Only after the rebellion succeeded did they realize that this place was...

Bianliang City was blessed with a rare sunny day, and the golden sunlight poured down, dispelling some of the biting chill of winter.

The snow that had covered the entire courtyard of the Institute of Crafts, after being cleared by hand and melted by the sun, has now completely disappeared, and the once neatly divided experimental areas can finally be used again.

The Tiangong Academy was located in the west of Bianliang City, several miles away from the imperial city. This was the first time Liu Hong had stepped out of the imperial city to visit this place since he took control of the capital.

"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."

The Director of the Imperial Workshop, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works concurrently serving as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Workshop, the Inspector of the Imperial Workshop under the Imperial City Guard, and four third-rank master craftsmen in charge of technology all bowed in salute.

This artisan rank system was established exclusively by the Imperial Crafts Academy and had nothing to do with official positions in the imperial court. It only corresponded to treatment, clothing, and etiquette, in order to encourage artisans to hone their skills. Only those who reached the highest rank could be granted official positions and honorary titles.

They were now from a respectable official family, completely shedding their former lowly status.

"Rise."

Liu Hong raised his hand to decline the formalities, his gaze sweeping over the chief, deputy chief, and inspector before settling on the four bowing craftsmen standing beside him.

He always regarded the Tiangong Academy as a treasure, and these four people were the backbone of the academy, respectively in charge of firearms, gunpowder, mechanical manufacturing, and physics and mathematics, which corresponded to the core areas of the Tiangong Academy.

Since the establishment of the Tiangong Academy, craftsmen from all over the world have traveled great distances to come here upon hearing that they could be exempted from the status of lowly. These four are the most outstanding among them.

Now they each hold important positions, forming the technological foundation of the new Han dynasty.

"How have things been lately?"

Liu Hong looked concerned, his tone full of importance.

These technical talents are truly national treasures. Even the slightest technological advancement can save the new Han dynasty countless amounts of money and manpower, and can also save the soldiers on the front lines from shedding blood and losing their lives.

If the investiture ceremony were not yet finalized, these four men would all be worthy of the honor of a first-rank duke, and even without real power, their official rank would be at least fourth-rank.

In terms of rank within the court, he was a truly important official.

Zhao Dayou was over fifty years old, with white hair and beard, but his gaze toward Liu Hong was sincere and ardent, filled with tears of gratitude, truly showing that he was still vigorous despite his old age.

He was the one who appeared most often among the four and had met Liu Hong the most. He spoke first upon hearing this, his voice choked with emotion: "We have received His Majesty's great favor and are enjoying the blessings of the new Han Dynasty. In the past, we craftsmen were nothing more than lowly people. His Majesty established the Imperial Crafts Institute, which not only exempted us from our lowly status but also gave us a place to settle down and make a living."

"Not to mention the four of us, even all the craftsmen in the courtyard are now respectable people of the new Han Dynasty. Even if we repeat these words a hundred or a thousand times, we can never repay even a fraction of His Majesty's kindness."

The words were spoken.

He recalled the hardships and humiliations he had endured when he was of lowly status, and couldn't help but bow deeply to Liu Hong, performing the grand gesture of a disciple showing respect to his teacher and a commoner expressing gratitude to his lord.

The other three craftsmen also felt the same way and echoed their sentiments, their words filled with emotion.

"Your Majesty, if only you had come a few years earlier. The world would have been a peaceful and prosperous place long ago, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun would have been recovered long ago. There would be no more of those sordid affairs with the Northern Liao and Western Xia."

"Your Majesty enjoys a long life, and the entire Imperial Workshop is at Your Majesty's beck and call at any time."

"Even if it costs me my life, I would do it willingly."

Liu Hong laughed loudly, reached out and gently helped Zhao Dayou up, his tone cheerful: "What would I do with your life?"

"After the year ends, the investiture ceremony will take place. You four should just focus on honing your skills and protecting the blessings of my new Han dynasty. Sooner or later, you will be able to advance further and the blessings will extend to your descendants."

