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No one knows how the emperor dealt with Prince Guo and Zhen Huan, but there is no news about them in this world anymore, and the title of Prince Guo has also completely disappeared.

Of course, no one cared too much about the ending of this adulterous couple. After all, everyone's future and destiny depended on the emperor. Since the emperor didn't like them, no one would care about their affairs.

When Su Peisheng handed the secret letter to the emperor, the emperor couldn't help but hesitate. After all, the fifth prince was also his biological son, and he had very few surviving offspring. In the end, the emperor decided to keep the matter under wraps.

People generally think that the Qing Dynasty's "closed-door policy" meant that China did not go out to sea. In fact, this is a wrong perception. Sino-foreign trade has never stopped. For example, porcelain, silk, tea and other items are all international best-sellers. It's just that the government's management has become more strict.

As the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Suning also became busy. Relying on his foresight, he improved the steelmaking and coal mining technologies, and asked the Ministry of Works and the Chief Engineer to produce the steam engine, thus starting the first industrial revolution in the world of Red Mansions ahead of time.

The first industrial revolution in the meta-time and space refers to the technological revolution initiated in Britain in the 18s, which eventually established the bourgeoisie's dominance over the world. It was a huge revolution in the history of technological development and ushered in an era where machines replaced manual labor.

This is not only a technological reform, but also a profound social change.

The First Industrial Revolution began with the birth of working machines and was marked by the widespread use of steam engines as power machines.

This technological revolution and the related changes in social relations are called the First Industrial Revolution or the Industrial Revolution.

The First Industrial Revolution replaced manual workshops with factories and manual labor with machines. In terms of social relations, the Industrial Revolution eliminated the class of self-cultivating farmers who depended on backward production methods, and led to the formation and growth of the industrial bourgeoisie and industrial proletariat.

The First Industrial Revolution greatly strengthened the connections between different parts of the world and changed the face of the world. Britain, which was the first to complete the Industrial Revolution, soon became the world hegemon.

However, the First Industrial Revolution was still quite primitive in the eyes of later generations. Suning easily gathered the strength of the great Eastern countries and strode into the world of Red Mansions into industrial civilization.

New steel mills are rising, large coal mines are being developed, cement plants are operating at full capacity, continuously providing building materials for infrastructure projects across the country, and railway lines are being rapidly laid across the country.

To see how terrifying the power of a large empire can be, just look at the changes in the world of Red Mansions today. Suning has maximized the power in his hands and has brought about earth-shaking changes in the world in a short period of time.

Especially in the textile industry in the Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai areas, various advanced machines replaced manual labor, and a large number of textiles were produced in batches and then sold to overseas markets by sea. The shipbuilding industry also ushered in great development, and wooden ships and sailing ships were gradually replaced by steam ironclad ships.

At the grand court meeting, the Imperial Censor stepped out of the ranks and began his impeachment. "Your Majesty, I, the Imperial Censor Chen Chong, impeach the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Su Ning, for his extensive railway construction and sea opening, which have affected the dragon veins."

"My dear Minister Su, what explanation do you have for Lord Chen's impeachment?" The emperor on the dragon throne looked at Su Ning thoughtfully.

Suning quickly stepped out of the line, saluted, and reported to the emperor, "Your Majesty, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and other places have improved their production machinery, producing a huge amount of cloth and textiles. Therefore, I have increased foreign trade, which has also made our treasury increasingly full. As for the construction of the railway, it will accelerate the connection between the east, south, west, and north. When the railway is completed to Jiangning Prefecture, travel between the north and south will be much more convenient."

"How do you explain the dragon vein?" The emperor continued to look at Suning and asked without comment.

"Your Majesty, our Celestial Empire is blessed with abundant natural resources, outstanding people, and a peaceful and prosperous nation. Isn't this proof that the dragon veins are intact?"

At this moment, Imperial Censor Chen Chong, unable to hold back any longer, retorted, "Humph! Minister Su's words are utterly illogical! The matter of dragon veins is profound and mysterious, and it's not for a mere mortal like you to comment on it."

"Yes! Lord Chen, aren't you a mortal anymore?" However, Su Ning looked at Chen Chong calmly and asked back.

"I..." As expected, Chen Chong, the imperial censor, was left speechless by Suning's retort.

"Censor Chen, in my Celestial Empire, there is only one divine being, and that is the Emperor. Therefore, improving transportation will not affect the dragon veins at all. It will only make my Celestial Empire stronger and more prosperous, and my Celestial Empire will be more harmonious and peaceful."

