Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

Just as the students of the Military Academy were swearing an oath before the Azure Wolf Banner, taking their first step into their professional military careers, not far away in the southeast corner of the inner city of Hanyuan, another equally important foundation stone was quietly laid under Xiao Chen's instruction.

This place was originally a warehouse area for storing miscellaneous items, but it has now been cleared out and several rows of brick and stone houses have been built there, which are quite different from the surrounding architectural styles.

The house is tall and spacious, with very large windows to allow for ample natural light.

The interior is divided into several different areas. Some are filled with carpentry and blacksmith tools and various wood and iron blanks, some contain huge water tanks, sand tables and charcoal stoves, and others are like studies with bookshelves, long tables and various blueprints hanging on the walls.

There were no somber bugle calls here, only the clanging of hammers, the sound of sawing, and the low murmur of discussion, occasionally interspersed with the soft popping of a failed experiment or a sigh.

The air was filled with a unique aroma of wood, metal, sulfur, saltpeter, and grease.

Above the door hangs a brand-new wooden plaque with four powerful characters: Gewuyuan (Institute of Gewu).

This was also Xiao Chen's doing. As a time traveler, he attempted to systematically organize, research, and promote the cognition and knowledge system that transcended his era.

"Investigating things to acquire knowledge" is one of the ways of self-cultivation in Confucianism in this era, but Xiao Chen has given it a new meaning that is more inclined towards practical natural science and engineering technology.

The first "director" of the Gewu Academy was Ou the blacksmith, who was in charge of the Industrial Construction Department.

This old craftsman won Xiao Chen's trust with his outstanding performance and dedication in projects such as water-powered blowers, steelmaking, and steel pouring.

Xiao Chen hopes that he can carry forward the "craftsman spirit" of constantly trying, summarizing experience, and improving techniques in the Gewu Academy.

On the first day of the academy's opening, Xiao Chen visited in person, bringing with him the "Introduction to the Academy of Natural Sciences" which he had personally drafted and the first batch of "research topics".

The largest hall in the courtyard, the "Discussion Hall," was packed with people.

In addition to the blacksmith Ou and the dozen or so core master craftsmen he brought from the workshops and ironworks, there were also several young teachers selected from Hanyuan Academy who were interested in "miscellaneous studies" and had a foundation in mathematics or drawing. There were even a few "extraordinary people" who were discovered in the refugee registration and were proficient in arithmetic, astronomy, water conservancy or other ingenious skills.

Murong Xue also attended as a physician, and medicine was an important part of the "investigation of things".

Xiao Chen didn't launch into a long speech; he went straight to the point.

"Gentlemen, today the Institute of Natural Sciences is being established, not for idle talk, but for practical action. What is 'natural science'? For me, Han Yuan, it is to explore the power of water, fire, earth, wood, metal, and stone, to explore the principles governing the operation of all things in heaven and earth, and to apply these principles to strengthening the military, enriching the people, developing industry, and benefiting the people!"

He ordered the distribution of the "Elementary Outline," which listed the initial "departments" to be established by the Institute of Natural History:

I. Crafts Department: Specializing in improving existing tools, weaponry, and agricultural implements, and developing new products. Current focus: optimizing water power applications, improving the forging processes of bows, crossbows, armor, and swords, and exploring methods for preventing metal rust and wood decay.

II. Mining and Metallurgy Department: Specializing in mineral exploration, mining, and smelting technologies. Current focus: Improving the efficiency and safety of coal and iron ore mining; increasing the output and quality of pig iron, wrought iron, and steel; and exploring the smelting of other metals.

III. Construction Department: Specializing in architecture, water conservancy, and city building. Current focus: Researching more robust and material-efficient brick and stone masonry methods, improving the design of waterwheels, canals, and dams, and exploring winter construction techniques.

IV. Hundred Crafts: This category covers the improvement of civilian technologies such as textiles, pottery, leather making, brewing, and salt production.

V. Mathematics and Geography: Specializing in arithmetic, surveying, drawing, astronomy and calendrical science, providing basic support for all other subjects.

VI. Department of Medicine: Temporarily led by Murong Xue, responsible for researching medicinal materials, pathology, disease prevention, and surgical treatment methods.

Looking at these unprecedentedly categorized "subjects," everyone felt both novel and pressured. It seemed that all the crafts and skills in the world were to be studied and improved within a single system.

