208: Chapter 208 The Western Empire

After hearing the news, a young student became so excited that his face flushed red. He violently threw the book in his hand into the sky, and then, in a tone filled with endless pride and agitation, he said loudly to the classmate beside him:

"Think of how our race has suffered from the barbarians of the North since ancient times!"

"When have we ever witnessed such a magnificent situation as today! Our Dynasty's heavenly troops were actually able to strike directly at the heart of the enemy, uprooting that so-called prairie royal court!"

"This is a peerless achievement that our race has not seen in thousands of years! This is the eternal, unshakeable great cause of our Wu Dynasty!"

"To be born in this era and witness our race ascend to the pinnacle of the world is truly the fortune of our generation! The fortune of our nation!"

His words immediately resonated with everyone around him!

That incomparable pride and arrogance, stemming from the heart as citizens of the Wu Dynasty, burned fiercely in everyone's hearts like the hottest flame!

They knew that from this moment on, they no longer needed to worry about the prairie butcher's knife that had hung over their heads for thousands of years, ready to plunder south at any time!

They knew that from this moment on, their country and their nation had truly stood up!

They were the citizens of the most powerful and glorious Empire in this world!

Gao Feng stood atop the Chengtian Gate tower, the highest point of the imperial palace. He ignored the civil and military officials who had already knelt in a vast expanse, and simply stood quietly, overlooking the bustling capital below, which had already transformed into a boiling ocean composed of joy and glory.

Listening to the heartfelt cries of "Long live the Emperor" coming from the city, filled with endless gratitude and worship, a trace of heartfelt, gratified smile finally appeared on his face, which had always been as calm as an ancient well.

He recalled the desperate situation of internal troubles and external aggression he had faced when he first arrived in this world.

He remembered the arduous efforts and cruel prices he had paid to reach this point today.

Wasn't everything he had done for this very scene before him?

Wasn't it to ensure that his country would no longer suffer bullying from foreign enemies?

Wasn't it to allow his people to stand tall and live proudly on this land?

He had done it.

He had accomplished the peerless great cause that emperors of all previous dynasties had never been able to complete!

At this moment, he felt that his heart, which had long been tempered to be as firm as a rock by endless schemes and slaughter, could not help but ripple with a warm feeling called "satisfaction."

But this joy did not last long.

A few days later, a top-secret report written by Zhao Yu's own hand was silently placed on Gao Feng's imperial desk.

Gao Feng slowly opened the secret report. When he saw the four characters "Taixi Empire," his eyes instantly became grave.

He put down the secret report, stood up from the dragon throne, and walked to the huge sand table.

This sand table encompassed the entire known world; mountains, rivers, cities, and grasslands were all clearly visible.

Gao Feng's gaze crossed the vast prairie that had just been pacified and cast toward the blank Western continent on the sand table.

That was an unknown realm, full of danger, but also full of possibilities.

There was no trace of fear or anxiety on Gao Feng's face; instead, a trace of an excited smile appeared. It was the excitement of a hunter seeing powerful prey, the Battle Intent of an emperor longing to conquer a vast and broader world.

"Taixi Empire?" He murmured softly, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "Interesting. It seems that this world I have just unified is far from the time when I can rest easy."

In the spring of the eighth year of Qiyuan, the biting cold had not yet completely faded from the vast prairie, but an unprecedented vitality and hope had quietly sprouted on this ancient land.

In the center of the prairie, beneath "Langjuxu Mountain," which had been regarded as a holy mountain by countless nomadic tribes and symbolized supreme glory, a grand ceremony of unprecedented scale was being held.

Martial God Gao Feng personally arrived at this place. Witnessed by hundreds of thousands of surrendered prairie tribesmen, he officially announced the establishment of the "Anbei Protectorate," serving as the highest administrative and military institution for the Wu Dynasty to manage and rule this vast territory.

In the previous war to pacify the prairie, Flank General, who had performed steadily and capably, possessing the demeanor of a great general, was personally appointed by Gao Feng as the first Great Protector of the Anbei Protectorate, in overall charge of all military and political affairs on the prairie.

At the ceremony, Gao Feng did not deliver a long-winded speech. He simply used a calm yet powerful voice to announce to all the prairie tribesmen a series of iron-fisted new policies issued specifically for the special circumstances of the prairie.

First is "governing by divided regions." Gao Feng knew well that there were many prairie tribes with different customs. If forced together, it would inevitably lead to endless internal friction and contradictions. Therefore, he ordered the vast prairie to be divided into thirteen independent "pasture regions" based on the trends of mountains and rivers and the traditional grazing ranges of each tribe.

He appointed those tribal leaders who had surrendered earliest in the war and enjoyed high prestige within their tribes as the "District Chiefs" of each pasture region, allowing them to continue managing their own people and retaining most of their traditional customs.

