416: Chapter 416 Begins Westward Expansion

After getting his fill of playing special forces soldier, Zhao Fusu no longer participated in specific combat operations.

He divided the Special Forces Battalion into dozens of combat squads and sent them to assist the various commanderies in suppressing bandits, speeding up the process while allowing them to quickly accumulate actual combat experience.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another year had passed.

The silver ore transported back from Japan was all processed into shiny white silver, and Zhao Fusu went to inspect its quality.

Zhao Fusu gently picked up a Silver Ingot, turned it slightly, and carefully observed the luster on its surface.

The quality of this silver was excellent; its white sheen had a faint glow, as if it had condensed the essence of moonlight. It was pure without a single impurity, as warm and delicate as the finest Mutton-fat Jade.

He gently rubbed the surface of the silver with his fingers; it felt as smooth as a mirror. This fine texture made him nod in praise.

Afterward, he picked up another ingot and shook it gently near his ear. He heard a crisp, pleasant sound with a lingering resonance, like heavenly music. To him, this sound was undoubtedly proof of superior quality.

"This quality is truly excellent!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Zhao Fusu's face.

The better the quality of the silver, the more the people of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions would want it.

It could be said that the better the silver was made, the more the people of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions would desire it, and the higher the success rate of the economic war he initiated would be.

"Keep it up. Refine the silver according to this standard!"

Zhao Fusu said to the person in charge.

"Understood!"

The person in charge of refining and producing the Silver Ingots nodded in response.

The economic war against the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions was of vital importance, so Zhao Fusu decided to personally lead five thousand members of the Special Forces Battalion to Longxi Commandery.

This was the place in Great Qin closest to the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions.

Even so, it was over 1,500 kilometers from Longxi Commandery to the nearest of the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions!

This wasn't a short distance even in modern times, let alone in ancient ones.

A large part of Zhao Fusu's purpose in coming to Longxi Commandery was to take control of the Hexi Corridor.

Only after Great Qin seized the Hexi Corridor would Great Qin's iron cavalry be able to pass through it to reach the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions.

The members of the Special Forces Battalion returned to their base one after another.

After a year of actual combat, the faces of the Special Forces Battalion members were filled with a murderous aura.

Although no members of the Special Forces Battalion were killed during this year of operations, many were still injured.

Many were ambushed or fell into the traps set by those bandits.

Zhao Fusu looked at these battle-hardened special forces members with great satisfaction.

He intended to take them to Longxi Commandery to work with the commandery's troops and seize control of the Hexi Corridor.

Zhao Fusu informed Li Si and General Wang Jian of his plans.

The two did not oppose Zhao Fusu's expansion.

Great Qin's military system was expansionist by nature, and the young soldiers hungered for merit.

Without battles to fight, they would remain at the bottom.

Furthermore, capital was also expansionist in nature.

Seizing the Thirty-Six Kingdoms of the Western Regions meant that a large number of factory-produced goods could be dumped there, reaping massive profits.

"Your Majesty the Paramount Leader, these old bones of mine won't join you in all that exertion."

General Wang Jian said.

He was getting on in years, after all; he couldn't handle the toil of a 2,000-kilometer journey.

The First Emperor originally wanted to go with Zhao Fusu, but was refused.

Although the First Emperor's health had improved significantly, the fatigue of travel could still easily trigger various illnesses.

He remembered that the First Emperor had died on his Eastern Inspection Tour.

"Very well."

The First Emperor said no more, only telling Zhao Fusu, "Be careful in all things."

"Mhm."

Zhao Fusu nodded in response.

Knowing that Zhao Fusu was going on a long journey, the two women, Wang Xia and Jin Xishan, clung to him and battled until dawn.

Fortunately, his body was robust; even after staying up all night, he didn't feel much fatigue.

Accompanied by Zi Ling, he led five thousand members of the Special Forces Battalion to Longxi Commandery.