While Lin Mei pursued her investigation, Li Wei turned his attention to the kingdom's infrastructure. The blast furnace had already proven its worth, producing high-quality iron for tools and weapons. But now, Li Wei wanted something more advanced: steel.
In the palace forge, he gathered with Old Fu and a team of blacksmiths. "We need a stronger material," Li Wei explained, gesturing to a diagram on the wall. "Iron is good, but steel is better. It's harder, more durable, and less likely to break in battle."
Old Fu squinted at the diagram, his expression skeptical. "And how do we make this 'steel,' Your Majesty?"
Li Wei picked up a piece of charcoal, sketching on the forge floor. "The secret is carbon. We take iron and add a small amount of carbon during the smelting process. Too much, and it becomes brittle. Too little, and it's just iron."
The blacksmiths murmured among themselves, intrigued but uncertain. Old Fu scratched his beard. "It sounds simple enough, but getting the balance right… that's the tricky part."
Li Wei nodded. "That's why we'll start with small batches. Experiment until we perfect the process."
Over the next several weeks, the forge became a hub of activity. The blacksmiths worked tirelessly, testing different ratios of carbon and iron. Li Wei visited often, offering encouragement and advice based on his modern knowledge.
Finally, after countless attempts, they produced a batch of steel that passed every test. The blades forged from it were sharper, stronger, and lighter than anything the kingdom had seen before.
Old Fu held up one of the finished swords, his eyes gleaming with pride. "Your Majesty, this is a weapon worthy of an emperor."
Li Wei smiled. "And soon, it will be a weapon that protects our entire kingdom."
But even as the first steel weapons were distributed to the soldiers, a courier arrived with troubling news. "Your Majesty, Lord Feng has summoned his allies to a private gathering. They've refused your invitation to the capital and are fortifying their estates."
Li Wei's grip tightened on the steel blade in his hand. "Then it seems the time for diplomacy is over."