However, this was not a simple enfeoffment. Gao Feng simultaneously stipulated that each pasture region must have a "Political Commissar" directly appointed by the central Wu Dynasty government stationed there, responsible for supervising the District Chief's behavior, guiding production and construction in the pasture region, and reporting work directly to the Protectorate.

"Chanyu, oh no, District Chief," a newly appointed Political Commissar said with a smile to a tribal leader who had once dominated the scene, "His Majesty said that you are still a hero in the hearts of your people, but from now on, you and I are colleagues working to make everyone's life better. Please read this 'Pasture Region Management Manual' when you have time."

Secondly, it is "replacing soldiers with trade." Gao Feng understood that pure military occupation could not maintain stability for long; deep economic binding was the most solid chain. He ordered the Anbei Protectorate to take the lead in establishing official trade routes extending in all directions and dozens of fixed trading points on the prairie.

The Wu Dynasty's merchant caravans, fully loaded with exquisite tea, soft cloth, durable iron pots, white salt, and other daily necessities that prairie herdsmen dreamed of, entered the prairie in a continuous stream.

In exchange, they received the inexhaustible cattle, sheep, horses, and high-quality furs from the prairie. This government-led trade was not only fairly priced and honest, but it also completely incorporated the prairie's economic lifeline into the Wu Dynasty's macroeconomic System.

"Dad, look! This is the big iron pot I exchanged for three sheep!" A young herdsman excitedly showed his father the spoils of war. "From now on, Mom won't have to worry about the pottery pot cracking when boiling meat! And this brick tea, I heard that if you drink it, you won't get sick for a year!"

Finally, and what Gao Feng considered the most important item, was "promoting education." At the location of the Protectorate, he personally laid the foundation for the first "Prairie Panshi Academy," recruiting children aged six to twelve from all prairie tribes for free.

In the academy, these children would not only be fed and clothed, but more importantly, they would systematically learn the characters of the Wu Dynasty, basic arithmetic, and simple farming and animal husbandry techniques.

Gao Feng wanted to use the power of culture to integrate from the root, making this next generation of the prairie identify from the bottom of their hearts as part of the Wu Dynasty.

Standing on the summit of Langjuxu Mountain, overlooking the new Protectorate city rising from the ground below, and hearing the clear sound of reading, Gao Feng's heart was filled with boundless pride.

He said in a deep voice to Flank General beside him: "Remember, conquering a piece of land relies on sharp swords and spears; but to truly possess a piece of land and let it enjoy long-term stability, it relies on writing and trade. I want the descendants of the prairie to be proud of being Wu Dynasty people, to let them forget the so-called hatred, and only remember the prosperity and civilization that the Wu Dynasty brought them. This is the true eternal great cause."

After the affairs of the prairie were settled, on the dragon carriage returning to the Divine Capital, Gao Feng finished processing the last memorial regarding the Anbei Protectorate. He waved his hand, dismissing the attendants and palace maids, and entered the depths of the spacious and luxurious carriage alone.

With a thought, he disappeared from the dragon carriage. The next moment, he had appeared in that mysterious world that belonged only to him—the spirit spring space.

Inside the space, the Spiritual Qi was so dense that it almost turned into solid white mist. Every breath seemed to wash away all the dust and fatigue inside and outside his body.

On the small mountain he named "Ten Thousand Medicine Mountain," all kinds of Heaven And Earth Treasure, which had long been extinct in the outside world, grew wantonly like ordinary weeds, piled up like mountains, emitting an alluring fragrance.

Gao Feng sat cross-legged beside the spirit spring, which was constantly bubbling with dense Spiritual Qi, slowly closed his eyes, and began to circulate the Cultivation Technique that he had already mastered to Perfection.

Years of accumulation, coupled with the unique cultivation environment of the spirit spring space, had already allowed his cultivation to reach the Peak of the Eighth-Rank Martial Saint.

Inside his body, his Qi and blood were like a rushing Yangtze River; every cycle emitted a muffled sound like a Dragon's roar.

His Physical Body, under the tempering of countless Heaven And Earth Treasure, had already become so tough that it was almost immortal; ordinary swords could not even leave a white mark on his skin.

However, no matter how he mobilized the sea-like power in his body to impact the invisible barrier leading to the legendary Ninth-Rank Human Immortal Realm, that barrier remained as firm as divine iron, unmoving, as if it were an impassable chasm, firmly blocking him within the mortal world.

"Could the Eighth-Rank Martial Saint be the limit of this world?" Gao Feng slowly stopped his cultivation and opened his eyes. His brows were tightly locked, and his heart was filled with deep confusion and a trace of imperceptible irritability.

"Are those legends of Ninth-Rank Human Immortals in ancient books, who could shatter the Void Realm and travel beyond the heavens, really just mythological stories fabricated by predecessors?"

