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On February 18th of the sixteenth year of the prosperous era, the spring chill was still in the air, yet the area outside the north gate of the capital was packed with people.

Su Ning ordered the Ministry of Rites to hold a grand ceremony to present the captives to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, after all, the Khitans had bullied the Central Plains for one or two hundred years.

Every person in the Central Plains hated the Khitan to the bone. Throughout history, emperors and scholars of the Song Dynasty regarded the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun as an obsession.

Su Ning stood on the city gate tower, gazing at the winding procession in the distance.

Before dawn, people came from dozens of miles away, crowding on both sides of the road, standing on tiptoe to look into the distance.

Some people carried baskets filled with offerings; some held children, lifting them high in the air; some stood there without anything, their eyes reddening.

The elderly people who had moved from Bianliang stood in the crowd, wiping away tears incessantly.

They have experienced war, escape, and the pain of having their loved ones kidnapped.

In those years, the Khitan cavalry marched south, and the Central Plains were stained with blood.

Their parents, brothers, and sisters were either killed by the sword or kidnapped to the grasslands, never to be seen again in their lives.

Those who lost loved ones in the war clenched their fists and bit their lips.

They were waiting, waiting to see how their enemy's emperor would be brought into their capital.

In the crowd, an elderly woman with white hair, leaning on a cane, stood shakily at the very front.

Someone advised her, "Auntie, please stand further back, so you don't get jostled."

The old lady shook her head. "I've waited fifty years. Fifty years, and finally this day has come."

"I'm coming!"

In the distance, dust billowed.

A troop of cavalry led the way, their iron armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

A prison cart followed behind the cavalry.

The prison van was made of wood, with fences on all four sides and no roof.

There was a man sitting in the car, wearing a drab prison uniform, with disheveled hair and a pale face.

It was the Khitan emperor Yelü Xian.

The people fell silent immediately, because some of them still remembered the arrogant way Emperor Taizong of Liao, Yelü Deguang, entered Kaifeng.

Then, like a pot exploding, the shouts were deafening.

"It's him! The emperor of the Khitans!"

"Those Khitan dogs who have killed so many of our people!"

"Kill him! Kill him!"

Yelü Xian lowered his head, not daring to look at the people on the roadside.

Those voices were like knives, cutting into his heart piece by piece.

He had lived for over forty years and had never heard such a sound before…

That was the sound of hatred that had been accumulating for over a hundred years finally erupting.

Although Yelü Xian failed to conquer the Central Plains, his grandfather Yelü Deguang was able to move freely in the Central Plains back then, and he understood that he was bearing this hatred for his grandfather.

Someone couldn't resist, picked up a stone, and threw it hard.

The stone struck the wooden bars of the prison cart with a dull thud.

Yelü Xian shuddered and lowered his head even further.

The soldiers escorting them did not stop them.

More stones flew over.

Clods of dirt, rotten vegetable leaves, and rotten eggs rained down on the prison van.

Some of the impact hit Yelü Xian, while others hit his face.

He curled up in a ball, trembling all over.

Along the way, the streets were packed with people.

Heads popped out of the upstairs windows, and the roof was covered with people.

The shouts were deafening, and the curses were earth-shattering.

The humiliation caused Yelü Xian unbearable pain, but this was the treatment of a ruler of a fallen kingdom.

All I can do is close my eyes and ask myself: When the Khitan cavalry marched south, did the people of the Central Plains who were captured by them feel the same despair as they sat on the swaying back of their horses, watching their homes recede into the distance?

I recall the scene of Emperor Taizong of Liao, Yelü Deguang, destroying the Later Jin dynasty and forcing Emperor Shi Chonggui of the Later Jin to perform the sheep-leading ceremony.

Unfortunately, fortunes change every thirty years, and the Central Plains have now become powerful.

The diligent rule of the three emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty once again brought a golden age to the Central Plains.

At this moment, the prison cart traveled all the way through the streets and alleys of the capital, and finally stopped in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was a place where emperors of the Zhou Dynasty were enshrined.

