"The Internal Combustion Engine."
Wu Liang uttered a noun.
Suina looked completely blank.
Wu Liang explained patiently:
"It's the set of blueprints I gave you earlier—a new power core that's smaller and more powerful than a steam engine.
It's driven by a fuel called gasoline or diesel fuel."
As the tech tree unlocked, the theoretical knowledge of the primary Internal Combustion Engine had appeared in his mind.
While it was too early to build cars or tanks, creating a small diesel fuel engine to power ships was worth a try.
"I want you to get a prototype of this thing out for me as soon as possible. My Iron Fleet cannot keep using those clunky, oversized steam engines."
"No problem! Leave it to me!"
Suina patted her majestic chest, taking on the task with full confidence.
Having arranged everything, Wu Liang stretched, feeling a bit tired.
As the territory grew, so did the workload. Fortunately, he had such a group of capable women under him; otherwise, he would truly be worked to death.
He returned to his room and found Wei Xian sitting by the bed, gently stroking her clearly protruding abdomen.
"You're back?"
Seeing Wu Liang, a gentle smile appeared on Wei Xian's face.
"Yeah."
Wu Liang walked over, hugged her from behind, and placed his hand gently on her belly.
"How are you feeling today? Has the little one been bothering you?"
"He's very well-behaved."
Wei Xian leaned into Wu Liang's embrace, her face radiant with maternal glow.
"But what about you? Worrying about territory matters again? I see you've grown thinner."
"Can't be helped, the operation has spread too wide."
Wu Liang kissed her cheek.
"But it's all worth it. When our child is born, he will be the most noble prince in this world."
"I don't care if he's a prince or not,"
Wei Xian said softly.
"I only hope he can be like you—a man who stands tall and upright."
After a moment of intimacy, Wei Xian suddenly said:
"By the way, Eliza also felt unwell today. She had Alesha check her, and it seems... she's pregnant too."
"What?" Wu Liang was stunned.
Eliza was pregnant too?
He counted on his fingers: one for Wei Xian, one for Eliza—he was about to have four children since arriving in this world.
Was this efficiency... a bit too high?
A strange thought suddenly popped into his head:
When the children grow up in the future, his own offspring alone could form a reinforced platoon, couldn't they?
At the thought of that image, Wu Liang couldn't help but want to laugh.
One month later.
On the southern Gold Coast, a bustling port city.
Rena stood at the highest point of the harbor, watching ships flying the flag of the Martinez Family slowly sail into the bay, her eyes filled with high spirits.
In just one month, she had used her family connections and the massive funds provided by Wu Liang to buy and rent enough to scrape together a massive fleet of over a hundred ships of various sizes.
This fleet was enough to make any family in the Commercial Federation green with envy.
"Miss, all ships have assembled. According to your instructions, the recruited sailors and captains are all on standby aboard the ships."
An elderly man who looked like a butler reported respectfully.
"Very good."
Rena nodded.
"Pass down my order: the fleet sets sail immediately. Destination: the Western Territory!"
"Miss, are we really going to..."
The old butler hesitated. "Back at the family, many people have already expressed dissatisfaction with your recent actions."
"A bunch of short-sighted fools."
Rena snorted coldly.
"They will soon understand that what I bring to the family will be unprecedented glory. Pass the order down: those who disobey will be dealt with according to family rules!"
"Yes!"
The old butler dared not say more and bowed as he withdrew.
Rena turned around, gazing at the northern sky.
There lay the hope for her future.
Master, your fleet is coming.
Meanwhile, Wu Liang also received news sent back from the south by the Elven Scouts.
"A fleet of over a hundred ships?"
Wu Liang looked at the intelligence in his hand, very satisfied with Rena's efficiency.
It seemed this woman had truly bet her life and fortune on him.
"Pass the order down: have Akomann send a legion to garrison our newly built 'Black Port City.' Prepare to receive the fleet."
Wu Liang ordered the guard beside him.
Black Port City was a new port city Wu Liang had built on the southern coastline of the Western Territory, consuming a massive amount of manpower and resources.
That place would be the starting point of his future maritime hegemony.
"Also, notify Suina. How is her research on the Internal Combustion Engine going?"
"Reporting, My Lord. Manager Suina said that the prototype of the first diesel fuel engine was successfully ignited yesterday!"
"Oh?" Wu Liang's eyes lit up.
So fast?
It seemed Suina's practical ability really exceeded his imagination.
"Come, let's go to the munitions factory and take a look!"
Wu Liang couldn't wait to see what it looked like.
When the massive fleet led by Rena finally reached the southern coastline of the Western Territory after more than half a month of sailing, everyone was stunned by the sight before them.
What appeared before them was not the desolate coast and crude docks they had imagined, but a majestic city of steel.
Wide cement embankments, like the arms of a giant, firmly held back the surging waves, enclosing a vast and calm harbor.
Inside the harbor, dozens of massive steel lifting arms—what would be known as gantry cranes in later generations—stood like prehistoric behemoths.
They easily lifted multi-ton containers and precisely stacked them on the docks.
Behind the docks was a vast warehouse area that stretched out of sight, with trains shuttling incessantly between warehouses, transporting goods in and out.
Further away, the outline of a city was clearly visible.
Towering clock towers, orderly streets, chimneys emitting white smoke... "My god... this... this is Black Port City?"
Rena murmured to herself. Beside her, the captains and sailors were even more wide-eyed, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.
They had traveled to every port on the continent, including the Commercial Federation's most prosperous Gold Port, but they had never seen a port so magnificent and efficient.
Compared to this place, Gold Port was like a small fishing village.
"All ships, enter the port in order! Maintain silence, no shouting!"
Rena quickly recovered from her shock and immediately issued orders.
The fleet slowly sailed into the harbor and, under the guidance of Black Port City soldiers, docked at designated berths.
Rena stepped off her flagship. A tall woman in a black military uniform with a cold expression was already waiting on the dock.
It was the commander of the Black Rock Army, Akomann.
"You are Rena?"
Akomann looked her up and down with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Yes, General Akomann. The fleet has all been brought here."
Rena answered neither humbly nor arrogantly. She felt a powerful sense of pressure from this woman—a murderous aura that could only be forged in a sea of blood and mountains of corpses.
"Mm."
Akomann nodded without superfluous words.
"I am taking temporary command of the fleet. All sailors and captains, disembark and undergo reorganization and ideological education. You, come with me."
"Ideological education?"
Rena was stunned. What on earth was that?
But she didn't dare ask more and obediently followed Akomann into a strangely shaped vehicle.
This carriage had no horses, but its body was made of metal, and it had soft sofas inside.
As the driver stepped on a pedal, the vehicle let out a roar and began to speed smoothly along the wide cement road.
Rena was shocked once again.
What... what was this thing?
"This is a newly invented automobile, driven by an Internal Combustion Engine."
Akomann seemed to see her surprise and gave a brief explanation.