"This... naturally counts."
Minister Yan hesitated, words catching in his throat.
"However, the method for manufacturing the steam carriage has already been awarded to the Merchants' Association that paid the highest commercial taxes two years ago. They're not lacking in wealth. Why would they allow the bank to take a share of the profits?
As for the steam locomotive, that's even more straightforward. It was the court that funded its creation. The revenue should, by right, return wholly to the national treasury. What role would the bank have in investing or sharing those profits?"
"If those two ventures won't work, then simply find others of similar value," Yun Shu replied, utterly composed. "Since steam carriages and trains can be made, do you mean to say nothing else can?"
"..."
If such things were truly so easy to create, would they not have been invented in the past few thousand years?
Minister Yan nearly retorted instinctively. Yet, recalling the young woman before him—who had indeed brought both inventions into existence—his expression changed in an instant. His eyes lit with sudden insight.
"Your Highness, could it be that you have once again crafted something comparable to the steam carriage?"
"Not quite," Yun Shu said calmly.
In no hurry, she took another sip of tea in front of him. Only after swallowing did she speak slowly and deliberately.
"But it wouldn't be difficult either.
After all, the principles behind steam engines are not particularly complex. Learn a bit of physics, and it all becomes clear."
"Physics?"
Minister Yan furrowed his brows, uncertain.
"You mean the subject Your Highness introduced at Tian Sheng Academy, the one barely anyone was willing to study?"
"That very one," Yun Shu nodded. "To be precise, mathematics, physics, and chemistry. With these three disciplines as the foundation, creating new inventions akin to the steam carriage should not be out of reach."
"Then... Your Highness is suggesting that the bank invest in the students at Tian Sheng Academy studying those subjects?"
Now even more hesitant, Minister Yan frowned.
"But from what I've heard, there aren't many students who excel in those areas."
"You're absolutely right," Yun Shu sighed lightly. "There's little helping it. These disciplines only emerged in recent years. The common people don't understand their importance. They have no idea what benefits such knowledge brings.
To them, learning mathematics or chemistry seems less practical than learning to feed pigs."
"Quite so..." Minister Yan wiped a bead of sweat from his brow.
Truth be told, he himself had not understood the use of such studies before today.
"Why not publish an article about the importance of these subjects in the Capital Weekly and Tian Sheng Weekly?" he offered.
"What use is there in just publishing that?" Yun Shu dismissed the notion.
"You think people will be moved by a headline that reads, 'Master science and you too can build steam carriages like Her Highness and earn mountains of gold'?
How many would believe it?"
Even today, the people still referred to the steam carriage as the "Divine Carriage"—as if it were some heavenly artifact beyond mortal reach.
Their subconscious told them such a thing was not something ordinary people could possibly create.
They say that one's understanding defines the limits of one's vision. A dream drawn too grand will only feel distant and unattainable.
After all, in times like these, the average commoner had no room for trial and error. Even if the reward was great, if it seemed impossible, few would dare to take the risk.
Yun Shu needed only to hint at the logic, and Minister Yan quickly grasped her point.
And once he did, his brows furrowed deeper than ever.
"Then... by Your Highness's reasoning, is there truly no solution? We know how vital these subjects are, yet no one is willing to study them...
It's like standing atop a mountain of gold without a single shovel in hand to dig it up. If it truly comes to that, perhaps we should simply order the Ministry of Works to send all their officials to study math and science?"
"Minister Yan speaks as though mastering these subjects is as simple as making the decision to try."
Yun Shu let out a small laugh, clearly amused.
"There are so many scholars in Tian Sheng, yet how many are chosen once every three years in the imperial examinations?"
"True talent and aptitude are indeed essential," Minister Yan conceded, finally realizing his earlier assumption was overly simplistic. Shoulders slumping, he sighed in resignation.
"But the crux remains. So few are willing to learn."
"Then have them change their minds. Have them choose to learn."
By now, all the groundwork had been laid. Minister Yan was genuinely fretting over the lack of scholars in the sciences. Seeing this, Yun Shu finally revealed the true purpose of her visit.
"If mathematics, physics, and chemistry become part of the imperial examinations, no further persuasion would be necessary. The people would naturally send their children to study them."
"Your Highness speaks of... wait, no, that is unthinkable!" Minister Yan nearly followed her reasoning without pause, but caught himself just in time.
"After all, aside from the Ministry of Works, what other court departments truly require these three subjects? To make them part of the imperial examinations would be..."
"This Princess did not say to insert them into the standard examination system," Yun Shu interjected, mildly exasperated.
"What This Princess proposes is to establish a new imperial examination, held at a new examination hall, dedicated solely to those three disciplines."
"This..."
Still doubtful, Minister Yan hesitated again.
Yun Shu offered a gentle, patient reminder.
"Minister Yan, consider the profits of the steam carriage. And imagine if more inventions like that were to emerge.
Now think further—when the wealth of Tian Sheng's treasury grows so vast it draws the envy of all, what shall we use to defend it?
Ah, and one more thing."
She raised a finger before he could interrupt.
"The new weapons that shone so brightly on the battlefield of the Seven Nations—they too will one day be copied. Unless something stronger replaces them, our advantage will not last long."
Minister Yan fell silent.
For all his preparation, he had still been caught off guard by Yun Shu's unrelenting logic. Though unwilling, in the end he could only let out a weary chuckle.
"Your Highness, persuading this old official alone is not enough.
Even if the Ministry of Revenue agrees to fund the endeavor, any change to the examination system will affect many entrenched interests.
If those factions refuse to yield, this reform cannot proceed.
And without the examination in place, the military factories will have no one to research new and stronger weapons. We'll be stuck reproducing the same models already seen on the battlefield."
"That is no longer Minister Yan's concern."
With one final hurdle cleared, Yun Shu rose to her feet, her expression light and confident.
"This Princess needs only to know that Minister Yan stands with This Princess. As for the others, This Princess has her own ways to deal with them."
"In that case, this old official shall await Your Highness's good news."
What else could Minister Yan do?
All he could do now was rise and respectfully see Her Highness, the Crown Princess, off.