Deyang Palace.

"Zhicai, before entering the palace, did you see anything?"

"Your Majesty, nearly three thousand students from the Imperial Academy are gathered outside the Southern Palace, hoping that the Empress Dowager will rescind the imperial edict and return power to Your Majesty..."

Many students also rushed over after hearing the news.

Xi Zhicai then recounted the actions of the group of imperial students to Liu Hong.

"Ha! How righteous they are! They're forcing me to break with the Empress Dowager..."

Liu Hong chuckled lightly, his words carrying a chilling undertone.

Xi Zhicai frowned: "Yes, Your Majesty, if they succeed, all the pressure will fall on Your Majesty alone..."

Liu Hong waved his hand with a smile: "Heh~, Zhicai is overthinking it. They want to succeed? It won't be that easy."

"But Your Majesty... forcibly dispersing them would be very disadvantageous for you, since they are acting in the name of supporting you..."

Xi Zhicai looked at Liu Hong with a worried expression.

"How could I possibly drive away the students who support me? But others might be a different story..."

"Others...? Your Majesty, are you perhaps planning to...?"

Xi Zhicai was slightly taken aback, and couldn't help but think of the fight between the students and the Imperial Guards today. He looked at Liu Hong with some surprise.

Liu Hong nodded: "That's right... You know, while public opinion is important, sometimes only when your fist is strong enough will people listen to you..."

So it's time to let these scholars see the might of the working class and peasants...!

"Your Majesty is right..."

Xi Zhicai, who came from a humble background, nodded in agreement with the emperor's words.

"So... how are those workers and soldiers doing now?"

"Your Majesty, after learning of the scholars' calls to abolish schools, although they were very angry, most of them chose to remain silent...!"

Xi Zhicai also spoke in a heavy tone as he told Liu Hong about the situation of the workers and soldiers.

The long-standing fixed mindset of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants had dulled the minds of the soldiers and workers, making them accustomed to the aloofness of the scholars.

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong frowned: "Hmm, this is not good. They have all tolerated it, so how can I stand up for them?"

Remember, benefits aren't bestowed by others; they are earned through your own efforts!

"Your Majesty is right, benefits are earned through one's own efforts..."

Liu Hong's words were like a clearing of clouds, instantly enlightening Xi Zhicai.

"Alright, Zhicai, hurry up and get ready! Tell those soldiers and workers that they are all my subjects, and I will not show favoritism to any of them..."

After saying that, Liu Hong stepped forward, patted Xi Zhicai on the shoulder, and looked at him with a reassuring expression.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will take care of it immediately!"

Xi Zhicai respectfully agreed, then took his leave.

The Royal Ironworks.

Inside a forging workshop, hundreds of workers toiled away, the sounds of hammering filling the air.

Holding iron tongs, Wang Xiao took a red-hot iron ingot the size of a human head from the furnace beside him, walked to a workbench, and placed the ingot on it.

Above the control panel, directly opposite, is a large hammer from a water forging machine. This hammer is made of pure iron and is the size of a grinding disc.

This water forging machine was meticulously developed by Mo Shang and others from the research and manufacturing department. It utilizes the power of the water flow at the back of the workshop to rotate gears and then hammer the iron ingots.

Wang Xiao stepped forward and stepped on a pedal in front of the platform. The hammer of the forging machine fell down and slammed heavily onto the iron ingot. The red-hot iron ingot was immediately deformed, and many impurities fell off.

"Thump~ thump~ thump~ thump"

With each sledgehammer strike, Wang Xiao deftly flipped the iron ingot with his hands and feet.

Before long, as the iron ingot gradually turned black and the impurities decreased, a smile appeared on Wang Xiao's face.

This iron ingot is the fiftieth he has forged today, exceeding his forging target. As is customary, he will receive two hundred coins as payment today.

Then Wang Xiao placed the forged iron ingot into the furnace of the next workbench, preparing to forge another one while he was at work.

The work in the ironworks is the most tiring, but the wages are also the highest, so the workers are very motivated.

"Clang clang clang~!"

Just then, a clear gong sounded in the workshop.

Upon hearing the gong, Wang Xiao quickly put away the pliers and began tidying up his workbench.

After cleaning the workbench, Wang Xiao quickly ran out of the workshop.

After Wang Xiao ran out of the workshop, he glanced at the sun and then walked up to Li Si, who was holding a gong, with an unhappy expression.

"Hey Lao Li, it's not time to finish work yet, why are you banging the gong?"

"It was the person in charge who told me to knock, saying he had something to tell everyone!"

"Oh? What is it? Didn't I already read today's newspaper?"

Li Si shook his head: "I don't know either, we'll find out when we get there!"

"Oh well!"

Wang Xiao nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

Soon, all the workers in the workshop came out and followed Li Si toward the open space in front of the warehouse.

In the center of the open space, a handsome young man dressed in a blue robe stood on a makeshift platform.

"Hey? Isn't that Mr. Zhou?"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!