You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Jinling, the Imperial City, Wenhua Hall.

The air inside the hall was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. On the huge sandalwood imperial desk, two reports from different directions were laid out side by side, the ink of the vermilion-marked "Approved" still fresh.

Outside the window is the clear, high sky of late autumn in Jiangnan, with a few wisps of clouds drifting by, which further accentuates the majesty of the palace and the stability of the country.

Lu Zuo put down his vermilion brush and leaned back into the large imperial chair.

One document is a report of victory sent by Han Shizhong from the Tibetan Plateau, stating that the main resistance forces have been eliminated, the old temple system and serfdom have been forcefully abolished, the entire Tibetan territory has been initially incorporated into the jurisdiction of the Song Dynasty's prefectures and counties, and Sinicization education has been promoted.

Another report from the more distant Western Regions was a proclamation submitted by Yang Tiexin, stating that "the Gaochang Uyghurs have been pacified, their king has surrendered with his face bound, and the eastern gateway to the Western Regions has been opened."

Thus, the Northern Expedition against the Jin Dynasty, the Western Pacification of the Xia and Qiang, the Conquest of Tibet, and the pacification of Gaochang...

In just a few years, the Song Dynasty's military might brought submission to all surrounding tribes, and its territory and national strength surpassed even the peak of the Han and Tang dynasties.

Throughout the court and the country, there was an unprecedented atmosphere of pride and excitement, as if His Majesty's military might could endlessly point towards the more distant horizons.

Lu Zuo's gaze, however, had already turned to the newly painted "Complete Map of the World" that covered the entire wall next to the imperial desk.

His fingers slowly traced across the Central Plains, the Northern Frontier, the Western Regions, and the Plateau...

Finally, it landed on a few long, narrow islands outside the vast East China Sea.

Japan, Ryukyu, Luzon, the islands of Southeast Asia...

Further away, the outlines of Europe, Africa, and America are blurred...

That's not enough, far from enough.

His mind was calm, devoid of much of the arrogance of conquering new territories, but possessing only a cold clarity and planning.

The emergence and rapid iteration of firearms brought overwhelming military superiority, but this advantage needed time to be digested, consolidated, and transformed into more fundamental national strength, including science and technology, industry, education, transportation, and even ideology.

He set a ten-year limit for himself and for this empire that had been forcibly pushed onto the fast track.

"Issue an imperial decree to summon the Grand Secretariat, the Privy Council, the Ministers of the Six Ministries, and all dukes and marquises in the capital for a grand court assembly tomorrow at the Fengtian Hall to discuss matters."

He gave instructions to the eunuch standing beside him, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable resolve.

……

The following day, a grand court assembly was held at the Fengtian Hall.

Lu Zuo did not elaborate on the existing martial arts skills, but instead issued a series of edicts on long-term national policies:

"From this day forward, the reign title shall be changed to 'Yongchang,' signifying the eternal stability of the nation and the prosperity of the country."

"Establish the national policy of 'ten years of recuperation and ten years of lessons learned'."

"In the next ten years, we will externally appease and pacify the states that have already submitted, and internally we will do our utmost to promote the 'reform' policies."

"All departments of the Ministry of Works' Institute of Craftsmanship must strive for excellence, encourage craftsmanship and innovation, and pursue knowledge through investigation."

"The Ministry of Revenue must do its utmost to ensure the expansion of industries such as steel, coal, gunpowder, textiles, and machinery, encourage maritime trade, and open up trade routes to Southeast Asia and the West."

"The Ministry of Rites should establish new schools to teach mathematics, physics, geography, and foreign languages, and select talented individuals."

"The Ministry of War, in accordance with the new military manuals, organized and trained new troops in key locations, ensuring they were proficient in the use of firearms and ironclad warships..."

"Ten years from now, when our Great Song Dynasty's granaries are full, its military is well-equipped, its people are united, and its waterways are open—"

Lu Zuo paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over the excited and breathless civil and military officials before finally settling on the enormous world map. He spoke clearly and forcefully:

"Then our banners will be raised again, sweeping across the world, so that our red flags may be planted wherever the sun and moon shine and wherever rivers flow, achieving a truly unified world and a golden age where all nations pay tribute!"

"Your Majesty is wise! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Amidst the thunderous cheers of worship, an ambitious yet pragmatic development blueprint was laid.

After a period of rapid expansion, the massive war and governance machine of the Song Dynasty began to enter a deeper and more orderly phase of comprehensive strengthening and preparation.

