As evening fell, the Gao Family Village News Broadcast went live once more.
With the border conflict finally settled, there was no longer any need for emergency war bulletins. The focus of the broadcast smoothly shifted back to its usual themes: production, construction, and technological development.
On the screen, Gao Yiye appeared, smiling brightly at the audience.
"This edition's Tianzun Scientific Invention and Innovation Award," she announced, "goes to Manager Tan Liwen."
The moment his name was spoken, the entire village fell into stunned silence.
People in Xi'an or Puzhou might not know who Tan Liwen was—but in Gao Family Village, everyone did. Like San Shier, he was an administrator through and through.
Since when did administrators invent things?
As if anticipating the confusion, Gao Yiye immediately continued.
"Manager Tan Liwen proposed adding a cargo bed to Young Master Bai's steam car, allowing the experimental vehicle to finally be applied in real-world production."
The screen shifted.
A steam-powered vehicle appeared, rumbling steadily along a mountain road. Where armor had once been mounted, there was now a spacious cargo bed. Sitting inside it was a massive steam pump, swaying slightly with the movement of the vehicle.
Gao Yiye's voice rang out clearly.
"The Tianzun encourages scientists to research core technologies, and also encourages frontline workers to use practical experience to give inventions truly useful functions."
Only then did everyone understand.
Technological products had two sides:
core technology, and practical application.
As the Tianzun himself often said:
"Both hands must grasp, and both hands must be strong."
And with that, the broadcast came to an end.
At the Gao Family Village Armory, a brand-new department was being established.
Under the leadership of Gao Yiyi, preparations were underway for the mass production of the so-called "cargo vehicles."
But the moment work truly began, everyone realized something:
This was nothing like making weapons.
It was far, far more complicated.
The number of components was staggering. The tools required were numerous. The production sequence alone was dizzyingly complex—nothing like forging guns, iron pots, or sabers.
Back when they were only making experimental vehicles for Young Master Bai, the senior blacksmiths could treat it as "side work," contributing a few hammer strikes whenever they had spare time.
But mass production was a completely different beast.
"We need a factory," Gao Yiyi declared, sweeping his arm dramatically as if embracing the world itself. "A gigantic factory. At least half the size of a valley."
Tan Liwen inhaled sharply.
"That big?"
"Yes," Gao Yiyi said seriously. "The Tianzun has always emphasized standardization. If we're going to mass-produce cargo vehicles, all key components must be built to uniform standards. That means each major component needs its own independent workshop."
Tan Liwen rubbed his temples.
"Where am I supposed to find land that big? The area around Gao Family Village has long been fully occupied."
And that was the truth.
Gao Family Village had once been a tiny mountain hamlet with only forty-two original residents. Its farmland was minuscule. After waves of newcomers arrived, the village expanded outward until there was simply no land left.
Beyond that… it was nothing but mountain slopes.
Building a massive factory on a slope was obviously impossible. Such a facility required flat land.
"Heyang County has large flat areas," Gao Yiyi suggested. "What if we build the automobile factory there?"
Tan Liwen shook his head.
"Heyang is still just a small county town. Vehicle manufacturing is complex, and it requires enormous quantities of materials. Ideally, the factory should be located at a major transportation hub. That way, even if the Heavenly Lord no longer assists us in the future, we can still source materials ourselves."
He paused.
"That leaves only Puzhou and Xi'an."
Between the two, the answer was obvious.
Tan Liwen made his decision.
"We'll acquire a large tract of land on the outskirts of Xi'an and build a massive automobile factory there."
Several days later, in Xi'an.
Wang Tang, chief director of Gao Family Village's Xi'an operations, straightened his long gown to make himself presentable. He glanced toward the corner of the room, where a mass-produced Dao Xuan Tianzun statue sat quietly.
"Tianzun," he asked respectfully, "would you like to accompany me?"
Li Daoxuan chuckled.
"I won't be going. My mynah bird is almost out of food. I need to arrange some more for it."
"Then I shall proceed alone," Wang Tang said.
He exited and headed straight for the Prince of Qin's Residence.
Establishing a massive automobile factory in Xi'an was impossible without dealing with the Prince's Residence. Wang Tang's visit was to negotiate the acquisition of land.
Li Daoxuan knew that if he went personally, the matter would be resolved instantly. Zhu Cunji now treated him like an ancestral deity—he'd probably kneel and cling to his leg on sight.
That kind of intervention wasn't ideal.
Wang Tang needed experience.
So Li Daoxuan casually carried his birdcage and strolled through Xi'an's bustling streets and winding alleys.
On the western side of the city, construction was underway on a "Dao Xuan Heavenly Lord Cave."
It had once been the grand estate of a wealthy family. Prince Zhu Cunji had purchased it, ordered all the pavilions and halls torn down, and repurposed the entire property into a sacred site.
Naturally, Zhu Cunji wasn't supervising personally. He had left the matter to his consort, while he focused on railway construction and developing the various "tourist attractions" that sprang up along the tracks.
Li Daoxuan made his way cheerfully to Xi'an North Station, birdcage in hand, and boarded the "Cunji" train.
The carriage was packed.
Judging by the crowd, Zhu Cunji's train tickets were selling quite well.
Several young scholars sat in the same carriage.
They were clearly from well-off families—jade pendants hung from their waists, and a few even carried swords.
As soon as the train began moving, they started posturing.
"Gentlemen," one said grandly, "this is my first time riding a train! It's completely different from a horse carriage. I wish to compose a poem about it, but alas—my talent fails me!"
The others laughed.
"Brother Li, you write it!"
"No, no, Brother Gu should!"
The scholar called Brother Gu smiled awkwardly.
"You're all putting me in a difficult position. My strength lies in statecraft and practical governance, not poetry. I truly cannot produce one."
They laughed even harder.
"You're the most learned among us! If even you can't, who possibly could?"
Brother Gu shook his head with a faint smile and returned to his seat.
While the others continued chatting noisily, he quietly picked up his brush and began writing.
This was well within Li Daoxuan's field of vision.
Without moving from his seat, Li Daoxuan activated his focus ability and immediately saw what the scholar was writing.
It wasn't poetry at all.
He was carefully recording local customs, water conservancy projects, and civilian livelihoods throughout Shaanxi—documenting every strange and novel innovation originating from Gao Family Village.
Even the massive train he was riding was carefully noted down.