On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

The cold wind from the Yinshan Mountains blew up fine snow foam, lashing the charred land at the entrance of the Valley of Broken Souls.

The solidified blood ice glowed dark red in the bleak morning light, and the broken armor and scattered limbs silently told the tragedy of last night.

The air was filled with a thick, indissoluble mixture of the smell of blood, burnt food, sulfur, and saltpeter, which was pungent and oppressive.

The surviving soldiers supported each other, silently cleared the battlefield, and collected the remains of their comrades. Their numb faces were etched with fatigue and confusion after surviving the disaster.

Lin Zhen was leaning on the Coiled Dragon Golden Sword, his black armor was torn, and although the wound from his left shoulder to his ribs had been bandaged urgently by Cheng Xuan, every breath still involved a tearing pain.

His face was pale and his lips were chapped, but his deep eyes were as sharp as ever, calmly scanning the blood-stained scorched earth.

Cheng Xuan stood by, with a thick, blood-soaked cloth wrapped around her left shoulder. Her face was also pale, and there was a lingering trace of fear in her beautiful eyes, but more of it was determination.

Mao Mengji's skinny figure walked out from the pile of corpses. The scar on his face looked even more hideous in the morning light. His armor was broken, his body was covered in blood, and his eyes were as fierce as a wounded lone wolf.

"Your Highness," he said hoarsely, "Helian Bao and the remnants of Gu Beichen's army have fled deep into Ghost Crying Ridge, relying on the natural fortifications to hold their ground. The miasma is pervasive, the terrain is complex, and a forced attack would only result in heavy casualties. I have already cut off their waterways and burned their surrounding food supplies. Even trapped beasts will fight on."

Lin Zhen's eyes were as calm as water. "A trapped beast will only reveal its claws when it fights. Send out orders to send more scouts from the Falcon Hunting Battalion to take twelve-hour shifts to monitor all exits of Ghost Crying Ridge. Anyone coming down the mountain to fetch water or food will be killed without mercy. Also, a reward is being offered. Anyone who captures and kills Helian Bao and Gu Beichen will receive a reward of 10,000 gold and a fiefdom of 1,000 households. Anyone who reports the bandits will receive a reward of 100 gold."

"I obey your command." Mao Mengji bowed, his skinny fingers clenched until the joints turned white.

"How is the progress of the Thunder Burning Division?" Lin Zhen turned his gaze to Chu Xiling.

Chu Xiling took a deep breath, her clear and cold voice carrying a subtle hint of tension. "Phase one of the Broken Dragon Cliff Workshop has been completed. The acid washing and purification, high-temperature calcination, and distillation crystallization processes are now running stably, and the purity of sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal powder has met the standards. The synthesis of oily substances is still in the experimental stage. Three days ago, a slight leak in the condenser tube of reactor number three caused a small-scale explosion due to temperature loss. Three craftsmen were injured and a set of equipment was destroyed. Fortunately, the situation was handled in time, and the warehouse was not affected."

There was a dead silence in the hall, and the air seemed to be frozen.

"The reason." Lin Zhen's voice remained calm.

"The equipment has a seal defect and the temperature control sensor is sluggish," Chu Xiling said. "We've improved the design, installed dual redundant condensation circuits, and added a mercury thermometer for real-time monitoring. The new reactor will be operational in three days."

"What is the actual power of the oily substance?" Lin Zhen asked.

A glimmer flashed in Chu Xiling's eyes. "Take a tiny amount of sample, place it on a fine iron anvil, and drop it from a height of three feet with a 100-jin hammer. It will penetrate a three-inch iron plate."

A suppressed gasp was heard in the hall.

"Where's the stabilizer?" Lin Zhen's eyes were as sharp as a knife.

"The optimal ratio for diatomaceous earth adsorption has been locked in. The explosion rate has been reduced to 10% after 100 impact tests." Chu Xiling's voice was solemn. "However, risks still exist due to vibration from long-distance transportation, high temperatures, and static electricity accumulation."

"The one-year term remains unchanged." Lin Zhen said firmly, "I will provide whatever you need."

"I understand." Chu Xiling lowered her head, a flame of challenge burning in her cold eyes.

