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

Just as the framework of the Southwest Protectorate was being set up and the smoke from the immigrants' cooking fires began to rise from the newly reclaimed land on the frontier, another secret report from southern Yunnan drew Xiao Chen's attention back to that mysterious and dangerous tropical rainforest.

The secret report was sent by Shen Dong's trusted confidant via express courier, along with several heavy ore samples wrapped in oilcloth.

"Your Majesty, while pursuing and suppressing a group of stubborn bandits who resisted the chieftain in Menglian, Pu'er Prefecture, Yunnan Province, I discovered several strange mines in the deep mountains and dense forests."

The local Liang people (a branch of the Dai ethnic group) call it the "Ghost Fire Cave," saying that red sand often comes out of the cave, and when refined, silvery droplets flow out; touching it is fatal, and both humans and animals avoid it at all costs. Your Majesty, I have taken samples for examination, and they appear to be 'cinnabar' and 'mercury' as recorded in the ancient texts! This matter is of great importance, and I dare not act on my own initiative; therefore, I hereby submit this report for Your Majesty's review.”

Xiao Chen's pupils suddenly contracted when he saw the words "cinnabar" and "mercury"!

Cinnabar, also known as vermilion, is a mercury sulfide ore. It is the main raw material for refining mercury and was a "sacred ingredient" for alchemists in ancient times. It is also a precious red pigment.

Mercury was considered mysterious and highly poisonous by the ancients, but Xiao Chen knew that it was a true strategic resource!

In this era, mercury has at least three irreplaceable and significant uses:

First, refine gold and silver.

The amalgamation process for extracting gold and silver was the most efficient precious metal extraction technology at that time, bar none! Controlling mercury was equivalent to controlling the lifeline of precious metal smelting!

Second, the production of mercury fulminate. Although Xiao Chen cannot yet produce advanced explosives, mercury is a key raw material for manufacturing mercury fulminate, which is the core of flintlock pistol propellant and future artillery shell fuses!

Without a reliable propellant, the misfire rate of flintlock muskets remains high; without a reliable fuse, shells can only explode by chance.

Mercury was the key to true reliability in the age of firearms!

Third, precision instruments. Mercury can be used to manufacture thermometers, barometers, and other instruments, which are crucial for scientific development.

"Heaven is helping me!"

Xiao Chen slammed his hand on the table, his eyes gleaming. "Yunnan truly is a treasure trove! After copper, silver, tea, and horses, there's even cinnabar and mercury!"

He immediately summoned Zhao Tie and Xu Guangqi.

The two were also very excited when they saw the ore sample.

Zhao Tie picked up a piece of dark red cinnabar ore and weighed it in his hand: "Your Majesty, this is top-grade cinnabar! If the reserves are abundant, it can solve our dynasty's problem of refining gold and silver! The newly discovered silver mines in Cizhou are currently struggling with low refining efficiency!"

Xu Guangqi, however, was more concerned with scientific and military applications: "Your Majesty, I have read some Western books that mention mercury can be used to make 'explosives,' which ignite rapidly, far surpassing the fuses of gunpowder. If this substance can be used to improve the firing mechanism of our guns and cannons, the problem of misfires can be eliminated, and the power can be doubled!"

"That's exactly right!"

Xiao Chen said in a deep voice, "This matter must be kept absolutely secret! Cinnabar and mercury must be completely monopolized by the imperial court!"

He immediately issued a secret decree:

First, the Protector-General of the Southwest, Shen Dong, is hereby ordered to immediately dispatch reliable elite troops to seal off the forests in the Menglian region where the mineral veins have been discovered, designating them as a restricted area and strictly prohibiting outsiders from approaching. It is hereby declared that the area is infested with miasma and evil spirits, which have been sealed off by court sorcerers.

