In ancient times, the Northeast region was rich in resources. In addition, the area of ​​Liaoze had become smaller and smaller after the Song Dynasty, revealing the vast fertile Northeast Plain.

Zhao Jun planned to first populate the Northeast and develop the steel, agriculture, mining and animal husbandry industries. When the steam age became popular and the second industrial revolution occurred in the future, he would vigorously develop heavy industries such as automobile and train manufacturing in Hebei and the Northeast, two regions rich in coal and iron resources.

"Well, although it's an old way of later nations, it's an old way that has stood the test of time. We must trust the wisdom of future generations. The great empires created in the new era must have been foresighted and farsighted."

Zhao Zhen heard Zhao Jun's plan and nodded. "We won't go wrong following that great man. Our only difficulty right now is that our technological development is still too slow. Western countries have already built massive industrial systems. We can learn from their experience by following their lead, but we're currently building something from scratch."

"This process is certainly not easy, but it is one we must go through. The steam age is now fully operational. Within the next ten years, the Song Dynasty will be filled with steam equipment. And how far away will the electrification era of the Second Industrial Revolution be?"

Zhao Jun smiled and said, "Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction in 1831 and subsequently developed a method for generating alternating current. In 1875, the world's first thermal power plant was built at the Gare du Nord railway station in Paris, providing power for nearby lighting. From discovery to application, it took only 40 years, and we have now completed Faraday's journey."

The Song Dynasty had already invented electricity, and Faraday's electromagnetic induction experiment was now being transformed into Zhao Zhen's electromagnetic induction experiment. In other words, the Song Dynasty could generate electricity and even use electromagnetic induction combined with glass manufacturing technology to make tungsten filament light bulbs.

The only thing missing is power storage technology, which the Academy of Sciences is currently researching. With luck, if a battery pack can be developed, the Song Dynasty will soon be able to build a power plant to supply electricity.

But if we are unlucky and technological breakthroughs are slow to come, the era of electrification may still be a long way off.

But Zhao Jun was not too worried.

Because although he didn't know much about battery technology, he knew that batteries have positive and negative poles. When he was a child, he used Nanfu batteries to play racing cars, and the words "carbon-zinc battery" were written on the packaging bag.

This means that the components of the battery must include carbon and zinc. We just need to follow this idea and find other component materials. Perhaps it won’t be long before a battery that can store electricity can be developed.

"The Academy's next research direction will focus on breakthroughs in battery storage technology and telegraph technology capable of long-distance communication. Telegraph technology, in particular, is actually quite easy. Electricity plus conductive wires can be used for wired communications."

Zhao Jun said, "As for radio technology, I don't understand it, and it definitely has its difficulties. It might not be easy to overtake others, so I'd better focus on technologies that can be achieved and achieve breakthroughs."

"Well, I've made note of this. I'll start exploring telegraph technology in the laboratory when the time comes."

Zhao Zhen nodded. He was now a physicist, chemist and biologist in the Song Dynasty.

Except for the slightly lower level of mathematics, which is only at the junior high school to high school level, the rest of the chemistry and physics levels are basically above the high school level.

Recently he has even begun studying microscopes and astronomical telescopes, trying to make breakthroughs in biology and astronomy.

It can be said that Zhao Jun was responsible for governing the country, and he was responsible for academic research, and they complemented each other.

"That's what I want to talk about today. This may be a long-term plan, but it won't take long to realize. So I think the Constitutional Council should make plans early and start operating Liaodong as soon as possible after the Liao Kingdom is destroyed."

Zhao Jun made a summary at the end.

The country must develop itself, but at the same time, it must also deal with the aftermath of defeating the enemy country.

The grasslands can be temporarily ruled by tributary rule, but the Northeast must be incorporated into the territory.

On the one hand, development is a prerequisite, and on the other hand, it can also curb the rise of the Jurchens.

This is a long-term plan for the country and we cannot be careless about it.

(End of this chapter)