My Imperial Advisor is ChatGPT

As more and more residents settled in Afang New Garden, Xianyang City expanded rapidly. Factories sprang up in the East Market, workshops in the West Market, a railway freight yard in the southern suburbs, and the Gewu Academy and University Town to the north. The people had paved roads and high-rise buildings, but a new problem arose—the roads were too far, and their legs couldn't keep up.

From Afang New Garden to the East Market Factory, it was at least five li (approximately 2.5 kilometers), and ten li (approximately 5 kilometers) round trip. Workers had to get up before dawn and wouldn't get home until dark. Some workers living in the shantytowns on the outskirts of the city traveled twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) round trip every day, their feet blistered from the journey. The Ministry of Works submitted a special memorial to the throne regarding this: the excessive commuting time affected work efficiency, and some workers were even dozing off at their posts due to exhaustion, nearly causing accidents.

Ying Zheng looked at the memorial with a furrowed brow.

"Father, look at this!"

Hu Hai pushed a strange-looking wooden cart into the imperial study. The cart had two wheels, a smaller front wheel and a larger rear wheel. There were no horses or oxen; it was propelled forward entirely by the rider pushing off the ground with his feet. The cart wobbled and the wheels creaked, but Hu Hai rode it with great enthusiasm, circling the hall before finally stopping—the "stopping" part being a black mark left by his foot on the ground.

"What is this?" Ying Zheng put down the memorial.

"A bicycle!" Hu Hai exclaimed proudly. "I had Zhao Gao build it according to the blueprints. One pedal and the wheels turn—it's much faster than walking! It used to take me two quarters of an hour to ride from the Imperial Household Department here, but today it only took half an hour!"

Ying Zheng examined the "bicycle." It had a wooden frame, wooden wheels, and a crossbar as a handlebar. There was no chain; it was propelled entirely by the two feet pushing against the ground. To put it nicely, it was a "bicycle"; to put it bluntly, it was a "rolling bench."

"Your Majesty, this is the early prototype of the 'self-balancing scooter.'" Little G's voice rang out. "But its efficiency is too low. Most of the power generated by pedaling is wasted on friction. To truly solve the commuting problem, chain drive is needed—pedaling drives the chain, which in turn drives the rear wheel, so that every pedal stroke can be converted into forward propulsion."

"A chain?" Ying Zheng asked, "The kind used in steam engines?"

The principle is similar. However, bicycle chains are lighter and more delicate. A gear is mounted on the rear wheel, and another on the pedals, connected by the chain. For every turn of the pedals, the rear wheel can rotate several times, greatly increasing speed and efficiency.

A glint of light flashed in Ying Zheng's eyes. If such an "efficient bicycle" could truly be created, the workers' daily commute time could be reduced by more than half, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?

"Send word to Wang Jianguo and Zhao Gao. Have them build a 'chain-driven bicycle' as Little G instructed."

Upon hearing this, Hu Hai immediately stepped forward: "Father! Can I try it out first? My legs are aching from pedaling this old chariot; it should have been scrapped long ago!"

Ying Zheng glanced at him: "You can try. But if you ride off like you did with the carriage last time—"

"Your Majesty understands! Your Majesty understands!" Hu Hai nodded repeatedly. "This time, I will be gentle, very gentle!"

In the Shaofu workshop, Zhao Gao stared at the chain transmission diagram drawn by Wang Jianguo, his head buzzing.

"Mr. Wang, you mean... you pedal this disc, the disc drives this chain, and the chain drives the small gear on the rear wheel?"

"Exactly," Wang Jianguo said, pointing to the blueprints. "The front sprocket is large, and the rear sprocket is small. One rotation of the front sprocket makes the rear wheel rotate three times. This way, with the same pedaling force, the bike can reach three times the speed."

Zhao Gao swallowed hard. "But this iron chain... each little iron ring has to be linked together perfectly, and it can't break..."

"Therefore, meticulous craftsmanship is essential." Wang Jianguo adjusted his glasses. "Each link must be of uniform specifications, otherwise the chain will break teeth or get stuck. Magistrate Zhao, I'm entrusting this matter to you."

Zhao Gao was on the verge of tears. He had made paper, smelted steel, fired cement, and built steam engines, but he had never made such a thing as an "iron chain with gears." Just to make chain links of uniform specifications, he made the craftsmen waste three hundred catties of iron and scrap more than two hundred defective links.

Two weeks later, the first qualified chain was finally completed. Zhao Gao carefully installed it on the wooden frame and connected it to the front pedal and rear wheel. Hu Hai, who had been waiting impatiently, rushed up to test ride it as soon as it was finished.

