Chapter 205: Joy First, Sadness Later
When Shen Yuexi returned to Xiaogang Village, the decree of Emperor Yongde conferring the title of King Xiao Zhuozhao had already reached here.
Unlike the previous time when she and Xiao Zhuo fled with only two people, this time Princess Zhao Shen Yuexi returned with an army of 3,000 men. It was quite impressive.
The people of Xiaogang Village flocked out and went to the village entrance to welcome the princess with drums and gongs.
The enthusiasm wasn't due to Princess Shen Yuexi's status. Xiaogang Village had been repeatedly harassed by the Western Rong for years, but Dayan had ignored them. The common people had long since lost interest in officials and dignitaries.
But Shen Yuexi was different. Thanks to her and Xiao Zhuo, Xiaogang Village had merged with Dongji Town and developed into the most prosperous town outside the Great Wall. Even many people from inside the Great Wall had moved here.
The outer perimeter of the city to the north of the village has been completely completed, and various facilities within the city are now under construction.
With this fortified city, the residents of Xiaogang Village were well protected and gained confidence in their lives. Every household in the village built a new house, and the entire village looked brand new.
Now that Princess Zhao has returned with her army, she has made it clear to the outside world that this lawless place is under the protection of King Zhao. The villagers of Xiaogang are naturally overjoyed.
After passing through Xiaogang Village, Shen Yuexi headed straight for the city in the north along the "Xianling Road".
This avenue was opened up by her when she was collecting materials for building the city wall. The villagers of Xiaogang believed that it was a manifestation of divine power and gave the avenue this name out of piety.
Yang Cong and Feng Zhang went out of the city to welcome Shen Yuexi. Meng Yue had already left, and now the construction of the city was in the hands of the two of them.
The midday sun of early spring shone on the tall city walls. Soldiers patrolled the walls, and civilians, both Dayan and Xirong, came and went through the open gates.
"Look, Madam," Yang Cong pointed at the Xirong people for Shen Yuexi, "Now everyone is trading here. We don't hate the Xirong people anymore. They are ordinary people just like us."
Accompanied by the two, Shen Yuexi climbed the city wall and gazed northward. The plain, already beginning to turn a shade of green, was dotted with white tents. These were the families of the Western Rong people under Qiang Lin's command, who had migrated here from the north.
This time, Qiang Lin and the secret guards also came with her. After arriving, she allowed Qiang Lin and the others to reunite with their families first. This was also her reward for their loyalty.
"You did a great job," Shen Yuexi praised the two of them, and then said to Feng Zhang solemnly, "Feng Zhang, kneel down and listen to the order."
Feng Zhang was still confused and stood there in a daze. Yang Cong pushed him and said angrily, "You idiot, didn't you hear what the mistress said?"
Shen Yuexi saw the relationship between the two and smiled without saying anything.
This is the relationship between radish and cabbage.
Feng Zhang was still unable to react, and he knelt down reluctantly, saying, "Madam, just say what you want to say, why are you kneeling down all of a sudden?"
Shen Yuexi didn't care and said to Feng Zhang, "Feng Zhang, King Zhao, in recognition of your meritorious service in saving him and your hard work in building the city, has appointed you as the Captain of Zhaoyan. And also... the Governor of this city."
After she finished speaking, she remembered that the city didn't have a name yet. Xiao Zhuo hadn't mentioned this before leaving.
Anyway, just deal with it for now. She is not an official who specializes in this kind of thing.
She continued, "I am bringing three thousand soldiers this time, leaving two thousand for you, and also assigning a deputy captain to assist you."
Feng Zhang's eyes widened, his mouth wide open enough to fit an egg. Seeing him stunned, Yang Cong was about to push him when Feng Zhang suddenly jumped up and ran towards the city walls.
"Mom, your son has become successful!" Feng Zhang shouted, and disappeared in a flash.
Yang Cong tried to catch up but failed, and turned back angrily, "A dog's stomach can't hold two ounces of sesame oil! I'm so blind that I fell for something like this."
Shen Yuexi jokingly said, "Brother Feng is now an official. When will you two get married?"
Yang Cong, who had always been carefree, blushed and said, "Madam, let's not talk about this. Let's talk about something else... By the way, I've already ordered someone to keep the gunpowder you sent back in the mine."
