Chapter 342: Monarch and Subject

"Hahaha..."

In the Imperial Garden, Zhao Heng laughed out loud, with Ma Yuan standing behind him.

After the morning court session ended, he had summoned Ma Yuan.

Thinking of the expression on Dou Wei's face when he learned that Ma Han was not dead.

He could not help but feel very gratified.

Ma Yuan revealed a clear, bright smile, a rarity in these past few months.

Ever since learning of the deaths of his elder brother and nephew, he had been living in a daze.

Now, learning that Ma Han was alive was undoubtedly a huge surprise for him.

Most importantly, with Ma Han alive, the position of Head of the Family for the Ma Family returned to the legitimate line.

That Ma Chong, after going to Xian City, was said to be unable to live without wine and women every day.

How could such a person be the Head of the Family for the Ma Family?

And then there was Ma Jin; having grown up together since childhood, he knew very well that Ma Jin was a violent and greedy person.

Ma Chong combined with Ma Jin was practically leading the Ma Family to its doom.

After all, the Ma Family was different from other powerful clans; they had to face the Xiliang Army.

If they acted recklessly, under the iron hooves of the foreign tribes, the Ma Family would be destroyed.

"Your Majesty, Yan Wang truly considers the big picture. He kept this news hidden for two months, and only after Jinzhou was recovered did he release it. This indeed avoided a major disaster," Ma Yuan sighed.

Zhao Heng nodded. Although he had allowed Yan Wang to return for a family visit at the end of the year, he now wanted to see him even sooner.

In this one year, this ninth son had given him too many surprises.

Since he had firmly established himself in Yanzhou and then captured Jinzhou, the advantage in the contest between the Royal Clan and the powerful clans had shifted more toward the Royal Clan.

In today's court, if it were in the past, he would not have challenged Dou Wei.

Because he knew it would only be inviting humiliation.

Including the matter of restoring the Crown Prince, he would not have been so tough in the past, nor would he have dismissed so many officials.

Although he eventually compromised,

this was still a counterattack against the powerful clans.

Once his Imperial Guards were equipped with the firearms provided by Yan Wang, their military strength would surpass that of the powerful clans.

He would then further suppress the powerful clans led by Dou Wei and slowly reclaim power.

When the day came that the prestige of the Royal Clan once again overwhelmed the powerful clans,

he would no longer need to be on edge when sleeping with a Beauty.

Nor would he need to consider Xie Huanghou and the Xie Family behind her; he could boldly welcome Xiao Shishi into the Hougong.

This was what the supreme power of an emperor should be.

And to achieve all this, for now, he still had to continue to rely on his ninth son, Yan Wang.

So he said, "Well said, this point is very much like me."

Flicking his sleeves, Zhao Heng sat down on a white jade stool, "This time when you go to Yancheng, bring some words for me. Tell him I miss him very much, and he should try his best to set off for Jingshi early during the New Year."

"Yes, Your Majesty," Ma Yuan said respectfully.

Remembering something, he continued, "Also, tell Yan Wang that I want to give him a military supply list. Tell him to prepare, and to provide firearms and Armor to the Imperial Guards in a timely manner. The person in charge of this matter will still be Chun Wang."

Ma Yuan could not help but click his tongue upon hearing this.

In his heart, he was incredibly envious of Yan Wang; in these few battles, Yan Wang had built a reputation for his firearms and Armor.

Currently, not only were the powerful clans giving him massive orders, but now even the Imperial Guard supplies were going to fall into Yan Wang's hands.

This meant that Silver would flow into Yanzhou in an endless stream.

Ma Yuan answered "yes" once again.

Then, the monarch and his subject discussed the affairs of Jinzhou.

After all, his true duty this time was to serve as the Prefect of Jinzhou.

Dou Mansion.

Just as Dou Wei stepped through the main gate, he ordered someone to summon Dou Kuang.

"You must immediately send someone to the Ma Family to tell Ma Chong and Ma Jin the news that Ma Han is not dead," Dou Wei said sternly.

"Ma Han is not dead?" Dou Kuang was startled.

Dou Wei nodded, "It was in the report Yan Wang just sent."

Dou Kuang frowned. When the war in Jinzhou was nearing its end, the Ma Family Army was suddenly attacked by the Xiliang Army.