"Your names will surely be recorded in the annals of our new Han dynasty in the future."

To be remembered in history is an honor that countless civil and military officials throughout the ages have dreamed of, yet Liu Hong has so easily granted it to a lowly craftsman from the Song Dynasty.

If these words were to reach Bianliang City, they would likely cause a huge uproar, leaving countless court officials who had studied diligently and experienced the ups and downs of officialdom speechless.

In Liu Hong's mind, Zhao Dayou and the other three, as well as all the craftsmen of the Tiangong Institute, deserved this honor and were truly deserving of it.

"This old minister thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."

Zhao Dayou's voice trembled as he kowtowed heavily, and the three craftsmen behind him echoed in unison, their eyes glistening with tears.

They will repay this favor with their lives.

After everyone composed themselves, Liu Hong led them deeper into the Tiangong Academy, carefully examining the various instruments and research sites along the way.

Although the Tiangong Academy possesses finished firearms, their numbers are extremely small.

Only one or two will be kept as demonstrations of successful project research, while the rest will be prepared for mass production and deployment.

Since moving from Jinling to Bianliang, the research results accumulated over seven years are countless. Only under the emperor's nose and within the capital can the majesty of the Imperial Workshop and the glory of these firearms be displayed.

As they walked, Zhao Dayou and several craftsmen followed closely by, explaining to Liu Hong one by one the advanced technology of the Tiangong Academy: "Your Majesty, this is the Jing'an Type 1 bronze field cannon. Its main material is high-tin bronze, with a caliber of 80 to 100 millimeters and a range of nearly 500 to 800 paces, which translates to a distance of 1,200 meters."

"This is the Zhenhu Type II cannon, made with an iron core and a copper body. The inner layer is cast iron and the outer layer is cast copper, which perfectly solves the brittleness problem of the previous cast iron cannons. The composite casting method used can now be mass-produced at the Tiangong Institute."

"There is also the Type III breech-loading mother-and-daughter cannon, which has an open breech for pre-loading of the sub-tubes, allowing for rapid replacement during wartime. Its rate of fire can reach five to eleven rounds, making it a powerful weapon for defeating the enemy on the battlefield."

"..."

After passing through the artillery area, the group arrived at the musket area.

Zhao Dayou pointed to the neatly arranged firearms on the shelf and continued, "The Imperial Guard Type 1 flintlock pistols are now fully equipped in the palace. They can be used in emergencies even in rainy weather, which is enough to protect the safety of the palace."

"This Ruishi Type II matchlock gun is the standard issue weapon of the Shenwu Guard. It has an iron barrel with a mount, a caliber of 15 to 18 millimeters, and is equipped with a fixed amount of gunpowder packets and a front and rear sight, which greatly enhances the accuracy of shooting."

Liu Hong stepped forward, raised his hand and picked up the matchlock gun from the rack. The gun had a heavy, metallic weight, but to him it was as easy as holding it in his hand.

He raised his hand slightly to aim, a smile playing on his lips.

The combination of the matchlock musket and the Shenwu Guard's three-stage firing tactic was the source of the New Han Army's invincibility and its ability to dominate the world.

"If I remember correctly, you, Li Tieniu, made a great contribution to the final formation of this matchlock gun."

Liu Hong turned his head and pointed to a middle-aged craftsman next to Zhao Dayou.

The craftsman was burly and broad-shouldered, a typical craftsman, since blacksmithing and forging were physically demanding jobs. In the past, craftsmen were considered of low social status and their names were often simple and unrefined; Li Tieniu was one such example.

Upon seeing His Majesty mention him with a smile, Li Tieniu hurriedly stepped out from the ranks, scratching his head with a simple and honest smile, his face full of flattery: "It is truly my blessing that His Majesty still remembers."

