Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the experimental workshop for sewing machines. These samples are currently in the final testing phase and are expected to be available on the market in the next few months."

Inside the sewing machine workshop, one can see how the originally complex manual cutting is easily and effectively handled by these individual pedal tables.

After seeing that the mending was almost perfectly sealed, everyone fell silent.

They exchanged glances, and saw a sense of urgent helplessness in each other's eyes.

Once these devices hit the market, textile industries that relied on purely manual labor will likely face collective bankruptcy.

The two are not even in the same league in terms of production efficiency, and cannot be represented by the number of workers.

"Puff-"

Suddenly, a soft sound rang out, and someone in the crowd, startled, immediately knelt down...

Their family was all involved in the textile industry, employing a large number of tailors and textile workers.

With the advent of new equipment, everything from spinning and weaving to garment making has been completely overwhelmed.

This is tantamount to cutting off one's own path to survival!

What should I do?

Shen Lang glanced at them casually and then said, "Let's go, gentlemen. Now that we've finished with the textiles, I'll take you to see the oil pressing."

Oil extraction?

Upon hearing this, those officials who were originally indifferent to the matter and had nothing to do with the textile industry suddenly felt a jolt of excitement.

These stressed-out people all started their businesses in the rapeseed trade, and their families all have sizable oil pressing workshops and rapeseed fields.

They originally came here to watch the jokes made by those families involved in the textile industry, but they never expected to become one of the juicy characters themselves.

With trepidation, the group followed Shen Lang to the oil pressing workshop.

Upon entering the workshop, a rich aroma of rapeseed wafts through the air.

Upon closer inspection, one could see that the bottom of a device about two people tall was continuously oozing vegetable oil, which quickly filled the receiving bucket.

Next to the oil pressing equipment, as the steam turbine rotates, it continuously rolls the cylindrical steel inside the equipment downwards at a uniform speed to squeeze out more oil and water.

"Let me introduce this to you. This is an oil press. A preliminary estimate shows that one machine can currently press a certain amount of oil per day."

This is roughly forty times the current rate of single-person manual oil pressing in Da Chu, and a rough estimate is that it can press about three to five thousand catties of oil per day.

Of course, this is just the beginning. Once the equipment defects are fixed, the oil extraction output can double again.

However, this requires sufficient raw materials.

Just as Shen Lang finished his introduction, an official suddenly shouted in terror:

"No! We can't let it be introduced into the world! We absolutely can't let it be introduced into the world! If this oil press comes out, my family's oil mill will be completely ruined, completely ruined!"

He cried as if he had lost his parents, with tears and snot streaming down his face, which was disgusting to watch.

This type of oil press, which saves a lot of manpower, is far more efficient than traditional oil pressing methods that rely on physical force or manual squeezing.

That would be tantamount to taking the lives of these stubborn old men.

As soon as she cried, many people knelt before the Empress and began to plead desperately.

"Your Majesty, we beg you to rescind your order. This oil press will rob countless people of their livelihoods, and the country will cease to exist, Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, I beg you to consider the livelihoods of the millions of people! You must not allow them to come into existence!"

Jiang Mengxuan watched this scene with amusement, feeling incredibly pleased.

Regardless of Shen Lang's purpose in showing them around the factory, at least for now, these scions of aristocratic families should feel the immense pressure brought about by technology.

"I have said that Shen Lang is fully responsible for this matter. Do you have any questions?"

"You can discuss this with Shen Lang afterwards; he knows more about factory matters than I do."

After saying this, the Empress walked straight forward.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please wait! Please, I beg you, spare my life..."

Seeing that the Empress ignored them, the kneeling officials could only helplessly watch as she moved on to the next workshop...

As evening approached, the officials practically supported each other as they walked out of the industrial zone gate.

Today, they have witnessed the power of technology, and learned what industry and atmosphere truly mean.

A dozen or so equipment workshops that are not yet in production and are still being tested contain an economic model that is enough to crush this era and completely destroy the handicraft workshops that are based on small-scale farming.

May I ask, what will you use to compete with the Empress?

In that instant, many court officials had thoughts of assassinating the empress.

As long as the Empress dies, this industrial revolution will inevitably collapse midway, and then his own interests will not suffer any loss.

