Chapter 330: Standoff Pattern

Bian Liang, Great Celebration Hall.

Today is not a regular court audience on the first or fifteenth, yet the hall remains filled with officials, civil and military ministers standing on either side, the atmosphere solemn and reverent.

Above the Dragon Throne, Chen Wen wore a simple reddish-yellow robe, without the elaborate crown and pendants, yet he exuded an indisputable dignity, his calm gaze sweeping over the officials below.

The tumult of the past months, the clashes within and without, seemed to have settled in his ever deeper eyes.

"Your officials." Chen Wen spoke, his voice clear, echoing in the silent hall, "Since last year's Battle of Jinzhou, to the founding of False Song, and up to today, nearly half a year has passed. In between, border friction, economic infiltration, espionage warfare, technological competition, and even the Taihang suppression—it has been one thing after another, without a single day of peace."

His words drew everyone's thoughts back to the stormy waves of the past half year.

"Today, I ask you all to join me in reviewing the present, clarifying gains and losses, to determine the future."

First to step forward was the Minister of Revenue, Zhang Cheng.

He held a jade tablet, his voice steady, clearly reporting the economic achievements:

"Your Majesty, False Song initially flooded our market with low‑priced goods, its momentum fierce."

"But our dynasty responded in time, combining guidance and restriction, short‑term support for affected trades, establishing the Official Evaluation List to guide public sentiment, and cooperating with the Ministry of Works to accelerate technological innovation."

"Now, our domestically produced silk, sugar, tea and the like have seen improved quality and gradually falling costs; the Official Evaluation List is deeply rooted in the people's hearts, counterfeit goods have not vanished entirely, but their momentum has waned and the market is gradually stabilizing."

"Thanks to the spread of new farming tools, spring ploughing efficiency has greatly increased; although local droughts persist, the populace is at ease and there is no sign of migration. The treasury's income and expenditure are broadly stable."

Chen Wen gave a slight nod, turning his gaze toward Wang Ru.

Wang Ru understood, stepped forward, and presented her report:

"Your Majesty, the rectification of the bureaucracy and loyalty education have already shown initial results."

"The affair of the Prince of Longzhou serves as a model; it greatly intimidated those harboring opportunistic thoughts, and also inspired the loyal and steadfast."

"In the army, government offices, schools, and even the marketplaces, everyone knows the puppet nature of False Song, the heretical background of the Iron Crow, and the idea of 'loyalty to the sovereign, love of the country, resistance to foreign aggression' is taking root day by day."

"Internal cohesion is now incomparable to the past."

Next, the Deputy Chief of the Privy Council, Qian Gui, stepped forward, his expression stern, his words concise:

"The Peace and Stability Bureau, together with the Northern Frontier Border Army, has cleared the main strongholds of the Iron Crow Army on Mount Taihang, captured its leader, seized several Yin Energy Arrow Clusters, Crystal Ores, and documents, and thwarted their plot to establish a stable passage—for now."

"False Song's Territorial Affairs Bureau infiltration plans have repeatedly suffered setbacks; border reconnaissance, too, has been deterred by our military drills, and has recently waned considerably."

"Nevertheless, a centipede does not collapse until dead; the remnants of False Song and the Iron Crow will not cease their efforts, so we must remain highly vigilant."

Finally, the Minister of Works, Zhao Lao'nian, stepped forward, still dressed in his usual unrestrained short attire, his face flushed with excitement.

"Your Majesty, the Investigation of Things Institute's research on the Yin Energy‑Fortune Momentum Coupling has made a breakthrough!"

"We have successfully designed the Vortex Runes, which can mediate the conflicting energy of the two and initially drive the impeller."

"This is an entirely new path; False Song will find it hard to imitate! Given time, it will surely be of great use!"

"Moreover, workshop output is steadily rising, new‑style weapons and farming tools continue to be improved, and the technological foundation grows ever stronger."

One report after another outlined the solid progress Great Chen had made on multiple fronts over the past few months.

Although there have been setbacks, sacrifices, and costs, the overall situation remains stable and the foundation grows stronger.

The officials in the hall, hearing these reports, mostly showed expressions of excitement and pride.