Later, Ma Jin captured a few fleeing Xiliang scouts.

These scouts mentioned that it was only after seizing a letter Yan Wang had sent to the Ma Family that their deputy leader decided to attack the Ma Family Army.

When Ma Jin sent the news, they guessed that Yan Wang had sensed something fishy between the Ma Family and Xiliang.

Otherwise, he would not have used a strategy of sowing discord.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the war in Jinzhou ended, Yan Wang launched his attack.

"Father, will Yan Wang suspect our Dou Family?" Dou Kuang asked.

"Naturally he will. Ma Chong is on good terms with you; who wouldn't suspect our Dou Family right now? But without evidence, what does their suspicion matter?" Dou Wei gave a light huff.

"But if Ma Han returns to the Ma Family and seizes control from Ma Chong and Ma Jin, wouldn't that be..." Dou Kuang did not dare to continue.

"That is why I want you to send death-sworn men to notify Ma Chong and Ma Jin," Dou Wei sighed, "Since Yan Wang has submitted the report, he must have a plan in mind. I fear our Dou Family's layout this time will become a wedding dress for Yan Wang. So, if Ma Han cannot take back the position of Head of the Family, so be it; but if he does take it back, let them be silenced forever."

Dou Kuang felt a shock in his heart, "Yes, Father, I understand. But Ma Han is all alone; how could it be so easy for him to return to the Ma Family?"

"Fool, you really are far inferior to the Third Prince. How could Yan Wang let him return alone?" Dou Wei suddenly felt a surge of impatience.

In the imperial court, he was only being stubborn; in truth, he understood that this time he was completely out of options.

Dou Kuang's expression darkened, and he whispered, "But is Father just going to let Yan Wang act so recklessly?"

"It is all for the sake of the Artillery; for now, the Dou Family cannot afford to offend Yan Wang too much. Thus, while you send men to Qinzhou, pack your things and head to Yanzhou to purchase three hundred pieces of Artillery from Yan Wang."

Upon hearing this, Dou Kuang was completely deflated; in this regard, the Dou Family was indeed held in check by Yan Wang.

Acknowledging with a "yes," he turned and left.

……

Yancheng.

After finishing his lecture at the school in the morning, Zhao Xu went to the Nanfang District of the Chengde Workshop.

In the recent war in Jinzhou, the performance of the Flintlock was excellent, wiping out a large number of cavalry and Infantry from Xiliang.

Therefore, now that the war had ended, he intended to further increase the equipment rate of the Flintlock within the Prince's Personal Army.

"Your Highness, the Workshop has not been idle for these past two months; there are currently over thirty thousand ready-made Flintlocks in the warehouse," Wang Ying said.

Zhao Xu nodded, "However, this time, the Bayonet must be delivered along with them."

During this war, the lack of Bayonets for the Flintlocks had caused many problems.

It resulted in a lack of close-quarters combat ability for the Flintlock Infantry during melee fighting.

Now, he had to face this problem squarely.

Not only must the Bayonet be attached to the Flintlock, but the Bayonet Technique must also be taught to the soldiers, and they must be made to train daily.

In this way, the Long Spear soldiers and Crossbow soldiers in the Prince's Personal Army could be phased out.

After all, the Flintlock Infantry already possessed the functions of both troop types.

"Yes, Your Highness," Wang Ying said, feeling somewhat ashamed.

He had learned from the commanders that quite a few soldiers had sacrificed their lives this time.

If the soldiers could have been equipped with Bayonets at that time.

Perhaps some casualties could have been reduced.

"I intend to equip the army with one hundred and fifty thousand Flintlocks, so your Armory Bureau cannot remain idle yet," Zhao Xu continued.

His Prince's Personal Army had now expanded to two hundred and ten thousand men.

He had re-planned the numbers for each troop type.

Among them, there would be one hundred and fifty thousand Infantry armed with Flintlocks.

There would be thirty thousand Light Cavalry and ten thousand Heavy Cavalry.

Of the remaining forty thousand, thirty thousand would be given to Mi Wen's Navy.

As for the final ten thousand, he prepared to form a special troop type: the Chariot Battalion.

After all, during this war, he felt that his army was still somewhat powerless when facing cavalry.

And this was only Xiliang; if it were the Northern Di, he truly did not know how he would fight.