On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

Imperial Capital, Zichen Hall.

The chill of deep winter was dispelled by dozens of gilded charcoal braziers in the hall, and the air was filled with the fragrance and warmth of ambergris.

However, the atmosphere inside the hall was more solemn and dignified than the cold winter outside.

Lin Zhen, wearing a black dragon-patterned uniform, sat at the first seat on the left side of the imperial steps. His deep eyes were calm as he glanced at the civil and military officials standing solemnly below the steps.

Empress Murong Yan sat high on the Nine Dragon Golden Chair, wearing a phoenix crown and a red robe, with a graceful demeanor. There was a barely perceptible hint of fatigue and relief in her calm eyes.

Although the shadow of the snow disaster in the northern border has dissipated, the aftermath of disaster relief, the threat from the Rouran, and the two "thunderbolts" that tore through the wind and snow and shook the government and the country are still echoing in everyone's heart.

"Announce." Empress Murong Yan's voice was clear and melodious, piercing the silence in the hall.

The chief eunuch held up a bright yellow imperial edict and read aloud: "By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: The snowstorm in the northern border is unseen in a century. The Rouran are spying, adding insult to injury. Fortunately, thanks to the mighty power of Heaven, the dedication of our officers and men, and the hard work of our officials, we have finally overcome this difficult time, saved the people from disaster, and deterred the invaders from entering our country. Therefore, rewards are hereby issued according to your merits."

"Lin Zhen commanded with skill and mastery, using his thunderbolt of the Inquisition to break the ice and pave the way, connecting people instantly and relieving the urgent needs of 100,000 disaster victims and deterring the evil intentions of the Rouran people. His contributions are immense. He was rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold and a thousand pieces of brocade, and was promoted to Grand Tutor and General of Heavenly Strategy. He was also granted the privilege of entering the court without bowing, being praised without being named, and being allowed to wear a sword and shoes into the palace."

"Chu Xiling, the head of the Burning Thunder Department, was a master craftsman. He forged an iron dragon to break ice and used radio waves to communicate with the gods. His contributions were immense. He was promoted to Minister of Works, appointed Director of the Institute of Gewu, and granted the title of Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, along with a reward of five thousand taels of gold and a pair of jade bi disks."

"General Mao Mengji, the General who pacified the frontiers, personally braved the snowstorm to transport food and fodder, breaking the ice to clear a path, and defeating the Rouran cavalry in battle, his bravery surpassed all the other armies. He was promoted to Marquis of Zhenbei, and given the title of Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and was awarded a red-lettered iron certificate, three thousand taels of gold, and a thousand acres of fertile land."

"The Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Thunder and Fire, and all the officers, soldiers, officials, and civilians in the northern border will be rewarded according to their merits."

"Appreciate this."

"Your Majesty, we thank you for your grace." Lin Zhen, Chu Xiling, Mao Mengji and other ministers bowed their heads to receive the order.

A suppressed gasp was heard in the hall.

The reward was unprecedentedly heavy.

In particular, Chu Xiling was rewarded with the titles of Minister of Works, Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, and Director of the Academy of Gewu, which were equivalent to the prime minister, setting a precedent for women to enter the cabinet.

This is not only a recognition of his achievements, but also an elevation of the status of the study of things.

Lin Zhen's title of General Tiance and the Three Special Rites pushed his military power and prestige to the peak.

Mao Mengji's red-lettered iron certificate is the ultimate honor of military merit.

The empress announced to the world that the new policies and the study of things had become national policies and could not be shaken.

After conferring the rewards, Empress Murong Yan turned her gaze to Lin Zhen and said, "Grand Master, the thunder in the northern border has shaken the court and the country. I and all the ministers wish to witness the power of the Investigating Things."

"Your Majesty, I obey your command." Lin Zhen bowed.

The palace door opened.

Dozens of Jinwu Guards escorted two huge objects covered with thick black cloth and slowly pushed them into the hall.

The heavy wheels rolled over the golden brick floor, making a dull sound.

The attention of all the ministers in the hall was instantly attracted.

The black cloth was lifted.

On the left is a scaled-down model of a steam locomotive. The copper-cast boiler, cylinder, flywheel, and connecting rods gleam with a metallic sheen in the candlelight. The carved boxwood body has a delicate texture.

The wrought iron track rests on a custom-made wooden base. Although a model, it possesses a precise structure and exudes a majestic presence.

On the right is a complete electromagnetic telegraph machine.

The copper and wood devices at the transmitter and receiver are sleek, with copper wire wrapped in black vulcanized rubber connecting the two ends.

The buttons on the sending end are shiny and the pointer on the receiving end is hovering.

