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In the winter of the third year of Guangshun, the first snow fell in Bianliang.

Guo Wei paced back and forth in the imperial study, with two maps spread out on the table.

One map faces north, marking the routes the Khitan cavalry took south over the years; the other faces south, densely depicting the cities and passes of the fourteen prefectures of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

"I can't wait any longer." Guo Wei's voice echoed in the empty hall. "That traitor Liu Chong of the Northern Han, relying on the power of the Khitans, has been harassing the borders year after year. The Li family of the Southern Tang, who have carved out their own territory in the Jianghuai region, have proclaimed themselves emperors. Do they even have a shred of respect for the Great Zhou?"

He stopped and looked intently at Su Ning, who was sitting at the lower seat.

"My mind is made up. Next spring, we will first attack the Northern Han, and then conquer the Southern Tang."

Suning did not speak immediately.

He stood up, walked to the two maps, and looked at them quietly for a moment.

“Your Majesty wants to fight, I understand.” His voice was not loud, but clear. “The hatred of the division of the Northern Han and the crime of the Southern Tang’s usurpation are things that no one can tolerate.”

Guo Wei's expression softened somewhat.

“But the Great Zhou Dynasty has only been established for three years.” Su Ning turned around. “The military settlements in Hebei have not yet shown great results, the canal transport on the Bian River has not been fully sorted out, and the breach in the Yellow River last year has only been barely plugged this year.”

"Father, we do not have the resources to fight two major battles at the same time."

Guo Wei fell silent.

He knew his son was telling the truth.

In the three years since he ascended the throne, his main tasks have not been fighting wars, but rather repairing river embankments, clearing fields, and reforming the salt administration system.

These things are unassuming and inconspicuous, yet they are the foundation upon which a major battle is sustained.

But the fire in his heart couldn't be extinguished.

"Then tell me, what should we do?"

Su Ning sat back down at the lower seat, his voice steady.

"Your subject believes that we should start with the easy tasks and then move on to the difficult ones."

"Start with the easy parts and then move on to the difficult ones?"

"Yes." Su Ning took out a hand-drawn map from his sleeve and unfolded it in front of Guo Wei. "The Khitan cavalry are as swift as the wind, and the northern grasslands stretch for thousands of miles. With the current strength of our Great Zhou, even if we mobilize the entire nation's army, we may not be able to completely wipe them out."

"Although the Northern Han is small, it has the support of the Khitan. We must consider the owner before we attack the dog. If we rashly launch a northern expedition, we may end up fighting on two fronts."

Guo Wei frowned.

"What about the Southern Tang?"

“The Southern Tang is wealthy, but its military preparedness is lax,” Su Ning said. “Li Jing is fond of poetry, building temples, and supporting scholars, but he is not good at military affairs. If he devotes all his efforts to the south, he may be able to win in one battle.”

"But I believe it is not the right time yet."

He pointed to the densely packed prefectures and cities along both banks of the Yangtze River on the map.

"The Jianghuai region is crisscrossed by waterways, which makes it difficult for our Great Zhou cavalry to fully utilize their advantages. Even if we hastily march south and capture a few cities, it will be difficult to hold them. Behind the Southern Tang are Wuyue, Jingnan, Chu, and Shu. Once they realize that Great Zhou intends to annex Jiangnan, they will inevitably feel insecure and form alliances to protect themselves."

"At that time, my Great Zhou was not just facing the Southern Tang, but half of the world."

Guo Wei stared silently at the map.

His fingers moved from Kaifeng to Yangzhou, from Yangzhou to Nanjing, and then from Nanjing back to Kaifeng.

"You mean..." he said slowly, "not to fight yet?"

“It’s not that we don’t want to fight,” Su Ning said, “it’s that we’re in no hurry to fight.”

He pointed to the four corners of the map.

"As for the Khitan, I have already sent people from the Mingli Hall to infiltrate Shangjing specifically to gather intelligence on the Khitan royal court's movements. The Liao emperor Yelü Jing is indulging in wine and hunting, neglecting state affairs, and the princes each harbor their own ambitions. They are too busy to take care of themselves and may not have the strength to invade the south in the next few years. But we cannot let our guard down. The defenses of the cities in Hebei must be strengthened, the border troops must be trained, and scouts must be sent out."