Shen Yuexi asked in surprise: "In the mine?"
If it didn't explode, the force of that gunpowder would have blown off half the mountaintop. It was too dangerous.
"It's spring now, and we're worried the gunpowder will get damp if it rains," Yang Cong replied seriously. "Once it gets damp, it won't work."
"Let's go and take a look." Shen Yuexi took the lead and walked towards the city wall.
As she walked, she said to Yang Cong, "Originally, I insisted on giving you an official position, but my husband is stubborn and insisted that according to the laws of Dayan, women cannot hold official positions... I have no choice."
"Madam, there are indeed no women serving as officials in the Great Yan Dynasty."
"I don't see it that way. Why can't we women be officials? Are we inferior to men in some way?"
When Xiao Zhuo becomes emperor, she will definitely ask him to amend the laws.
When they got to the iron mine, Shen Yuexi asked Daxiong to collect materials and directly made a cannon. She also made dozens of shells.
This cannonball was different from ancient ones. Ancient cannonballs were essentially iron balls, propelled by the thrust of exploding gunpowder. However, the cannonball Shen Yuexi had the universal manufacturing machine create came with a shell and primer, allowing for a much longer range. Beyond the fuse, it already had the rudiments of a modern cannonball.
When Yang Cong discovered this cannon, his jaw almost dropped.
Although she grew up in the village, she could still recognize it as a cannon. But when did such a large object appear in the mine? Was it another divine manifestation?
She immediately called dozens of people nearby, but they couldn't move it. Someone else went out to call for more people, and then hundreds of people came together to push it out.
Shen Yuexi was only slightly surprised, after all, she had the "divine spirit" to back her up. She explained to Yang Cong how to use the cannon, saying, "Attach wheels to the cannon and place it on the city wall. Perhaps it will be useful someday."
The crowd noisily pushed the cannon out of the mine. When the surrounding people heard that a cannon had appeared in the mine, they all gathered to watch the excitement, and the scene was noisy. Everyone had experience in building cities, and the equipment on site was used to lift heavy objects. Although the cannon was heavy, it was transported without any hindrance.
After a busy period of mounting the cannon on the city wall, the transporter got it wrong and pointed the cannon towards Xiaogang Village. Shen Yuexi had originally intended to point the cannon towards the Xirong.
But it's fine this way.
Feng Zhang, who had disappeared, came running back, pissing himself on the floor, holding a piece of paper in his hand and shouting, "Princess, something terrible has happened. Something terrible has happened!"
Shen Yuexi took the paper from Feng Zhang.
This is a manifesto, and the publisher is actually the second prince.
In his manifesto, the Second Prince denounced Emperor Yongde, accusing him of cruelty and ruthlessness, slaughtering innocent people indiscriminately. He had Empress Pei before him, Prince Jing in the middle, and Concubine De in the latter. He spent his days hanging out with Concubine Xian, neglecting state affairs and demonstrating his incompetence. He called on all provinces to raise troops and march to the capital to overthrow the tyrant Emperor Yongde.
Shen Yuexi looked at it and felt a little nervous.
The Second Prince has been assisting the government and speaks with considerable authority. If the prefectures and counties really respond, it will be a very troublesome matter. After all, Xiao Zhuo is the son of Emperor Yongde. If that happens, he will not only have to deal with the Jingzhou army, but also with the entire world.
Feng Zhang, who was standing next to her, looked at Shen Yuexi's expression and felt very uneasy.
I can’t be so unlucky, right? I just got appointed as a captain, and the second prince is calling on the whole world to rebel?
"Should this manifesto be sent to all prefectures and counties?" Shen Yuexi asked Feng Zhang.
Feng Zhang nodded and said, "I just received the news as well and came to report it to the mistress right away. Our Xiaogang Village is outside the Great Wall, so I guess it has already spread throughout the interior."
Shen Yuexi nodded thoughtfully.
It seems that I can't stay here any longer, I have to go back to find Xiao Zhuo.
She decided not to stay in Xiaogang Village that day and set off directly back to Leshan.
Before leaving, news came one after another.
The governor of Shengzhou responded to the Second Prince's call to arms and took the lead in raising an army.
Even more shocking was that Prince Xiao Ming of Qi had also responded to the Second Prince's call to arms, declared a truce with the Northern Di, and was returning with his army.
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