Wildfire

The courtiers in the hall were uneasy about the emperor's return. Wei Jin strolled back to the imperial steps, but instead of sitting down, he leaned casually against the armrest of the dragon throne. His posture was not that of an emperor, but rather like a commoner in the marketplace ready to argue with someone. However, the half-smile on his lips sent chills down everyone's spine.

“Oh, right,” he said, as if suddenly remembering something trivial, his tone terribly relaxed, “I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

He paused deliberately, appreciating the deathly silence below and the countless pairs of bewildered eyes.

"I said that all the children I raised are qualified. That is true."

He changed the subject, adding with a hint of mockery, "However, I am not the kind of blind and willful tyrant who closes his eyes and ears to reason."

He pronounced the word "tyrant" with exceptional clarity, with a self-deprecating tone, as if slapping the faces of those who inwardly cursed others.

A faint glimmer of hope had just ignited in the eyes of a few of the older clansmen.

Then Wei Jin continued in a casual tone, as if discussing what to eat for dinner: "Among the Wei clan, if there is truly such a brilliant and outstanding talent, whose literary and military skills far surpass those of my sons, who can win the hearts and minds of the entire court, and who can bring peace and prosperity to the people of the world... a peerless genius."

He uttered the words "far superior," "completely convinced," "living in peace and contentment," and "unparalleled genius" in an exaggerated tone, his mockery almost tangible.

"It's not that I can't consider it."

He even shrugged generously, as if he had bestowed a great favor.

"After all, the country should be ruled by the most capable. We have to choose the best, right?"

These words were more ruthless than death! The conditions were so harsh as to be almost humiliating, completely blocking any possibility for the clansmen to promote their mediocre sons. The faces of several old Uncle Wangs instantly turned from red to green, then from green to white, their lips trembling, but they couldn't utter a single word.

Seeing their devastated state and shattered hopes, Wei Jin smiled with satisfaction, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.

Immediately, the smile on his face vanished, and his entire demeanor suddenly turned gloomy and dangerous.

He no longer leaned back, but instead leaned slightly forward, his gaze like an icy blade, scraping across the pale faces of his relatives one by one. His voice was extremely low, yet like a venomous snake's hiss, it clearly pierced into everyone's ears:

"But..."

"You'd better pray to the gods and Buddhas to bless me with a long and healthy life."

He stared intently at the clan elders who were leading the disturbance, as if he could see through their most sordid thoughts.

"Do you hate me now? Do you think I've gone mad? Do you wish I would just die suddenly so you could have the chance to overturn my decree today?"

He so bluntly and so brutally tore open, laid flat, and exposed the most secret thoughts in everyone's hearts, thoughts that even they themselves dared not think about, right here in the Golden Palace!

"We dare not!" The ministers were so terrified that they all knelt down, their voices trembling.

Wei Jin scoffed, his expression full of disdain: "Dare not? I bet you dare!"

His voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder, filled with boundless rage and a ruthless, unbridled ferocity: "Then you'd better think it over! If I really 'accidentally' die today..." His gaze turned extremely deep, but a cruel smile curled at the corner of his mouth, like a demon's whisper, each word striking the hearts of everyone present:

"Guess what, my sons who are cutting down Japanese pirates in the southeast like slicing melons, my 'daddy' son who just brought the latest military supplies there, my son who... is in charge of the troops in the capital region..."

With each "son" he mentioned, the faces of the clansmen below turned paler and their bodies began to tremble uncontrollably, as if they could already see mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

"Will they obediently listen to you 'uncles and grandfathers' and sit down to reason with you according to your rules?" Wei Jin's voice was terrifyingly gentle. "Or will they... directly lead their troops back to the capital to ask how their 'Emperor Father'... exactly died?"

"At that time," Wei Jin slowly straightened up, looking down at the court officials who were slumped on the ground, pale-faced, as if looking down at ants, especially those imperial relatives who were almost fainting, and said, word by word, as if delivering a verdict:

"Do your arguments about ancestral traditions, bloodlines, and changing surnames still have any meaning?"