"Hey--!"

Hu Hai slammed his foot down, and the rear wheel spun three times with a "whoosh," causing the vehicle to lurch forward. He hadn't expected the vehicle to be so "violent," and he swerved, crashing into a pile of hay next to him.

"Ouch!"

Zhao Gao and Wang Jianguo quickly helped the man up. Hu Hai spat out bits of grass, his eyes flashing with an alarming light: "Quick! Quick! This cart is great! A hundred times better than my old wooden cart! Let me try it again!"

This test went on until nightfall. Hu Hai circled the open space of the Shaofu again and again, getting more and more comfortable riding with each step. Finally, he even held the handlebars with one hand, waving the other in the air, and making strange "woo-woo" noises. Zhao Gao watched with trepidation, fearing that his ancestor might fall and get seriously injured again.

"Teacher Zhao!" Hu Hai pulled to a stop with a drift, the wheels tracing an arc in the mud. "This car is great! Can it be mass-produced? I want one! No, I want ten! I want to ride it to the West Market and cause a ruckus!"

Zhao Gao said with a bitter face, "Young master, this one carriage alone took me half a month to prepare. Ten carriages? That would be..."

"Then let's mass-produce them!" Hu Hai slapped the handlebars. "Father said the workers walk too slowly, we need to provide them with carriages! This carriage is perfect! It's fast and goes far, much better than walking!"

Wang Jianguo nodded: "Young master is right. If it can be mass-produced, it can indeed solve the commuting problem. However, a few improvements are needed: first, the frame should be made of iron pipes to reduce weight; second, a bell should be added for warning when there are many people; and third, brakes should be added for safety when going downhill."

"A bicycle bell?" Hu Hai's eyes lit up. "Is it the kind that rings when you press it? I want it! I want the biggest one!"

Ying Zheng was quite satisfied with the improved prototype. The iron pipe frame, chain drive, bronze bell, and leather brake pads made this vehicle more than ten times better than Hu Hai's "rolling bench".

"This chariot should have a name," Ying Zheng said, "a name that will resonate throughout the world."

Li Si pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, this chariot travels on two wheels side by side, swift as the wind. How about calling it 'Flying Wheel'?"

"Flywheel..." Ying Zheng shook his head, "Too cliché."

Wang Jianguo said, "Your Majesty, this carriage is light and agile, and riding it is like riding the wind. Why not take inspiration from birds—a swallow? An eagle?"

"Your Majesty," Little G suddenly said, "In my database, there's a bicycle brand from later generations called 'Flying Pigeon.' The pigeon is a bird of peace, capable of soaring thousands of miles. It carries auspicious connotations and is also easy to pronounce."

"Flying Pigeon?" Ying Zheng nodded slightly. "Very well. Let's call it 'Flying Pigeon.' Issue an order to the Imperial Household Department that all chain-driven bicycles produced be branded with the words 'Flying Pigeon' as their identifier."

"only."

Upon hearing that the new carriage was named "Flying Pigeon," Hu Hai immediately rushed to request permission: "Father! Your Majesty! I wish to be the first user of 'Flying Pigeon'! May I have my carriage branded with 'Number One'?"

Ying Zheng glanced at him: "Alright. But if you drive the chariot apart again, 'Number One' will be replaced."

"Your Majesty, I guarantee it won't fall apart!" Hu Hai patted his chest. "This carriage is sturdy enough!"

Three days later, "Flying Pigeon No. 1" was officially delivered to Huhai. The boy rode it around the Xianyang Palace several times, the bells ringing deafeningly, startling the horses of the Imperial Stables into neighing. Zhao Gao followed behind, panting heavily, silently praying: Please don't fall, please don't fall…

The Imperial Household Department operated at full capacity, producing 500 "Flying Pigeon" bicycles within three months. However, 500 bicycles were a drop in the ocean for the tens of thousands of workers in Xianyang. After discussing with Li Si, Ying Zheng decided to adopt an "installment payment" method: workers could pay a 30% deposit upfront, with the remaining balance deducted from their monthly salary over twelve months. In this way, even ordinary workers could afford them.

As soon as the news spread, a long queue formed at the gate of the Shaofu Palace. The workers eagerly awaited their turn to ride those iron donkeys that "didn't need to be fed and could run on their own."

The first person to receive the bike was Old Sun, the furnace foreman at the Dongshi Ironworks. He paid the deposit, pushed the brand-new "Flying Pigeon" bike around the factory gate three times, grinning from ear to ear. A coworker came over to touch it: "Old Sun, can this thing really be ridden?"