Emperor Taizu Guo Wei, Emperor Shizong Guo Rong, and all the Guo family members who died in the massacre...

More than two hundred people, from the Chai family to the Zhang family, from Guo Erlang and Guo Tong to the young Guo sisters, are all enshrined here.

Su Ning stood at the entrance of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, with civil and military officials standing behind him.

Today he deliberately did not wear a dragon robe, but instead wore a plain white sacrificial robe with a hemp rope tied around his waist.

His face showed no expression, but his eyes were as deep as two wells.

"Bring him here."

Yelü Xian was dragged out of the prison cart and forced to kneel on the stone steps in front of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Su Ning looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then asked, "Yelü Xian, do you know where this place is?"

Yelü Xian knelt on the ground, not daring to raise his head.

The stone steps were cold and hurt his knees.

But more than the pain in his knees, the fear in his heart made him tremble. "This...this is..."

"This is the ancestral temple of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Inside, my father, Emperor Taizu, and my elder brother, Emperor Shizong, are enshrined. Also enshrined are my mother, my elder brother, my elder sister, and my younger sister—more than two hundred people, all of whom died in this damned chaotic world."

Yelü Xian shuddered. "It wasn't me...it wasn't me who killed them...it was all done by that idiot Liu Chengyou."

Su Ning looked at him, a slight smirk playing on his lips, a smile devoid of any warmth. "I know you didn't kill him yourself. But your Khitan cavalry has wreaked havoc on the Central Plains for a century, and the Khitan have become an obsession for Emperor Taizu, Emperor Shizong, and the people of the Central Plains. The day I climbed out of the well, I swore that one day I would settle this score. Today, I can finally give Emperor Taizu, Emperor Shizong, and the people of the Central Plains an explanation."

"Emperor Taizu, Emperor Shizong, the people of the Central Plains who have been ravaged by the chaos of war, today, I bring the Khitan Emperor here."

Suning turned around and faced the gate of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

"Open the temple!"

The gates of the Imperial Ancestral Temple slowly opened.

Amidst the swirling smoke of incense, rows of memorial tablets were neatly arranged.

Sunlight streamed in through the doorway, illuminating the memorial tablets and bathing them in a golden glow.

At the very top is the memorial tablet of Emperor Taizu Guo Wei.

Black background with gold lettering, solemn and dignified.

Beside it is the memorial tablet of Emperor Shizong Guo Rong.

Slightly smaller than that of the founding emperor, but equally dignified.

Further down are the Guo family members who died in the massacre...

The memorial tablets for Chai, Zhang, Guo Erlang and Guo Tong, the Guo sisters, and the young children, and even a few unnamed tablets simply inscribed with "Guo's youngest son".

Each memorial tablet represents a life.

Every memorial tablet represents a debt.

Suning gradually entered the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

Behind him, Yelü Xian was escorted by two soldiers.

His legs were so weak he could barely stand and he was practically dragged along.

Those memorial tablets were like pairs of eyes, staring at him, making Yelü Xian feel a chill run down his spine.

Su Ning stopped in front of the memorial tablet.

Su Ning looked at the memorial tablets and remained silent for a long time.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was completely silent.

The smoke curled upwards, as if countless eyes were watching all of this from another world.

“Father,” Su Ning finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, “the Khitan are destroyed.”

"The Khitan, who had plagued the Central Plains for over a hundred years, are gone."

"Twenty-six years have passed. Your son has grown from fourteen to forty years old. From a well to the whole world."

"Today, your son has brought the Khitan emperor here."

He turned to the side and pointed to Yelü Xian, who was kneeling on the ground.

Yelü Xian knelt there, trembling all over, not daring to utter a single word.

The memorial tablets were right in front of him, as if they might come to life at any moment and rush down to tear him apart.

Next, Su Ning looked at Guo Rong's memorial tablet.

“Brother, you personally led the army and died beneath the walls of Yunzhou. That arrow was shot by the Khitans.”

"Your third brother reported it for you."

"You can rest in peace now."

The Imperial Ancestral Temple was completely silent.

The smoke from the cigarette rose in wisps.

