Zhu Cunji, the Prince of Qin's heir, stood by the riverbank with a dark scowl on his face.
His gaze swept over the flowing Wei River, and rage welled up inside him.
"My glorious money-making plan," he snarled, "is blocked by this blasted Wei River! Absolutely infuriating! Someone—come here! Fill this river up for me!"
Standing beside him, Wu Shen wore a strange expression.
"Your Highness," he said carefully, "please mind your words. The Wei River is the mother river of the people of Shaanxi. Adding words like 'blasted' in front of its name will easily provoke public outrage. If word spreads, the common people of the entire Qin region may very well rise up against you."
He paused, then added flatly, "As for filling the river… don't even think about it."
The words 'the common people would rise up' struck Zhu Cunji like a thunderbolt.
He instantly sobered.
"Fine, fine," he said quickly. "I won't curse the Wei River anymore. Before the people get angry, I'm already furious myself!"
He waved his hands anxiously.
"The railway is blocked by this river. What are we supposed to do? What should we do?!"
Wu Shen frowned, a trace of impatience seeping into his voice.
"Your Highness, haven't you noticed? The people from Gao Family Village are already researching how to build a bridge."
Zhu Cunji immediately lowered his voice.
"Minister Wu, you don't understand. These steam-powered vehicles weigh hundreds of tons, and once fully loaded they'll carry over a thousand passengers. With that much weight, who knows how heavy they'll be? Can any bridge in this world truly support such a monster?"
Shi Kefa, who had been standing quietly nearby, leaned forward.
"Of course a bridge can support it," he said calmly. "For example… a divine bridge."
Zhu Cunji snorted.
"Divine bridge? You're talking about that Longmen Yellow River Bridge again, aren't you?" He waved dismissively. "I don't believe it. How could a bridge possibly span the Yellow River?"
Shi Kefa replied seriously, "I saw it with my own eyes, Your Highness. If you don't believe me, a visit to Longmen will settle it."
"I'll see a ghost!" Zhu Cunji exploded. "Are you trying to kill me? The moment I leave this small area around Xi'an, I violate ancestral law. That's a capital offense!"
Shi Kefa could only shrug helplessly and spread his hands.
The Jinyiwei all knew this clearly: princes of the blood were strictly forbidden from leaving their fiefs, and monitoring them was precisely the Jinyiwei's duty.
If Zhu Cunji truly dared to go to Longmen, Shi Kefa would be the first one obliged to arrest him.
While the three were arguing at the rear…
At the front, a large group had gathered along the Wei River.
Scientists, senior engineers, graduate students, along with Blue Hats and Yellow Hats from Gao Family Village, were all studying the river's current and terrain.
Young Master Bai squatted on a rock by the riverbank, gesturing as he spoke.
"The river itself is over a hundred meters wide. Add to that the elevation required on both banks, and the bridge will need to be at least two hundred meters long. A stone bridge or wooden bridge is completely impossible. Neither could bear the load of a train."
A graduate student stole a glance at Li Daoxuan, who stood quietly among the crowd, and whispered, "Should we… ask the Heavenly Lord to bestow a divine bridge?"
Song Yingxing immediately shook his head.
"We shouldn't trouble the Heavenly Lord with this. Building a divine bridge over the Yellow River is one thing, but using such a solution for the Wei River would be like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. This river is small enough that we mortals should deal with it ourselves."
Young Master Bai laughed.
"I think the same. This time, we'll build the bridge ourselves."
The graduate students were startled.
"Build it ourselves? A bridge that can carry a train?"
Wang Zheng leaned forward and said decisively, "Use steel and cement."
Almost at the same moment, Song Yingxing and Young Master Bai exclaimed together:
"Steel and cement!"
The two paused, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Great minds think alike!"
At that moment, Li Daoxuan walked over, smiling.
"What are you all discussing?"
Several scientists immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Heavenly Lord! We were discussing that this time, there's no need for you to intervene. We intend to research and construct a large steel-and-cement bridge ourselves."
Li Daoxuan nodded approvingly.
"Commendable courage," he said. "But this won't be easy. Without several years, it's impossible."
The scientists answered in unison, without hesitation:
"Then several years it shall be."
Just as they finished speaking, Zhu Cunji suddenly poked his head in from the side.
"Several years won't do!" he protested loudly. "I'm counting on this railway to make money! The funds are invested, the workers are hired, construction is happening everywhere. How can the whole project be stalled for years?"
"Hahaha!" Li Daoxuan laughed. "The Heir Apparent is quite anxious."
"Of course I'm anxious!" Zhu Cunji nodded vigorously. "Mr. Li, we've been business partners for years now. Our cooperation has been very pleasant. If this venture collapses, please help me out."
Although they were indeed partners…
Zhu Cunji's forty percent share of the profits had long since been reinvested back into Li Daoxuan's enterprises, effectively leaving Li Daoxuan with one hundred percent of the dividends.
Li Daoxuan clasped his hands and sighed.
"What can I do? I'm just a weak, helpless, and pitiable merchant."
Zhu Cunji stared at him.
"These people are all your subordinates," he said impatiently. "Help me urge them on!"
Li Daoxuan thought silently: Several years is indeed too long. I'm already planning developments around Yan'an. In the future, faster transport between Yan'an and Xi'an will be essential for materials, culture, everything.
The scientists' desire to rely on their own abilities was admirable, but research required time.
It would be better to first build a bridge that could be used immediately—open the Xi'an–Yan'an route—then allow the scientists to slowly research and construct another one.
Li Daoxuan smiled.
"Very well, Heir Apparent. I'll give you a good solution."
Zhu Cunji's eyes lit up.
"What solution?"
Li Daoxuan said calmly, "The Daoist sect venerating Dao Xuan Tianzun is very popular in Xi'an lately. Go offer incense, ask for assistance, and perhaps the Heavenly Lord will bestow a divine bridge."
Zhu Cunji shot him a sideways look.
"Are you messing with me?"
Li Daoxuan replied with a straight face, "Not at all. Didn't Minister Shi Kefa say it himself? The Heavenly Lord can bestow divine bridges."
"I don't believe it," Zhu Cunji said stubbornly. "Absolutely not."
Li Daoxuan merely smiled and said nothing.
That smile made Zhu Cunji feel inexplicably uneasy.
He thought it through carefully.
If the bridge isn't built, there will be no ticket revenue. This concerns my grand money-making plan!
When people cannot solve a problem with their own strength…
They turn to the gods.
Even princes were no exception.
Zhu Cunji turned to his personal guards.
"Have you heard of a deity called Dao Xuan Tianzun?"
The guards replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness. Lately, Xi'an has been full of talk about him. Even the Heir Apparent's consort… ahem… has gone to offer incense."
Zhu Cunji was stunned.
"Why am I the only one who doesn't know?"
The guards thought silently: You're busy drinking and chasing women all day. Why would you care about deities?
Zhu Cunji sighed.
"Fine. I want to pray to this deity and ask for a divine bridge. How should I do it?"
The guards didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
With such half-hearted belief and zero sincerity, how could the Heavenly Lord possibly respond?
Impossible. Absolutely impossible.
Zhu Cunji narrowed his eyes.
"Judging by your expressions… are you looking down on me?"
The guards immediately straightened.
"We wouldn't dare!"