223: The new dynasty has just stabilized its plans for the Snow Mountain expedition. The scouts have been captured, the Ice Flame Scheme has been broken, and the young ladies are working together to prepare for the expedition.

As the morning light in the capital just washed over the turrets of the Forbidden City, the streets became lively. The bun vendors shouted louder than before, and the heat from the steamers drifted far with the scent of meat—the New Dynasty had waived three months of harsh taxes, so the commoners had extra money in their pockets and even dared to order two more meat-filled buns. Shuanger stood on the city wall, clutching the ledger she had just finished recording, and said with a smile to Mu Jianping beside her, "Look, the disaster relief grain issued by the Ministry of Revenue yesterday arrived in the South City today. The people are all praising how good the New Dynasty is."

Mu Jianping held a medicine box containing frostbite ointment she had just brewed—Jade Dragon Snow Mountain was cold, so she had specially brewed two hundred extra jars. "If only Big Brother Mao could see this. He used to say that when the resistance against the Qing succeeded, he would take the brothers to eat hot buns. Now it has finally been realized."

As they were speaking, Xie Hui came up from below, wearing the black iron armor that Shuanger had mended overnight; a small plum blossom was even embroidered on the shoulder guard. "What are you chatting about?" He smiled as he took the frostbite ointment handed over by Mu Jianping. "This ointment smells warm; it will definitely be useful over at the snow mountain."

"Brother Hui, Zeng Rou said the improved cannons are ready and wants you to go to the Firearm Camp to take a look," Shuanger handed over the ledger. "Also, General Tu and Lord Wei are waiting in the council chamber, saying they want to finalize the departure time for the Snow Mountain campaign."

Xie Hui nodded and followed Shuanger toward the Firearm Camp. Just as they reached the camp gate, they heard a loud "boom," and a fireball carrying the scent of sulfur rushed into the sky—it was Zeng Rou testing the improved cannons. She was wearing grey cloth short-clothes, her face stained with a bit of black soot, holding a copper part in her hand. Seeing Xie Hui, she ran over: "Big Brother Xie! Look at this! I added three times the sulfur to the gunpowder. I just tested it; ice melts immediately upon hitting the fireball, and it can even shatter the barrels of the Ice Flame Cannons!"

Xie Hui took the part and felt the patterns on it—it was a muzzle device Zeng Rou had modified overnight, lighter than before and capable of rapid reloading. "Good job! With these cannons, Wu Sangui's Ice Flame Cannons are just scrap metal." He turned to the personal guards behind him, "Load all the improved cannons onto the carts. We'll rendezvous with General Tu's cavalry first thing tomorrow morning."

At the council chamber, Tu Hai was frowning at a map while Wei Xiaobao sat nearby, a silver ingot tucked in his robe and a bun in his mouth: "Brother Hui, you're finally here! General Tu said he wants to take twenty thousand cavalry, but I think it's not enough. We should take at least thirty thousand, otherwise how will we grab the golden buddha?"

"Grab what golden buddha!" Xie Hui smiled and patted him. "We are going to clear out the remnants of Wu Sangui. The golden buddha is incidental; the main goal is to take the snow mountain base to prevent Tsarist Russia from taking the opportunity to interfere."

Songgotu pushed the door open at that moment, the small scale in his hand clinking. Behind him followed two minor officials from the Ministry of Revenue, carrying a large chest: "Little Brother Xie! The grain and fodder for the snow mountain have been tallied; it's enough for an army of fifty thousand for half a year. Also, this chest of 'treasures'—it's a compass seized from Wu Sangui's old residence. It's said to be able to find the golden buddha, so I specially brought it!"

"Lord Suo, put the compass away first!" Tu Hai said irritably. "We are going to fight a war, not to dig for treasure! Besides, the guides from the Miao Village will arrive tomorrow. They know the snow mountain terrain well; they're more useful than a compass."

Songgotu quickly stuffed the compass into his robe, smiling apologetically: "this official just feels this thing might be useful. In case we encounter ice traps, we can still discern the direction, right? Oh right, since the Miao Village guides are coming, should we give them some silver? this official will go prepare it now to ensure they lead the way well!"

