Silver Overlord

The opening ceremony of the woolen mill was full of this era’s unique style. The offerings were first brought to the main entrance of the mill, and then everyone worshipped the gods and spirits. After that, Sixth Grandfather, the most senior figure in the Yan Fortress, came out. On behalf of the townspeople, he showered the Yan Clan with compliments and flattery like saying how the Yan Clan was their pride, as well as some congratulatory speech for the woolen mill’s grand opening. Yan Liqiang was initially thinking of asking his father to give a speech and show his face, but Yan Dechang was too shy. Thus, that segment was skipped altogether. After Sixth Grandfather’s speech, it was the Prefectural Governor’s turn to go on stage. He stepped forward with great grandeur and began to speak…

“When I first heard of the Aquapyro Engine a few months ago, I was marveled by the strange invention that took the world by storm. Those who managed to obtain this item couldn’t help but replicate it, opening up mills or sawing mills to put it into good use. The objects that have yet been discovered by the predecessors in the path of mechanics and the investigation of things are indeed amazing. Little did I expect such a grand occasion to take place in my Pingxi Prefecture a few months ago. The Aquapyro Engine makes mining for gold and metal ores so much easier, but gold and metal ores have always been useful things, so profits are increased by making use of the engines. However, this woolen mill is turning waste into treasure through the path of mechanics and the investigation of things, thus benefiting everyone in this world. Aside from the Aquapyro Engine, there are also newly-designed spinning frames and looms in this woolen mill that can ease the women’s workload. Although the woolen mill in the Yan Fortress is only a factory, it serves as the first role model to the world. As the Pingxi Prefectural Governor, I am extremely proud and thrilled for such an innovation to be born in my prefecture…”

As soon as the Prefectural Governor spoke, everyone was silent as they listened to his speech attentively. Yan Liqiang was also listening from down there while feeling secretly impressed by Wang Jianbei’s eloquence. In any dynasty in the world, those who could work their way up from an officer to a prefectural governor were expected to be outstanding visionaries who could speak endlessly.

Just when Wang Jianbei was about to finish speaking and Yan Liqiang was about to go up to the stage to unveil the signboard of the woolen mill with Wang Jianbei, his ears twitched. He turned his head and looked toward the entrance of the street in the distance. In just the blink of an eye, a clamor was heard coming from afar. The guests attending the opening ceremony and other onlookers turned their heads to the source of the noise too. Everyone was secretly wondering who was bold enough to stir up problems in the Yan Fortress at a time like this.

Yan Liqiang cast a glance at Zhou Yong who wasn’t far from him, only to realize that the latter had led a few people toward the source of the disturbance. About the same time, the other two guards who came with Wang Jianbei were also heading toward the same direction.

Before their people could even get there, a high-pitched voice that slightly went off-pitch due to excitement rang out. “An imperial edict, an imperial edict! An imperial edict from His Majesty…!”

As soon as the voice ceased, more voices were heard. “An imperial edict…! It’s an imperial edict…!”

“An imperial edict from His Majesty in the Imperial Capital to Lord Yan…!”

“An imperial edict from His Majesty in the Imperial Capital to Lord Yan…!”

If only one person was saying that, Yan Liqiang might’ve been skeptical, but nearly thousands of people started crying out in just the blink of an eye. Everyone’s face lit up when they heard the commotion — it had been many years since an imperial edict had come to Gan Province. Everyone here, including Wang Jianbei, had never received an imperial edict before. After all, not everyone was entitled to an imperial edict. It was even impossible for those whom the Emperor had never even taken notice of to receive one in their entire lifetime.

Aside from the townspeople who had gathered in the small square in front of the woolen mill, even the seated guests rose to their feet.

“What’s going on…?” Wang Jianbei was astonished, and glanced at Yan Liqiang with a slight frown.

