Su Ran knew very well that the current situation hung by a thread. He had to deal with the imminent threat of the Taiping Army while ensuring he did not miss the opportunity for development brought by Chen Qiyuan, otherwise the path to the revival of the Great Qing would fall into jeopardy once again. Decisive as ever, he quickly mapped out a response in his mind: on the one hand, he swiftly and vigorously arranged the military deployment; on the other, he methodically prepared to welcome Chen Qiyuan back to the country.
On the military front, after careful deliberation, Su Ran adopted the strategy of a young commander and refined it further. He personally selected the most elite cavalry and Firearms Camp from the army. These soldiers had all been tested on the battlefield, their eyes resolute and brimming with an undaunted aura. Su Ran organized them into a light, fast-moving force and appointed the young commander at their head. The young commander stood tall and straight, his eyes flashing with excitement and determination, fully aware of the heavy responsibility of this mission.
As night fell and moonlight washed over the earth like water, this light, fast-moving force set out secretly under the cover of night. They advanced as silently as ghosts, their horses' hooves wrapped in thick cloth to minimize noise. Along the way, relying on his deep understanding of the terrain and precise judgment, the young commander skillfully utilized natural features such as mountains, rivers, and forests to lead the troops around the Taiping Army's patrols. Finally, they quietly arrived at the Taiping Army's rear provisions camp.
At that moment, torches flickered in the camp, and the Taiping Army soldiers were mostly deep in sleep, completely unprepared. The young commander gave a low yet powerful order: "Open fire!" Instantly, firearms blazed simultaneously, streaks of fire cutting through the night sky like shooting stars and plunging straight into the camp. The camp was instantly engulfed in a sea of flames, which soared into the night sky and illuminated the entire area. Startled awake from their dreams by the sudden fire, the Taiping Army soldiers panicked, fleeing in all directions with faces full of terror and confusion. Their provisions burned and thick smoke billowed, plunging the Taiping Army's command into chaos as their morale plummeted to rock bottom.
Meanwhile, Su Ran ordered the Capital garrison to strengthen all defensive fortifications. On the city walls, soldiers bustled about anxiously, hauling stones and timber to reinforce every vulnerable point. Wearing solemn expressions and determination in their eyes, they put on a show of standing firm to await reinforcements, thereby confusing the Taiping Army. Su Ran also secretly mobilized a portion of the troops from surrounding provinces; these soldiers rapidly assembled and surged toward the Capital like a tide. Posing as reinforcements for the Capital, they were actually preparing to form a pincer movement against the attacking Taiping Army.
While the Taiping Army was pouring all its efforts into the siege with their attention focused entirely on the city walls, the Qing troops posing as reinforcements struck from the flanks like tigers descending a mountain. Their battle cries shook the heavens, and the weapons in their hands flashed with cold light. Forming a pincer attack with the Capital garrison, the Qing troops launched a fierce assault on the besieging Taiping Army. Caught between two fronts, the Taiping Army's ranks fell into complete disarray, and their neat formation was instantly shattered. Soldiers fled in all directions, some even discarding their weapons. Soon, the Taiping Army was routed. Upon hearing this news, another detachment of the Taiping Army attempting to march north was struck as if doused in cold water; their morale was severely crushed, and daring not to advance rashly, they had no choice but to temporarily withdraw.
Su Ran successfully neutralized the threat from the Taiping Army, and the siege of the Capital was lifted. Following this battle, the morale of the Qing army soared, and the soldiers cheered, their faces glowing with the joy of victory. The Taiping Army, on the other hand, suffered a severe blow and would find it difficult to pose such a serious threat to the Great Qing in the short term.
Elsewhere, under the proper arrangements of that influential official in the imperial court, Chen Qiyuan smoothly embarked on his journey back to the country. Su Ran received him personally in the palace. Chen Qiyuan had a slender figure and refined manners, with wisdom and confidence shining in his eyes. The two met and enjoyed a most pleasant conversation. Chen Qiyuan detailed his plan for developing the modern textile industry—from importing advanced foreign textile machinery and recruiting and systematically training workers, to analyzing the market and looking forward to future development—every single detail was clear and explicit. Su Ran listened intently, a satisfied smile frequently crossing his face, his eyes revealing appreciation and trust in Chen Qiyuan as he immediately expressed his full support.
With Su Ran's strong backing, Chen Qiyuan quickly selected a site in Guangzhou to build a factory. Construction of the plant proceeded in full swing; towering factory buildings rose from the ground, and advanced foreign textile machinery was imported one after another. Chen Qiyuan personally recruited workers and invited professional technicians to train them. With the establishment of the textile factory, the surrounding area seemed injected with a new vitality. A massive amount of labor was accommodated, and ordinary people who had previously been idle flocked to the factory, starting a new working life. Their faces radiated hope for the future as they worked hard with their own hands.
The successful operation of the textile factory was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples. Surrounding commercial activity grew increasingly prosperous, shops sprang up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, and the streets bustled with a constant stream of carriages and pedestrians. The people's livelihood steadily stabilized, incomes gradually increased, and smiles returned to their faces. At the same time, the textile factory brought considerable tax revenue to the Great Qing, filling the imperial treasury and providing a solid economic foundation for the further implementation of the New Policies.
However, Su Ran did not lower his guard. He knew deeply that this merely repelled the Taiping Army temporarily; while the foreign powers maintained a friendly facade toward the Great Qing, they were still prowling in the shadows like starving wolves, ready to strike again at any moment. Furthermore, although the New Policies had achieved certain results in military and economic spheres, reforms in cultural, political, and other areas still faced numerous resistances. Much like a building under construction, although part of the framework was already erected, many details still needed refinement, and a single misstep could ruin everything.
Just as Su Ran sat in his study with furrowed brow, pondering how to further advance the New Policies, a guard hurried in and presented a secret report from the northern border. Su Ran hastily opened it, and the contents caused his expression to instantly turn grave. Recently, there had been frequent signs of small, unidentified military units operating near the northern border, suspected to be linked to the foreign powers. These troops were conducting reconnaissance and probing operations along the border, seemingly plotting a major move. What new crisis was the Great Qing about to face?