The Empire will continue to win

"I don't understand, is there still any law in this world?" Zhang Zongcang said in a muffled voice.

"What is the law of the king? The law of the king is the law established by the royal family. Thunder and rain are all the king's grace. Whether it is praise or injustice, the subjects must accept it."

"We risked our lives for the imperial court. If we don't get promoted and made a fortune when we return, we can't just be thrown into a death row cell without any explanation, can we?"

"Brother, do you think we'll be so lucky if something like this happens again?"

Zhang Zongcang did not answer, but his facial expression said it all.

The two of them quietly watched the koi swimming around at their feet.

For this burly Shandong man, the five days in death row were more profound than the five days on the battlefield, and some vague ideas were thus shattered.

After a long time~

Shen Moqing said quietly, "Brother, I have some ideas for the future. Would you like to hear them?"

Zhang Zongcang said in a muffled voice, "I'll listen to you. I owe you my life."

"Brother, we must strive to become officials, and strive to become high-ranking officials. Only by becoming high-ranking officials will we avoid encountering similar situations."

"No matter how high an official's rank is, can it be higher than the Emperor's? Can it be higher than the two Empress Dowagers' rank?" Zhang Zongcang suddenly retorted.

Shen Moqing smiled.

OK!

His time in death row wasn't wasted; he was actually able to break free from the constraints of loyalty to the emperor and start thinking about issues.

"If we hold a large army, the ground of the capital will tremble with a stomp of our feet. At that time, we will be as powerful as the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."

"rebel?"

"What rebellion or not, it's all about loyalty to the empire. However, the Empress Dowager is unwilling to give me military power for the time being, so I'd like to find an opportunity for you to lead troops."

"But I'm just a private first class in the navy~"

"Officials are appointed by people; have you not heard the saying, 'Are kings and nobles born with a special destiny?'"

"Return to the Navy?"

"No, ironclad warships can't enter the Forbidden City, but soldiers can, so you'll have to switch to the army." Shen Moqing smiled and said, "I see the United Empire in chaos, in this era of great strife, where heroes vie for supremacy, and holding military power is the key."

"Damn it, let's go for it." Zhang Zongcang chuckled.

When a person dies, the bird flies to the sky; if they don't die, they live for ten thousand years.

At this point, Shen Moqing had two people he could absolutely trust: one was his wife, whom he had not yet officially married, and the other was his sworn brother with whom he would share life and death.

As he told Empress Dowager Cixi: In politics, cultivating confidants is key.

"Brother, our brotherly ambition can conquer the world."

"swallow!"

Shen Moqing felt his blood surging, wishing he could punch Emperor Xuanwu and kick the two empress dowagers. After 25 years of sharpening his sword at Yan Garden, it was finally ready to be drawn.

Listen to the dragon's roar~

.........

A pretty maidservant approached from afar, bowed, and said, "Second Young Master, we have guests who have come to the manor and have specifically requested to see you. This is their visiting card."

Shen Moqing took it and looked at it.

Wow~

The gold-embossed visiting card was incredibly extravagant.

The signature reads: "Respectfully presented by Steward Worenzhi, Assistant Minister of Yanshan Heavy Industry."

Your information network is incredibly efficient, and your nose is truly accurate.

But what the hell is this butler? He's clearly looking down on us!

"No need for tea, just send this man away. Tell him that since I am here on behalf of Heaven, I cannot meet with anyone from Yanshan Heavy Industry in private."

"Yes."

.........

Nanyuan.

Outside the gate of Yanshan Heavy Industry Group.

Red carpets were laid out, clean water was splashed on the streets, gongs and drums resounded, firecrackers crackled, and crowds surged.

"He's here, the Imperial Envoy has arrived."

As they were talking, the convoy arrived.

Shen Moqing stepped out of the carriage leisurely, and everyone rushed forward and knelt on one knee.

"Yang Tingxi, supervisor of the firearms manufacturing plant, pays his respects to His Majesty the Imperial Envoy."

