Cement Emerges

Bai Lu led the eastern expeditionary army rampaging across the land, and almost nothing could stand against it.

Even though this was an era in which

large tribal groups had already emerged and had entered the Bronze Ware Age,

they were facing an Iron Age army armed to the teeth.

How could those tribes possibly stand against the Star Ancient Dynasty's army?

Their only possible end was being crushed beneath the Star Ancient Dynasty's army.

Every resisting force was wiped out by the army led by Bai Lu.

Bai Lu's eastern expedition went smoothly, but the army led by Long Ang remained blocked before the Southern Poisonous Mist, unable to cross it. Even so, Long Ang led the southern expeditionary army in overcoming the harsh environment of the south.

Year 352 of the Star Ancient Era.

Bai Lu's eastern expedition had advanced 1,500 li, but due to insufficient logistical supplies, he chose to return to the dynasty.

Long Ang continued tackling the problem of the poisonous miasma in the southern lands.

Summer, Year 355 of the Era.

After five full years, Long Ang's southern expeditionary army overcame the Southern Poisonous Mist. However, logistical supplies became a problem, leaving him no choice but to withdraw his troops and return to the dynasty.

Yang Yu had known of Long Ang's defeat long ago and did not blame him.

From then on,

the Star Ancient Dynasty chose to consolidate the territory it currently possessed and stopped expanding outward.

Relocating civilians to the newly conquered lands so they could settle there became the most important task.

The various preferential policies were also made as generous as possible for the migrating citizens.

Year 360 of the Era.

The Star Ancient Dynasty's population reached more than 3.5 million, and it remained in a period of recuperation and renewal.

Until Year 370 of the Era.

"Your Majesty, this general requests permission to go to war."

In the Hall of Governance, Bai Lu looked extremely old as he gazed at King Yang Yu seated in the supreme position. He stepped out of the ranks and spoke respectfully.

He was old now.

But he did not want to die in this peaceful life.

The battlefield was where he belonged.

"Your Majesty, this general requests permission to go to war."

At the same time, Long Ang also stepped out of the ranks and informed King Yang Yu of his request.

"My honored subject, your body is already..."

Yang Yu hesitated.

Bai Lu and Long Ang were both already old.

If they went to the battlefield, something could easily go wrong.

"Your Majesty, Bai Lu may be old, but can he still eat?"

"I am willing to use this decaying body to open up more land for our descendants to survive."

Bai Lu's voice rang like a great bell, powerful and resolute.

"The battlefield, wrapped in a horsehide shroud—that is the destiny of soldiers like us."

"I humbly request that Your Majesty grant permission."

Long Ang clasped his fists and knelt on one knee, his blazing gaze fixed on the king of the Star Ancient Dynasty.

That was their king!

"I must discuss this matter first!"

Yang Yu pondered for a moment before saying, "My honored ministers, what do you think should be done?"

"Your Majesty, this is likely the lifelong wish of the two generals. I humbly request that Your Majesty grant permission."

Prime Minister Li Wen pondered briefly before expressing his support.

The two veteran generals had given too much to the court.

"Your Majesty, the court's treasury is currently ample, and the court's finances can support the two generals in waging war."

Minister of Finance Liu Bing stepped out of the ranks and spoke respectfully.

He agreed as well.

Seeing this, Yang Yu nodded. His gaze fell on Bai Lu and Long Ang as he said, "Do you have confidence?"

"This time, I am confident that I can expand the territory of our Star Ancient Dynasty by another thousand li."

"Wherever the great sun shines shall be the soil of our Star Ancient Dynasty."

Bai Lu spoke in a deep voice.

"Granted!" Seeing this, Yang Yu said solemnly, "I order Bai Lu, Long Ang, and Lin Yang—the court's three great generals—to each lead fifty thousand troops: march east, pacify the south, and conquer the west."

"Understood!"

Hearing this, Lin Yang, clad in a military commander's armor within the ranks, revealed delight in his eyes upon hearing the King's words.

