Warhammer, I really didn't intend to form a second empire!

To be honest, Zhao Zheng is no longer very afraid of the corruption of chaos, and given the special nature of his offspring, he is even less afraid now.

As for the possibility of the Abomination Intelligence rebelling, as long as the Ironborn are loyal enough, there won't be any problems.

And loyalty is precisely what Zhao Zheng's Imperial Dragon Legion has in abundance.

His offspring are genetically locked into absolute loyalty, and the Ironborn created using the Emperor Dragon Legion as a template will naturally inherit this trait.

If a dwarf can do it, why can't Zhao Zheng?

After much internal struggle, Zhao Zheng finally convinced himself to do it!

When Kongming entered the rest room of the Lishan ship on the evening of the third day, he was holding a thick data board, which summarized the progress of a new batch of projects in the river center area.

He paused at the doorway, his gaze sweeping over the blank panel Zhao Zheng had placed on the table. The panel displayed several outline sketches of mechanical structures, labeled with parameters related to the humanoid mechanical skeleton and cognitive core.

If I'm not mistaken, my father should have already designed these things, but there's still some hesitation on his face.

Kongming didn't ask any further questions. He simply sat down opposite Zhao Zheng, placed the data board on the edge of the table, and began his routine progress report.

The agricultural improvement project in the river center area has completed the first phase of the pilot program, with the 33 areas that have undergone environmental modification beginning to produce their first crops. Although the yield is still low, the trend is positive.

The water treatment system is operational in more than 100 major mining worlds, with purification efficiency meeting expectations and temporarily alleviating the pressure on external supply.

After listening to the report, Zhao Zheng nodded without giving any further instructions on the progress. He simply put the report that Kong Ming had brought in into the data terminal.

After finishing his business, Kongming did not leave immediately, but sat on the chair for a while.

"Your Majesty, are you researching matters concerning the Ironborn? Have you taken a fancy to this?"

"Yes, we are short-handed. The Ironborn can help us a lot in this regard. Besides, we can't always rely on our people to be the vanguard on the battlefield. The combination of drones and the Ironborn is definitely a brilliant move."

"Future boarding maneuvers for warships, spacecraft exploration, preliminary planetary surveys, and compositional analysis of mines..."

"These can be inspected by the Ironborn first, and then we can make a decision, right? Not to mention that the cost of building these Ironborn is practically zero."

"It's cheap to build, and the advantages are countless, so why not give it a try?"

Zhao Zheng's tone was very calm, but Kongming knew that his father was actually still very worried.

"What if the Empire finds out? We still have brothers from other legions here. If they..."

Kongming didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was already quite clear.

The Imperial Dragon Legion now includes not only descendants of the Qin Dynasty, but also legions from four other empires.

If the Ironborn were to be mobilized on a large scale at this point, it would only be a matter of time before the news reached the Empire, and this could very well lead the Qin Dynasty down a path of utter destruction.

Zhao Zheng leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the edge of the table. He had certainly considered Kongming's concerns, which was one of the core reasons why he had hesitated for three days.

“I can temporarily place these Ironborn in the heart of the river, under the guise of the automated equipment left behind by the dwarves, and also to disguise them.”

"They are similar to the support troops wearing CMC armor. As long as we take good precautions, we can probably get away with it."

"And we can also find a pretext to conduct a small-scale experimental deployment there first."

"We've just taken over the River Heart region, and the Empire won't interfere in Qin's political affairs. Plus, their logistics and administrative systems are currently under reconstruction, so information flow is very restricted. The Empire is practically deaf to this, and our cover will greatly enhance our secrecy."

"As for those four brother legions..."

Zhao Zheng paused for a moment, his fingertips resting on the edge of the table.

"We will consider gradually releasing relevant information to the Ironborn after their reliability has been verified in actual combat tests in the River Heart region."

“The surface features of those Ironborn are highly similar to the automated equipment left behind by the Dwarves. In addition, as long as we don’t actively expose ourselves, they are unlikely to suspect anything.”

Kongming lowered his gaze for a moment as he quickly assessed the loopholes and risks in Zhao Zheng's plan.

A moment later he raised his head.

"What if a legion comes into contact with the Ironborn during its operations in the River Heart region and notices something amiss?"

"Then tell them that this is an automated defense system built by the Great Qin based on the technology left by the dwarves, and it has been reactivated after being modified by the Great Qin engineering team."

"This claim is supported by the real evidence from the Battle of the River, where the dwarves did indeed use a large number of automated defense devices in the fortress, which we have also systematically recovered and utilized."

"If they press further, then arrange a joint operation to let them witness firsthand the performance of the Ironborn on the battlefield. The facts will prove that as long as they are truly effective and loyal enough, their cousins ​​will naturally accept them in due course."

