A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

As soon as Wei Zhao returned to the Guiping camp, he summoned Shang Wanqing to the temporary work shed of the Military Equipment Bureau.

Shang Wanqing was still holding a modified military medical kit in her hands. When she heard the summons, her first question was not about the war.

"The outer layer of thin wood on the medicine box is not enough; it would be best to add a layer of tanned cowhide."

Wei Zhao looked at her and almost laughed out of anger.

This woman really has nothing else on her mind.

But it was precisely because of this that he felt at ease entrusting the Ordnance Bureau to her.

Others make weapons that are good enough to be usable.

Shang Wanqing is different.

She could stare at the craftsman and berate him for half an hour just because she saw a loose crossbow string.

This kind of obsession, when applied to military equipment, is a matter of life and death.

Wei Zhao threw a roster of new soldiers onto the table.

"Forget about the first-aid kit for now."

Shang Wanqing glanced down and her brows immediately furrowed.

"One and a half million?"

"Not everyone goes to the battlefield."

Wei Zhao said, "But within three months, I must muster at least one million new troops that are still usable."

Shang Wanqing looked at him.

"We don't have enough weapons."

"That's why I'm looking for you."

Wei Zhao pointed his finger at the roster, his voice flat.

"I cannot allow them to fight Han Dashan and Zhou Laodao with wooden sticks."

As soon as he said that, all the armorers in the workshop lowered their heads.

They certainly knew they didn't have enough weapons.

The Wei family army, the Imperial Guard, and the surrendered soldiers from Weinan have almost exhausted the reserves.

Now, a million new soldiers have suddenly appeared. Not only are there not enough armor for everyone, but there aren't even enough spears, swords, and shields to go around.

But no one dared to say it outright.

The idea of ​​a million-strong new army sounds terrifying, but when it actually comes to the camp, it means a million mouths, a million hands, and a million weapons.

Wei Zhao knew this better than anyone else.

The call for a million new soldiers is just the first step.

To turn these million men into real weapons, we need food, military law, medical camps, military merits, and iron that can pierce the enemy's body.

Without equipment, even the hottest blood is just a waste of time.

He wouldn't do something so stupid.

Shang Wanqing put down the medicine box, walked to the weapon rack, and casually picked up a standard long sword.

The blade is thick, made of high-quality iron, and has a good edge.

She glanced at it only once before throwing the knife back.

"The new army can't afford this kind of knife."

The old craftsman's expression changed.

"Madam, this is an old design from the Military Equipment Bureau. The blade has a thick back, making it less likely to break when cleaving."

Shang Wanqing looked at him.

"Where does iron come from?"

The old craftsman got stuck.

"Where does the charcoal come from?"

The old craftsman's lips moved.

"How long will the construction take?"

The old craftsman fell silent.

Shang Wanqing turned to look at Wei Zhao.

"His Majesty wants it to be low-cost, mass-produced, and capable of killing people."

"right."

"Then don't make every new soldier carry a knife."

Shang Wanqing picked up a long spear shaft and ran her fingertips along the wood grain.

"gun."

Wei Zhao's eyes twitched.

Shang Wanqing said, "Knives require good iron and skilled craftsmanship. Spears are different. The shaft is made of hardwood, and the spearhead uses less iron, making it easier to sharpen. New recruits don't know swordsmanship, so we can have them form a spear formation, thrusting and charging forward. At least they won't be in chaos on the first try."

Wei Zhao nodded.

That's right.

In the era of cold weapons, if you wanted to quickly train farmers into soldiers, a spear was always more reliable than a sword.

A swordsman needs courage, wrist strength, and experience. A gun formation needs discipline. Discipline can be instilled through military law and training.

"Where's the shield?" Liu Jingshuang asked.

She stood to the side, dressed in a plain, fitted outfit with armor over it, her eyes cold.

Shang Wanqing picked up an old iron shield and tapped it.

"The iron shield isn't enough, and it's too heavy."

She turned and gave instructions to the craftsmen.

"Make a rattan shield. Soak the outer layer in tung oil, sandwich a thin piece of wood inside, and nail an iron plate to the front. It should only protect the chest and abdomen. Don't make it round to look nice; make it long and rectangular, just enough to block arrows."

A young craftsman paused for a moment.

"Can a rattan shield block a sword?"

Shang Wanqing looked at him.

"Cannot withstand a heavy blow."

The craftsman turned pale.

Shang Wanqing continued, "But the new army's first priority is to block arrows, the second is to block light slashes, and the third is to be cheap. If you want them to block everything, then go and make sure everyone has a set of gleaming armor."

The craftsman immediately shut up.

Wei Zhao found it very pleasing to the ear.

This is exactly the answer he wanted.

But it works.

This is enough.

What Wei Zhao finds most annoying now are those who immediately start talking about ancestral rules, superior practices, and old systems. If the old systems were truly effective, the old Wei dynasty wouldn't have deteriorated to this extent.

The million-strong new army is not the Guardian Army, and cannot be fed according to the standards of the Guardian Army.

First, survive.

