Li Daoxuan watched Zhu Cunji take his seat and immediately guessed what was running through the heir apparent's mind.
"Oh?" Li Daoxuan said with a smile. "Your Highness seems quite taken with this grand iron carriage."
"Indeed. Very much so." Zhu Cunji chuckled as he looked around the carriage. "Just one trip like this—hundreds, even thousands of taels in fares. Truly… a remarkable way to make money."
Li Daoxuan raised an eyebrow. "Thinking of getting involved?"
"Absolutely." Zhu Cunji nodded without hesitation.
Li Daoxuan laughed and shook his head. "Your Highness, I'm afraid you can't build it."
Zhu Cunji froze. "Why not?"
Li Daoxuan tapped the metal wall beside him. "This single carriage—how much iron do you think it consumes?"
Zhu Cunji: "!"
Li Daoxuan continued calmly, "And the rails laid across the land. From here to the neighboring county alone—how much iron would that take?"
Zhu Cunji: "!!!"
This time, the heir apparent finally understood.
Even with the resources of the Prince of Qin's mansion, such a project was simply too vast. The iron alone would bankrupt him.
Zhu Cunji frowned. "Then how did you manage it?"
He didn't believe that Li Daoxuan—this so-called Gentleman Li—was wealthier than an imperial prince. If even he couldn't afford it, how had Li Daoxuan pulled it off?
Li Daoxuan replied lightly, "A stock-sharing system."
Zhu Cunji: "???"
"One person can't shoulder it alone," Li Daoxuan explained. "You gather wealthy partners. For example—if I invest one hundred thousand taels, and another person invests the same, each holding half the shares, suddenly you have two hundred thousand taels to work with."
Zhu Cunji's eyes lit up.
So it was simply a partnership—just dressed up with new terminology.
"If I wanted to do this," Zhu Cunji said slowly, "I'd need to cooperate with others?"
"Precisely." Li Daoxuan smiled. "Bring in the wealthy households and magnates of Xi'an. Pool their funds. Order grand trains and rails from me. Choose routes, lay the tracks, run the trains, and collect fares…"
Zhu Cunji nodded thoughtfully. "This… requires careful consideration."
At that moment, a mynah bird screeched from its cage, voice sharp and mocking:
"What's the use of pondering? You can't get it up anymore!"
Zhu Cunji's face darkened instantly.
Snap.
"You foul bird!" he roared. "This Heir Apparent has tolerated you for far too long!"
Li Daoxuan merely smiled inwardly.
Go ahead. Ponder all you like.
As a prince, you won't dare partner with ordinary merchants. You'll look for imperial relatives instead. And just like that—out comes a Royal Railway Company.
Public infrastructure funded by royalty.
When the tide of revolution arrives, all of it will naturally fall into the hands of the people…
Tsk. Perfect.
Before long, the train arrived at Lintong Station.
Zhu Cunji could go no farther. With a sigh filled with regret, he disembarked and headed toward the hot spring resort.
The grand train pressed on, rumbling through prefectures and counties, until it finally reached Gao Family Village Railway Station.
Here, the first avatar of Dao Xuan Tianzun disembarked. His steps swayed slightly as he entered the waiting room.
Inside, the third avatar, who had been seated, stood up. He took the birdcage from the first avatar's hand and gave his shoulder a light pat.
"Congratulations," he said warmly. "On your honorable retirement."
With that, the third avatar turned and boarded the train once more.
Time's great wheel rolled forward without mercy.
In Gao Family Village, heroes continued to surpass their predecessors. Middle-school graduates were beginning to step onto the stage, showing talent and ambition.
Even Dao Xuan Tianzun's true body was undergoing continuous upgrades and replacements—discarding old shells, refining new ones—marching steadily toward a fresh rebirth.
Meanwhile, the Gao Family Village Army continued its pursuit of Zijing Liang's forces.
As the saying went:
Evil must be eradicated thoroughly.