……

Time flies, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.

It was early spring in the tenth year of Yongchang.

On the shore of the South China Sea, at the outer harbor of Guangzhou.

The once bustling scene of sailing ships has been transformed. A massive granite embankment stretches into the deep sea, and the docks are no longer lined with wooden sailboats, but with enormous, sharply styled steel behemoths covered in dark iron armor!

Towering chimneys billowed thick smoke, mingling with the thin mist between the sea and the sky.

On both sides of the ship, thick, dark cannons protruded from their turrets, gleaming with a cold metallic light.

On the mast, the red flag with a golden dragon fluttered in the sea breeze.

On the dock, squads of soldiers dressed in new dark blue uniforms and carrying "Shenji Type 3" repeating rifles were marching in unison up the gangway to board the ship.

The air was filled with the acrid smell of burning coal, the salty tang of the sea, and a silent, chilling sense of desolation and power.

On the bridge of the largest battleship, the Zhenyuan, Lu Zuo stood leaning on the railing, gazing at the invincible fleet that had been built with ten years of painstaking effort.

The fleet's technological level was approaching that of the early stages of World War I in his memory: iron armor, steam turbines, large-caliber breech-loading rifled guns, repeating rifles, and even rudimentary radio communications...

The hard work of countless craftsmen and the investment of massive resources have finally yielded this fruit that transcends time.

Li Qingzhao stood slightly behind him. Now in her thirties, she possessed an increasingly calm and dignified demeanor, though a trace of unresolved worry lingered between her brows.

Looking at Lu Zuo's resolute profile, ruffled by the sea breeze, she finally couldn't help but ask softly, "Your Majesty, the world is at peace, and all nations have submitted."

"Japan, a small and remote country located overseas, is easily overrun by a great general leading a mighty army."

"Your Majesty...why must you personally lead the army?"

"The sea is treacherous, and I am truly worried about you."

Lu Zuo did not answer immediately. His gaze turned to the east, to the distant horizon where the boundaries were blurred by the morning mist and the sea.

That place was one of the sources of countless pains and humiliations in his past life memories.

In this time and space, Japan has not yet caused substantial harm to the Central Plains, but its inherent covetousness for the mainland and its distorted, highly aggressive "island mentality" have already revealed themselves in limited exchanges and intelligence gathering.

"Qingzhao," he said slowly, his voice not loud, "some things can be entrusted to others. Some things must be settled personally."

He turned around, looked into Li Qingzhao's worried eyes, and said with deep gaze, "Japan is different."

"Though the land is small, the people are extremely ambitious."

"The local customs are narrow-minded and cruel, they admire the strong and bully the weak, they fear power but do not cherish virtue."

"If we do not completely break its backbone today and crush its evil thought of swallowing an elephant like a snake, it will surely become a threat to our very being in the future, causing endless trouble."

He paused, then said in a resolute and unquestionable tone: "This battle is not for expansion, but for eradication."

"Not for conquest, but for reckoning."

"Therefore, I must go. I want to see with my own eyes how those unwarranted ambitions are annihilated under the absolute firepower."

"I will personally lay the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous nation, free from the threat of Japan."

Li Qingzhao saw in his eyes an unwavering will, and also a kind of obsession hidden deep beneath that will, which she could not fully understand but was deeply moved by.

Knowing further persuasion was futile, she could only bow deeply, conveying her myriad worries in a single sentence: "Your Majesty... please take care. I will remain in Jinling, awaiting Your Majesty's triumphant return."

Lu Zuo nodded slightly, looked eastward again, and ordered, "Set sail!"

"Woo—!!!" The Zhenyuan warship sounded its horn, the sound shaking the sea and sky.

The ships responded in succession, their huge smokestacks spewing out even thicker black smoke, and their propellers began to churn the seawater.

The massive steel fleet, like a giant sea monster awakening, slowly left the harbor, cleaving through the azure waves towards the island destined to be reforged by fire and steel.

……

Two weeks later, in Japan, on the northwest coast of Kyushu Island, near Nagasaki.

As dusk fell, the setting sun, like blood, dyed the sea a breathtaking crimson gold.

The waves gently lapped against the rugged coastline and the simple dock.

On a secluded beach, a dozen or so ronin, with samurai swords at their waists and dressed in worn-out robes, had just finished an intense "sword training session."

It was more like a form of venting than a form of cultivation. They would frantically chop at scarecrows or wooden stakes, shouting "Heavenly Punishment!" and "Banzai!" until they were completely exhausted.