This feeling of power stagnation made him, an emperor accustomed to controlling everything, feel a long-lost sense of powerlessness.

After returning to the Divine Capital, the rhythm of Gao Feng's life underwent some subtle changes.

On one hand, he ordered that all the martial arts Secret Manuals submitted by all Schools under heaven be collected in the Imperial Library, and summoned top experts of the current era, including Gu Shenwei, Zhao Yu, and Wulu, to participate in the refinement and compilation of the "Martial Classics," hoping to find a glimmer of opportunity for a Breakthrough from these vast, ocean-like Cultivation Techniques.

On the other hand, he began to consciously reduce the time spent handling government affairs, dedicating more of his energy to daily life with his family.

He would accompany Luo Qin for leisurely walks in the Imperial Garden under the sunset glow, listening to her gently recount the seemingly trivial yet heartwarming anecdotes from the harem.

"Your Majesty, you didn't see it, but the other day, the Persian cat kept by Noble Lady Li snatched the new koi fish that Sister Lin'er had just acquired. It made Sister Su Yue so angry that she chased that cat for half the Imperial Garden!" Luo Qin covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes filled with happiness.

He would also enthusiastically accompany Su Yue to the Imperial Kitchen to research new dishes together.

Su Yue could always come up with all sorts of novel ideas, turning ordinary ingredients into mouth-watering delicacies.

"Your Majesty, try this. Your concubine calls it ‘Golden Jade Hall,’ made with pumpkin and corn. It's sweet but not cloying, and very good for the stomach." Su Yue scooped up a spoonful with a silver spoon and carefully brought it to Gao Feng's lips, her eyes filled with anticipation.

He would even set aside time to personally check the studies of the Crown Prince Eldest Son and the Second Prince Second Son, testing their knowledge of the classics and guiding their martial arts.

Watching his two sons grow day by day, one steady and benevolent, the other decisive and firm, his heart was filled with a father's pride and satisfaction.

At the same time, in order for the imperial family to flourish and to fulfill the imperial expectation of "many children bring many blessings," under Su Yue's arrangement, the harem welcomed several new members of virtue and talent.

Although Gao Feng did not indulge in this, the occasional favor added a touch of vitality and hope for the future to this majestic imperial palace.

He was surprised to discover that this seemingly plain and water-like family life actually allowed his restless state of mind, caused by his inability to achieve a Breakthrough, to gradually become peaceful and harmonious.

He began to understand that the Peak of power perhaps did not lie solely in the strength of Qi and blood, but more so in the Perfection of one's state of mind.

The world was completely unified, peace reigned across the four seas, and the national treasury was overflowing.

In the midsummer of the eighth year of Qiyuan, Gao Feng convened an unprecedented grand court assembly in the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

All the civil and military officials in the capital, as well as high-ranking officials from prefectures across the country, were all in attendance.

At this extraordinary court assembly, Gao Feng did not review past achievements but instead looked to the future, proposing a grand and specific "Blueprint for a Prosperous Age" for the Wu Dynasty for the next decade.

First, the "Universal Healthcare" plan.

Gao Feng knew well that illness was a mountain pressing down on the common people. He ordered the national treasury to allocate funds to establish the "Great Wu Medical Academy" in the Divine Capital, widely recruiting youths from all over the world who aspired to study medicine, with imperial physicians personally teaching and systematically training professional doctors.

At the same time, state-run "People's Benefit Pharmacies" would be established in every prefecture across the country, where commoners could use their household registration certificates to see doctors and purchase basic medicines at extremely low prices.

"I want my subjects to have medical care when sick and support when old! I do not wish to see another family fall into the tragic plight of ruin due to a major illness!" Gao Feng's voice echoed in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, resonant and firm.

Secondly, the grand plan for "Infrastructure Construction."

He planned to spend ten years building a "Chidao Network" centered on the Divine Capital, connecting all major cities across the country.

These Chidao would be entirely paved with cement, wide and flat, sufficient for eight carriages to travel side by side.

What shocked all the ministers even more was that Gao Feng also proposed a bolder idea—to begin planning and building the first "Steam Railway" running from north to south.

"A railway?" Minister of Works Gongshu Ban was so excited his face turned bright red. "Your Majesty, do you mean to let that ‘Divine Dragon’ run across our entire Wu Dynasty?"

"That is correct," Gao Feng nodded. "I want the steeds of the North to appear at the ports of the South within a single day! I want the Bloodline of the entire Dynasty to flow at an unprecedented speed!"

Thirdly, the "Improvement of Laws."

He ordered the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet, Liu Chengfeng, and the Minister of Justice to lead legal experts in beginning to compile a brand new "Wu Dynasty Code."

This code would completely abolish cruel punishments from the previous Dynasty such as death by a thousand cuts and branding, clarify all legal provisions, ensure that there were laws to follow, enforce the law strictly, punish violations, and strive to establish a true spirit of the rule of law throughout society.

