As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 214 Three Armies in Chaos, Skillful Craftsmanship

As the sun sets, its afterglow turns a hazy yellow.

"Hey~"

After the general finished his report to the palace, he rode his horse towards home.

I am eager to go home and cannot wait any longer.

The killer star, who lived for hatred and had no attachments, found another source of support.

In the distance, she seemed to see a figure standing at the entrance of the Jing'an Marquis's residence, quietly watching him.

As they drew closer, the face they had been longing for became clearer and clearer.

My heart seemed to be beating faster.

She patted the horse's back and jumped off.

The horse continued galloping forward, now it was free.

But she, like a swallow returning to its nest, nestled into that man's arms.

"flutter!"

The frail scholar caught his wife and held her tightly in his arms.

"Brother Chen..."

A rare soft voice from the usually stern general reached her ears: "I'm back~"

Despite having killed countless people and traveled long distances, my sister did not have a foul odor on her body. Instead, she exuded a faint fragrance of orchids that lingered in the air.

Mingchen leaned closer, smiling, and gently kissed her ear: "Welcome back."

The general couldn't help but shudder...

That bad guy!
……

The mistress of the Jing'an Marquis's mansion has returned today, making it seem even more lively.

The cook prepared a table full of delicious dishes, along with Ling Yu's favorite wine. The candlelight flickered as the two sat facing each other, creating a romantic and warm atmosphere.

Mingchen poured wine for Lingyu and asked with a smile, "Sister, did everything go smoothly on this trip?"

"Fortunately, His Majesty sent several extraordinary people to help me, which saved me a lot of trouble."

"Oh?"

"They used some magical artifacts and spells..."

"Is that so? That's quite strange!"

"Brother Chen, how about you? The environment on the western grasslands is harsh, and the Xiongnu people are brutal. Is everything going smoothly?"

"Don't worry, sister, I'll tell you..."

They are no longer a famous marquis and general, but simply a married couple.

They were talking about what happened after they parted ways.

"Brother Chen...do you miss me?"

Time passed second by second, and as night fell, the full moon cast its silvery light upon the earth, and all returned to peace.

The conversation gradually deepened, and it seemed that Sister Dai had drunk a bit too much. Her pretty face was flushed, and her bright eyes were shimmering with water, reflecting the image of the person in front of her.

She gently stroked her husband's cheek with her palm and said some things she rarely heard.

Even the fierce and ruthless generals on the battlefield will remove their armor and reveal their soft bellies when they get home.

Mingchen nuzzled her head and chuckled, "Of course... I missed my sister terribly~"

"really?"

"Really! I never lie!"

"Hmph~ You've lied to plenty of people!"

The two whispered sweet nothings to each other, and before they knew it, they had wandered around and ended up in the inner room.

When their love is at its peak, they are husband and wife, and everything they do is perfectly natural.

……

night,
The two armies faced each other, and a war was about to break out.

After months of preparation, Ling Yujun launched a rare offensive and engaged Mingchen's troops in battle.

Despite the arduous journey, Ling Yu never stopped, launching a fierce attack and heading straight for the central army.

The two armies clashed, exchanging blows.

Just as the two were locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle, suddenly...

"Whoosh!"

A red figure swept across the battlefield and landed precisely beside the two combatants.

The figure transformed into a slender beauty with curved eyebrows and a wicked smile, exactly like Ming Chen's usual mischievous grin.

The person who arrived was none other than Fuyao, who had disappeared for some time.

"This...this, Fuyao?!"

Ling Yu's eyes widened in shock.

She recognized the little red bird and knew that Fuyao was intelligent and had a spiritual connection.

She already had some knowledge of the demons and monsters of this world.

But the fact that the bird transformed into a beautiful woman before her eyes still shocked her.

And... under these conditions.

He froze, and for a moment, he was at a disadvantage in his battle against Mingchen.

Mingchen: ...

After Ling Yu returned, this guy ran away; I knew all along that she had no good intentions.

They actually managed to break in.

The little bird is now growing wildly, its growth trajectory like a runaway horse, completely beyond his control.