But just as this thought crossed his mind, he looked up and saw Shen Lang leading a group of Imperial Guards soldiers to escort the Empress onto the imperial carriage.

"Ah……"

Instantly, many people laughed self-deprecatingly and immediately abandoned this foolish decision with an almost negative success rate.

The current empress is different from before. She has a personal guard that makes even martial artists retreat in fear, plus Shen Lang's ruthless methods...

They believed that if they dared to lay a hand on Jiang Mengxuan, they would definitely become the second Zeng Qian.

Moreover, even if Shen Lang is killed, who can guarantee that the manufacturing technology of the equipment in the factory will not fall into other countries?

If the Great Chu can stop the development of its own technology, how can it interfere with other countries?

So they were anxious and frustrated, jumping around like monkeys on Mount Emei, not knowing what to do.

Little did they know that what Shen Lang showed them today was only the tip of the iceberg.

They weren't taken to any of the restricted areas, such as steel mills, arsenals, chemical plants, or research laboratories.

At this moment, Shen Lang and Jiang Mengxuan were already seated on the imperial carriage heading back to Jinling.

"Your Majesty, the stage has been set up, and now we are just waiting for the lead actors to take the stage and perform."

"Shen Lang, tell me, what are you really thinking?"

Shen Lang stretched out his arms and leaned against the car window, watching the sunset's afterglow illuminate the earth.

"Your Majesty, as you have seen today, these court officials must have suffered a very heavy blow, both physically and mentally, after witnessing the astonishing power of technological products."

In the coming days, impeachment memorials will rain down on His Majesty's desk, but of course, His Majesty will continue to ignore them.

Jiang Mengxuan nodded with a smile and listened quietly as he continued.

"Once the impeachment fails, the officials will surely find other ways to target His Majesty."

However, I believe that some astute officials, upon learning that the impeachment was unsuccessful,

They will soon realize that they cannot stop industrialization and will proactively cooperate with His Majesty.

What His Majesty wants to support are those who are willing to accept new changes.

After all, the possibility of Chu achieving full industrialization solely through individual ability is virtually zero.

This goal can only be truly achieved with significant capital participation.

Jiang Mengxuan couldn't help but interject, "But I think you can do it too."

"Your Majesty is joking. This humble servant does not possess such great abilities," Shen Lang said with a smile. "At most, this humble servant can only lead a small group."

Only by bringing those aristocratic families willing to switch from agriculture to commerce under His Majesty's command can success be achieved.

Moreover, these people's interests align with His Majesty's, and after tasting the benefits of industrialization...

They will fully support Your Majesty's policies, stand completely on the same side, and may even help Your Majesty suppress the conservative aristocratic forces.

In this way, the situation where powerful families have controlled the government, which has been a headache for the Great Chu for hundreds of years since its founding, will collapse.

His Majesty can also take this opportunity to cultivate a new force to completely reorganize the court.

This will free the State of Chu from the dependence on powerful families to recommend virtuous and capable individuals. Only in this way can the hidden potential of the State of Chu be unleashed.

"Only then will it fully erupt. Your Majesty, please rest assured, as long as you trust me, I will certainly help you achieve this grand goal."

After Shen Lang's description, Jiang Mengxuan was extremely excited.

Unexpectedly, Shen Lang was so farsighted; this strategy was a multi-pronged approach, taking everything into account.

Looking up at Shen Lang again, she saw him leaning against the car window, quietly looking out the window.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the car window, softly illuminating his handsome face.

A gentle evening breeze stirred, lifting a few stray strands of hair that had fallen across his forehead.

At this moment, the man seemed like a celestial being descended to earth, captivating Jiang Mengxuan so much that she couldn't bear to utter a sound and break the rare beauty of the scene.

"I never imagined that he, who seemed so heroic, could also have such a gentle and refined side. The way he is..."

I really want to kiss him.

This man is someone you can never get tired of looking at; every time you look at him, you gain a different feeling.

Such a calm side was extremely rare, making the Empress wish she could draw this scene on paper right there and then.

The imperial carriage continued to move slowly forward, casting a long, blurry shadow in the setting sun that stretched all the way to the horizon.