Following the successful repulsion of the mysterious forces, the battlefield lay in ruins. The coastal towns were devastated; once-thriving streets were now reduced to crumbling walls and scorched debris, with wisps of smoke rising from ruined houses and faint cries for help echoing from the rubble. Defensive fortifications had been shattered by artillery fire, and the land was pockmarked with craters, resembling the jagged scars of a ravaged earth. The Great Qing army had also suffered heavy losses. Many soldiers had sacrificed their lives heroically, while the wounded groaned in pain within makeshift medical tents. Weapons and equipment lay in ruins; broken rifles and twisted cannons were scattered across the field, telling the grim tale of the brutal conflict. Su Ran understood that while a stage of victory had been achieved, the road ahead remained fraught with thorns. The mysterious forces could strike back at any moment, and the fragile alliance with foreign powers faced the threat of collapse. The Great Qing had to lay the groundwork for the long term without delay.
Su Ran first ordered a comprehensive restoration and reorganization of the war-torn regions and the military. The imperial court allocated vast funds for the reconstruction of coastal towns and fortifications, providing relief to affected citizens and restoring production and daily life. Simultaneously, the Great Qing army underwent a total restructuring; ranks were replenished, damaged equipment was repla…
Chapter 43