Finally, and the one that made the young officials' blood boil, was "Exploring the Unknown."

Gao Feng announced in court the official establishment of the "Imperial Exploration Fleet" and the "Western Exploration Group," and set up high rewards to encourage and fund courageous citizens to head toward that blue ocean and that unknown Western land.

"The world is far greater than we imagine!" Gao Feng's gaze swept across all the ministers in the hall. "My Wu Dynasty subjects should not be bound to this land! I want you to go, for me and for our descendants, and bring back more land, more resources, and a broader vision!"

The entire grand court assembly ended in an atmosphere of almost fanatical excitement.

Everyone clearly realized that an unprecedented, great era was about to unfold in their hands.

After the grand court assembly, night, Imperial Study.

Gao Feng secretly summoned Zhao Yu and Xu Changqing.

Inside the Imperial Study, the candles were bright, but the atmosphere seemed somewhat heavy.

Gao Feng handed the secret report from Zhao Yu to Xu Changqing.

When he saw the words "Taixi Empire," and the description in the secret report about that distant Empire possibly possessing military power not inferior to the Wu Dynasty, even someone as steady as Xu Changqing felt a flash of surprise in his eyes.

"Your Majesty, do you mean..." Zhao Yu spoke first, his weathered face filled with the sharp spirit characteristic of a soldier.

Gao Feng walked to the giant sand table, pointed to the blank Western continent, and said in a deep voice, "Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. We know nothing about this suddenly emerged ‘Taixi Empire,’ which is very dangerous. Therefore, I have decided to send out two parties to conduct an in-depth investigation of this Empire simultaneously, so as to listen to both sides and avoid being misled by one-sided intelligence."

His gaze first fell on the leader of the Sky Net, Xu Changqing.

"Changqing, I want you to personally be responsible for a covert line." Gao Feng's voice was low and powerful. "Select the most elite spies from the Sky Net; they must be proficient in disguise, skilled in infiltration, and possess extremely strong adaptability. Have them disguise themselves as fur merchants on the grasslands, follow those ancient and secret trade routes, and head all the way west, deep into the heartland of the Taixi Empire."

"Their mission is not to fight, not to sabotage, but to observe and record." Gao Feng's tone became exceptionally serious. "I want to know that Empire's population, social structure, customs, technological level, and how their common people view our Eastern world. Remember, you are my eyes and ears; what I want is the most truthful and comprehensive intelligence."

"This subject obeys the decree!" Xu Changqing bowed and accepted the order without the slightest hesitation.

Immediately after, Gao Feng's gaze turned to Zhao Yu.

"Zhao Yu, you are responsible for an overt line. In the name of the Anbei Protectorate, select one thousand of the most elite warriors from the Dragon Steed Iron Cavalry and the Panshi Army to form a ‘Great Wu Friendly Visiting Delegation’."

"You will carry my state letters and generous gifts, openly and aboveboard, to the Taixi Empire."

"Your mission is to probe." Gao Feng's finger tapped heavily on the sand table. "I want you to probe the attitude of that Empire's officials toward us—whether they are friendly, wary, or hostile. More importantly, I want you to use a soldier's eyes to evaluate their military strength, their military organization, their weaponry and equipment, and their tactical proficiency. I want to know exactly how hard their fists are!"

"Rest assured, Your Majesty!" Zhao Yu replied, his eyes burning with intense Battle Intent. "This subject will definitely not fail the mission!"

A satisfied smile appeared on Gao Feng's face. He knew that a massive intelligence network targeting the distant West, intertwined with overt and covert lines, had begun to unfold slowly following his orders.

Whether it was Zhao Yu's overt military delegation or Xu Changqing's silently infiltrating Sky Net covert line, both would become his eyes and ears to gain insight into that unknown Empire.

However, Gao Feng still felt it was not safe enough. He turned around, his gaze cast toward the deep shadow in the corner of the Imperial Study that seemed insulated from the light, and softly called out a name in a calm, waveless, yet unquestionable tone.

"Gu Shenwei."

The voice was not loud, but it seemed to carry a certain peculiar magic, capable of piercing through the barriers of space.

The moment the words fell, that deep shadow seemed to come alive, slightly writhing.

Immediately after, a figure completely shrouded in a black cloak, like a ghost emerging from the Nine Netherworlds, appeared silently three steps away from Gao Feng, kneeling on one knee. That expressionless black iron mask, under the reflection of the candlelight, reflected a cold and dead light.

"This subject is here."

Gu Shenwei's voice was as hoarse and deep as ever, devoid of any human emotion, like a piece of cold steel.

Gao Feng slowly walked in front of him and personally helped him up from the ground, a gesture that was extremely rare and represented absolute trust.