Liang Xiao gazed at the陌刀 (mòdāo), his heart pounding.
This pattern was identical to Damascus steel!
"How did you forge it?" Liang Xiao asked urgently.
The artisan explained excitedly, "It's from a new iron ore south of Yanzhou. Using the crucible designed by Marquis Anguo, the resulting steel, after countless refinements, exhibits these water-like patterns, and its quality is even better than the陌刀 (mòdāo) specially made for General Yue before! It might not cut through gold and jade, but it's more than enough for any Qingtian Guard to wield, capable of shattering enemy soldiers and horses!"
Liang Xiao immediately had someone test the陌刀 (mòdāo). Its sharpness effortlessly sliced through silk in mid-air!
Based on his understanding of steel, Liang Xiao was certain that this blade possessed superior strength and toughness, making it less prone to breaking in battle.
With such exquisite craftsmanship, the陌刀 (mòdāo) could indeed shatter soldiers and horses with sufficient force.
The iron ore south of Yanzhou was recorded in the geographical map of the Dongye clan. It was highly likely that the material of this mine was different.
Coupled with the recent experimental crucible steelmaking method using coke at the steel mill, steel with the same material as Damascus steel had been unexpectedly produced.
"Marquis Anguo should give this steel a new name," Mu Hong exclaimed in delight.
As the Minister of War and having experienced the great victory at Yanzhou, he understood the importance of military equipment improvement. The birth of this new steel was inseparable from the steelmaking techniques provided by Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao said without hesitation, "Let's call it Water Pattern Steel."
Yue Qingtian ran outside to compare it with his own readily prepared陌刀 (mòdāo) for combat. Indeed, it was slightly inferior to the newly forged one.
"Your Highness, how about I give this one to Jiang Long, and keep the new one for myself..." Yue Qingtian pleaded.
Liang Xiao smiled, "The quality of your ancestral saber is not bad, but it's a bit lacking compared to the陌刀 (mòdāo). However, the陌刀 (mòdāo) is ultimately not suitable for cavalry combat. Why not use this steel to forge a new ancestral saber for you instead?"
Yue Qingtian was overjoyed, almost leaping to hug and kiss Liang Xiao.
"If possible, arrange for General Nan and General Nie as well!" Mu Hong reminded him.
Nie Yuan, standing nearby, had already been staring with eager eyes but was too shy to speak. Upon hearing Mu Hong, he cast a grateful glance his way.
"Naturally, the most elite soldiers deserve the most elite weapons! If production capacity allows, we can even forge plate armor or cotton armor," Liang Xiao said, then asked the artisan, "How much does this陌刀 (mòdāo) cost to produce?"
"We strictly supervised the forging process, and I can confirm it costs ten taels more than the one General Yue has, around two hundred and twenty taels, and it takes over ten days longer," a Shadow Guard replied with a hint of embarrassment.
This cost was nearly equivalent to two regular陌刀 (mòdāo)!
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and immediately made a decision, "First, we will craft weapons for officers above the eighth rank in the army, then recruit more artisans, and expedite the refinement of this steel."
This price was not unaffordable, but Da Qian country now needed both quality and quantity. Ordinary陌刀 (mòdāo) were already divine artifacts on the battlefield, and there was no immediate need to sacrifice efficiency for quality.
Da Qian country had unexpectedly discovered a brand new Water Pattern Steel of excellent quality.
New recruits from all over the country were sent to Yanzhou for training.
Yanzhou was a strategic location for troop training, serving as a communication hub for the northern, western, and Liaodong fronts, facilitating troop deployment.
Furthermore, Yanzhou's harsh winter allowed soldiers to train in winter warfare, which would be beneficial for future battles against the Tianri and Xianbei tribes.
This winter, another fifty thousand new recruits were sent to Yanzhou from various regions.
Although these new recruits were reluctant to leave their homes, the thought of their marshal, Marquis Anguo, being in Yanzhou made them cast aside their homesickness. They only hoped for an opportunity to achieve merit and glory, and then return to their hometowns. Their salaries could be entrusted to the army to be sent home.
Liang Xiao gave another speech to the fifty thousand new recruits and arranged their organization, feeling satisfied.
Early conscription focused on quantity, and might not have met the nation's needs.
Now, with an abundance of young men enlisting, regions began to strictly select the most qualified soldiers.
Among these fifty thousand, ten thousand possessed qualities comparable to the Da Qian Town Guard.
After careful consideration, Liang Xiao abandoned the idea of forming a new army corps and directly incorporated them into the Da Qian Town Guard as the Second Army Corps, training them in siege warfare.
"Our navy is still our weak point. We have fifty thousand naval forces in Jiangnan and fifty thousand in the East Sea," Mu Hong reminded him.
Liang Xiao understood. He discussed with the generals and decided to select another twenty thousand soldiers with good swimming skills to establish a navy. They would train on the Tianjiang River after the spring thaw.
The officials of Da Liang had received news that Da Qian country was researching and building warships in the East Sea.
However, as the two countries were currently on friendly terms, Da Liang could not directly turn against Da Qian.
Led by the Left Prime Minister Yan Liu, all officials advised Mu Cheng to guard against Da Qian.
"Why have my dear ministers stopped advising me to urge me to invite Liang Xiao to Da Liang?" Mu Cheng asked with a smile.
"The deed is done, and we can only offer our full support!" Yan Liu replied without hesitation.
Mu Cheng pondered.
He vaguely sensed a dramatic shift in the attitude of these court officials, suspecting they might be plotting against Liang Xiao.
However, considering that military power and the Imperial Guards were under his control, Mu Cheng was not worried about them rebelling or harming Liang Xiao.
Even if they intended to break ties and, like the aristocratic clans of Da Qian, abandon their duties and cause great chaos in the country to force his hand, he would not panic.
After all, national chaos leading to military mutiny would take time, during which he would have ample opportunity to send Liang Xiao back to Da Liang.
Only Qin Feng's brow furrowed.
He too had noticed the recent unusual shift in the political climate of the court.
The only ones in distress were the princes, who cried daily about not wanting to be hostages in Da Qian.
These princes were indeed no different from hostages, but Mu Cheng was determined to invite Liang Xiao and remained unmoved by their pleas.
The mothers of these princes all hailed from aristocratic clans, representing the interests of their respective families...
The third prince's mother was Yan Liu's cousin.
Even Mu Cheng's own mother hailed from the once-powerful Xiu family, a distant cousin of the former powerful minister Xiu Ping, though her true identity was merely a Xiu family singer.
This was a tradition in Da Liang. Even the former emperors of Da Qian, who controlled the Shadow Guards, had many consorts from aristocratic clans.
It was precisely because of this connection that after Mu Cheng fell out with Xiu Ping, various families merely watched the conflict unfold. It was only out of consideration for the public opinion in the capital that they supported Mu Cheng in purging the Xiu family.
After the court session, Mu Cheng summoned a total of seven princes.
Among them, the most prominent were the First Prince Mu Qing, the Second Prince Mu Ning, and the Third Prince Mu Xuan.
The other four princes were still underage, weeping and begging Mu Cheng not to send them to Da Qian.
The three older princes also kowtowed incessantly, pleading with Mu Cheng to revoke his decree.
Mu Cheng smiled, "Da Qian country will not mistreat you. When Marquis Anguo returns, you will naturally be able to return home safely. The Emperor of Da Qian rules with virtue and will certainly not make things difficult for you."
Everyone continued to plead.
Mu Xuan, unable to bear it any longer, looked at Su Wanqing, who stood beside Mu Cheng, and said, "Then Father, why not send Consort Su, who is pregnant, to Da Qian as well? It would be fair!"