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

Chapter 272 The War Begins Again
Wang Huai needs to achieve another breakthrough in his intellectual realm, just as Mingchen helped him to enlightenment ten years ago.

But now, no one can help him.

Perhaps... even if someone were to tell him, he might not listen.

All the hidden bombs of the Blood-Clad Army began to detonate.

Sitting in this high hall, Wang Huai felt his ambitions growing ever more distant, and he gradually felt a sense of powerlessness.

They looked up and saw a piece of mottled iron armor hanging not far away, covered in wounds and bloodstains.

After a long silence, he raised his head and said to Wang Liu, "Brother Liu, come with me to the cemetery."

Wang Huai's journey has truly been difficult.

It can be said that he climbed the throne by stepping on the corpses of his enemies and brothers; far too many people died.

After the war, he built a cemetery to commemorate his brothers who died on the battlefield.

Wang Liu was taken aback for a moment, then nodded slightly: "Uh...yes."

The cemetery is located very close to the Tongyou Hall, which was originally used by the Chen Kingdom to worship ghosts and gods.

After Wang Huai captured Yueyang City, he demolished Tongyou Palace and built this mausoleum.

The fact that the place of death was so close to the palace was considered ominous, and many people advised against it, but Wang Huai rejected their advice.

He felt more at ease having these loyal and selfless people by his side.

The autumn sky is clear and the air is crisp, with a gentle breeze blowing.

The lush green grass swayed in the wind, and the two brothers, Wang Huai and Wang Liu, stood in the center of the cemetery.

A huge stone tablet stands here, covered with countless names.

This place holds the remains of countless loyal souls of the Blood-Clad Army.

Wang Liu was standing right next to Wang Huai, watching him.

Wang Huai personally supervised the construction of this cemetery, and he would visit it from time to time after it was completed.

The rebels always spread rumors that Wang Huai killed meritorious officials and that they should not share wealth and honor.

But how many monarchs can achieve that level of accomplishment?

Wang Huai reached out and gently stroked it, his eyes gleaming, and said softly, "The Blood-Clad Army's long-cherished wish has been fulfilled. I never wanted to wage war again and cause suffering to the people of the world."

Wang Huai was actually very pure. Even after reaching the highest position, he was never corrupted by power and glory. He continued to build the ideal country he wanted to create in his own way.

Human strength is finite, and so are one's talents and insights. He did his best, but he just couldn't do it well.

The world can't afford another war.

With all the corrupt forces of the old dynasty killed and the oppressors dead, the Blood-Clad Army had no reason to continue fighting.

Wang Huai has decided to settle down, focus on the well-being of the people, and govern the country peacefully and steadily.

After that, they would then plot to conquer the world.

However, things didn't go as planned; he took off his armor and put down his broadsword.

People all over the world, however, are unwilling to stop and live in peace and prosperity.

The scholar wrote a poem to criticize him; he loved the common people, but they did not love him. His comrades, who had once fought for their common ideals, were lost in the temptation of wealth and glory, and his loyal subordinates raised the flag to rebel against him.

The country, ravaged by war, continues to fight, continues to struggle, and continues to descend into chaos.

The Great Qi Dynasty appears to occupy the most expansive land in Qian Yuan and boasts a million-strong army, but in reality, it is all bluff. Internal chaos persists, and it is nothing but a castle in the air. A slight misstep could lead to total defeat.

With this in mind, Wang Huai raised an eyebrow and asked in a deep voice, "How many troops can be mobilized from the capital?"

His elder brother's demeanor suddenly changed, and a powerful and fierce aura emanated from his brows, causing Wang Liu to shudder. He replied dryly, "Seventy thousand."

Of course, it was impossible for all the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who fought in the Battle of Yueyang to remain in the capital.

Those who had made contributions were rewarded in turn. Wang Huai allocated land to others, both as a reward and to allow those who shared his ideals to govern it.

He was a rebel, and he was born with a negative attitude towards the old dynasty's system. He was naturally unwilling to follow the old system and preferred to find his own way.

In retrospect, this was a terrible move.

Some of these people are still at peace, while others have already developed rebellious intentions.

Having tasted the sweetness of power and enjoyed wealth and glory, one's original intentions gradually change, and even the most sincere person can become a slave to power.