"Yes! Why not?" Old Sun hopped on the bike, pushed off, and it sped off steadily. He circled the open space in front of the factory, the bike bell ringing incessantly, drawing the attention of everyone.

"Hey! That's amazing!"

"Old Sun, can I borrow your bike?"

"Go away, go line up and buy it yourself!"

Old Sun guarded the vehicle like a new bride. He did the math: before, it took him an hour to walk from home to the factory. With this vehicle, it only took 15 minutes. The time saved meant he could sleep a little longer and eat a hot meal. This vehicle was worth it!

A month later, Xianyang City had completely changed.

At the very first quarter of the morning, streams of iron vehicles begin to emerge on the main roads in all directions. These are countless workers riding "Flying Pigeon" bicycles, dressed in various work clothes and wearing cloth hats, pedaling their feet, heading towards their respective factories, workshops, and freight yards. The bicycle bells ring out one after another, "ding-a-ling," "ding-a-ling," creating a chorus like some kind of strange morning hymn.

Butcher Wang stood by the roadside, pushing his meat cart, dumbfounded. He had originally thought that these "bicycles" were merely toys for the wealthy, but now they were everywhere. The scene was like thousands of iron donkeys being released from their stalls at the same time, a magnificent and spectacular sight.

"Make way! Make way!" A young worker sped past on his bicycle, creating a gust of wind. "I'm going to be late for work!"

Butcher Wang dodged to the side, muttering, "What kind of world is this... two legs can't outrun two wheels."

Standing on the steps outside the palace gate, Li Si gazed at the distant flow of traffic, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Just a few months ago, His Majesty was still worried about the workers' commutes; now, the entire city was filled with "flying pigeons." The changes were so rapid that it was hard to keep up.

"Prime Minister Li." Ying Zheng appeared behind him unnoticed. "What are you looking at?"

"Your Majesty," Li Si bowed, "I am observing... this morning in Great Qin."

Ying Zheng followed his gaze. In the morning light, countless "pigeons" sped along the cement road, their bells ringing and wheels rolling. The scene was somewhat poetic.

[Your Majesty, this is the pulse of industrialization.] Little G said, [As transportation becomes widespread, people's activity radius will expand dramatically, and the boundaries of cities will be redefined. Xianyang is transforming from a 'walkable city' into a 'cycling city.']

"A city on wheels..." Ying Zheng repeated the phrase, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Interesting. I'd like to see just how far these two wheels can take Great Qin."

Liu Bang, of course, wouldn't let such a business opportunity slip by. He approached the Imperial Household Department and negotiated a dealership deal for "Flying Pigeon," establishing sales outlets in all four directions of Xianyang. Selling vehicles wasn't enough; he also launched a "Flying Pigeon Maintenance" service: flat tires could be inflated, loose chains could be tightened, and broken bells could be replaced. Each service cost five coins, aiming for low profit margins and high sales volume.

"Xiao He, just you wait and see," Liu Bang said, standing at the entrance of the West Market sales point, watching the endless stream of customers. "This 'Flying Pigeon' is a golden goose. We make a profit selling the bikes, and another profit from maintenance. Once the bikes are more common, we might even organize a 'Flying Pigeon Race' to see who can ride the fastest—we could set up a betting pool then, hehe..."

Xiao He frowned: "Brother Liu, this gambling is probably inappropriate. His Majesty hates gambling the most."

"Then let's hold a formal competition!" Liu Bang waved his hand. "Doesn't His Majesty like new things? Let's organize a 'Xianyang Pigeon Racing Competition,' invite His Majesty to attend, and offer some prizes. It'll be lively and won't be taboo."

Xiao He thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "That's feasible."

"By the way," Liu Bang suddenly said, "have you heard? General Meng Tian has also set up 'flying pigeons' in the border troops. Not for the workers, but for the scouts. They say they're forming some kind of 'bicycle rapid reaction force,' capable of traveling a thousand miles a day, completely silently."

"A bicycle... a quick reaction?" Xiao He was taken aback. "You're even abandoning the horse?"

"Horses need to eat, sleep, and get sick," Liu Bang laughed. "But this 'Flying Pigeon,' you can just feed it some beans—uh, no, some human food. Once it's full, it can pedal and travel three hundred li a day without a problem. And there's no sound of hooves; a night raid would be something the Xiongnu would never dream of."

Xiao He gasped, "General Meng, you're... trying to scare the Xiongnu to death!"