"Back in the Southern Tang, my trustworthy business has opened seven shops in Jinling, Yangzhou, and Runzhou. The prices of grain and salt, the purchase of military equipment, and the promotion and demotion of officials in the Southern Tang are all secretly reported back to Bianliang every month."

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask that you grant me three years."

"Within three years, Minglitang will thoroughly understand the inner workings of the Khitan royal court, and Chengxin Trading Company will open up trade routes to all countries in Jiangnan. After three years, if Father Emperor wants to attack the Northern Han, we will know when the Khitan will come to our aid; if Father Emperor wants to attack the Southern Tang, we will know where it is easiest to cross the river, which city's garrison commander is the most greedy, and which army can be turned against us."

He raised his head, his gaze calm.

"If it does not fly for three years, it will soar into the sky when it does. If it does not sing for three years, it will amaze the world when it does."

Guo Wei gazed at the dense markings on the map, then at his son's calm face.

He suddenly realized that this child hadn't been idle for the past three years.

The three thousand companions were dispatched not only to calculate military pay and organize accounts.

They took root in every city, infiltrated every army, and traveled back and forth on every trade route.

They are weaving a net.

A net that started from Bianliang and covered the entire world.

"What about those southern countries?" Guo Wei asked. "How do you plan to deal with them?"

Su Ning took out another set of regulations from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"Your subject has devised a strategy, which I request Your Majesty to review."

Guo Wei took it and unfolded it.

The title is: "Ten Strategies for Pacifying the South".

He read through the lines, his gaze growing increasingly complex.

"Submitting their territories to Zhou..." Guo Wei murmured, "Each nation retains the right to autonomy, but financial and military power are centralized under the central government..."

“Yes,” Su Ning said. “The Southern Tang, Wuyue, Jingnan, Chu, and Shu have been divided for decades, each with its own foundation. If we want to settle things in one battle, it will take at least ten years. After that, we will need to send officials, station troops, and quell rebellions, which will take another ten years.”

"After twenty years, the people's strength is exhausted and the national treasury is empty. Even if we annex Jiangnan, it will still be a mess riddled with problems."

"Why not give them a way out?"

"As long as you are willing to submit, your children can study in Bianliang, your official positions and titles can be retained, and your taxes can be reduced or exempted as appropriate. There are only two things that you must hand over."

"Financial power. Military power."

Guo Wei remained silent for a long time.

"Would they agree?"

“No,” Su Ning said frankly. “At first, no one was willing.”

"But once the Khitan are defeated and the Southern Tang is crushed, the surrounding small countries will lose their backing and start to settle scores."

"Is it more worthwhile to relinquish military power and preserve wealth, or to resist to the end and perish together?"

"Someone will eventually figure this out."

Guo Wei looked at his son and suddenly smiled.

"You're imitating Feng Dao."

Suning did not deny it.

"Prime Minister Feng instructed me that some things cannot be rushed. We must wait. We must wait for those people to figure things out on their own."

Guo Wei closed the "Ten Strategies for Pacifying the South" and placed it on the table.

He neither said it was certain nor that it was not.

“There is one more thing,” Su Ning said, “Your Majesty, I dare to request that you also serve as the Privy Councilor.”

Guo Wei frowned.

"The Privy Councilor holds military power over the entire realm, and has always been a high-ranking official. I am the emperor; how can I assume this position?"

“Precisely because they hold military power over the entire country, they should be led by the emperor himself.” Su Ning’s voice was not loud, but very steady. “The case of Wang Jun serves as a warning. The arrogance of military generals is not rooted in the person, but in the power they wield.”

"The Privy Councilor has the power to mobilize troops, but the Prime Minister does not listen to it, and the Censors do not question it. Over time, even the most loyal ministers will inevitably develop improper thoughts."

"If the Emperor himself were to assume the position of Privy Councilor, the power to mobilize troops would belong to the Emperor, the Prime Minister would govern, and the Three Military Commands would command the troops. With these three powers separated and not under each other's control, even if there were treacherous officials in the future, they would not be able to easily mobilize a single soldier. The military governors would only have political power, not military power."

Guo Wei looked at his son with a complicated expression.

He knew, of course, that his son was planning for the century-long foundation of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

It's not just about guarding against Wang Jun, or the current arrogant and powerful generals, but also against any powerful ministers who might emerge a century from now.

But hearing these words from the mouth of the seventeen-year-old King of Qin always made him feel...

This child is exhausted.