Zhao Zheng handed over the Ironborn manufacturing plan, which he had already designed and made some adjustments to.

Kongming pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded and accepted the blank panel handed to him by Zhao Zheng.

"Then I will arrange the manufacture of the first batch of Ironborn. We will extract the creation template from the ancestral core, manufacture a small batch first, and put it into the logistics and mining links in the river center area for actual testing, collect data, and prepare for subsequent battlefield deployment."

Zhao Zheng turned to look at him, a rare look appearing in his eyes.

"Kongming, when you came in, you saw the draft on my desk. Don't you have anything to say?"

Kongming smiled slightly.

"I trust Father's judgment. Besides, from the Empire's perspective, we are ultimately an outcast."

Zhao Zheng paused upon hearing this, not expecting the prime minister, known for his meticulousness, to say such a thing. Then, the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

"Let's get started. Let's build the first batch first, using our production line and crafting it with living metal and refined gold."

"Your subject understands."

After Kongming left, Zhao Zheng sat at the table for a while longer.

The data panel on the table was still lit up, displaying the design schemes for the Ironblood skeleton and brain core units. Every detail had been meticulously examined. Even though Zhao Zheng was confident, he still needed to maintain a rigorous attitude towards science.

He turned off the data panel, stood up from his chair, and walked to the porthole on the side of the lounge.

Outside the window, the arc-shaped surface of Qiankun Star shimmered with patches of varying shades of color under the starlight, while the industrial lights of Chiyang City converged into a vast network of light on the planet's shadowed side.

On the other side of the star map, the river core region is still slowly undergoing resource transformation and agricultural ecological restoration, while the first batch of Ironborn manufacturing workshops are being secretly built in the foundry of Qiankun Star.

The industrial equipment left behind by the dwarves was disassembled piece by piece by the technical team at the Central Research Institute, core components were replaced, and then reassembled into new equipment compatible with the Qin standard production line.

Zhao Zheng went to the foundry on the day the first batch of iron skeletons was completed.

It was an independent assembly line located ninety-nine levels underground in Chiyang City. The outer layer was wrapped in thick living metal and spirit bone armor plates, and entry and exit required passing through thirteen psionic locks and twenty-two biometric verifications.

As Zhao Zheng passed through the last door, the first batch of iron skeletons on the assembly table were being fixed to hydraulic supports. The skeletons, made of living metal and refined gold alloy, gleamed with a dark, eerie green luster under the cold white light.

The outlines of those skeletons were completely consistent with the design in Zhao Zheng's draft. They were humanoid in shape, with simplified joint structures and tolerances for each connector controlled within an extremely small range, making them look sturdy and reliable.

It even has a deep disguise on its appearance, so it can transform into an armored Astartes or a "good brother" at any time.

The brain core units of the Ironborn still need some time to complete the debugging, but in Zhao Zheng's psychic perception, these skeletons already exude an extremely faint but clearly discernible sense of rhythm.

He walked around the assembly table, and after confirming that there were no visible defects in the structure of the skeleton, he turned and left the foundry.

The first batch of Ironborn were assembled and core debugging completed in the following weeks.

Those brain units equipped with the loyalty protocol pre-set by Zhao Zheng were fitted one by one into the refined gold alloy skeleton, and after multiple functional tests, they were officially put into use.

The Ironborn were deployed to the logistical supply lines in the heart of the river to test their performance in a real-world working environment.

They were incorporated into the mining and transportation fleets in the river center area, responsible for the most manpower-intensive and dangerous tasks.

Excavating channels through deep mineral veins, maintaining high-intensity material handling in harsh environments, and undertaking equipment maintenance and troubleshooting tasks in newly developed agricultural stations and circulating water treatment systems...

The Ironborn demonstrated a satisfactory level of stability in these positions; they were tireless, strictly followed the pre-set procedures to execute every instruction, and did not deviate from the expected behavior.

The grassroots workers and engineers of Daqin who came into contact with the Iron Tribe were initially wary, but after a few months, their wariness was gradually diluted by the smooth operation day after day.

Zhao Zheng received the monthly briefing from the river center area on the bridge of the Lishan.

Ironborn's involvement in mining and transportation is gradually increasing, and frontline feedback is generally neutral to positive, with no negative records regarding reliability or loyalty.

It seemed that his bold attempt had been quite effective, and Zhao Zheng nodded in satisfaction.

Since that's the case, there's nothing to worry about. It's time to start mass production of the Ironborn.

The Empire generally won't investigate, and I can take this opportunity to develop my own strength during the Great Expedition.

If a major rebellion is truly unavoidable in the future, then at least I have the strength to fight to the death with a considerable number of legions, and I can also kill some of my traitorous brothers.

