Chapter 294

The beacon fires of the Battle of Jinzhou, the clamor of Northern Han's submission, the hidden currents of the Khitan lying in wait, even the ostentation of myriad nations coming to court—all, with the passage of time, gradually settled and sank.

They had not disappeared; instead, like the silt carried by a river, after enduring the fierce rush, they finally settled quietly where the water slowed, becoming the solid, heavy foundation of the riverbed.

Chen Wen could clearly sense this change.

It came not through memorials nor officials' reports, but from within himself, from the Fortune Momentum that was bound to his life and tightly linked to the dynasty's fate.

If one were to say that before and after the Battle of Jinzhou, the Fortune Momentum within him was like a surging, roaring great river, turbulent and mighty, full of destructive and creative power;

then now this force is more like an endless, profound ocean.

Its surface is calm, yet within it lies an immeasurable amount of energy and mass.

It no longer fluctuates violently, nor does it easily rise and fall over the gain or loss of a single city or region.

In its place is an unprecedented sense of heft and stability.

It seems as if the will and hopes of the myriad lands and millions of people have coalesced within it, becoming part of his power and also the burden he must bear.

At night, he was alone in the side hall of the Martial Virtue Hall.

After finishing the last memorial praising the prosperous trend of Hebei's summer grain, he set down his vermilion brush, did not rise immediately, but slowly closed his eyes.

His mind and spirit sank into his body.

The Fortune Momentum vortex, which once required intense focus to perceive clearly, now turns slowly in his consciousness almost constantly.

It is no longer a vague mass of qi; its outline has become clearer, its hue deeper, presenting a heavy color of dark gold intertwined with mysterious yellow.

As the vortex turns, there is no longer a howling sound; instead, it carries a steady rhythm like the earth's breath.

He tried, as he had done under pressure before, to stir it, to provoke the Fortune Momentum's golden light.

However, this time the response was not a burst of light about to erupt.

The vortex merely hesitated slightly, its speed almost unchanged, merely separating a filament as fine as a spider's silk yet exquisitely condensed golden breath that twined around his fingertips, gentle and weighty.

He moved his thought again, attempting to diffuse this filament into a field.

The breath obeyed, spreading out, but it was no longer a dazzling halo; rather, it resembled an invisible, colorless yet truly existent 'field'.

It silently enveloped the side hall; the candles within seemed to steady a little, and the air felt more tranquil.

Chen Wen could feel that within this field, his perception became sharper and his mind more focused and refined.

But this effect was not an explosive boost; it was a silent, nourishing sustenance that moistens things unseen.

He withdrew the breath, and the field vanished without a trace.

'Settled… stable…'

Chen Wen opened his eyes, gazing at his palm, lost in thought.

He understood.

The power of Fortune Momentum had not weakened; on the contrary, due to the dynasty's initial stability, the temporary peace of the four borders, and the people's gradual allegiance, it had become vaster and its foundations deeper.

Only, its form and nature had changed.

From an easily provoked, explosive qi, it was gradually transforming into a deeper, more inward, unshakable momentum.

It no longer sways easily at the slightest external disturbance, but instead takes deeper root in this land and its people.

Its range is no longer limited to his vicinity or a specific battlefield.

A vague sense told him that wherever the Great Chen's reach extended, where orders flowed smoothly and the people's hearts approved, this vast Fortune Momentum was like an invisible network, subtly connected.

In Bian Liang, it is the most rich and heavy;

In the Hebei prefectures and counties where the new policies are implemented smoothly, it can be clearly sensed;

Even in the recently submitted lands of Northern Han, if they begin to enforce Great Chen's edicts and the people start to look toward Bian Liang, a faint link arises, crossing mountains and rivers to merge into this vast network.

This is a more grandiose and more fundamental manifestation of power.

It is no longer merely an aid in battle; it has become the foundation and bulwark of the dynasty's survival and development.

Chen Wen walked out of the hall, stood upon the high steps, and gazed up at the starry sky.

The summer night's breeze carried warm breaths across him; the distant palace city's outline loomed especially majestic and tranquil in the darkness.

His gaze seemed to pierce layer after layer of palace walls, seeing the myriad lights of Bianliangcheng, the thriving fields of the Hebei earth, the sternly guarded passes of the northern border, and also the lingering watchful eyes of southern envoys who had departed but still observed from the shadows.

All of this now resonates subtly with the Fortune Momentum within him.

He is the dynasty, and the dynasty is him.

This weight far exceeds a thousand jun.

Yet he did not feel oppressed; instead, he had a reassuring sense of standing firm on solid ground.

He knew that this 'settling' was not an end, but a firmer new beginning.

It means the Great Chen dynasty has passed the initial tumultuous founding era and is entering a relatively stable phase of development and accumulation.

It also means he now has more ample time and a firmer foundation to face the challenges lurking deeper.

For example, the Ministry of Works' new research based on the repulsion principle of yū energy and Fortune Momentum;

For example, the traces mentioned in Qian Gui's report of occasional activity by remnants of the Iron Crow Army;

And again, the fragmentary information about the truth of the world that lingers in his mind……

These undercurrents, beneath the surface calm of the world's situation, continue to stir silently.

And the settled Fortune Momentum gives him keener perception and greater confidence, allowing him to lay plans calmly and await the right moment.

He drew a deep breath; the night wind seemed to bring the fragrance of distant soil and the scent of growing seedlings.

Within him, the Fortune Momentum vortex continues to turn at an unhurried pace, like the dynasty's heartbeat—steady, strong, full of the accumulation and strength to stride into the next stage.

Growth, beneath the calm water's surface, continues steadily and resolutely.