Ming Dynasty, New Rome, and Infinite Divine Machine

【Ah, what's that smell?】

"This is delicious! It's incredibly firm and doesn't stick to your teeth. The more you chew it, the more fragrant it becomes, with the aroma of grains and the subtle fragrance of bamboo. It has a slight sourness like whole wheat bread, but the sweetness that follows creates a richer flavor. One bite gives you four or five layers of flavor. Such a deep, complex flavor, so elegant! This would be perfect as an offering to an immortal."

[Hey, what are you doing? Aren't you just trying it? ]

"There's a big bowl here, and Fufu can't finish it all. Fufu, can I have a piece?"

Fu Fu’s big mouth only takes small bites at a time, and now he hasn’t even finished the first piece.

"Since Fu Fu has agreed, I won't be polite. Just eat one piece."

"Hey, hey!" Zhu Ling returned from the playground carrying a large bundle of bamboo—Fufu's leftovers. Along with it came a dustpan of emerald green panda poop. Although fermentation still produces an odor, Zhu Ling cleaned up the floor promptly, and the fresh feces still had a fragrant aroma, like tea.

"Shangluo, do you want to see the panda's poop?"

She was stunned. She saw Shangluo licking his index finger with unsatisfied interest, the reddish-brown residue of the steamed bread still lingering at the corner of his mouth. He ate with his left hand while handing the steamed bread to Fufu with the other, both of them looking very happy.

"Ahh. Shangluo, why did you steal the panda food?"

"Eh?" Shangluo reacted and seemed to have eaten a whole steamed bun the size of a fist without realizing it. Fufu had just eaten the second one.

"Ah! Sorry, sorry, this is so delicious!"

"Is it really that delicious?" She looked at Shangluo in confusion.

"Have you ever eaten it yourself?"

"I've eaten it before. Isn't today's different? Let me try it too." She put down the bamboo and dustpan, took off her gloves, and went to the next room to wash her hands.

Shangluo broke off a small piece of steamed bread and handed it to Zhu Ling.

"Hmm." Zhu Ling ate the small piece and swallowed the steamed bread with the teacup beside her.

"How is it? Isn't it delicious?"

"It tastes good. Pandas are very picky about taste. But this has no flavor at all." Zhu Ling still looked at him in confusion. "It's just the steamed bread I made. Pandas can't eat anything too strong. I added a pinch of sugar to stimulate the appetite and a pinch of salt to provide salt. The other grains have no flavor at all. Does it suit your taste? Do you and pandas have the same taste?"

She glanced at Fufu, whose expression was the same as before, as he ate his steamed bread with his head tilted back in happiness. He didn't even let go of the crumbs that fell from his hands, and he licked his hands after every few bites, just like Shangluo.

"Ah, I see." Zhu Ling clapped his hands. "I guess it's because of this. Chapter 6 of the Tao Te Ching says: 'The Valley Spirit is immortal, it is called the Mysterious Female.' The gate of the Mysterious Female is the root of heaven and earth. It exists endlessly, and its use is never exhausted.' There are five grains here: rice, millet, sorghum, wheat, and beans. Rice is rice flour; corn, also called maize, is a type of millet. Millet is yellow rice flour, wheat is flour and oats, and beans are bean flour. All five grains are present here, and they contain the essence of heaven and earth. Immortals feed on qi. For you, it should be something like a tribute. Are you full? Do you want to eat more?"

"Hmm."

"It just so happens that Fu Fu also needs to eat more. Wait, I'll go steam another pot."

Chapter 346 Big Plan

"Ah, thank you for the treat." Shangluo hadn't enjoyed a meal so much in a long time. He felt as happy as Tianyi Guiren eating latte art curry.

Fufu is also very full. He's been eating a lot of bamboo lately, and his bowel movements are good, so he can eat more of the steamed bread as a supplement. He doesn't mind Shangluo eating with him at all, and he doesn't guard his food at all, feeling quite secure.

"What kind of treat is this? I just fed you panda food. Each steamed bun costs just over a penny. Are celestial beings so easy to raise? I want to raise one too."

"Well." Shangluo wiped his hands with a tissue, "I have a request. Can you teach me this magical recipe? I want to eat it when I get home."

"The recipe is on the zoo's flyer. It's the recipe for regular panda food. Do you want it? Wait, there's a copy posted in the pantry. I'll put it in an envelope for you later. Damn it, you actually like to eat this kind of stuff. It makes me want to eat it too."