"This……"

Seeing that his lackeys were somewhat useless, the emperor immediately took action himself with a half-smile, "My dear Su, I know you are loyal to the emperor and love the people, but the issue of the dragon vein must be considered. For the time being, it is better to build a railway from the capital to Jiangning Prefecture."

"Yes! Your Majesty, what about the new road?" Su Ning's heart moved and he looked at the emperor again and asked.

The emperor looked at Su Ning in confusion and asked, "Lord Su, is the new road built with that cement?"

"Yes! It's a mixture of cement and sand, with some steel bars added as an aid."

"Then let's continue building! After all, there were straight roads in the pre-Qin period."

"Yes! Your Majesty."

Based on Suning's understanding of the emperor, the Censorate's impeachment of him was definitely beneficial to the emperor. It was obvious that the planning during this period made the emperor look at him with some surprise.

However, Suning did not expect that the development power of a feudal empire would be so strong, and the speed of development far exceeded Suning's expectations, so it really needs to stop and digest it.

At the same time, Suning did not want to do things that would make wedding dresses for others. From the beginning, it used the resources of the Su government to find a large number of white gloves and opened many businesses and factories. Now Suning's tentacles have already spread to all walks of life.

After all, there were no restrictions at that time, and others could not understand Suning's behavior and operations. In addition, the Su government had already digested the Xue family's business territory in Jiangnan, so the Su government had integrated the large conglomerates in feudal society.

……

The third prince's house arrest and the fourth prince's poisoning made the fifth prince the big winner. The powerful people in the court all moved closer to the fifth prince, and they regarded him as the legal heir to the Celestial Empire.

The emperor's attitude was also very subtle. He actually let the situation go on. Even the secret letter that Su Peisheng found from the queen's Kunning Palace was burned by the emperor himself.

The ambergris in the Hall of Mental Cultivation was as dense as mist, and Lin Yan's fingers trembled slightly as he held the boxwood tray.

In the green jade bowl on the tray, the light brown medicine soup was showing tiny ripples.

The emperor's body was no longer as strong as it was during the Nine Dragons' Battle for the Throne, and coupled with the daily workload of handling the government affairs of the Celestial Empire, he exuded a sense of old age and weakness.

Originally, the fourth prince's right of inheritance had been confirmed in the first year of the Xin Dynasty, but now the fourth prince has been poisoned by the deposed queen, so the emperor also understands the pain of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang.

After careful consideration, the emperor once again took out the secret decree behind the "Zhengda Guangming" plaque, and then re-designated an heir to the Celestial Empire. Although this heir was not very suitable, the emperor did not seem to have many choices.

"Your Majesty, it's time to take the medicine."

Hearing the voice of the eunuch Su Peisheng, the emperor looked up wearily from the pile of memorials. The fine lines at the corners of his eyes and his pale and haggard face were particularly deep and terrifying under the candlelight.

His eyes swept over the new jade plume tube on Su Peisheng's waist, which was a tribute from Southeast Asia awarded to Su Peisheng yesterday.

"Put it aside." The emperor's red brush made a sharp fold on the memorial. His voice revealed the deep voice of a hero in his twilight years. "The Ministry of Works requested 300,000 taels of silver for river management. Ask the Imperial Household Department to review it again."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Su Peisheng quickly bowed to the emperor and promised. He glanced at the secret memorial spread out on the imperial desk, revealing a corner of red ink. "The head military minister, Su Ning, has recently expanded his business territory again. You should pay attention."

The panicked Su Peisheng's clothes were instantly soaked with cold sweat. He didn't expect that the emperor had always been on guard against the new court noble Su Ning.

In fact, as the Su family's assets in the Celestial Empire grew, especially after the Su family's bank opened, secret memorials like these became more and more frequent. After all, as an old man who had been with the emperor, he was naturally aware of the emperor's suspicious nature. He just didn't know if the manipulative Su Ning could survive safely.

……

At the Fifth Prince's residence, the copper clock ticked to three quarters past midnight. The Fifth Prince stared at the celadon bottle handed to him by Wen Shichu with excitement and trepidation, "Doctor Wen, is it true that this bottle of 'Red Beauty Drunk' can't be tested?"

"Fifth Prince, this bottle of 'Red Beauty Drunk' will turn into a deadly poison when it comes into contact with deer blood. It will sever all your internal meridians in half an hour." Doctor Wen's robes were already stained with night dew, and fear made Wen Shichu tremble unconsciously. "But the Emperor is accustomed to using deer blood for tonic in winter."

"Oh?"