“I wasn’t expecting any imperial edicts today either…” Yan Liqiang shook his head and whispered to Wang Jianbei. Even he himself was extremely shocked by the unexpected imperial edict that the Emperor had sent to him, but he could vaguely guess the reason why. More than two months ago, he had actually secretly sent the first batch of wool products in this world to the Emperor in the Imperial Capital. The ‘celebrity branding’ worked great last time, so of course Yan Liqiang didn’t mind trying it out for the second time. After all, one would never be blamed for being too courteous. Besides, this was also a great opportunity to pledge his loyalty to the Emperor. Hence, while everyone was still guessing why Yan Liqiang was collecting wool or preparing to rear sheep, the Emperor in the distant Imperial Capital had become the world’s first user of wool products…

Yan Liqiang had sent a few wool blankets and also a few rolls of exquisite woolen fabrics to the Emperor and Eunuch Liu.

A group of armed guards dressed in crimson robes escorted a four-wheeled carriage on their rhinodrake steeds. When the carriage stopped at the ceremony venue, two guards dismounted their steeds. They untied the bags they carried and retrieved the golden whips inside before cracking them powerfully in the air a few times.

When the golden whips cracked in the air, they made louder noises and caused a bigger commotion than firecrackers. The noise from the golden whips immediately silenced everyone within a radius of several hundred meters.

The whips represented the authority of the monarch. The honorary guards would crack the whips whenever the Emperor arrived or left the court assembly, or at the arrival of any imperial edicts. The cracks of the whips were to gain the crowd’s attention and demand for silence.

After the crack of the whip was heard, the four-wheeled carriage’s door opened to reveal an old eunuch with white hair and white beard. The old eunuch smoothed out his long green court eunuch robe, then alighted the carriage and lifted his head slightly to scan his surroundings. He nodded in satisfaction when he saw the dense crowd and the signboard of the woolen mill which remained covered by a piece of red fabric. The imperial edict symbolized the Emperor’s grace and generosity toward Yan Liqiang, so the more spectators the better.

“It has been a long while, Lord Yan. Do you still remember me?” A smile finally appeared on the old eunuch’s face when he saw Yan Liqiang.

“Ah, so it turns out to be you, Eunuch Ou!” Yan Liqiang went over and bowed to the old eunuch with a smile under countless gazes in the surrounding. Yan Liqiang had only seen the old eunuch once and he recalled that the eunuch was guarding outside the Emperor’s palace when Eunuch Liu brought him to for an audience with His Majesty. Eunuch Liu had spoken with the old eunuch back then, and the latter seemed to be Eunuch Liu’s subordinate as he was extremely respectful around him.

At the sight of this old eunuch, Yan Liqiang knew that the imperial edict bore good news.

The old eunuch’s smile broadened when he discovered that Yan Liqiang still remembered him and was able to call out his name. He nodded in satisfaction and looked at Yan Liqiang in a very friendly manner before he continued speaking. “We’ll reminisce about the good old times later. I need to carry out the duty from His Majesty first… Ahem… Prepare the incense table to receive the imperial edict, Lord Yan…!”

The incense table was ready as it was left at the entrance of the woolen mill since it was used for worshipping earlier. The old eunuch who came out of the four-wheeled carriage went to stand behind the incense table under everyone’s gaze, and his expression immediately turned solemn. After scanning his surroundings, he picked up a silk edict scroll from the golden tray that a guard beside him was holding, then opened it with a flourish.

“Heed your decree, Qiyun Protectorate General Yan Liqiang…” The old eunuch elongated the string of words with a high pitch. His voice was loud enough to reach even the people who were standing far away.

Yan Liqiang took a deep breath, then stepped forward and bowed to receive his orders. “Yan Liqiang receives the edict…”

“By the mandate of heaven, the Emperor of the Great Han Empire hereby decrees: Heaven and Earth nurtures all creations, and all creations are born to support people. The path of mechanics and the investigation of things come with benevolence as the basis and use as the objective. The creations are put to work together and turn their use to the interest of the world. We recognize Qiyun Protectorate General Yan Liqiang’s great achievements and unparalleled contributions to our nation and its people, and hereby confer him the titles of The Imperial Manufactories’ Heavenly Master Craftsmith, a hereditary Baron of the First Rank, the Crown Prince’s Archery Master, and the Northwestern Reiver of the Great Han Empire…”

Everyone, including Yan Liqiang, was stunned into silence when they heard a bunch of titles conferred on him through the imperial edict.