"Ma Zhenyang, supervisor of the artillery manufacturing plant, pays his respects to His Majesty the Imperial Envoy."

"Supervision of metallurgical plants..."

~

The self-introduction alone took half an incense stick's time.

Yanshan Heavy Industry owns dozens of different manufacturing plants and six mines, with a total of 50,000 employees, making it a veritable behemoth.

"Please rise, everyone. Where is the Japanese assistant?" Shen Moqing asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Your Excellency, the Japanese assistant is ill, quite seriously, and even bedridden. But he has repeatedly instructed us subordinates to make sure we receive him properly. Please forgive him, Your Excellency," Yang Tingxi, the supervisor of the Arms Manufacturing Plant, quickly explained.

"What a coincidence~" Shen Moqing quickly suppressed his smile.

Please forgive me?

Fuck your mother!

This is clearly a case of not taking me seriously!

Woren, a Mongol, entered officialdom through the imperial examination. He was highly accomplished in Confucianism and was a key figure in the imperial Confucian revivalist school. He also once served as the current emperor's teacher.

He is known throughout the government and the public as a senior figure with a strong reputation, but also a bad temper.

It wasn't that Shen Moqing was narrow-minded, but in officialdom, etiquette was the substance, and formalities were the means to achieve practical results. Wo Ren's excuse of illness for not coming spoke volumes.

.........

"Your Excellency, we have prepared a welcoming banquet for you," Yang Tingxi said in a low voice.

"No rush, let's check the production first."

The first place we visited was a rifle assembly workshop.

Shen Moqing, with a serious expression, walked at the very front of the crowd.

He stopped, and the crowd stopped.

He started walking, and the crowd started walking.

This assembly workshop covers an area of ​​about three acres. The workers are lazy and disorganized. The assembled rifles are haphazardly thrown into baskets, and various parts are piled up haphazardly on the workbench.

Shen Moqing casually picked up a bolt part. The bolt can be said to be the most important part of a rifle. Upon closer inspection, the surface was covered with cutting marks.

"Bring a few more machine guns over."

"Yes."

Five breechblocks, lined up in a row.

The huge tolerance is obvious to the naked eye.

Shen Moqing's face darkened. With the empire's largest military factory employing such crude production processes, how could the frontline army not suffer defeats?

How many Japanese-made rifles were there?

"Approximately 100 to 150 items were submitted to the Imperial Envoy."

"That's all?"

"Yes, yes." Yang Tingxi was also wiping his sweat.

Shen Moqing could hardly believe his ears. He vaguely felt that the empire's actual health condition might be worse than he had estimated.

That's not surprising.

The lack of elders in his family holding important positions in the imperial court resulted in his extremely superficial understanding of the empire.

.........

After leaving the final assembly workshop, the group headed towards a huge building with a sign painted in black on the wall that read: "Warehouse - No Smoking."

This is a rifle depot.

"Open!"

"Yes."

The heavy iron warehouse door was slowly pulled open by the winch.

A strong musty smell wafted over.

Shen Moqing suppressed his anger and entered the warehouse, where he saw all kinds of weapons piled up haphazardly like mountains.

He picked up a rifle at random, pulled back the barrel, and saw that it was rusty.

The bullet is chambered.

Click~

"You bastards, is this how you do your job?"

Everyone knelt down in unison.

"Your Excellency, please calm down. There is indeed more to this matter than meets the eye. May we speak in private?" Yang Tingxi, the supervisor of the firearms factory who was in charge of receiving the arsenal in place of Woren, pleaded in a low voice as he faced the dark muzzle of a gun.

in the corner.

He lowered his voice: "Your Excellency, it is indeed not that we officials have been so negligent, but rather, it is the will of those above."

"Bullshit!"

"Your Excellency, look at the steel stamp on the rifle in your hand."

Shen Moqing looked down and hissed.

The 18th year of Xianning (the reign title of the late emperor)

The rifle has passed its prime.