"Approved." Guo Wei didn't say anything more.

Su Ning knelt down and kowtowed, "Your subject thanks you for your grace."

"Rise." Guo Wei raised his hand to help him up. "You will personally present these strategies at the grand court assembly tomorrow."

Suning raised his head.

"Your subject obeys the decree."

As he left the Imperial Study, the snow fell even harder.

A person was standing under the eaves.

Guo Rong.

The two brothers looked at each other through the swirling snowflakes.

"Yi-ge'er, I heard you rejected Father Emperor's idea of ​​a northern expedition." Guo Rong's voice was devoid of emotion.

"Yes."

"He also drafted the 'Ten Strategies for Pacifying the South'."

"Yes."

"He also petitioned his father to take the position of Privy Councilor."

"Yes."

Guo Rong remained silent for a long time.

Snow fell on his shoulders, accumulating into a thin layer.

"What you've done," Guo Rong finally spoke, "was it for the Great Zhou, or for yourself?"

Su Ning looked at him.

"For my father."

"Also for you."

Guo Rong did not respond; he turned and walked away through the snow.

Su Ning stood there, watching her brother's figure gradually disappear into the snow.

I didn't explain, because there was no need to explain at all.

The snow is getting heavier.

Su Ning straightened his clothes and walked towards the palace gate.

Zhao Pu came up to him with an umbrella and brushed the snow off his shoulders.

"Your Highness, shall we return to camp?"

"Back to camp."

The carriage rolled over the snow and drove out of the palace.

Outside the car window, the lights of thousands of homes in Bianliang City lit up one by one, swaying in the wind and snow.

Suning leaned against the car wall and closed his eyes.

The "Ten Strategies for Pacifying the South" were submitted.

The Emperor has granted permission.

Tomorrow at the grand court assembly, I will face all the civil and military officials and explain this strategy point by point.

Some people would praise him for being mature beyond his years.

Some people might suspect that he has ulterior motives.

Some people might wonder what this King of Qin is plotting.

Suning did not open his eyes.

He simply went over next year's plans in his mind once again.

We need to add two more hidden lines to the Khitan intelligence network.

The reputable merchants of Jinling City in the Southern Tang Dynasty can open two more branches.

The military supervision system of the National Defense Forces will be extended to the entire Imperial Guard Command next year.

and also……

As he was thinking, he actually fell asleep.

Zhao Pu glanced back and gently covered Su Ning with the thin blanket from inside the car.

The carriage continued on its way.

The wind and snow continued.

……

When the "Ten Strategies for Pacifying the South" was read aloud at the grand court assembly, the Chongyuan Hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The civil and military officials gazed at the young figure standing to the side of the throne...

King Su Ning of Qin, aged seventeen, stood beside the emperor, holding a memorial in his hand, his expression as calm as a still well.

No one spoke first.

Wang Jun has been demoted to Shangzhou, and Wang Yin is still observing. Those once arrogant military generals have all remained silent at this moment.

Among the civil officials, Wei Renpu and Li Gu exchanged a glance.

If this strategy is implemented, the century-long relationship between the Great Zhou and the southern states will shift from "constant warfare" to "countries that subdue others without fighting."

Feng Dao lowered his eyes, as if he were an old monk in deep meditation.

But the corners of his mouth curved upwards very, very slightly.

Three days later, the emperor issued an urgent edict, which was delivered to the Southern Tang, Wuyue, Jingnan, Chu, and Shu kingdoms.

The imperial edict was worded gently, yet every word carried immense weight:

The new dynasty in the Central Plains wishes to share peace with all nations.

Those states that surrendered their territory to Zhou retained their right to self-government, their ancestral temples were not destroyed, their official titles remained unchanged, and their sons were allowed to study in Bianliang.

Only financial and military power were centralized.

Those who are unwilling to submit should be treated with courtesy by the Great Zhou, and trade should continue as before.

When the imperial edict arrived in the capitals of various countries, it caused a sensation no less than an earthquake.

Jinling, the capital of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Emperor Li Jing read the edict over and over again three times, then put it down and picked it up again.

"Submit the land to Zhou..." he murmured repeatedly, "If I do not submit, when will the Zhou army march south?"

No one could answer.

He dismissed his attendants and sat alone in the imperial study until late at night.

The manuscript of poems was still lying on the desk; it was half of his newly written poem, "Huanxi Sha".