"Your Highness, isn't this...isn't this expansion a bit too large?"

An old craftsman hesitated and said, "We craftsmen should just focus on doing our jobs well. We are afraid that we are not up to the task of this kind of 'research'."

Xiao Chen understood their concerns and smiled, "There's no need to reach the top in one step."

When the Institute of Gewu was first established, it did not seek to make groundbreaking inventions immediately, but rather to cultivate a spirit of inquiry, recording, summarizing, and improvement.

You are all leaders in your respective industries. In your daily work, have you ever encountered difficulties? Have you ever thought, "Perhaps it would be better if this were changed"?

In the future, these problems and ideas can be brought to the Institute of Physics for discussion, drawing, and experimentation. The necessary materials and manpower will be allocated and supported by the institute.

The experiment was a success, the improvement was effective, and a generous reward will be given! The results will be recorded and disseminated throughout the region. Your names, along with this improved technique, will be passed down to future generations!

The promise of a generous reward and recognition was undoubtedly the most direct incentive. The craftsmen's eyes lit up.

"Today, I will raise the first issue for public discussion."

Xiao Chen walked to a large wooden board in front of the hall, picked up a charcoal pencil, and said, "As you all know, Han Yuan is now making great use of waterwheels for lifting water and blowing air, with remarkable effects. However, the power of waterwheels is limited by water flow and seasons. If there is a drought, freezing, or if it is far from the river, it will be powerless. Is there another way to obtain a continuous and stable power, like... invisible water, to drive the mechanism?"

He was describing a primal need for "power," which actually pointed to a more efficient power source, such as... the prototype of steam. But he knew he couldn't point it out directly; he could only guide the conversation.

The people below fell into deep thought. An invisible force? How could such a thing be obtained?

An old craftsman who had fled from Jiangnan, who had seen large sails before, hesitated and said, "Your Highness, what about the power of the wind? Can we build a large windmill and use the wind to turn it?"

"Good idea! It can be included in the 'Crafts Department' for trial, to study how to capture wind from different directions and stabilize the output." Xiao Chen immediately affirmed and recorded it on the wooden board.

Another person said, "Animal power is also acceptable, but cattle and horses will get tired and need to be fed."

"That's right, we also need to study how to more effectively transmit and convert animal power." Xiao Chen nodded.

Murong Xue thought for a moment and said, "Your Highness, the medicinal power... or rather, the mixture of certain minerals, when it comes into contact with fire or water, can produce tremendous force, even... an explosion." She was referring to gunpowder.

"This is the 'Explosive Power,' which has great potential but is also dangerous."

A separate group can be established to conduct careful research in a remote, uninhabited area, focusing on control and utilization. I will be directly in charge of this project, and Zhao Tie will send people to assist with safety.

Xiao Chen's expression was serious; this was the key point.

The discussion gradually heated up. Xiao Chen then posed several guiding questions: How can we measure length, weight, and volume more accurately? How can we draw more accurate maps? How can we increase the yield per unit area of ​​land? How can we prevent and control common livestock diseases?

He presented his fragmented knowledge, which was ahead of its time, in the form of questions, inspiring these top contemporary craftsmen and scholars to think and explore.

Instead of directly providing answers like "steam engine," "fertilizer," and "vaccination," he built a platform, providing ideas and resources so that they could brainstorm, experiment, and summarize on their own.

He knew that directly presenting something far ahead of its time might not be a blessing, but could instead lead to uncontrollable consequences.

However, this kind of guided and systematic research and accumulation is the foundation for the healthy growth and eventual breakthrough of Hanyuan's future technology tree.

My first day at the Gewu Institute was spent in this atmosphere filled with novelty, confusion, debate, and sparks of inspiration.

As they left, many craftsmen were still discussing the topic they had just discussed, their eyes sparkling with a light they hadn't seen in a long time.

Xiao Chen stood at the entrance of the Gewu Academy, looking back at the still rather simple courtyard.

Here, there is none of the somber atmosphere of the military academy, but another, perhaps more fundamental, force is being nurtured.

Military force can expand territory and defend homeland, but the power of exploration and creation represented by "Gewu" may be the only thing that can truly change the fate of this land and inject unprecedented vitality into Hanyuan and this era.

"Investigate things to acquire knowledge..." he repeated these four words in a low voice, a smile appearing on his lips.

This path may be longer and more difficult, but once it is traversed, its brilliance will illuminate a brand new future.