Iron Dynasty Chapter 994

“Young and promising…”

Fei Ji nearly fired back with a retort, yet he abruptly shut his mouth. A sudden realization hit him hard: Zhu Sansi had been handpicked by Xiao Ming himself, and that insight revealed the vital truth.

Xiao Ming anticipated Fei Ji's response. Noticing his abrupt silence, he knew Fei Ji had grasped the essence and the reasoning behind his choice.

Throughout history, control over the military had always sparked fierce debates. A single misstep could doom one forever. By creating the six military regions, his aim extended beyond smoother troop movements; it also aimed to foster subtle oversight among them.

Should trouble arise in one region, the other five could step in, preventing him from facing threats on all sides.

Thus, allowing the Luo family to dominate two regions at once was a risk he couldn't afford, as it would shatter the delicate equilibrium.

The selection of Zhu Sansi stemmed from a straightforward motive: to shatter the rigid ranks within the army and inspire hope among common soldiers for advancement, avoiding the pitfalls of family clans once more gripping military control.

“Elder Fei, do you have any further objections?” Xiao Ming inquired once more.

“Reporting to Your Majesty, I have no objections.” Fei Ji replied with utmost caution. Matters of the military remained highly delicate. Typically, Xiao Ming seldom consulted them on such issues, given the clear divide between military and civil governance, leaving them without authority to meddle.

Xiao Ming’s probing question today served as a clear test.

“Very well, with no objections from you, this decision stands firm. Niu Ben and Luo Quan have already affixed their signatures to this memorial, so you both should do the same.” A sly grin crossed Xiao Ming’s face as he placed the document outlining the six military regions on the table.

Pang Yukun and Fei Ji exchanged glances, a trace of resignation in their eyes. Their sovereign grew ever more shrewd. This overhaul of the military would carry all four of their names, implying collective deliberation on the choice. The influential noble houses whose privileges suffered would likely storm their residences with furious complaints.

Yet despite that, signing was inevitable. Who dared refuse the Emperor?

Wearing expressions of reluctance, Pang Yukun and Fei Ji inscribed their names on the military reform memorial before being dismissed.

Once the pair departed, Qian Dafu remarked, “Your Majesty, Chief Grand Secretary Pang and Elder Fei remain unchanged—outwardly cordial yet harboring deep divisions.”

“Their outward harmony masking inner strife is actually beneficial. It would be odd if those two aligned perfectly.” Xiao Ming had long ceased efforts to bridge their divide.

He recognized the futility of it. As key state officials, they served vital roles, but the factions supporting them clashed irreparably over differing interests.

This dynamic echoed the rival parties in Western nations, loyal to the same ruler while championing varied societal groups.

Hence, his sole expectation for them was unwavering loyalty to the realm’s welfare; any betrayal of that would invite his unyielding judgment.

Qian Dafu let out a soft chuckle, “Your Majesty speaks true. Unity among all courtiers would spell endless headaches.”

After a brief silence, he added with delight, “This clash on the grasslands has shattered the might of the Golden Tent Khanate. They lie helpless now, mere prey awaiting the blade. Above all, these vast stretches of grassland stretching thousands of miles will henceforth serve as the Empire’s prime breeding grounds for horses.”

Xiao Ming burst into laughter at those words. While the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan-Yun offered superb grazing lands, devoting such prime spots solely to pastures felt wasteful. In future times, those regions brimmed with resources and stood as crucial hubs for industry.

With the Chinese Empire now claiming expansive grasslands, the pastures of the Sixteen Prefectures could shift elsewhere, paving the way for thriving urban revival in those areas.

Such thoughts prompted him to declare, “The grassland campaign has shown that the dominance of cavalry charges is over. The days of massive horse rearing near their end as well. Thus, I intend to preserve only select horse farms, converting the rest into cattle ranches or even dairy operations. Our goal: to provide milk for every subject in the Chinese Empire.”

“Dairy cattle?” Qian Dafu blinked in unfamiliarity. “I know of yellow oxen, but dairy cattle? That’s new to me.”

Xiao Ming explained, “These are Holstein cattle, hailing from the Netherlands. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is negotiating with the Dutch legation to bring in some herds. Should that fall short, imports from fellow European nations remain an option.”

“From the Netherlands, then. That’s feasible, but other European lands…?” Qian Dafu shook his head, deeming it a stretch.

Xiao Ming caught his implication and responded, “Don’t assume my victory over their united armada has iced relations between Europe and the Great Yu Empire. Far from it—they’ll dispatch emissaries shortly, and I’ll have my strategies ready for them!”

A wise smile spread across Qian Dafu’s face. Tales held that grassland folk gained their robustness from early sips of mare’s milk and goat’s milk. Should Great Yu’s citizens partake in cow’s milk, their physiques would surpass even the barbarians’.

The duo conversed a bit longer, then Xiao Ming’s gaze returned to the world map before him. Vast swaths now glowed in bold red, marking territories under the Great Yu Empire’s sway—from Heilongjiang’s frozen north, southward over seas to the Philippines and Malacca.

Spanning from Japan’s eastern waters to Goryeo, then west across modern Inner and Outer Mongolia’s sweeping plains, the Chinese Empire’s borders took fuller shape.

The gaps yet to fill included the Xinjiang expanse and Tibet’s highlands. The first lay within easy reach soon, though the second promised greater challenges.

Confidence filled him nonetheless, for he could claim them at will. The pressing priority lay in finalizing military reforms, arming each regiment with machine guns, and amassing heaps of ammunition.

As the proverb warns, honing the blade hastens the chop. A well-forged army would render future conquests irresistible.

Besides, his prime foes ahead lurked in Europe. These persistent agitators had plagued him long enough; now, the game of hunter and hunted would turn against those European pests.

With that in mind, he voiced a command, instructing Qian Dafu to summon Yang Chengye. Yang oversaw industrial output, encompassing the vital military sector.

Metal bullets had strained production to its limits. Expansion of military facilities was essential, alongside streamlining: distinct lines for ammo, firearms, and cannons, forging a robust, organized military industrial framework.

Cabinet.

Acting swiftly on Xiao Ming’s directive, Yang Chengye convened the key players in military production the very next day—Song Changping, Chen Qi, Lu Tong, and Zhang Liu among them.

Having relayed the Emperor’s spoken order, he declared, “This grassland conflict devoured ammunition at an alarming rate, nearly draining our stockpiles dry. A single such campaign has left us barren of shells. In a grander war, our guns and cannons would stand idle, endangering our troops gravely. Though we stay from the front lines, our supply chains fuel the army’s might. Thus, join me in crafting a flawless military industrial setup and divisions to secure endless ammunition flow.”