Hello, Ling Yu~

Fuyao looked at the female general with a smile, and then moved closer.

A while ago, I hit a roadblock with Mingchen's dipping sauce!
She had been waiting for this moment for a long time. This kind of war was the cause she was determined to study for the rest of her life.

She is Mingchen's bird, so naturally she must help Mingchen.

Her eyes sharpened, and she went straight for the left and right flanks of Ling Yu's army, engaging the vanguard in battle.

"what!"

Fuyao bursts into the battlefield and joins the melee.

The enemy attacked from all directions. Ling Yu, who was completely unprepared, was filled with fear. Her blood boiled and she lost control of herself. The army collapsed like a house of cards.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, and torrential rain poured down. The battlefield was in ruins, and hundreds of millions of soldiers had died.

It proclaims the horrors of this war.

……

"Brother Chen, this...this..."

"Are you Fuyao?"

The next day, Ling Yu, her face still flushed, stared blankly at the mischievous and elusive girl in front of her, filled with amazement.

She knew Mingchen's temperament quite well.

He was amorous and unrestrained, never hiding his love for beauty.

Before their relationship was officially confirmed, she might have felt nervous about Mingchen's interactions with a beauty like Xiao Xinyue, but now that they are husband and wife, her unease has disappeared.

Regarding their relationship, she only cared that Mingchen liked her, and that it was enough for her to like Mingchen.

Everything returned to its most basic state; she didn't care about others.

This era was not a monogamous one. Although she fought as a general and was somewhat different from ordinary women, her values ​​were still in line with the underlying tone of the era.

With the country in turmoil, she is destined to fight abroad year-round, and Mingchen also holds an important position. The two are often separated, so it's good to have someone by his side.

But... we need to prepare her mentally!

The little bird suddenly appeared on the battlefield and transformed into a beautiful woman; the scene was truly breathtaking.

He completely stunned her.

What happened next... she was shy, and blushed unconsciously when she thought about it.

Mingchen put his arms around the two of them, experiencing the life of an unrestrained monarch, and said, "As you can see, sister, Fuyao is a phoenix, a demon. This is what she looks like in her transformed form."

Mingchen was a romantic and didn't want to hide anything.

"Hee hee~"

Xiao Niao and Ling Yu are beauties with completely different styles.

She blinked and said to Ling Yu in a natural and confident manner, "Hello, Ling Yu! I'm Fuyao!"

"Hello……"

Ling Yu looked at the quirky little bird and didn't know what to say for a moment.

You'd think they weren't close.

But she has known the little bird for a long time, and yesterday they became the closest comrades-in-arms.

But if we're talking about being very familiar with each other, this is actually the first time we've met.

The little bird looked her over with a smile: "Let's get along well from now on~"

She was very satisfied with yesterday's battle results, and it was necessary to win over Ling Yu, her comrade-in-arms.

Life will be even more wonderful from now on!
Ling Yu: ……

Like master, like bird.

Sister Dai inexplicably felt that life would be difficult in the future.

……

Ling Yu returned, and although she was shocked, she eventually accepted Fuyao.

Mingchen's life became even more unrestrained and indulgent.

Slack off during the day, fight tooth and nail at night.

He enjoys his current life very much.

Look at Xiao Xinyue, she gets up earlier than the chickens and goes to bed later than the dogs every day.

How could an emperor possibly keep up with his lifestyle?
A month passed quickly. He was at ease, but some people were in trouble.

The two biggest things that Ji Qu has done recently are both, overtly and covertly, related to Ming Chen.

Firstly, General Ling Yu has returned, and all twelve cities of Luzhou in the northern border have been brought under the control of Qian Yuan. The territory that Ming Chen planned for Xiao Xinyue has been completed.

The Empress praised Ling Yu lavishly in court and bestowed upon him honors.

Secondly, the Marquis of Jing'an discovered that the Director of the Ordnance Bureau was corrupt, producing shoddy weapons and embezzling tens of thousands of taels of silver. The Empress was furious and exterminated the Zhao family, including three clans.

This is the first high-ranking official since the establishment of the new dynasty to be openly thrust into the Empress's clutches.

