The workshop roared

At the entrance of the government office.

The normally solemn grievance drum was now being beaten like a war drum on a battlefield, shaking the heavens and the earth!

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

The heavy, muffled thuds seemed to strike directly at one's heart, causing dust to fall from the gate tower.

The petitions, like paper money after a blizzard, piled up densely, layer upon layer, instantly covering the steps at the entrance of the government office and the desk in the signing room, almost burying the table that symbolized the rule of law. Heartbreaking wails rose and fell, converging into a sound wave that tore through the sky, soaring straight to the heavens and turning the sky above the government office into a gloomy and desolate cloud.

A massive crowd gathered in front of the government office.

Angry faces, desperate eyes, waving arms—all merged into a boiling sea of ​​fury.

The yamen runners formed a human wall.

He desperately tried to stop the onslaught, his forehead covered in sweat, his face pale, almost swallowed up by the overwhelming public resentment.

At this critical juncture, when public anger was boiling over and the situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control!

The heavy vermilion gate of the government office creaked open slowly inwards.

Chen Qinian, the prefect of Linzhou, wore a dark blue official robe and a black gauze hat.

Under the protection of several close guards, they appeared at the opportune moment on the high platform inside the gate of the government office!

His face was somber, his brows furrowed, as if he were bearing an immense burden.

He raised his hands and pressed them down forcefully, trying to quell the deafening noise.

"Fellow villagers! Silence! Silence!"

Chen Qinian's voice was loud and steady, carrying the authority of someone who had long held a high position and an unquestionable resolve.

It clearly pierced through the noisy waves.

"I, Chen Qinian, am here!"

The roar of the crowd paused slightly.

Countless eyes, burning with anger and despair, were fixed on this local official.

"The Ciyun Temple case is appalling! It arouses the wrath of both gods and men! The evil deeds of the Eshui Gang are too numerous to recount!"

Chen Qinian spoke with deep sorrow and indignation, his voice strong and resonant, each word striking a chord in everyone's hearts.

"As the father of Linzhou, I have failed my fellow villagers! But I beg you to have faith in the imperial court! And to have faith in me!"

He suddenly lifted the hem of his official robe and bowed deeply to the ground in front of the indignant crowd below!

This action instantly quieted the noisy crowd.

"I, Chen, hereby swear to Heaven!"

Chen Qinian straightened up, his eyes flashing like lightning as he scanned the entire room. His voice suddenly rose, carrying a do-or-die spirit.

"This case must be thoroughly investigated! Evil must be eradicated! No matter who is involved, no matter who is behind them, I will bring them to justice! I will restore justice to Linzhou Prefecture! I will give my fellow villagers justice!"

"If I break this oath, may I be as defiled as this robe!"

He suddenly grabbed the corner of his official robe, as if to tear it!

This highly symbolic gesture instantly ignited the public's pent-up emotions!

Countless eyes were fixed on him from below the stage.

The anger and despair burning within seemed to have found an outlet, a place to place their hopes!

After a brief silence.

"Chen Qingtian—!"

Someone, with a hoarse, tearful voice, uttered the first cry.

Then came the second sound, the third sound...

"Chen Qingtian!"

"Chen Qingtian—!"

The outcry spread like wildfire, rapidly converging and eventually evolving into a massive, surging wave.

The sound resounded throughout the entire government office!

"Chen Qingtian! He's standing up for the people!"

"Lord Chen! Avenge us!"

The sound waves grew louder and louder, making the roof tiles vibrate and hum.

Chen Qinian stood on the high steps of the government office, his official robes fluttering slightly in the autumn wind.

His sorrowful yet resolute expression was bathed in the fervent, worshipful gazes of the crowd.

Sunlight streamed down from one side, illuminating half of his face with a radiant glow of justice, while the other half remained shrouded in the shadow of the government office building, its appearance obscured. He nodded slightly, accepting the flood of praise, a barely perceptible, cold calculation flashing in the shadows deep within his eyes.

This overwhelming public opinion!

This title of "Upright Official"!

It was the most powerful ladder for him to climb upwards.

His gaze swept across the crowd, as if he could see into the distance.

A thousand miles away, in the capital.

The impeachment memorials from the Censorate flew into the heavily guarded palace like snowflakes from a disturbed hornet's nest.

His words were harsh and directly targeted the Ministry of Works.

