With the financial support of Chu Fan, the Wei Emperor, the Imperial Government Affairs Office and the Ministry of War quickly commenced the construction of the railway. Because the Ministry of War possessed maps of all of Wei's terrain and troop distribution, it was able to accurately plan the railway routes and even allow soldiers on leave to participate in the construction, expediting the completion of the railway construction and allowing the court and people of Wei to enjoy the benefits of the railway more quickly.
The Ministry of Industry stepped up its efforts to produce more steam locomotives. The train carriages also needed to be built by the Ministry of Industry, and the rails also needed to be produced by smelting steel.
So the Ministry of Works was actually the busiest department. However, in order to achieve His Majesty's grand goal, the craftsmen of the Ministry of Works naturally worked day and night to ensure that the trains could run smoothly when the Royal Government Affairs Office and the Ministry of Works completed the construction of the railway.
Of course, the Royal Government Affairs Office also selected some skilled craftsmen from the State of Wei to help the Ministry of Works build carriages and smelt rails. However, before gaining enough trust, these craftsmen could only be responsible for these non-technical tasks and would not be allowed to access the core technical parts.
However, the corresponding treatment of these craftsmen is also very generous. In addition to their daily wages, they also receive additional bonuses and subsidies. As long as they work hard and perform well, they have the opportunity to be promoted and become official craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry, enjoying better treatment and benefits.
After hearing the news, these craftsmen were also very motivated. After all, being able to enter the Ministry of Works and become royal craftsmen was what they had always dreamed of.
Thanks to the efforts of the craftsmen of the Ministry of Industry, the manufacturing progress of the steam locomotive's locomotive and carriages was greatly accelerated, and the quality was also guaranteed.
At the same time, the laying of railway tracks is also progressing smoothly. Most of the lines planned by the Ministry of War have been laid, and it is expected that the laying of the two main east-west and north-south lines will be completed soon.
Chu Fan was also very satisfied with this progress. After all, as long as the railway construction was completed and the steam locomotive was put into operation, the transportation capacity of Wei State would be greatly improved. At that time, whether it was disaster relief or marching to war, it would be able to respond quickly to ensure the stability and security of the country.
Just as the court ministers of Wei State were busy with the construction of the railway, Chu Fan received an expected but reasonable piece of news.
Wei's spies in the Canglan Empire reported back that the Canglan Empire had officially declared war on Wei, and that it was the former empress who proposed the declaration of war on Wei.
At the court of the Canglan Empire, the former Canglan Empress recounted how her daughter, Liu Mengli, had been forcibly imprisoned in the Wei Imperial Palace by the Emperor of Wei, serving as his amusement. Furthermore, upon her arrival in Wei, the Emperor had humiliated her. This, she claimed, was an excuse for the former Canglan Empress to launch an attack on Wei.
Chu Fan, who had just received this news, said to Liu Ruyan, "This must have been your idea. And I bet you asked your mother to take over the two million taels of silver that I gave to the Canglan Empire."
Liu Ruyan nodded slightly and replied calmly, "Your Majesty is wise. Nothing can be hidden from you. This was indeed done by this servant."
Hearing Liu Ruyan's admission, Changsun Pinting, the youngest and most innocent of the group, looked at her in disbelief and asked in a trembling voice, "Sister Ruyan, why did you do this? Don't you know this will start a war? Brother Chu Fan has been so kind to you, why did you let the Canglan Empire attack our Wei Kingdom?"
Chu Fan pulled Changsun Pinting to his side and comforted her softly, "Sister Pinting, don't cry yet. Let your sister Liu Ruyan explain to you why the Canglan Empire declared war on the Wei Kingdom."
In fact, Chu Fan had long anticipated this day. Even if Liu Ruyan didn't let the former Canglan Empress declare war on Wei, Chu Fan would have used supplies as a threat to force Liu Mengli to declare war on Wei. This involved the game and balance between the great powers.
Liu Ruyan said, "Actually, I'm doing this for the good of the State of Wei. Otherwise, how could your wise and powerful Majesty allow me to stand here unharmed?"
Changsun Pinting turned around and looked at Chu Fan and asked, "Brother Chu Fan, is it really like what Sister Ruyan said?"
Chu Fan nodded gently, his eyes deep. "Pinting, there are some things you don't understand yet. Liu Ruyan's actions may seem to be putting Wei in the midst of war, but in reality, they are seeking greater benefits for Wei. You know, the game between great powers is unpredictable, and the balance is delicate and crucial. Ask Sister Liu Ruyan to continue explaining, and she will tell you that all this is for the long-term development of Wei."
At this time, although Mu Xi and others had some ideas in their minds, they had not thought it through thoroughly enough and hoped to get a more detailed answer.
Liu Ruyan continued, "Thanks to Wei's clever instigation, most of the nations on Shengwu Continent are now engulfed in war. Even the powerful Canglan Empire is now mired in the power struggle between the Empress, the nobles, and the aristocratic families. And in this chaos, the only nation remaining untouched is our Wei."
Do you think Wei could maintain this isolation? Even if states are at odds with each other, they need to find a common enemy to divert internal conflict. If a state not only stays out of the chaos of war among others but instead becomes prosperous and powerful, it is likely to become a target of public criticism.
After all, other countries were also worried that Wei would reap the benefits while they and their enemies were both defeated. Therefore, if Wei did not have a reasonable reason to get involved in the war, other countries would probably unite to deal with us.
Therefore, I had the Canglan Empire declare war on the Wei Kingdom, precisely to allow the Wei Kingdom to find its place in the chaotic world. Furthermore, when the Canglan Empire and Wei Kingdom were at war, other countries would think that the Canglan Empire and Wei Kingdom would be mutually restraining, and at that time, the war between Wei and the Canglan Empire would become their lifeline.
This way, other countries will completely let go and fight their enemies, while Wei can accumulate strength and secretly plan its strategy during this period. When the time is right, Wei can attack other countries in one fell swoop and lay the foundation for the unification of Shengwu Continent.
Liu Ruyan's words made Mu Xi and others suddenly enlightened. They were people who knew some political intrigues, but they did not expect that a declaration of war that seemed to be disadvantageous to the State of Wei actually concealed such far-reaching strategic considerations.
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