The production of a train mainly depends on the movement of a piston.

In this regard, the Ming Dynasty's technology has already reached that level.

You can make a steam train directly.

The rails aren't that difficult either.

The only drawback is that with the current level of technology in the Ming Dynasty, it is not enough to cross rivers and open mountains, so construction can only be carried out on plains.

Simply put, direct access is not possible.

However, these problems are not a big deal for now.

Return to the palace.

Zhu Yuanzhang was half lying down after seeing the steam hammer.

"Once the railway from the capital to the grassland is completed, the Northern Yuan Dynasty should be incorporated into our Ming Dynasty."

"Supporting the Northern Yuan Dynasty now is only a temporary measure after all. They have always been a major concern for us."

Zhu Yuanzhang's tone was lazy, but the meaning he revealed was bloody and violent.

Zhu Ying nodded and said, "Grandpa is right. It's time to put an end to this."

"When the time comes, we will build a railway directly onto the grassland and establish a city. In the future, the entire grassland will be a place for Ming Dynasty horses to graze."

Zhu Yuanzhang replied: "Hurry up, we want to see this scene sooner."

At this point, Zhu Yuanzhang straightened up and said, "The grassland disaster has been a pain for the Central Plains for thousands of years. It is finally going to end in our hands."

As he spoke, Zhu Yuanzhang became a little excited.

This is a great achievement.

It is enough to be highlighted in later history books.

It can be said that his achievements surpass those of the Three Sovereigns and his virtue surpasses those of the Five Emperors.

Not only that, wherever the steam train can reach will be the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Yuanzhang obviously cared more about land than sea.

In the past, it may have seemed wishful thinking to truly incorporate all the territories of the former Mongol Empire into the Ming Dynasty, but now it is truly possible.

How could this not make Lao Zhu excited?

…

Zhu Ying has been quite busy during this period.

Due to industrial needs, Ming Dynasty currently needs to vigorously promote reforms in the area of ​​mining.

As in the past, not only is the efficiency low, but the system is also imperfect, making it easy for people to exploit loopholes and engage in corruption.

The state-owned sector has always been a profitable sector for officials.

In order to mine more coal, the imperial court has now opened up the rights to coal exploration and excavation.

Shanxi is a major coal mining province.

In order to crack down on Shanxi merchants, Zhu Ying once carried out a cleanup in Shanxi. A large number of officials were dismissed, and countless smugglers were cleared out, forced to labor, and their families were exterminated.

As relations with the Northern Yuan Dynasty eased, the smuggling business became difficult to do.

As a result, the Shanxi merchants' business was sluggish, and those big merchants who spent huge sums of money disappeared.

In the entertainment industry, things are getting depressed.

However, in the past two years, with the development of the coal mining industry, more and more mine owners have emerged and they have reaped the benefits of coal mining.

"In Shanxi, notify the three offices to arrange more inspection teams. The court has a great demand for coal mines, and therefore has opened up the right to mine coal. There are many bad apples, tax evasion, and collusion between officials and businessmen."

"Especially in terms of illegal mining, we must crack down on it severely. It is so dangerous down there. They only care about their own interests and disregard the lives of others. They deceive their superiors and subordinates and do whatever they want."

"Send the message over. Anyone who reports illegal mining will be rewarded with a thousand strings of cash."

In the main hall of Kunning Palace, Zhu Ying was giving a speech to the Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the three officials of the Censorate.

Zhu Ying was very familiar with the activities in coal mines in later generations. Although he had never seen it with his own eyes, he had seen many of them in movies and TV dramas.

Especially opening private mines, those behaviors are simply outrageous.

It was like that in later generations. In today's era, it is probably even more cruel.

While the Ming Dynasty was developing rapidly, Zhu Ying did not forget to protect the people at the bottom.

The change of dynasties, climate factors and the like, ultimately the biggest influence comes from the people at the bottom of society.

Who would want to rebel if they can have enough food and warm clothes?

"I will obey the order of the Grand Prince."

The three officials replied respectfully.

After the three officials left, Zhu Ying began to plan the recruitment of soldiers.

There is no denying that once the steam locomotive is manufactured and the rails are built to the border, the Ming Dynasty’s era of war will begin.

Soldiers certainly cannot wait until that time to be recruited, training must begin now as soon as they are recruited.

"That fellow Timur is still thinking about attacking our Ming Dynasty. He originally said that you would die of illness in a few years, but now it seems that you can't wait any longer."

In history, Timur died suddenly on his way to the east five years later.

Now that Zhu Ying has flapped its wings like a butterfly, it is unknown whether Timur will still launch an expedition to the east. After all, the current Ming Dynasty is not the Yongle period.

