Inside the Yan Province military camp, the soldiers were undergoing a military review, listening to Lü Changhe's speech.
"You are provided with good food and drink daily, and those who enjoy alcohol will receive an extra two taels of liquor. Remember your mission, train diligently, and there will be basic assessments each term. If you fail, you will be demoted and have your treatment reduced on the spot! Remember the most important point: without the permission of the imperial court and the marshal, anyone who dares to take even a needle or thread from the common people will be severely punished with thirty planks and expelled from the army!"
The soldiers' hearts tightened, and they responded in unison, "We will remember our mission!"
After the review ceremony concluded, the new recruits, during their break, began to discuss in hushed tones.
"Is this Marshal of Northern Conquest so strict?"
"He only becomes unusually stern when he mentions the common people. In everyday life… we've seen his true nature; he doesn't deny himself being a peacock…" "??"
At present, the treatment for soldiers remained generous, and the sense of honor was unprecedented. Families took immense pride in having a man serve in the army, and even the new recruits remembered that they were fighting for the Gan Dynasty, training hard to avoid disgracing themselves in the army.
"His Majesty and the Emperor have arrived in Yan Province!!"
The shouts of the herald outside sent a thrill through the three armies, who intensified their training.
On the high platform at the center of the Yan Province plaza, Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing stood at the front, with Luo Qingxue and others accompanying them with the children, waving to the soldiers and people of Yan Province.
The entire place erupted in cheers, with everyone shouting "Long live the Holy Emperor and the Emperor!" their emotions running high.
"The Emperor is one of us from Yan Province! He's brought his most incredible wife back to their hometown!"
Xiao Qing gazed at the jubilant people of Yan Province, a blush rising on her exquisite face.
The people of Yan Province now lived and worked in peace, no longer suffering the hardship she had seen on her first visit. Joy and reverence shone on every face, and the older generation wept tears of gratitude, knowing how hard-won this day was.
This was the starting point of legends, and also the starting point where she was "abducted" by Liang Xiao…
Thinking of the scene where Liang Xiao mistook her for a eunuch when they first met, Xiao Qing pursed her lips and smiled, tightening her grip on Liang Xiao's arm, afraid he might suddenly disappear.
"I abducted him first! I made the first move! Hmph~"
Liang Xiao heard Xiao Qing's soft murmur and suppressed his laughter, his eyes filled with tenderness.
This was the beginning of their story, the place where they met, and the future military stronghold from which the Gan Dynasty would sweep across the Tianri Dynasty.
Yan Province Steel Mill, the Directorate of Armaments, the railway, and shipping… more than half of these were established in the Yan Yun region!
The reason was none other than the western and northern borders!
Having traveled to the desert, Liang Xiao was certain that even if the geographical environment here differed from his homeland, some principles of geography and chemistry were universal, and vast mineral resources must lie deep within the desert.
In the area south of the desert, near the northern border, several large coal mines had already been discovered!
This was also a key reason why the Great Gan Dynasty was vigorously promoting steam engines; with more and more coal mines, they couldn't be wasted!
As for the oil fields in the Central Plains, they were still gushing oil. Currently, the Great Gan Dynasty only dared to use petroleum to create the 'Great Gan Skyfire.' Since Liang Xiao was not a chemical engineer, he couldn't be certain if the gases produced by directly burning the oil were more toxic than ordinary fuels, so it could only be used against enemies!
Of course, Yan Province, as a military stronghold, was developed with the premise of not affecting the daily lives of its citizens. Numerous military facilities were situated far from residential areas.
The coal miners here worked in rotational shifts, with their health being closely monitored and generous salaries provided.
Whether it was this land or his homeland, due to the large population, the value of human labor had been tragically low since ancient times. Liang Xiao hoped that at least here, something could change, serving as an example for future imperial descendants to avoid being overthrown due to excessive exploitation of the populace.
However, Liang Xiao's purpose in coming to Yan Province was not merely to pay respects to his ancestors.
On this day, Liang Xiao's family, along with Liang Qing, returned to the ancestral home to pay homage to their ancestors and comfort the spirits of Liang Anguo and his wife.
Even as the Emperor, Xiao Qing knelt alongside Liang Xiao before the ancestral tablets, offering her sincere respects.
No one stopped her; they all understood that Xiao Qing's gratitude was for the Gan Dynasty.