"I was just doing my job. It was all thanks to His Majesty's opportunity and good methods."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Seeing Li Tieniu's honest and simple appearance, Liu Hong laughed loudly and patted his arm, saying, "How could I not remember? If it weren't for your matchlock guns making the Divine Martial Guards even more formidable, how could they have become such an elite force in my New Han?"

"How have you been lately? Is your elderly mother at home doing well?"

"Could he still be a bachelor?"

Liu Hong asked jokingly.

Li Tieniu truly lived up to his name. His honest and simple demeanor earlier was not at all feigned, but now he boldly challenged Liu Hong, saying, "Your Majesty, don't underestimate me. Your Majesty is currently a bachelor. I've heard that there isn't a single woman in Your Majesty's palace, not even a concubine."

"presumptuous."

Zhao Dayou glared at him irritably and whispered to stop him, "Just answer whatever His Majesty asks. Why are you talking so much?"

"oh oh."

Li Tieniu was startled and immediately realized what was happening, quickly composed himself.

He always listened to his elder brother Zhao Dayou the most, knowing that the other party would never harm him, so he respectfully bowed his head and replied: "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. My mother's illness has long been cured. Now she is very healthy and can eat three bowls of white rice in one meal, along with several dishes. She eats more than I do."

"Also, I'm not a bachelor anymore. I got married a long time ago. My wife has big hips, which makes her fertile. She's already given me three big sons, and they're all as strong as calves."

Li Tieniu was born into a commoner family. By chance, he learned the craft of casting machinery. When he first entered the Tiangong Academy, he was a quiet and unassuming person who was ignored by everyone, but he relied on his stubbornness.

He gradually revealed his talent in various projects, and finally shone brightly in the development of matchlock guns.

However, the temperament he developed in the mountains and fields was hard to change. His rough and simple words and straightforward nature became his inherent characteristics.

In the past, Shangguan had corrected his speech a lot at the Tiangong Academy, but Liu Hong just liked his personality, and even said, "This kind of personality is very good, there is no need to change it."

With the Emperor's words, even the Director and Deputy Director of the Imperial Workshop, and even the Inspector of the Imperial City Guard, would no longer dare to bring up his "mistake".

In Liu Hong's eyes, the most reliable people in the world are nothing more than two kinds of people: one is a simpleton, who has no tricks up his sleeve; the other is a straightforward person, who disdains to use tricks.

For these two types of people.

He never fussed over trivial matters, much less engaged in scheming against others.

Although he was the emperor, navigating the power struggles of the court and the affairs of the world every day, he occasionally longed for a touch of the simple joys of everyday life and a moment of relaxation.

After touring the artillery, musket, machinery, and physics workshops of the Tiangong Academy, Liu Hong also spoke warmly to the other two craftsmen in charge of mechanics and mathematics, asking about their research progress and family matters.

Every word was sincere, without a trace of imperial detachment.

Looking at the craftsmen in the courtyard, each performing their duties, the furnace burning continuously, and the blueprints filling the desks, Liu Hong felt increasingly at ease.

This is a timeless principle that has remained unchanged for five thousand years.

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun.

Now, in this world, only the new Han dynasty possesses the true weapon that can secure the stability of the nation.

……

After leaving the Imperial Workshop, Liu Hong boarded the gilded carriage to return to the palace. The curtains were slightly drawn, shutting out the noise and cold wind outside.

Seeing that he had rested for a while, the accompanying chief eunuch bowed and whispered, "Your Majesty, the Marquis of Ningyuan's residence has already sent out the warrant and rewards to Zhengding Prefecture as ordered."

Liu Hong gave a soft "hmm," closed his eyes, and leaned back on the soft pillow. His expression seemed calm, but there was a slight ripple in his heart.

"Zhang Duo, the Duke of England..."

"I have been patient enough with you."

"This time, do not disappoint me, and do not start another war, which will only bring more suffering to the people."

……

In the north, in Zhen Ding Prefecture.