Consequently, his immediate superior, You Juncheng, the Minister of Works, was also punished to some extent.

For a time, the entire court was filled with unease, and those with guilty consciences were unable to sleep at night.

The new dynasty was not like the corrupt bureaucratic system of the old dynasty. The emperor was not subject to any constraints and was not easily fooled.

Officials without problems can hold their heads high, but if they have problems... if they get caught, they can't blame anyone else, and no one can save them.

With all the evidence presented, Zhao Qian deserved to die.

Xiao Xinyue's actions were meant to make an example of someone, showing that corruption is an issue that can never be completely avoided, but can only be suppressed and controlled to a certain extent.

As the new dynasty moves forward with great vitality, there will also be those who emerge to leech off its wealth.

Taking a little bit is fine, but it shouldn't interfere with important matters.

She learned a lot from Xiao Zhengyang. What an emperor should do is not to be righteously indignant, but to control. She had a general idea of ​​the backgrounds of the people in the court, and when necessary, she would use a couple as examples to confiscate their property and replenish the national treasury.

Zhao Qian is that kind of person now. He doesn't care about being greedy, but if he doesn't handle things well, then there will be big problems, and he's even run into Ming Chen.

It's completely dead.

If Mingchen kills someone in the street, then the person he killed must be a villain.

Even if Zhao Qian is innocent, Xiao Xinyue will still find some charges against him to protect Mingchen.

The political arena was in turmoil, and people were filled with anxiety.

When it comes to ordinary people, the attitude is completely different.

The notice was posted and the news spread. The Empress's swift and decisive action against corrupt officials drew praise from the people. The Emperor was wise, and the new dynasty was full of hope.

Some people even took pride in witnessing the Marquis of Jing'an punishing evildoers in the street, and described the incident of Mingchen killing people in vivid detail, making it quite legendary.

After all, that person... was a legendary figure.

"boom!"

Once again, a roaring sound came from the Ordnance Bureau.

The rubble was smashed to pieces, and fragments of stone flew everywhere.

Amidst the swirling smoke, Mingchen put down his firearm, while Ling Yu beside him narrowed her eyes slightly, seemingly deep in thought.

The middle-aged man behind him stood there somewhat reservedly, looking a little nervous, as if he were waiting for a trial.

Mingchen blew away the smoke and ignored him. Instead, he turned to Lingyu beside him and asked, "Sister, what do you think? Some people think this thing is time-consuming, laborious, and thankless, far inferior to a bow and arrow. What's your opinion?"

Compared to the previous version, the firearms have changed again. Whether it's the barrel length, the power, or the sound of the explosion, there have been some adjustments.

This is a change and progress, something Mingchen is happy to see.

"This……"

Ling Yu had heard about what Ming Chen was working on; it was said that he got the inspiration from the Jinglan Alliance.

However, this was the first time she had ever seen this firearm.

Ling Yu pondered for a moment, then asked, "Brother Chen... could you try on a different set of heavy armor?"

"can!"

"boom!"

Not long after, accompanied by a roar, the bullets pierced through the heavy cavalry's armor and exploded inside.

Ling Yu looked at it, then suddenly clapped her hands: "Good!"

"Brother Chen, you're a genius!!!"

With his expertise perfectly aligned with his profession, Ling Yu, a general who had fought on the battlefield, instantly recognized the value of this new weapon.

Her husband is truly an unpredictable and whimsical person who always manages to surprise her.

Besides being Mingchen's wife, she was also a general.

While she likes Mingchen, she also enjoys being a general commanding soldiers, fighting on the battlefield, and building her reputation.

She was interested in any weapon, tactic, or training method that could improve the army's combat effectiveness.

When she came down the mountain, she and Mingchen had broken through the bandit camp together because of the Giant Elephant Guard.

Naturally, she is now also full of anticipation for this firearm.

"We can set up a special firearms unit, and when the enemy's heavy cavalry charges, they can conduct phalanx archery, which will surely cause a lot of damage to the enemy."

Heavy cavalry is a deadly weapon on the battlefield. It is expensive to build, and ten thousand heavy cavalry can sweep across the plains.

