Chapter 424: No Regret, That's All!

Sigh~

Chen Yan had a slight headache; if it were possible, he really wanted to have Li Tai work on a steam engine.

But that was obviously impossible.

Putting aside whether Li Tai's current knowledge could even produce a steam engine, even if he could, it would probably take at least ten years.

Such a long span is not something an ordinary person could endure.

Besides that, Chen Yan couldn't think of anything else for Li Tai to work on at the moment.

A primitive small generator? It could indeed be made!

The problem is that even if it were made, it seems of little use; a primitive generator's power is insufficient, and its practical value is very limited.

Other options like hydraulic blowers or gunpowder weapons are also unsuitable.

One is too simple for Li Tai, the other too dangerous.

Chen Yan rubbed his temples. "How about you let me think it over? I didn't lie to you before; I truly have no great ideas right now. Many things are too simple for you, and you probably wouldn't be willing to do them."

"And some are too difficult for you; the knowledge you've learned so far simply can't support you in accomplishing them."

"Listen to me: rest first. It's a good time for me to be relatively free, so I can teach you more things."

"What do you think?"

Hearing this, Li Tai's eyes dimmed for a moment, but he quickly rallied his spirit.

Although he had no good ideas to act on, learning more from Chen Yan was still worthwhile.

"Then I'll follow Brother Chen's words."

"Hmm!" Chen Yan exhaled, pulling Li Tai aside and lowering his voice: "Since you agreed, those matters just now......"

Li Tai chuckled, "Don't worry, Brother Chen, I won't speak out of turn."

Chen Yan nodded satisfactorily, thinking he needed to quickly devise a way to create leverage over Li Tai; otherwise, how would he handle future threats?

"Wei King, you may return first; I have some matters and need to go to the Negotiation Office."

"Understood."

After they part, Chen Yan went straight to the Negotiation Office.

Following Niu Jinda, he surveyed the soldiers and whispered, "Uncle Niu, let them return home in batches during this period to visit their families and spend some time with them; later, they may have fewer chances to see their families."

Niu Jinda was silent for a moment, catching Chen Yan's implied meaning.

Sending the soldiers home to visit family implies that soon they will officially set out, becoming an army equipped with the finest weapons, abundant supplies, yet without a banner and unrecognized by the state.

Niu Jinda's gaze swept over each sweat‑soaked figure, and he agreed.

"Alright, I'll arrange it later!"

"Can you give a specific schedule so I can see how many batches and the intervals, to avoid chaos or drawing too much attention?"

"Not clear yet!" Chen Yan replied. "With His Majesty's assistance, I've ordered a large number of people to expedite making equipment for them, but you know those gear pieces aren't easy to forge, let alone eight hundred sets."

"Based on the current progress, I estimate it won't be finished until at least mid‑May; the time is still sufficient."

"Understood!" Niu Jinda nodded.

Immediately after, Chen Yan and Niu Jinda found Li Chunfeng and Yuan Tiangang.

Yuan Tiangang stepped forward and asked, "Mr. Chen, are we about to set out?"

Chen Yan smiled, "Not yet, but it's close. I came this time to let the soldiers go home for a look."

Li Chunfeng said, "That's appropriate; after all, according to your plan, they'll probably have few chances to see their families thereafter."

His words caused the few to fall silent, and for a moment no one spoke.

After a while, Chen Yan asked, "Did you tell them the purpose of establishing the Bannerless Cavalry and what they'll do in the future?"

"Of course!" Niu Jinda replied without hesitation, "They've been training desperately, one after another, during this period!"

"Kid, you gave them and their families hope for survival; they won't disappoint you."

Chen Yan said nothing, followed them onto a small wooden platform, surveyed the soldiers, and said, "I gave them hope, yet also led them into darkness. What we do, no matter how great the achievement, is destined not to be remembered by the world; only a few will know of their existence!"

"At first, they came here for intense training, and back then they didn't even know what they were supposed to do. Perhaps I should have clarified from the start, letting them choose whether to accept, instead of the current situation…"

"Hmph!" Niu Jinda crossed his arms, snorted coldly, and shouted down, "Fang Buyu!"

"Present!"

One dark‑skinned but very muscular youth, probably in his twenties, stood at attention and responded.

Niu Jinda said, "When you learn what you'll be doing in the future, how do you feel? Don't hesitate, answer me at once!"

"Report, General! I'm very excited!"

"Why are you excited?"

"Because my previous life was a stagnant pool; my older brother had a broken leg, my sister‑in‑law was exhausted, my nephews and nieces were still young. I thought I'd spend my whole life laboring like ordinary people. But the state gave us a new life, granting us new meaning."

Fang Buyu said firmly, "Even if I become a member of an unrecognized army in the future, even if I might die in a foreign land and live thereafter in the shadows."

"But if we bring back the Champa Rice the General mentioned—one‑ or two‑, even three‑harvest years—we can let the common folk across the land eat and be full, just like us."

"Find the silver mountain on that overseas island nation, and let the world's people have proper clothing and warmth, just like us!"

"I… would die without regret!"

"Why would you not regret?" Niu Jinda continued to ask loudly.

"No regret, that's all there is!" Fang Buyu replied firmly.

"Do you see?" Niu Jinda turned and said, "The soldiers I've brought out, not a single weakling!"

Chen Yan fell silent and asked Fang Buyu below, "Do you know me?"

"I know you!" Fang Buyu replied, "You are the present Duke of Wei! The earliest proponent of the Bannerless Cavalry! The architect of our training program! Even the meals we eat daily and the care given to our families are all arranged by you personally!"

Chen Yan sighed deeply, "What you just said is excellent; a nation's prosperity depends on everyone's contribution. You are like that, and so am I."

Success does not have to be mine; success will not be wasted. This is a kind of selfless dedication, and the notion of long‑term benefit.

Starting today, each of you has five days off; go home to visit your families!

As the words fell silent, the scene fell quiet for a moment, then everyone went back to their own tasks, but they seemed not as calm inside as they appeared.

Fang Wuyu's lips twitched slightly, speaking the words his comrades wanted to say.

Thank you, Duke!