Just as he was about to leave, AQi's voice suddenly came from outside, carrying a hint of Killing Intent: "General Xie! We've caught a Scout! He's one of Wu Sangui's men, trying to sneak into the Firearm Camp to steal the cannon blueprints!"

Everyone rushed out to see AQi's scimitar held against the neck of a man in a coarse cloth shirt. The man had a crumpled blueprint tucked in his shirt—it was exactly the improved cannon diagram Zeng Rou had drawn. "Speak! Who sent you? How many people are on the snow mountain? Where are the Ice Flame Cannons hidden?" Xie Hui crouched before the man, the tip of his black iron sword pressing against the man's knee.

The man was so scared his face turned pale, and he said tremblingly, "It's... it's Wu Ying Xiong's vice general Ma Biao who sent me! There are five thousand remnant soldiers at the snow mountain, with twenty Ice Flame Cannons hidden in the cave at Black Wind Pass. They've also... also contacted Tsarist Russian Scouts, planning to use the Ice Flame Cannons to blow up the road once you enter the mountain!"

"Black Wind Pass?" Zeng Rou suddenly spoke up. "I've seen it in the military ordnance records. That place has cliffs on both sides with only a narrow road in the middle. If it's blown up by Ice Flame Cannons, our troops won't be able to pass at all!"

Chen Yuanyuan walked over at this time, holding a letter she had just received: "The guides from the Miao Village say there's a Secret Passage next to Black Wind Pass. It was used by Herb Gatherers in the past and can bypass to the back of the cave, but the path is narrow and can only fit one person at a time."

Xie Hui's eyes lit up: "Good! We'll take the Secret Passage! General Tu, you take ten thousand cavalry and form a battle array at the front of Black Wind Pass, pretending to attack to draw their attention. AQi, you take five hundred elites and follow me through the Secret Passage to blow up the Ice Flame Cannons. Wei Xiaobao, you take five thousand men and guard the downstream of the mountain pass to prevent them from escaping. Zeng Rou, you and Long'er stay in the camp to continue improving the cannons and provide support at any time."

Everyone agreed in unison, but Wei Xiaobao suddenly raised his hand: "Brother Hui, can I take Miss Xiao Hong with me? I promised her I'd take her to see the snow mountain's golden buddha!"

"No!" Xie Hui refused flatly. "The snow mountain is dangerous. You settle her in the capital first. Once we've won, it won't be too late to take her to see it."

Wei Xiaobao curled his lip but didn't argue—he knew Xie Hui was doing it for Xiao Hong's own good. Songgotu leaned in at this moment, grabbing the Miao Village guide's hand and stuffing a piece of broken silver into it: "Old friend, do you know specifically which cave the golden buddha is in? If we find it, this official will give you another ten taels!"

The guide pushed the silver back and said irritably, "Lord, we in the Miao Village only recognize kindness, not silver! General Xie helped us build irrigation canals, so we are here to help fight the war, not to dig for the golden buddha!"

Everyone was amused, and Songgotu's face turned red as he quickly stuffed the silver back: "this official was just asking, just asking!"

By evening, the streets of the capital were even more bustling. Hearing about the Snow Mountain campaign, the commoners brought their own items to the military camp—some brought steamed buns, some brought cotton clothes, and an old carpenter even carried a newly made saber, saying it was for the soldiers to use. Shuanger and Mu Jianping were busy distributing supplies in the camp, moving wound medicine and cotton clothes from the small universe onto the carts. Zeng Rou was in the Firearm Camp tuning the last improved cannon, Chen Yuanyuan was arranging accommodations for the Miao Village guides, and AQi was still teaching the cavalry how to ride horses in the snow. The entire capital was filled with a sense of bustling energy.

