Huang Xinyi smiled briefly before returning to her usual calm and composed expression. Everyone in the room noticed this, causing a few chuckles as they thought.
'What a Kuudere.'
(Note: A Kuudere is a character who acts cool and distant, but deep down, they care a lot and show occasional warmth.)
Even though everyone in the room had built their own powerful factions, only Liu Meiying could match Huang Xinyi regarding how quickly her empire had grown.
And they all respected her for that, as she was able to do it without much financial aid from the family.
Her empire wasn't just built on strength or military power; it was based on wisdom, strategy, and careful planning.
She continued explaining one of her key initiatives.
"Through our elite camps," she said, "we're ensuring the next generation of leaders will be both strong and wise. Strength alone doesn't make a ruler.
They must know how to govern, manage people, and make decisions. That's why our training programs focus on martial skills, leadership, and diplomacy."
The people in the room nodded in agreement, knowing how important it was to develop intelligence and wisdom alongside power.
Although it has only been a year since they came to this world, you have to remember that everyone in this room, including Bai Xinyue, has held a leadership role at some point.
So they know that everything Huang Xinyi has said until now has merit as they have also implemented similar practices.
Training soldiers was easy, but training leaders was crucial for long-term success.
"This is what makes the Xuzhong Empire different," Huang Xinyi continued.
"We are not just a military force; we are a thriving society with laws and policies that benefit everyone.
The elite camps ensure that future leaders will be prepared to make the right choices for our empire's success."
Huang Xinyi, who was explaining, did not look at anyone other than Xu Qianghua as the only person she needed approval from was him and no one else.
And this could be seen by Xu Qianghua, who always smiled and nodded frequently as he listened.
The next year will be about strengthening what we've gained and improving our defenses. We will grow, but carefully. I won't let our expansion outpace our ability to govern effectively."
She paused, then added, "We've also taken steps to prevent unrest.
We've built loyalty by giving people a stake in the empire's success—through land, resources, and opportunities. But if any internal threat arises, it will be dealt with swiftly and decisively."
Her message was clear: while she was a fair ruler, she wouldn't tolerate rebellion. The Xuzhong Empire was built on order and strength, and she would not let that be challenged.
As she finished, the room fell silent, processing all the progress she had described.
Slowly, nods of approval spread through the room, along with murmurs of admiration. Even among this powerful group, her achievements stood out.
Xu Qianghua smiled as he said. "Well done, Xinyi. You've built something truly remarkable."
Huang Xinyi nodded in acknowledgment but remained calm. For her, this was just the beginning.
There was still much more to accomplish, and she wouldn't rest until the Xuzhong Empire was unmatched.
After a pause, she added, "In the coming year, we'll extend our influence to nearby regions.
We've already started negotiating with neighboring territories, and many are interested in joining us.
And we will use this to show everyone that we are not just a battle-hungry empire, which will give us more opportunities in the future."
"As for our military," she continued, "we will keep training our forces to be ready for any threat.
I've commissioned new fortifications in key locations, and we're investing in new techniques and strategies.
And along with the newly added Ace amrys we are sure there will be no other empire like ours.
Our army will not only defend us but also deter anyone who might challenge us."
"The Xuzhong Empire will continue to rise," she said confidently. "And nothing will stand in our way."
As she said this, her decisive tone caused everyone to smile and nod, as they knew that with her at the helm, the empire would prosper.