"After I eat, should I do some work? I can't eat for free."

"Well, I called you here to help me move this. Please move these bamboos to the elephant park next door."

"Why move there?"

"It's like this. Pandas are picky eaters, but elephants are not. The bamboo left over by the pandas here is all fresh, crisp and tender. It would be a shame to throw it all away. So we take it to the elephants next door to feed them, so there's no waste at all."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

After having a full meal, Shangluo felt full of energy and went to the next door with the whole bundle of bamboo in one breath.

"Hey, Shangluo." Zhu Xianxun greeted him from behind the desk after returning to the office. "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long. You seem very happy. Did anything good happen?"

“I ate some delicious food, so I’m very happy.”

"Huh? Did Zhu Ling make this for you? How come she never makes anything for me? Forget about that. That meeting just now was related to you, so I asked you to wait here for a while and I'll tell you after the meeting. Shangluo, do you remember asking you to read a lot of imperial edicts before? And then asking you to tick a box?"

"Well, is there any result now?"

"That's right. This time, while all the governors of the various provinces gathered in the capital, we held a meeting and carefully studied the project plan you proposed. In the end, we finalized an unprecedented and magnificent project! If it weren't for the inspiration from you, Shangluo, a distant relative, we wouldn't have known we could achieve such greatness, even to the point of shaking the heavens and the earth!"

"Oh~~ That's it, we're all pretty awesome! So where do we even begin to make the final decision?"

"We've decided!" he raised his right hand. "We're going to make the Yellow River water clean!"

"." He was stunned for a moment, "and then?"

"What else is there? We have to make the Yellow River water clear."

"But why?"

"Because you've also made the Yellow River clear, we firmly believe we can do it. Because 'When the Yellow River is clear, a sage will emerge!' In this golden age of prosperity, we should make the Yellow River clear, and then we will all be sages."

"No, no, no, Senior Brother. My family's goal is to control soil erosion in the Yellow River and fundamentally solve the Yellow River flooding and desertification on the Loess Plateau. That's why we're controlling the silt in the Yellow River. As for the Yellow River becoming clearer, that's a side effect. We've been aiming for 'a sage will emerge to clear the Yellow River' from the beginning. What's wrong with that motivation?"

"Oh, oh, oh." Zhu Xianxun waved his hands. "Although the motivation is not right, we just need to get the job done. Making the Yellow River water clear will be of great benefit to the entire lower reaches of the Yellow River. Our place is different from yours. The Yellow River here is still diverting water from the Huai River to the sea. The Yellow River and the Huai River are connected to the sea through the same waterway. It costs a huge amount of money every year to control the Yellow River and the Huai River, because the Yellow River is raising the Huai River channel every year. This is very dangerous." He said solemnly:

"If we don't find a way to reduce the amount of sediment in the Yellow River now, it's estimated that within 30 to 40 years, the Yellow River will fill up the Huai River and burst its banks. So, no matter how we look at it, we have to reduce the amount of sediment in the Yellow River. The Ministry of Works will consider whether to redirect the Yellow River or continue to divert it to the Huai River and flow into the sea. But first, we must make the Yellow River clean."

"Well, that's not difficult." It wasn't difficult, because it had actually been done. "But I would like to remind you that the results may not be what you imagine. We did make the Yellow River clearer, but that was seasonal, not green year-round. We also have projects like the Xiaolangdi Dam, but those were based on a plan to direct the Yellow River northward. The Yellow River still flows through the Huai River into the sea, so the specific plan still needs to be discussed."

"So, this is the time for you to take action!"

"Me?" Shangluo asked in confusion, "What can I do?"

"Didn't all the Tianyi nobles jump ship and join you last time? The court has decided to allocate 100,000 celestial soldiers and generals to you to plant trees on the Loess Plateau! You must complete the greening within three years and make the Yellow River clear within five years."

"So you held a meeting to assign me tasks?"

"Hmm," Zhu Xianxun stroked his chin. "It's not really an assignment, it's a request. The court truly needs your help. Are you free now?"

“I don’t even know if I have the time, because I don’t know how to send them out to plant trees.”

"Well, then you can think about it. It doesn't matter if you can't figure it out, because this is not an assignment, it's just a request. But if you want to come up with a plan, feel free to ask. Since the court has commissioned you to do this, there is no need to use the Ministry of Thunder's funds. All expenses will be covered by the court, and you just need to organize the project."

