Deyang Palace.

Looking at the memorial submitted by the Crown Prince from the cabinet, Liu Hong nodded in satisfaction.

His original idea was to send Liu Cheng to Yizhou for training. If he could take over Parthia with his abilities, that would be best. Even if he couldn't, he could still experience the hardships of starting a business.

Therefore, Liu Cheng's initiative to suggest not sending a single soldier to Yizhou was exactly what Liu Hong wanted.

Of course, most importantly, this was Liu Cheng's own request, so he didn't need to waste his breath explaining to his two mothers and the Empress.

Subsequently, Liu Hong wrote the words "Approved" at the end of the memorial and then had it sent away.

Soon after receiving approval, Liu Cheng, along with a group of followers, busied himself with the wedding while also making various preparations for his trip to Illinois.

For a time, officials such as Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and Zhang Zhao, who had served in Yizhou, became frequent visitors to Zhou Yu, Lu Su, and others.

At first, Tian Feng didn't treat them well, but after seeing how energetic and ambitious these kids were, he was deeply inspired and began to wholeheartedly guide them.

When the two empress dowagers of Changle Palace learned that Liu Hong was going to send their grandson to Yizhou, thousands of miles away, they were initially very reluctant. However, after Liu Cheng’s constant persuasion, they reluctantly agreed.

Young eagles need to be let out to fly!

In the days that followed, everything returned to normal, and everyone eagerly awaited the Crown Prince's wedding day.

It's August now.

Inside Deyang, Liu Hong put down the harvest reports from various regions sent by the Ministry of Revenue, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

This year is not only another bumper harvest year, but also the agricultural college's many scholars, after years of research, have finally put the study of hybrid rice on the agenda.

"Your Majesty, Mr. Yu Ji is requesting an audience outside the palace!"

Outside the Imperial Study, Zhang Rang, who was on duty, entered with small steps and reported to Liu Hong that nowadays, apart from the Cabinet and the military newspaper, only scholars from various academies and those alchemists who conduct special experiments can enter the palace to request an audience at any time.

"Let him in!"

Upon hearing that it was Yu Ji who was requesting an audience, Liu Hong immediately sat up straight.

To be honest, it's been a long time since anyone from the School of Engineering has reported to Liu Hong.

Of course, it's not that the engineering college didn't have any new inventions, it's just that some ordinary research and inventions weren't worth catching the emperor's attention.

Soon, Yu Ji and Liu Ye arrived together in front of Liu Hong's desk.

After exchanging greetings, Yu Ji happily took out a stack of papers from his pocket and held them in his hands.

"Your Majesty, this is the periodic table of elements and various formulas that we have compiled over several years under Your Majesty's guidance. Please take a look!"

As he spoke, Yu Ji's face was beaming with a happy smile.

Since being recruited, Yu Ji, because of his identity as a sorcerer, was first assigned to participate in virus research work and was never allowed to show his true face to anyone, which made him feel very frustrated.

Because his lifelong dream was to make his alchemy a prominent field of study in the empire.

Therefore, three years ago, after assisting Hua Tuo and others in completing the research on anti-inflammatory drugs, Yu Ji submitted a secret memorial, hoping to switch to the study of alchemy.

The alchemy of this period was equivalent to chemistry in later times; the development of science and technology naturally cannot be separated from the support of chemistry.

Therefore, Liu Hong agreed to Yu Ji's request and put him in charge of compiling various formulas and essentials of alchemy so that they could be passed down to future generations.

Upon hearing the emperor's request, Yu Ji, along with his disciples, began tirelessly experimenting and recording, meticulously documenting all the material reactions and various formulas.

Now, after three years of hard work, Yu Ji and others have compiled all the elements and formulas they knew in the past.

Looking at the stack of papers in Yu Ji's hand, Liu Hong's face also showed a happy smile.

Although Liu Hong found the elements represented by the various Taoist talismans that Yu Ji used somewhat unclear, he did not intend to modify them.

Since this was researched by their own people, Liu Hong naturally wouldn't use Western symbols from later generations to represent their research results.

After all, times have changed. What Liu Hong needs to do is make everyone follow the Han Dynasty, rather than using other people's things to show off.

Moreover, using Taoist talismans to represent various elements is undoubtedly more suitable for Chinese tradition.

"Very good, well done. I will immediately arrange for the Ministry of Works to type and print it. My dear minister, you should also find a few disciples to teach the students of the Engineering Academy first."

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing Liu Hong's words, Yu Ji bowed and expressed his gratitude with great excitement.

The fact that the alchemy was printed and lectures began meant that alchemy would become a prominent field of study, just like agriculture, engineering, and medicine, and that he himself would become a famous figure like Hua Tuo, Mo Shang, and Cao Song. Yu Ji was naturally extremely excited.

"By the way, my dear minister, you brought me more than just these this time, didn't you?"

Liu Hong smiled and put down the periodic table in his hand, looking at Yu Ji with a beaming smile. His intuition told him that Yu Ji definitely had something better to offer.

"Nothing can escape His Majesty's discerning eyes!"

Yu Ji smiled and then bowed to Zhang Rang, who was standing to the side.

Zhang Rang understood, and then shouted loudly towards the outside of the hall, "Bring the things up!"

Liu Hong looked up and saw four Imperial Guards carrying a large wooden tray in with great effort. On top of the tray was a wooden box resembling a bellows, with a hand crank at one end and two copper wires wrapped with cotton thread at the other end.

"This is……?"

Upon seeing this strange object, Liu Hong was slightly taken aback, and a sense of excitement unconsciously welled up within him.

Under Liu Hong's excited gaze, Yu Ji also said excitedly, "Your Majesty, this is a hand-cranked generator that we developed using magnets and copper wires, following your instructions!"

Of course, it can also be driven by wind or water power.

Upon hearing Yu Ji's words, Liu Hong was greatly encouraged, but his more than twenty years as emperor had also made him calm down.

After praising Yu Ji, Liu Hong then pulled him aside and began to discuss electric motors and the possibility of using electrical energy to make telegraph machines.

For Liu Hong, the telegraph was one of the inventions he most hoped to see and put into use in his lifetime.

For a vast empire, communication and transportation determine the stability of its rule, with communication being the most important.

Once telegrams become available, Liu Hong will be able to keep abreast of developments in various locations and make adjustments accordingly.

This is of paramount importance to the empire's future dominance.