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

"Woo——"

A loud and piercing whistle rang out on the sea off the Nanjing naval port.

The shore was crowded with residents who had come after hearing the news, witnessing the two enormous ships sailing on the azure sea.

Shen Lang's fleet also just entered Jinling Port.

When witnessing the battleship being launched and undergoing sea trials, the deck was filled with sailors and military officers from both the Chu and Song states.

"This is... a ship?"

Seeing the massive battleships sail past him, and feeling the immense psychological impact of the steel age, Yue Pengju was speechless.

At this moment, Ban Dingyuan's voice rang in his ears: "This is a warship of our Great Chu. It took three years and two months to build. What do you think, General Yue?"

Yue Pengju shook his head and exclaimed, "This is the first time in my life that I have seen such a majestic warship. The Great Chu is truly extraordinary."

Recalling the Song Dynasty's proud naval forces, Yue Pengju felt that compared to the battleships before him, they were utterly incomparable.

Ban Dingyuan sighed, "This is a battleship that the Duke of Zhenguo built by overcoming all opposition and spending several years' worth of military budget."

"How many years of military spending?"

Hearing this, Yue Pengju felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

Recalling how the Song army was constantly obstructed when it wanted to replace its equipment, and comparing that with the current Chu state's willingness to spend several years' worth of military budget, the difference is truly stark.

The Song Dynasty's national treasury was no different from the emperor's personal treasury; most of it was taken by the royal family and court officials for their extravagant lifestyles, leaving very little for the army.

Even after two invasions by foreign enemies, the Song Dynasty's financial budget did not continue to be tilted towards the army.

In fact, the problem of unpaid wages and delayed payments is common and has become a widespread phenomenon in the military.

Now, as Yue Pengju looked at the magnificent sight of the giant steel ship sailing across the sea, he naturally felt a mix of emotions.

Of course, what Ban Dingyuan didn't know was that these two battleships did not belong to the Chu state at all.

The true owners of the ship are the Empress sitting on the dragon throne and Shen Lang standing in the command room.

At this moment, Han Ming asked, "By the way, how does such a big ship move without sails? Is it propelled by human oars?"

But I didn't see anyone rowing. Could there be a hidden compartment in the hull? But that would require a lot of manpower to row.”

Ban Dingyuan, with his hands behind his back, proudly replied, "My Great Chu's new warship doesn't need human oars. Do you see those smoking chimneys?"

"Our great Chu's battleships are steam-powered, unaffected by wind, and can travel tens of thousands of nautical miles!"

Han Ming's eyes widened immediately.

Although he didn't understand the meaning behind Ban Dingyuan's words, he sensed that...

That's incredibly awesome.

Just then, Shen Lang's voice rang out behind them.

"You are very lucky. It won't be long before you will be able to experience the terrifying combat power of battleships firsthand."

"Meet the Duke of Zhenguo."

Upon seeing Shen Lang, the three immediately bowed to him.

Shen Lang nodded, placed his hands on the ship's railing, and gazed at the giant battleship gradually disappearing into the distance.

"Our Jinling Military Academy adopts an educational policy that combines practical combat with theory, aiming to cultivate qualified generals who can command in battle."

At this point, he turned to look at the group: "You only have half a month to learn the theory and basic operation of ordnance, because..."

Shen Lang paused for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the two battleships.

"In two weeks, you will all stand on those two battleships and experience a long-range mission."

"What mission?"

Han Ming couldn't help but ask a question.

Shen Lang smiled slightly: "Naturally, it is a friendly visit by our Chu Kingdom to our overseas neighbors. Enhancing mutual relations and coexisting peacefully with other countries has always been the national policy of our Chu Kingdom."

Ban Dingyuan, standing to the side, narrowed his eyes. He didn't believe that this Emperor of Great Chu was some kind of benevolent, saintly savior.

His words must be carefully considered; you can't find any fault in them just by listening to what he says on the surface.

"May I ask, Duke Zhenguo, what kind of friendly visit was it?" Yue Pengju suddenly asked.

Shen Lang glanced at him: "Commander Yue is too nervous. If it's a friendly visit, then it is naturally a very friendly visit."

This was a pointless statement, but Yue Pengju understood it perfectly.

Two weeks later, these two battleships will set sail for the open ocean to carry out military missions.

Having figured all this out, he felt an urgent desire to see the true combat capabilities of battleships, and couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.

Jie—

A soaring eagle flew high in the sky, over the magnificent Nanjing harbor, over the bustling streets, and finally landed in Weiyang Palace.

"Your Majesty, I am acting on the orders of King Nguyen Ha Lai of Le State. Please order the immediate destruction of those two ironclad warships."

"Your actions will only cause relations between Li and your country to plummet to a freezing point. Your Majesty, please consider this carefully!"

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Bi Huaduo, the envoy of the Li Kingdom, repeatedly protested to the Empress.

Two years ago, the Li Kingdom's resident envoy in the Chu Kingdom heard the news that two behemoths were being built at the port of Jinling.

Initially, the envoys did not take the matter to heart, and even wrote privately to the Le Kingdom's court saying that the move was nothing more than a waste of resources and manpower.

After all, apart from ships made of golden oak, a specialty of Lebanon, which can withstand the impact of waves, there is no other fleet in the world that can travel thousands of nautical miles at once without loss.

Even if two ships were built, they would not shake the Lebanese Kingdom's rule in Southeast Asia in the slightest.

However, until a year ago, when the Lebanese envoy saw the hull of the battleship and its armaments, he immediately became unsettled.

Upon receiving the message, King Nguyen Ha Lai of Le immediately dispatched Bi Hua Duo to Da Chu to negotiate after seeing the images of the battleships, strongly demanding that the two battleships be prevented from appearing in the South China Sea.

That's why we're seeing this scene now.

After Bi Huaduo finished speaking, Jiang Mengyao didn't even glance at her: "Since when has it become your little Li Kingdom's place to point fingers at every blade of grass and every tree in my Great Chu?"

Bi Huaduo was stunned, looking at Jiang Mengxuan with disbelief: "Your Majesty, what do you mean by this? Do you mean to break with my Li Kingdom?"

Jiang Mengxuan chuckled but did not answer, while Wang Xuance stood up and said directly to Bi Huaduo, "A break? You, Li Kingdom, a small and insignificant country, what face do you have to mention the word 'break' with my Great Chu?"

Bi Huaduo's eyes widened immediately: "You..."

But he only managed to utter one word before Wang Xuance interrupted him: "Your Li Kingdom has oppressed the people of my Great Chu for hundreds of years, treating them like slaves, and has even occupied many of my Great Chu's islands."

These matters, one by one, I, of Great Chu, have all kept in mind, so that one day I may settle accounts with you all!"

Bi Huaduo: "Do your words represent the attitude of the Great Chu court?"

"That's right!"

Jiang Mengxuan's cool voice rang out in the main hall.

"This is my attitude. Over the years, my Great Chu has been extremely tolerant and accommodating towards your Li Kingdom, but in return, you have only become more and more aggressive."

Now you even come here asking me to destroy the military and national weapons. Do you really think that your Li Kingdom is so powerful in my eyes?

I'm telling you today, it's time to settle accounts with interest for the humiliations my Great Chu has suffered over the years!

If you know what's good for you, go back and tell your king to return all the three islands and reefs that rightfully belong to the Great Chu.

Otherwise, I will have no choice but to go and fetch it myself!