Not to mention the military generals, the national strength is stronger than ever before.

If Timur had not personally led the expedition to the east, would he have died suddenly?

Zhu Ying didn't really care.

What's the use of not dying? An expedition to the east is seeking death. Now just wait for the Ming Dynasty to attack Samarkand.

"Your Highness, Master Daoyan requests an audience with you."

The young eunuch outside the door delivered the message.

Zhu Ying nodded and said, "Let him in."

Yao Guangxiao came here at this time. Could it be that the Middle-earth mythology system has been established?

Zhu Ying couldn't help but feel a little excited.

After Yao Guangxiao came in, he bowed and said, "This humble monk pays respect to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Hey!

It is quite surprising that the name "little monk" came from Yao Guangxiao's mouth.

Even when facing Zhu Di and Zhu Yuanzhang, Yao Guangxiao always called himself a poor monk.

Calling oneself a little monk means that one has great respect for this person.

"No need to be polite, it's the classic book of the mythological system. Has it been completed?" Zhu Ying asked.

Yao Guangxiao smiled and replied, "Your Highness, it has been completed."

After saying that, he took out a book from his sleeve.

"Your Highness, please have a look."

Guo Zhong, who was standing next to him, stepped forward to take it and handed it to Zhu Ying.

After Zhu Ying took over, he began to look through the books.

The words "Ancient Records" were written on the cover of the book.

When you open the book, the first thing you see is the outline: Thanks to Pangu creating the world, the Three Sovereigns ruling the world, and the Five Emperors determining the wheels of war, the world was divided into four continents.

What follows are some records about the ancient times and stories of various gods.

It was basically according to what Zhu Ying said.

Zhu Ying didn't read it carefully. After all, this was a fixed volume and was not very easy to read.

Turning to the last page, it says July of the 32nd year of Hongwu, the 4096th year in the Yellow Emperor's era.

When Zhu Ying saw the Yellow Emperor's Era, he was stunned.

He suddenly remembered that in the Central Plains of later generations, before he traveled through time, due to some special reasons, the Western calendar was used, which is commonly known as the Gregorian calendar.

What is the Western calendar? It was introduced from Europe, and the time point used is Jesus' birthday.

The year that Jesus was born is called the first year of the Common Era.

What about the 21st century and the 2,000 years? That’s how many years since Jesus was born.

Like other countries, they all have their own eras.

Even Japan had its own era name, but the Central Plains did not have it in later generations.

In the words of later generations, the current Ming Dynasty is in the 41st century in the Central Plains.

The year Jesus was born, it was already the end of the Western Han Dynasty in the Central Plains.

In the past, historical figures such as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Qin Shihuang, Liu Bang, etc., all appeared and disappeared.

The Central Plains was already an extremely powerful country, and the Silk Road was opened to countless people.

It was at this time that Jesus was born.

Some people in later generations who worship foreign things and fawn on foreigners do not even know that the God they worship, Jesus, is 2,717 years younger than their ancestor Huangdi.

Don't underestimate a simple calendar.

Because this is a kind of national self-confidence.

Before Zhu Ying traveled through time, it was not the 21st century but the 48th century.

"Your Highness, I think that adopting the Yellow Emperor era can better reflect the long history of our Central Plains mythology system, and this is also to distinguish the ancient times from the present. I have written in books that before the Yellow Emperor era, it is collectively called the ancient times."

Yao Guangxiao was a thoughtful person. When he saw the crown prince suddenly frown and remain silent when he turned to the end, he immediately guessed that it was a question about chronology.

Of course, what Yao Guangxiao considered was not national confidence.

For the current Ming Dynasty, all regions except the Central Plains are barbarians.

Yao Guangxiao's main consideration was to distinguish between the mythological era and the ordinary era, and the Yellow Emperor's era seemed more realistic.

Zhu Ying came back to his senses from his deep thoughts, looked up at Yao Guangxiao, then turned to Guo Zhong and ordered, "Send a message to the Imperial Report Department. From now on, all the Imperial Reports must include the Yellow Emperor era."

"First it was the Yellow Emperor era, then it was the reign title of this dynasty."

Guo Zhong was a little hesitant when he heard this, because the reign title of Hongwu belonged to His Majesty. Would such behavior create a rift between His Majesty and the Crown Prince?

However, he could only keep this thought in his mind, and immediately replied, "I obey your order."

Zhu Ying then said to Yao Guangxiao: "Master, you are right. The Yellow Emperor Era can help the barbarians overseas know the longevity of the Central Plains. This should be popularized."

Yao Guangxiao breathed a sigh of relief, as he was worried that this way of dating would have an impact on the imperial power.