"The Ministry of Works may be involved in the shady dealings of Ciyun Temple! Its suppression of the 'Shen Family Workshop' is malicious! Such virtuous merchants who can secure the borders and benefit the people with their extraordinary skills are truly a blessing to our dynasty! The Ministry of Works' suppression is tantamount to destroying its own Great Wall and aiding and abetting evil! I implore Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

Inside the Ministry of War's duty room.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Vice Minister Yang of the Ministry of War sat upright at his desk, his fingertips repeatedly stroking the secret memorial he had just received through clandestine channels, a memorial from Chen Qinian, the prefect of Linzhou, outlining a far-sighted strategy. The memorial detailed the perilous state of Linzhou as a crucial border town, as well as the military and strategic significance of introducing the "Shen Family Workshop."

After pondering for a moment, a glint of light flashed in Yang's eyes. He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and began to present his arguments forcefully.

"Your Majesty, in your wise judgment: Linzhou is the key to the northern border and a vital town for defense! However, the bandits of the Eshui Gang are rampant and act with impunity, even suspected of colluding with foreign enemies from the grasslands, posing a serious threat to the empire! If they are allowed to grow stronger, the border will be in grave danger! The Shen family workshops possess advanced weaponry, including a powerful water-powered crossbow, and their weaving workshops have enormous potential to quickly convert to military production. It is imperative to introduce their military force to deter these villains and rely on their workshop potential to stabilize the border and ensure military supplies! This is a blessing for the nation and a boon for the soldiers on the border! Your Majesty, I humbly beg you!"

His brushstrokes are steady and powerful, each word carrying immense weight, directly addressing the crux of the matter.

The magnificent palace, the imperial study.

The young emperor sat upright on the large dragon throne, his brows furrowed.

The imperial desk in front of him was piled high with memorials that almost overwhelmed him.

On one side were the numerous impeachment memorials from the Censorate against the Ministry of Works, filled with sharp and incisive language.

On one side was an urgent letter from the Vice Minister of War, filled with earnest words and thorough analysis.

There was also a summary of the "ironclad evidence" submitted by Chen Qinian, the prefect of Linzhou, via express courier service:

The testimony of the mute stableman.

The coroner's autopsy report.

And the key pages of that blood-stained ledger were copied!

His young face was covered in frost, and his fingers unconsciously tapped the cold rosewood armrest, making a dull "thump-thump" sound.

Public discontent is boiling over!

The "ironclad evidence" is irrefutable!

The Ministry of War's advice hit the nail on the head...

All of this left him no room for further hesitation.

He finally spoke, his voice as cold as ice, carrying the thunderous rage of an emperor.

"Order the three judicial departments to thoroughly investigate the Ciyun Temple-Eshui Gang case! Eradicate evil completely and dig deep into its protective umbrella! No matter who is involved, no matter what official position they hold, investigate to the end and show no leniency! This is to serve as a warning to others and to appease public anger!"

The imperial edict was issued in response to the Ministry of Works' previous suppression of the "Shen Family Workshop".

The emperor did not utter a word, but his deliberate silence and cold attitude were enough to make the Ministry of Works feel extremely uneasy.

As for Chen Qinian's request in his memorial to "use the resources of the Shen family workshops and other civilian forces to stabilize Linzhou and consolidate the border defenses."

The imperial edict, written in vermilion ink, contained only three seemingly plain yet incredibly weighty words: "Understood."

Tacit consent is the clearest stance!

Inside the Ministry of Works.

The atmosphere was as oppressive as a stuffy can before a downpour, making it hard to breathe.

The emperor's furious decree hung like a sword over his head.

The public anger that surged through the streets and alleys was like a wildfire.

The Ministry of War's aggressive and incisive advice was like an arrow piercing the heart.

And the word "superior" on that ledger, though blurred, was deadly, like an invisible venomous snake coiled around the neck of every official from the faction involved!

A dark room with closed doors and windows and dim lighting.

Several officials dressed in scarlet and purple robes gathered together.

Their faces were ashen, like defeated roosters.

Panic, resentment, and a deep sense of powerlessness filled the air.

"His Majesty is furious... Public resentment is overwhelming... And those soldiers in the Ministry of War are adding fuel to the fire... The word 'higher-ups' is practically a death warrant!"

One person's voice was hoarse, trembling uncontrollably.