After routing Zijing Liang once, a victorious pursuit was only natural.
At the same time, the imperial court had cast its net wide.
The Supreme Commander of Xuanfu and Datong, Zhang Zongheng.
The Governor of Shanxi, Xu Dingchen.
The Sichuan Grand General, Deng Qi.
The famed Sichuan White Pole Soldiers.
Vice Grand General Zuo Liangyu.
Multiple forces converged, tightening the encirclement around Zijing Liang.
Gao Family Village was preparing to coordinate with them—
When, just after passing Wuxiang County, a lone rider came galloping toward them at full speed.
The man dismounted in a tumble, barely steadying himself as he shouted urgently, "Is Commander Wang Xiaohua present?"
Every head turned at once.
All eyes landed on Bai Mao, expressions strange.
Cold sweat broke out on Bai Mao's back. "Hey—just 'Commander Wang' will do. No need to shout my full name like that!"
The messenger bowed hastily. "I am a household retainer of Prefect Dou Wenda of Pingyang. I bear urgent military intelligence."
Bai Mao: "?"
"The rebel army of Yan Zhenghu has breached Xishui County," the messenger said breathlessly. "When I departed, they were less than a hundred li from Pingyang Prefecture. The Prefect has only local militia—utterly useless. He begs Commander Wang to return with reinforcements!"
Bai Mao fell silent.
At that moment, the second avatar of Dao Xuan Tianzun, who had just finished repairing his damaged silicone body, waved a hand.
"Go," he said calmly. "The pursuit of Zijing Liang won't fail because of your absence. But we cannot allow the people of Pingyang to be slaughtered."
Bai Mao clasped his fists. "Understood!"
He immediately turned back with Wang Er, leading their troops toward Pingyang Prefecture.
Li Daoxuan frowned slightly and turned to Shi Jian.
"Xishui County lies near the Yellow River," he said. "Yan Zhenghu may not go to Pingyang at all. If he advances south along the eastern bank, the Longmen Yellow River Bridge will be his first target."
Shi Jian stiffened. "I understand."
"You return at once and garrison Longmen Bridge."
Shi Jian accepted the order and departed with his men.
Just like that, Gao Family Village's forces were reduced by two thousand.
Before they could resume the pursuit, yet another rider came charging in—this time a militia scout from Gao Family Village.
He dismounted swiftly, knelt, and bowed deeply toward Dao Xuan Tianzun's second avatar.
"Dao Xuan Tianzun—disaster has struck!"
"Oh?" Li Daoxuan said.
"Shang Tianlong has captured Yangcheng," the scout reported rapidly. "He's approaching Hedong Circuit. Our salt-producing lands are no longer safe. The brothers guarding the city sent me to request reinforcements!"
Li Daoxuan fell silent.
Before he could speak, Cheng Xu said gravely, "Dao Xuan Tianzun, protecting our own territory must come first."
"Correct." Li Daoxuan nodded.
Though he cared for all under Heaven, priorities still existed. The lives of his people outweighed those of unaligned commoners.
If Hedong Circuit was threatened, Xing Honglang's forces had to return.
And since roving bandits didn't siege cities methodically—preferring to bypass defenses and strike weak points—Puzhou City was also in danger.
That meant Lao Nanfeng's forces had to return as well.
Cheng Xu sighed. "Then… we can no longer pursue Zijing Liang."
Li Daoxuan nodded. "Withdraw the troops. We return."
Zhang Fengyi hesitated. "Gentlemen… if all of you withdraw to defend your own lands, what should I do?"
Li Daoxuan looked at her. "General Zhang, the White Pole Soldiers have endured prolonged fighting. Continuing the pursuit would be unwise. Why not withdraw to Hedong Circuit with us and rest?"
Zhang Fengyi wanted to continue fighting—but when she glanced at her troops, their exhaustion was unmistakable. Many were wounded, others barely standing.
They truly needed rest.
"…Very well," she said at last. "I will withdraw with you to Hedong City."