Su Ning knelt down and kowtowed deeply to the memorial tablets.

One, two, three.

His forehead hit the ground with a dull thud.

Behind him, all the civil and military officials knelt down.

Grand Secretary Zhao Pu knelt at the front, his eyes red-rimmed, followed by cabinet members Wang Pu, Li Fang, Song Qi, and officials from the six ministries.

Cao Bin, Pan Mei, and Gao Huaide knelt on the ground, heads bowed, shoulders trembling slightly.

Wei Renpu, who had already retired, also appeared, kneeling to one side, his white hair and tears streaming down his face.

Outside the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the people also knelt down.

The crowd was so dense it seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see.

From the entrance of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, they knelt all the way to the street corner, knelt far away, knelt until they could no longer be seen.

Crying erupted from the crowd.

The crying was very soft at first, like a sob in the wind.

Then it grew louder and louder, merging into a deafening roar.

Someone shouted, "Emperor Taizu, did you see that? The Khitan are destroyed!"

Someone shouted, "Emperor Sejong, your revenge has been served!"

Someone shouted, "Ancestors of the Guo family, you can rest in peace now!"

The elderly woman with white hair knelt in the crowd and cried loudly.

The old woman cried for a very long time, her whole body trembling. Her family had been harmed by those damned Khitans.

The people around her supported the old lady, patted her back, and cried so hard they couldn't speak.

Yelü Xian knelt in the ancestral temple, listening to the cries and shouts, his face ashen.

He knew that from this day forward, the name Khitan would become history forever.

After the worship ceremony, Su Ning stood up.

He walked up to Yelü Xian and looked down at him.

Yelü Xian knelt on the ground, trembling all over, not daring to raise his head.

He could feel that gaze, like a knife, scraping across him.

"Yelü Xian, don't worry! I won't kill you."

Yelü Xian suddenly raised his head, stunned. "You...you're not going to kill me?"

“Killing you would be too easy for you,” Su Ning said. “I want you to live, to watch as the land of Khitan becomes the prefectures and counties of the Great Zhou, to watch as the people of Khitan become the subjects of the Great Zhou. To watch as those who followed you in rebellion are wiped out by me one by one.”

“You will live. Live for a very, very long time. Live until your children have forgotten the Khitan language, until your grandchildren only know that they are Zhou people.”

Yelü Xian opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Su Ning turned around and walked out of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

He stopped when he reached the door.

Sunlight streamed in from outside and shone on Suning.

Suning's silhouette appeared somewhat blurred in the light, like a sculpture, or a spiritual totem in the hearts of the people.

"Father, elder brother..."

"When the royal army has pacified the Central Plains, remember to tell your grandfather at the family sacrifice."

"Today, I'm here to tell you."

Then, Suning stepped out of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The sun was shining brightly outside the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The people who had come from all directions remained kneeling there, unwilling to get up for a long time.

Their faces were still streaked with tears, but their eyes shone with light.

In the distance, cheers erupted one after another on the streets of the capital.

"The Khitan are destroyed!"

"Long live the Great Zhou!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

The sounds merged together, like ocean waves, surging in one after another and carrying into the distance.

Su Ning stood at the entrance of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, listening to the cheers and gazing northwards.

That grassland was once the domain of the Khitan people.

Now, it belongs to the Great Zhou.

“Your Majesty,” Zhao Pu stepped forward and said softly, “it’s time to return to the palace.”

Suning nodded.

He took one last look at the memorial tablets in the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The incense smoke still lingered, and the memorial tablets still stood there quietly.

He turned and walked towards the palace.

Behind him, the gates of the Imperial Ancestral Temple slowly closed.

But those memorial tablets will always be watching over Su Ning.

Watching Suning head towards the distance, towards even more distant places.

That was something Suning had promised them.

……

After the prisoners were presented to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the pent-up anger that had been building up throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty for over twenty years was finally released.

The southern kingdoms are now history. Yan and Yun have long been recovered, and Liaodong and Liaoxi have been conquered. The Korean Peninsula has been pacified, and the powerful Khitan have been destroyed.