Ordinary archers have a very difficult time penetrating the armor of heavy cavalry.

But firearms can do that easily.

That alone makes it valuable.

She kept asking Mingchen, "Can this thing be mass-produced now? The training for operating it should be much simpler than that for archers, right? When can it be deployed to the battlefield?"

She couldn't wait to start training this type of soldier.

Having an extra unit means having an extra card in her hand; as a general, she can unleash unlimited possibilities.

Mingchen raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhang Chitian behind him: "Engineer Zhang, how is it? Can you answer my wife's question?"

Mingchen was well aware of the negative impact of the national bureaucratic system on craftsmen and science. The stagnation of firearms development in his previous life was largely due to the backward and corrupt feudal system.

To move forward, adjustments must be made.

After the Zhang Chitian incident, Xiao Xinyue and Mingchen discussed and made some reforms to the country's artisan system.

Some artisans have skills and imaginative ideas, and can create great things, but they may not have management skills, and even going into politics may stifle their strengths.

Therefore, each artisan department was still managed by officials, but the status and rewards of the artisans were improved, and the system for reporting corruption was enriched.

Encourage internal communication and teaching among artisans to refine their skills, and even establish dedicated departments for training and assessment.

Craftsmen who make significant contributions will also receive honors and rewards in gold and silver.

This move effectively mobilized the enthusiasm of craftsmen in all departments.

The Ordnance Bureau, in particular, was already in a state of high alert due to the recent death of its top leader, and it was also a key department for reform.

The craftsmen were so excited that they sent Mingchen good news in less than a month.

This time, we truly produced one hundred firearms, which underwent numerous tests, and their quality is guaranteed.

It has also been improved to some extent.

It has a longer range and greater power.

Seeing that Mingchen and Lingyu were very satisfied, Zhang Chitian couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief: "Reporting to the Marquis and General Ling, these one hundred firearms are actually improved versions of previous defective products. Mass production is possible, but it will take a lot of time."

Our current civilization is still an agrarian civilization, and there are actually not many artisans. Doing these things requires a lot of time.

"Furthermore, we are still optimizing it to reduce the probability of barrel explosion and improve its operation. This musket is not optimal; many parameters are still being refined, and mass production would be somewhat wasteful of materials."

He didn't flatter or exaggerate anything; he simply told Mingchen the facts.

Zhang Chitian lacked the talent to be an official, but he was highly skilled; only he could make firearms that wouldn't explode.

Xiao Xinyue appointed him as chief engineer, placing him on par with the physician of the Ordnance Bureau in terms of status.

However, a doctor deals with people, while a chief engineer deals with things.

For Zhang Chitian, the young Marquis of Jing'an before him was undoubtedly his benefactor.

He was able to escape imprisonment and obtain his current status and position entirely thanks to Mingchen, so he naturally respects him very much.

"Then let's not rush it."

"Let's start making it after the improvement process slows down."

Craftsmen need this kind of down-to-earth person who can inspire trust.

Mingchen can only provide a framework; as for further refinement, there's really nothing he can do but leave it to these people to work on themselves.

"Yes!"

Zhang Chitian paused, then asked Mingchen, "Lord Marquis, these firearms don't have names yet. Now that you're here, may I be so bold as to ask if they could be named after your surname?"

Craftsmen also have their own ways of flattering others.

"How about naming this first-generation firearm the 'Minghuoqiang' (open-fire cannon)?"

As history is recorded, this weapon, crafted by the Marquis of Jing'an, will surely be renowned for all time.

Mingchen: ...

He doesn't care, but his dad will probably be quite happy.

His wife looked at him jokingly, and he waved his hand, saying, "Whatever."

As they were talking, a few more people arrived, pushing in a rather heavy cart. On the cart was a strange thing that Ling Yu had never seen before: a black cannon with a deep muzzle, which made one's heart tremble involuntarily.

"My lord, the cannons have been made according to your wishes."

Compared to muskets, this cannon was obviously much cumbersome.

Ling Yu, who came along today, was also amazed. Standing next to Ming Chen, she watched with some curiosity, looking forward to the new tricks he would bring.