First, they can kill people.

The rest can be added later.

Shang Wanqing then had several pieces of leather armor and wooden planks brought over.

"Not everyone can wear iron armor."

She took a knife and scratched a piece of old leather armor; the leather cracked open, revealing the inner layers.

"Make lamellar armor using leather, hemp, and thin wood slats. Thicken the chest, shoulders, and abdomen, and thinner the back. The new army will face the enemy head-on, protecting vital points first. Leg armor is unnecessary, as it's too cumbersome. Use leather helmets with iron forehead plates, at least to prevent instant death from stray arrows."

Liu Jingshuang frowned.

"If we retreat and are caught, we will die."

Shang Wanqing's expression remained unchanged.

"Those who flee will die, even if they wear iron armor."

Liu Jingshuang looked at her for a moment, and then surprisingly nodded.

That makes sense.

Wei Zhao almost burst out laughing.

it is good.

These women are all incredibly ruthless when they speak.

But that's just how the battlefield is.

The armor isn't for escaping; it's for daring to stand forward. When it really comes to turning and running, survival depends on fate, on teammates, and on whether the enemy has a horse.

Wei Zhao wanted the new army to not collapse in the first battle.

As long as the first battle is successfully fought, the merit-based system will drive the morale of those who follow.

"Where's the crossbow?" Huo Qingluan suddenly asked.

Shang Wanqing's eyes lit up.

The moment you mention crossbows, she transforms completely.

"The crossbows are too slow, we won't build them."

She took a crude crossbow from the shelf and handed it to Wei Zhao.

"Make a simple crossbow."

Wei Zhao took it and pulled the string.

It is much lighter than the crossbows used in the army, and its range is also shorter.

However, it winds up quickly and has a simple structure.

Shang Wanqing said, "They can penetrate cloth armor within fifty paces and damage leather armor within thirty paces. They're useless against elite troops, but they're enough against the newly conscripted soldiers forcibly recruited by the rebel king."

She paused, then added.

"Especially suitable for people who can't shoot arrows."

Wei Zhao finally managed a slight smile.

"it is good."

Wei Zhao put the crossbow back on the table.

"Reconstruction of the Ordnance Bureau".

Shang Wanqing looked up.

Wei Zhao looked at her.

"From this day forward, you shall once again take charge of the Armory."

Shang Wanqing lowered her head and spoke very softly.

"Your Majesty, I obey the decree."

Shang Wanqing picked up the simple crossbow again.

"Ten days."

Wei Zhao raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Within ten days, the first batch of spearheads, rattan shields, leather and wood armor, and simple crossbows will be produced."

She looked at the craftsman beside her, her tone chillingly cold.

"The design will be completed in three days, trial production in five days, and finalized in ten days. Anyone who delays the work will be nailed to the crossbow frame by my own hand."

The craftsmen's faces turned pale.

Wei Zhao felt relieved.

Row.

The Ordnance Bureau came to life.

That night, Wei Zhao wrote a letter himself.

Liu Jingshuang sat beside him wiping her knife. Seeing that he was hesitant to put pen to paper, she looked up and asked a question.

"To whom is it written?"

"Nie Yinniang, the Flower Understands Words."

Liu Jingshuang stopped moving.

Wei Zhao pressed the tip of his pen onto the paper, his voice very low.

"The new Wu Dynasty needs a pair of eyes."

Liu Jingshuang did not ask why.

She understands.

In the past, the Wei family had scouts, undercover agents, Hua Jieyu's intelligence network, and also people like Nie Yinniang who hid their blades in the shadows.

But those all belong to the Wei family.

Things are different now.

Wei Zhao was the emperor.

The new Wu Dynasty will face not only rebel kings, but also powerful families, financial magnates, former officials, rebel armies, foreign tribes, corrupt officials, fake military achievements, fake land registers, assassinations, poisoning, and sabotage of supply lines.

Relying solely on the official court is insufficient.

Relying on scouts in the army is not enough.

There needs to be a secret government office that truly belongs to the new Wu Dynasty.

They can investigate, arrest, and kill.

It can also dig out the rotten flesh hiding under the fine clothes and fine garments.

Wei Zhao put down his pen.

"Nie Yinniang controls killing, Hua Jieyu controls hearing."

Liu Jingshuang's eyes flickered slightly.

Wei Zhao continued writing.

"Reorganize the old secret network, gather the remaining useful members of the Seven Kill Tower, and recruit spies from brothels, caravans, security companies, post stations, and the military to establish a new agency."

The pen tip stopped.

What should I name it?

Black ice platform? Not appropriate.

Embroidered Robe Envoy? That doesn't go well either.

Three words suddenly popped into Wei Zhao's mind, and the corners of his mouth gradually flattened.

it is good.

That's it.

He wrote the last line.

"The new signature is: Jinyige."

Wei Zhao handed over the imperial edict.

"Send it back to the capital with urgent delivery."

The guard took it with both hands, his voice tense.

"As you command!"

In the middle of the night, the fast horse charged out of the Guiping camp.

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance.