In the past half year, New Xia has made frequent major moves. The relocation of the capital had far-reaching impacts, drawing attention from across the entire continent. Princess Han Yue often sent messengers with letters, showing concern and care. Feng Miao Jun understood this was done under Miao Feng Xian’s instruction.

The Wei Kingdom delegation had already returned to their capital, and Xiao Yan ordered the opening of border trade with the Pu Ling Kingdom. From now on, Pu Ling Kingdom will serve as a veritable international trade transit point.

There was no news from Yun Ya, and Feng Miao Jun didn’t know what he was doing, though, amid her busy schedule, she would occasionally think of him.

At this time, war reports from the Southern Continent arrived once again:

In the Yan-Xi War, as the summer river flow slowed, the Yan army finally crossed that cursed great river. However, having been stranded on the eastern bank for more than two months, needing food and drink while enduring harassment from Xi’s troops, the Yan army’s combat effectiveness and morale had somewhat declined.

Most importantly, Xi Kingdom gained an opportunity to catch their breath, and Wei Kingdom reinforcements arrived in time.

Therefore, before the Yan army had finished crossing the river, they encountered a head-on strike from the combined Xi-Wei forces. The entire army was annihilated, and the renowned general Shi Qing died in battle.

The Yan army’s western expedition, which had lasted for more than half a year, ended in failure.

While Xi Kingdom was celebrating nationwide, the Wei army quietly withdrew to their homeland.

Due to the war, the King of Yan temporarily had no time to pay attention to the Northern Continent, and made no further moves regarding New Xia’s “betrayal of trust.”

Amid the turbulence across the continent, time quickly moved into autumn.

The Chi Kan Plains were a sea of gold. In the past year, the weather had been favorable, without major disasters or epidemics. The State Preceptor had also reasonably allocated elemental power, and the Kingdom was flourishing. Thus, the most important harvest season of the year arrived.

With this season’s grain harvested, the country enjoyed peace and prosperity.

After the autumn grain was stored, the Royal Court, which had been operating steadily for several months, made another brand new major move. The Queen issued a single order that shook the court and the common people:

Military reduction.

New Xia’s powerful clans were originally most widely distributed and strongest in the western and northwestern regions, as those areas were the Kingdom’s gateway position and the frontline for resisting the Wei Kingdom.

However after New Xia signed an agreement with the Wei Kingdom, the status of various military garrisons became very awkward. Since the two countries had agreed to non-aggression and non-disturbance, with the West no longer facing a formidable enemy watching closely, there was no need to maintain large-scale military establishments.

This time, the Royal Court truly had reason on its side, and thus pressed its advantage, bringing out a pre-planned comprehensive set of military reduction standards. These standards covered everything from state and prefecture garrisons to township-stationed troops, including private armies maintained by powerful families, with extremely detailed regulations on numbers, armaments, and rankings.

Not to mention local powerful families, even when Royal Court ministers received these standards, they were dripping with cold sweat. If these regulations were truly implemented, the total force would be reduced by at least one-third, with all provisions allocated by the central government. The localities would no longer be the military’s providers.

The military is like this: whoever feeds them commands their loyalty.

The Royal Court’s attitude was very clear: Who has the right to support my military instead of me? Not even local powerful families.

Once the military order was issued, the entire Kingdom was shaken, especially the western region, which was in an uproar.

Reducing the military to seize power—everyone could see this formula clearly. However, with New Xia’s greatest threat gone, the western powerful families indeed had no justification to maintain large-scale standing armies, otherwise they would be suspected of rebellion.

Supporting an army is an extremely heavy burden on any country’s finances. Reducing the military means reducing the burden, allowing New Xia to invest more financial resources into the national economy and people’s livelihood.

Moreover, when soldiers returned to civilian life, there would be a large workforce entering production, which was particularly important for New Xia where various industries needed development. In turbulent times, both individuals and countries instinctively seize rare periods of peace to rapidly develop and strengthen themselves.

Reducing burdens, increasing production, winning people’s hearts—everyone understood this reasoning. It all depended on how the West would respond.

When the news reached Wei Kingdom, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but marvel:

“Fu Ling Chuan’s courage is truly remarkable. His footing is not yet firm, yet he dares to move against these old subordinates who rose to power with him.”

Fu Ling Chuan was able to support Princess Chang Le in establishing the Kingdom, which required the support of these powerful families. If not for their years of unyielding resistance, the Wei Kingdom would not have given up control over the An Xia region after long deliberation.

Now that Fu Ling Chuan’s wings had just fully feathered, he began to confiscate military power from these former comrades. Wasn’t this too hasty?

Yun Ya was reading a book and responded: “The longer the night, the more dreams. If he waits any longer, until these noble families grow fat and strong, it will be harder for him to uproot them completely.”

“In your view, how will these people respond?” Xiao Yan sipped a mouthful of clear tea. “New Xia has made continuous moves, large and small, over these seven months, yet the national situation has remained quite stable, which is somewhat unexpected.”

If any other country dared to live like this, constantly changing, by now there would be political turmoil and civilian panic, like throwing a stone into a pond where ripples would take a long time to settle.

New Xia started from scratch, and after all this turmoil, it has become increasingly strong, without growing pains or centrifugal forces, with benefits continuously emerging.

He was envious, “Seeing New Xia operating like this, even I want to carry out reforms in the Wei Kingdom.”

“Great Wei cannot do so.” Yun Ya lightly scoffed, “New Xia is merely a blank sheet of paper, allowing Fu Ling Chuan to write freely; Wei Kingdom has existed for nearly two centuries and is already too burdened by tradition. It can only be changed gradually, slowly transformed.”

“As for those powerful families in western New Xia.” His lips curved slightly, “The tide has already turned against them.”

“Can they willingly accept military reduction and power seizure?”

For the powerful, military authority represents influence, and reducing the military means seizing influence. Could they simply sit and wait for the Royal Court to take away military and political power?

“I’ve seen many new nobles in Wussel City, but over twenty percent of the mansions were bought by powerful families who came from various regions. They’ve established wine houses, tea houses, gold shops, silk stores, gambling houses, and brothels in the capital—it can be said that they’re behind all industries. Taking the opportunity to come to the central and southern parts to get a piece of the pie—that’s the approach of intelligent people. As for those who stubbornly refuse to change and cling to their local areas,” he smiled slightly, “if they don’t surrender power, they’ll have to rebel. However, in today’s New Xia, there’s no longer an opportunity for them to rebel. The Royal Court is too wealthy, Fu Ling Chuan is too wealthy, and the New Xia Queen is also… too wealthy.”

Since ancient times, when the ruler is strong, the ministers are weak; when the center is strong, the localities are weak, and vice versa. Therefore, the strength of New Xia’s central Royal Court would inevitably suppress the power of local strongmen day by day. But no one expected this day to come so quickly.

“Oh? The New Xia Queen?” Xiao Yan’s face was full of curiosity, “What does this have to do with your Ann Ann, oh I mean Queen Chang Le?”

“New Xia’s style of action over the past half year has been bold, with each move having the effect of thunderous power, unlike Fu Ling Chuan’s usual approach.” Yun Ya sneered at his poor acting, “Although the edicts are issued by the Queen, the court politics are controlled by him, so everyone receiving intelligence would think all this is his plan. Not just us, but also Jin, and even the King of Yan far away in the Southern Continent thinks so.”