She was not only the ruler of the realm but also Liang Xiao's wife.
Liang Qing looked at the respectful and obedient Empress with profound emotion, feeling as if she were in a dream.
The dignified Empress of a nation had been "abducted" into this boy's home…
With Ding Wuyi and others assisting in the capital and the cooperation of the Six Ministries and the Prime Minister's office, Xiao Qing also took advantage of the warming spring to reside in Yan Province with peace of mind for a period.
The next morning, Liang Xiao arrived at the training grounds of the Hidden Wolf Guard and found Sima Jing.
Sima Jing, nearly eighty years old, was still vigorous and spirited.
From the earliest batch of Hidden Wolf Guards, Sima Jing had selected a thousand men for Liang Xiao to review.
Night Wind, Night Owl, and others, who had previously distinguished themselves in various campaigns, had become captains of their respective battalions, bringing honor to their families while continuing to serve the country.
He Zizhang, the captain of the Shadow Guards, had also accompanied Liang Xiao to Yan Province. His loyalty and achievements earned him the admiration of all the Shadow Guards. He and Liang Mingyu were now designated by Xiao Qing as the next leaders of the Shadow Guards.
The Hidden Wolf Guards looked at Liang Xiao with fanatical eyes, their hearts brimming with excitement.
They had all come from families struggling to make ends meet. It was Liang Xiao who had given them everything they had today, allowing their families to be proud of them and to hold their heads high.
"I have come to visit you all today because there is an unprecedented mission that requires the selection of Hidden Wolf Guards, who will serve for a full twenty years!"
As soon as Liang Xiao finished speaking, the Hidden Wolf Guards responded in unison, "We will go through fire and water without hesitation; what are thirty years?!"
"It is not a mission of venturing into a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, but it concerns the future of the Gan Dynasty. You absolutely must not be careless and must strictly obey military orders!"
After receiving the Hidden Wolf Guards' resolute affirmation, Liang Xiao took out the flintlock rifle he had prepared for a long time from his embrace.
A hint of confusion flickered in everyone's eyes.
What did this thing have to do with their critical mission?
"Bring a plate armor!"
A Shadow Guard brought a piece of plate armor and placed it on a distant target.
"Could this be a ranged weapon?" Even Sima Jing's interest was piqued.
"It is a more dangerous weapon than longbows and Great Gan bows. Its structure will continue to be improved and its power upgraded in the future. For now, let's familiarize yourselves with it."
Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Liang Xiao personally loaded, aimed, and pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
The flint struck the edge of the flash pan, sparking, and the gunpowder ignited, hitting the distant plate armor.
"Why so fast?"
The Hidden Wolf Guards were dumbfounded.
They had wanted to see how this thing worked, but in just an instant, fire erupted from inside, and it was gone??
"Go and examine that piece of plate armor."
Liang Xiao's tone was extremely serious, and with a sense of curiosity, they all walked to the plate armor and, upon closer inspection, let out gasps of amazement.
He Zizhang held up the plate armor and showed them the wound it had sustained.
The plate armor, which could easily withstand crossbow bolts, had been pierced through both the chest and the back!
"Your Majesty, is this the new type of weapon we will be using?" Night Owl and others asked excitedly.
Liang Xiao nodded.
"This weapon is called a 'flintlock rifle.' I have spent several years researching it. Its craftsmanship is more precise than bows and crossbows, and it is inherently more dangerous. Once fired, even a general with unparalleled strength wearing plate armor could be killed with a single shot! When this weapon is released, individual martial prowess will become a mere embellishment on the battlefield, unless both sides fight to the end and are forced into close combat!"
Everyone looked at the still-smoking flintlock rifle in Liang Xiao's hand, their hearts pounding.
They knew too well the power of plate armor, made of steel.
Even so, the finest plate armor currently produced by the Great Gan Dynasty could not withstand a single shot!
"What about steel infantry armor?" Sima Jing asked urgently.
Liang Xiao had another piece of steel infantry armor placed by a Shadow Guard, and fired again.
"Bang!"
After observing, everyone's expression changed drastically.
The steel infantry armor had also been pierced!
"This… is there any armor in this world that can resist a flintlock rifle?"
Liang Xiao pondered for a moment and then had a Shadow Guard retrieve a padded armor.
The crowd watched, chuckling dryly, "Your Majesty, even steel infantry armor and plate armor can't resist it. How could this padded armor…"