With the emperor's blessing, the country is prosperous and the people are at peace.
After being promoted to Minister of War, Shen Chengyou did not become complacent with his honor, but quickly devoted himself to the great cause of military reform. He knew that the temporary peace on the border was not a long-term solution, and only by building a strong and disciplined army could the territory of Dajing be fundamentally protected.
In response to the existing shortcomings of the army, Shen Chengyou introduced a series of reform measures. Regarding the reform of military branches, he broke with the traditional model of separating infantry and cavalry, creating the "combined arms battalion"—each battalion consisting of 3,000 infantry, 1,000 cavalry, 500 archers, and 200 engineers, possessing offensive, defensive, reconnaissance, and fortification capabilities, flexibly responding to different battlefield needs. Simultaneously, he selected elite soldiers to form "scout battalions," specifically responsible for border reconnaissance and intelligence gathering, moving the defense line forward by hundreds of miles, achieving "knowing the enemy before they move."
In terms of weaponry improvement, Shen Chengyou spearheaded the establishment of the "Armament Bureau," recruiting skilled craftsmen from the populace to innovate weapon manufacturing processes. Drawing upon the weaponry blueprints left by his grandfather, Shen Qingci, he improved the range and penetrating power of crossbow bolts, creating the "repeating crossbow," capable of firing five arrows at once. He also modified traditional iron swords into "ring-pommel swords," making them lighter and sharper, easier for cavalry to wield. Furthermore, he imitated and improved upon the Khitan "catapult," increasing its range by 30%, making it a powerful weapon for siege warfare. To ensure the quality of weaponry, he established the "Armament Acceptance Law," requiring each batch of weaponry to undergo three tests. Those failing to meet the standards were severely punished, and the supervising officials were strictly punished to prevent shoddy workmanship.
Regarding border defense, Shen Chengyou petitioned the emperor to allocate grain and supplies to fortify border cities and construct "barbicans" and "beacon towers" in key towns such as Yanmen Pass and Shuozhou, forming a defense system of "one beacon tower every five li, one mound every ten li, and one fort every thirty li." He also promoted a "joint defense by the military and civilians" policy, organizing border residents to participate in defense, conducting military training during the off-season, and assisting the army in defending cities during wartime. This not only strengthened the defense forces but also enhanced the self-defense capabilities of the people.
While implementing military reforms, Shen Chengyou always kept the people's livelihood in mind. He deeply understood that "soldiers are the protectors of the people; the people are the source of the army," and only when the people live and work in peace and contentment can the country enjoy long-term stability. He joined forces with the Ministry of Revenue to submit a memorial requesting a three-year tax reduction on the border areas and encouraging people to reclaim wasteland for farming; in disaster-stricken areas, he implemented the "Agricultural Encouragement Law," distributing seeds and farming tools, and dispatching agricultural officials to guide cultivation, thereby increasing grain production. Addressing the problem of neglected water conservancy in the south, he petitioned the emperor to allocate special funds to organize the military and civilians to dredge waterways and build reservoirs, fundamentally solving the problems of floods and droughts.
In terms of culture, Shen Chengyou continued his grandfather's tradition of valuing education, petitioning the emperor to establish "military academies" in all prefectures and cities across the country. These academies would recruit young men and women, teaching them military strategy, horsemanship, and archery, thus cultivating future military talent. Simultaneously, he advocated for a balance between literary and military pursuits, encouraging scholars to study military strategy and military officers to read and understand principles, thereby changing the prevailing atmosphere of either prioritizing literature over military affairs or vice versa. Under his leadership, the Great Jing Dynasty flourished with both literary talent and military prowess, presenting a prosperous era where "literary talents could pacify the world with their pens, and military talents could conquer the land on horseback."
In just three years, the military strength of the Great Jing Dynasty has greatly improved, the border defense line is as solid as a rock, and the Khitan, Xiongnu and other tribes no longer dare to provoke it easily; the domestic economy is prosperous, the grain harvest is abundant, the people are well-fed and clothed, no one picks up lost items on the road, and doors are left unlocked at night; academies and martial arts schools are flourishing everywhere, talents are emerging in large numbers, wise ministers gather in the court, and the administration is clean and efficient.
Looking at the peaceful and prosperous scene, the emperor praised Shen Chengyou highly: "Minister Shen, with you here, I can rest easy!" The ministers also submitted memorials one after another, praising Shen Chengyou for his "skillful military command and wise governance, which is truly a blessing for the country."
Shen Chengyou remained humble throughout, deeply aware that all these achievements were inseparable from the emperor's trust, the support of his colleagues, the bravery of his soldiers, and, most importantly, the sacrifices of the people. He often traveled incognito with Wang Ruoxi, visiting the streets and alleys, listening to the voices of the people, and adjusting policies accordingly. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the people, his resolve grew stronger: "Only by upholding the original aspiration of 'serving the country and the people' can I live up to the expectations of my predecessors and the knowledge I have gained in this life."
That day, Shen Chengyou and Wang Ruoxi strolled along the paddy field ridges on the outskirts of Beijing, watching the golden rice paddies sway in the wind, farmers busily harvesting, and children playing on the ridges—a scene of perfect harmony. Wang Ruoxi said softly, "Chengyou, look at how peaceful and prosperous the country is now; this is the result we both wanted."
Shen Chengyou held her hand, gazing into the distance: "This is just the beginning. I hope that many years from now, the land of Dajing will be forever peaceful, the people will be forever happy, and the Shen family's tradition of 'protecting the country and ensuring the people's safety' will be passed down from generation to generation, for thousands of years to come."
As the sun set, its afterglow bathed the two men and the land of prosperity and peace. Under Shen Chengyou's meticulous governance, the golden age of Dajing grew ever longer and more glorious.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
