henan, my military strength is at its peak! Every soldier is eager to conquer the Xiongnu and establish merit!"

"If we stop fighting the Xiongnu immediately, they will surely think that we are afraid of them again."

Looking at Huo Qubing's spirited and eager appearance, as if he couldn't wait to lead his troops to trample the Xiongnu court again, Liu Che was not displeased at all; on the contrary, his smile deepened.

If it were someone else, they might be annoyed that they've already said it and they're still asking.

But Huo Qubing was different; for some reason, he took a special liking to this child.

Especially a few days ago, the original plan was just to let him go to the battlefield with Wei Qing to hone his skills.

Good guy.

At the young age of eighteen, he led eight hundred men deep into enemy territory and killed two thousand twenty-eight of them.

They even killed the prime minister, the head of the household, and the eldest son of the Chanyu, Xingji Ruohouchan, and captured his uncle Luogubi alive.

He still remembers the joy he felt when he heard the news.

I've always liked Huo Qubing, and now I like him even more!

Liu Che raised his hand, gesturing for Huo Qubing to follow him to a quieter spot beside the workshop.

"Go away the disease!"

Liu Che's voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally gentle.

"Do you know that when King Wuling of Zhao adopted the nomadic dress and cavalry tactics, he not only changed the clothing, but also the tactics and the mindset of the army?"

"The might of our great Han Dynasty today is unparalleled in the world, but it is not entirely due to the legacy of our ancestors, but also to the concerted efforts of the rulers and ministers of successive dynasties to innovate."

He pointed to the rebar lying quietly on the cutting board.

"Look at this iron. If the armor worn by my Han soldiers and the spears they carry were as tough as this iron, would the arrows and swords of the Xiongnu still be able to easily harm my men?"

"On the battlefield, the more sharp and sturdy I am, the less ferocious the enemy becomes. With this shift in strength, how much of their bravery can be offset?"

Huo Qubing's gaze followed Liu Che's gesture and landed on the rebar, lost in thought.

Liu Che continued.

"Let's talk about steam engines."

He pointed to the heavy copper and iron components in the workshop that were being repeatedly tested and were emitting wisps of white steam.

"You're leading an army on a distant expedition, so you should know the importance of marching speed, right?"

"If this thing is completed, then there will be no need for oxen or horses; it can travel at high speed on its own and won't need to rest!"

"Furthermore, in the Hexi Corridor, and even in the depths of the Gobi Desert in the future, after a long march, the men and horses are exhausted, and the supply lines are as long as a noose around their necks."

"If this opportunity is realized, it will drive giant carts, braving wind and rain, day and night, carrying massive amounts of grain, fodder, and military equipment to accompany the army. At that time, the pressure on logistics will be greatly reduced."

Huo Qubing's breathing became slightly rapid.

But soon, he raised an eyebrow.

"But Your Majesty, how long will it take to develop this item? What will be its results? All of this is still uncertain."

"Until this substance is successfully developed, we will be completely unable to utilize its advantages!"

"If, during this period, the Xiongnu discover that our dynasty's focus has shifted and launch another large-scale invasion, harassing Yunzhong and Dingxiang, slaughtering our border people, and plundering our granaries, are we supposed to tell those border people, 'Be patient and wait for the divine plan to succeed'?"

"The situation in the fighter jets is constantly changing, and we may not be able to afford such a long wait."

The smile on Liu Che's face gradually faded, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the cold bronze ware stand beside him.

Huo Qubing's words were indeed reasonable. Although the Battle of Mobei was won and the main force of the Xiongnu fled north, their tribes were scattered and their cavalry could come and go in an instant, so the border troubles were never truly eliminated.

The right wing of the Xiongnu in the Hexi Corridor urgently needs to be wiped out, and Yizhixie Chanyu in the north is by no means someone who will sit idly by and wait to be killed.

It seems the campaign against the Xiongnu cannot be stopped!

only……

"Qubing, what you say hits the nail on the head. The current struggle is indeed a matter of life and death, and there is no room for error. Although the tools we use are good, they are like water from afar that cannot quench our immediate thirst."

Upon hearing this, Huo Qubing's expression relaxed.

However, Liu Che changed the subject.

"However, Qubing, you made a mistake in saying one thing."

"what?"

Huo Qubing was taken aback.

"Actually, it's not that we don't have anything readily available to use?"

Huo Qubing: ? ? ?