He paused, letting the extreme fear ferment in everyone's hearts, before softly uttering the last sentence, which carried the weight of a thousand pounds:

"I'm afraid that at that time, the only way to cleanse this Golden Palace will be with blood."

“So,” he concluded, his tone returning to its chilling, nonchalant ease, as if the bloody threat from before was nothing more than casual conversation, “hate me? Then just bear with it. Want me dead? You’d better think twice about whether you can bear the consequences of my death.”

"Dismiss the court."

This time, he really left, his steps even carrying a hint of leisure.

The courtiers were left in a deathly silence, each one looking as if they had just been pulled from the water, their clothes soaked with cold sweat.

Those relatives were ashen-faced, slumped on the ground, too weak to even stand up.

Wei Jin's last words were not the mindset of an emperor, but the logic of a desperate outlaw who would "die together if we have to." However, combined with the absolute power in his hands and his wolf-like sons, they became the most terrifying threat in the world.

Rebel against him?

We might really need to prepare ourselves for being torn apart by those little wolf cubs.

At this moment, after the extreme anger, what surged up was an even more extreme fear and powerlessness.

This despicable emperor, an emperor who grew up in the streets and alleys, he really could do it, and he really had the power to do it!

For several days in a row, no one dared to openly question the "adopted son inheritance system".

Memorials continued to arrive like snowflakes, but their content had shifted from impassioned remonstrances to roundabout probing, classical "discussions," and even sporadic articles praising the talents and virtues of several princes (specifically Shen Yu).

Wei Jin glanced at the folded papers, scoffed, and casually tossed them into the wastepaper basket.

He knew this was just the calm before the storm.

Those clansmen and old-fashioned people are secretly licking their wounds, gathering strength, and waiting for an opportunity to counterattack.

He couldn't be bothered to wait.

Since the fire is already lit, let's make it burn even brighter.

At the court assembly that day, he dropped a second bombshell.

"The Wokou pirates in the southeast have ravaged the coast for too long. Passive defense is not a long-term solution." Wei Jin's voice was solemn. "I have decided to establish the first standing navy of the Great Yong Dynasty! It will no longer be called a 'naval force,' but an independent navy!"

"Your Majesty is wise!" Among the military officers, many generals who had a blood feud with the Japanese pirates suddenly brightened up.

But before they could rejoice for long, Wei Jin's next words plunged the officials of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works into despair.

"The establishment of the navy requires warships, firearms, and provisions. Instruct the Ministry of Revenue to calculate within three days how much silver can be allocated to the navy this year. Instruct the Ministry of Works, in conjunction with the Directorate of Works, to produce blueprints for new warships for me within ten days! They must be faster, stronger, and have more cannons!"

"Three days? Ten days?" The Minister of Revenue nearly fainted on the spot. "Your Majesty, the national treasury..."

"If the national treasury is out of money, then we must find a way!"

Wei Jin interrupted him, his eyes icy cold, "The southeast trade routes are being controlled by Japanese pirates, how much tax revenue are lost every year? Once we wipe out the pirates and reopen the trade routes, why worry about money? Think long-term!"

"And your Ministry of Works," he turned his gaze to the ashen-faced Minister of Works, "Don't tell me you can't do it. I know you have many skilled craftsmen hidden away. Before, you just lacked the motivation, but now, the motivation has come. If you can't do it, I'll replace you with someone who can."

He spoke these words casually, yet they carried a chilling, murderous intent.

The two ministers were sweating profusely and dared not say another word. They could only grit their teeth and accept the order.

"Furthermore," Wei Jin surveyed the assembled officials, dropping a bombshell, "the navy is newly established, and everything is in need of rebuilding. We must employ talent without being bound by convention. Anyone proficient in maritime affairs, naval warfare, shipbuilding, and firearms, regardless of their background, place of origin, or even... having been implicated with Japanese pirates due to financial difficulties, but possessing genuine talent and a willingness to serve our Great Yong, may be recommended to the Emperor. Once verified, they will be richly rewarded, and past transgressions will be overlooked!"

