The Sacred Four Trees Forest signifies a greater abundance of resources and opportunities. Merely the waters of the central Tree Lake can allow an additional two hundred thousand troops to enter the new world.
Preliminary tests on the rocks from the island in the center of the lake have revealed them to be a metal that can change its form. Though not exceptionally hard, it exhibits excellent malleability and remarkable strength. This means that if its properties are added to a new alloy, it could lead to the development of even more resilient armor plating. From warships down to individual soldiers, defensive capabilities would see a qualitative leap.
Aside from technology, the main constraint on the development of large-scale warfare weapons in the Evernight World is materials, especially at the fortress level and above, which require special substances for their unique characteristics. However, most of these special substances have no significant production scale, and many are discovered only by chance, with extraction processes often impossible to replicate.
In other words, the total amount of a certain special substance found worldwide may only be enough to produce one or two fortress weapons. To create similar-grade weapons, one must seek out new methods, modify designs, and adjust production lines. Therefore, the discovery of any high-end new material is of great significance, potentially leading to the emergence of a new fortress weapon.
Moreover, exotic beasts themselves are resources, and the utilization of the nest’s core is still under study. Additionally, the proportion of various raw ores within the forest has significantly increased, with almost every stone in the nest being a different type of ore. Perhaps the beasts have a habit of collecting ores, or perhaps these minerals are beneficial to them.
In summary, almost every stone here is a treasure. So far, Qian Ye has been using dark gold sand as a means to pay off his debts, with such a large supply that it has caused the price of dark gold sand across the empire to drop.
Even though the price has fallen, it remains very high, and Qian Ye’s raw ores were essentially picked up. When Song Hui reminded him to consider market supply and price factors, Qian Ye still sold in large quantities without hesitation, exchanging it for a vast amount of ammunition.
Currently, the consumption of ammunition by Qian Ye’s forces is enormous, often exhausting the annual quota of a typical non-frontline army in just one battle.
Such a massive amount of ammunition cannot be produced by Yongland, and the black market is unreliable. The only stable purchasing channel is the Great Qin, which has delighted the noble families and merchants involved in the arms trade.
On one hand, they work overtime to meet Qian Ye’s demands, and on the other, they constantly speak well of him in and out of the court to secure permits for the sale of certain sensitive equipment and ammunition, as well as to obtain more export quotas. Now, Qian Ye is like a black hole, absorbing any and all weapons and ammunition available.
There were originally voices of opposition in the court, with some worried that Qian Ye’s growing power might be detrimental to the empire. How many of these people were genuinely concerned about the rise of a new geopolitical force, or were anxious due to the intricate relationship between Qian Ye and the empire, is unknown.
However, these opposing and skeptical voices were soon drowned out by the overwhelming support. No matter the era, those who can engage in the arms trade are not ordinary people. They possess immense power, with intricate and mutually supportive relationships, forming a formidable force. The Yin Family, Kong Family, and even the Zhao Clan are representative examples. There are also numerous smaller and medium-sized noble families.
Since the orders from Yongland have flooded in, the entire imperial military-industrial system has benefited. Although Zhao Jundu and the Yueland region also need large amounts of military supplies, and the floating continent is an endless pit, providing supplies to the empire is nowhere near as profitable as supplying Qian Ye. Moreover, Qian Ye pays with rare raw ores, which are much more favored than gold coins.
Zhao Jundu is also doing well in the new world, and he can offer rare ores as a return, though not as many as Qian Ye. But the situation in Yueland is a complete mess, with the noble families suffering heavy losses and unable to even afford the military salaries. They can only seek help from the empire, and their debts will have to be deferred.
It’s not that these noble families lack private funds; rather, if they can buy on credit, who would use cash? After all, the empire will eventually come to their aid, and the situation won’t get any worse.
As a result, the arms giants are naturally dissatisfied with the people from Yueland and give them countless cold shoulders. Only when the imperial military liaison officers press them urgently will they reluctantly provide a batch of outdated goods to get by. Their most advanced workshops and skilled artisans are working around the clock to fulfill the orders from Yongland.
The noble families in Yueland are naturally discontented, but when they join the chorus of attacks on Qian Ye, they find that the sympathy they receive in the court is tinged with mockery.
Losing territory is a grave mistake that undermines the foundations of a noble family. If not for the special context of the new world, they would have already been demoted. Furthermore, in light of the achievements of Qian Ye and Zhao Jundu, it is impossible to attribute their failures to natural disasters or human limitations. The word “incompetence” is stamped on their foreheads, thereby reducing their influence. After several rounds, the noble families of Yueland have given up their futile struggles.
As the saying goes, poverty shortens one’s aspirations.
The Bai Clan’s attitude, however, is intriguing. Qian Ye gained fame in the Battle of Ningyufu, and logically, the Bai Clan should hate him and make things difficult for him. Yet, strangely, whenever something related to Qian Ye comes up, the Bai Clan remains silent, leaving many hopeful for their support bewildered.
The combination of various reasons has led to a massive wave of support, praising Qian Ye’s many benefits and viewing his conquest of Yongland as a great achievement comparable to the Battle of the Floating Continent. Not selling him dozens of divisions’ worth of equipment would be practically unjust.