This place has always been an important defensive town on the western route of Hebei, controlling the pass of the Taihang Mountains and the heart of the eastern foothills. It is a key border hub to block the Liao army from advancing westward and southward.

Zhang Duo, the Duke of Ying, a top nobleman in Bianliang, led his elite troops to garrison the area year-round. His iron cavalry was a crucial northern frontier bulwark for the Song Dynasty.

Further ahead, there are still passes and defenses along the Baigou River, such as Xiongzhou and Bazhou.

However, Zhen Ding Prefecture was the foundation of the northern frontier, and it was precisely for this reason that the Zhang family had served as generals for generations, and among the nobles of the Song Dynasty, they had always been pillars of the nation, holding an unparalleled and prestigious position.

The distance between Zhen Ding Prefecture and Bianliang City is not far, which is why, in the original story, the Duke of Ying was able to rush back to Bianliang by express courier to deal with his daughter Zhang Guifen's difficult childbirth.

If the lineage of the Duke of Ying could have continued for generations, maintaining its status as a top noble family.

But the world changes, the Song Dynasty suddenly fell, and a new Han Dynasty appeared out of nowhere and took root in the south.

For the first seven years, the government and the public regarded it as an ordinary rebellion, believing that wherever the government troops went, they would be able to easily suppress it, or at the very least defeat and force it to flee.

But who would have thought that the Xin Han army was brave and skilled in battle from beginning to end.

First, they occupied Yangzhou as their base, then fought in various prefectures. They first defeated the Song Dynasty's government troops, then broke through the local militias, and then overcame the elite forces of important towns. Finally, they marched all the way north, heading straight for Bianliang City.

Its rapid development has astonished everyone.

When Bianliang was in dire need, Zhang Duo originally intended to lead the elite troops of Zhending south to provide reinforcements. However, he heard that all the major towns in various prefectures had already sent troops to Bianliang, and that the number of troops defending Bianliang was considerable. The combined forces of all these forces numbered nearly 200,000, while the Xin Han army had less than 100,000.

This stark disparity in troop strength reassured the Duke, who was stationed in the northern frontier, and he simply continued to hold Zhen Ding and fulfill his duty of defending against the Northern Liao.

But who could have predicted that the 200,000-strong army would be so easily defeated? In one battle, they were routed, with most of the soldiers scattering and fleeing, and a small portion surrendering and joining the Xin Han army.

This result shocked both the government and the public.

What happened next was even faster than expected.

The Song emperor surrendered, and the new Han emperor took control of Bianliang. The entire process was swift and efficient, taking only a few months.

During this period, Zhang Duo did have another chance to rescue, but the New Han army did an excellent job of keeping secrets, and the secret agents of the Imperial City Guard were everywhere. It was only after Bianliang City had completely changed hands that the news reached Zhen Ding Prefecture.

By then, it was all too late.

Not to mention, almost all of the British Duke's family members were in Bianliang City.

If the Song emperor had not yet surrendered, he could still risk a fight, draw his sword, and repay the emperor's kindness.

But the Song Dynasty had already perished, and its state no longer existed.

Zhang Duo drew his sword and looked around, feeling utterly lost. Looking across the world, he had no idea for whom he should fight.

In utter desperation

He could only remain inactive for the time being, keeping the city gates closed and observing the situation, hoping to leave a way out for the Zhang family.

Soon, news of the defection of the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Yong arrived. Following this, the remaining prefectures of the Great Song Dynasty surrendered without resistance. The territory of the new Han Dynasty expanded day by day, and the speed at which people surrendered was so fast that it was impossible to keep up.

One message after another reached Zhen Ding Prefecture. By now, not only Zhang Duo, the Duke of Yingguo, but also the other nobles and generals of the northern border army no longer held any hope of restoring the Song Dynasty.

The world has changed, and that's an unalterable fact.

"Duke, please take care of yourself."

On the city walls of Zhending Prefecture, a biting wind blew, swirling snowflakes that felt like knives cutting into people's faces.

