With the steelmaking technology given by the System being simple and easy to use, and with materials and costs optimized to the lowest point, once the "Steel Manufacturing Plant" was successfully built and produced the first batch of usable steel weapons, Elara immediately gave the order to secretly build several more steel plants in the satellite cities outside Plumera City.
From then on, all military equipment and weapons in Plumera Kingdom were to be gradually replaced with higher-quality steel versions.
Besides military equipment, steel products also had a great role in everyday life.
For example, the production of "steel bars" played an important role in advancing architecture, transportation tools, and various everyday items that required high-strength and durable materials.
So after explaining all the key points of steel products to the Military Industry Department, Elara called over the Construction Department, the Commercial Industry Department, and the Agricultural Industry Department.
Once steel bars and other steel products were integrated into these departments' construction and production, buildings in Plumera Kingdom could be built taller and stronger. Tools such as bridges, roads, carriages, and waterwheels would also see century-level improvements, becoming more solid, stable, and efficient.
After the various steel products entered mass production lines and began continuous output, the "Textile Factory" was also almost complete.
Not long ago, during the second national exam, a female official named Runa, skilled in embroidery, stood out. Once the textile factory was ready, Elara appointed her as the head of Plumera Kingdom's first textile factory.
Inside the textile factory, besides craftsmen skilled in embroidery and weaving, it was more important that they added textile machines based on the technical books provided by the System.
These textile machines were ordered early by Elara and made by technical officials from the Commercial Industry Department. Once completed, the official use of the "loom" greatly improved weaving efficiency.
Besides looms, Elara also had officials from the Industry Department produce all types of textile machines mentioned in the "Basic Ancient Textile Technology" book.
These machines were not only for weaving but also for processing raw materials. They could quickly strip fine fibers from the skins, stalks, or hairs of various plants and animals.
Once all the tools inside the textile factory were made, Elara personally taught the textile officials and craftsmen how to use the machines.
As the officials and craftsmen gradually learned to operate the machines, Plumera Kingdom's textile industry officially entered a new stage of development.
Aside from the major factories above, in the past few months, Plumera Kingdom also built a porcelain kiln factory.
The reason came from an event two and a half months ago, when a poorly dressed young man pulled a cart full of porcelain by hand into Plumera City. He went to the Bai Family's Business, saying he came to fulfill an order placed earlier by Miss Bai.
Elara heard about it and went to see it herself. After seeing the ragged young man and the cart filled with fine porcelain, she recalled he was a porcelain craftsman she once met while passing through the capital of Gladiolus Kingdom during her first trip abroad.
His porcelain had been extremely exquisite and beautiful. At that time, Elara had wanted to recruit him, but since she was heading to a multi-nation banquet, she couldn't take him along, so she gave him a deposit and told him to bring the goods to Plumera Kingdom later.
When she gave that deposit, she didn't hold much hope. After all, in this ancient world with poor transportation and dangerous roads, it would be very hard for a half-slave craftsman from another nation to cross several countries without any protection.
But what was once just a casual act from her had now truly borne fruit.
The craftsman really used the deposit to create a batch of incredibly fine porcelain and hauled it all the way by ox cart to deliver it to her.
Such talent, Elara had to recruit right away. Besides, Gladiolus Kingdom was already a province under Plumera Kingdom now.
So, after removing his slave status and registering him as a citizen of Plumera Kingdom, Elara made him the lead and established Plumera Kingdom's first high-quality porcelain kiln factory.
From everyday citizens to luxurious nobles, the porcelain factory had to produce large quantities of porcelain to meet the needs of all social classes.
Especially luxury items, which were likely to become a new best-selling trade good of Plumera Kingdom in the future, sold overseas through outlets like Lianyi Building, Zhaiyun Pavilion, and the Bai Family's Business.
This young man who had traveled a long way shed his slave status and adapted to life in Plumera Kingdom. A few months ago, he participated in the third national examination and passed successfully, gaining an official title and becoming the legitimate technical director of the porcelain factory.
Other types of technical factories were also being frequently and rapidly built throughout Plumera Kingdom's territory during this time.
After all the factories were mostly built, Elara observed for half a month. Once she confirmed that each department could operate production smoothly and handle most minor issues on their own, she stepped back and let them manage things independently. She then led a small group of technical officials from the Ministry of Works and headed toward what was now Sargassum.
That salt-rich land in Sargassum was finally ready to be used.
Elara stayed in Sargassum with the technical team for half a month and successfully built Plumera Kingdom's first salt factory, which directly produced refined salt.
Seeing the snowy-white refined salt being produced moved the technical officials deeply. It meant not only better salt for daily use but also that Plumera Kingdom would no longer face a salt shortage.
The technical officials stayed in Sargassum to build more salt factories.
Elara left a unit of troops in Sargassum to protect the officials' safety, then returned to Plumera Kingdom to continue developing other domestic matters.
Two more months passed just like that. It had already been five months since Prince Yu's coronation. Over a year had passed since Elara arrived in this world.
In these five months, all industries within Plumera Kingdom had developed rapidly. This made the already thriving country evolve daily, becoming increasingly prosperous and flourishing.
As of today, five months later, Plumera Kingdom had already constructed five major salt factories.
The total salt production had not only satisfied domestic needs but had begun to generate a surplus. It was gradually becoming a trade product that could be sold abroad, bringing additional income to Plumera Kingdom's treasury.
Textile factories, printing factories, and glass factories had also seen several new constructions.
The clothes produced by textile factories now came in a wide variety of materials compared to the formerly limited options. The fabrics and finished garments were categorized into different levels, ranging from luxurious items to everyday wear. These satisfied the domestic market and, like refined salt, gradually became important trade goods for export.
Glass products, seen directly as luxury items, were exported to various countries. They quickly won the favor of foreign nobility and became another significant source of revenue for Plumera Kingdom's treasury.
With the expansion of printing factories, the needs of schools, academies in every commandery, and the Plumera City Library were fully met. After large amounts of books and ancient texts were printed, the Plumera Knowledge National Chain Bookstore successfully opened branches across all major commanderies.
Because the printing technique was so efficient and useful, books and ancient texts also began to become important trade items for foreign markets.
With so many new and diverse trade goods, Elara no longer needed to hide or hold back much during her talks with foreign business forces.
She had already fully used the Tiangong Pavilion merchant badge that Frederic gave her during her first deal with Lianyi Building a few months ago.
Sylvan was the head of the southwest branches of Lianyi Building across the continent, yet he had stayed in Plumera Kingdom for the past few months.
Even when Elara previously rejected his trade request, he showed no displeasure and simply waited patiently, just as she had told him.
Once the various departments in Plumera Kingdom successfully built more and stronger factories and began operating them smoothly, Elara took the products she could sell and the Tiangong Pavilion badge given by Frederic to Lianyi Building to negotiate business.
Sylvan raised his brows slightly when she suddenly presented a Tiangong Pavilion badge, especially a golden one, but he didn't ask much. He only looked at her with a deeper gaze.