He had thought there would be no place for him!

As it turned out,

the King had not forgotten him.

Summer, Year 360 of the Era.

Bai Lu, Long Ang, and Lin Feng, the court's three foremost giants, each led ten thousand archers, ten thousand Shieldbearers, twenty thousand Riflemen, and ten thousand cavalrymen eastward, southward, and westward.

Because the foundation of the Star Ancient Dynasty was exceptionally solid, the entire expedition proceeded very smoothly.

Winter, Year 360 of the Era.

The southern expeditionary army had pacified 350 li of the south when General Long Ang, after a long campaign, collapsed on the rugged and perilous road. Even so, he continued ordering the army to advance southward.

Summer, Year 361 of the Era.

A year later, terrible news arrived from the eastern expeditionary army.

Marshal Bai Lu, commander of the army, had died on the battlefield after suddenly falling gravely ill.

The eastern expeditionary army chose to return to court under the deputy general's command.

This time,

the eastern expeditionary army crossed mountains and rivers, pushing the Star Ancient Dynasty's eastern frontier another 1,300 kilometers.

Bai Lu had fulfilled his lifelong wish.

By Year 365,

all the armies that had gone abroad had returned.

The Star Ancient Dynasty's territory had reached the astonishing size of 7.49 million square kilometers.

However, its population was pitifully small.

Next,

the Star Ancient Dynasty's cabinet began formulating its latest policy.

That was the Star Ancient Dynasty's hundred-year development plan.

Year 400 of the Era.

The Star Ancient Dynasty's population reached more than five million.

Its army numbered more than 350,000.

Every one of them was an elite soldier.

Moreover,

more than fifty thousand elite troops were dispatched to each frontier to guard the borders.

The royal palace.

The study.

Yang Yu frowned as he looked at the proposal on the desk.

It was a proposal from the Prime Minister.

A proposal to abolish city walls.

This would make it easier for cities to expand outward.

Cities had restricted the development of the dynasty's civilization.

If they wanted to develop, they had to abandon these ancient city walls so that the dynasty could truly prosper.

Yang Yu rubbed his chin and murmured, "Abolish city walls? That's quite something!"

It had to be known that

the abolition of city walls as a prerequisite for urban development had only begun in the near-industrial era.

Had he never considered abolishing city walls?

He had.

But in this era, it was not suitable to abolish city walls.

Yet this Prime Minister's first policy proposal after taking office was actually to abolish city-wall construction and vigorously develop streets and roads.

"System."

Yang Yu called softly.

"I know what you're thinking. He isn't a time traveler."

Xingchen's voice sounded beside his ear.

Then she fell silent.

A trace of awkwardness flashed across Yang Yu's face.

He had almost thought that his newly appointed Prime Minister was a fellow countryman from the later generations.

It seemed he had simply been overthinking things.

"Your Majesty, Minister of Science and Technology requests an audience."

At that moment,

Guardian Dragon entered from outside and spoke respectfully.

"Minister of Science and Technology Fang Hui requests an audience?"

Yang Yu fell into deep thought.

This was the second Minister of Science and Technology.

The first Minister of Science and Technology had long since vanished into the river of history, his dust returned to dust and earth returned to earth.

"Granted."

Yang Yu spoke softly.

A moment later,

the second Minister of Science and Technology, Fang Hui, entered the study from outside, covered in dust from the road, and respectfully saluted Yang Yu.

"Your subject Fang Hui pays respects to Your Majesty."

Fang Hui immediately bowed to the King.

"My honored subject Fang Hui, rise."

Yang Yu made a gesture as though lifting him up and said, "Why are you not at the Research Institute, my honored subject? Why have you come to me? Have you encountered some difficulty?"

"Your Majesty, that is not the case!"

"While my Research Institute was conducting project research, we happened to discover that a certain stone powder, when mixed with other stone materials and stirred with water, could solidify into an incredibly tough stone block. I have come specifically to report this to Your Majesty..."