At this moment, they sat around a huge rock, eating dry, hard rice balls with fresh water from bamboo tubes.

The sea breeze ruffled their greasy hair and sweat-stained clothes.

"Sasaki-kun, I heard that the Song Dynasty is now using iron cannons that can breathe fire and smoke. They are very powerful, and even the Jin and Western Xia were defeated by them."

A ronin with a scar on his face spat out a mouthful of sand, his tone complex, containing both disdain and a hint of barely perceptible surprise.

The middle-aged ronin, known as Sasaki, had a sinister face. He sneered and patted the katana at his waist: "A musket?"

"Hmph, it's nothing but some fancy tricks, just louder ones!"

"In war, what matters is the warrior's spirit and the sword in his hand!"

"Those Song people, relying on some evil weapons to win by chance, think they are invincible?"

"We, the warriors of my divine kingdom, have trained in swordsmanship since childhood, our wills are as firm as iron. How can we compare to those cowards who rely on external things?"

He gazed westward at the horizon where the sea and sky met, dyed red by the sunset, his eyes gleaming with fervor and greed: "Think about it, gentlemen!"

"That vast 'Tang land,' with its boundless wealth and people as docile as sheep..."

"That should have been the promised land for our God's people!"

"As long as we uphold the way of the samurai and hone our blades, one day we will surely cross the sea to conquer the west and let our banners fly over that bountiful land!"

"Sasaki-kun is right!" another young ronin exclaimed excitedly, waving his fist. "My grandfather said that when the Mongol invaders came, if it weren't for the divine wind protecting us, we would have already stormed into the Central Plains!"

"The Song state may appear strong now, but it is undoubtedly corrupt and decaying within!"

"As long as we unite as one and everyone is willing to die for us, we will surely be able to bring Tang territory into our divine kingdom, just as Empress Shen Gong conquered the Three Hans!"

"When the time comes, we'll kill all the men there, and the women and treasure will be our spoils!"

"Yes! Kill them all! Let's use our swords to show the Song people what true bravery is!"

The ronin echoed excitedly, their eyes burning with a twisted desire for conquest, as if the rich continent was already theirs for the taking.

They were stubbornly immersed in the delusion that "the way of the samurai is invincible" and "the divine kingdom will surely conquer the continent," completely unaware of the impending power that far exceeded their understanding.

Near the fishing village not far away, several dark-skinned, ragged fishermen were mending their old fishing nets.

Their conversation was strangely similar to that of the ronin.

"...It seems there's a new emperor over there, called the Great Song Dynasty, and they're very fierce in their wars," an old fisherman muttered, clumsily tying knots in his hands.

"So what if they're fierce?" Another fisherman, missing a front tooth, scoffed, gazing westward. "Can they be fiercer than the warriors of our divine kingdom?"

"Once we've saved enough money and built the ship, we'll go and rob the other side, just like our predecessors!"

"I heard that in a village across the river, there's an abundance of grain, cloth, and silk! And the women are fair and delicate..."

"Exactly! Why do they get to occupy such good spots? It's unfair!" A young fisherman's eyes gleamed with greed. "When we get there, we'll kill all the men, take the women back, and make them work for us and have our babies!"

Even more alarming, children playing with simple seashells on the nearby beach, drawing crooked samurai sword patterns in the sand with sticks, were imitating adults, shouting, "Kill the Chinese pigs!" and "Rob Chinese land!"

A deep-seated, nationwide covetousness for the mainland and a contemptuous, murderous desire for so-called "inferior races" permeated the barren land and ignorant minds of this island like a poisonous fog.

They were unaware of the transformation that the "Tang land" they spoke of had undergone.

They were unaware of how laughable and insignificant their pitiful ambitions were in the face of the truly imminent power.

Just then—

"Ugh—!!!"

A deep, powerful whistle, as if from a giant sea monster, pierced through the roar of the waves and the hustle and bustle of the fishing village, clearly reaching the ears of every Japanese person as it approached.

This sound was unlike any ship horn or conch shell they had ever heard; it was full of metallic texture and a sense of immense power.

All the wanderers, fishermen, and children involuntarily stopped what they were doing and what they were saying, raising their heads in surprise to look towards the sea from which the sound of the flute was coming.

The last rays of the setting sun shone on several massive, black ships that had just emerged from the sea.

That cold, menacing steel figure, beyond all their comprehension, was cleaving through the golden waves, silently and resolutely sailing towards the shore they depended on for survival.