The naked avarice of the arms giants leaves many dumbfounded. Even the historically merchant-minded Song Clan maintained a degree of elegance and composure, not displaying such a poor demeanor.
But speaking of the Yin and Kong Families, they are also among the top-notch noble families, with rich heritage and tradition, and they have always been cautious about their reputation. For them to come out and speak fervently for Qian Ye, and to adopt a confrontational stance, those who oppose him and gain nothing from it naturally quiet down.
Thus, the court resounds with praise for the expansion of Yongland. Of course, the greatest credit goes to Emperor Hao. It is thanks to the emperor’s wisdom that a capable and extraordinary minister like Qian Ye has emerged.
As for what the emperor thinks, the courtiers can only speculate. Emperor Hao’s approach to this matter is no different from his usual handling of court affairs. Once the council has reached a clear conclusion, he simply instructs the record-keeping department to proceed.
After Lin Xitan stepped down as marshal and the imperial military regions were reorganized, the open and covert suppression of the Zhao Clan has diminished. Many influential figures now focus on Zhao Weihuang, the Duke of Cheng’en.
A family with three divine generals is a spectacle, comparable only to the young yet rapidly advancing King of Qingyang.
However, Zhang Boqian has no legitimate heirs, while Zhao Weihuang’s children include two divine generals, Qian Ye and Zhao Jundu, and Zhao Ruoxi, who wields the Manjushage, a special existence. Additionally, Zhao Junyi, Zhao Junhong, and Zhao Junsu, all possess excellent talents, especially Zhao Junhong, who is now also expected to break through the heavenly barrier.
In terms of the achievements of their offspring, Zhang Boqian cannot match Zhao Weihuang. Before Qian Ye’s appearance, much of the achievements of the four brothers of the Duke of Cheng’en were attributed to Princess Gao Yi, who, with her strong imperial blood and prosperous maternal clan, was a genius. But Qian Ye’s outstanding talent clearly indicates that the source of the lineage lies with Zhao Weihuang.
Thus, whether willing or not, the title of the Empire’s top sire rests firmly with Zhao Weihuang.
Recently, there has been a surge of people seeking marriages with the Zhao Clan. While Zhao Junyi is already married, Zhao Junhong and Zhao Junsu have only marriage contracts, and they could still be dissolved. Zhao Jundu, naturally, is highly sought after, and despite his damaged foundation, his lineage remains the best, ensuring promising descendants. Zhao Ruoxi, too, has many suitors, forcing her to hide in the courtyard.
Some more cunning individuals, seeing how popular the children are, have even tried to persuade Zhao Weihuang to take a concubine! Of course, this is done privately, as it would not look good for Princess Gao Yi.
Behind the gifts and daughters, the only request from each family is that, regardless of gender, they get one of the future children.
This is tantamount to treating the Duke of Cheng’en’s residence as a stud farm, which infuriates Princess Gao Yi. However, with so many smiling faces and underhanded tactics, she, as the eldest princess, cannot openly confront them and must politely decline, leaving her face stiff from forced smiles and her anger pent up, which she vents on Zhao Weihuang.
Duke Zhao maintains a serious face, but he is secretly delighted, often boasting, “What use is a king? These children, even if you offered me a king in exchange, I would never trade!”
These words inadvertently offend all the kings, and the gossips quickly spread.
The Kings of Dingxuan and Beiyue recently closed their doors and vanished, but when Zhang Boqian heard the rumors, he stood motionless on a cliff, merely nodding to acknowledge. King Zhiji, who has had more leisure lately, listened to the entire story and the bustling scene at the Zhao Clan’s residence, but made no comment, merely stroking his beard and smiling enigmatically, making the courtier who brought the news uneasy and quick to leave.
Even after leaving the palace, the official continued to ponder the enigmatic smile of King Zhiji. He felt there was a deeper meaning, a mix of happiness and satisfaction.
Happiness? Satisfaction? The official could not understand why King Zhiji would be happy about Zhao Weihuang being the top sire.
Unbeknownst to him, after he left, King Zhiji ordered the gates closed, retreated to his study, lit the lamps, and brewed a pot of strong tea. He then took out a set of soft armor and a full set of tools.
This tiny set of soft armor, suitable only for a newborn, is exquisitely crafted with extremely rare materials. Each piece is connected, engraved with primal force symbols, forming a larger array.
Placed on the table, the surrounding primal force gathers, the pure dawn primal force remaining while the impure and dark primal force is expelled, like breathing, until the entire set of armor is filled with pure primal force.
Such craftsmanship is truly ingenious!
King Zhiji took a piece of the armor, picked up a fine needle-like tool, and began to engrave the array. This tiny piece, no larger than a fingernail, was densely packed with symbols. It took him half an hour to complete the array.
Carefully placing the last piece, he stroked his beard, satisfied, “It seems I haven’t lost my skills from my youth. With this divine object, my great-great-grandchild will be able to start training at birth and achieve some results by the age of one, while other babies are still drinking milk! Hmph, Zhao Weihuang? Hmph!”
However, after some reflection, King Zhiji felt it was somewhat unfair. He shook his head and muttered, “Well, I suppose Zhao Weihuang deserves a little credit. But a little is more than enough.”
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