Half a month later, in the Purple Palace of the Yanjing headquarters.

It was solemn and empty. The white silk ribbons on the coiled dragon pillars had been removed, leaving only the golden brick floor as smooth as a mirror.

Lin Zhen sat in the main seat, his injury from the black dragon medicine still not healed, his face was pale, his eyes as calm as the abyss.

Xiao Hanzhou held the file in his hand and spoke in a steady voice, "Your Highness, by eliminating redundant officials, reducing expenses, and suspending construction, we have saved 870,000 taels of silver annually. The bidding for the Beiyan coal and hematite ore monopoly was won by the Shanxi merchant 'Huitonghao' and the Anhui merchant 'Fengyuhang'. The first installment of 1.5 million taels of silver has been deposited. The treasury still has 1.75 million taels remaining, enough to cover six months' expenses."

"Yeah." Lin Zhen nodded. "How is the new policy being implemented?"

The Vulture Tribe envoy stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, Chief Wulianghetai has already counted the tribe's pastures, cattle, and sheep as ordered and has compiled a list for submission. Officials have already moved in, and three elementary schools and two public health clinics have been established. However, there have been occasional frictions with the Snow Wolf Tribe herders on the border of the pasture recently..."

The Snow Wolf envoy quickly interjected, "Chief Tuoba Xiong has also counted the tribe's pastures, cattle, and sheep. The friction was a misunderstanding due to unclear pasture boundaries..."

"The boundaries of the grassland are unclear?" Lin Zhen's eyes were slightly cold. "The markings on the map and inventory are unclear?"

The two messengers were speechless and sweat appeared on their foreheads.

"Send an order to Wulianghetai and Tuoba Xiong," Lin Zhen said calmly, "within ten days, personally visit the disputed grasslands and, together with the transit officials, survey the boundaries on the spot and erect stakes and monuments. If you fail to arrive within the deadline, or if there is further trouble, the transit officials have the right to mobilize border troops to clear the border by force. Taxes on the affected tribes will be increased by 30%."

"Yes... yes..." The two messengers turned pale and nodded repeatedly.

"Where is Murong Feng of the Fengxuan tribe?" Lin Zhen turned his gaze to another messenger.

The messenger bowed hurriedly and said, "Your Highness, the chief has caught a cold and is bedridden, so he has sent me..."

"Cold?" Lin Zhen's lips curled up in a cold arc. "Send the chief judge of the Imperial Hospital to bring high-quality medicinal materials and go to the Fengshun tribe to diagnose and treat the disease. If the condition is true, give him medicine and rest. If he is feigning illness and disobeying orders, he will be arrested on the spot and escorted back to the capital."

The messenger fell to his knees, his voice trembling, "I will send a message immediately! The chief will come in person!"

......

Ghost Crying Ridge is filled with miasma.

Inside the dilapidated yurt, the bonfire flickered, reflecting the hideous look of Helian Bao's one-arm and the sinister look of Gu Beichen under his half-mask.

The air was foul, filled with the stench of wounds and the oppression of despair.

"The water supply is almost gone..." A guard said in a dry voice, "The brother who went down the mountain to fetch water hasn't returned yet."

"Mao Mengji...that evil ghost..." Helian Bao's only eye was red, and his fists were clenched so hard that they made a creaking sound.

Gu Beichen was silent, his fingers unconsciously stroking a dark bone whistle with fine patterns engraved on it at his waist.

"Prime Minister, there's a response from Night Owl," the black-robed old man walked in hunched over, his voice hoarse as sandpaper. "The Black Water Marsh Snake Cave has been prepared. See you at the 'old place' in three days at midnight."

Gu Beichen's eyes flashed, and the corners of his mouth curled up coldly: "Lin Zhen, isn't your Burning Thunder Division short of 'materials'? I will give you a big gift..."

He turned to Helian Bao and said, "Chief Helian, do you want to vent your anger?"

Helian Bao's one eye flashed with a fierce light: "Speak!"

"Three days later at midnight, you will lead your elite troops to harass the eastern outpost and launch a feint attack to attract Mao Mengji's main force..." Gu Beichen said in a low voice, "I will go to pick up the goods myself. It's a gift that will make Lin Zhen's treasure workshop soar."