"Your Majesty! No!" This time even some military officers voiced their opposition. "These people are mostly fickle and opportunistic; how can they be given important positions?"

"Fickle?" Wei Jin raised an eyebrow. "That's because the price offered wasn't high enough, or the fist wasn't strong enough! I can afford the price, and I can also... beat those who dare to disobey!"

He patted the armrest of the dragon throne, grinning like a mountain bandit ready to raid the mountains: "It's settled then! Court adjourned!"

The officials left behind in the hall, each with a different expression, all had only one thought in their minds: His Majesty is about to rip the sky apart!

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away on the shores of the East China Sea.

Battle reports arrived: Empress Ling Zhan, leading Shen Yu, Shen Xing, Shen Chen, and others, ambushed the main Japanese pirate fleet in the Blackwater Ocean. Utilizing new-type rockets and precision tactics, they decisively defeated the main Japanese pirate fleet, burning and sinking dozens of enemy ships, beheading the pirate leader, and capturing countless prisoners. The remaining pirates scattered and fled into the deep sea.

The good news brought great joy to the government and the public.

But Ling Zhan was not satisfied with this.

Inside the makeshift central command tent, the sea breeze was blowing.

Ling Zhan, clad in light armor, pointed to a rough nautical chart and said to his children and the coastal generals who had surrendered to him, "The way to eradicate the threat of Japanese pirates lies not on land, but at sea. Passive defense will never bring peace."

Her gaze swept over Shen Yu, Shen Xing, Shen Chen, and Shen Zhangwu, who had just arrived with supplies and whose eyes were burning with enthusiasm, as well as Shen Xiao, who had also arrived at the coast and was standing calmly to the side (he was in charge of coordinating the subsequent army support).

"We need a fleet that can sail far, fight, and defend our seas." Ling Zhan's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable force. "From this day forward, based on the captured and repaired Japanese ships and coastal warships, and by integrating the maritime experts who have surrendered, we will establish—the First Fleet of the Dayong Navy!"

"Shen Xing, you are skilled in physics and calculation. You are in charge of supervising the construction and modification of warships. I need faster and stronger ships."

"Chen Chen, you are brave and skilled in battle, and you are familiar with the water. You will be in charge of selecting and training marines."

"Shen Yu, you will oversee logistics and military discipline, and formulate naval laws and regulations."

"Zhang Wu, you are responsible for organizing the personnel to familiarize themselves with and train the firearms you brought, so that they can be formed into combat force."

"Shen Xiao, the land support and the safety of the base are entrusted to you."

Her instructions were clear and her assignments were well-defined, as if this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather something that had been planned for a long time.

The sons obeyed the order with a solemn air, their eyes burning with the same flame as their mother's.

In the days that followed, the coast of the East China Sea was transformed into a huge construction site and training ground.

With Ling Zhan's visionary foresight and Shen Xing's ingenious design, the old ships were dismantled and reassembled, fitted with more efficient sails, stronger keels, and... reserved positions for cannons.

Shen Chen was training the newly recruited sailors and soldiers, practicing boarding, jumping aboard, and firing firearms.

Shen Yu was busy formulating unprecedented naval regulations and handling complex resource allocation.

Shen Zhangwu, carrying a musket, led a group of people in training, and the booming test shots were deafening.

Ling Zhan personally boarded the ship to guide navigation and tactics. She stood at the bow, letting the sea breeze tousle her hair, her gaze fixed on the deep distance. At that moment, she seemed no longer to be an empress in the deep palace, but to have returned to the glorious years of commanding an interstellar fleet.

A brand-new, vibrant force is rapidly being conceived and growing amidst the waves of the East China Sea.

A month later, the nascent First Fleet of the Navy, personally led by Ling Zhan, set sail and began its first proactive mopping-up patrol. Their target was no longer the remaining pirates near the coast, but the old lair of the Japanese pirates who had fled to the deep sea, attempting to make a comeback!