Those mountains that once weighed heavily on the Central Plains were removed one by one.

Those threats that once kept our ancestors up at night were eliminated one by one.

The people in the capital city walk with a brisk pace.

In the teahouse, the storyteller slammed his gavel, the sound so loud it could be heard throughout the entire establishment: "The story goes that the Khitan emperor Yelü Xian knelt before the gates of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, trembling with fear, not daring to even lift his head..."

The audience burst into laughter, laughing so hard they were doubled over.

An old man laughed until tears streamed down his face, wiping them away as he shouted, "Serves them right! Back when they came south to rob us, they never imagined this day would come!"

A young man nearby chimed in, "Grandpa, were you robbed back then?"

The old man glared at him: "Robbed? My father and mother were kidnapped by them! My father was lucky and escaped, but my mother never came back. When I was a child, my father talked about this every day. Now I'm over sixty, and I've finally waited for this day!"

After saying that, the old man picked up his teacup, drank it all in one gulp, and exclaimed, "That's refreshing!"

Inside the tavern, several men, their faces flushed and necks red from drinking, pounded on the table and shouted, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Great Zhou!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

"Long live the Emperor!"

The shopkeeper wasn't annoyed. He chuckled and brought over a wine jug, filling everyone's cups. "Drink, drink! I'm treating everyone to a good time today!" A fat man in a silk shirt stood up, raising his wine glass. "Come, come, let me toast you all! My family, three generations, starting with my grandfather, has been looking forward to this day. My grandfather didn't live to see it, my father didn't live to see it, but I have!"

He drank it all in one gulp, his eyes red-rimmed.

The person next to him patted him on the shoulder: "Don't cry, don't cry. You're happy today, why are you crying?"

The fat man wiped his face: "Who's crying? I'm happy!"

Every day, a crowd gathers in front of the notice board at the city gate.

There were merchants from other places, herdsmen from the grasslands, and students from Korea.

They looked up at the notices and began to discuss them.

"The railway is open again? Where does it go this time?"

"Suzhou! Further west, you'll pass through the Jade Gate Pass. The notice says the road will officially open next month, and it will only take a few days to get from the capital to Suzhou."

"Goodness, the capital is thousands of miles from Suzhou, and it only takes a few days to get there?"

"Trains are fast; they can travel hundreds of miles a day. I heard that the locomotives are powered by steam engines, making them much faster than horses, and they don't need to rest."

A silk merchant from Jiangnan had his eyes light up: "If I transport silk from Hangzhou to the capital, then take the train to Suzhou, and sell it to merchants in the Western Regions, how much time can I save?"

The person next to him did the math for him: "It used to take several months to get here, but now it only takes a month or two."

The merchant slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Great! I'll go back and prepare the goods right away!"

You can hear all sorts of accents everywhere on the streets and alleys.

Some spoke Mandarin, some spoke Hebei dialect, some spoke Jiangnan dialect, some spoke Liaodong dialect, and there were also those who came from the grasslands, speaking with rolled "r" sounds, which was quite interesting to listen to.

The children followed along and learned from them, then burst into laughter.

The grassland people weren't annoyed; instead, they grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

A young herdsman squatted down and patted the child's head: "You imitated it quite well, want to say a couple more lines?"

The child ran away shyly, hiding behind the adults.

The adult laughed and said, "Don't be offended, the child is just naive."

The herdsman shook his head: "It's nothing, it's nothing. I was quite naive when I was a child. This is my first time in the capital, and everything is new and exciting."

……

The capital city has truly developed.

When the capital was first moved, those who came from Bianliang had some doubts.

This place is so cold in winter that your ears can freeze off, and so hot in summer that you can cook an egg. It's nowhere near as good as Bianliang.

But after living there for a few years, I found it wasn't so bad.

In winter, there was coal and a heated kang (a traditional heated brick bed), making the house warm and cozy.

The elderly mother of Chai Rong's son-in-law Zhang Yongde was still talking about returning to Bianliang the first winter, but changed her mind the second winter: "This kang is so comfortable, much better than the beds in the south."