The water clock dripped outside the window, and candle wax piled up layer upon layer.

He did not sleep. Nor did he receive any remonstrances from his ministers, even at the cost of their lives.

Jiangling, Jingnan.

Military Governor Gao Baorong held the imperial edict, his hands trembling violently.

Jingnan was a battleground on all sides: the Central Plains to the north, Chu to the south, Southern Tang to the east, and Shu to the west.

Whoever comes, he must submit and pay tribute.

Over the years, he has long been accustomed to surviving in the cracks.

But this time, it was the Great Zhou that came.

That Great Zhou Dynasty, which pacified the Central Plains in three years and banished Wang Jun in a single day.

He carefully folded the imperial edict, put it in a brocade box, and did not tell anyone about his decision.

Chengdu, Western Shu.

While Emperor Meng Chang was holding a grand banquet for his officials in the palace, he heard that an envoy had brought an imperial edict from the Great Zhou Dynasty, and he immediately sobered up halfway.

He ordered someone to read it aloud in court. When the passage read, "Those who surrender their land to Zhou shall retain the right to self-government," the hall fell into a deathly silence.

An old minister stepped forward tremblingly, "Your Majesty, the Shu Road is an insurmountable barrier..."

Meng Chang did not respond.

He looked at the roll of yellow silk and remembered what his father had said to him ten years ago as he lay dying...

The day the Central Plains are unified will mark the end of the period of peace and exile in Sichuan.

He never imagined that this day would come so soon.

King Kui of Chu, Liu Sheng of Southern Han, Liu Chong of Northern Han...

Some were terrified, some were angry, and some even convened secret meetings with their confidants overnight.

No one agreed immediately.

There was one exception.

Hangzhou, the Wuyue Royal Palace.

After reading the imperial edict, Qian Hongchu closed the brocade box and asked the messenger only one question: "The Zhou emperor promised that my Qian family's ancestral temple would not be destroyed. Is this promise true?"

The messenger replied, "His Majesty's word is law and will never be changed."

Qian Hongchu did not ask any further questions.

The next day, the Wu-Yue Kingdom sent a memorial to Bianliang.

The document was extremely short, consisting of only four lines:
"Qian Hongchu, a minister of the Wuyue Kingdom, respectfully obeys the imperial edict of the Great Zhou Emperor. He wishes to surrender his territory to the Zhou and hand over the land registers, household registers, tax registers, and military registers. He only begs that the Qian family ancestral temple be preserved so that the incense of his ancestors may be offered."

The news shocked both the government and the public.

No one expected that the first to agree to surrender territory would be Wu and Yue.

This small southeastern state, which existed for over forty years and was ruled by three generations of rulers until Qian Hongchu, was known for its subservience to powerful nations.

But the extent and speed of their subservience still surprised everyone.

Guo Wei held the memorial in his hands and remained silent for a long time.

“Qian Hongchu…” he murmured the name, “He’s a sensible man.”

Su Ning stood at the lower end of the table and did not respond.

He knew why Qian Hongchu had agreed so quickly.

The intelligence from Minglitang was just delivered last month: Although the Wuyue Kingdom is wealthy, it has no natural defenses.

To the north lay the Southern Tang, to the west the remnants of the Min region, and to the east lay the vast sea.

For forty years, the Qian family was able to maintain a peaceful existence in a corner of the country, not because of war, but because of their subservience to the successive dynasties of the Central Plains.

Now the people of the Central Plains are surnamed Zhou, and the Zhou emperor said that by surrendering land, the ancestral temple can be preserved.

Qian Hongchu believed it.

He is not naive.

He is incredibly intelligent.

……

In the spring of the fourth year of Guangshun, the first batch of delegations reorganizing the National Defense Army set off from Bianliang and headed south to Hangzhou.

The mission consisted of 300 people, including 120 military supervisors and 180 military officers, accountants, and instructors.

The leader's surname was Chen, given name Zhang, age 26, and he was a colonel in the National Defense Army and a military supervisor.

Four years ago, he was a student in the first cohort of the study companion camp. He squatted on the dirt playground outside the city and listened to Sun Wu scolding him, "You little brat, you're running with the wrong steps again."

Now, he has been ordered to reorganize a royal army that has been established for forty years.

Outside Hangzhou, Qian Hongchu led a hundred officials to personally welcome him.