"To attack that 'Shenji' now would be tantamount to setting ourselves on fire! It would be courting death!"

The other person gritted their teeth, but was filled with helplessness.

"Chen Qinian... What cunning! What a scheme! He actually managed to use the situation to his advantage and pull off a trap!"

The third person was filled with resentment, his fists clenched until they turned white.

The person in charge, sitting at the head of the table, was an elderly man with white hair and beard. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, as if he had aged ten years in an instant.

He slowly raised his hand and waved it weakly, his voice filled with deep resentment and exhaustion.

"The matter of Linzhou, Ministry of Works... will put on hold for now. Wait. Everything... will be discussed again after the Ciyun Temple case has passed."

In the months that followed, in the eastern suburbs of Linzhou Prefecture.

A riverbank that was originally barren and covered with pebbles.

At this moment, however, it was dominated by a deafening roar!

The towering brick and stone walls rise up like silent giants, enclosing a new and powerful world.

The enormous skylight let in natural light, illuminating hundreds of massive machines inside the factory.

That was a new type of water-powered loom that Ling Zhan had personally improved, and its efficiency was amazing!

Chenji Workshop – Linzhou Branch.

After several months of preparation, it has been officially completed and put into operation!

The air was filled with the scents of fresh wood, tung oil, and pig iron, but even more intense was the powerful clamor.

The waterwheel spins tirelessly under the impact of the turbulent river.

Precise gear meshing and linkage drive.

The power of nature is transformed into the lightning-fast back and forth of the loom shuttle.

The shuttle's shadow is like a woven tapestry, as dense as a sudden rainstorm striking banana leaves. The snow-white cotton yarn is woven into a smooth, thick, and tough cotton cloth at a speed visible to the naked eye, flowing continuously from the loom like a flowing white river.

The workers included experienced key personnel transferred from Qingzhou.

There are also locally recruited artisans with eager eyes—moving among the roaring machines.

They moved swiftly, changing shuttles, connecting threads, and inspecting the fabric, their backs soaked with sweat.

His face, however, radiated an indescribable sense of pride in participating in the creation of a miracle.

What is produced here is not just cloth, but also hope, the backbone of Linzhou's future.

On the high platform in the center of the workshop.

Shen Yan was dressed in a sharp, dark-colored outfit.

The cuffs and collar are embroidered with subtle flowing cloud patterns in silver thread, and the figure stands with his hands behind his back.

He looked down at this industrial wonder that he had created with his own hands.

A pair of peach blossom eyes shone with a burning light, as if admiring a perfect creation into which she had poured her heart and soul.

The roar, the efficiency, the scale—

It was precisely the foundation upon which he abhorred settling down and securing his livelihood and self-preservation!

Ling Zhan stood beside him, dressed in a simple and neat dark blue outfit, which made his figure appear even more upright.

She looked at the "river of fabrics" before her, her voice penetrating the roar of the machines, clear and powerful.

"The first batch of finished products, according to plan, will be prioritized for the production of thickened waterproof cotton-padded coats. All processes will be strictly controlled."

"very good."

Shen Yan's lips curled into a cold yet playful smile.

"The 'gift' given to the Ministry of War must be substantial enough to silence public opinion and secure real orders and a powerful backer."

This "generous gift"

It was not only a timely help, but also a pledge of allegiance to the Ministry of War, the imperial court, and the entire Linzhou, demonstrating Shenji's strength and commitment!

Ling Zhan nodded.

"Linzhou is bitterly cold, especially for the soldiers on the frontier, who are constantly exposed to the elements. They desperately need this. Chen Qinian's career has been thriving; he has now risen from deputy to the actual prefect. He has exchanged secret letters with Vice Minister Yang of the Ministry of War, who highly approves of this move and promises to purchase it at market price and prioritize equipping the frontline troops stationed in Linzhou. As for the Ministry of Works, well, they've completely shut down."

The situation is indeed very good.

Orders poured in from all over the country, and officials and gentry in the prefectural city vied to send invitations and host banquets to make friends.

Chen Qinian was beaming with pride, and he would "inspect" the workshop every day, as if he regarded this place as the most dazzling medal of his political achievements, as if the deafening roar of the machines was a triumphant song for his promotion.

He was enjoying the sweet fruits of his success: fame, power, and recognition.

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