"That's right, it's okay, not a big problem." If that's the case, it's equivalent to the court ringing a token, laying out tributes, and asking the Heavenly Court to assist in the big plan, and maybe even make a profit.

"Okay, okay, I'll leave it to you. But do you need any help in figuring out this plan?"

"I do need some, and as I said before: Is there a Vulcan Core here? If so, I'd like to see if I can get the celestial soldiers aboard. Once I figure it out, maybe I can use this method to send the celestial soldiers to plant trees. Like, maybe flying a hundred thousand small planes to spread seeds or something."

"Wait." He opened the drawer and took out the key. "Come with me to the warehouse. I searched for it for a long time yesterday and couldn't find it. Since it's so important, why don't you come and help me look for it? The warehouse is right behind."

Chapter 347 Clockwork

The warehouse was at the back gate of the Western Garden, behind the Changchun Palace. Inside, boxes were stacked on shelves, each sealed. One of the boxes had been opened and placed next to the door, and inside was the writing clock.

The silver writing figure clock exudes Roman and classical simplicity and harmony. It's a brass-cased clock, devoid of unnecessary ornamentation. But the ingenuity lies elsewhere—the clock's exceptional size, the movement within, remarkably substantial. The writing figure itself lacks any garish ornamentation, its every joint meticulously reproduced.

"This clock was given to me by someone in Rome when I was a child. Although it looks ordinary, it can be used to write as long as it is wound up."

"It seems like many clocks can be written on? I remember I repaired one myself in Yangzhou. Is there anything special about this one?"

"This one can write twenty-five characters."

"Huh?" He remembered the one he had repaired. It was very expensive just to be able to write four words.

"Yes, twenty-five. It's that classic calligraphy copybook: 'Shang Daren, Qiu Yiji, Hua Sanqian, Qishishi, Er Xiaosheng, Bajiuzi, Jiazu Ren, can know etiquette.' All twenty-five characters are written on a square-inch piece of paper, each one clearly and distinctly. The brushwork is precise and balanced, precise and fair. By observing the movement of the brushstrokes, you can learn how to write these characters. So it's a movable copybook, used for teaching. I was still young at the time, and this gift encouraged me to study hard."

"Good boy, why has it been left here all this time?"

"Well, my mom said the little man on it was a little creepy. I thought it was strange too. It didn't even have facial features, but it did have a spooky feel. But the writing was also really impressive. I played with it once and then put it away in storage. I did keep the key with me, but I never found it."

"Can I have one?"

"Just take it and figure it out yourself."

He reached out and took the bell out, putting it in the handbag in the corner. The state gift from Rome was packed up like a snack box.

"Hey, can I just take it?" Upon hearing that this thing could write 25 characters, Shangluo's long-standing training was mobilized. He didn't dare hold the thing with his bare hands. Who knew if a part would break off from it? It would be easy to repair if he knew where to find it, but most of the time, there was no way to know. He could only take it apart and carefully inspect it, which was a nightmare experience.

"It's okay. Even though it's a state gift, it's just sitting here hanging there anyway. It's better to send it somewhere useful. And Victoria knows you well, right? She won't mind."

“I don’t seem to know her very well.”

"Ah, first time is strange, second time is familiar, you'll get to know each other better if you see each other more often. Come on." He pushed Shangluo's shoulder and coaxed him out. "If there's really no other way, just go find Victoria."

Shangluo stood nervously on the subway, clutching the national gift in his handbag. He held the clock in his arms, his legs planted in a horse-stance position as he leaned against the corner of the train, fearing it might be broken by the people around him.

Holding the clock, he went all the way to the McDonald's restaurant in front of the training center, where Phaethon worked on Sunday afternoons.

"What?" she asked while wiping the table with a rag.

"Look at this." He opened the bag and revealed a corner.

"What the hell!" Phaethon cried out. "Omega Core! How did you even have it in your hand? Didn't Apollonia tell you what it was?"

What is this? I didn't make it. I haven't used it.

Shangluo relayed Apollonia's answer.

"Okay. Then I'll tell you. Manager, wait a moment! Someone I know wants to order food. I'll get back to work right away!" She ran back to the inner room, put the rag back, washed her hands, and sat down in front of Shangluo. "Put it on the table. Let me take a look."

