Steam Era: The Lord of 'Puluo' Chapter 1417: Balance (Volume 2 Finale)_4

Chapter 1417: Chapter 639: Balance (Volume 2 Finale)_4

“If we can align our goals with the Inner State, that is, with the Da Shang Dynasty, we can prevent this war by balancing each other’s interests.”

Li Banfeng understood: “You are speaking in such a roundabout way because you want the Da Shang Dynasty to act and hold back the Demon Land, keeping it from attacking the Outside Provinces.”

Chen Changrui nodded: “This is beneficial for Puluo State as well. If the Demon Lord breaches Three-Head Fork, it would be devastating for Puluo State too. It’s a situation that benefits all three parties, so…”

Li Banfeng put down the dossier he was holding and stared at Chen Changrui for a long time: “I ask sincerely, and you answer sincerely. Since this is something beneficial for all three parties, why don’t you directly negotiate with the Inner State?”

“It’s because the Inner State never interacts with us…”

“Don’t talk to me about tradition. Tell me the reason directly.” Li Banfeng’s tone was quite amicable, but Chen Changrui could sense that if he didn’t speak truthfully or continued to equivocate with Li Banfeng, the consequences might be quite severe.

“It’s related to a period of history.”

“Are you referring to the honeymoon period between Earth and the Companion Star people?”

Chen Changrui recalled the history he knew, somewhat scattered, needing a moment to piece his memory together: “Precisely speaking, it wasn’t a honeymoon period between the Companion Star people and Earth, it was between the Great Shang Empire and Earth,

The Great Shang Empire established a passage to Earth, but for some reason, the passage didn’t work as intended,

Based on this, the Great Shang Empire changed its strategy. They decided to cooperate with Earth people to improve Earth’s overall strength and achieve a balance to some extent.”

Li Banfeng pondered for a moment and slightly shook his head: “Say it more straightforwardly.”

Chen Changrui was conflicted. To be more straightforward would mean saying something that might hurt feelings: “Take Puluo State as an example. The series of plans by the Great Shang Empire at the time were resisted and disrupted by Puluo State. The Great Shang Empire hoped to establish deeper connections with Earth to jointly restrict Puluo State,

But Earth hadn’t yet experienced the first steam revolution, and Earth’s strength wasn’t enough to contend with Puluo State. Thus, the Great Shang Empire sent envoys through various channels to Earth to help develop steam civilization,

Earth’s civilization indeed developed well, and once it reached a certain level, it did have the capability to intervene in the affairs of Puluo State, Land of Slumber, and Inner Amikan,

But Earth people gradually found many approaches of the Great Shang Empire were against their interests. Every time Earth people wanted to pursue their interests, they would be technologically choked,

When I worked at the Outer Star Research Institute, the data wasn’t managed strictly yet. I read some historical materials, which recorded even a trivial little conflict could result in the halt of production in a region or even a country,

Aside from controlling industrial veins, the Great Shang Empire also infiltrated their life forms into Outside Provinces through similar means. Many factory workshops were Inner State’s life forms.”

Li Banfeng nodded: “Like the centipede factory of Ruirong Textile Factory.”

Chen Changrui nodded: “Ruirong Textile Factory is a typical example. We harvested advanced technology from the Inner State, but this advanced technology itself is a life form capable of reproduction,

It not only reproduced in the textile factory but also opened an exit to the wormhole in the textile factory. Such examples were countless at the time,

To respond to this situation, Earth people adopted a strategy that temporarily balanced the relationship between both sides.”

“How did they balance it?” Li Banfeng was very curious about the methods involved.

“Earth cooperated with the Demon Lord in a series of collaborations, the specifics of which are unknown, but this cooperation severely weakened the strength of the Great Shang Empire. This made the Great Shang Empire lose control over many passages leading to Earth, like the Land of Slumber,

The Great Shang Empire considered this a disgraceful and unforgivable act of betrayal. Since then, they refused to engage in any form of communication with Earth people,

They cut off technological support to Earth, and Earth received some assistance from the Demon Lord. In subsequent cooperation, similar issues arose with the Demon Lord as with the Great Shang Empire. Whenever there was a conflict of interest, the Demon Lord would threaten Earth’s safety with technology,

Fortunately, the second technological revolution arrived soon, and Earth people began transitioning towards electronic civilization, gradually freeing themselves from technological constraints imposed by the Third Planet, reaching a new balance of interests with various parties.”

“Is this so-called balance?” Li Banfeng smiled, “Nothing more than stabbing in the back. Though effective, it sounds really despicable.”

This remark made Chen Changrui somewhat angry: “When I was as young as you, I also felt such actions were disgraceful, but the disparity between Earth Civilization and Companion Star Civilization was too great. Even to this day, the difference in strength between them remains significant,

I just obtained a piece of information from Gao Yina; the magnetic storm weapon appearing this time is very formidable. It’s not like those electromagnetic interference war examples you read in military magazines,

This weapon is powerful enough to disable all electrical components. According to the warriors on the warships, even the lights didn’t work, and not even a loudspeaker could shout,

Meanwhile, all defense facilities of the enemy’s naval base were driven by steam, and all steam equipment functioned normally. You can imagine how difficult this battle was,

This is the technology taught by the Demon Lord. Just because they don’t want to develop towards electronic civilization doesn’t mean they can’t do it. Facing such opponents and still wanting to clash head-on with them—isn’t it somewhat unrealistic?”