Chu Xiling, dressed in an indigo official robe, looked as cool and calm as ever as she walked into the hall. She didn't look at the ministers, but instead her gaze settled calmly on the two objects.

"This is a model of a rail steam locomotive, at a scale of ten to one." Chu Xiling's voice was clear, cool, and steady, penetrating the hall. "Its power comes from boiling water into steam, which pushes pistons, which connect to the crankshaft, which drives the flywheel, and the flywheel transmits the power. To provide disaster relief in Black Rock County, the Iron Dragon No. 1 carried ten carts of grain, weighing over ten thousand pounds. It cut through deep snow, opened an icy road, and traveled a hundred miles a day, far beyond the reach of human power or horses. If it were equipped with refined steel tracks to optimize thermal efficiency, its speed and power could be increased tenfold. Given time, a journey of ten thousand miles could be opened, and travel from morning to evening would be possible. It's no exaggeration."

She walked to the steam engine model and signaled the craftsman to light a specially made small alcohol stove.

The fire started, heating the micro boiler.

After a moment, steam gushed out, pushing the piston, driving the flywheel to rotate, the crankshaft and connecting rod to move, and the entire locomotive model slowly moved forward on the track!

Although there was no sound, the precise movement and the sight of it moving forward without any external force had left the ministers in the hall stunned.

Chu Xiling turned and walked towards the telegraph. "This is an electromagnetic telegraph."

Her fingertip lightly touched the send button. "The principle is based on electricity generating magnetism, which moves the needle, which points to a code, and the code forms a text. From Yanmen Pass to Heishi County, a distance of three hundred miles in wind and snow, military intelligence and disaster reports can be transmitted instantly. It ignores the barriers of mountains and rivers, day and night, cold and heat."

Her fingertips tapped rapidly on the keys.

Ta-da, ta-da-da.

The crisp sound of keystrokes was particularly clear in the silent hall.

As she moved, the metal pointer on the receiving end began to swing left and right.

Ta-da, ta-da-da.

The movement of the pointer is almost synchronized with the sound of the key press.

"Sending code: Zichen." Chu Xiling said.

Next to the receiving end, a young eunuch watched the needle move closely, quickly recorded the symbols on a piece of paper, and then read out loudly: "Incoming message: Zichen."

"Send code: Political discussion." Chu Xiling typed again.

Young eunuch: "Receive information: discuss politics."

"Send code: Thunder." Chu Xiling's fingertips flew.

Young eunuch: "Receive information: Thunder."

In an instant, the information is transmitted accurately.

The hall was dead silent, with only the crackling of candlelight.

The shock on the faces of the ministers was beyond words.

These silent radio waves and these precise movements are beyond their comprehension.

This is not a miracle, but the power of the study of things! Its might and potential are enough to overturn the world!

"The power of studying things can transform into thunder, break the wind and snow, and communicate with the gods." Empress Murong Yan's voice broke the silence, carrying unquestionable majesty. "This is a blessing for the country and the people. Issue an order."

"First, the Ministry of Works, the Bureau of Thunder and Fire, and the Institute of Geography will, effective immediately, survey and plan the main railway line between the capital and northern Xinjiang. Priority will be given to the section between the Imperial Capital and Yanmen Pass. Deploy Iron Dragon series locomotives to ensure unimpeded access to grain and military routes in northern Xinjiang."

"Secondly, the Post and Telecommunications Department, the Ministry of War, and the Institute of Geography will, effective immediately, establish a telegraph line between the Imperial Capital and the Northern Frontier. This will connect all prefectures and important border towns, ensuring that government orders and military intelligence can be transmitted instantly."

"Third, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works shall, effective immediately, formulate a ten-year strategy for the study of nature and the revitalization of the nation. Steam power shall be used for mining, grain transport, and textiles. A telegraph network shall be established covering all prefectures and counties. The necessary silver and money shall be allocated from the inner treasury and guaranteed by the national treasury."

"Fourth, the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial College, and the Academy of Gewu will, effective immediately, revise the regulations for the imperial examinations. They will add the Gewu test. Gewu academies will be established in all prefectures and cities to recruit talented individuals to study Gewu, thereby strengthening the nation through practical learning."

"Your Majesty, we obey your order." The ministers of Works, War, Revenue, and Rites, as well as Chu Xiling, bowed and accepted the order.

However, the hall was not filled with jubilation.

A group of veteran officials, led by the Minister of Rites Zhou Zheng and the Imperial Censor Wang Jian, had solemn expressions and furrowed brows.

