If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

After watching Gan Qing leave with his cane, Zhao Yu began to think.

He was well aware that delegating the power to recruit soldiers to the five major families was tantamount to giving them the ability to rise up in rebellion in the future.

But if he could do it all over again, he would still do it!

Because an army doesn't immediately become combat-ready once recruited.

It takes at least three to four months from recruit enlistment to becoming proficient in training and then to forming real combat capability.

Even according to Gan Qing, the five major families increased their investment regardless of cost, shortening the time to two months.

Those two months are the break he needs.

With the promise of the right to recruit soldiers dangling in front of him, the five major families would obediently follow his lead, working diligently to cooperate in road construction. They would cooperate diligently in road construction, and they would provide money when asked for it.

This is exactly the effect he wanted!

By then, when they come to their senses, it will be beyond their control how much control the five major families will still have over the region.

Zhao Yu stopped tapping his fingers, his mind stirring slightly.

In the air before him, a semi-transparent panel, visible only to him, quietly unfolded.

[Royal Engineering Corps x1.]

[Should we choose to advertise?]

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhao Yu immediately chose to deploy!

Om-!

A flash of golden light appeared inside the side hall, causing ripples in the air.

As the light faded, fifteen men dressed in identical gray uniforms appeared out of thin air, their figures ramrod straight.

The leader was a man around forty years old, with dark skin, a wiry build, and a string of strange measuring tools hanging from his waist.

"Captain Jia Liang of the Royal Engineering Team, along with his team, pays respects to Your Majesty!"

The fifteen people moved in unison, kneeling on one knee, their voices booming.

Zhao Yu surveyed the team. The men stood upright like pine trees, exuding a capable and efficient air; they were clearly professionals.

Since it was produced by the system, its loyalty and ability were beyond doubt, but he still wanted to confirm it.

"What are your skills? What kind of projects can you handle?"

Jia Liang cupped his hands in reply:

"Your Majesty, we are all all-rounders."

"Whether it's infrastructure or various types of buildings, from bridges and roads to water conservancy and city defenses, we are proficient in everything and skilled in everything."

Zhao Yu nodded and pressed further, "What if we asked you to build a road for Daliang, connecting all the towns?"

"If Your Majesty wishes to build roads, I suggest building cement roads," Jia Liang replied without hesitation.

"This road is flat and sturdy, far more durable than traditional stone-paved official roads, and its cost, construction time, and subsequent maintenance are all far superior to the latter."

Cement road?

Zhao Yu raised an eyebrow.

Isn't that the path of the 20th century?

I never expected that this construction team could build modern buildings.

He had originally planned to teach this royal construction team a lesson based on a popular science video he had seen before, about how to build a simple asphalt road in ancient times.

Now it seems completely unnecessary; these people are far more professional than him.

Zhao Yu leaned forward and pressed on, asking:

"Wouldn't a cement road take too long? What I lack most right now is time; I need speed, the faster the better."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured."

Jia Liang immediately explained.

"There are only two time-consuming steps in building a cement road: the firing of cement powder and the air drying and solidification of the road surface after it is laid."

"Both of these issues can be resolved by increasing manpower and establishing assembly line operations."

He stood up, walked to the map of the entire Liang territory hanging on the wall of the side hall, picked up a long ruler, and quickly traced some lines on the map, as if he were making some kind of rapid calculation.

A moment later, he turned around and bowed again.

"We have already drafted a preliminary construction plan."

"If we follow the standard procedure, it will take about a month to lay a main road running north to south for Daliang."

Holy crap, they came up with a plan so quickly!

Zhao Yu was somewhat surprised, but then his brows furrowed.

A month?

It's still too long.

The private armies of the five major families can be established in two months. If I spend a month on the road, the remaining time is too tight and there is too little I can do.

Jia Liang keenly noticed the change in the emperor's expression and immediately added:

"If Your Majesty wishes to further shorten the construction period, I have a plan."

"We can recruit a group of skilled craftsmen from the city and incorporate them into the engineering team for intensive training."

"We can teach them the core technology of laying cement roads in just three or four days."

"At that time, multiple engineering teams can be formed to start work simultaneously from different locations. It is expected that the paving of the main roads throughout the territory can be completed within half a month."

Can you teach apprentices? Or is it a crash course?

Zhao Yu's eyes lit up. This was great!

Just as he was about to make a decision, a method suddenly came to mind.

"Could we do it like this..." Zhao Yu looked at Jia Liang.

"After you've trained those craftsmen, you can completely hand over the road-paving project to them and then step back. Is this a feasible plan?"

Jia Liang paused for a moment, then fell into deep thought.

After a moment, he nodded.

"feasible."

"But in this way, we will need to train an additional team for final acceptance inspection, specifically responsible for supervising the quality of the project and preventing the craftsmen from making mistakes during construction that could affect the quality of the road surface."

He seemed to be rapidly calculating something in his mind.

"If we could set up ten cement road construction teams, one completion acceptance team, and a high-efficiency cement powder production line..."

"Half a month is enough!"

"very good!"

Zhao Yu was satisfied with the timing. He stood up from the dragon throne and walked to the desk.

"I will immediately draft an edict to transfer all the artisans from the Ministry of Works and the common people in the city to you, and order all officials along the route to fully cooperate!"

He picked up his pen and began writing, quickly drafting an imperial edict.

Watching Jia Liang and the others receive the decree and leave, Zhao Yu slowly paced around the hall.

Following this model of replacing the old with the new, the Royal Engineering Corps could be extricated in three or four days.

Every day of this two-month break was incredibly precious.

Moreover, since the five major families were willing to contribute money and effort, he naturally wouldn't waste this opportunity.

What needs to be repaired is far more than just a road.

He wanted to take advantage of this time to get all the projects underway, not only to undermine the power of local officials, but also to strengthen the national fortune of Daliang.

The stronger the nation's fortunes, the stronger this fake emperor can become.

After all, he also possesses the protection of the nation's destiny and the Emperor's Sword, both of which are closely related to the nation's fate.

Outside the palace gate, Wei An entered with small, quick steps, bowing and reporting.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager has sent people three times to urge us, saying that the Prince of Zhennan has been waiting in the Imperial Garden for a long time."

Zhao Yu snapped out of his daze, straightened his robes, and nodded.

"Let's go to the Empress Dowager's palace."

Wei An suddenly looked up, his face full of confusion.

Rice enough?

What kind of dog?

Is Your Majesty calling the Empress Dowager's palace a dog's den?