Chapter 69: The Grand Scheme Is Set

Half an hour later, more than half of the Silver Wolf Army had fallen, and the survivors knelt in surrender. Chen Mu and Lan Phoenix rode forward, looking down at Silver Wolf from atop their horses.

Lan Phoenix said, “Silver Wolf, you were right about one thing—unity is strength.”

Silver Wolf glared furiously at her. “Wretched woman! You deceived me!”

Lan Phoenix laughed. “You were the one who lied to me first. You spoke of honoring me as queen, even of a female emperor. Who would ever believe you?”

“You—!” Silver Wolf was momentarily speechless.

He turned to point at Chen Mu. “You’re handing Dongyue over to this man from Daxia? You are a traitor to your own people!”

Lan Phoenix smiled faintly. “Chen Mu has already promised to appoint me as the governor of Dongyue.”

Silver Wolf was stunned. “Impossible! He must be lying to you! Lan Phoenix, if you turn back now, there’s still time. Chen Mu only has a few thousand men at his command.”

Lan Phoenix replied, “Fool! You have no idea how powerful Chen Mu is! Under his rule, Daxia has grown formidable. Dongyue can neither resist nor does it need to.”

While they spoke, Li Su continued translating for Chen Mu. Hearing this, Chen Mu intervened, “Enough. This fool will never understand.”

“Lan Phoenix, tell them: Silver Wolf must die, but the rest will be pardoned for all that has passed.”

Lan Phoenix nodded, relayed Chen Mu’s words in the Dongyue dialect, then drew a bow from her saddle and shot an arrow straight through Silver Wolf’s throat.

Elsewhere, several thousand surrendered soldiers from the Sea God Sect were taken into custody. On the side of the Haikang tribe, the Invincible Flying Cavalry and the Wudang Flying Cavalry had also secured victory; General Golden Blade, seeing the situation lost, had already fled with his men. But with only a few hundred remaining, they posed no further threat. Any one of the seven great tribes in the rear could easily deal with them.

After these two great battles, the main forces of the Sea God Sect were utterly destroyed. The rest was simple: as soon as the armies of Chen Mu and Lan Phoenix arrived, tribe after tribe surrendered without resistance.

Chen Mu then selected an auspicious day to formally establish the Dongyue District as a part of Daxia on behalf of the imperial court.

Lan Phoenix was appointed governor of Dongyue, holding supreme civil and military authority. Li Su served as advisor, responsible for transmitting information and gradually spreading Daxia’s policies throughout the region. The other tribal chiefs were made county magistrates, with the fifteen tribes reorganized into fifteen counties.

Chen Mu also taught them the techniques of terraced farming, enabling the people of Dongyue to cultivate crops on the mountainsides, thus sparing them from hunger during the lean hunting months of winter.

He then had seagoing vessels constructed and led an expedition to Yi Island. Finding it uninhabited, he relocated some people from Dongyue to develop the land there. In a few years, this treasured island would provide further tax revenue for Daxia.

Chen Mu left behind many new technologies and also brought back a wealth of goods.

Dongyue’s specialties—fruits, tea, silver fungus, and other foods—could be taken back to enrich the tables of Daxia’s people, providing them with greater nourishment. There was also high-quality iron ore for forging weapons to equip the army. The first year’s tax revenue from Dongyue could be brought back and sold to replenish the national treasury. Moreover, trade between Dongyue and Dongyuan would bring in a torrent of new taxes.

Chen Mu further declared in the name of the Mountain God that the Sea God was a false deity, urging the people of Dongyue to abandon their old faith and worship the Mountain God instead, thus venerating Chen Mu as the sage sent by the Mountain God himself.

With these economic and political measures, stability soon returned to Dongyue, and it was time for Chen Mu to return to the capital. Lan Phoenix took her leave graciously, swearing to safeguard Dongyue so that Chen Mu could depart with peace of mind.

After three months, Chen Mu finally returned in triumph to the imperial court.

When Chen Xingtian heard that Daxia had gained a new territory in Dongyue, he was overjoyed. He had expected it would be like the grasslands, the southern barbarians, or Persia—a vassal state paying tribute. Never did he dream that Daxia would actually expand its dominion so directly.

After the celebratory banquet, Chen Mu finally returned home.

Liu Susu and Mei Ling’er came to greet him, helping him remove his armor and change.

Liu Susu said, “Husband, you’ve gained a few more scars this time. Wasn't this campaign especially difficult?”

Mei Ling’er added, “You’re the crown prince—why do you always insist on fighting at the front? Can’t you just command from the rear?”

Chen Mu smiled gently. “Thank you both for your concern, but the battlefield changes in an instant. If I am not at the front, how can I make the right decisions?”

Liu Susu replied, “It’s all up to you, my husband.”

Mei Ling’er said, “Husband, the weather is getting warmer. You should change into lighter clothes.”

Chen Mu nodded. “Indeed, when I wear armor, I have to wear padded clothes underneath. I haven’t had a chance to change yet.”

As he spoke, he suddenly noticed that both women were still dressed quite heavily.

Of course—in this era, ladies of noble birth wore layers of gauze to preserve their modesty; without several layers, they would be exposed. Peasant women, on the other hand, wore hemp and could get by with fewer clothes.

Was there any way to make them more comfortable?

“If only we had ice,” Chen Mu muttered.

Liu Susu laughed. “Husband, where would we find ice in summer?”

Mei Ling’er said, “We did store some during the winter, but a few days ago, the cellar grew too warm and now it’s all gone.”

Chen Mu slapped his forehead. “I remember there’s a way to make ice—was it with sulfur, or something else?”

Liu Susu pouted, “Husband, it’s time for bed. Whatever it is, think about it tomorrow.”

Seeing the longing in their eyes, Chen Mu smiled and said, “Very well, let’s sleep first.”

The night passed peacefully. The next morning, Chen Mu secluded himself in his study, poring over the notes he had compiled.

This record detailed all the inventions he had brought to Daxia, along with the materials available both in Daxia and its vassal states: copper, iron, coal, lead, various trees, medicinal herbs, and crops.

As he flipped through the pages, a realization struck him.

“Ah! Saltpeter!”

The saltpeter ice-making method was remarkably simple. It relied on the principle that dissolving saltpeter in water absorbs heat—a physical process that allowed saltpeter to be reused repeatedly for making ice.

Chen Mu quickly recorded the method and immediately sent people to purchase saltpeter.

Next, he summoned blacksmiths, carpenters, and other craftsmen, keeping them busy in the prince’s residence for days with the clanging of tools.

Finally, on the appointed day, Chen Mu led Liu Susu and Mei Ling’er into a certain room.

“Heh heh, my ladies, do you notice something different about this place?” Chen Mu asked with pride.

Mei Ling’er exclaimed, “Oh? Why is it so cool in here?”

Liu Susu echoed her surprise. “It’s so strange—there’s no breeze at all.”

Chen Mu, grinning, took them by the hand and led them to the center of the room.

“The secret lies in this.”

With that, he reached out and opened a bronze vessel before them.

“Wow! How did you do this?”

“Husband, is this some kind of magic?”

Inside the bronze vessel lay a heap of ice, and three skewers of crystalline candied fruit.

Chen Mu explained, “This is called an 'ice chest.’”

The vessel was made entirely of bronze and stood half as tall as a man.