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From this map, it can be seen that Sun Zizhao's forces currently occupy a very small area, equivalent to a single sesame seed on a large cake in the central plains.
Moreover, the situation is not very stable. Various factions are vying for control, and the Great Zhou Dynasty is intensifying its suppression, dispatching troops to conquer. Wherever the Defensive Spear of the Protectorate King points, bloodshed is inevitable.
For Sun Zizhao's forces, the immediate priority is not expansion but rather consolidating their foundation. Only by standing firm amidst the storm and establishing their banner can they gain favor and attract more righteous individuals to join them.
Currently, within the entire province, each Provincial Governor is urgently repairing fortifications, building high walls to resist the invading forces of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Given this tense situation, Lu Chen has decided not to leave for now. He must remain here and wait until Sun Zizhao's cause shows some signs of improvement.
From the map, it can be observed that the current situation in this province has Fishing Sun at its center, surrounded almost entirely by other Provincial Governors.
This province has one side facing the sea, while the other three sides are essentially surrounded by other provinces, which is not a favorable situation.
Firstly, it is not conducive to launching attacks, and defense is also challenging because the territory is too vast to support with sufficient troops.
Aside from this province, the other provinces in the Eastern Seven States are still wavering and uncertain about whether to submit. If they do not submit, they risk being too close to internal rebels who could strike at any moment.
On the other hand, if they choose to submit, it would mean opposing the court. If things go poorly, there would be dire consequences—punishment could extend to entire clans with no one escaping.
In light of this situation, Sun Zizhao and Lu Chen discussed some military strategies. Currently, they have fewer than fifty thousand soldiers in total and need to figure out how best to utilize them.
Aside from five thousand seasoned veterans, the rest are newly recruited soldiers who will require training before they can be deployed to battle in the short term.
Considering the map, Lu Chen decisively began to arrange their forces. Fifty thousand soldiers would defend nine provinces; if evenly distributed, each would only have about five or six thousand troops—far too few.
Therefore, Lu Chen employed a strategy of deception. He pointed at key locations on the map where attacks were most likely and stationed heavy troops—between ten thousand and fifteen thousand—in those provinces.
In contrast, for more remote areas that were less likely to be attacked, he assigned only a small number of soldiers.
This way, the enemy would be unable to clearly see how many troops were deployed on this side and would hesitate to take action.
As for the nearby Governors, they might also accept orders from the court to assist in suppressing bandits, but that is no longer important. The current situation can only be arranged this way for now, and the rest will have to be figured out later.
Lu Chen has been following the principles outlined in the Human Book, "When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth."
The next matter is to address the combat effectiveness of Sun Zizhao's soldiers, which is an extremely important issue.
That night, Lu Chen worked overnight to draft a streamlined Military Strategy that was highly practical. He sent it to Lian Dashuang and Old Mu, as well as the generals of various Provincial Governors, instructing them to study and learn from it.
Afterward, Lu Chen assigned Old Mu and Lian Dashuang to different provincial armies for training, learning how to lead troops and assist in training.
Additionally, it was time to recall the talents stationed in Yushan Kingdom. After all, several years had passed, and Yushan Kingdom must have made significant progress. The individuals sent there by Lu Chen had also gained experience and learned management methods.
Currently, the overall strength of this state is quite good, and its economy is relatively sound. However, integrating more advanced experiences and management methods would undoubtedly enhance its capabilities further.
At this point, everyone is focused not on expansion but on actively recruiting new soldiers, training them well, and developing the economy without delay.
After some time, most of the arrangements were completed, just waiting for implementation and then reaping the results.
At this moment, news arrived that two Thousand-Step Ships had reached the port of Fishing Yang Province. Considering the timing, they had indeed arrived.
Long before Lu Chen set off from Wasteland Continent to return to Central Plains, he had instructed Sun Zizhao to arrange manpower in advance to build ports and docks. These ports were specially arranged and modified; they deepened the estuary and constructed giant Winches and shelves so that large ships could dock directly at the shore for loading and unloading goods with great convenience.
As for the secret weapon above, Lu Chen had also made prior arrangements. A Thunderbolt was hidden in the clouds above Yuyang City to ensure the safety of Sun Zizhao and Yuyang City. Other equipment like the Dragonbone Chariot was deployed to the front lines for immediate mobilization.
The Divine Mechanism Cannon was also stationed at the front lines in Qinghe Province, which is the first province that must be passed through from Great Zhou Dynasty. It is also the province most vulnerable to ambushes and capture.
Therefore, the defense of this province is crucial; in addition to reinforcing the city walls, troop deployment must be exceptionally strong.
Moreover, regarding the Fire Stick, Lu Chen gave it a more appealing name: Flamethrower. This name is extremely fitting.
