I asked you to go hunting, and you ended up wearing a yellow robe?

A single contract, worth ten thousand taels of silver.

Zhao Bingkun's decisiveness far exceeded Qi Shan's expectations.

In just a few days, Qingyang County was transformed.

In the east of the city, the wasteland that was once a gathering place for refugees and overflowing with sewage is now filled with dust and the sound of shouts.

Thousands of migrants who were once emaciated and had numb eyes have now taken off their tattered clothes, gone shirtless, and become laborers sweating profusely.

They moved earth and stones, compacted the foundation, and on the planned blueprints, the outline of a new city rose from the ground at a visible speed.

According to Qishan's plan, the expansion area was clearly divided into three parts.

The largest area will be a military camp that can accommodate several thousand people, with high walls and numerous arrow towers, resembling a city within a city.

Next to the military camp were hundreds of neatly arranged, simple houses.

These houses were provided to displaced families who participated in the construction of the city at a price that was almost free.

With a roof over their heads, they were no longer rootless duckweed.

The outermost area is reserved for commercial and residential use, awaiting future prosperity.

Using work as a form of relief is a win-win-win situation.

Meng Da set up a huge recruitment platform next to the construction site and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Brothers! The city walls will eventually be repaired! The rice bowl will eventually be put down! Do you want to eat your fill for the rest of your life? Do you want your wives and children to stand tall and be proud?"

"Would you like to join Commander Qi and accomplish something great?"

"It used to be Battalion Commander Li, now it's Commander Qi! He's a living saint of Qingyang County, a great hero who slew the barbarian chieftain and protected the people! Follow Commander Qi, and you'll have meat to eat and merit to earn!"

A burning light shone in the eyes of the refugees.

In Qingyang County today, who doesn't know the famous Qishan Mountain?

The name Qishan is the best recruitment order.

It was he who distributed porridge outside the city, giving them a way to survive.

It was he who beheaded Yelü Mulang, washing away decades of humiliation suffered by the people on the border.

It was he who gave them the dignity of being human.

The worship of heroes and the yearning for the future intertwine to form the most distinctive cohesive force!

"I'm in! I'm strong!"

"I'm going too! If I join the army, I can support my wife!"

"Count me in! I've slaughtered pigs before, I know how to use a knife!"

"I hate those northern barbarians the most!"

The enthusiastic crowd nearly collapsed the recruitment platform.

Qi Shan stood on a nearby earthen slope, quietly watching this thriving scene.

Behind them was a military camp that was beginning to take shape;

Before us lies a bustling construction site;

In their ears, they heard the heartfelt cries of the people.

Everything is moving in a positive direction.

But his heart remained completely unmoved.

"Qingyang County is still too small."

"This number of men is far too small."

He knew very well that this seemingly vigorous power, when placed on the chessboard of the entire world, was nothing more than a firefly in a corner.

Let alone vying for supremacy in the Central Plains, even the unseen General Liu Wei, or the Khan of the Yelü people, one of the true rulers of the Northern Territory, could extinguish this glimmer of light with a flick of their finger.

Not to mention the other nomadic regimes as well!

In this chaotic world, things are never that simple.

but……

Qi Shan raised his head and looked south, towards the capital.

Opportunity always awaits those who are prepared.

……

Thousands of miles away, in the capital of the Great Qian Dynasty.

Deep within the Forbidden City lies the Yuqing Palace.

The hall was warm and cozy, filled with the gentle fragrance of incense, a stark contrast to the bleak autumn winds outside.

The Fifth Prince Zhao Xun, dressed in a robe with four claws and a python pattern, sat upright, but his face was somewhat pale.

Before him stood a middle-aged man with a plump build and shrewd eyes, who was personally pouring him tea.

This man is the Vice Minister of Revenue of the current dynasty, the maternal uncle of the Fifth Prince, and the Imperial Brother-in-law of the Song Dynasty.

"Your Highness, there's no need to be nervous." Song Guojiu put down the teapot, his voice extremely low. "Words have come from the palace that His Majesty's health... those old fogies in the Imperial Hospital have concluded that he probably won't make it through the winter."

"Click."

Zhao Xun's hand hovered in mid-air, frozen in place.

He looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with shock: "Father... he really..."

"Absolutely true."

Zhao Xun's breathing became rapid instantly.

If the Emperor were to pass away, the Crown Prince would naturally succeed to the throne.

But his elder brother, the crown prince...

Thinking of the fates of his second, third, and fourth brothers—one died suddenly from an illness, one fell into the water by accident, and one was trampled to death by a mad horse while hunting—Zhao Xun felt a chill run down his spine.

Next up is his turn.

"Uncle, my elder brother... he won't let me go!" Zhao Xun's voice trembled slightly.

"Therefore, we cannot sit idly by and wait for our doom." A ruthless glint flashed in Song Guojiu's eyes. "Your Highness, what you lack most right now is military merit, military power, and the confidence to stand on equal footing with the Crown Prince!"

"I have already petitioned His Majesty to grant you the authority to tour the northern frontier on behalf of the Emperor. This will serve two purposes: firstly, to enhance your prestige within the army, and secondly, to allow you to temporarily escape the turmoil in the capital."

"To the northern frontier?" Zhao Xun was taken aback, then became even more worried. "But if I leave the capital, what if Father Emperor suddenly..."

"Your Highness, rest assured." The Imperial Uncle Song interrupted him, leaning close to his ear and speaking in a chilling voice, word by word, "The Crown Prince will not live to see the day he ascends the throne."

Zhao Xun was startled, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he looked at his uncle in disbelief.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word. In the end, he simply lowered his head, picked up the cracked cup of tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Everything... is up to my uncle's arrangements."

……

The Eastern Palace.

Crown Prince Zhao Cheng sat leisurely in his study, toying with a crystal-clear jade ruyi in his hand.

Before him, an aide bowed and reported.

"Your Highness, news from the palace indicates that His Majesty's cough has worsened again. The imperial physician says that he may not survive more than six months."

Zhao Cheng's smile deepened: "Six months? That's enough. I've waited for so many years, another six months won't make a difference."

"There is one more thing," the aide hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The Fifth Prince submitted documents to the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel today, saying that he is going to inspect the northern frontier on behalf of the Emperor... to reward the three armies."

"Oh?" Zhao Cheng stopped playing with the jade ruyi, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "My good fifth brother, usually so timid, how come he suddenly had the guts to go to the Northern Frontier?"

The advisor said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, the Fifth Prince's actions are far more than just rewarding the troops. The Northern Frontier has been at war with the Yelü, Murong, Tuoba, Rouran, and other tribes for many years, and its army is known for its fierce fighting spirit; it is home to the most elite border troops of our Great Yan. The Fifth Prince's trip is ostensibly an inspection, but in reality, it's about cultivating his influence. If he gains a foothold in the Northern Frontier and wins over the hearts of the troops, he could become a major threat in the future!"

"Even..." the aide paused, then uttered four words, "in accordance with the imperial decree to quell the rebellion."

Snapped!

The jade ruyi was slammed heavily onto the table.

The air in the study seemed to freeze instantly.