Zhang Yongde laughed upon hearing this: "Mother, you're not coming back?"

The old lady glared at him: "Go back? What are you talking about? It's fine here."

"Haha, that's more like it!"

"De'er, you are the late emperor's son-in-law. Does the current emperor truly value you?"

"Mother, rest assured! His Majesty has always valued me highly, and has arranged for me to work in the Naval Command Headquarters over the years."

"Isn't a navy inferior to a cavalry?"

"Mother, you are wrong! The navy of the Great Zhou is truly different, especially with the successive launches of new steam-powered ironclad warships. The navy of the Great Zhou today is absolutely unprecedented."

"That's good! That's good! Then you must not let His Majesty down, and you must not have any improper thoughts."

"Don't worry, Mother! Your son understands."

In fact, Zhang Yongde knew very well that even if a military officer wanted to cause trouble, he couldn't.

Because the system of political commissars supervising the military has been perfected, the national defense forces are now considered to be under the control of the imperial family.

……

Summers in Beijing are very hot, but with ice cellars, it's bearable.

Zhao Pu is sensitive to heat and suffers every summer.

People from the Academy of Sciences gave him a hand-cranked fan, which produced a whooshing sound when cranked.

Zhao Pu tried it out and nodded in satisfaction: "Good stuff. Make a few more and give one to everyone in the cabinet."

The streets in the city are wide and flat, all paved with cement, so they don't get muddy even on rainy days.

Horse-drawn carriages and oxcarts roamed the streets, and occasionally a few modern "self-propelled freight cars" could be seen...

It was developed by people from the Academy of Sciences. It burns coal and can haul goods, but it's a bit noisy, making a whooshing sound that can be heard from far away.

The grassland herders, seeing this thing for the first time, were so frightened their legs went weak: "What...what kind of monster is this?"

The old driver laughed heartily: "It's not a monster, it's a freight car. It runs on coal, so it doesn't need horses. Want to come on and give it a try?"

The herdsman waved his hand repeatedly: "No, no, I can walk."

The busiest place is the market in the west of the city.

Silk, tea, and porcelain came from the south; furs, medicinal herbs, cattle, and sheep came from the north; seafood, pearls, and ginseng came from the east; and jade, spices, and fine horses came from the west—the goods were piled up to the brim.

Merchants shouted their wares, customers picked and chose, haggled over prices, and shop assistants ran around carrying their goods. It was as lively as the New Year.

The officials from the Ministry of Revenue, holding the account books, stood on a high place looking at them, grinning from ear to ear.

Minister of Revenue Zhang Zhao personally came to inspect the situation and asked his subordinates, "How has this month been?"

The subordinate, beaming, held up the account books: "Your Excellency, commercial taxes have increased by another 20% this month. At this rate, the national treasury will be overflowing this year."

Zhang Zhao nodded: "Alright. The extra silver will be deposited into the treasury according to regulations. We will submit a memorial to His Majesty at the end of the year and ask for his decision."

His subordinate asked, "Minister, what should we do if the national treasury is full?"

Zhang Zhao thought for a moment and said, "If it's full, it's full. We'll save it. There are many places where we need money. How much more money will be needed for the Western Expedition? How much further will the railway be built? How much more money will be invested in the Academy of Sciences? Saving more now will ensure we're not in a rush later."

His men nodded repeatedly.

……

While the capital city was desirable, Bianliang (Kaifeng) was not overlooked either.

When the capital was moved, some people worried that Bianliang would decline.

After all, the emperor is gone, the court is gone, and those high-ranking officials and nobles are gone. What is left in Bianliang?
But as it turns out, this worry was unnecessary.

Bianliang is still the same Bianliang.

No, it's more prosperous than before.

The capital city became the political center, and Bianliang became the economic center.

Goods from the south were first gathered and distributed in Bianliang before being transported to various places.

Goods from the north also had to be transshipped in Bianliang before they could travel south.

On the Bian River, boats come and go, their sails like a forest.

At the dock, stevedores carry cargo bags and shout work chants, working from morning till night.

