Parallel Ming Dynasty: The more he compared, the more devastated Zhu Yuanzhang became.

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The people of the original world felt extremely resentful.

Just as one cannot discuss ice with a summer insect, no matter how hard people from another world tried to describe it to them, they could never imagine what kind of magic the silver mirror was.

Simply because they had never seen what the silver mirror looked like.

{New World: I wonder if anyone in your world can create such a silver mirror? If they could, perhaps you would understand just how wonderful this silver mirror truly is!}

{New World: More importantly, silver mirrors aren't expensive; almost every household can afford a decent-sized one. Just placing one in your home makes you look incredibly prestigious!}

{New World: Not only that, besides the silver mirror, there are also glass pieces personally crafted by His Highness Zhu Duo, their designs being exquisitely beautiful.}

{New World: That's right, especially those round glass balls. When they first came out for sale, the price was outrageously high; only the wealthy could afford them. But ordinary people like us could buy quite a few glass shards of various shapes. They were a hundred times more beautiful as decorative items for our homes than crystal or glassware.}

{New World: Later on, the price of glass marbles dropped steadily. Ordinary families could buy them easily, and every household bought quite a few. In particular, His Highness Zhu Duo even devised a very interesting little game called "Marbles!"}

{New World: Marbles, in essence, are games where each person has a marble, and the first person to flick their marble into a designated hole wins. Besides this, there are many other ways to play marbles, each one incredibly fun!}

{New World: Just two years ago, playing marbles was incredibly popular in our world. From royalty and nobles to ordinary people and children, almost everyone was playing marbles. Eventually, there were even special marbles tournaments…}

The people of the new world chattered away, talking endlessly about these new things.

The people of the original world simply listened quietly. Although they were all citizens of the Ming Dynasty with the same roots, they could only watch helplessly as others recounted their unattainable joys.

Moreover, the happiness they experienced was something they couldn't even imagine.

Even if they couldn't understand the rules of the game they were talking about, the people of the original world could still truly feel the overflowing happiness emanating from the people of the other world.

That was a genuine happiness that flowed from the bottom of my heart.

{Original World: I'm so envious of you guys...}

{Original World: I really wish I could see for myself what your world is like.}

{Original World: Even if I could spend just one day in your world, I would have no regrets even if I died immediately.}

As the conversation continued, the atmosphere gradually turned somber, filled with sadness.

People in the new world can only offer quiet words of comfort through a screen, unable to do anything practical.

They are exactly the same people, yet they live in two completely different worlds and lead vastly different lives.

If I had never seen the light, I could have comfortably endured the darkness.

This is probably the most authentic reflection of the people's inner thoughts at this moment in the original world.

Before today, they could have lived their lives quietly, day after day, with their heads bowed.

But now, after hearing so many real and new things that have nothing to do with them, they suddenly feel that their current lives are so bleak and lifeless.

That life in another world filled them with endless longing from the bottom of their hearts.

{Original World: I really want to visit your world.}

{New World: Alright, alright, you can all live perfectly well in your own worlds.}

Despite the gentle words of comfort from the people of the new world, they knew in their hearts that if the two of them were to switch places, they would probably find it even harder to endure such a life.

What kind of day is it exactly?

That was the life in a world that Zhu Duo had never changed.

The people of the new world calmed down and thought carefully. If Zhu Duo had never appeared in their world, would there be no difference between them and the people of the other world?

In other words, it's about experiencing the lives of people in another world.

They could never endure such a life.

As the old saying goes, if I had never seen the light, I could have safely endured the darkness.

That world, which was never changed by Zhu Duo, must have been an incredibly dull and uninteresting world.

{New World: Anyway, what exactly is this video trying to achieve?}

{Original World: Could it be that we're supposed to experience firsthand what a world without Zhu Duo is like?}

This speculation immediately startled the people of the new world.

But if you calm down and think about it carefully, it seems that this is just how things are.

It seems that all the differences between their two worlds were completely created because of Zhu Duo.

{Original World: Then why didn't Zhu Duo appear in our world?!}

{Original World: Perhaps the people of our two worlds were originally the same person, but were forcibly separated in two by the gods, just so we would understand just how important Zhu Duo is to us!}

{Original World: We already know very clearly how important Zhu Duo is. Gods, we beg you, please let Zhu Duo descend upon our world as well.}

The people of the original world kept praying amidst the barrage of comments.

It was as if they wanted to move the gods in this way, so that they could also personally experience what the world was like with Zhu Duo around.

But such prayers were destined to go unanswered from the very beginning.

And it was precisely because of this that the people of the original world gradually turned their heartfelt prayers into deep resentment.

They resented the injustice of fate and the inability to let them experience that world full of miracles.

Summer ice-making techniques, sweet ice cream, miracles during the floods in Xuzhou, efficient textile machines, clean soap, crystal-clear glass, and sharp silver mirrors...

The differences in each and every incident intensified their jealousy and resentment.

{Original World: Why isn't Zhu Duo in our world?!}

{Original World: Why isn't Zhu Duo in our world?!}

{Original World: Why isn't Zhu Duo in our world?!}

Soap-making techniques, wool spinning technology, and glassmaking techniques emerged one after another.

When the cold winter of that year arrived, it was several times colder than in previous years, and wool textiles suddenly became popular throughout the entire Ming Dynasty.

Among soap products, exquisite soaps became the favorites of wealthy and powerful families, while affordable sulfur soaps sold out and were sold out among ordinary people.

Glassware became a necessity for every household, and silver mirrors became a staple in every home. Whether it was the groom's wedding or the bride's dowry, providing a full-length mirror as a dowry was considered a great honor.

