The Empire will continue to win

"That's not what I'm asking. What I want to know is, if I go to First Town, what are the advantages and disadvantages for our business?"

Zhang Zongcang spoke very seriously.

Shen Moqing stopped and looked at his sworn brother, his eyes slightly moist.

This is the essence of male friendship.

"Brother, let's not go."

Go!

"No, we'll still train the militia in the factory."

"The militia is not a regular army after all. Second brother, you once said that the navy can only fight external forces, but the army can fight internally. Ironclad warships can't go ashore, but armed soldiers can sail into the Forbidden City."

Shen Moqing nodded.

Yes, the navy can project national power to all corners of the world, but the army can punish traitors! If a real war breaks out, the navy is no match for the army, and neither is the militia.

.........

"Have you decided?"

"It's decided. I'll go to the 1st Army Division, become an officer, build up my troops, and learn tactics. Second brother, how many soldiers does the sergeant command?"

"Forty or fifty soldiers."

"Not bad, not bad at all, it's equivalent to the head of the village committee in my village." Zhang Zongcang grinned, but suddenly his expression turned melancholy. "I've been away from home to join the army for many years now, and I don't know how things are back home."

"Take it, I have plenty of empty rooms."

"Cao County, Caozhou Prefecture, Shandong Province, is a long way to and from here."

So he's from Cao County. After a moment's thought, Shen Moqing said decisively, "How about this, you go to the garrison of the First Town next door and ask Wang Shizhen to come and talk to me."

"Yes."

soon.

Zhang Zongcang then led Wang Shizhen back.

Good news: the officers will arrive in a few days, and there is also great hope for the gunpowder factory.

Bad news: In about 10 days, except for a few battalions that are responsible for garrison duty and other duties, the entire 1st Division of the Army will set off.

Bad news I had no idea about: Li Shaoquan had come to regard me as a treacherous and murderous adversary.

Shen Moqing took 200 silver dollars and asked Zhang Zongcang to have a fellow villager take them home.

.........

The next day.

Gui Liang, Minister of the Imperial Household Department and Assistant Minister of the Royal Assets Management Group, arrived with a total of 200,000 silver dollars from the Imperial Treasury, as well as an imperial decree approving the project for a new type of rifle.

But no mention was made of the gunpowder factory.

On the day.

Shen Moqing convened a mobilization meeting, delivered a passionate speech, and afterwards wrote a pledge on the spot, pressing his bloody handprint on it.

After that, all the employees reluctantly pressed the button again.

Gui Liang witnessed the whole process without uttering a sound, simply taking it as an auspicious omen.

.........

South China Sea.

The wind was high and the waves were rough, causing the ship to rock violently.

A highly confidential royal meeting is underway.

A fierce conflict erupted between the burly and fierce Sheng Bao and the refined and scholarly Yan Fu over the battle plan; in essence, this was a conflict between the army and the navy.

"Fengtian is the key point of the decisive battle between the two sides. The Lushun base should send ironclad warships into the Bohai Sea, go up the Liao River, and sail all the way to Fengtian to directly support the army with large-caliber naval guns."

"No. That would be losing the watermelon for a sesame seed. The navy is not the water force; it is an independent branch of the armed forces. Considering the current war situation, the navy should operate independently. The specific strategy is to use Weihaiwei base as a starting point to deploy a fleet of fast cruisers to cut off the sea transport route between Kyushu and Busan."

Why does the Navy insist on going it alone?

Why does the army always want to dominate the navy?

"Don't you want the Empire to win?"

"Is the Army lacking confidence in winning alone?"

"Were these ironclad warships, purchased for millions of silver dollars, perhaps out of fear of being penetrated by enemy rifles on shore?"

"The Liao River's water level is low in winter, making it impossible for ironclad warships to enter."

"Nonsense! According to historical records, the Ming Dynasty's Dongjiang Navy once sailed into the Liao River and, taking the old man by surprise, dealt him a heavy blow."

