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

Not long after Goguryeo occupied Namhansanseong, it launched a direct offensive against Pyeonggyeong.

However, less than 30 miles from Pingjing, they chose to turn back due to insufficient food and supplies.

There was nothing that could be done about it. Ninety-nine percent of the people in Taiji Kingdom were poor, and it was the dead of winter. They simply couldn't afford to feed the thousands of Goguryeo soldiers by plundering the poor.

After learning that the gains from besieging Pingjing were far outweighed by the costs, Xue Yan and Dang Rui decisively chose to retreat.

This was a very wise choice. Even if Shen Lang were in this position, he wouldn't be foolish enough to choose to fight to the death with the capital of a country, especially when the supply of food and provisions was unstable.

The retreat of the Goguryeo army relieved the people of Taeguk in Pyeonggyeong, but they also began to boast that they had defeated the powerful Goguryeo, and spontaneous singing and dancing began in the streets and alleys.

For a time, the sound of gongs and drums filled the air, and demons danced wildly, causing Ban Dingyuan and Wang Xuance to frown deeply.

All I can say is that the people of Tai Chi are truly optimistic.

Despite the感慨 (feelings of regret/reflection), the attack on Goguryeo still had to be carried out.

Judging from the current situation, the fighting strength of the Taiji Kingdom can be expected to be weakened for a long time, and the imperial court has not issued any policy to provide the Taiji Kingdom with military supplies.

The Chu army is now scattered along the borders. Although the idea of ​​stationing troops overseas has been put on the agenda, it will ultimately require the Empress's personal approval before it can be implemented.

Before that, the only option is to find a mercenary force from other states to make up for the appalling military strength of the Taiji Kingdom.

With that in mind, the two decisively called over Cui Mingji and Jin Zizai.

"Your country's army is utterly incompetent. Tens of thousands of people are being chased and killed by a few thousand. How can you possibly fulfill the expectations His Majesty has given you?"

Jin Zizai preemptively said, "Please rest assured, Angel, I will train them rigorously when we get back to ensure we do not disappoint you!"

Ban Dingyuan directly presented an imperial edict: "This is an edict sent by the court half a month ago. The Northern Yan and Goguryeo kingdoms have deployed 200,000 troops in the Liaoxi region of Youzhou."

By the end of February at the latest, a major battle will inevitably break out in the Liaodong region. The imperial court's order to us is to capture at least one of the three towns in western Liaodong before the battle begins, thereby blocking Goguryeo's reinforcements.

I initially thought this would be a very easy task, but now it seems things aren't going as planned.

Cui Mingji replied, "Angel, please calm down. As long as Taiji Kingdom is given enough time to train its troops, it will surely be able to fulfill its expected mission."

Wang Xuance sneered: "You don't need to argue for your country. We have already witnessed the skill and tactics of your army."

Without about six months of training, one cannot go to the battlefield, and we simply don't have that time.

An army composed of a rabble, no matter how shrewd and resourceful its commander, will still be unable to accomplish its intended mission.

Cui Mingji was speechless.

This is the most practical problem: without a reliable army at your disposal, even the best strategic and tactical arrangements are ultimately just empty talk.

Ultimately, it is always people who execute plans.

"By the way, I've heard that the people of the Cloud Kingdom are full of martial spirit?"

Upon hearing Ban Dingyuan mention the Cloud Kingdom, Cui Mingji's eyelids twitched instinctively, and he immediately said, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the Cloud Kingdom is nothing but a bunch of bandits and robbers, they..."

Ban Dingyuan stopped Cui Mingji: "I don't want to hear your nonsense. I just want you to tell me the specifics about the Cloud Kingdom."

Jin Zizai immediately interjected, "Your Excellency, the Cloud Kingdom is an island nation composed of four islands."

The island's inhabitants are ruthless and vicious; now, hundreds of factions are fighting each other, creating utter chaos.

"Their ruler calls himself a holy king, but he is only a title; the real military power is in the hands of those powerful figures."

Ban Dingyuan took out his notebook and wrote down everything Jin Zizai said.

Jin Zizai continued, "Because arable land is scarce and insufficient to feed a family, the people of Yunshang Kingdom rely on fishing to make a living."

If someone possessed a skill that caught the eye of a daimyo, they could become his servant. These men who pledged allegiance to the daimyo were collectively known as samurai.

However, samurai are also divided into ranks. The lowest-ranking samurai are called foot soldiers. They lack combat strength and traditional training.

Normally they do odd jobs, and in times of war they are responsible for leading horses and carrying guns for the soldiers..."

As Kim Jae-jae said this, Choi Myung-gil's cheeks twitched uncontrollably.

Because those so-called lowest-ranking foot soldiers once set a shocking record of 37 men defeating the Pingzhou Guard.

From that time on, the samurai who could not survive in the Cloud Kingdom collectively set sail and became pirate kings.

They have a resounding name: Ronin.

It means that a man who rides the waves is full of vigor and poetry.

In reality, they were just impoverished people who failed in their power struggle and were stripped of their land and property, forced to go into business and wander. It wasn't as noble as people imagined.

After listening to Jin Zizai's introduction of the situation in Yunshang Kingdom, Wang Xuance and Ban Dingyuan discussed it and decided to jointly write to the court, requesting to be sent as envoys to Yunshang Kingdom to recruit a group of cannon fodder.

That very night, the two wrote a secret letter and entrusted it to a Chu ship in Renzhou Port to deliver the message to Jinling...

At this time, it had already reached the fifth day of the first month of the seventh year of Xuan Yuan.

"Welcome back to the capital, Your Majesty!"

Jiang Mengxuan returned to the imperial court on this day and resumed her power.

All the officials offered their congratulations in unison.

Feeling both strange and familiar in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Jiang Mengxuan gently stroked the armrest of the dragon throne, her phoenix eyes staring straight out of the hall, lost in thought for a long time.

After a long silence, she stood up and flicked her phoenix sleeves: "From this day forward, the Xuan Yuan era is over, and the new calendar is Xuan Sheng, signifying that our Great Chu will enjoy a prosperous and peaceful Chang'an, and will never decline."

"Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Great Chu!"

The officials once again offered their congratulations in unison.

From then on, the new calendar Xuansheng officially became the new reign title of the Empress of Great Chu.

"When Emperor Shen Lang submits his resignation, I grant him permission to relinquish his position as regent."

"Furthermore, regarding the matters concerning the cabinet established during the Emperor's acting rule, please have the Six Ministries continue to improve and follow up on them."

"During the Emperor's term of office, all military and political affairs must be continuously followed up without error."

As Jiang Mengxuan issued her decrees one after another, the officials in the hall breathed a sigh of relief.

During Shen Lang's tenure, he established comprehensive systems for policy, law, military, transportation, and people's livelihood, which greatly improved administrative efficiency. In less than a year of acting administration, he had already made the officials accustomed to the benefits of each performing their duties.

Now that the Empress has returned to court, Shen Lang's decision to retire gracefully while continuing to implement the reforms she left behind is something both the emperor and his ministers are happy to see.

At this time, while the Empress was rebuilding her authority in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Shen Lang, who had already relinquished his position as regent, was in the industrial zone, witnessing firsthand the achievements Huang Daorong had made over the years.

"three."

"two."

"one."

"Close the switch!"

As the countdown ended, Huang Daorong shouted.

In an instant, the power switch was turned on.

After a piercing bang, the previously dimly lit workshop was instantly illuminated as if it were daytime.

Looking at the familiar lights flashing overhead, Shen Lang was filled with mixed emotions.

After years of hard work, we have finally achieved initial results.

The Great Chu has finally stepped into the threshold of the electric era!