Suddenly, the light of a lantern flashed outside the window, and the fifth prince quickly hid the porcelain bottle in his sleeve.

"Doctor Wen, I don't want this matter to be spread."

"Wei Chen understands."

"Well, let's go!"

"Fifth Prince, I will take my leave."

After Wen Shichu left, the fifth prince took out the brass key from the secret compartment of the treasure chest.

This is the key to open the underground dragon gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Three days ago, when Su Peisheng caught a cold, he personally brought it to help Yongzheng change his clothes. At that time, he gained a good reputation throughout the court.

On the day of the ice skating ceremony, the underground dragons need to be temporarily closed to prevent the ice from melting.

If you add Datura pollen to the silver charcoal when rekindling the earth dragon.
……

On the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the ice rink was shrouded in cold fog. The dance of the new concubine won applause from the audience. Su Peisheng stood at the steps holding a sable cloak, watching the emperor drink the seventh cup of deer blood wine in succession, revealing an imperceptible look of worry.

With the many major events that happened in the harem, the already cold harem became even colder. Now, only Concubine Duan, Concubine Jing and others were old and ugly. As for Concubine Xian, she was also cold and aloof, which really aroused the emperor's poor health.

"Father!"

At this moment, the fifth prince's small body suddenly rushed in with a sword, and none of the guards stepped forward to stop him.

Su Peisheng's pupils couldn't help but shrink suddenly, realizing that something big was about to happen!
The fifteen-year-old Fifth Prince pointed his sword at the throne, "Father, please step down and let someone else take over."

"Humph! Do you deserve it?"

"..."

In the chaos, the insider arranged by the fifth prince took the opportunity to overturn the gilded charcoal basin.

The earth dragon gate burst open, and a warm current mixed with datura pollen swept through the hall.

At this moment, the emperor suddenly covered his heart in pain, and a trickle of black blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

"There's an assassin! Protect the emperor!" The scream of the eunuch Su Peisheng pierced the sky.

The insider arranged by the fifth prince also knelt in front of the dragon throne, and used the action of supporting to flick the last bit of "Red Beauty Drunk" into the emperor's collar.

The scent of deer blood wine wafted towards him, and the emperor's grief-stricken face was reflected in his gradually dilating pupils.

……

When the funeral bells of Jingren Palace rang throughout the Forbidden City, the fifth prince was having someone copy the edict of succession.

However, the virtuous concubine who had always been indifferent to worldly affairs walked in holding the six-year-old Sixth Prince's hand, followed by a group of veteran concubines. The hem of her peony-patterned palace dress was still covered with snowflakes.

"Xian Guifei, what do you mean?"

"Fifth Prince, you rebelled and murdered the late emperor. Aren't you afraid of the punishment from the gods and Buddhas?"

"Haha, gods and Buddhas? Where are they? Let them come out!"

"Come here! Take down this evil creature who rebelled and murdered the late emperor."

With a cry of "Canglang", the Fifth Prince drew his sword in panic and looked at the guards in front of him with a fierce look on his face. "I am the crown prince of the Celestial Empire! The future emperor! Who dares to step forward?"

“…” All the guards looked at Concubine Xian standing beside them.

"Hmph! Get it."

"Yes! Your Majesty the Imperial Concubine."

Don't be fooled by the Fifth Prince waving his sharp sword and making a lot of noise. In fact, that is not the case at all. He can be easily controlled by the guards.

Then the guards brought Wen Shichu in, tied up behind his back. The fifth prince collapsed to the ground with a pale face. He understood that this was a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. He would never be able to ascend the throne of the emperor again.

Then Concubine Xian summoned all the civil and military officials of the Celestial Empire, and had them take down the two secret edicts after Zhengda Guangming. One was the edict that appointed the fourth prince as the new emperor, and the other was the edict that appointed the sixth prince as the emperor.

Now that the Fourth Prince has been poisoned to death, the throne naturally falls to the Sixth Prince, and Concubine Xian is automatically promoted to Empress Dowager, and she also has to rule the country from behind the scenes to assist the new Emperor in ascending the throne.

Soon the Empress Dowager and the Emperor issued an edict appointing Suning as Prime Minister and the head of the Grand Council to assist the Emperor in handling all government affairs in the world.

All the crimes of the Jia family were pardoned and Jia Baoyu was conferred the title of Duke of Rong.

A general amnesty was issued, the sea was opened for trade, private capital was encouraged to enter industry and commerce, railways and roads were built on all fronts, hair was shaved, clothes were changed, and customs were changed.

……

(End of this chapter)