"Alright!" Helian Bao growled, "I've had enough!"

At the foot of Broken Dragon Cliff, in the Abyss Workshop.

The dim light of fluorite and the whale oil torch intertwined, illuminating Chu Xiling's cold and focused profile.

She stood on the high platform, her eyes as sharp as a hawk under the glass goggles, scanning the newly built No. 3 reactor below.

The ceramic walls are thick, the copper stirring paddle rotates slowly, and the ice and water interlayer circulates endlessly.

The craftsman is barefoot and wearing a cotton-padded jacket. His movements are as gentle as playing a musical instrument, and he feeds the materials accurately through the observation hole.

The dual redundant condensers are filled with water vapor, and the liquid column of the mercury thermometer is stable.

"The sulfur-nitrate mixture... injection is complete..."

"Charcoal powder...according to the proportion...slowly add..."

"Stabilizer...diatomaceous earth...sprinkle it in three times..."

"Stir...increase speed...keep low..."

The instructions are clear and well-organized.

The air was as taut as a string, with only the low hum of running machinery.

Suddenly, the liquid column in the thermometer jumped slightly.

"Stop!" Chu Xiling's voice suddenly turned cold. "Inject water into the interlayer and slow down!"

The craftsman reacted quickly, pouring in ice water and slowing down the stirring.

The liquid column...slowly fell back.

"Continue monitoring." Chu Xiling's voice returned to a steady state.

Three days later, at midnight.

Checkpoint on the eastern foot of Yinshan Mountain.

The wooden fence is tall and the arrow tower stands tall.

The Jinwu Guard sentries held crossbows and stood guard, their eyes sharp as torches. The cold wind howled, stirring up snow foam.

"Swish, swish, swish!" Dense arrows shot out from the darkness without any warning! With a shrill sound of breaking through the air!

"Enemy attack—!" the sentry shouted! The alarm gong blew!

"Kill!" A deafening roar sounded, and hundreds of black shadows pounced out like hungry wolves. Helian Bao brandished a scimitar with one arm and took the lead. The remaining bandits had ferocious faces and were not afraid of death!

"Form a formation! Resist the enemy!" the sentry captain roared!

Tower shields were raised, spears were like a forest, and archers fought back!

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" The muskets of the Shenji Camp roared, and the bandits in the front fell down like grass being cut!

"Charge! Charge for me!" Helian Bao's one eye was bloodshot, and he looked like a mad tiger. The remaining bandits stepped on the corpses of their companions and rushed towards the fence frantically!

"Reinforcements! Help!" the captain roared, and carrier pigeons soared into the sky.

A few miles away is the Jingbian Camp tent.

Mao Mengji's skinny figure suddenly stood up, a fierce gleam in his eyes. "Helian Bao? Are you looking for death? Order the first and second battalions to follow me to support the east outpost. The third battalion will be on guard at the west entrance of Ghost Crying Ridge. The fourth battalion will mobilize to provide support!"

"Yes!" The messenger rushed out.

At the same time, on the west side of Ghost Crying Ridge, in the hidden canyon.

Gu Beichen's purple robe blended into the night, and his bronze mask was cold and gloomy.

Behind him, ten black-robed warriors were sneaking silently like ghosts.

There is a cold pool at the bottom of the valley and jagged rocks.

Beneath an inconspicuous crevice, the water surface stirred slightly. A man, soaking wet and wearing a mask with snake scales, quietly emerged, holding a sealed clay jar covered in wet mud.

"Prime Minister..." the man's voice was hoarse.

Gu Beichen took the pottery jar, which felt cold and heavy in his hand. His fingertips brushed the wax seal, and a faint bitter taste of almonds wafted away.

"The poisonous saliva of the snake cave is indeed well-deserved..." Gu Beichen said coldly, "Lin Zhen's frying pan is in need of this kind of strong material."

He waved his hand and the assassin handed him a bag of gold ingots.

"Tell the Snake King that it was a pleasure working with you." Gu Beichen turned around and his figure disappeared into the darkness.

The wind got stronger.