Zhu Ying noticed that Guo Zhong beside him seemed to want to say something but hesitated, and naturally understood his concerns.

"It doesn't matter to Grandpa. I will go and talk to him myself."

Hearing what the crown prince said, Guo Zhong felt relieved.

The Yellow Emperor's Era has actually always existed, but these methods of dating are still mainly used by Taoism, while ordinary people mostly use the reign title of the current emperor.

This time, Zhu Ying wants to promote the Yellow Emperor Era.

The 32nd year of Hongwu sounds like only 30 years, which is nowhere near as majestic as the 4,000 years of Huangdi.

The barbarians outside the Ming Dynasty could clearly see that the Central Plains civilization had a history of more than 4,000 years since the beginning of the Chinese calendar.

What a magnificent and grand scene this is.

In terms of expression, it is also very direct.

Therefore, Zhu Yingcai requested that the Yellow Emperor's era be placed before the current emperor, so that it would be more eye-catching.

Besides, Huangdi was the ancestor of Yan and Huang, so there is nothing wrong with adding him to the front.

You should know that among the four ancient civilizations, only the Central Plains civilization has never been interrupted, and has continued from ancient times to the present.

The form of the Yellow Emperor's Era can better reflect the strength and prosperity of the ancient civilization in the Central Plains.

Fortunately, Zhu Ying is the crown prince and the future emperor of the Ming Dynasty.

As long as he wants to do it, he can push it forward.

This is the power of imperial authority.

"Next, regarding this ancient mythology system, I will have the Imperial Reporting Department publish and record it continuously and create a special section."

"What the Master has written will be spread to all the countries in the world."

Zhu Ying opened his mouth to confirm.

At this time, Yao Guangxiao suddenly performed the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows to Zhu Ying.

Then he said: "I have no regrets in this life."

Zhu Ying smiled and said, "Don't be so anxious. You still have a lot of things to do. This ancient mythology system can still be improved and needs people to lead the dissemination."

"You don't have to travel to Goryeo anymore. You can spend your old age in the capital to cultivate yourself."

"I will appoint you as the abbot of Tianjie Temple, and you will spend the rest of your life spreading the civilization of the Ming Dynasty."

"With all your talent and knowledge, you should find a disciple to pass on your skills to. It would be a waste if you take it away like this."

"You've heard about the recent events regarding steam engines. Go and learn about them."

"Perhaps within two years, the steam locomotive will be built. By then, it will only take you three or four days to go to Goryeo."

"By then, the whole world will become even more exciting."

"Master, please live longer, otherwise it will be a pity."

Zhu Ying understood that for people like Yao Guangxiao, what they pursued was not wealth and glory, but the obsession in their hearts.

After he kowtowed to himself three times and nine times, he clearly felt that he was losing his energy and spirit, and was feeling very old.

And Zhu Ying wanted to give him a new direction.

As expected.

Yao Guangxiao didn't know what a steam locomotive was; he had never heard of it.

But he remembered that they would arrive in Goryeo in two or three days.

The originally calm lake of my heart was once again stirred up by waves.

"Can we reach Goryeo in three or four days?" Yao Guangxiao asked directly.

Zhu Ying said: "Master, you don't have to come to me to ask. You can go and see for yourself whether what I said is true or not."

"The Master has been studying mythology these days, and I'm afraid he hasn't even read the imperial gazette. He should read it more often in the future."

"The current Ming Dynasty undergoes tremendous changes every few months."

Yao Guangxiao bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness."

Zhu Ying waved his hand. It was easy to talk to smart people. They could understand his feelings with just a few words.

The next day.

The matter of adopting the Yellow Emperor's era was reported to Zhu Yuanzhang.

Liu He reported the matter carefully, but Zhu Yuanzhang did not take it as a big deal after listening to it.

Instead, he said, "Grandson did a good job. The Yellow Emperor's era has been around for more than 4,000 years. When those foreign officials saw this, they felt that they were magnificent and magnanimous."

"This is a good thing for our Ming Dynasty."

"According to Grandson's wishes, from now on, the Ming Dynasty should adopt the Yellow Emperor's era as the main era, and the emperor's reign title as the supplement."

Zhu Yuanzhang had long been thinking about expanding his territory.

The Yellow Emperor's Era just happened to cater to the need to spread the Ming culture, so Zhu Yuanzhang naturally had no reason to refuse it.

Zhu Ying had discussed with him a long time ago about spreading the Central Plains civilization and educating the barbarians.

With four thousand years of civilization heritage, it is natural that we can easily defeat those short-lived barbarian civilizations.

It was at this time.

A post station outside the capital.

Wang Jinyi, Queen Aida, and the sisters finally arrived.