"The navy is not the same as the water force, understand?"

The two were arguing fiercely.

Yan Fu was not a narrow-minded person; it's just that his position was determined by his own circumstances.

If the head of the navy were to yield to the army and become a supporting player, thus causing the navy's status to decline, such behavior would be tantamount to jumping into a cesspool and committing suicide.

Sheng Bao, relying on his hard work and high achievements, continued to exert pressure.

The two sides were locked in a fierce confrontation, almost coming to blows.

"stop!"

"You are all soldiers of the Empire, can't you put the interests of the Empire first?" Prince Gong tried to smooth things over, since he didn't expect to reach an agreement anyway.

Yan Fu was about to say something.

vomit~

The two turned their heads and were immediately dumbfounded.

Empress Dowager Cixi vomited!

seasick?

Or is it pregnancy?

Or is it a physical discomfort?

"Little Anzi~"

"Sister, the servants are waiting on the shore. Wipe your mouth first. Never mind, let's go back to the palace and have the meeting later." Empress Dowager An handed over a handkerchief.

When disembarking.

Yan Fu glanced at the lake and saw that the waves were two feet high.

.........

Upon returning to the palace, the two empress dowagers and the emperor rode in a palanquin, while the ministers followed behind on foot.

Two soft-sided carriages traveled side by side.

"I'm seasick today," the Empress Dowager Cixi tried to explain. Vomiting in public was not a very respectable thing to do, and what was even more embarrassing was that she was a 26-year-old widow.

"It is somewhat frivolous," Empress Dowager An replied.

Instantly, the Empress Dowager was furious. "Let me explain to you properly. What do you mean by that? Are you deliberately mocking me for being a playboy?"

They remained silent the rest of the way.

Anderhai stole a glance at the two most honored women in the empire, keenly sensing a slightly disharmonious atmosphere, but he did not show it, only pondering it in his heart.

As we approached the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The imperial carriage happened to encounter Gui Liang, who was returning to the palace to report on his mission.

"What is this?"

"This is Shen Moqing's pledge of military command, presented to the two Empress Dowagers and the Emperor."

"Expand."

"Yes."

An Dehai and his junior brother Li Lianying each held a section of paper and slowly unfurled it. The so-called military order was a three-zhang-long piece of white paper covered with bright red handprints.

"read!"

"Yes."

Gui Liang: "~As a subject, one should worry about the emperor and toil for him; one should die for the emperor. In the past, when the Eastern barbarians invaded the peninsula, the reason I did not die was because of this matter. Your humble servant Shen Moqing is grateful for the kindness of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and wishes to swear a blood oath that the new rifle project will be initiated, developed, and the first batch of samples will be produced within the same month."

"To this end, I will lead all 1500 loyal colleagues in the factory to work day and night, and fully embody the spirit of 'work until you drop dead,' to create a revolutionary weapon for the Empire."

Tsk tsk~

Everyone was filled with mixed emotions.

Minister of Revenue Shen Zhaolin: "Your Highness, what is your opinion?"

Prince Gong: "This is truly rare."

Wenxiang: "Indeed rare. Lord Sheng, what do you think?"

Sheng Bao: "Quite rare."

Gui Liang thought to himself, "This is rare!"

.........

Yu Xian remained silent, pondering what kind of person Shen Moqing really was.

Yan Fu remained silent, but he was displeased.

The Empress Dowager was deeply moved, her chest heaving.

Empress Dowager Dong curled her lip, a hint of disdain in her expression.

Prince Gong was furious.

Army Minister Sheng Bao tugged at Navy Minister Yan Fu's sleeve: "Your naval officers (short for the Naval Petty Officer School) are full of talent! They can sail ships, operate cannons, and even build guns!"

Yan Fu didn't know what to say, and could only manage a bitter smile.

Hopefully, this kid does have the right to be arrogant.

The young emperor's eyes reddened as he pointed at the military order, his voice trembling: "Mother, if Shen Moqing can truly keep his word, I want to personally commend him."