Sky Curtain: My Great Qin must have an aircraft carrier!

"The public security situation wasn't good before; it's only in the last ten years or so that things have gradually improved."

After Lu Li sighed, he swiped his finger lightly, and a new title popped up.

As the ancients said, "The swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people."

Do you know of any things that were very precious in ancient times but are now very common?

Upon seeing this title, the people immediately provided the answer without Lu Li even needing to speak.

"Is that even a question? It's definitely meat! People in later generations eat meat at every meal; they eat more frequently than I do!"

"What's so precious about meat? I'd say it's spices! Look at how people in later generations use them in their cooking, like they're throwing them away for free."

"We'd be heartbroken for days if we bought just half an ounce of pepper, but people complain they've added too much and are even taking it out!"

"Spices are indeed precious, but I think they're more like firewood."

"That kid in the sky, it's freezing cold outside and snowing, but he's lying inside and he's so hot he keeps taking off his clothes."

"Hey, you're wrong about firewood. We have honeycomb briquettes now, just as good as in later generations!"

When this was mentioned, many people became very excited.

Since the sky came down, life has visibly improved.

Fine salt, which was once only available to royalty and nobility, can now be bought by ordinary families.

Not only is it inexpensive, but it also tastes incredibly delicious.

There are also honeycomb briquettes, although not every household has them yet, the government has begun to promote them.

Burning two pieces of firewood in winter can basically maintain the temperature for a whole day.

"Thanks to the sky, we've had such good days!"

The people sighed with genuine gratitude, their faces beaming with simple smiles.

However, only enlightened emperors were determined to promote these changes.

Notorious tyrants and incompetent rulers, such as Yang Guang, would show a look of disdain.

He saw what was on the sky as if he were seeing something dirty.

"A bunch of commoners, do they even deserve to use the same things as me?"

"By imperial decree, all items that have become commonplace among the people in later generations shall be confiscated and used by the government!"

Let's take an example, like spices.

In modern times, spices are commonplace.

Just take a stroll through any farmers' market, and you'll find everything from star anise and cinnamon to Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, and garlic.

Moreover, these things are very cheap; pepper powder only costs a few dollars on Pinduoduo.

But if you bring pepper back to ancient times, such as the Tang Dynasty, you can immediately become a millionaire.

When Yuan Zai, a prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, was raided, eight hundred shi (a unit of dry measure) of pepper were found in his residence.

Can you believe that pepper was the largest part of a prime minister's fortune?

Even during the later Age of Exploration, when Europeans searched the world for routes, the most profitable business was spices.

However, as the number of colonies increased and spice-producing regions in Europe were occupied, it lost its pedestal.

For modern people, pepper is a condiment, not a luxury.

"A few dollars' worth of pepper, and you can become a millionaire by bringing it back to the Tang Dynasty?"

"They really have been looked down upon by later generations!"

Li Shimin's tone carried a hint of teasing, as well as an undisguised sense of pride.

Two years ago, pepper was indeed ridiculously expensive.

Things are valued for their scarcity; pepper was transported from the Western Regions by merchants from thousands of miles away, so its price was naturally high.

But those are all outdated almanacs!

Ever since Tianmu told the story of the Age of Exploration, Li Shimin ordered coastal prefectures to build ships.

Seeing those blond-haired, blue-eyed barbarians robbing money all over the world with just a few dilapidated ships, how could the Khan of the Heavens sit still?

Although limited by current technology, the Tang Dynasty could not sail to India in a grand manner like Zheng He.

However, according to the map on the sky, they have already found their way to the vicinity of Malacca.

Pepper, cardamom, cloves, and other such ingredients are being continuously transported to Chang'an.

Although it's not quite commonplace, the amount of pepper used in palace cooking has been reduced to just a few "pieces".

Li Shimin rested his chin on his hand and turned to look at Fang Xuanling.

"Xuanling, people in later generations say that bringing a jar of pepper to the Tang Dynasty will make you a millionaire. What do you think?"

Fang Xuanling stroked his beard, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

"When people in later generations arrive at the West Market and see the mountains of spices, they will probably burst into tears on the spot."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

The entire court burst into laughter, filling the Zhenguan Hall with a joyful atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Zhu Yuanzhang, inside Yingtian Prefecture, revealed a knowing smile.