An older stevedore took a break to drink some water, and a younger man next to him asked, "Are you tired?"

The old stevedore wiped his sweat: "Tired? What's there to be tired about? Back when we were fighting, there was no time to be tired, no work, no food. Now we have work and money to earn, so what's a little tiredness?"

"That's true! It really is a time of peace and prosperity."

"That's right! Emperor Taizu, Emperor Shizong, and the current emperor—weren't they all outstanding figures?"

"Yes! We were born in a great era."

"This is what is called destiny."

……

The warehouse was filled with everything imaginable: silk, tea, porcelain, grain, salt, iron, and timber.

The official in charge of the warehouse carried the account books and inspected each warehouse, taking notes as he went.

When he reached the last shop, he stopped and looked at the piles of goods, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The shops on the street are lined up one after another.

There are century-old shops, emerging businesses, government-run enterprises, private enterprises, local businesses, and businesses from other places.

In the restaurant, you can find dishes from the south, the north, and even the western regions.

A merchant from Jiangnan ordered a bowl of mutton stew and ate it while sweating profusely.

Someone next to him asked, "Can you get used to the food?"

The businessman nodded: "I can eat it. This stuff is quite flavorful."

Officials from the capital would sometimes make a special trip back to Bianliang.

Although Wei Renpu had retired, he would return to Bianliang every year to stay for several months.

Standing on the Bian River dock, watching the cargo ships coming and going, he said to his son beside him, "When I was young, this river wasn't this busy. Back then, there were constant battles, and merchants didn't dare to go out. Now, things are much better; finally, there is peace in the world."

The son nodded: "Father, would you like to stay in Bianliang for a few more days?"

Wei Renpu shook his head: "A few days is enough. We still have to go back to the capital. There are still things to do there. The Advisory Hall is His Majesty's think tank."

The son laughed and said, "You've already retired, what else is there to do?"

Wei Renpu glared at him: "Retirement means I can't care about national affairs anymore? I have old friends in the capital. It's nice to go back and have tea and chat with them. Besides, His Majesty occasionally asks me to go back and offer my advice!"

"Father, I've heard about a royal secret. May I ask about it?"

"what?"

"Was it truly His Majesty who abdicated the throne to the late Emperor Shizong back then?"

"Yes, that's a fair assessment! The main reason is that the country had just been pacified, and Emperor Taizu was worried that Your Majesty's strength was insufficient to suppress those arrogant and unruly generals. That's why he had no choice but to pass the throne to the late Emperor Shizong and establish the imperial edict of succession by younger brother."

"I see! It seems His Majesty has compromised. After all, with His Majesty's true strength, he may not necessarily be no match for Emperor Shizong."

"By the mandate of Heaven, His Majesty is destined for eternal life! He is born with the appearance of an emperor, so he will not care about the matter of sooner or later."

In fact, Wei Renpu did not go into details, but Chai Rong and Empress Fu regretted their decision and wanted to pass the throne to their son, Chai Zongxun.

Chai Rong never expected that he would die so young, and that he would die before his ambitions were fulfilled.

However, Wei Renpu is now quite fortunate that Chai Rong died suddenly, otherwise a military coup would definitely have occurred.

That would have been a huge blow to the imperial power and regime of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and would have been far from the harmonious and stable state it is today.

……

In March of the sixteenth year of the prosperous era, Su Ning departed from the capital and traveled by special train to Bianliang for inspection.

This was his first return to Bianliang after the capital was moved to the capital.

The train traveled south, crossing the plains and the Yellow River, arriving in less than two days.

Outside Bianliang city, the people lined the streets to welcome them.

The line stretched from the city gate all the way into the distance, a dark, endless mass.

Some people were holding flags, some were holding flowers, some were carrying children, and some were helping the elderly.

Suning got off the train, boarded the imperial carriage, and slowly entered the city.

People were kneeling on both sides of the street.

"Long live the Emperor!"

"His Majesty is back!"

Looking at those familiar faces, Su Ning suddenly felt a surge of emotion.

Bianliang is still the same Bianliang.

