Chapter 127: Good Tidings Near

According to the traditional mindset of the Great Xia, borders were meant to be heavily fortified; even if roads existed, they should be severed and replaced with defensive fortifications. Chen Mu’s approach was truly unexpected to Chen Xingtian.

Chen Mu smiled and said, "Our Great Xia’s national strength is so formidable that they wouldn’t dare invade even if they were given the courage. It is already an act of mercy that we haven't wiped them out."

Chen Xingtian was left between laughter and tears. "Yes, yes, you have a point."

With this settled, they began to plan where to build the railways. Initially, there were to be at least five lines, leading respectively to the Northern Hill region, the Southern Border region, the Western Mountain region, the Eastern Plains region, and the Kingdom of Hua. Although Hua’s national strength was weak, its technology was advanced, and strengthening cooperation was necessary.

The Northeast and Eastern Yue regions also required railways, though they would share a single line from the Eastern Plains, splitting into two branches at the end. Each line would consist of two tracks, with one train traveling in each direction, which would suffice for initial transport needs.

Once these were completed, they would extend lines to neighboring countries. The Southern Barbarians, Persia, the Xiongnu, and the Eastern Hu were all possibilities. The Racha Kingdom was too far, and maritime routes already existed, so it could be left for last.

As for the Peninsular Kingdom in the east, Chen Mu had already decided to ignore them. Their language was incomprehensible, their people’s thinking was backward, they worshipped cults, and they were arrogant and rude. They were not worthy of being a vassal state of Great Xia, let alone possessing a railway.

Some time later, Chen Mu and Long Xueyao successfully developed a train. Testing the prototype revealed it was exactly like the steam trains in Chen Mu’s memories. Both were overjoyed and decided to go out to the street for some barbecue.

Having just come from the Academy of Engineering, Long Xueyao brought no guards, and Chen Mu only brought ten. The barbecue shop was not far; it took only a short walk from the academy. With the secret guard networks of the capital and the Linen Guard, no spy could infiltrate, so Chen Mu felt quite relaxed.

The two entered the small shop, ordered some of their favorite food, and sat down to discuss the prospects of the train. Before long, someone outside shouted, "Your Highness the Crown Prince! Great news!"

The man started to rush inside, but the guards quickly stopped him.

"Halt!"
"What is your business?"

The man said, "I am from Wanghai County. The Southern Barbarians have discovered a rubber forest, and I am here to report the good news!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Mu stood up abruptly, excited. "What? A rubber forest? Tell me quickly, what is going on?"

Seeing that the Crown Prince was interested, the guards allowed the man to enter. The man rushed in and knelt down.

"Reporting to Your Highness, this humble servant is Lin You, a messenger from Wanghai County in the Southern Border region. The Southern Barbarians have found a rubber forest, and the County Magistrate ordered me to drive here to deliver the letter!"

With that, Lin You pulled a letter from his chest and presented it.

"This is the Magistrate of Wanghai County’s letter; please open it, Your Highness."

At this moment, Long Xueyao asked, "If it is an urgent report, why not use the telephone?"

Lin You replied, "With respect, the telephone in the Southern Border region broke two days ago."

Chen Mu nodded. "That’s right, the telephone in the Southern Border is indeed broken; I’ve already sent a new machine to replace it."

Long Xueyao was relieved as she watched Chen Mu take the letter. Chen Mu opened it immediately and began to read. The content was indeed about the rubber forest, and a vast one at that. Suddenly, a sense of danger washed over him.

He heard Long Xueyao cry out, "Watch out!"

Chen Mu leaped backward just in time to see Lin You lunging at him with a dagger. However, the blade did not strike Chen Mu, but rather a wooden tray that Long Xueyao had thrust forward. Chen Mu let out a cry of shock and quickly kicked the dagger from Lin You’s hand. The nearby guards were startled and quickly pinned Lin You to the ground.

Chen Mu took the wooden tray from Long Xueyao. "Are you alright?"

Long Xueyao shook her head quickly. "How about you? Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine," Chen Mu replied. He turned to look at Lin You. "Who are you? Why did you attempt to assassinate me?"

Lin You glared at Chen Mu with hatred. "Why? You provoke wars everywhere, causing the deaths of countless innocent people. Why didn't you die on the battlefield?"

Chen Mu frowned. "I provoke wars?"

"Don't you know? It was the Xiongnu who first invaded Great Xia, the Southern Barbarians who repeatedly plundered our villages, the King of Persia who incited rebellion in the Western Mountain region, and the Eastern Hu who slaughtered my compatriots! When have I ever provoked a war?"

Lin You laughed wildly. "Why don't you mention the Racha Kingdom? They are far to the north of the grasslands; when have they ever invaded Great Xia?"

Chen Mu was momentarily at a loss for words.

"The Racha... I intend to establish diplomatic relations with them, to make them a vassal state. If they agree, how could there be war?"

Lin You sneered. "Why should they become your vassal state?"

Chen Mu’s tone grew cold. "You wouldn't understand even if I told you. You only need to know that by assassinating the Crown Prince of Great Xia, you have committed treason, a crime punishable by the execution of your entire clan."

Lin You suddenly burst into hysterical laughter.

"Hahahaha... the entire clan? I have only one father, and he died long ago on the ice fields of the Racha Kingdom!"

Chen Mu was deeply moved. "You are a descendant of the Invincible Flying Army?"

Lin You spat. "What 'Invincible Flying Army'? If they were truly invincible, why would my father have died? After he died, my mother worked day and night for my sake and was worked to death in less than a year! I am the last of my family; kill me if you want!"

Chen Mu fell silent; this was indeed his oversight. Because the soldiers had always been fiercely loyal to him and had never complained during any campaign, Chen Mu had not noticed this. According to the military systems of his previous life, fallen soldiers should receive pensions, but Great Xia had no such system.

Chen Mu let out a long sigh and spoke slowly. "It was my negligence."

"Before you die, I promise you that starting tomorrow, I will establish a pension system for fallen soldiers. If a soldier dies in battle, they will receive financial compensation based on their military merits."

Although the dead could not be brought back to life, if such a system had existed earlier, Lin You and his mother might have been properly provided for, and his mother might not have been worked to death.

Pinned to the ground, Lin You remained ungrateful, continuing to curse hoarsely, "Don't you dare put on this hypocritical act! You, Chen Mu..."

Finding the insults truly unbearable, Chen Mu ordered him to be taken away and sent to the magistrate to be beheaded according to the law.

After sitting back down, Chen Mu poured a glass of wine, reflecting on what had just happened. Long Xueyao raised her glass as well. "Chen Mu, you have done well enough; do not be too hard on yourself."

Chen Mu nodded and clinked his glass with hers. "As a leader, the burden is heavy."

The two drank in one gulp. Long Xueyao gazed at him. In her eyes, Chen Mu had always been a mystery, possessed of endless ingenious ideas and capable of creating extraordinary inventions that helped improve the lives of the people of Great Xia.