Even if I still get into trouble for no reason in the future, at least I will have made a contribution to humanity, so this life will not have been in vain.

Forget it, let's mass-produce the Ironborn first. When that time comes, the power I have can still protect the remnants of the Dragon Kingdoms.

Suddenly, Zhao Zheng's expression hardened as a powerful surge of golden spiritual energy forcefully entered his mind in an unreasonable manner.

"Congratulations, my son. You have taken over the river area in such a short time. Your achievements and efficiency are truly remarkable."

The emperor's voice appeared in Zhao Zheng's mind, causing him to suddenly tense up as he was thinking about something, before quickly relaxing again.

"It's just my duty. I've been eyeing the mineral resources in the river region for a long time. Besides, even if I conquer it, I'll need some time to manage it. I plan to postpone the Great Expedition, but you won't be shortchanged on tax revenue."

"In that case, are you interested in coming with me to find your other brother?"

"Ok?"

The Wolf King is returning? It's only been a few years! Does time really fly?

Where is he?

"Also in the Sun Starfield, in a frozen, deadly world in the northwest, according to the information gathered by that fleet, the king of the Kingdom of Rus there is very likely one of your brothers."

It seems to be the wolf king, but isn't it still a bit early? Could it be because of me?

"Why are you suddenly calling me? Isn't Horus with you?"

"He still has expeditionary missions to undertake and cannot abandon his duties."

Zhao Zheng paused for a moment, then decided to go and take a look.

"it is good."

Chapter 45 You think you can be my father? Do you deserve it?

The emperor's spiritual energy lingered in Zhao Zheng's mind for a moment, then transmitted precise coordinate data.

The coordinates pointed to a sparsely populated region of stars on the northwestern edge of the Sun Starfield, far from Qiankun Star. At Imperial standard subspace travel speeds, it would take several weeks to reach it.

But for Zhao Zheng, if nothing unexpected happens, he should be able to arrive in about a week.

"Okay, I'll be there."

"I'm waiting for you."

The Emperor's psychic energy came and went quickly. Zhao Zheng lingered by the porthole for a while, his gaze lingering on the direction where the golden trace had disappeared. Then he turned and walked out of the lounge, heading down the corridor toward the bridge.

He paused briefly beside Kongming as he passed through the elevator shaft, giving a brief account of the itinerary.

"I'm going with the Emperor to the northwestern edge of the Solar Starfield to find a brother. You can handle things in the next few days."

Kongming didn't ask any further questions, but simply nodded, crossed out several items that originally required Zhao Zheng's approval from the data board, and moved them to his own to-do list.

The Lishan slowly sailed toward the nearest Mandeville point, and the subspace engine instantly tore through the veil of reality, causing the massive ship to vanish into the real universe.

The moment the curtain of subspace closed around the Lishan, the view outside the portholes changed completely.

The surging psionic colors and distorted bands of light replaced the normal starry sky, forming a constantly flowing chaotic gallery. The colors jumped and changed at the edge of Zhao Zheng's vision, sometimes like burning mist, sometimes like a turbulent lake of oil paint.

For normal people, the warp is constantly stimulating their nerves, and various demonic ramblings will appear in their minds. This will further exacerbate the physical corruption of ships and crew members. Therefore, the Geller's position is essential on Imperial ships.

Zhao Zheng was not afraid. In fact, when he was in the subspace, he felt like "a bird soaring into the sky and a fish swimming into the sea, no longer bound by any constraints."

For him, the subspace was never pitch black, but rather a colorful and vibrant landscape.

Unfortunately, for the subspace "creatures," a mobile supermassive black hole is not a good sight.

These warp demons were fleeing frantically, sensing that once swallowed by this colossal black hole, they would likely never be able to return to the warp.

Zhao Zheng thoroughly enjoyed the thrill of his strength nearly doubling while he was in the subspace. His inherent greed caused his subspace black hole to grow even faster, with stronger suction and more ferocious devouring.

The Emperor's navigation signal maintained a stable pulse rhythm in Zhao Zheng's perception, not far in front of him, like a beacon fixed on a distant sea.

Zhao Zheng suddenly remembered the Star Torch, as it seemed that navigation within the Empire almost always required the use of the Star Torch to confirm targets.

The psionic language came from the direction of the Emperor, passing through the warped medium of the warp and reaching the edge of Zhao Zheng's perception in a way that was almost impervious to damage.

"Your sailing speed is faster than I expected."

"My fleet is relatively stable in the warp."

Zhao Zheng's response was concise and straightforward.

The emperor did not press further, and Zhao Zheng did not offer any explanation. The spiritual energy link between the two maintained a faint connection for the next few days.