That year became the year that marked the complete take-off and widespread fame of the Peace Trading Company.

That year, throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, everyone knew the name of the Heping Trading Company. In addition, the Heping Trading Company had a gold-lettered plaque bestowed by the emperor, and it made great contributions to the flood control efforts in Xuzhou.

That year, the Heping Trading Company was at the height of its fame in the Ming Dynasty. Even the news of the successful recovery of the lost southern territories that year did not attract much attention, because everyone on the streets was talking about the various novel items launched by the Heping Trading Company.

Even the momentous news of the recovery of lost southern territories seemed to have lost its luster.

Not only were there technologies developed by Zhu Duo himself, but everyone in the research institute also opened their minds and unleashed their creativity, producing hundreds of novel and interesting items, each with considerable sales.

The lives of ordinary people were like a sudden snowfall that blanketed the world overnight, transforming it into a completely new, silver-clad landscape.

It has completely changed its appearance.

That same year, Zhu Yuanzhang, who was in the imperial palace, witnessed firsthand the astonishing power of the Peace Trading Company and personally came into contact with its endless stream of novel items.

However, when he sent people to secretly investigate the person in charge behind the Peace Trading Company, the only person they found was Shen Bi—a descendant of a merchant family that had been in business for generations.

-

Inside the palace of the new world.

Looking at everything before him, Zhu Yuanzhang was filled with mixed emotions and deep feelings.

"I still remember that year when I sent people to bring Shen Bi to the palace and questioned him face to face about how he created these novel things."

But Shen Bi replied that he had been traveling abroad for many years, witnessing a world completely different from the Central Plains, and that all his inspiration came from overseas countries.

Having said that, Zhu Yuanzhang looked intently at Zhu Duo beside him, "Only today do I realize that all of this was orchestrated by you behind the scenes. Duo'er, tell me now, how exactly did you create all these things?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's gaze was calm and unwavering, yet it carried an awe-inspiring majesty that tolerated no lie.

He had already been fooled by Zhu Duo once, and he didn't want to be deceived a second time.

Zhu Duo spoke calmly and slowly, "Actually, Shen Bi did not completely deceive you."

He had indeed traveled overseas and witnessed firsthand the wonders and strange occurrences of various countries, but he lacked any real talent for invention and innovation. His greatest strengths lay entirely in business and managing industries.

"Although I have never been overseas in person, I have indeed come into contact with many Western merchants. Many of my technologies and innovations are inspired by those countries overseas."

"It is thanks to Your Majesty's boundless grace that the Ming Dynasty is able to exchange goods and engage in trade with overseas countries."

The Laibin Street Market outside Zhonghua Gate, the Jiangdong Market outside Jiangdong Gate, and the Longjiang Market in Xiaguan all had large-scale trade markets and were also distribution centers for bulk commodities.

These large trading markets not only brought together all kinds of goods from all over the country, but also often attracted many overseas merchants.

I often strolled along the docks of Haiphong, where I met many foreign merchants and witnessed the wonders and techniques of their countries. After summarizing and carefully studying these observations and knowledge, I gradually created these things.

Putting everything else aside, the soap-making process itself is a basic technique I bought from a blond, blue-eyed Western merchant, which I then improved and optimized.

No one in this world is born omniscient, or rather, if someone were born with innate knowledge, they would most likely be regarded as an anomaly or monster by the world.

Such outcasts, whether revered as saints or condemned as demons reincarnated, actually carry immense risks.

If people discovered that he was such an anomaly, Zhu Yuanzhang might have ordered him to be beheaded on the spot.

This is also the fundamental reason why Zhu Duo has always been cautious and has never dared to reveal his true background.

After all, Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang rose from humble beginnings to the top, and he was both extremely vigilant and possessed extraordinary courage.

Zhu Duo didn't want to capsize in a ditch because of a moment of carelessness.

Zhu Yuanzhang lowered his eyes, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Techniques from other countries that I heard about from overseas merchants? Is that really true?"

"That's not entirely true."

Zhu Duo shook his head slightly, then said, "The techniques brought by overseas merchants are merely the superficial incentive; the deeper reason lies in learning and reflection."

As the sage said: "Learning without thinking is futile; thinking without learning is dangerous."

To neither learn nor think is both futile and dangerous, and thus foolish; to both learn and think is neither futile nor dangerous, and thus wise.

Zhu Duo continued, "If we want a dynasty to truly move forward, my efforts alone are far from enough."

Three cobblers with their wits combined can equal Zhuge Liang's wisdom; many hands make light work.

One person's courage alone is ultimately just reckless bravery.

If there were ten thousand people, even if they possessed only one percent of my intelligence, it would be equivalent to a hundred of me. How could my Great Ming Dynasty not prosper and become powerful?

"This is the fundamental reason why I want to establish the Peace Technology Research and Development Academy."

After Zhu Duo finished speaking, Zhu Yuanzhang was stunned and speechless for a long time.

Zhu Duo alone brought about earth-shattering changes to the entire Ming Dynasty. If there were a hundred Zhu Duos, the Ming Dynasty would have become unimaginably prosperous.

Moreover, Zhu Duo also said that many of his inspirations and some of his core technologies came from various countries overseas.

Zhu Yuanzhang was well aware that there were many other countries overseas, such as the Japanese pirates who had been harassing the coast for many years and causing the Ming Dynasty a great deal of trouble. This was one of the reasons why the Ming Dynasty imposed a maritime ban on civilian ships.

If the Ming Dynasty were strong enough, wouldn't it be able to take another step forward, deepen its exchanges with foreign countries, and even one day expand the territory of the Ming Dynasty to various countries overseas!