Wang Huai was born into poverty, yet he rose to this supreme position. If he could do it, why can't I?

After the Yueyang Rebellion, Wang Huai also killed some unruly soldiers as a warning to others.

This also gave many people a reason to rebel.

Wang Huai killed meritorious officials; they cannot share wealth and honor.

This situation could have been controlled at the beginning.

After all, rules are rules, and even those who have made outstanding contributions should be punished if they make mistakes.

However, due to the biased and evasive propaganda by certain individuals, the situation has become unchangeable.

The brothers who fought alongside him to conquer the world died in anger, crashing into a pillar. It was all too late to undo the damage.

"Seventy thousand? That's enough!"

Wang Huai raised his head and looked into the distance: "I will personally go to quell the rebellion!"

"I will chop off Xu Zhongling's head and hang it on the city gate as a warning to others!"

Among the many resistance forces, Xu Zhongling's group was the most active.

He was neither part of Wang Huai's direct troops nor one of the meritorious officials he had appointed. He had not contributed anything to the Blood-Clad Army's Northern Expedition and had no merit whatsoever.

He was the sworn brother of Chen Yue, a general under Wang Huai.

After Wang Huai went to Beijing and executed his unruly soldiers, Xu Zhongling told Chen Yue that Wang Huai had killed meritorious officials and should not be allowed to share wealth and power. He warned that Wang Huai would inevitably turn against them in the future, so it would be better to take advantage of his weakness now and raise the banner of rebellion.

Wang Huai has been branded with the label of killing a meritorious official and being unable to share wealth and honor, and Xu Zhongling bears the greatest responsibility for this.

This man was quite capable. Later, when Chen Yue rebelled, he gathered considerable power with the help of Xu Zhongling.

Not long after, Chen Yue died of illness.

Xu Zhongling was heartbroken and, with tears in his eyes, inherited his power and continued the rebellion against Qi.

They have now amassed an army of 50,000 and are attacking southern cities, while also spreading rumors to tarnish Wang Huai's reputation.

Wang Liu remained silent for a moment upon hearing this.

The world can't withstand any more turmoil.

But we have to fight even if we can't!
If a rebellion breaks out, it must be quelled.

Xu Zhongling is a treacherous and cunning man who will stop at nothing to undermine Wang Huai's rule. He must be eradicated, even at a cost.

"it is good!"

"Brother, what about the matter of moving the capital that I mentioned?"

Yueyang City is doing well. After the war, thanks to Wang Huai's efforts, everything quickly returned to normal.

The city is peaceful.

After all, it has stood for hundreds of years, so its foundation is there!
But... this place isn't suitable for them.

They were people who rose up from the bottom up, and were looked down upon by the local people. In addition, they caused a lot of damage, so they naturally did not win the hearts of the people.

Even in a golden nest or a silver nest, one would rather not live in one's own doghouse.

The talented people recruited through the imperial examinations all wrote poems criticizing them; how could they possibly stay any longer?
Who knows, maybe one day the food we eat will be poisoned.

However, Wang Huai waved his hand and said, "Let's discuss this matter another day."

For Wang Huai, Yueyang holds a special place in his heart.

Who in the world doesn't yearn for this wealthy and prosperous capital?

Only when one sits in this city, where the dragon veins converge, can one truly be considered an emperor.

After all that effort to get in, you're just going to leave like that?

Wang Huai couldn't bear to part with it.

Wang Liu could see through his thoughts and kept saying anxiously, "Big Brother!"

“Mingchen and Xiao Xinyue are not fools. They both gave up Yueyang and settled in Jiqu. Now they are living a prosperous life.”

“Why can’t you be a brave man and cut your losses? The capital is called the capital because the emperor is there. It is the emperor who chooses the capital, not the other way around.”

"Our Xiaoyao City is good too! It develops steadily and is no less than Ji Qu's!"

"Let's go!"

Wang Huai shook his head: "Let's not talk about it anymore. Let's discuss it after I quell the rebellion!"

"This... ugh!"

……

Dark clouds loomed over the east, and chaos continued.

To the west, however, lies a scene of prosperity and tranquility.

When someone returned home, they felt that the air in the surrounding area seemed fresher.