"More than just scared to death," Liu Bang said in a low voice. "I heard that when the Xiongnu scouts saw a troop of Qin soldiers galloping on two wheels from a great distance, they thought they had seen a ghost and turned tail and ran. It's become a laughing stock among the border troops."

The two looked at each other and smiled. The Qin Dynasty was changing rapidly, progressing by leaps and bounds.

It was no longer news that Hu Hai rode "Flying Pigeon No. 1" recklessly through Xianyang. But on this day, he caused a bit more trouble.

That afternoon, Hu Hai bought a large bag of snacks from the West Market, hung it on the handlebars, and prepared to ride back to the palace. When he passed the commercial street outside the Epang New Garden, he saw that there were many people on the road, so he rang the bicycle bell—a large bell that he had specially asked Zhao Gao to make, with a loud and booming sound.

"Ring ring—!"

Pedestrians quickly made way for him. Hu Hai, feeling smug, accelerated, and the car suddenly sped up. Suddenly, an old man carrying a load of cloth darted out from in front of him. Hu Hai couldn't brake in time, the handlebars swerved, and he and the car crashed into a cloth stall by the roadside.

"Splash—!"

The cloth was scattered all over the floor. Hu Hai scrambled up from a pile of silk, his face flushed. The stall owner, a woman, screamed upon seeing this and grabbed Hu Hai by the collar: "You pay! You pay for my cloth!"

"I...I..." Hu Hai stammered, then suddenly an idea struck him. "Do you know who I am? I am Prince Hu Hai! My father is His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty?" The woman was taken aback, then cried even louder, "Does Your Majesty have the right to overturn someone's stall? My whole family depends on this stall for their livelihood!"

Hu Hai was dumbfounded. He was used to acting arrogantly because of his status, but when this woman started crying, he didn't know what to do. Just as he was in a predicament, Liu Bang appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh, ma'am, calm down." Liu Bang said with a smile, pulling out a string of coins from his pocket. "I'll buy this cloth. How much? I'll double it for you."

The woman accepted the money, and her crying gradually subsided. Liu Bang then helped tidy up the stall before pulling Hu Hai aside.

"Young master, you're riding that bike a bit too fast."

Hu Hai blushed deeply with embarrassment: "I...I didn't expect that person to suddenly appear..."

"There are a lot of people on the road, so we need to slow down," Liu Bang said in a low voice. "If your 'Flying Pigeon No. 1' keeps crashing into things, what will His Majesty think..."

Hu Hai was startled. If his father found out he had caused trouble again, he feared even his carriage would be confiscated.

"Lord Liu, regarding today's events..."

"I didn't see anything today," Liu Bang said with a smile. "However, if you want to ride with peace of mind in the future, you might as well go to the Imperial Household Department and ask if they have any... slow-moving but with good brakes. Suitable for riding in the city."

Hu Hai nodded repeatedly, but inwardly he thought: Slow? The word "slow" doesn't exist in this young master's dictionary!

Even so, he became much more restrained in crowded places afterward. After all, if his car were confiscated, he wouldn't be able to play anymore.

With the number of "Flying Pigeon" bicycles in Xianyang exceeding 20,000, the scene of tens of thousands of workers cycling to work every morning has become a landmark of the city. The sounds of bicycle bells, wheels, and occasional shouts intertwine to create a symphony of an industrial morning.

Ying Zheng stood atop the highest point of Xianyang Palace, overlooking the awakening city. In the morning light, countless "pigeons" flowed through the streets, like an iron-colored river rushing in all directions.

"Little G, do you think this 'flying pigeon' can be considered a gift from me to the people?"

[Yes.] Little G said, [It has changed not only commuting methods, but also people's lifestyles. When a person can easily reach places ten miles away, their world expands. The meaning of the city changes accordingly.]

"The world has become bigger..." Ying Zheng murmured. "Yes. In the past, ordinary people might spend their entire lives confined to one village. Now, they can ride 'flying pigeons' from the east to the west of the city, from workshops to trading posts. This Great Qin has become smaller beneath their feet."

It has come to life.

Ying Zheng smiled slightly. He suddenly remembered Hu Hai's "Flying Pigeon No. 1" motorcycle. Although that kid had caused trouble, without his daily urging and test rides, the Imperial Household Department might not have been able to produce a qualified chain so quickly. There's a use for useless things; that saying is indeed true.

"Issue the decree," Ying Zheng said, "'Flying Pigeon' production should be doubled again. It should not only supply Xianyang, but also all the prefectural capitals. I want these two wheels to travel on every inch of the Qin Dynasty's paved roads."

"only."