Chapter 1093: The Next Step

"How is the training of the airship operators going?" Zhao Xu asked again.

"No problem. Once the first airship was completed, the Defense Department dispatched specialized soldiers over. Now their operation is very proficient. With airships, we can form combat capability immediately," Wang Chong added.

Zhao Xu revealed a satisfied expression, "Since that is the case, as soon as the remaining airships are completed, they shall immediately head to Malacca."

Each airship can only fly ten kilometers per hour.

An airship can only fly two hundred and forty kilometers a day; it will take at least twenty days to fly to Malacca.

This could not have been accomplished before taking the Southeast Five Nations.

Because airships cannot stay in the sky forever; they also require resupply.

But now, one only needs to arrange resupply points along the flight route.

"After all the airships this time are completed, you will hand over the airship Workshop to the Defense Department for management. Your most important task remains assisting the Industrial Department with industrial upgrading," Zhao Xu said.

After the Defense Department was established, workshops involving military industry were specifically handed over to the Defense Department to manage.

The Defense Department also specifically established a Military Industry Office to be responsible for this matter.

Wang Ying is the person in charge of this office, overseeing the entire Song People's military industrial production.

After Wang Ying took office, the Military Industry Office also adjusted the Song People's military industry layout according to his reform plan.

The original Armaments Department was merged into the Military Industry Office, and the workshops were brought under the direct management of the Military Industry Office.

This was to increase the scale and efficiency of military industrial production and make it more standardized.

The Military Industry Office selected several spots in the mountainous areas near Yancheng specifically for the production and manufacturing of military goods.

After these workshops are built, there will be specialized soldiers to protect them, and the Armaments Department will also relocate in its entirety.

Compared to the previous workshops, these newly built workshops are naturally larger in scale, and weapons like muskets and Artillery will not be crowded together for production.

Instead, each area has its own primary weapons to produce.

In addition, the Research Institute directly under the Armaments Department will also move away.

Those specifically responsible for researching and building muskets will go to the musket production workshop,

and those researching and building Artillery will go to the Artillery production workshop.

"Yes, Emperor. This overall industrial upgrade, I estimate, will take two to three years. After all, it involves too many things," Wang Chong said, scratching his head a little.

Although the technology is ready-made, it is just like cooking; from selecting ingredients to taking the dish out of the pot, it requires time.

This industrial upgrade is exactly this kind of problem.

In terms of technology, he has already solved it.

But from materials to the replacement of equipment, this requires time.

However, once the replacement is complete, a large number of industrial products will be able to emerge like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, especially those complex industrial products.

Of course, it is not to say that all industrial products must wait two or three years.

Some things that require Electricity but are not complex can be prepared for production now.

Having said this, Wang Chong went back.

Zhao Xu sent someone to find Wang Ying again, telling him to have the bombs specifically for the airships prepared properly and handed over to the navy to transport to Malacca.

The Westerners, led by the British, want to arm-wrestle with him in this position of Tianzhu.

He must break their wrists.

While Zhao Xu was arranging various matters for the Battle of Tianzhu,

Xiao Guizi also sent a Telegraph to Tongguan.

After another six days, the Cavalry delivered the information into the hands of Chang Wei.

Reading Zhao Xu's telegram, Chang Wei nodded slowly and ordered someone to call Kelin over.

In this back-and-forth of nearly half a month, the Khan Court had actually undergone some changes.

Kelin's status in the hearts of the Northern Di people seems indeed very high.

He successfully persuaded many highly prestigious Northern Di people, including the captured royal tent kings and generals.

Because they were thoroughly convinced after being beaten by them, these Northern Di people associated the name of the Heavenly Khan as soon as Kelin spoke it, and the Northern Di people began to discuss it heatedly.

Plus the fact that Kelin and others took the lead in acknowledging it, the gazes of these Northern Di captives toward the Song People gradually changed.

If before, they were filled with unwillingness and loss,

now, their gazes are submissive.

This transformation made Chang Wei inexplicably surprised; he did not expect the title of Heavenly Khan to be so sacred in the hearts of the Grassland people.

However, he thought about it slightly and felt relieved.

Just like many Song People commoners today, who deeply believe their Emperor Zhao Xu is the Emperor Star descended to save them,

it is not strange for the Northern Di people to have similar associations.

Before long, Kelin came over.

His injuries had healed slightly, and his spirit was much better.

And these days, the Song People army had not engaged in mass slaughter, which also made him breathe a slight sigh of relief.

"The Emperor has agreed to your request to submit, but from now on you must still serve as slaves to atone for your crimes," Chang Wei said sternly.

"Thank you, Heavenly Khan!" Upon hearing this, Kelin's expression was agitated; he knelt on one knee and lowered his head toward the direction of Yancheng.

Chang Wei nodded, then he said, "However, as the saying goes, listen to their words and observe their actions. Right now, there is an opportunity to test you Northern Di people to see if you are sincere or fake."

Pausing, he looked toward the west, "The Emperor has ordered us to head to Tianshan and attack the Tusiman from the west. With such a long road, resupply will be a problem, so this general needs you Northern Di people to be responsible for driving the cattle and sheep, grazing while following us on the expedition."

From Tongguan to the Khan Court, the transport of grain along this road is very troublesome.

Transporting grain and other Baggage Train from the Khan Court to Tianshan would consume even more.

But if they adopt the Northern Di people's method of resupply, resupply will no longer be a problem.

The Northern Di people only need to drive the livestock and follow them.

"Since it is the order of the Heavenly Khan, we will certainly complete this mission excellently," Kelin said with a firm gaze, "Moreover, the Tusman Empire is also our enemy; our Red Flame Royal Tent's pastures were once at Tianshan."

"Since that is the case, then you should go back and prepare; one part will follow us on the western expedition, and the other part will head to the pastures controlled by the White Tiger Army to raise livestock there for Great Song," Chang Wei said slowly.

Acknowledging with a 'yes', Kelin turned and left.

Chang Wei then called over generals such as Chen Hu, Bai Shang, Lv Chang, and Huo An.

Originally, Lv Chang and the others were feeling somewhat bored because the fighting had ended.

Upon learning they were to go on a western expedition, they immediately became excited again.

"This Tusman Empire truly does not know the immensity of heaven and earth, actually daring to provoke our Great Song; they are simply seeking their own deaths," Lv Chang snorted, "This time, we must beat the shit out of them."

Xue Jian said, "This general has already exchanged blows with them; they are just on par with the Northern Di, not worth fearing."

"..."

The generals talked all at once, appearing as if they could annihilate the Tusman Empire in an instant.

Chang Wei looked at the generals, frowned slightly, and said sternly, "Are your tails sticking up again? Have you forgotten the Emperor's discipline? You may despise the enemy, but you cannot be arrogant."

"Yes, General." Upon hearing this, the expressions of Lv Chang and the others immediately turned serious.

Chang Wei nodded, "You all return and prepare immediately."

After everyone left, he looked toward the west.

According to intelligence, this Tusman Empire has conquered numerous lands in Zhongtu and is currently in its prime, full of ambition.

For Great Song, which has expanded its sphere of influence to the Western Regions, this empire is very dangerous and its existence cannot be permitted.

Historically, when the Wu Dynasty expanded its sphere of influence to the Western Regions, a great empire also rose there at that time.

The two sides once engaged in constant warfare along the border.

Later, as the Wu Dynasty declined, the occupied lands in the Western Regions were continuously encroached upon, to the point where they were never recovered for a thousand years.

They would absolutely never let such a thing happen to Great Song.