A stable life can easily breed laziness and make people lose their edge.

For several days, Mingchen didn't see anyone, staying at home and enjoying life. Finally, he went out that day.

He looked like a young nobleman, carrying a small bird and walking his dog as he went out.

He did not visit the officials in the court who were still in power, and he did not even know some of the newly rich in the court.

He went straight to the Ordnance Bureau as soon as he left the house.

He is still more concerned about the speed of technological advancement.

Compared to when he left, this place has been renovated to be more impressive.

The bronze gate is majestic and imposing, carved with auspicious figures, fangs and sharp teeth, which is awe-inspiring.

The guards at the gate recognized Mingchen, and upon seeing this gentleman, they bowed respectfully, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

Upon entering, Mingchen noticed a number of strangely shaped objects inside, which he couldn't quite understand.

As times progress, countless attempts are inevitable, eliminating those cumbersome and outdated failures, striving for excellence, and constantly moving forward.

However, once inside the building, seeing these things that seemed out of step with the times gave me a steampunk vibe, like something out of a movie.

Craftsmen came and went, forging iron, firing furnaces... making all sorts of weapons and tools.

Since His Majesty's reforms to the Ministry of Works have elevated the status of artisans, they have become more enthusiastic about their work, and they want to create the most advanced equipment in the world for His Majesty.

However, a beautiful figure stood out from the crowd where these strong men were sweating profusely.

Her coat was casually tied around her waist. The tall woman, wearing a short-sleeved shirt, sat on the ground with a rather unrestrained posture, intently reading the book in her hands.

Zhang Ruier, a skilled craftswoman and a genius in weapon crafting, was discovered by Mingchen among the common people.

With his own ideas, Mingchen improved the firearms research of the new Qian Yuan Dynasty and, after a few pointers, created a simplified version of the steam engine.

Although the way she was named was a bit strange, her talent was undeniable, and Mingchen believed that she was someone who could change the world.

She didn't react when Mingchen approached.

"What are you looking at?"

The sudden sound came from beside her ear, and Zhang Ruier shuddered violently, almost dropping the book.

She suddenly looked up, about to start cursing, but upon seeing the man's appearance, she instantly restrained herself, her face flushed slightly, and she stammered, "Lord...Lord Marquis!"

How come the Marquis is back so soon?

She unconsciously adjusted her hair, feeling a little embarrassed: "Just looking around..."

As a craftswoman and a woman, she felt inexplicably ashamed to be reading like those scholars.

"My lord... when did you return?"

"Boats and Carts," Mingchen glanced at the title of the book in her hand, then smiled and said, "I just got back not long ago, so I came to the Ordnance Bureau to take a look."

"Oh……"

Mingchen sat down next to her without any hesitation: "Tell me about the recent progress."

This guy is nominally a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Rites, but he's always running off to the Ministry of Works and getting involved in its affairs.

Minister of Works You Juncheng sometimes felt inexplicably like his own wife was being wantonly humiliated by others, but he dared not say anything or do anything, and could only watch from the sidelines.

Afterwards, he still had to clean up the mess left behind and continue living a good life with his wife.

However... Mingchen only cares about specific matters and doesn't concern himself with power struggles.

They didn't even accept the achievements they had made.

Since His Majesty has no objection, Mingchen can do whatever he wants.

When the topic turned to her field of expertise, the girl's eyes lit up. Ignoring the gender difference, she grabbed Mingchen's wrist and led him around the Ordnance Bureau. As they walked, she pointed and pointed, "My lord, look, this is my improved version of the 'Love at First Sight' fifth-generation musket!"

"I combined the firearms of the Jinglan Alliance and improved its barrel, increasing its range while greatly reducing the probability of barrel explosion..."

Mingchen: ...

This girl's naming style is as flawed as ever.

I wonder what the soldiers felt when they used the weapons she made.

"And this one, this is a brand-new cannon that has just been produced. I plan to name it the 'Mingming Destroying God of War Cannon.' It's based on the cannon you got from the Jinglan Alliance. The Jinglan Alliance really has some good stuff! It gave me a lot of inspiration."

Speaking of her work, the girl's eyes sparkled like a child waiting for praise. She puffed out her chest, raised her head, and said with a smug look on her face, "This thing blew the gate of the Ordnance Bureau to smithereens with one shot, and even destroyed the walls!"