Over the past half year, they have personally participated and witnessed how this fledgling dynasty, amidst internal and external troubles, has steadily steadied its footing and consolidated its foundation.

Chen Wen listened quietly; within him, the profound yellow, weighty Fortune Momentum qi vortex also slowly turned, faintly resonating with the gathered hearts of the officials in the hall and the vitality displayed by the dynasty.

He could feel that this Fortune Momentum, compared to the outset of False Song's founding, was more massive, more condensed, and carried a quality that grew ever more resilient after weathering storms.

After the officials finished their reports, Chen Wen slowly rose to his feet.

All eyes instantly focused on him.

"What you have said, I already know fully." Chen Wen's voice was not loud, yet it carried the power to establish the foundations of heaven and earth: "False Song's founding relies on a mirror, follows its script, enacts its nodes—appearing to advance step by step, but in truth strong outside, weak within; its rise is vigorous, its fall sudden."

"Zhao Kuangyin's frustrated northern expedition is clear proof."

"Its economic infiltration has been resolved by us; its espionage warfare has repeatedly suffered defeat; its technological competition, we have already forged another path; its passage plots have been utterly crushed!"

His words carried a strong confidence that infected every person present.

"Look at our Great Chen!"

"Internally, new farming tools benefit the people's livelihood, loyalty education unites hearts, bureaucratic rectification purges the interior, Fortune Momentum grows daily, and the foundation strengthens!"

"Externally, border soldiers give their lives, the Peace and Stability Bureau's elite troops shed blood, Ministry of Works artisans delve into research, the technological tree develops independently, and the road ahead is clear!"

"One's gain is the other's loss; the superiority is already decided!"

Chen Wen's gaze swept over the entire hall, finally fixing on the vast sky outside.

"Now the time has come; the pattern of 'dual rivals facing off, east and west contending' has been fully formed!"

"False Song relies on its mirror, treads the old road, clinging to remnants and defending deficiencies."

"Our Great Chen stands on reality, opens a new path, and forges ahead!"

"The future contest will be a comparison of national strength, of institutions, of technology, and even more so of will and belief!"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an indisputable resolve:

"Therefore, I declare—"

"Effective immediately, Great Chen will fully transition into a prolonged standoff and competition with False Song!"

"I hope you all will fulfill your duties, strive for governance, consolidate what has been achieved, and open up a new situation!"

"I, together with you officials and the myriad peoples of Great Chen, will move forward together!"

"Your subjects respectfully obey Your Majesty's edict! Long live, long live, long long live!"

The tumultuous cheers of mountain‑like shouts and sea‑like roars erupted in the Great Celebration Hall, shooting straight to the clouds, as if heralding the dawn of a new era.

The audience dispersed; the officials, filled with excitement and contemplation, each went their separate ways.

Chen Wen alone returned to the Imperial Study, once again gazing at that enormous map.

The light curtain still stretched there, but in his eyes it was no longer an insurmountable heavenly moat, but a line that needed time to be worn down and would eventually be crossed.

"Zhao Kuangyin, Iron Crow Army…… your methods, I have learned them all."

"In this stalemate phase, we shall see whether your script's tenacity or Great Chen's new path leads further to the future."

He muttered softly, a hint of cold, confident curvature at the corner of his mouth.

However, just as Chen Wen announced the end of a phase in Bian Liang,

Beyond the light curtain, deep within the False Song Imperial Palace, inside an absolutely secret chamber,

The Iron Crow Army master, whose breath was visibly much weaker than before and whose form was almost completely shrouded in distorting shadows, was looking at a piece of top‑secret information, transmitted by special means, concerning the destruction of the Great Crossing Mountain base.

Within those shadows, two points of scarlet light, like the eyes of a dying beast, flickered with extreme spite and madness.

"Chen Wen…… variable……"

"Node setback…… passage destroyed……"

"You think…… this is over already?"

"No…… this is merely the beginning……"

"The true 'Cleansing Agreement'…… now…… is about to be activated……"

"Wait…… wait for the greetings from 'the End'……"

The low, malicious words echoed in the chamber, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, foretelling a storm far from over.

Although the east‑west standoff pattern has become clear, the danger lurking beneath the undercurrents seems only just beginning to brew.