Several hundred Flamethrowers that had been manufactured earlier are now being transported in batches to the front lines, loaded onto several large vehicles and delivered to several provinces of strategic importance.
With such equipment and firepower, the entire state is as solid as a fortress. Even if the Defender of the Realm and the Qing Dynasty were to attack, it would not be easily breached, providing enough time for Lu Chen and his team to mobilize their forces.
This level of strength definitely surpasses that of the Gyeonggi Office's defenses. The only ones equipped with mechanical firearms are the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Gyeonggi Office, a mysterious organization responsible for protecting the emperor's safety, and Lu Chen along with the Defender of the Realm. Beyond these three parties, there are no others.
In comparison, Lu Chen's side is naturally the most advanced. However, production capacity is quite limited, but this is merely a matter of time; it won't be long before they become powerful.
When it comes to advancement, the mechanical firearms from the Great Zhou Dynasty, Gyeonggi Office, and Defender of the Realm, such as Mystic Fire Thunder, all originated from Chen Qilin. Now that Chen Qilin is working under Lu Chen, they cannot possibly innovate; even if they could, it would be slow, and without Source Stones, the process cannot go smoothly.
To ensure that Chen Qilin can work without worries, Lu Chen once again approached Sun Zizhao in Fishing Yang Province for funding, securing approval for a piece of land to serve as a base for Chen Qilin.
This matter was handled quickly because Sun Zizhao had already witnessed the power of various mechanical firearms. He particularly admired the Flamethrower; even in the hands of ordinary people, it could unleash tremendous power—capable of exploding heads from hundreds of paces away, its might is truly terrifying.
Before long, an open area on the outskirts of Fishing Yang Province was cleared for construction. A tall Workshop was built along with irrigation channels; it rose swiftly and was completed in no time.
Residents near the Workshop were relocated to the city, and as compensation, a batch of Silver Coins was specifically allocated for those displaced by the construction.
Outwardly, this place serves as a military camp—a heavily guarded military zone where soldiers stand watch, making it nearly impossible for ordinary people to approach. Everything about it exudes an air of mystery; no one knows what goes on inside.
In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed. During this time, Lu Chen has primarily focused on defense-related matters and military deployments. Now he has finally wrapped up most of his tasks.
At night, Sun Zizhao hosted a banquet at Fishing Sun's residence where he and Lu Chen drank together.
Lu Chen generously attended the feast. During their time together, they toasted each other while banging on tables, playing musical instruments, and engaging in drinking games—having a great time. It had been a long time since Lu Chen felt so relaxed.
"Han Dynasty," Lu Chen said to Sun Zizhao during their celebration. "From now on, you will be king. As your brother, while I may not ride alongside you in power, I will always support you from behind."
Due to Sun Zizhao's uprising being justified, people began calling him Han Dynasty, a title he himself was pleased to accept.
"Brother Chen, where did you get this idea? What belongs to me is yours. No matter when or where, we are still brothers. At most, we can divide the responsibilities in the court, but privately, we must always refer to each other as brothers," Sun Zizhao argued.
"Han Dynasty, please be respectful. For the sake of State and Society, we will be in a ruler-minister relationship from now on, no longer the ways of the martial world," Lu Chen said seriously.
He wanted to remind Sun Zizhao that State and Society is not child's play; there must be a proper demeanor between a ruler and his ministers. They cannot allow anyone to find fault; they must truly embody their roles and take them seriously.
"Brother Chen, I appreciate your loyalty, but I have not yet ascended to the throne; I am just a king for now. I cannot give you too high a position. If I do, many relatives and factions will criticize you. I cannot let you endure such a harsh process, so for now, I will appoint you as a Gate General. In the future, if you achieve military merit, it would not be impossible for you to be granted a higher title," Sun Zizhao said regretfully.
He also wished to give Lu Chen a high position, but Lu Chen had only recently taken office at Fishing Sun. If he were given too high a rank, others would surely be dissatisfied and apply pressure on him, leading to criticism and infighting among officials. This was something Sun Zizhao did not want to see.
Lu Chen nodded and said with righteous indignation, "I understand. The Han Dynasty does not need to worry about me; I do not care for any titles or honors. What matters is ensuring that the Common People can live in peace and prosperity."
The position of General is merely a miscellaneous title without any specific rank or status; it simply means a free military leader.
However, Lu Chen did not care about titles. In the past, Crimson Lotus Princess Huangfu Xun and several others had tempted him with offers of high positions and titles more than once, but he had always refused them because his original intention had never changed.
Sun Zizhao's eyes glistened with tears as he said, "Brother Chen is truly talented in both strategy and bravery, a rare gem of wisdom and martial prowess. It is indeed a blessing in this life for me, Sun Zizhao, to have your assistance."
Sun Zizhao raised his cup and drank it all in one go, feeling deeply affectionate towards Lu Chen.
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