"However, its drawback is that it's too heavy, making it difficult to move, so siege warfare is probably out of the question..."

Mingchen: ...

So that's why the Ordnance Bureau changed its gate!

After this person conducts further research, it's unclear whether the Ordnance Bureau's land will be enough for her to continue her activities.

The already rapidly developing firearms research and development program in Xinqianyuan was further boosted after Mingchen secretly obtained a sample from Hong Lingshuang's family. The countless trials and errors in the structure and material ratios became nourishment for Zhang Ruier, fueling her relentless pursuit of perfection.

"Um……"

Mingchen nodded.

Archery remains the mainstream weapon of the era, and even the Alliance, the most advanced force in firearms, has archers. However, firearms play an indispensable role in many situations, and their training costs are low.

The cost of training an archer and a musketeer is vastly different.

Something is better than nothing. With the progress of the times, firearms with higher capabilities will eventually replace bows and arrows.

Qian Yuan's progress in technology has now exceeded his expectations and is happening much faster than he imagined.

He wasn't a science or engineering student, so he only knew the general outline of many things, and he couldn't explore the details.

In terms of firearms manufacturing alone, he is no match for Zhang Ruier.

The progress of the times ultimately depends on these people taking one step at a time; he can only shout slogans and cannot promote much progress.

He is already very satisfied with how far he has come.

These small advantages, accumulated little by little, will eventually converge into a decisive advantage when the war breaks out in the future.

Zhang Ruier is a craftswoman and an inventor, and she doesn't understand the ideas in Mingchen's mind.

As if remembering something, she picked up a wooden box and handed it to Mingchen: "My lord... this... this is for you!"

When the wooden box was opened, an antique-looking musket lay inside.

The musket wasn't large, only slightly shorter than a forearm. The sandalwood and bronze and iron complemented each other beautifully, and it was adorned with gold-stamped patterns, making it exceptionally exquisite.

It doesn't look like a weapon; it looks more like a work of art.

The style is similar to the one Mingchen had before.

"Oh?"

Zhang Ruier pursed her lips and smiled somewhat shyly: "I made this myself. The style you used before was outdated and had many flaws, and it was prone to exploding."

"This one is better than that one, please use this one from now on!"

Mingchen saved Zhang Ruier's family and gave them this earth-shattering change.

She owes her current success to Mingchen's help; he is of great significance to her. That's why many of the titles of her works are related to Mingchen, and she always remembers how good he is to her!
"Oh?"

Mingchen raised an eyebrow, weighing the exquisitely crafted musket in his hand.

Judging from the craftsmanship and the materials, the young lady clearly put in a lot of effort and meticulously crafted this piece...

He didn't stand on ceremony and put it away, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Rui'er. I'll accept it."

The girl seemed happy, scratching the back of her head and smiling: "Hehe."

Mingchen paused, then asked, "What about the steam engine? Is there any progress on the steam engine?"

Weapons are one aspect; they are tools for waging war and protecting the country.

Weapons have never been what truly drive progress.

"Forehead……"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ruier twitched the corner of her mouth.

She pointed to the messy things Mingchen had seen when he entered the room: "My lord... I'm sorry, all the things made with the steam engine have failed."

She could sense the immense potential of the thing she and Mingchen had created together.

If it really works out, she might make a name for herself in history and usher in a new era.

She felt as if she was born for this thing.

However... this was something that had never been done before, and she was destined to explore it only through darkness.

Times are constantly changing, and success is not always possible.

"The vehicles and ships we discussed earlier for transporting supplies are not operational."

So she's currently reading these books to understand the structure of ships and cars, hoping to find some breakthroughs.

That's how inventions are; there are successes and failures.

She pulled Mingchen to a pile of failed products.

"This is the Invincible Cloud Piercing Steed that Lao Liu and I developed. It's already destroyed. The vehicle is difficult to control, we can't find suitable materials, it's very easy to break down, and it can't carry large amounts of supplies."

"The steamship can carry a lot of supplies without the need for sails, but when we tested it on the Qingyu River, I found that the steam engine was too inefficient. It lost power after only a quarter of an hour on the water."

(End of this chapter)