And not long after,
A deafening roar erupted, and dust billowed everywhere. She stared blankly at the enormous crater in the distance, utterly shocked.

This thing, placed on the city wall, could be worth ten thousand troops.

What's going on in his younger brother Chen's head?
"Good good!"

Mingchen nodded in satisfaction: "Engineer Zhang, did you make this too?"

Sir, times have changed!
That trip to the blacksmith shop was definitely worthwhile.

At the current rate of technological advancement, he believes he will soon catch up with the Jinglan Alliance, which he has yet to meet.

"Forehead……"

Zhang Chitian twitched the corner of his mouth, just about to say something: "No..."

Just then, a somewhat hoarse female voice came: "Father, is it Lord Ming who has arrived?"

In this place where male craftsmen gather, a strikingly beautiful figure, out of place here, runs briskly towards them.

Her eyes were bright, and she looked expectantly in Mingchen's direction.

It was because Zhao Weichuan took a liking to this girl that Zhang Chitian decided to leave in the first place, but now he has reappeared here.

Zhang Chitian's face stiffened. He quickly stepped forward, tugged at his daughter's hand, glared at her, and whispered, "This is Marquis Jing'an! Don't be rash."

This crazy girl has been spoiled by him; she's even more boyish than the boys. She's loved blacksmithing since she was little. Now that Zhang Chitian has returned and gained some status, she's also joined the Ordnance Bureau.

Even... this cannon in front of us was something she created.

Despite what happened with Zhao Weichuan, her personality remained unchanged; she was still as rude and reckless as ever.

Who was the Marquis of Jing'an?

Does anyone get to see someone they want? This unlucky girl just barged in; isn't that incredibly impolite?
He turned to Mingchen and said with a dry laugh, "I have corrupted my daughter. She is rude, reckless, and ill-mannered. I hope that you, my lord, will forgive her."

That day, Mingchen had overheard the woman cursing Zhao Weichuan. Looking at this girl, whose personality was as fiery as her figure, he waved his hand and said, "It's alright."

Flowers that grow vigorously are all beautiful.

This girl... has some special talents too!

I didn't want to be watched that day, so I was in a hurry to leave and didn't say much to her.

Her eyes were bright as she looked deeply at Mingchen, then bowed to him and said gratefully, "Lord Ming, thank you for saving my family!"

Zhang Ruier had been longing to see Mingchen for a long time, and today she finally got to meet him.

Ling Yu also looked at the newcomer with great interest.

The woman was tall and slender with a curvaceous figure. Her outer garment was tied around her waist, and she wore a short top. Her arms were muscular, suggesting she had done a lot of work. Although she was beautiful, she was not well-groomed and was covered in dust.

This girl certainly has a strong personality.

Mingchen seems to enjoy spending time with this kind of special woman...

"No need to thank me, Miss Zhang, please don't be so polite. It's just that I'm an incompetent person and I have only myself to blame."

Fearing that Mingchen might mistakenly believe he was abusing his power for personal gain, Zhang Chitian quickly said as he pulled his daughter into the armory, "My lord, this cannon was made by my daughter."

On one hand, she was answering Mingchen's previous question, and on the other hand, she was subtly revealing her daughter's talent.

The student surpasses the master; Zhang Ruier's craftsmanship is not much worse than his, and she even has many unique and creative ideas. The engraving decoration on the musket he made earlier was done by his daughter.

"Hey!"

Zhang Ruier laughed heartily, patted the cannon, which made a series of clanging sounds, and said with the unique pride of a creator: "That's right, Lord Ming, this is the Jing'an No. 1 that I built! How about it, how powerful is it?"

Zhang Chitian: ...

You don't have to say your name!

Mingchen: ...

Speaking of creations, Zhang Ruier was wide awake. Ignoring her father's winks, she chattered on and on to Mingchen and the other man, "I improved its muzzle and lengthened the barrel. I also think the fuse could be modified..."

Just then, a messenger strode in from outside the door. Upon seeing Mingchen, he finally breathed a sigh of relief: "My lord, His Majesty has decreed that you be summoned to the palace."

(End of this chapter)