Zhang Duo was dressed in heavy, gleaming armor, his beard and hair were all white, and his body was still upright, but he could not hide the weariness and sorrow between his brows.

The cold armor could withstand the enemy's arrows, but it couldn't shield them from the bone-chilling cold of early winter.

In the past, when the Song Dynasty was still in power, every winter, Bianliang City would send all the military supplies and pay to the troops, so the garrison of Zhending Prefecture never had to worry about lacking food or clothing.

But now, the Song Dynasty has fallen and the new Han Dynasty has been established. Whether the supplies and military pay that were supposed to be sent still exist is something only God knows.

The soldiers' winter clothes were already worn out, many of them had frostbite on their hands and feet, and food was becoming increasingly scarce. If this continued, Zhen Ding Prefecture would fall into chaos on its own, even without an attack from the Northern Liao.

"Ugh."

Zhang Duo sighed heavily, exhaling a murky breath that turned into a cloud of white mist, which was then dispersed without a trace by the oncoming cold wind.

Just like his current state of mind, he was lost and helpless, unable to see any light at the end of the tunnel.

He had been stationed on the northern frontier for decades, fighting hundreds of battles, large and small, against the Northern Liao without ever showing the slightest fear. But now, faced with the great trend of dynastic change, the livelihood of his household, and his family in Bianliang City…

He felt utterly powerless.

Just as he was frowning and gazing blankly at the vast northern horizon, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from below the city wall. A lieutenant, his face beaming with joy, scrambled up the wall and, upon reaching Zhang Duo, forgot to bow and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Lord, Lord! People from Bianliang have arrived! People from the new Han dynasty have arrived! They've brought cartloads of winter supplies, as well as grain and cloth. They're already at the city gates."

The voice, filled with barely suppressed excitement, exploded in the biting cold wind and instantly resounded throughout the city walls.

Zhang Duo was jolted awake, his blankness replaced by astonishment.

He grabbed the lieutenant's arm, his voice trembling slightly: "What did you say? Bianliang City, people of the Xin Han? Is that true?"

The lieutenant, though gripped painfully, nodded repeatedly, pointing towards the city walls: "Duke, it's absolutely true. I saw it with my own eyes. The procession was carrying the banners of the New Han Dynasty, and also the tokens of authority personally bestowed by His Majesty. There's no mistake."

Zhang Duo looked in the direction he pointed.

Sure enough, a long queue appeared outside the south gate of Zhen Ding Prefecture.

One carriage after another arrived, each bearing a black banner of the new Han dynasty, with the golden character "Han" embroidered on it, fluttering in the cold wind.

At the front of the procession, several envoys dressed in brocade robes were holding tallies and bowing towards the city gate.

The soldiers on the city wall also saw this scene, and their faces showed disbelief and joy. They whispered among themselves, and their eyes regained their light.

With warm clothes and food to fill their stomachs, there is hope for survival.

Zhang Duo stared at the group, his fingers unconsciously tightening around the sword at his waist until his knuckles turned white.

He gazed at the new Han flag fluttering in the wind, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

The Song Dynasty has fallen, and the new Han Dynasty has been established. Now, the decree of this new Han emperor has actually been delivered to the city walls of Zhen Ding Prefecture.

What exactly is His Majesty's intention?

Is it an offer to surrender, or a test?

The cold wind was still blowing.

However, the atmosphere on the city wall was subtly altered by the arrival of the troop from Bianliang.

Zhang Duo took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and said in a deep voice, "Open the city gates and welcome the envoy!"

At a command, the heavy city gates slowly opened, creaking and groaning, as if marking the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

The procession from Bianliang, trudging through the winter frost, slowly entered Zhen Ding Prefecture.

Zhang Duo, standing atop the city wall behind the city gate, gazed at the retreating figures of the troops, his eyes deep and thoughtful, already understanding the situation.

The fate of Zhen Ding Prefecture is destined to change!