Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

After the court session ended, Jiang Mengxuan returned to the imperial study with a gloomy expression and unsteady steps.

Today, a mere third-rank Prefect of the Capital dared to interfere in his own life's most important matter, and in the end, it was only thanks to Ye Mo's influence that the embarrassing situation was salvaged.

Thinking about this, Jiang Mengxuan felt quite helpless.

She already knew everything about those refugees and the collusion between Mu Changge and Zeng Qian through the intelligence of the Jingwei Division over the past month.

If we really want to investigate, wiping out Zeng Qian and Mu Changge's entire clan ten times wouldn't be enough.

But now she must remember Shen Lang's advice.

drag!

Thinking of Shen Lang, Jiang Mengxuan realized that he hadn't entered the palace even once in the past month, and even the first batch of 130 newly manufactured textile machines were brought by servants.

"This Shen Lang, if I don't summon him, he won't come, right? I've already given him special permission to enter and leave the palace."

Jiang Mengxuan sat alone at the imperial table, inexplicably feeling sullen.

When Qingwen entered carrying an incense burner, she saw Jiang Mengxuan's appearance and couldn't help but chuckle softly.

She cautiously approached Jiang Mengxuan, placed the incense burner on the imperial desk, and then whispered, "Your Majesty, are you thinking about Commander Shen again?"

Jiang Mengxuan was startled, then reached out her jade-like hand and gently pinched Qingwen's cheek, smiling faintly: "Silly girl, you even dare to joke about me. It seems that I have been too lenient with you on a daily basis."

Qingwen cooperated perfectly, feigning a sob: "Your Majesty, spare me! I spoke too quickly, please forgive me this once."

Jiang Mengxuan released her grip and asked, "How has Shen Lang been lately?"

Qingwen: "I heard that Commander Shen has been extremely busy this past month, running around to the forest garden to drill the new army."

On one hand, they also have to run around the factory to supervise the efficiency of the assembly line; it's like one person is doing the work of two.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan remained silent for a long time before slowly uttering, "It can be considered that I owe him. I doubt that any official in the court could find a second person who is more capable than Shen Lang."

Qingwen said, "Then why doesn't His Majesty just announce that he is being recruited as the Emperor's son-in-law and offer himself in return?"

Jiang Mengxuan's jade-like cheeks flushed red as she pinched Qingwen's slender waist: "You're getting more and more unruly, daring to joke about me. If you do, I'll tear your mouth apart."

Qingwen begged for mercy again: "Your Majesty, this servant will never dare to do it again..."

After this playful banter, Jiang Mengxuan felt much better.

After the master and servant calmed down, Jiang Mengxuan opened a memorial and was about to start reviewing it when she suddenly thought of something.

"Qingwen, what day is it today?"

"The sixth day of the seventh lunar month is tomorrow, which is the Girls' Festival. Why does Your Majesty ask this?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mengxuan gently touched her forehead with her jade-like hand.

"Oh no, I almost forgot about something important. Tomorrow is my third senior brother's engagement ceremony. I need to go back to the sect with Shen Lang."

Qingwen: "Ah? Then Your Majesty should quickly send Commander Shen back to the palace."

Jiang Mengxuan was about to send someone to inform Shen Lang, but after thinking about it, she changed her mind: "Shen Lang is at Shanglin Garden right now, isn't he?"

"I'd better go myself and check on how his new army is doing."

At this time, the first batch of firearms from the Jinling Factory was finally transported to the Shanglinyuan recruit camp.

After a month of intensive training, the remaining 3,500 recruits have undergone a complete transformation, with their physical fitness and mental outlook showing a dramatic change since their arrival.

But when they received the "fire pokers" in their hands, they couldn't help but raise a series of "?" marks above their heads.

Is this what they call a new type of weapon? How do you use it?

Faced with everyone's questions, Shen Lang knew that saying anything would be useless.

A lot of talking and preaching is no substitute for a good shot.

"Ladies, welcome to the era of firearms. Now please line up so that I, your instructor, can demonstrate how to use these firearms."

After the troops had assembled, Shen Lang grabbed a Mauser 98K, pulled back the bolt without saying a word, and fired a volley of five 7.92mm bullets into it.

Then, he raised his gun and aimed at a target that had just been erected two hundred meters away.

Bang~

With a soft click and a wisp of white smoke rising from the muzzle, the bullet spun rapidly through the rifling, hurtling at a speed invisible to the naked eye, and pierced directly through the wooden bullseye.

click-

The next moment, Shen Lang skillfully pulled the bolt, ejected the empty casing, and once again aimed at the bullseye before decisively pulling the trigger.

Bang~

Another shot hit the bullseye.

After repeating this process five times, the ammunition was finally exhausted with a crisp metallic click.

This scene left the entire audience completely silent.

After Shen Lang slung the gun over his shoulder, he immediately had the stunned Lü Meng bring the target to his face.

Upon seeing the five almost consecutive black holes piercing the bullseye, the new recruits experienced the shock of firearms for the first time.

Actually, Shen Lang was quite satisfied with the Mauser rifle, but he had some complaints about the bullets.

Because guncotton technology is still under development, currently the cartridge cases are filled with a mixture of mercuric fulminate and some black powder to serve as propellant.

This results in smoke residue after the bullets are fired, which can easily affect visibility over time.

But he also knew that technology is not something that can be perfected overnight; everything has to be put into practice step by step.

To leap directly from the era of muzzle-loading smoothbore matchlock guns to the era of steam-loading breech-loading rifled guns is already a crazy process.

"See these? These are your firearms and equipment. You will be carrying them into battle from now on. They are your second life."

Qu Yi swallowed hard. He couldn't hear what Shen Lang was saying anymore. His eyes were fixed on the bullseye that had been pierced by the bullet.

He couldn't help but sigh, "With such a weapon on the battlefield, if the firepower is concentrated, even a squad of Acquired Realm cultivators, or even Transcendent Realm cultivators, would have no chance of getting close."

At that moment, he suddenly imagined himself leading thousands of soldiers armed with rifles to challenge those high and mighty sects, and finally killing them all with his gun.

At that very moment, he finally had his first goal in life, and he felt his blood boiling.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang immediately pointed at Qu Yi and asked, "What did you just say? Speak louder!"

"Yes, Instructor! I said that when these rifles are arranged in formation and used to launch an attack on martial arts cultivators on the battlefield, they will become invincible!"

"it is good!"

Shen Lang gave a thumbs up: "What you said is very good and very correct!"

This rifle is the starting point for you to challenge martial arts cultivators.

From this moment on, the martial artists and cultivators who have dominated this continent for millions of years will gradually fade from the mainstream of history.

And you are the participants who tolled their death knell. Remember this moment.

When you stand before the ruins of your sect in the future and look back on what you have accomplished today, you will feel immense pride!

"well said!"

Suddenly, Jiang Mengxuan's voice rang out from behind.

Shen Lang immediately cupped his hands in greeting: "This humble servant greets Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, all the new recruits were shocked.

This beautiful young woman is actually Her Majesty the Empress of the Great Chu?

"Greetings to Your Majesty!"

Meng Gong was the first to react and kneel down.

Immediately afterwards, Qu Yi, Lü Meng, Zhang Dingbian, along with more than three thousand soldiers of the New Army behind them, all knelt down on one knee.