Xie Hui stood at the camp gate, looking at the scene before him, his heart full of stability. The New Dynasty was newly established, the people supported it, the brothers were of one mind, and his beauties were by his side. Even if the snow mountain had Ice Flame Cannons and Tsarist Russian Scouts, he had the confidence to win. He pulled out the key to his small universe; inside were not only the eight volumes of the forty-two chapter sutra, but also the armor Shuanger had sewn, Mu Jianping's frostbite ointment, and Zeng Rou's cannon blueprints—these were the sources of his confidence.

"Brother Hui, it's time to eat." Shuanger walked over carrying a bowl of hot soup, which contained cold-dispelling herbs brewed by Mu Jianping. "We set out tomorrow; rest early tonight to conserve your energy."

Xie Hui took the soup and took a sip, the warmth sliding down his throat. He looked at Shuanger's gentle gaze, then at AQi teaching the cavalry in the distance, Zeng Rou tuning the cannons, Chen Yuanyuan talking to the guides, and Mu Jianping distributing wound medicine. His heart suddenly softened: "After we finish the Snow Mountain campaign, we'll have the wedding robes made and hold the wedding in front of the Ancestral Shrine of Loyal Martyrs, so Big Brother Mao can watch too."

Shuanger's face turned red as she lowered her head and whispered, "Okay, I've already told Miss Zeng Rou and the others; they're all looking forward to it."

Late at night, the lights in the military camp were still on. Tu Hai was arranging tactics with the generals, Wei Xiaobao was writing a home letter to Miss Xiao Hong, Songgotu was fiddling with his compass in his tent, muttering "Where is the golden buddha?", AQi was oiling her scimitar, Zeng Rou was modifying cannon blueprints, Shuanger and Mu Jianping were mending the soldiers' torn clothes, and Chen Yuanyuan was drawing a route map for the Miao Village guides.

Xie Hui lay in his tent, holding Mao the Eighteenth's saber; the calluses on the handle seemed to still carry warmth. He thought of Big Brother Mao's sacrifice during the decisive battle at Black Water River, the cheers when the Forbidden City was taken, and the smiling faces of the capital's people now. He thought silently: Big Brother Mao, tomorrow we go to the snow mountain to clear out Wu Sangui's remnants and take the golden buddha, sweeping away the obstacles for the New Dynasty. When we win, I will move your memorial tablet to the very front of the Ancestral Shrine of Loyal Martyrs, so everyone remembers that you gave your last breath for this world.

Early the next morning, before dawn, the sound of horns echoed through the military camp. Fifty thousand troops lined up at the city gate, the bright silver armor of the Black Armor Cavalry glinting coldly in the morning light. The improved cannons were neatly arranged in the middle of the column, and the Miao Village guides rode at the very front, holding ox horns—this was their signal for communication.

Xie Hui flipped onto his horse, his black iron sword slung at his waist, followed by Shuanger, Mu Jianping, Zeng Rou, Chen Yuanyuan, and AQi—they were going to the snow mountain to help with logistics and medical care. Wei Xiaobao rode his horse, carrying the home letter for Miss Xiao Hong in his arms, shouting: "Snow mountain! golden buddha! Here I come!"

Songgotu rode behind, carrying his compass and small scale, not forgetting to turn back and shout toward the capital: "Wait for this official to return! I will definitely bring the golden buddha back!"

Tu Hai pointed his bright silver spear forward, and the fifty thousand troops shouted in unison: "Conquer the snow mountain! Establish new merits!"

The sound of horse hooves made the ground tremble as the massive army marched toward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Xie Hui looked back at the capital's city wall, where the great banner with the character "Hui" fluttered in the wind. He knew that this journey was not only to clear out Wu Sangui's remnants but also to deal with Tsarist Russian Scouts and secure the golden buddha to build up enough wealth for the New Dynasty. But as long as these people were by his side and Big Brother Mao's spirit remained, there was no battle he could not win.

The army marched further away, and the shadow of the capital gradually disappeared from sight. The snow mountain ahead drew closer, its peaks' accumulated snow gleaming white in the morning light. Xie Hui gripped the reins, his heart full of enthusiasm—Snow mountain, here we come; future of the New Dynasty, here we come!