Shangluo held it and slowly placed it on the table.

Phaethon did not check anything else, but first checked the little man above.

"That's right, it is. This is a... a very terrifying and powerful creation. Because this Vulcan Core is a special type, an 'Omega Core,' or the Ultimate Core. The letter Omega stands for the end. Because it is made of adamantine. In other words, divine chrome."

"How did you tell?"

"Because this clockwork figurine doesn't have eyes. This is very important, as it represents a limitation on the machine itself, preventing it from displaying its full human capabilities. Because the adamantine movement can ignore most physical laws such as temperature, once it is fully operational, nothing can stop it. Is this the gift Rome gave to the Emperor of Cathay? This is indeed a very precious gift. Rome now only uses such a small machine on its capital ships. They were essentially giving a capital ship to the then-child emperor. What do you think? Do you want to try it? Bring me the key and let me see it. I want to try it myself too."

"Ah, the key is gone. I'll go back and make a new one."

"Huh???" Phaethon was completely stunned. "The key is gone? How come it's gone???"

"Because Tianzi was still young at the time, he thought the key was more interesting than this clock, so he always carried the key with him. He told me before that he planned to look for it, but it seems he didn't find it."

"It's over, this thing is useless."

"Is the key necessary?"

"Yes," Phaethon nodded. "Not just Omega-class movements. All Vulcan Cores are equipped with a key for winding when in use. Vulcan Cores can indeed operate on their own, but the springs they use are self-locking mechanisms specified by the Palace of Muses. All Vulcan Cores, even those with unlimited power, must be wound, without exception. Moreover, each spring is paired with a key, and only the core's owner can possess it. The owner can decide for themselves how long to run at a time - they wind the spring for as long as they want. Not too much, not too little, just the right amount."

"Is this to prevent rebellion?"

"Yes. The Palace of Muses is far more cautious than Columbia. Although it's troublesome, with a maximum winding time of twenty-four hours, and the larger the machine, the more troublesome it is. But this is a self-locking design based on technological ethics: no Vulcan core can operate independently of its owner and must be wound. No matter how powerful it is, if it's not wound up for a day, it will completely lose its ability to operate. This is a fundamental design that cannot be changed. The winding keys are paired one by one, and if you lose them, they are gone."

"Ah, what should I do?"

"Go to the Muses Palace in Alexandria. Only the Muses Palace, which established this rule, offers locksmith services, as they contain a master key that can be used to wind up all Vulcan cores and create new keys. Locksmith services are expensive, though. Just check your wallet. It's a whopping 2000 drachmas."

I'll take a short break on Friday and update three times tomorrow.

Chapter 348 Roman Knowledge

"Why do I feel like you guys always like to come up with weird things? And each one is scarier than the last."

"This isn't something we 'like' to do. Rome was founded on 'knowledge'. Rome divided itself into six parts to explore six areas of knowledge, but these are the fruits of knowledge—of course, knowledge also has its price. Rome only has ten million people. We can't build a kingdom within the Great Wall like Aurora did. We can only find ways to control as much 'knowledge' as possible with as little manpower as possible. This problem has only recently become apparent. Look at that alarm clock."

She pointed to the state gift:

"It actually possesses terrifying power, but it's been stored in a warehouse for over a decade without any issues, and it doesn't need any maintenance. This is because the ethical locks compiled by the Palace of Muses are very strict. These Vulcan engines are limited by their own performance and will self-limit due to overcooling once in motion. Even when running at low power, they will automatically stop if no one is winding them up. They generally won't cause any problems."

"What about those Dragon Tooth Soldiers from before?"

"The Dragon Fang Soldiers, they didn't run around before—until Thebes showed up. You can see we weren't very careful with them before. We even picked up some dragon teeth when we went to Lake Nemi, so it wouldn't have mattered if we just threw them away. But ever since Thebes showed up, the Dragon Fang Soldiers will try to find their way to Thebes if they can break free of our control."

"When did Thebes appear?"

"I don't know either. Because we don't know where Thebes is, there's no reliable information, so we don't know the exact time. We can only pinpoint a time period - probably no more than 50 years."

I also wanted to know where Thebes was, which is why I made a deal with those Dragon Fang soldiers. But they disappeared without a trace after that. Ammon Zeus is truly elusive.

"Speaking of which, why is your population so small? To the point where you have to rely on mitosis to increase it?"

"What does mitosis mean?"