Although the maritime ban cannot be lifted for the time being, what does that have to do with the imperial court?

As early as six months ago, Zhu secretly issued a decree to Guangzhou, instructing the local Maritime Trade Office to relax the restrictions on tribute missions.

All foreign merchants who brought spices as "tribute" were given generous gifts in return.

You're saying this is just foreign trade?

Scholars...can matters of the imperial court be called trade?

Those were brought by the barbarians, and the Ming Dynasty, being a nation of etiquette, felt it inappropriate to refuse.

Zhu Yuanzhang stroked his chin, feeling a little regretful.

"It's a pity we don't have the recipes from later generations, otherwise we would definitely cook a couple of dishes and show them to you descendants!"

"Our ancestors were simply less knowledgeable, not stupid!"

Similar to spices, there is another thing called white fungus.

In ancient times, the price of white fungus was even higher than that of bird's nest, with each kilogram costing tens of taels of silver.

Because at that time, silver ear fungus was harvested entirely by hand, the yield was extremely low, and the harvesting risk was high.

In addition, according to the Compendium of Materia Medica, white fungus has the effects of moisturizing the lungs and relieving cough, nourishing yin and stomach, and is especially suitable for the elderly.

Therefore, its consumers were basically only high-ranking officials and nobles.

For example, the old witch Empress Dowager Cixi particularly loved drinking white fungus soup.

"presumptuous!!!"

Empress Dowager Cixi smashed the porcelain bowl in her hand on the ground, and then roared in uncontrollable rage.

Throughout the entire Qing Dynasty, from south to north, no one dared to call her an old witch!

Even for people of later generations, that won't work!!

Seeing that Empress Dowager Cixi was angry, Li Lianying quickly flattered her, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm down. You are of noble birth and must not be angered."

"What do those savages from later generations know? They're just jealous of your good fortune, Your Majesty."

Empress Dowager Cixi gave Li Lianying a cold glance, which immediately silenced him.

Her chest heaved violently, and after a long while, she finally managed to squeeze out through gritted teeth, "Bring me another bowl."

"Yes, sir!"

Li Lianying felt as if he had been granted a pardon and personally went to the small kitchen to bring him another bowl of white fungus soup.

Empress Dowager Cixi took the white fungus soup and stirred it slowly with a silver spoon, but her anger only grew stronger.

"Hmph, now that I've seen the celestial curtain, I can forget about any future nation being born."

"Even if we give the country to foreigners, we cannot let our servants benefit even a little!"

Despite saying that, Empress Dowager Cixi's annoyance did not diminish in the slightest.

Just then, hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall.

A eunuch stumbled in, his face drained of color.

"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Your Majesty!"

Li Lianying's expression changed, and he was about to step forward to reprimand her, but was stopped by a look from Empress Dowager Cixi.

The little eunuch fell to his knees with a thud, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"The Wuchang New Army mutinied last night!"

"Revolutionaries like Sun Yat-sen and Huang Xing, under the slogan of 'Expel the Manchus, restore China, kill the traitors, and reclaim our land,' have incited mutinous troops and have already occupied the entire city of Wuchang!"

"The rebels issued a nationwide telegram, and Changsha, Xi'an, Jiujiang, and other places responded to the call and formed new governments!"

Snapped.

The bowl shattered on the ground, and the silver ear fungus was scattered all over the floor.

Empress Dowager Cixi sat there, her mind blank.

The slogan "Execute the traitors and restore our land" pierced her heart like a dagger, making it hard for her to breathe.

Does it really need to be considered who the traitors to the country are?

The sky has already revealed everything: who paid hundreds of millions of taels of silver in compensation to the foreigners, and who signed countless unequal treaties?

Who said, "Use the resources of China to win the favor of foreign powers"?

After a long silence, Empress Dowager Cixi finally spoke with difficulty: "Summon Rongqing and Yikuang to see me."

The people below were terrified and scrambled to their feet, crawling and stumbling away.

The warm room fell silent again, with only the soft crackling of the charcoal fire remaining.

All the eunuchs and palace maids present exchanged terrified glances.

The world is about to change.