The fleet, like a sharp sword, cleaved through the azure sea, heading towards unknown risks and glory.

While Ling Zhan led his naval fleet to sweep across the seas and reported victories one after another, Wei Jin also faced the expected counterattack in the imperial court.

Led by several old princes, a group of relatives, together with some conservative civil officials, launched an offensive.

Instead of directly attacking the succession law, they directed their criticism at the costly naval program, the empress's "hen crowing at dawn," her long absences from the palace, and her unauthorized use of force.

"Your Majesty! The navy is costly and is jeopardizing the foundation of the nation!"

"Her Majesty the Empress has been away from the palace for a long time, which is against etiquette. Moreover, war is dangerous and fraught with peril. What if..."

"Women's involvement in politics is ultimately not a blessing for the country!"

Wei Jin sat high on the dragon throne, listening to the seemingly concerned but actually malicious remonstrances from below, a mocking sneer always playing on his lips.

Only after they had finished speaking did he slowly begin to speak, his voice not loud, but instantly drowning out all the noise:

"Are you done talking?"

He stood up, walked down the steps, and came to the old Uncle Wang who was leading the group.

"They say the navy is incredibly expensive," he stared at one of them. "I ask you, how much silver did it cost to build the Prince's Mansion for your son's wedding last year? Is it equivalent to several new warships?"

Old Uncle Wang turned pale and stammered, unable to speak.

"To say that the Empress acted arbitrarily with weapons is against propriety," he turned to another, "I ask you, before the Empress went there, how many people in the southeast were killed by the Japanese pirates? How much did your estates and merchant ships lose? Now that the Japanese pirates have been almost wiped out and the trade routes are about to be reopened, you suddenly start talking about 'propriety'?"

"So you want to take all the benefits while letting others fight the war and risk their lives? Is there such a cheap thing in the world?"

His words were like a whip, lashing at the men until their faces turned red.

"Furthermore, is it said that women's involvement in politics is not a blessing for the country?"

Wei Jin's voice suddenly rose, filled with thunderous rage, "If it weren't for Ling Zhan creating 'Shan Hai Su' in Qingzhou, the soldiers of the Northern Border and the people of Guanzhong would have starved to death long ago! If it weren't for her stabilizing the court, could I have cleaned up the mess you left behind? If it weren't for her risking her life in the East Sea, would your heads still be here, spouting pedantry at me?!"

He slammed his hand on the pillar next to him, making a loud "bang" that startled everyone.

"I'm telling you!"

His gaze, sharp as a knife, swept across the entire room. "This empire of the Great Yong was conquered by me and Ling Zhan together! She deserves half of it! She can govern however she wants! It's none of your business, you bunch of bloodsucking parasites, to interfere!"

"The navy is established! The war is fought! As for the Empress..."

Wei Jin revealed an almost arrogant smile, a smile of pride that reflected his honor.

"When my Empress, leading my navy, crushes the Japanese pirates' lair and returns victorious..."

"You all had better get to the docks and kneel to greet me!"

After saying that, he turned away without looking at the livid and trembling relatives and ministers, his back view resolute and arrogant.

The message was quickly relayed through special channels to the fleet that was battling the waves in the deep sea.

When Ling Zhan received the message, he had just commanded his fleet to destroy a key supply island belonging to the Japanese pirates.

She looked at Wei Jin's nonchalant "declaration" on the note, and a barely perceptible smile flashed across her cold eyes.

She handed the note to Shen Yu, who was standing next to her.

After reading it, Shen Yu smiled and said softly, "Your Majesty, this is burning down all the escape routes to build the most glorious return platform for you, Mother."

Ling Zhan looked westward, towards the capital city.

The sea and sky blend into one color, and the wind blows for thousands of miles.

She gave a soft "hmm".

Then let's return the favor with a resounding victory and a powerful navy that can truly protect this sea area.

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