But it seems a little different now.

It's more lively and more prosperous than before.

The former study camp has been transformed into the Royal Military Academy, where outstanding students and junior officers from all over the country gather.

These talented individuals will become the backbone of the Great Zhou's national defense army...

And those old shops that he's had since his childhood are still open.

The same old man who sells steamed buns is still there, only now his hair is completely white.

The fabric shop has changed its signboard and the owner is now a young person.

The streets he walked on back then are still there.

The road he took every day to visit Feng Dao's house was still just as long.

The street corner where he and his friends used to play is still as lively as ever.

But there were many unfamiliar faces on the street.

Merchants from the south, herdsmen from the north, and students from the east filled the city to the brim.

As the imperial carriage passed a teahouse, a storyteller's voice came from inside: "The Khitan emperor Yelü Xian is kneeling before the gate of the Imperial Ancestral Temple..."

Suning smiled.

Zhao Pu, standing to the side, said, "Your Majesty, listen, they're still talking about this."

Su Ning nodded: "Let them talk. It'll be more satisfying to hear it all."

The imperial carriage continued forward.

Wei Renpu stood in the crowd, watching the imperial carriage pass by.

He leaned on his cane, trembling, but his back was ramrod straight.

When Su Ning saw him, she stopped the imperial carriage. "Minister Wei, what brings you to Bianliang?"

Wei Renpu laughed and said, "How could I not come to welcome Your Majesty when you come to Bianliang?"

Su Ning alighted from the imperial carriage and walked up to him. "Minister Wei, how are you feeling?"

Wei Renpu nodded: "He's fine. He can eat and sleep well, and he can even go out for walks."

"Good. Live well and see this prosperous age for Master Feng and the others."

Wei Renpu's eyes welled up with tears. "This old minister will certainly."

After inspecting Bianliang, Su Ning took the train back to the capital.

On the carriage, Zhao Pu asked, "Your Majesty, are you satisfied with the development of Bianliang?"

Su Ning said, "Very good! Even better than before! Bianliang is indeed the best economic center of this era."

Zhao Pu nodded. "Your Majesty, Bianliang's commercial taxes now account for 30% of the national total. The Ministry of Revenue says that if this continues, even the capital will be inferior to Bianliang."

Su Ning smiled and said, "If we can't compete, we can't compete. The capital is the political center, while Bianliang is the economic center. Each has its own focus and its own advantages."

Su Ning paused for a moment, then said, "After all, the Great Zhou Dynasty is vast. One capital city isn't enough, so we'll add Bianliang. If one center isn't enough, then we'll have two."

Zhao Pu nodded. "Your Majesty is wise."

The train headed north.

Outside the window, fields, villages, and towns flashed by.

The farmers working in the fields were bent over, wielding their hoes.

The children running around the village, chasing dogs, playing and fooling around.

The merchants bustling about in the town shouted their wares to attract customers.

Looking at those figures, Su Ning suddenly felt very calm.

Twenty-five years have passed.

From a boy who crawled out of a well to the current emperor of the prosperous Zhou Dynasty.

From a chaotic and devastated world to today's peaceful and prosperous era.

As Su Ning looked at the farmers working in the fields, the children running in the villages, and the businessmen busy in the towns, a thought suddenly popped into her mind.

This is his empire.

These are his people.

Zhao Pu, standing to the side, looked at Su Ning's profile and asked softly, "Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?"

Su Ning was silent for a moment, then said, "I'm thinking about the future."

"after?"

"Yes! From now on! Industry, the Western Expedition, and large-scale infrastructure construction will be the national policies of the Great Zhou for the next hundred years! After the world is completely at peace, what kind of life will the people lead? Without me, how far can the Great Zhou go? Will future emperors shelve industrial civilization?"

Zhao Pu thought for a moment, "Your Majesty, how about we establish an ancestral precept to restrain future monarchs?"

"Hmm! That makes sense!" Su Ning nodded thoughtfully, a thought immediately flashing through her mind about the importance of the constitution.

"Your Majesty is wise."

...(End of this chapter)