He looked at the young military officers who had come from the north, and saw that their faces showed no arrogance, only a calm, businesslike demeanor.

"The navy of the Wuyue Kingdom is renowned throughout the world." Chen Zhang got straight to the point. "Your Highness's willingness to surrender territory to Zhou is an achievement that the National Defense Force will never forget."

Qian Hongchu did not respond.

He simply asked, "Is it really permissible for Military Supervisor Chen and members of the Qian family to study in Bianliang?"

“Agreed,” Chen Zhang said. “His Majesty has personally promised, and His Highness the Prince of Qin has personally drafted the ‘Ten Strategies for Pacifying the South.’ The Qian family’s sons will enter the Imperial Academy in Bianliang and study alongside the imperial family’s sons.”

Qian Hongchu nodded.

He didn't ask any more questions after that.

The reorganization began that afternoon.

The military register of Wuyue had been sent to Bianliang for verification: 12,000 infantry and 8,000 naval troops, totaling more than 20,000 men.

Chen Zhang, along with 120 military supervisors, spent seven whole days going through the roster of 20,000 people from beginning to end.

The elderly, weak, sick, and disabled were given silver for severance pay.

Those who are strong, healthy, and capable should be re-registered.

Soldiers who do not know their generals, and generals who do not know their soldiers, should be disbanded and reorganized.

If military pay is delayed for a long time, first borrow silver from reputable merchants to advance the payment, then investigate the accounts and pursue those who have embezzled funds.

Those veteran quartermasters and accountants who had served in the Wu-Yue army for over a decade initially didn't take these young men in their early twenties seriously.

It wasn't until someone settled the outstanding wages accumulated over three years, recovered the missing military equipment piece by piece, and sorted out the complex web of private accounts that the truth came out.

They stopped talking.

Three months later, the Wu-Yue infantry was reorganized into five infantry regiments, the 21st to the 25th, of the National Defense Army, stationed in Hangzhou, Huzhou, and Yuezhou respectively.

The veterans received new uniforms and pay books, and were led to relearn the drills, commands, and rules they thought they would never have to learn again.

Some people whispered among themselves, "If we surrender to Zhou, will we still be soldiers of Wu and Yue?"

The supervising officer in charge of the drill heard this and turned around to say, "You are soldiers of the Great Zhou's national defense army. Your duty is to protect the borders and people and defend the country, not anyone's private army."

The man stood there stunned for a long time.

No one asked anymore.

The reorganization of the navy was more complex than that of the infantry.

The Wu-Yue navy was the foundation of the Qian family's state.

For forty years, this navy has traversed the East China Sea, resisting the Southern Tang, suppressing pirates, establishing relations with Goryeo, and trading with the Abbasid Caliphate.

In terms of experience in naval warfare, the Great Zhou Navy started from almost zero.

Chen Zhang sent the strategy for reorganizing the navy back to Bianliang to request imperial approval.

Five days later, a reply arrived from Bianliang.

It wasn't an approval, it was an order.

"Based on the Wu-Yue Navy, and integrated with the Great Zhou Navy, a national defense naval force will be formed."

"The naval commander will be temporarily appointed by Lin Buyuan, the commander-in-chief of the Wuyue Navy."

"The Naval Inspector General, selected by the General Political Department of the National Defense Force, will travel south immediately to assume his new post."

At the end of the palindrome, there is a line of handwritten text:
"The navy is a vital instrument of the nation. I hope it will be used wisely."

The signature was a single character: "信" (xin, meaning letter).

Lin Buyuan, 53 years old, is a veteran of the Wu-Yue navy for 20 years, having fought in no less than a hundred naval battles, large and small.

He held the palindrome in his hands, staring at the character "信" (letter/faith), and remained silent for a long time.

"Your Highness, the King of Qin..." he began in a hoarse voice, "You've never seen a navy before, have you?"

Chen Zhang said, "Your Highness is in Bianliang and has not yet traveled south."

Lin Buyuan nodded.

Then he turned around and said only one sentence to his old subordinates who had followed him for twenty years:

"From this day forward, there will be no more Wu-Yue naval forces."

"Only the Great Zhou National Defense Navy."

No one answered.

No one objected.

Two months later, the first batch of 300 soldiers of the Great Zhou Navy set off from Bianliang and traveled along the Grand Canal to Hangzhou, where they were combined with the Wu-Yue Navy.

They were all from the north and had never seen the sea.