Second, reliable craftsmen and apprentices were selected from the Ministry of Works and the Academy of Sciences, and personally chosen and led by Zhao Tie, to secretly travel to Menglian to establish a "Vermilion Mining Bureau" and a "Mercury Refining Workshop." All craftsmen were registered as military households and strictly guarded to prevent the leakage of technology.

Third, local Liang and Yi people who have submitted to the government will be recruited as miners, and they will be given generous compensation. However, they will be centrally managed and strictly prohibited from contacting the outside world. The mining and smelting process will be carried out in stages, with the core processes being handled by Han Chinese craftsmen.

IV. All cinnabar and mercury produced shall be subject to a monopoly by the imperial court. Priority shall be given to supplying Cizhou for the refining of gold and silver; the remainder shall be secretly researched by the Academy of Sciences to attempt to produce "mercury fulminate" (Xiao Chen only provided the name and direction, and Xu Guangqi and others shall explore the specifics).

Fifth, taking this opportunity, we will further explore various mineral deposits in southern Yunnan and southwestern Guizhou, especially military-supplied minerals such as saltpeter and sulfur.

The order was issued with the highest level of secrecy.

Soon after, a special team composed of elite craftsmen from the Ministry of Works, researchers from the Academy of Sciences, and guards from the Divine Martial Army quietly left the capital and headed south.

Their destination was the rainforest that had been designated as a "restricted area".

Deep in the rainforest, in the Menglian mining area.

The atmosphere here is completely different from the thriving community of immigrants and settlers from the outside world; it appears mysterious and somber.

The tall tropical trees were cleared to create a clearing, which was surrounded by high wooden fences and watchtowers. The Shenwu Army soldiers patrolled day and night, strictly prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving without permission.

At the mine entrance, the craftsmen used simple pulleys and tracks to improve mining efficiency.

The refining workshops were located downwind of the mine, on the riverbank, using the water flow as power to drive the huge ore-tamping machinery.

The primitive, traditional mercury refining furnace (fire below, solidification above) was established. Although it was inefficient and extremely polluting and dangerous, the first batch of bright silver and incredibly heavy mercury was still extracted and stored in specially made sealed ceramic jars under strict secrecy and with a generous reward.

"It's done! Your Majesty, the first batch of mercury weighs a hundred catties!" Zhao Tie looked at the heavy earthenware jars, his face full of exhaustion but also extremely excited.

Xu Guangqi, along with a few assistants, set up a simple laboratory in a more remote corner and began to carefully experiment with mixing mercury, nitric acid, alcohol, and other substances, exploring the unknown and dangerous realm of "mercury fulminate".

Explosions and pungent odors could be heard intermittently, but each failure brought them one step closer to success.

When the news reached the capital, Xiao Chen breathed a long sigh of relief. The strategic significance of the discovery and mining of cinnabar and mercury even surpassed that of Yunnan copper!

This means that the financial foundation (gold and silver refining) and military advantage (reliability of firearms) of the Great Xia will both experience a qualitative leap.

"The Southwest Protectorate established a border defense system by resettling immigrants, which was intended to consolidate the territory."

Xiao Chen stood before the enormous map of the empire, his finger slowly tracing the path from Yunnan. "And the cinnabar mercury in this rainforest is the whetstone that tempers the empire's sharpness."

"With copper, with silver, with tea and horses, and now with mercury... the southwest, this once barren land, is becoming the empire's strongest backing and sharpest blade."

"Tell Shen Dong that the defense of the mining area must not be compromised. Tell Zhao Tie and Xu Guangqi to expedite their investigation; I await their good news."

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen instructed Mo Qi, "have the Protectorate General continue its exploration of the rainforests and mountains further south and west, under the guise of mining and mapmaking. I have a feeling that there are still more surprises hidden beneath that land."

The secrets of the rainforest have been partially revealed, bringing not only wealth but also power.

The foundations of the empire grew ever stronger amid the roar of steel in the north and the flow of minerals in the south.

Xiao Chen's gaze could now reach beyond the mountains of the southwest, extending to the more distant ocean and the impending storms.