"Your Majesty," said the Minister of Rites, Zhou Zheng, stepping forward. His hair and beard were all white. His voice was old but tinged with worry. "I, your humble servant, dare to speak out. While the study of things has its uses, it is ultimately a gimmick, not the proper way to govern a country. Steam locomotives and telegraphs cost millions, and are a drain on the people's wealth and time. I am even more worried that with the increasing prevalence of ingenuity, people's hearts will change, rituals and music will collapse, and the country will be in tatters."

"Lord Zhou is wrong," Li Chong (the newly appointed Minister of Works, formerly the Vice Minister) retorted. "Without the iron dragons breaking the ice and radio communication during the snowstorm in the northern border, how could a hundred thousand victims have been saved? And without the shockwaves of the Burning Sky Thunder, how could the Rouran cavalry have retreated a hundred miles? These are truly accomplished feats, and how can they be dismissed as mere gimmicks?"

"Minister Li," Imperial Censor Wang Jian interrupted, his voice sharp. "The power of the study of things is indeed meritorious. However, adding the study of things to the imperial examination system undermines the very foundations of Confucianism. The widespread establishment of schools for the study of things threatens to lead scholars to abandon the teachings of the sages and pursue cunning techniques. If this continues, where will the moral principles and the orthodox doctrines be preserved?"

"What Censor Wang said is alarmist." The new Minister of Revenue Zhang Heng (formerly the head of Huitong Bank and Zhang Li's father) stepped out and said in a steady voice,

"The study of things is not meant to replace Confucianism, but rather to complement it. Confucianism cultivates the self, regulates the family, and governs the state, while the study of things leads to knowledge and strengthens the nation. Relief of disaster in the northern border, the power of the study of things, saved the people from disaster, is not great benevolence. Deterring foreign invaders, protecting the border and the people, is not great righteousness. The study of things can also carry the truth."

"Minister Zhang is absolutely right," said Minister of War Zhao Wu in a resounding voice. "Warfare is a matter of great importance to a nation. By studying the power of nature, we can forge sky-burning thunder to defend against foreign aggression, create iron dragons to transport supplies, and dispatch troops through telegrams. This is the foundation of a strong army and a nation, not just some gimmick or trick."

"Yes..." Zhou Zheng wanted to say something else.

"Enough." Empress Murong Yan's voice was calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure. "The power of studying things benefits the country and the people, with immediate benefits and long-term benefits. This is national policy, and criticism can be stopped. I understand that Lord Zhou and Lord Wang are concerned about the country. However, times have changed, and clinging to the old ways is not the way to govern. Studying things to revitalize the country is imperative."

She glanced at Lin Zhen and asked, "What do you think, Grand Master?"

Lin Zhen slowly stood up, his dark robe fluttering in the wind. His deep gaze swept over the ministers, and his voice was low and powerful:

"The power of studying things is not a rare skill; it is the study of the principles of heaven and earth, which enables the use of all things. The power of steam liberates human labor, enriching the nation and strengthening the people. The speed of radio waves transmits information, strengthening the nation and ensuring its security. This does not shake the orthodoxy of the Tao, but rather marks a new chapter in it.

When Confucius established rituals and music, he also needed bells, drums, zithers, and harps. Today, investigating things and casting thunderclaps is also to protect our nation of rituals and music. Saving a hundred thousand disaster victims in the snowy plains of the northern border is benevolence. Deterring the Rouran and protecting the territory and the people is righteousness. This is all the power of investigating things, the practice of the holy way. To hinder investigating things is to hinder benevolent governance and righteousness.

His eyes flashed as he looked directly at Zhou Zheng and Wang Jian. "As for the enormous expense of disaster relief in the northern border, without the Iron Dragon, we would have to mobilize hundreds of thousands of civilians, consume countless grain, and waste months, resulting in countless casualties. Without the telegraph, information would have been lost, and the opportunity to fight would have been missed, leading to the Rouran invasion and countless lives lost. Have you ever carefully calculated the gains and losses here?"

Zhou Zheng and Wang Jian were speechless and their faces turned red.

"Studying things and revitalizing a nation is not a one-day endeavor." Lin Zhen's voice deepened. "However, the direction is clear, the road has been opened. We should forge ahead, blazing a trail through the thorns and forging ahead, rather than sitting back and discussing theories, empty talk that will harm the nation."

Silence fell upon the hall. Lin Zhen's words struck everyone like a hammer. Empress Murong Yan nodded slightly, "Grand Master's words are very much in line with my will. To study the nature of things and revitalize the nation is a well-established national policy. All the ministers should unite their hearts and minds to contribute to this great cause. I adjourn the court."

"Your Majesty is wise." The ministers bowed.

Lin Zhen turned around, and his black cloak drew a sharp arc behind him.

Chu Xiling's cold gaze swept across the two masterpieces of science in the hall, then she lowered her eyes and followed Lin Zhen out of the Zichen Hall.