Liu Fan, following behind Liang Xiao, was filled with excitement.
He had come to inspect the workshop his marquis called the "steel mill" and witnessed firsthand the forging of a Mo Dao after a thousand blows.
There were also some Heng Dao, iron-clad heavy shields, armor, and steel swords...
Because Liang Xiao called the "bin tie" produced by the steel mill as steel, they now generally accepted this concept, regarding bin tie as a type of steel.
The future military equipment for the soldiers of the Western and Northern Regions would be produced by this steel mill, with the Armament Directorate only providing a small amount of infantry armor.
This was because the Armament Directorate also needed to supply weapons to Jiangnan, the East Sea, and the Northeast.
Liang Xiao had also improved the iron refining technology of the Great Qian Dynasty, but this technology could only be promoted in this steel mill and the Armament Directorate for the time being, with heavy guards to prevent its spread.
However, in Liu Fan's opinion, compared to the improvement of iron refining technology, improving steel refining technology was the urgent priority for increasing national strength.
The finery process was more efficient than the existing steelmaking processes of the Great Qian Dynasty, produced higher quality steel, and had a lower scrap rate, making it a comprehensive advantage!
After all, the Great Qian Dynasty could prioritize ordinary iron for forging weapons, but to forge sharp weapons like the Mo Dao, better materials were needed. With the previous technology of the Great Qian Dynasty, maintaining the forging of weapons at the level of Mo Dao was a struggle.
Of course, the steel produced by the finery process could not directly form a Mo Dao; it still required repeated forging.
But this kind of steel required less time and effort to forge into shape compared to the "bin tie" of the Great Qian Dynasty.
The workers and artisans already knew that this finery process was provided by the Marquis of Anguo, and therefore regarded Liang Xiao as a god. They followed Liang Xiao's guidance on-site for improvements.
In fact, Liang Xiao was also very pleased.
The steel produced by this finery process, even if it couldn't compare to modern steel, would result in weapons far superior to those made from iron!
However, the current mining output of iron ore was also a problem. Xiao Qing had already sent people to scout various regions and was even preparing to purchase from the Great Liang Kingdom and the Taiji Kingdom.
Liang Xiao desperately needed coal.
The most direct way to explore mineral resources in various regions was through the topographical maps left by the Dongye clan.
This was also a major reason why Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing were determined to recapture Helan Mountain. The treasure map provided by Yu Zao indicated that the treasure containing the topographical maps was hidden in the Helan Mountain area!
Capturing Helan Mountain, driving the barbarians back to the desert, and maintaining stability in the Shuofang and Yunzhou regions were equally important.
The treasure map of the ancient Xiongnu King Herov, possibly the most valuable treasure of all, was hidden deep in the desert!
The barbarians had not become rich and powerful like the Guizi Kingdom, so Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing were certain that the treasure had not yet been discovered.
Xiao Qing's current small fortune was enough to realize her and Liang Xiao's dream of gradually creating a true era of peace, and even unifying the Great Liang.
But if they could reach the depths of the desert, drive away the barbarians, and recover the gold that the ancient Xiongnu King had seized from the Great Zhou Dynasty... the future would be unimaginably beautiful!
One could not become fat overnight. Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing were not impatient but proceeded step by step, preparing the necessary supplies for their future push into the desert.
After leaving the steel mill, Liu Fan suppressed his excitement and reminded Liang Xiao, "Marquis, you must remind His Majesty that heavy troops must be stationed here, and this improved technology must never fall into the hands of enemy countries or your political rivals!"
Liang Xiao nodded, his expression serious. "These workers have temporarily lost their freedom, but their wages have been increased by at least three times. They don't care about losing a little freedom for now. Leaking technology is a crime punishable by the extermination of the entire family. However, it's unrealistic for one person to leak the entire technical process."
After speaking, Liang Xiao looked north and suddenly chuckled, "Warfare is deception."
Liu Fan did not understand his meaning but nodded excitedly, looking at the dim sky to the northwest with anticipation.
Beneath that sky lay Helan Mountain, lost by the Great Qian Dynasty, now occupied by the barbarians for the eleventh year. Ten thousand soldiers had died there in regret.
Losing ten thousand elite soldiers was a fatal blow to the military strength of the Great Qian Dynasty. It was a great fortune that the country had not fallen into complete chaos!
Liu Fan believed that only by reclaiming Helan Mountain could the restless souls of these heroes return to the Great Qian!
Upon returning to the military camp, Liang Xiao handled military affairs, plotting to reclaim the military power of the He and Dugu families, while continuously collecting scout intelligence.
Considering the travel time, the barbarian cavalry had likely reached within a hundred li of the city and were still advancing!
The Northern Army camp was preparing for battle, choosing to temporarily hold its ground.
"Twenty to thirty thousand barbarian cavalry are attacking again!!"
"Twenty to thirty thousand! This time we don't have General Tian to turn the tide!"
Rumors spread throughout the city. By the time the constables arrived to investigate, the spreaders of rumors had vanished without a trace, and the source of the rumors could not be found.
Many people in Yanzhou, having experienced the nightmare brought by the barbarian cavalry last year, were like startled birds, falling into widespread panic.
Zuo Jing and the Yun Tian Guards, having finished collecting intelligence, did not return to the secret room.
Zuo Jing, disguised as an ordinary farmer's wife, sat by the door, looking at the panicked populace, and murmured to herself, "Who says there isn't this time..."
At that time, the eight Yun Tian Guards had also been told by Zuo Wushang that Liang Xiao was very likely General Tian himself and must be extremely careful.
At this moment, hearing Zuo Jing's mumbling, the eight guards were stunned.
"The Marquis of Anguo is in our Yanzhou! He is now the Deputy Marshal of our Northern Region. Last year, he helped defend Yanzhou, and this year he led troops to win the Battle of Luzhou! The Marquis of Anguo, with less than thirty thousand men in Luzhou, defeated over a hundred thousand rebels. Now, the Northern Army camp has at least a hundred thousand men!"
"With the Marquis of Anguo here, General Tian will surely manifest and protect Yanzhou!"
At some point, new cheers began to be heard in the streets and alleys. Those who had fallen into panic began to smile again.
"That's right! The Marquis of Anguo's Qingtian Guard and the Great Qian Iron Guards are also here. They can be worth a hundred men each!"
From panic to boundless confidence, even to arrogance, the people took less than an hour...
Zuo Jing sat by the door, observing the reactions of the surrounding people, a peculiar smile appearing in her eyes.
This shameless person is actually the guardian god of Yanzhou...
Liang Wen was old, and Luo Qingxue was familiarizing herself with Yanzhou's industries, making arrangements for manpower to assist.
During her time in Yanzhou, Luo Qingxue had also begun to manage things.
Although Liang Xiao had married six princesses, with the eldest wife as the legitimate wife, everyone in the Liang Mansions of both regions knew that the second young mistress in charge was Luo Qingxue.
Fifty li outside the city, the barbarian cavalry had found a water source and set up camp. Everyone had grim expressions, gazing south, wishing they could charge into Yanzhou city.
The desert sky was too cold, and they greatly missed the warmth and the smell of roasted meat provided by the Yanzhou girls!
"Marshal, the Northern Army camp has indeed implemented a scorched-earth policy, even destroying all facilities outside the city!"
Upon receiving the intelligence, Zuo Xianwang suppressed his anger and calmly issued an order, dispatching an envoy.
In the Northern Army camp, Liang Xiao was discussing defense strategies with the generals when a report came from outside.
"The barbarian envoy has brought a declaration of war and requests an audience with the Deputy Marshal!"