When boarding the ship, some people were so dizzy that their faces turned pale and they squatted on the deck retching.

The old soldiers from Wu and Yue watched with their arms crossed, and some of them grinned.

"Northeaster, this isn't enough?"

The seasick young soldier squatted on the ground, vomited the last mouthful of acid, and slowly stood up while holding onto the ship's side.

His face was still pale, his hands were still trembling, but his voice was steady: "Whether it works or not, we'll only know after we practice."

The old soldier stopped laughing.

He reached out and pulled the young man up from the deck.

"Hold on tight. The sea is not like a river; the waves are much bigger."

The young man nodded and followed him step by step into the depths of the cabin.

……

In the autumn of the fourth year of Guangshun, the National Defense Army Navy held its first naval review in the waters off Hangzhou Bay since its formation.

More than eighty warships of various sizes emerged from the mouth of the Qiantang River, their sails and masts forming a forest, their banners obscuring the sun.

Qian Hongchu ascended the observation platform and gazed at the fleet that once belonged to his grandfather and father, but no longer belonged to the Qian family, remaining silent for a long time.

The sea breeze ruffled his clothes.

He didn't speak.

I simply watched the fleet disappear into the horizon where the sea meets the sky.

Bianliang.

Su Ning sat by the window in the imperial study, reading the reorganization report sent back from Hangzhou.

Wang Pu stood to the lower end, quietly reporting on the preparations for the Hangzhou branch of Chengxin Trading Company.

The autumn sun shines brightly outside the window, and boats come and go on the Bian River.

Suning turned to the last page of the report and put down his pen.

"Has the naval supervisor been chosen?"

“It’s settled,” Wang Pu said. “The third cohort of students in the companionship camp will be named Zhou An. He was originally a military supervisor in the Fengguo Army, and General Wang Yin personally wrote a letter of recommendation for him.”

“Wang Yin…” Su Ning repeated the name without comment.

Historically, Wang Yin should have been executed by Guo Wei in February of this year. However, due to the emergence of Su Ning and the rapid downfall and demotion of Wang Jun, Wang Yin had no choice but to cooperate with Su Ning in implementing the military supervision system in the Fengguo Army.

Therefore, Guo Wei has not yet made a move against Wang Yin. However, based on Suning's understanding of Guo Wei, Wang Yin's time is running out.

He looked out the window and remained silent for a while.

"Write a letter to Lin Buyuan."

"Let it be said that he is appointed as the first commander of the National Defense Navy. Zhou An will serve as the military supervisor. Great Zhou will not fail you."

Wang Pu agreed and turned to draft the letter.

The study fell silent.

Suning sat alone for a long time.

The sound of the Bian River could be faintly heard outside the window.

He thought of those northern children who had never seen the sea, now standing on the swaying deck, learning to raise and lower the sails and identify the wind direction again and again in the salty sea breeze.

They came from the Yellow River to the Qiantang River, and from the plains to the sea.

He didn't know how long it would take them to truly become a navy.

But he knew that the seed had already been planted.

Just like three years ago, he planted the seed of a study companion camp.

Just like four years ago, he planted himself in that desolate abandoned military camp outside Bianliang City.

We always have to wait.

On the day the navy was commissioned, people from all over Hangzhou flocked to the riverbank to watch the ceremony.

An elderly man with white hair stood in the crowd, leaning on a cane, gazing at the warships with sails billowing on the river, tears slowly welling up in his cloudy eyes.

Someone recognized him and exclaimed, "The old general!"

Those were the first generation of veterans of the Wu-Yue navy, who had retired twenty years ago.

He watched the young faces moving back and forth on the warships, and the flag he had never seen before, embroidered with the words "National Defense Forces Navy," fluttering in the wind atop the mast.

"Okay..." he murmured, "Okay..."

Nobody cared what he said.

Only his little grandson looked up and asked, bewildered, "Grandpa, what kind of army is this?"

The old man did not answer.

He just stared at that flag for a very long time.

The river breeze brushed against his aged face.

His brush swept across the resolute brows and eyes of the young soldiers on the warship.

It brushes against the layers of waves at the mouth of the Qiantang River.

That autumn, the warships of the National Defense Forces Navy sailed out of Hangzhou Bay and into the East China Sea for the first time.

The bow of the ship is facing south.

The distant sea awaits them.

...(End of this chapter)